The Spiritual Meaning of May's Full Flower Moon (23rd May 2024)

Are you ready to bloom?!

The final full Moon of Spring has arrived – May’s full flower Moon will rise on May 23rd, 2024 into a landscape blossoming with life.

The full flower moon marks an important moment in this high season of personal growth, optimism and magnetism. As often a symbol of abundance, we are nearing a pinnacle of light, heat and creativity.

As this month’s full Moon rises, you’re invited to pause and find a moment of presence in this busy season. It’s more than astrology. Its the Goddess embodied, glowing and bright, offering her beauty for all to admire.

When to see the full flower Moon in 2024

This May’s full flower Moon rises on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 13:52 UTC.

Check the exact moment in your time zone HERE.

Full moons are the times of peak illumination in the lunar cycle, and they occur approximately every 29.5 days when the Moon’s orbit makes one complete turn.

During a full Moon, the side of the Moon facing the Earth is completely lit up by sunlight, as the sun sits directly opposite. This means the Moon appears over the eastern horizon, just as the sun is setting.

Why is May’s full Moon called a Flower Moon?

In some cultures in the northern hemisphere, the name of the May full flower Moon mirrors the blooming of many flowers, as spring transitions into summer.

The naming of full moons has deep roots in Native American cultures, as various tribes kept track of the full Moons, lunar phases and seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full moon. The Flower Moon is one such traditional name, given by the Algonquin in North America, and it signals a time of growth and beauty when plants are in full bloom.

As European settlers arrived in America and interacted with Native Americans, many adopted full moon names, incorporating them into the modern calendar. The name Flower Moon is a direct translation of the phrases used by some Native American tribes.

Other historic cultures, such as the Anglo-Saxons and Celts have also named full Moons, associating certain lunar cycles with agricultural and seasonal changes.

It can be a really fun practice to name the Moon yourself. Start to tune in and you’ll notice all the full Moons have a different quality, depending on you, your location, the weather, the astrology, and the seasonal changes that happen year to year.

What name would YOU give to the May full Moon tonight?

Why is the Flower Moon Special?

The May full Moon, known as the flower Moon, occurs when nature presents an abundance of blossoming flowers, all over the landscape. It’s a symbol of beauty, fertility, and eros, a sign that the promise of spring has finally come through.

It’s an uplifting time, woven through with optimism and joy. Just like the pagan festival of Beltane (May Day) the full flower Moon occurs when the sexual energy of nature is rippling through the land, manifesting in a plethora of floral creations, reaching out to honeybees for attentions, their sweet, heady scents filling the air.

The flower full Moon is special because it reminds us to enjoy life. To stay up late, be playful and sensual and live life to the full!

Earth’s renewal is in full swing, and you’re invited to the party.

Group of people around a bonfire celebrating the flower full Moon

What Does the Flower Moon Mean Spiritually?

The Flower Moon symbolizes the time to blossom, grow and thrive!

In the northern hemisphere, this full Moon arrives between Beltane and the Summer Solstice on the wheel of the year, which is when earth energy is peaking. It’s a dynamic time when the most fertile and erotic energy of the Goddess is alive.

Spiritually, the flower full Moon is focused on living life to the full. It comes to illuminate all the things in our lives to be grateful for, and help us magnetize more.

Flowers are Mother Nature’s ultimate expression of LIFE. They are the most beautiful manifestation of intent, making sense of all the growth and effort put into a tiny seed of potential.

Blooming flowers symbolize renewal, as they are the marker of plants coming back to life after the winter. and they remind us that we too are part of nature. We mirror these patterns in our own lives, and this full Moon reminds us that even through the darkest of times, we are creating beauty.

Flowers are a sign of health and a celebration of love! The flower Moon reminds us to appreciate the beauty of life, even (and especially) when its fleeting. This IS life. You can’t hold onto it, so enjoy every moment while it’s here.

Other May Full Moon Names

Corn Planting Moon
Milk Moon
Mother’s Moon
Planting Moon
Hare Moon
Frog Moon (Cree)
Blossom Moon
Leaf Budding Moon (Cree)
Planting Moon (Dakota, Lakota)
Mulberry Moon (Creek and Choctaw)
Moon of the Green Leaves (Lakota)
Field Maker Moon (Abenaki)
Budding Moon (Cree)
Egg Laying Moon (Cree)

List of other full Moon names for the May full flower Moon

How does the Flower Moon affect you?

The full flower Moon in May symbolizes the ecstatic awakening of nature after winter’s sleep, and the brave creativity that we’re being called to offer to the world.

Representing growth and renewal, as well as passion, love and attraction, the flower Moon can affect you in a number of ways. Primarily, we’re being urged to awaken to our own potential (and of course, this looks a little different for everyone).

Here are a few ways you may feel the flower Moon affecting your life:

Emotional Sensitivity: The full flower Moon can heighten your emotions, making you more sensitive to the energies around you. Be mindful of how situations may seem more intense during this time.
Appreciation of beauty and simplicity: Just like blossoming flowers, the May full Moon encourages appreciation of the simple beauty in the present moment. You may find yourself pausing to simply BE in the moment, soaking up the exquisite presence.
Pursuit of Truth: Rising in the astrological sign of Sagittarius, the May 2024 full Moon may encourage a search for deeper meaning and truth in your life.
Growth and fruition: Traditionally linked with blooming flowers, for some people the Full Flower Moon may symbolise the fruition of plans, projects and ideas. Consider what aspects of your life might be ready to blossom.
Completion: When the Moon is fully illuminated, the waxing phases have completed, so you may feel this mirrored, as a sense of completion somewhere in your own life.

Remember, these influences are general and can vary from person to person. The energy of any full Moon is an invitation to explore and reflect on your personal journey.

Use this time wisely to focus on areas that are in need of illumination and clarity.

What are you supposed to do on the full flower Moon?

Like any full Moon, the flower Moon is a wonderful time for ritual, ceremony, celebration, and gathering together with friends. Here in the month of May, heading outside to see the bright Moon rising in the night sky is an absolute must!

Reflect and Meditate: Spend time in quiet reflection or meditation, focusing your mind on the themes of renewal and abundance that the flower Moon represents. As the full moon illuminates the night sky, invite it to also illuminate your inner thoughts.
Create a Gratitude List: The flower Moon is the perfect Moon for gratitude! Write a list of all the things you are grateful for. Start to recognize the abundance in your life, show appreciation for it and it will appreciate.
Set Intentions: The full Flower Moon’s energy can truly support growth. Setting intentions is normally done at the new Moon, but the magnetizing quality of the full Moon marked it a great time for reaffirming goals and intentions.Allow the energy of the Flower Moon to infuse your spirit with the promise of abundance and prosperity.
Cleanse Your Space: Clear out any negative energy from your living space with a cleansing ceremony or ritual or simply by decluttering and cleaning. A clean and open physical space will reflect on other areas of your life.
Charge Crystals: If you use crystals for spiritual or healing purposes, place them under the light of the full moon to cleanse and charge them with positive energy.
Connect with Nature: As flowers bloom and the natural world awakens, spend time outdoors. Being in nature under the full moon in May can help you connect with the earth’s cycles and your own internal rhythms.