A full moon is an opportunity to harness lunar energy for an especially powerful meditation. This month’s full moon is called the Sturgeon Moon and it arrives on August 22nd. Use this chance to meditate on anything you want, but consider how the full moon is connected to completion and culmination.

About the Sturgeon Moon

August’s full Moon was traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer.

Tribes who lived farther south knew it as the Full Red Moon, because the sultry haze of late summer made the moon appear reddish in color.

It was also called the Green Corn Moon or the Grain Moon, because late summer signified the beginning of the harvest, when food was put away for the cold months ahead.

The only blue moon of the year

Astronomers define a “Blue Moon” as the third full moon during a season that has four full moons. There is another definition—when two full Moons occur during the same calendar month—but that’s not what’s happening here.

The moon won’t actually be blue. It might appear a bit orange as it rise, and then the moon will have its traditional whitish-grey color..

Meditation for the full moon

Every full moon is a chance to meditate on the culmination of a project or a set of goals. Full moons represent completeness.

This full moon is a great time to set intentions on new projects, and release the anxiety caused by the new academic year.

You may find it useful to try a guided meditation. You can find plenty online and BetterSleep also has many great options. Try the Summer Meadow and Beachside Visualizations to celebrate the season, or Ara’s Moon Reflections for a celestial practice. These and many others will guide you through a thoughtful, relaxing and joyful meditation for better sleep and lower stress.