UBUNTU VILLAGE · ANCESTRAL ASTRONOMY & SPIRIT · THE MOON HAS ALWAYS KEPT OUR CALENDAR
“Long before Halloween borrowed the idea of a ‘thin veil,’ our ancestors were already keeping the moon’s time and speaking with those who came before — not once a year, but always.”
Halloween falls on a full moon this year, making it extra special and spooky! The last time a full moon appeared on Halloween was back in 2001, and it won’t happen again until 2039. This rare occurrence is sure to add an extra element of mystery and magic to the Halloween celebrations. So whether you’re trick-or-treating, hosting a party, or just enjoying the eerie atmosphere, here are some tips on how to make the most of this once-in-a-generation full moon Halloween.
The Rarity of a Halloween Full Moon
Halloween and a full moon are two events that hold a special place in our collective imagination. Yet the occurrence of a full moon specifically on October 31st is quite rare. The moon follows a roughly 29.5-day cycle, meaning it takes slightly under a month for the moon to complete all its phases. Since October has 31 days, not all of them can coincide with a full moon in the same year. In fact, a full moon on Halloween only occurs once every 19 years on average, known as the Metonic cycle.
What makes the 2020 full moon particularly special is that it’s a Blue Moon, the term used to describe the second full moon in a single calendar month. Full moons are so named when they are the 13th full moon in a year or the second in any given month. Clearly, a Blue Moon on Halloween is an even rarer event.
It’s worth noting that a full moon on Halloween, combined with the end of daylight saving time in most of the US and Canada, means that the full moon will be visible for an extra hour. Long before “Blue Moon” became a marketing term, African civilizations were already reading the sky as calendar, healer, and ancestor — the Kikuyu timing planting by the moon’s light, the Yoruba naming it oṣupa and offering to the ancestors at its fullness. We go deeper into that inheritance in our piece on African lunar traditions; this post stays close to what the full moon means for the specific, borrowed holiday in front of us. The spiritual significance of full moons across cultures also connects to what our piece on spirituality in daily life explores — the ways ritual and cycles ground us in something larger than ourselves.
Full Moon Rituals and Their Significance
Throughout human history, full moons have held profound significance across cultures and spiritual traditions. Many people around the world engage in special rituals and practices during this time, believing that the power of the full moon can enhance these activities. From ancient times to the present, the full moon has been seen as a time of heightened energy, insight, and spiritual power.
One common full moon ritual is the practice of meditation or mindfulness. Many spiritual traditions encourage deepening one’s meditation practice during the full moon, as this is seen as a time of heightened consciousness and inner clarity. Similarly, yoga and other forms of mindful movement are often practiced during the full moon, as they are believed to help harmonize with the lunar energy.
Releasing rituals are also common during the full moon. This can involve writing down things you wish to let go of and then burning or burying the paper, symbolizing the release of these elements from your life. This practice is rooted in the belief that the full moon’s energy aids in letting go and making space for new beginnings.
Full moon gatherings or circles are another popular practice. These gatherings can take many forms, from structured ceremonies to more informal get-togethers. They often involve activities such as sharing intentions or goals, performing rituals, and enjoying communal activities like music and dancing. The science behind why these rituals work is explored in our piece on music, ritual, and the science of belonging.
Halloween and the Spirit World
Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, has long been associated with the spirit world. The origins of this holiday can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a time when it was believed that the boundary between the living and the dead was at its thinnest. During this period, spirits were thought to roam the earth, and various rituals and traditions were performed to ward off malevolent entities and honor the deceased.
Many modern Halloween customs, such as carving pumpkins and wearing costumes, have their roots in these ancient practices. For example, the tradition of dressing up in costumes is believed to have originated from the practice of wearing disguises to protect oneself from spirits. Similarly, the carving of lanterns (originally turnips, not pumpkins) served as a way to ward off evil spirits.
Some people still believe that Halloween is a time when the veil between our world and the spirit world is thin, making it a potent time for psychic activity and spiritual encounters. This belief is reflected in Halloween’s popular culture of ghosts, witches, and otherworldly creatures. But for many African and African diasporic traditions, that veil was never treated as seasonal. In Yoruba practice, the Egungun masquerade honors ancestral spirits believed to visit the living in physical, ceremonial form — not once a year, but on the community’s own calendar of remembrance. In Kongo-derived traditions carried across the Middle Passage, ancestor altars are tended year-round, kept fed with water, food, and conversation. Across the Black diaspora, the practice of “pouring one out” for those who have passed, and the wake traditions that gather a community around its dead before burial, carry the same conviction Halloween borrows for one night: that the dead remain in relationship with the living, and that relationship requires tending.
Celebrating Halloween Mindfully
Halloween is a time of fun and frights, but it can also be an opportunity for mindful celebration. Here are some ways to celebrate Halloween mindfully this year, especially with the added magic of a full moon.
First, consider setting intentions. Harness the full moon’s energy by sitting quietly and setting intentions for the coming month or season. What do you hope to achieve? What do you wish to release? Write these down to give them form and power.
Second, spend time in nature. Take a walk under the full moon, noticing how the moonlight transforms your surroundings. This can be a deeply peaceful and centering experience. It’s a reminder of the natural rhythms that connect us to the wider world.
Third, honor the ancestors — not only tonight, but as an ongoing practice. Halloween and Samhain are traditionally times to honor those who have passed, and that impulse is worth keeping past October 31st. You might create a small altar with photos or mementos of loved ones, light a candle in their memory, pour a small libation, or simply take a moment to speak their names. In the Ubuntu understanding Ubuntu Village carries forward, the ancestors are not visitors requiring an invitation once a year. They are already here — in the moon’s pull, in the altar we tend, in the memory the body keeps. I am because we are, and we are because they were.
Related Reading
- ‣ African Lunar Traditions: The Moon in African Spirituality and Ancestral Wisdom
- ‣ On the Connection Between Life and Spirituality
- ‣ Epigenetics and Ancestral Memory: What Your Body Remembers
Community is the medicine.
The cycles of the moon remind us that we are part of something larger. Ubuntu Village honors these rhythms — and the ancestors they connect us to — as part of communal healing, every day of the year.
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Michele Mitchell is the Founder, President & CEO of Ubuntu Village Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with programs in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. A writer, advocate, and community strategist working at the intersection of ancestral wisdom, public health, and community power, Michele leads Ubuntu Village’s work to center communities as the protagonists of their own healing. She writes from the conviction that science and spirit are complementary, that healing is relational, and that community is the medicine. Read more about Michele, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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