The Enchanted Skies of October: Harvest Moon & the Draconid Meteor Shower
“In folklore, the Harvest Moon is a time of harvest and gratitude”
Hello again dear friend!
October is the month when the veil between worlds begins to thin. The air turns sharp, leaves blaze with fiery colors, and the night sky becomes a stage for both myth and magic. This year, the heavens are particularly generous, offering us the Hunter’s Moon, the last supermoon of 2025, and the fiery dance of the Draconid meteor shower.
Key Moon Facts for October 2025
Full Harvest Moon – October 6, 2025
The full moon reaches peak illumination at 11:47 p.m. Eastern Time on October 6.
In UTC, that is 03:47 UTC on October 7.
This moon is often called the Harvest Moon (not necessarily the Hunter’s Moon) because it is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox.
Because the equinox this year (Sept 22) is closer to the October full moon than to September’s, the Harvest Moon “lands” in October for 2025.
The Harvest Moon: A Beacon of Autumn
This October, the full moon is the Harvest Moon, not the Hunter’s Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox (September 22), and in 2025, that happens to place it in early October. Traditionally, the Harvest Moon gave farmers extra evening light to gather crops and prepare for winter. Its soft, lingering glow rises soon after sunset for several nights in a row, casting long shadows and illuminating the world in silver — a gift for both practical work and spiritual reflection.
In folklore, the Harvest Moon is a time of harvest and gratitude, but also a time of clarity and preparation. What in your life is ready to be gathered, honored, or released? What seeds have you sown that are now ready for the light?
This October 6th, the Harvest Moon coincides with a supermoon, the last of 2025. Being closer to Earth, it appears brighter and larger than usual, carrying a double dose of energy: one of physical vitality, and one of spiritual illumination.
Ritual Idea: On the night of the Harvest Moon, write down one thing you are ready to bring fully into your life and one thing you are ready to release. Burn the paper safely in a small fireproof bowl, offering the ashes to the wind. Let this act clear your path and honor the magic of the season’s harvest.
The New Moon: A Doorway to Shadow Work
October’s new moon arrives on October 21st. Unlike the blazing Hunter’s Moon, the new moon is a time for deep stillness and renewal. In pagan and witchcraft traditions, October’s new moon is especially potent because it falls so close to Samhain (October 31st), when the veil between worlds is thinnest.
This is a powerful time for ancestral connection. Light a candle, prepare a simple offering (bread, apples, honey, or wine), and set aside a quiet space to commune with your ancestors. Journaling under the new moon about what wisdom you’ve inherited — and what cycles you are choosing to break — is especially potent this month.
Herbal Ally for the New Moon: Mugwort. Burn it as incense or sip it as a tea to enhance intuition and dreams.
The Draconid Meteor Shower: The Dragon’s Fire
The Draconids
In folklore, meteors are considered messages from the gods, dragon’s breath, or even sparks from celestial forges.
Just after the Hunter’s Moon fades, the skies bring us a dragon. The Draconid meteor shower peaks around October 8th–9th, originating from the constellation Draco the Dragon. Unlike many meteor showers, which are best seen after midnight, the Draconids often peak in the evening — which means you can catch them before bed.
The Draconids are often unpredictable: some years bring just a handful of streaks across the sky, while others erupt into a storm of hundreds. Watching them is like waiting for a dragon to stir in the dark.
Mythic Lens: In folklore, meteors are considered messages from the gods, dragon’s breath, or even sparks from celestial forges. To see them in October, as the veil thins, is to glimpse a fire from beyond the veil itself.
Ritual Idea: Lie beneath the stars with a warm blanket, and whisper a wish to each meteor you see. The Draconids are said to carry intentions swiftly, like dragon’s breath igniting the path forward.
Waxing & Waning Magic of October
Waxing Moon (Oct 21–28): Build your strength. Set intentions for what you want to grow as winter approaches. This is the time to gather, preserve, and invest energy in your pursuits.
Waning Moon (Oct 6–21 & Oct 28–Nov 4): Release what is heavy. The waning moon leading into Samhain is a time of clearing away not just clutter, but also psychic debris. Smudge your space with rosemary, cedar, or pine to prepare for the new cycle.
Moon Journal Prompts
What in my life feels illuminated this month — either with clarity or with haze?
What fears or stories do I want to burn away under the Draconids?
How has my “harvest” taken shape (literal or metaphorical)?
What relationships, structures, or habits need realignment as the moon dims?
What whispers am I hearing from ancestral or cosmic sources?
A Witch’s Kitchen: Harvest Moon Tea
Here’s a simple Harvest Moon Tea to sip under the October skies:
1 part Mugwort (for vision)
1 part Rose hips (for heart and immunity)
1 part Cinnamon (for warmth and fire)
Honey to taste
Steep in boiling water for 10 minutes. Sip slowly, breathing in the steam, and imagine the moonlight infusing your body with clarity and power.
The Story Thread: From Moonlight to Firelight
October’s sky offers a story: the Harvest Moon lights your path, the Draconids rain dragon fire into your night, and the New Moon opens a doorway to shadow and ancestor.
Together, these celestial events remind us that autumn is a time of chasing, releasing, and remembering.
The dance of light and dark this month is not just cosmic — it is deeply personal. And if you walk with the moon through its phases, you walk into winter with your lantern already lit.
And as always, my friend, take care of you.
Melody
