Moon water is water that has been left out overnight under the moon. It is one of the simplest things a witch can make, it costs nothing, and it has a dozen uses, from cleansing an altar to watering the plants.
How to make moon water
- Choose a container. Use a clean glass jar or bottle with a lid. Glass is best, because it does not hold smells or leach anything into the water.
- Fill it with water. Tap water is fine. If you intend to drink the water, use clean drinking water.
- Set your intention. Hold the jar and say what the water is for. You might say: "By the light of this moon, may this water cleanse and bless."
- Put it out at dusk. Stand the jar outside or on a windowsill where the moonlight can reach it. Keep the lid on to keep out dust and insects.
- Bring it in the next morning. Custom says to collect it before sunrise. If you sleep late, the water will still be moon water.
- Label it. Write the date and the moon phase on the jar.
Which moon should you use?
Any phase can be used, and the phase gives the water its character. See our guide to moon phases for the meaning of each.
| Phase | Use the water for |
|---|---|
| Full moon | Any purpose. This is the classic moon water, used for blessing, charging, and cleansing. |
| New moon | Fresh starts and intention setting |
| Waxing moon | Growth, attraction, and building |
| Waning moon | Cleansing, banishing, and letting go |
Many witches also make water under a moon with a special meaning, such as the full moon nearest a sabbat. Opinions differ about eclipse water. Some avoid it, and some keep it for work to do with major change.
Does the moonlight have to touch the water?
No. On a cloudy night the moon is still above the clouds, and the water is still made under it. A windowsill indoors works as well as a garden. What matters is the timing and the intention.
Twelve ways to use moon water
- Sprinkle it around a room to cleanse the space.
- Wipe down your altar and wash your tools with it.
- Dab it on doorframes and windowsills as a protection.
- Add it to a ritual bath.
- Wash your hands and face with it before a ritual.
- Add it to the water you use for mopping the floor.
- Water your plants with it, and say a kind word to them.
- Fill a dark bowl with it for scrying.
- Rinse water-safe crystals in it.
- Use it to mix watercolor paint or ink for drawing symbols.
- Set a bowl of it on the altar as the element of Water, or as an offering.
- If it was made with drinking water and kept cold, use it to make tea.
Storing it safely
Moon water is still water, and standing water does not keep forever.
- Keep it in a closed glass container in the refrigerator.
- If you plan to drink it, use it within two or three days.
- For other uses, keep it for up to a month. If it turns cloudy or smells, pour it out.
- Make a small amount. There will be another moon next month.
- Return old moon water to the earth. Pour it onto soil or over the roots of a tree.
Safety
- Do not put crystals in water that you intend to drink. Some stones release toxic minerals.
- Do not drink rainwater, river water, or sea water that you have collected, however lovely the idea. Use it for cleansing instead.
- Add herbs or flowers only if they are safe to eat, and use that water the same day.
A moonless version
The same method works with the sun. Water left out from sunrise to noon is called sun water, and it is used for energy, confidence, and growth. Stand the jar outdoors on stone or bare ground, and not on a windowsill near curtains or paper, because a jar of water can focus sunlight. Sun water is not for drinking. Some witches keep a jar of each, one for the quiet work and one for the bright.