The October Full Moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon, a name tied to the season of gathering, hunting, preserving food, and preparing for the colder months ahead.
In 2026, the Hunter’s Moon falls across the Taurus–Scorpio axis. The Moon reaches its fullest point on October 26, 2026, at approximately 04:12 UTC. Depending on where you live, the Moon will reach peak fullness during the evening of October 25 or in the early hours of October 26. The Moon will be in Taurus, opposite the Sun in Scorpio.
This gives the October Full Moon an interesting mix of earthy stability and deep transformation. Taurus asks us to look at what keeps us grounded, what we value, and what we want to protect. Scorpio brings questions about endings, emotional patterns, shared resources, and the things that need to change.
The Hunter’s Moon asks a fitting question for this time of year:
What have you gathered, what is worth protecting, and what are you ready to release before winter begins?
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When Is the Hunter’s Moon in 2026?
The October Full Moon reaches peak illumination on October 26, 2026, at approximately 04:12 UTC.
The Moon will appear full for several nights around the exact peak, so there is no need to plan your ritual around one particular minute. The evening of October 25 will be especially useful for anyone whose local time places the Moon’s peak during the daytime on October 26.
- Full Moon: October 26, 2026
- Peak: Approximately 04:12 UTC
- Moon sign: Taurus
- Sun sign: Scorpio
- Moon element: Earth
- Taurus ruler: Venus
- Season: Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere
- Traditional themes: Hunting, gathering, preservation, preparation
- Spiritual themes: Grounding, stability, abundance, protection, release, transformation
In 2026, the September Full Moon is the Harvest Moon because it falls closest to the autumnal equinox. That makes the October Full Moon the Hunter’s Moon.
Why Is It Called the Hunter’s Moon?
The name Hunter’s Moon comes from the seasonal activities that traditionally took place after the harvest.
Once crops had been gathered, people had a clearer view of fields and surrounding land. Animals were also preparing for winter, and the work of finding, storing, and preserving food became especially important.
The bright autumn Moon was useful during a season when extra light could make nighttime travel and hunting easier. Wildlife had also been feeding heavily after the summer months, making autumn an important time for hunting and gathering food for the winter ahead.
The name therefore reflects a very practical part of the agricultural year: gather what you can, preserve what you need, and prepare for the season ahead.
The History of October’s Moon Names
Hunter’s Moon is one of the best-known names associated with October, but it is not the only name connected with this part of the year.
Moon names have been recorded across many cultures, and they do not form one universal calendar. Different Indigenous nations have their own languages, landscapes, seasonal markers, and lunar traditions. Names that appear in modern almanacs are sometimes presented beside Gregorian months for convenience, even though the original lunar calendars did not necessarily follow those exact dates.
Some October-associated names documented by The Old Farmer’s Almanac include:
Drying Rice Moon — Dakota
This name refers to the seasonal work of drying and preparing wild rice. It reflects the connection between lunar cycles and the practical work required to preserve food.
Falling Leaves Moon — Anishinaabe
As autumn progresses, trees begin to shed their leaves in preparation for winter. The name captures one of the most noticeable changes in the natural landscape at this time of year.
Freezing Moon — Ojibwe
Colder nights become a defining feature of late autumn, with freezing temperatures becoming increasingly common as winter approaches.
Ice Moon — Haida
This name reflects the arrival of colder weather and the changing conditions of the season.
Migrating Moon — Cree
Migration is another important seasonal marker in autumn, as birds and other animals move in response to changing weather and food availability.
These names share something with the Hunter’s Moon: they connect the Moon to what was happening in the natural world at that particular time of year.
What About Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, and Other Names?
You may also see October Full Moon names such as Blood Moon, Sanguine Moon, Travel Moon, or Dying Grass Moon in modern Moon-name lists and older almanac material.
These names do not all have the same historical documentation or cultural attribution, so it is worth being careful when presenting them as traditional Indigenous names. Some appear in European or later almanac traditions, while others have become part of modern Pagan and witchcraft writing.
There is also an important distinction with the term Blood Moon. In modern astronomy, a Blood Moon usually refers to the reddish appearance of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse. The October 2026 Full Moon is not a Blood Moon in that astronomical sense.
For October 2026, Hunter’s Moon remains the clearest and most widely recognized traditional name.
What Is the Spiritual Meaning of the Hunter’s Moon?
The spiritual themes of the Hunter’s Moon naturally fit the season. Autumn is a time of taking stock, deciding what needs to be stored, and preparing for a quieter part of the year.
With the Moon in Taurus, those ideas become especially focused on stability, resources, values, comfort, and security.
Taurus is an earth sign associated with the physical world. Food, money, possessions, home, nature, the body, and the things that make life feel secure all fit comfortably within its symbolism.
Across the zodiac, Taurus is opposite Scorpio. Scorpio brings a very different set of themes: transformation, emotional depth, endings, renewal, intimacy, shared resources, and what lies beneath the surface.
Together, the two signs create a useful Full Moon theme:
What needs to stay, and what needs to change?
The Taurus–Scorpio Full Moon
A Full Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon sit opposite one another in the zodiac. That opposition brings the themes of both signs into the picture.
Taurus asks:
- What makes me feel secure?
- What do I value?
- What resources do I have?
- What am I building for the long term?
- What deserves protection?
Scorpio asks:
- What am I ready to let go of?
- Where am I holding on too tightly?
- What is changing beneath the surface?
- What emotional patterns need attention?
- What has reached the end of its natural cycle?
This is not necessarily about choosing one side over the other. The two signs can work together. Taurus helps create something solid enough to stand on, while Scorpio asks us to make room for change when an old structure has run its course.
Grounding Under the Hunter’s Moon
The Hunter’s Moon arrives during a season when the natural world is visibly changing. Leaves fall, daylight decreases, temperatures drop, and the landscape begins moving toward winter.
Taurus offers a useful counterpoint to all that change. Instead of chasing every shift, this Full Moon can be used as an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with the physical world.
Grounding work can be very ordinary:
- Cook a nourishing meal.
- Spend time outside.
- Work in the garden.
- Clean and refresh your altar.
- Take a warm bath.
- Sit quietly beneath the Moon.
- Work with earthy herbs, stones, or natural objects.
There is no need to make grounding complicated. Sometimes the most useful ritual is paying attention to where your feet are, what you are eating, and how your home feels.
Abundance and the Hunter’s Moon
Hunter’s Moon traditions are closely tied to gathering and storing resources.
That makes this Full Moon a natural time to think about abundance, but abundance does not have to mean acquiring more things. It can also mean recognizing what is already present.
Look at the resources you have gathered over the past year. Skills, friendships, knowledge, money, food, tools, creative work, supportive relationships, and personal experience all count.
Ask yourself:
What do I already have that deserves more appreciation?
That question can shift the focus from constant accumulation toward gratitude and good stewardship.
Protection and Preparation
Hunter’s Moon symbolism also lends itself well to protection and preparation.
In practical terms, autumn is a good time to prepare your home for colder weather, organize supplies, preserve food, and take care of unfinished tasks before winter settles in.
In magical practice, you might use the same idea when considering your energetic boundaries.
Think about where your time and attention are going. Are there commitments that drain you? Are there people who have too much access to your energy? Is your home a place where you can actually rest?
A protection working under this Moon could focus on strengthening boundaries and creating a sense of safety around your home and personal space.
Releasing What Has Outlived Its Purpose
Taurus has a reputation for holding on. Scorpio is much more comfortable with transformation.
That makes this Full Moon a good point in the seasonal cycle to look at what you are keeping out of genuine value and what you are keeping because it is familiar.
This could mean an old habit, an outdated expectation, a possession you no longer use, a commitment that no longer fits, or a story you keep telling yourself.
Releasing does not have to be dramatic. Clearing one drawer, ending one obligation, changing one habit, or finally admitting that something has run its course can be enough.
Hunter’s Moon Ritual Ideas
Full Moon Gratitude Ritual
Place a candle on your altar along with a few objects that represent things you have gathered or accomplished this year.
Spend a few minutes naming what has supported you. Include practical things as well as emotional or creative ones.
Write down three things you want to preserve as you move into the darker months. Keep the list somewhere you can return to later.
Grounding Bath Ritual
Prepare a warm bath and add herbs or bath salts that you already know are safe for your skin. Rosemary, lavender, or chamomile can work well for a relaxing autumn atmosphere.
As you soak, focus on physical sensations: the warmth of the water, your breathing, and the feeling of your body becoming still.
When you are finished, imagine leaving the mental clutter of the previous season behind with the bathwater.
Abundance Altar
Create a small seasonal altar using things that represent nourishment and resources.
You could include grains, seeds, dried herbs, autumn leaves, acorns, fruit, coins, crystals, or a candle.
Spend a few minutes acknowledging what has carried you through the year so far.
Release Ritual
Write down something you are ready to stop carrying into the next season.
Read it aloud, then tear the paper into pieces and discard it safely. If you choose to burn it, use a fire-safe container and follow basic fire safety precautions.
Finish by writing down one thing you want to build or strengthen in its place.
Crystals for the Hunter’s Moon
Earthy stones fit naturally with the Taurus side of this Full Moon, while darker stones can complement the deeper Scorpio themes.
- Moss Agate: Growth, grounding, patience, and connection with nature
- Green Aventurine: Opportunity, prosperity, optimism, and growth
- Smoky Quartz: Grounding, protection, and letting go
- Tiger’s Eye: Confidence, discernment, courage, and practical action
- Clear Quartz: Clarity and general ritual work
Herbs and Plants for the Hunter’s Moon
Autumn plants and herbs can bring a strong seasonal feeling to your altar or magical practice.
- Rosemary
- Mugwort
- Sage
- Cinnamon
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Patchouli
- Bay leaves
- Acorns
- Pinecones
- Autumn leaves
- Seeds and dried flowers
Remember that an herb being associated with magical practice does not mean it is safe to eat, drink, burn, or apply to the skin. Check the safety of anything you plan to use before adding it to a ritual.
Tarot Questions for the Hunter’s Moon
The Taurus–Scorpio Full Moon makes a good setting for tarot readings focused on resources, stability, values, endings, and transformation.
- What is providing stability in my life right now?
- What deserves more of my attention?
- What have I gathered that is worth preserving?
- Where am I holding on because something is familiar?
- What am I ready to release?
- Where would stronger boundaries help me?
- What resource am I overlooking?
- What needs nurturing before winter?
- What is changing beneath the surface?
- What foundation do I want to strengthen?
Tarot can be used here as a tool for reflection and self-examination, without treating the cards as a guarantee of what will happen.
The Hunter’s Moon and Samhain
The 2026 Hunter’s Moon arrives only a few days before Halloween and Samhain, making it an especially interesting Full Moon for anyone working with autumn witchcraft.
Samhain is associated with the end of the harvest season, remembrance, ancestors, death and rebirth, and the movement toward winter. The Hunter’s Moon carries many of the same seasonal ideas of gathering, preservation, preparation, and transition.
The Taurus influence adds a grounded quality to this darker part of the year. Instead of focusing only on what is ending, you can also look at the things that continue to sustain you.
Food, family, home, ancestors, nature, personal traditions, and the objects that hold meaning can all have a place on a Hunter’s Moon or Samhain altar.
Hunter’s Moon 2026 Correspondences
| Correspondence | Hunter’s Moon 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date | October 25–26, 2026 |
| Moon Sign | Taurus |
| Sun Sign | Scorpio |
| Element | Earth |
| Taurus Ruler | Venus |
| Primary Themes | Grounding, stability, abundance, preparation |
| Secondary Themes | Protection, gratitude, release, transformation |
| Colors | Green, brown, cream, copper, deep red |
| Crystals | Moss agate, green aventurine, smoky quartz, tiger’s eye |
| Herbs | Rosemary, mugwort, sage, cinnamon, chamomile |
| Plants | Acorns, oak, pine, autumn leaves, seeds |
| Magical Work | Grounding, prosperity, protection, gratitude, release |
| Tarot Focus | Stability, resources, values, transformation |
A Hunter’s Moon Intention
For this October Full Moon, you might use the following intention:
I honor what sustains me, protect what matters, release what has reached its ending, and create strong foundations for what comes next.
The Hunter’s Moon is a fitting Full Moon for taking stock.
Look at what you have gathered. Notice what has carried you through the year. Protect the things that still matter. Make practical preparations for the season ahead, and give yourself permission to let go of what no longer belongs in your life.
With Taurus grounding the Moon and Scorpio illuminating the deeper layers beneath it, the October Full Moon offers a chance to work with both sides of the seasonal shift: preservation and transformation.
Hunter’s Moon 2026 FAQ
When is the Hunter’s Moon in 2026?
The Hunter’s Moon reaches peak fullness on October 26, 2026, at approximately 04:12 UTC. Depending on your location, this may fall during the evening of October 25 or the early hours of October 26.
What zodiac sign is the Hunter’s Moon in 2026?
The October 2026 Full Moon is in Taurus, opposite the Sun in Scorpio.
Why is it called the Hunter’s Moon?
The name is connected with autumn hunting, gathering, food preservation, and preparation for winter after the harvest season.
What are some other names for the October Full Moon?
October-associated names include Drying Rice Moon, Falling Leaves Moon, Freezing Moon, Ice Moon, and Migrating Moon. Different cultures and Indigenous nations have their own lunar traditions, so these names should not be treated as one universal list.
Is the Hunter’s Moon always in October?
The Hunter’s Moon is generally associated with the Full Moon following the Harvest Moon. Since the Harvest Moon is defined by its relationship to the autumnal equinox, the Hunter’s Moon most often falls in October but can occasionally occur in November.
What does a Taurus Full Moon mean spiritually?
A Taurus Full Moon is often associated in astrology and modern spiritual practice with stability, values, resources, comfort, grounding, patience, and security. With the Sun in Scorpio, themes of transformation, release, emotional depth, and shared resources are also emphasized.
What can I do under the Hunter’s Moon?
You can use the Full Moon for grounding, gratitude, abundance work, protection, seasonal preparation, tarot, meditation, releasing old habits, or creating a seasonal altar.