Moon Water: A Complete Guide to Making and Using It in Witchcraft

Moon water is simply ordinary water that’s been left in the moonlight to absorb the Moon’s energy.

Witches use it for many things, including cleansing, blessing, spellwork, and manifestation. In recent years, it’s also gained mainstream popularity on platforms like TikTok, where people incorporate it into self-care and beauty routines.

Making moon water is as simple as placing a jar of water in the moonlight. Many do this under a full moon, but you can make moon water at any stage of the lunar cycle, depending on your intentions.

What is moon water?

When you leave water in the moonlight, it absorbs the moon’s energy and becomes spiritually charged. This is called moon water.

In witchcraft, the Moon has long been associated with intuition, emotions, transformation, and the cycles of nature. Water has its own symbolic associations, too, particularly with cleansing, healing, emotions, and renewal.

Moon water brings these two elements together.

Moon water’s magical properties vary depending on the lunar phase. A waxing moon, for example, is associated with growth and abundance, while a waning moon is linked to release and letting go. You can choose the night you make moon water based on your specific goals and intentions.

This combination of lunar energy and the ability to tailor its properties to different intentions makes moon water a popular ingredient in spells and rituals among witches and Wiccans. However, it isn’t just witches or Wiccans who can make it. It’s also become more mainstream, particularly among people interested in spirituality, wellness, and connecting with nature.

How to make moon water

Making moon water is simple, and you don’t need any previous witchcraft experience to get started. Just place a jar of clean water somewhere it can receive moonlight, set your intention, and leave it to charge. That’s all there is to it!

What you’ll need:

• A clean glass jar or bottle. I find a mason jar with a secure lid works best. You can decorate your jar with lunar symbols if you like, or place crystals nearby. Just don’t put crystals in the water if you plan to drink it – they can release harmful substances.
• Water. Any water will do, although some witches prefer collecting rainwater or using water from a natural source, such as a stream or spring. A location with personal significance may be especially appealing, as some believe this enhances the water’s magical properties. If you plan to drink your moon water, always use water that’s safe to consume.
• A place to leave your jar. Somewhere outdoors with a view of the sky is ideal, although a windowsill works, too.
• An intention. Decide on a particular goal or magical purpose you want to associate with the water.

Step-by-step instructions for making moon water:

1. Clean your container. Wash the jar and lid thoroughly. If you like, you can also cleanse the container energetically using incense smoke or by holding it in your hands and visualizing any unwanted energy being released.

2. Fill the jar with water. Use as much as you think you’ll need for your spells or rituals, then secure the lid to keep out dust and debris.

4. Place the jar in moonlight. Put the jar somewhere safe outdoors, or on an indoor windowsill if you don’t have access to an outdoor space. Direct moonlight is ideal, but not essential. After all, the new moon is a popular time for making moon water, even though the Moon isn’t visible.

5. Leave it to charge. There’s no fixed charging time, so follow your own preferences or tradition. An hour or two is plenty for some witches, while others prefer to leave their water overnight.

6. Bring it inside and store it. Retrieve the jar when you’re finished, then label it with the date, lunar phase, and intention. Some witches prefer to collect their water before sunrise to avoid mixing lunar and solar energies, although a little sunlight won’t undo the charging process.

And that’s it! You now have moon water ready for use.

When should you make moon water?

You can make moon water during any lunar phase, so choose a night that aligns with your intentions.

The full moon is a popular choice because it’s traditionally associated with heightened magical energy, but each phase has its own associations, as outlined in the table below.

How moon phases affect moon water:

Moon phase	Common magical associations	Suggested moon water uses
New moon	New beginnings, fresh intentions, potential	Setting goals, starting projects, personal renewal
Waxing crescent	Growth, attraction, building momentum	Confidence, prosperity, developing relationships
First quarter	Action, determination, overcoming obstacles	Motivation, courage, progress towards goals
Waxing gibbous	Refinement, preparation, strengthening	Reinforcing intentions, improving existing plans
Full moon	Completion, abundance, celebration, heightened intuition	General spellwork, blessings, gratitude, cleansing
Waning gibbous	Reflection, gratitude, sharing wisdom	Emotional processing, appreciation, self-reflection
Last quarter	Release, change, breaking patterns	Banishing unwanted influences, letting go of habits
Waning crescent	Rest, closure, introspection	Restful practices, reflection, preparing for a fresh start

These are common associations, but different witchcraft traditions may interpret the phases differently.

Don’t worry about timing the precise astronomical moment of a full moon. As long as you’re broadly within the right phase, making your moon water a night early or late won’t change the intention behind it.

And if you’re not sure which phase the Moon is in tonight, check an online lunar calendar, then use the table above to see if the current phase aligns with your intention.

When not to make moon water

There’s no universally bad time to make moon water, but some moon phases are better suited to certain intentions than others.

For example, if you’re hoping to attract prosperity, the waxing moon is a better choice than the waning moon, as it’s associated with growth and abundance. Ideally, you want the lunar energy to complement your intentions, not work against them.

Some witches will avoid making moon water during lunar eclipses, believing its energy is unpredictable or disruptive. However, others embrace eclipses as powerful times for transformation.

Practical considerations are arguably more important. On a freezing night, you don’t want to leave water outside, as it could turn to ice and crack the glass container.

What is moon water used for?

One of the biggest benefits of moon water is how many different ways you can use it. Here are some of the most popular uses among witches:

• Cleansing and purification. Moon water can clear unwanted energy from objects or spaces. Sprinkle a little around your altar, dab it onto a water-safe ritual tool, or use it to wipe down a washable surface before a spell.
• Blessing and protection. Use moon water to bless personal possessions or protect your home, perhaps by placing a few drops around your doorway to ward off unwanted influences.
• Spells and manifestation. Moon water can reinforce the intention behind a spell, particularly when its lunar associations align with your goal.
• Ritual baths and personal cleansing. Add half a cup of plain moon water to a warm bath as part of a cleansing or relaxation ritual. Use a little to symbolically wash your hands before spellwork, helping you prepare mentally and spiritually.
• Plants and gardening. Some witches use moon water to nurture plants associated with their magical intentions. Basil is traditionally associated with prosperity and abundance, so it naturally pairs with moon water charged during the waxing moon, a time associated with growth and new opportunities. Just make sure the water is clean and free from salt, essential oils, or other additives that could harm your plants.
• Infused moon water. Add herbs or flowers to moon water to complement its magical properties. If you’re using crystals, keep them outside the container rather than placing them directly in the water – they’ll still lend their energy to the water from nearby. Always assume homemade infused moon water is unsafe to drink.

If you want a simple ritual to try with your moon water, here’s one for attracting a new job. You can easily adapt it to suit other intentions, too.

Start by making moon water during the waxing moon, a phase traditionally associated with growth and new opportunities. Write your intention on a piece of paper and place your jar beside it overnight.

Once the water is ready, dip your fingertips into it and dab a little onto the paper while repeating your intention aloud. Keep the paper somewhere safe as a reminder of what you’re working towards.

Can you drink moon water?

Yes, you can drink moon water, as long as it’s prepared and stored safely. Many witches do, believing it allows them to absorb the Moon’s energy directly.

Exposing clean drinking water to moonlight won’t make it unsafe. However, moonlight won’t purify contaminated water, so it’s important to take a few precautions.

Only drink moon water made with safe drinking water and stored in a clean, food-safe container with a secure lid. Avoid drinking water collected from natural sources or infused with crystals, herbs, or essential oils. If the water has been left sitting for a long time or there’s any chance it’s become contaminated, don’t drink it.

And if drinking moon water doesn’t appeal to you, that’s absolutely fine! Plenty of witches use it for blessings, cleansing, or rituals without ever consuming a drop.

How to store moon water

The easiest option is to store your moon water in the same jar you made it in, with the lid tightly sealed. Be sure to label the jar with the date, lunar phase, and intention.

If you’re planning on drinking it, keep it refrigerated and consume it within 24 hours.

Moon water used for spells and rituals can often be kept longer, although adding ingredients like herbs and flowers can cause it to spoil more quickly. Store it somewhere cool and away from direct sunlight to help it stay fresh for longer. Some witches prefer to keep their moon water on an altar, where it becomes part of their sacred space.

Personally, I recommend using your moon water within a month, when I believe its lunar energy is still at its strongest. There’s no universal rule about how long moon water retains its magical properties, though, and this is purely a magical guideline, not a guarantee of how long the water will remain safe to use.

If your moon water develops an unusual smell, becomes cloudy, or shows signs of contamination, discard it immediately.

FAQs about moon water

Can you make moon water when it’s cloudy?

Yes! You can still make moon water on cloudy nights. Direct moonlight is traditionally preferred, but the Moon’s energy is still present on a cloudy night. There’s no need to wait for clear skies, especially when it could be another month before your chosen lunar phase comes around again. And who’s to say it won’t be cloudy then, too?

Can you make moon water indoors?

Absolutely! Plenty of witches make moon water indoors, especially if they don’t have access to an outdoor space. If possible, try to place your jar on a windowsill where it’s best exposed to the night sky.

What happens if moon water is exposed to sunlight?

A little sunlight won’t undo the charging process, though some witches collect their moon water before sunrise to avoid all solar energy. I certainly wouldn’t throw out a batch of moon water just because the Sun came up before I collected it!

Can you mix moon water from different lunar phases?

Yes! There’s no universal rule against combining moon water from different lunar phases. In fact, doing so lets you bring together different magical energies to support a particular intention. For example, you might combine new moon water, associated with fresh beginnings, with waxing moon water, associated with growth and progress.

Does the type of full moon affect moon water?

Some witches associate different full moons with particular magical properties based on the season, astrological sign, or astronomical event.

A Blood Moon, which occurs during a total lunar eclipse, is often associated with transformation and profound change. A Supermoon, which appears slightly larger and brighter than usual, may be considered a time of heightened lunar energy. Meanwhile, a Blue Moon, usually defined as the second full moon in a calendar month, occurs roughly every two to three years and is sometimes associated with rare opportunities or particularly significant intentions.

Want to put this into practice? My free spell book is a good place to begin.