As a Cancer sun woman, my relationship with the moon is a deep and intimate one. After all, the moon is Cancer's ruling planet, and everyone in my life will easily tell you my emotions change with its phases. When I was a child (OK, and sometimes as an adult, too), I used to talk to the moon; I wanted to press all of my deepest hopes and dreams into every single crater. The last year really thrust me into my inner spirituality — shadow work, tarot, crystals, flower essences, all that good good — and that's why it was no surprise that my TikTok algorithm started recommending I make moon water.
But what exactly is moon water, anyway? Basically, it's distilled water charged under the new and full moon, believed to absorb lunar energy to help us tap into our subconscious feelings and emotions. It also helps to heal and revive aspects of our spiritual body.
"[Making] moon water is an ancient practice of alchemically activating water molecules with the emanations that radiate from the light of a full moon," explains Mariah K. Lyons, crystal healer and author of Crystal Healing For Women. In fact, it has been used in beauty routines and ritual practices for ages and is seen in cultures all over the world. "The moon radiates a lunar 'feminine' energy — which has nothing to do with gender but energetics — while the sun radiates a solar ‘masculine’ energy. Just as we see solar panels capture light particles for a 'charge,' when we place water or crystals under the light of the moon they receive a lunar 'charge' from the emanations of the moon," shares Lyons.
Awesome, right? We go outside to get some vitamin D from the sun, but many of us have never considered that light reflecting from the moon may offer some kind of benefit, as well. However, it's a long-standing spiritual belief that water holds consciousness, and it can be said to hold "memories." Japanese researcher Masuro Emoto deeply researched water molecules for his 2004 book The Hidden Messages in Water, claiming that those molecules can change depending upon environment and intention. When you "charge" water by the moon, its molecules are being imprinted with the energy of the moon — so, the general theory would be that when you drink the moon water or use it on your face as a beauty treatment, you are vibrationally tuning into the energy of the moon that is stored within the molecules of water.
Of course, since this is Allure, we also wanted to get a dermatologist's opinion. I asked Hadley King, a dermatologist based in New York City, if she had any thoughts on the medicinal side of moon water. "I love the moon in all of its phases, but unfortunately there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that water will be any different after exposure to moonlight," she says. So while the moon does actually certain types of scientifically proven impact on our water — its gravitational pull affects the tides, something we all were reminded of during the battle of the Big Stuck Boat of 2021 — it's also true that there's no real statistical evidence behind the claims that water charged by the moon will give us any real benefit. However, King agrees that she wants you to stay hydrated, either way, regardless of whether your water has been charged by the moon or not. "It's essential to our health to stay well hydrated, so that means drinking plenty of water, whether or not it has been exposed to moonlight," she explains. Drinking water is the easiest and best way to take care of your body, your health, and your mental health, too.
Varying opinions aside, if you're interested in moon water, party on, Garth. We tapped a few other experts to answer the hows and the whys of moon water for you.
"The moon controls the tides of the ocean, and we are made of 60 percent water," shares Lisa Stardust, astrologer and author of The Saturn Return Survival Guide. "This means that the moon has a huge effect on all of us. Therefore, anyone and everyone should and could use moon water." Every single one of us has an energetic body as well as a physical one, and it's important to maintain good spiritual hygiene. It helps to keep us in alignment to receive renewed energy and clear out anything that does not serve our greatest good.
If there's a moon in the sky, you can make moon water (read: any time!). However, it's highly recommended that you wait until a new or full moon to charge your water, according to Stardust. If you make your water in the new moon, it is best to charge it with positive affirmations and set your intentions towards growth. Full moon water, on the other hand, aids in the release of all that no longer serves us. In order to welcome new fresh energy, we have to make space in our lives for new things, and the full moon helps us to truly dig deep and let go.
One thing, though: Stardust highly advises to not make moon water during an eclipse. The energy of the lunar nodes overpowers the moon's potent phases, which are used to make moon water, so steer clear.
It's actually really easy, you'll just need a few things:
- A glass container or bottle (it doesn't need a lid, but you can use one for storage)
- Incense or sage
- Water — any kind, distilled, tap, from a river, directly from a spring
- Labels and a pen
- Anything you want to infuse into your water — crystals, herbs, flowers
First, you'll want to cleanse the glass container with smoke from your incense or sage. Pour your water into your container or bottle and place it by the window in the moonlight or outside to absorb the moon’s glow. Stardust suggests labeling the bottles with the date and the sign of the luminary, or astrological sign the moon is in at that moment. "If the new moon is in Sagittarius, for example, make note of that to ensure that you can use that vibe to ignite excitement. If the full moon is in Virgo, make note of that as well to allow healing to happen with the water," she explains.
You can add edible herbs and flowers to your water, like roses for love (including self-love), lavender for cleansing and relaxation, or anything conducive to the mood you're trying to manifest. You can also add crystals like rose quartz to heal the heart chakra, or amethyst for heightened intuition to the water, allowing them to absorb and be "charged" by the lunar energy as well. "Crystals such as moonstone, selenite, mother of pearl, and jade have a natural feminine resonance and are wonderful to charge in the light of the moon, especially when looking to conceive or connect deeper with one's own intuition," recommends Lyons.
Speak your affirmations and intentions into the water, repeating it aloud or in your head to bless and set your intentions. Leave the jar overnight to charge with moonlight, and it'll be ready in the morning.
According to moon water maker Barbara Mouradian of Eye Love Love, a company that makes handcrafted small-batch moon-charged water in Florida, the uses for moon water are endless: "Moon water can be used to create a bath ritual, charge and cleanse crystals, cleanse your energetic body, cleanse your home to remove stagnant energy, sacred objects, in your diffuser and more," she explains. Her moon water recipe, which was passed down from her grandmother, is made of charged moon water, flowers, herbs, spices, salt, and alcohol. She works with each of the 12 zodiac signs and their attributes and uses complementary ingredients in her moon water.
One of the most common ways to use moon water would be to bathe in it during the new or full moon — you can even use it to water your plants if you use plain distilled water. If you're an artist, you can dip your paintbrush into it to cleanse your brushes to evoke energy, creativity, and emotions into your art. You can also use it to clean your floor, to make perfumes or oil — basically, anywhere you use water, you can use moon water. You can also drink it to help to aid with cleansing and heal the body.
I turned mine into a cute little mist for my desk and for my shower, and I mist my moon water as much as I spritz my face with my various favorite facial mists, and if I'm feeling super reckless… I might even combine the two.
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