A Supermoon is a powerful celestial event that occurs when a Full or New Moon reaches its closest point to Earth, known as its perigee, making it appear significantly larger and brighter in our sky. For us on the ground, this cosmic alignment serves as a potent energetic amplifier, heightening emotions, intensifying intuition, and bringing the themes of the zodiac sign it occupies into sharp focus. Happening several times a year, these supercharged lunar events offer a profound opportunity for personal breakthroughs, emotional release, and powerful intention-setting, impacting our inner worlds in ways that are impossible to ignore.
What Exactly Is a Supermoon?
To understand the astrological impact, we must first grasp the astronomy behind it. The Moon does not orbit the Earth in a perfect circle; its path is an ellipse, like a slightly squashed circle. This means that at certain points in its orbit, the Moon is closer to us, and at other times, it is farther away.
The closest point in this orbit is called the perigee, and the farthest point is the apogee. A Supermoon occurs when a Full Moon or a New Moon aligns with the perigee. This proximity makes the Moon appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a Full Moon at its apogee, which is often called a Micromoon.
While the term “Supermoon” was coined by an astrologer, Richard Nolle, in 1979, the phenomenon itself is a simple, predictable function of celestial mechanics. It is this physical closeness, however, that astrologers believe translates into a more potent energetic influence on our lives.
The Amplified Energy: A Supermoon’s Astrological Impact
In astrology, the Moon governs our emotional landscape. It represents our feelings, intuition, subconscious patterns, memories, and our need for security and nurturing. Think of the regular monthly lunar cycle as the gentle, rhythmic tide of your inner world.
A Supermoon, by virtue of its proximity, turns up the volume on this lunar frequency. The gravitational pull is stronger, and so is the energetic and emotional pull. It’s like moving from a standard radio broadcast to a high-definition, surround-sound experience of your own feelings. This can make us more sensitive, reactive, and psychically attuned.
Super Full Moons vs. Super New Moons
The phase of the Supermoon—whether it is Full or New—dramatically changes its specific meaning. Both are powerful, but they serve different purposes in our personal growth cycles.
A Super Full Moon is the most visually and energetically dramatic. Full Moons are always moments of culmination, revelation, and release. They shine a bright light on things that were previously hidden in the shadows of our subconscious. A Super Full Moon brings these themes to a powerful, unavoidable climax. It is a time for major emotional breakthroughs, when truths are revealed and we are pushed to let go of what no longer serves our highest good.
Conversely, a Super New Moon is an intensely supercharged beginning. New Moons mark the start of a new lunar cycle and are traditionally the time for planting seeds and setting intentions. A Super New Moon provides an extra-potent energetic launchpad for any new venture, relationship, or personal goal. Its power is more internal and subtle than a Full Moon, but it infuses our intentions with immense power and potential for growth.
How a Supermoon’s Zodiac Sign Shapes Its Influence
The raw power of a Supermoon is filtered through the lens of the zodiac sign it currently occupies. The sign dictates the flavor of the energy being amplified, pointing to the specific area of our lives that will be most intensely affected. Understanding the sign is key to understanding the moon’s message.
Example: A Supermoon in Aries
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, representing courage, initiative, independence, and action. When a Supermoon occurs in this fiery sign, it can ignite a powerful urge for a fresh start. You might feel an overwhelming impulse to break free from restrictions, launch a bold new project, or assert your individuality. The emotional landscape becomes direct and assertive, but it can also tip into impatience and impulsivity if not channeled constructively.
Example: A Supermoon in Cancer
Cancer is the sign ruled by the Moon, making a Supermoon in Cancer exceptionally potent. The focus here is on home, family, roots, and emotional security. Deep-seated family dynamics, memories from the past, and our most vulnerable feelings can surface with incredible intensity. This lunation calls for deep self-nurturing and asks us to examine what truly makes us feel safe and at home in the world.
Example: A Supermoon in Scorpio
Scorpio is a sign of depth, transformation, and power. A Supermoon in Scorpio is a deeply cathartic event, dredging up profound truths from the emotional depths. It illuminates secrets, power dynamics, and areas where we need to undergo a psychological death and rebirth. This is a time for radical honesty with oneself and for releasing deep-seated attachments and fears.
Example: A Supermoon in Aquarius
Aquarius governs the collective, friendships, innovation, and humanitarian ideals. A Supermoon here shifts the focus from the personal to the communal. It can bring breakthroughs related to your social circles, your role in your community, or your hopes for the future. You may feel a sudden urge to connect with like-minded people or to contribute to a cause that is larger than yourself.
Harnessing the Power: How to Work with Supermoon Energy
The amplified energy of a Supermoon can feel overwhelming, but it is also a gift. With conscious awareness, you can channel this intensity into profound personal growth. The key is to remain present and intentional.
Grounding and Self-Care
Because emotions run so high, grounding is essential. This means connecting your energy to the stability of the Earth. Simple practices like walking barefoot on grass, spending time in nature, or even taking a bath with Epsom salts can help dissipate excess emotional energy and prevent you from feeling carried away by the turbulent tides.
This is a time to pause before you react. The heightened energy can shorten fuses and lead to impulsive decisions. Give yourself space to process your feelings before acting on them. Prioritize rest, as your energetic body is working overtime.
Journaling and Reflection
A Supermoon is a perfect time for deep introspection. Use journaling as a tool to understand the messages emerging from your subconscious. If it’s a Super Full Moon, ask yourself: What is reaching a climax in my life? What truth is being illuminated? What am I ready to release?
If it’s a Super New Moon, focus your journaling on new beginnings. Ask: What new chapter am I ready to start? What seeds of intention do I want to plant for the coming cycle? What does my ideal future look like?
Rituals and Intentions
Ritual helps to focus your energy and make your intentions concrete. For a Super Full Moon, a simple release ritual can be powerful. Write down everything you wish to let go of—limiting beliefs, old habits, stagnant relationships—and then safely burn the paper (or tear it into small pieces and bury it). This symbolizes your conscious decision to release it.
For a Super New Moon, focus on creation. Create a vision board, write a detailed list of your goals, or simply light a candle and meditate on the future you are calling into being. Many also use this time to cleanse and charge crystals under the moonlight, imbuing them with the moon’s potent energy.
Beyond the Hype: Separating Fact from Fiction
It is important to approach Supermoons with awareness, not fear. The intense energy they bring is not inherently “good” or “bad”—it is a neutral amplifier. It simply makes more obvious what is already present within us and in our lives.
The effects of a Supermoon are not confined to a single 24-hour period. You will likely feel the energy building in the days leading up to the event and lingering for a few days after. Think of it as an energetic portal rather than a fleeting moment.
The moon’s stronger gravitational pull during this time affects the Earth’s tides, creating higher high tides and lower low tides. We can see this as a physical metaphor for our own inner world. Just as the oceans are pulled more strongly, so are the waters of our own emotions, asking us to acknowledge their depth and power.
Ultimately, a Supermoon is a cosmic invitation to connect more deeply with yourself. It is a celestial spotlight that illuminates your emotional truth, offering a powerful moment to release what holds you back during a Full Moon or to set potent intentions for the future during a New Moon. By working with its energy consciously, you can use this amplified lunar power as a catalyst for profound healing and transformation.
