Full Moon Ritual for Remembering Our Beloved Animal Companions

A Guided Full Moon Practice for Grieving and Honoring Pets Who’ve Passed

Aug 09, 2025

Full Moon Grief & Release
(August 9th, 2025 – Sturgeon Moon in Aquarius)

By Melissa | Animal Intuitive, Energy Healer & Holistic Pet Health Coach

This week has been full in more ways than one.

The skies are heavy with rain here in Florida, a tropical system circling through, flooding the streets, filling the air with that familiar, sticky weight. And now, the full moon is rising. Bright. Bold. Reflective.

It’s the Sturgeon Moon, the last full moon of summer, and it arrives in Aquarius, an energy that asks us to look at our relationships: to ourselves, to others, to the collective. It also asks us to feel everything, then let go.

This is a time of illumination and release.

And this week, that theme hit home in the most tender way. A few animal clients I’ve been working with crossed over. Though each goodbye is different, the ache is always familiar. The experience of holding space for those transitions, honoring the connection, the love, the letting go, becomes part of my own rhythm, part of my own moon cycle.

Sometimes grief doesn’t show up in tears. Sometimes it looks like silence. Like needing more sleep. Like holding a stare just a few seconds longer. Like pausing in the middle of a sentence because something in your chest tugs and you don’t know why.

If you’ve felt that too this week, you’re not alone.

When the Moon Is Full, So Is My Heart

Full moons are a time when everything rises to the surface. Emotion. Memory. Insight. Restlessness. They illuminate what’s been lingering in the shadows, sometimes softly, sometimes like a spotlight. And when the moon lands in Aquarius like this one, the emotional truth isn't always dramatic, but it is raw.

Aquarius brings perspective, the kind that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. It teaches us how to care without losing ourselves. How to grieve without becoming grief. How to let go without losing love.

That’s what I keep learning through the work I do with animals and their people. That love doesn’t leave when the body does. That energy doesn’t disappear, it just shifts. That our relationships with animals continue, even if the form has changed.

A Gentle Ritual for Grief & Letting Go

Before beginning, take time to create a space that feels safe, soft, and sacred. This could be near a window or outside if the weather allows.

Light a candle, bring a photo or small item that reminds you of your beloved animal.
Sometimes I bring my heart chakra crystal bowl and let its tone fill the space.
Ground yourself. Feel your feet on the floor, and imagine them sinking gently into the earth.
Breathe deeply.
Let your body settle.
Let your heart speak.

Once you’ve created your space, try this ritual:

Moonlight Letter Ritual

Write a letter to the animal you're grieving. Let the words come freely… memories, love, things left unsaid, moments you’re holding onto. There’s no right way to do it. Just allow it to flow.

When you’re finished, fold the letter and place it under the moonlight on a windowsill, porch, or wherever feels right. Close your eyes and imagine your message being received in the unseen spaces, carried by moonlight.

In the morning, you may wish to keep the letter, bury it, or safely burn it as a form of sacred release. Choose what feels right for you.

This is your moment. This is your connection.

If You’re Feeling Tender, You’re Not Doing It Wrong

Grief is not a detour from healing. It is healing.

You don’t have to rush it, define it, or dress it up. Just like the rain, it comes and goes in waves. And sometimes, like now, the sky opens all at once. Sometimes the ground floods. Sometimes your eyes do.

That’s okay.

This full moon invites us to sit with the mess, the meaning, and the magic. It reminds us that even in grief, there is connection. Even in letting go, there is love.

And maybe that's what this moon, and this work, is all about:
Staying open. Staying soft. Letting the light in, even when it hurts.

I’d love to invite you into our heart-centered communities. In my private group, we share everything from gentle grief support to animal communication, holistic pet health, and soulful connection with our animal companions.

🔗 Join my private group here

For those walking the tender path of end-of-life care, pet loss, and grief, I also co-run Compassionate Paws a safe, loving space where we honor our beloved animals, share stories, and hold space for one another.

Connect with kindred spirits, and know you are never alone in your journey with your animals.

Thank you so much for reading this post! Please let me know what you think.

For more pet health tips and other ways to connect:

Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. I am not a veterinarian, and my services are intended as a complementary practice to support your pet’s overall well-being. They are not a substitute for professional veterinary care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your veterinarian regarding any medical concerns, conditions, or treatments your pet may require.

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