Blue moons
Blue moons
By: Selene Firewolf The Weaver Witch
The next time we’ll see a Full Moon on Halloween won’t be until 2039, which already makes the 2020 event feel even more memorable. Even rarer, the last time every single U.S. time zone experienced a Halloween Blue Moon together was all the way back in 1944.
Wait… Why Is the May 30–31 Full Moon Called a Blue Moon?
Nope — the moon is not actually turning blue.
I know the name Blue Moon makes it sound like we’re about to look up and see some magical glowing sapphire moon hanging in the sky, but that’s not what’s happening here. No such luck.
The full moon on May 30–31, 2026, is called a Blue Moon because it’s the second full moon in a single calendar month. That’s it. No dramatic color change. Unfortunately, no cosmic Smurf moon.
We had a full moon earlier in May, and since this second one squeezed itself in before the month ended, it officially earns the title of monthly Blue Moon.
And yes, this is where the phrase “once in a blue moon” comes from — because while they’re not super rare, they also don’t happen constantly either. On average, a monthly Blue Moon shows up every two to three years.
So… Can the Moon Ever Actually Turn Blue?
Technically? Yes. But that is rare.
A moon can appear blue if there are very specific particles hanging around in Earth’s atmosphere — usually from things like wildfire smoke or volcanic dust. These particles scatter red light and can sometimes make the moon look bluish.
So while a “Blue Moon” usually has nothing to do with color, an actual blue-looking moon can happen under the right conditions.
Types of Blue Moon
There are actually three kinds of Blue Moons, and this is where people get confused.
1. Monthly Blue Moon (What We Have Right Now)
This is the one most people know about. Which is kind of funny because it came from a misunderstanding. Amateur astronomer James Hugh Pruett in a 1946 issue of Sky & Telescope. Misread the almanac explanation, and the mistaken version spread through media, trivia books, radio shows, and eventually mainstream culture
A monthly Blue Moon happens when there are two full moons in the same calendar month, and the second one gets the title. That’s exactly what’s happening on May 30–31, 2026.
Upcoming monthly Blue Moons include:
December 31, 2028
September 30, 2031
July 31, 2034
January 31, 2037
And a fun fact — sometimes there can even be two Blue Moons in one year. Normally, monthly blue moons occur about every two or three years. In 2018, we had two blue moons in one year and only two months apart! The next time we will get two blue moons in a year will be in 2037.
2. Seasonal Blue Moon
Oddly enough, this one is way less talked about. Even though it is older, this appeared in the Maine Farmers’ Almanac in the 1930s and is the earlier documented calendrical use. Instead of calendar months, this Blue Moon is based on the seasons — meaning the time between an equinox and a solstice.
Normally, each season has three full moons. But every now and then, a season ends up squeezing in four full moons. When that happens, the third full moon gets called a seasonal Blue Moon.
Yeah… not the fourth one. The third. Astronomy likes to be weird sometimes.
Very rarely, a seasonal Blue Moon and a monthly Blue Moon can occur in the same calendar year. For this to happen, you need 13 full moons between successive December solstices for a seasonal Blue Moon – and, generally, 13 full moons in one calendar year for a monthly Blue Moon. This will next happen in the year 2048, when a monthly Blue Moon falls on January 31, and a seasonal Blue Moon on August 23.
The next seasonal Blue Moon arrives on May 20, 2027.
3. Astrological
Now, modern astrology circles have introduced yet another interpretation: the Astrological Blue Moon.
An Astrological Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons during one solar month — meaning the Sun remains in the same zodiac sign while the Moon becomes full twice instead of once. Because a full moon occurs when the Moon is opposite the Sun, both full moons will occur in the same zodiac sign as each other.
This is a much newer astrological usage of the term and is not part of the older astronomical or almanac traditions associated with Blue Moons. Still, it follows a logical astrological pattern and has become increasingly discussed in modern astrology communities.
Astrological Blue Moons occur roughly every two and a half to three years and are usually preceded a month earlier by a full moon occurring in the first degrees of the same zodiac sign.
A common point of confusion is that not every calendar Blue Moon is also an Astrological Blue Moon. While a regular calendar Blue Moon is based on the modern calendar system, an Astrological Blue Moon is based on the Sun’s movement through the zodiac instead.
So, Is This Moon Spiritually Different?
Full Moons are often considered amplifiers — energetic peaks that bring emotions, intentions, and spiritual work to a climax. Because of that, many practitioners view a Blue Moon as an especially powerful time for prayers, rituals, ceremonies, protection work, healing, love, legal matters, money workings, and dream work.
That said, whether a Blue Moon is spiritually different ultimately depends on your beliefs.
Astronomically speaking, a Blue Moon is simply about timing on a calendar or within a season. It doesn’t automatically mean stronger energy, portals opening, or cosmic chaos. However, throughout history, people have attached symbolism and spiritual meaning to uncommon celestial events, so if you personally work with moon energy or rituals, you may feel called to give it extra significance.
The May 30–31, 2026, moon is considered special because Blue Moons are relatively uncommon, not because the moon will literally appear blue. And honestly… the moon doesn’t need to change colors to still feel pretty damn magical.
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