What February’s snow moon means for you – from your sleep to your mood

There’s a reason we often blame mishaps or spooky happenings on a full moon – it really can affect us. Just as it controls the tides, the moon has a much bigger part to play in our lives than you might realise – especially when it’s a full moon.

As such, you might have heard chatter about the upcoming snow moon and wondered what it is and what it might mean for you. So, we asked Kerry Ward, tarot creator, author of Zodiac Love Match and moonology expert, to explain everything we can expect from the astrological event that is February’s snow moon, including how it can affect our sleep, mood, behaviour and more.

To start with, the snow moon is simply the traditional name of February’s full moon, Ward tells me, which this year falls on Sunday 1 February. Its influence, however, typically spans the day before, during and after its peak. “For some, especially emotionally sensitive people, the effects can linger for up to a week as insights integrate or emotions calm down,” she says.

“Astronomically, the snow moon is no different from any other full moon,” says Ward. “Astrologically speaking, however, it falls in Aquarius season, which makes its moon sign Leo, so it has its own ‘personality’. Energetically and seasonally, February is a liminal month – it’s the beginning of the end of winter and therefore asking us what we’re still carrying that no longer serves us before spring begins, particularly around our romantic and close friend relationships.”

In terms of sleep, you might find that you experience a more disturbed slumber on Sunday night. “Full moons in general are linked to light, disrupted and dream-filled sleep, and there’s often a sense of restlessness paired with reflection – physical tiredness meets mental overstimulation,” says Ward. “We may be ruminating on emotional truths about our own individuality, uniqueness and where we fit in.”

Ward says that full moons commonly trigger heightened emotions and sensitivities. “Be patient and compassionate with yourself the day before, during and after the full moon,” she recommends. “Emotional truth, personal self-awareness of uniqueness and the desire to express these insights and make them into something creative are all front and centre. We may, as a result, examine who we express ourselves to, their reactions and whether we’re moving in the right circles.”

Full moons, she tells me, are a reflective phase, often filled with more thought than action, and this particular moon is no different. The snow moon, however, will likely lead to “new decisions and steps quite quickly, because the reflection it stimulates is personal and self-centred: what are you best at? What’s your truth? What do you wish to express? What will fulfil you? Answer these questions, and the actions will be obvious,” she says.

It won’t necessarily affect us all in the same way, though. People who are already “sensitive, intuitive or emotionally attuned often feel lunar shifts more strongly, while those experiencing burnout, grief or big life transitions may find the snow moon particularly reflective”, Ward says. “Astrology also plays a role – those with fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius may feel more emotionally stirred by the energy of this full moon.”

Images: Adobe