Full Moon Hangovers Are Real—Here’s How To “Cure” Them

Have you ever woken up after a full moon feeling absolutely miserable? Maybe you’re irritated and moody? Maybe you’re a little sad and completely exhausted—almost like you spent all night partying, drinking, and crying… except you were in bed all night long. It’s not just you, dear reader, blame it on the full moon and its infamous “hangover.” 

I did the hard work for you, and asked two expert astrologers what this emotional moon phenomenon is all about, why it happens, and what each rising and moon sign can do to take care of themselves during it—including specific yoga poses, exercises, skincare rituals, and so much more. 

Why do I feel so weird after a full moon?

In astrology, the full moon is meant to be a release; the moment in the lunar cycle where we let go of what’s not working for us anymore. This release is felt in the body, with some people being more sensitive to it than others. And why wouldn’t it? The moon already affects our tides and waters, and our bodies are mostly water. It makes sense once you start to think about it. “A full moon in astrology is a really big culmination.” Jill Brown, evolutionary astrologer and former NASA researcher, says. “ So, you're not just imagining it. It is actually having a pull on you.” 

Mikaela MacLean, astrologer and licensed aesthetician, also explains that the full moon can influence our sleep patterns. Do you notice that you sleep less during full moon nights? Prepare for a hangover the next day, then. “People may experience disrupted or reduced sleep, with lower melatonin levels,” she says. “And so disrupted sleep elevates cortisol, our body's main stress hormone.” This can apply to general sleepless nights, but can feel even more amplified during a full moon. 

“And, if we're further stressed out, it's just going to exacerbate everything,”MacLean adds. “[W]hen the cortisol is high you have excess inflammation in the body.” Everyone knows excess inflammation makes everything worse, and it’s one of the leading causes that makes normal hangovers as bad as they are. It’s *all* connected. 

How to take care of yourself after a full moon, based on your moon and rising sign

Aries moon and rising

The fire sign and baby of the Zodiac, this sign will have a lot of energy to burn. “Aries might notice big surges of physical energy, with the downside of that being restlessness,” Brown explains. So she recommends intense exercise (like boxing) to release all that pent up energy. While MacLean recommends something cooling and soothing for your head with some pressure to help stimulate the vagus nerve, like a crystal eye mask or a weighted mask. 

Taurus moon and rising

Taurus will probably start overthinking, to your detriment, and Brown recommends putting an immediate stop to that. “Taurus might start self-reflecting on doubts about self-worth, security and stability,” she says. “And so, don't believe your thoughts late at night.” Journal or voice notes to yourself or friends might be the solution to that. MacLean recommends focusing on the throat, since that’s Taurus’ domain. “Something affirmation or mantra based, and working the vocal cords—singing, toning…something like that is going to help,” she says. 

Gemini moon and rising

Gemini, your full moon hangover theme is anxiety and an inability to focus—specifically when it comes to other people. “Gemini tends to be pretty social and extroverted, and that could tap you out,” Brown explains. “So, the self-care there is to really try to be aware, and to not overextend yourself.” MacLean recommends for the air sign to focus on breathwork, to make sure you’re not lost in your head, but present in your body. “Something very grounding and very soothing to help bring you down,” she says. 

Cancer moon and rising

If anyone is affected by the moon, it’s you, Cancer, right? Ruled by the moon, this water sign can have heightened sensitivity and intuition. “It would be a really good time [for them] for any kind of rituals surrounding release,” Brown says. She also recommends being near water, whether that’s a good soak, a cold plunge, or—as MacLean also says—a good cry. The aesthetician also recommends a breast massage or simply going braless on the full moon hangover day. Let it all hang out, Cancer. 

Leo moon and rising

Leos are plenty creative in your daily life, but this gets heightened during full moons. Brown recommends using that to your advantage and trying a new art form in community—whether it’s hosting your own craft night at your house with your friends or going to a class of a practice you’ve never done before. MacLean suggests Tapping the Thymus yoga pose for Leos. “Doing a little bit of heart opening. Opening that space up, and just relaxing,” she says.

Virgo moon and rising

This might be a hard time for you, Virgo. Letting go is hard for anyone, but it’s especially hard for this earth sign, so give yourself some grace during this time. Brown recommends embracing everything that makes you you, focusing on good nutrition (something for good gut health, like kombucha, or fermented like kimchi, according to MacLean) and a clean home. “Something [else] that would be really good for Virgo is doing practices that embrace the discomfort of letting go,” Brown says. “And so those can be readings of stoicism, [which] is really big on just releasing control.” 

Libra moon and rising

Ruled by the planet of relationships, Venus, balance-seeking Libra might have difficulties around this topic during this time. “That can manifest as taking on too much,” Brown says. “So, my Libras, I really caution about using the word yes during the full moon.” Practice your no’s is the main advice there. MacLean recommends doing some low back stretches, and since Libra rules the kidneys, to drink lots and lots of water. 

Scorpio moon and rising

Dramatic Scorpios will get a sudden need for deep change and transformation. While it might be something you’ve been debating and thinking about for a while, it’s important to see if it’s really you or the full moon’s influence. Brown recommends sitting with a decision and waiting to act for a few days. “Give yourself a day or two to sit with it,” she says. “Make the decision, but don't act on it for a few days, and see how the decision feels.”

MacLean recommends (jokingly but also seriously), something for the colon, flushing your system out. “Maybe it’s also doing some sort of meditation while practicing Mula Bandha, focusing on the pelvic muscles,” she says. 

Sagittarius moon and rising

For the travel-obsessed Sagittarius, what better time to visit a new place than during (or after) the full moon? While it’s always fun to go abroad, we don’t always have the funds. So, we have to get creative. “If you're not taking a big trip, maybe just a day trip,” Brown explains. “Maybe it's to go explore something in your city.” For hangover soothing Yoga, MacLean recommends lots of stretching poses like the Fire Log or Reclining Pigeon. “Really just settling into it, knowing that you're not going to move fast,” she says. “You can get into pigeon for 10 minutes, and just just sit there and allow your body to calm down.” 

Capricorn moon and rising

Capricorns might have a tendency to hyperfixate on what needs to get done, whether that’s in the mundane everyday life or the grand lifelong plan. And honestly? Go for it. “If you need to deep clean your house or structure your filing cabinet, great,” Brown says. “But to me, what would be a really good self care for them is to sign up for a mentorship program.” While MacLean recommends an electronic-free hike. “Where you're not listening to anyone or texting, anything—just go immerse yourself in nature, and reset that way,” she explains.

Aquarius moon and rising

For Aquarius, there are lots of self-care options for you, depending on your needs during this full moon hangover. This air sign really cares about activism, new ideas, and community, so we’d suggest going to a protest, spending time with your friends, or doing something completely new to you and solitary like breathwork. “It's a different kind of focus, but it's still giving [you] something to focus on,” Brown explains. When it comes to body-care and wellness, MacLean recommends dry-brushing to stimulate your circulation.

Pisces moon and rising

The spiritual dreamer of the Zodiac, Pisces will be the ones doomed to poor sleep and intense dreams during the full moon. For you, Brown recommends taking advantage of the dreams to your own benefit. “They're getting all the wackadoodle dreams, which can be a really cool way to help answer questions,” she explains. “So, if you're inclined to that kind of lucid dreaming or intense dreaming, be really intentional before bed about questions and see if you can't get those answers.”

Keep a dream journal at your bedside table to write down those night visions, and hopefully, the universe will let you rest afterwards. Pisces also rules the feet, so MacLean recommends focusing on them for self-care. “Just literally putting your bare feet on the ground, receiving negative ions from the earth.” she says.