Once in a Blue Moon:
Full Moon Blue Lotus Ceremony
Friday 29th May 2026
7 - 930pm at Mother of the Woods Retreat, Co Down
Join the Once in a Blue Moon: Full Moon Blue Lotus Ceremony
Friday 29th May 7pm
Please note that spaces are limited and early booking is recommended
This May gifts us a rare celestial moment; a second full moon within the same calendar month, traditionally known as a Blue Moon.
For centuries, Blue Moons have been associated with heightened intuition, emotional illumination and threshold moments; times where the veil feels thinner and we are invited to pause long enough to hear what is quietly calling from within.
To honour this rare lunar portal, we gather in ceremony with Blue Lotus, one of the world’s most ancient sacred flowers.
What is Blue Lotus?
Native to the Nile and surrounding regions of Egypt and Asia, Blue Lotus (Nymphaea caerulea) was revered in ancient Egyptian traditions as a symbol of rebirth, transcendence, sensuality and spiritual awakening. Depicted across temple walls, tombs and sacred art, the flower was often associated with the sun, the cosmos and the mysteries of consciousness itself.
Unlike plants that stimulate or intensify, Blue Lotus is known for its subtle and deeply restorative qualities. Traditionally consumed as a tea or ceremonial elixir, it has long been used to support meditation, dreamwork, relaxation, emotional softening and connection to the inner world.
Energetically, Blue Lotus works gently.
It invites us out of striving and into receptivity. Out of mental noise and back into the wisdom of the body. Many people experience it as a soft opening; a feeling of calm presence, heightened intuition, emotional spaciousness and heart connection. Some describe vivid dreams, enhanced meditation, greater creativity or a gentle euphoric quality that feels grounding rather than overwhelming.
In a world that constantly asks us to push harder, Blue Lotus reminds us of another way:
to soften, to listen, to receive.
This ceremony is an invitation into exactly that.
Together we will gather under the full moon for an intimate evening of ritual, reflection and deep nervous system restoration beneath the full moon.
The evening will weave together:
Ceremonial Blue Lotus tea ritual
Grounding & somatic practice
Guided meditation & intention setting
Reflection + journaling
Yoga Nidra & sound
Stillness and spaciousness
Homemade nourishment shared in community
This is not a ceremony of performance or forced transformation. It is a space to slow down enough to feel what is true.
Please note: while Blue Lotus is traditionally used as a gentle herbal ally for relaxation and meditation, it may not be suitable for everyone. As Blue Lotus can have mildly sedative and psychoactive qualities, we recommend avoiding it during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and for anyone currently taking medications affecting mood, the nervous system or blood pressure unless discussed with a healthcare practitioner. Those with a history of severe mental health conditions or sensitivity to altered states may also wish to approach with care.
A space for dreamers, seekers, sensitive hearts & anyone longing to reconnect with beauty, presence and the sacred intelligence of rest.
About May’s ‘Blue Moon’ in Sagittarius
Astrologically, this rare Blue Moon rises in Sagittarius: the sign of the seeker, the mystic and the visionary.
Sagittarius governs our search for meaning beyond the surface of everyday life. It is connected to higher wisdom, spirituality, expansion, truth and the longing to experience life as something sacred rather than merely functional. Under a Sagittarius Full Moon, emotions and intuition are often amplified, but not in a way that pulls us deeper into heaviness. Instead, this moon illuminates perspective. It asks us to zoom out, to reconnect to wonder, and to remember what truly matters beneath the noise, speed and demands of modern life.
Full moons themselves are traditionally times of culmination, illumination and heightened energetic sensitivity, where what has been hidden beneath the surface becomes more visible. A Blue Moon carries this energy even more potently. As the second full moon within a single month, it has long been associated with rare thresholds, spiritual insight and moments of deep inner reflection.
This is what makes it such a powerful time to work ceremonially with Blue Lotus as a flower of receptivity, intuition and subtle awakening. The expansive, spiritual energy of Sagittarius pairs beautifully with the soul awakening of Blue Lotus. Together they create a space where we can soften the analytical mind, reconnect with the body, deepen intuition and listen more closely to the soul wisdom within us.
About Mother of the Woods Retreat
Mother of the Woods Retreat is set in the home of Senior Tantra Yoga Teacher and Celtic Wheel of the Year guide Emma Rose Lowe. This charming 300 year old Georgian Hall and converted Hayloft Studio is nestled in 3 acres of ancient trees and wild meadows, in the rolling hills of Co Down.
Getting here:
Mother of the Woods is:
10 minutes from Temple/Carryduff, Saintfield and Ballynahinch,
10 minutes from Lisburn (8 minutes from the M1 junction at Lisburn)
20/25 minutes from Belfast City Centre
Full address is sent out on booking. Please note the location is not on a public transport route. The closest bus stop is approximately a 2 mile walk.
