Last night, I spent some time in the sauna at The Hideaway beneath the full moon. Through the glass door I could see her shining in the dark sky, while inside the warmth of the wood and the soft glow of the light held me in a little pocket of stillness.
Sitting there, I found myself thinking back over the past month. What had been on my mind? What was I ready to let go of? And what did I want to make a little more room for in the weeks ahead?
A moon for the turning season
October’s full moon, often called the Hunter’s Moon, follows the Harvest Moon and feels particularly meaningful to me. Here on the smallholding, the harvest season is giving way to shorter days and cooler evenings. The land is beginning its slow turn towards winter, inviting us to gather what nourishes us and prepare for the colder season ahead.
In that light, my sauna felt like a gentle way to honour the changing season: a moment to reflect on what this year has brought, let go of what feels ready to be released, and welcome the warmth, rest and nourishment I want to carry into the months ahead.
A monthly moment to pause
I love the full moon as a natural marker in the month. Life moves so quickly, and it can be easy to travel from one thing to the next without stopping to notice how we are feeling. The changing moon offers a gentle reminder to pause and take stock.
For me, a full moon ritual is a chance to reflect on what feels complete, what I would like to release and what I want to invite into my life. That might be a thought pattern, a feeling, a commitment that no longer fits, or simply the busyness I have been holding in my body. There is no right way to do it. It can be as simple as asking yourself a question and allowing a little quiet around the answer.
Let the warmth hold you
Adding sauna to this monthly ritual brings the experience into the body. Sitting in the warmth, feeling the breath slow and allowing myself to be still gives me time to move beyond the thoughts in my head and notice what is present.
There is something deeply symbolic about the warmth and the feeling of perspiration on the skin: an opportunity to imagine softening, letting go and making room. I like to think of it as a cleansing of the old in the most personal sense — an intentional moment to lay down what I no longer need to carry.
Afterwards, stepping outside into the cool air, wrapping up warmly and drinking water or a cup of herbal tea feels like part of the ritual too. There is time to rest, breathe and simply be with whatever has come up.
A ritual to make your own
If this speaks to you, you might like to bring a journal and begin with a few gentle questions:
- What has this past month shown me?
- What am I ready to put down or release?
- What would I like to welcome into the month ahead?
You might write, sit quietly, or share your reflections with a friend. Perhaps you have an intention in mind as you enter the sauna, and carry it with you as you rest afterwards. The ritual can be simple and entirely your own.
Take the sauna at a comfortable pace, drink water, and step out whenever you need to. The cold plunge is there if it feels right, but rinsing off with cool filtered water feels just as contrasting and enlivening.
Under the moon at The Hideaway
Whether you come alone for a little space to yourself, or gather a few friends for a private retreat, The Hideaway offers room to slow down and create an experience that feels meaningful to you. The sauna, the fire, the trees and the open sky invite us to reconnect with the natural rhythms around us — and with our own.
Last night reminded me how much can shift when we give ourselves permission to stop. A little warmth, a little quiet, and the moon looking in through the glass.
With love,
Izzy x