Today’s Full Moon in Cancer is making me want to take a closer look at the link between bees and Luna. Bees are extraordinary creatures, deeply connected to both the Sun and the Moon. While their industrious activity during daylight hours aligns them with the solar cycle, bees also share a fascinating link to the moon. The moon, with its waxing and waning phases, mirrors the rhythm of a beehive.
Scientific Connections Between Bees and the Moon
Scientific research has found evidence of lunar influence on bee behaviour:
A study published in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research found that the hemolymph lipid composition of worker honeybees showed periodicities related to the synodic lunar cycle. This suggests that lunar phases may influence bee physiology.
Another study revealed that the glycemia (blood sugar levels) of worker honeybees peaked significantly at the Full Moon and New Moon, with a minor peak in the last quarter. This indicates that lunar phases may affect bee metabolism.
The exact mechanisms and extent of the influence of the Moon requires further research.
The Mystical Connection Between Bees and the Moon
Bees have always been symbols of divine connection, intuition, and transformation. In mythology and folklore, bees were seen as messengers between the earthly and spiritual realms, their flight patterns often likened to celestial movements. The Moon governs cycles, intuition, and the tides—forces mirrored in the hive’s intricate dance of birth, death, and rebirth.
The queen bee, with her central role in hive dynamics, resonates with the moon’s nurturing and feminine energy. Her ability to birth the colony reflects the moon’s influence over creation and cycles of fertility. The waxing and waning of the moon aligns with the growth and dormancy phases within the hive, reinforcing the lunar connection.
Long before we had scientific evidence, bees were associated with lunar cycles in various cultures. This link arose from observations of their behaviours, their role in mythology, and their symbolic significance. Let’s explore some of these connections further:
1. Bee Activity and the Moon
- Some studies suggest that lunar phases subtly affect the navigation and communication of bees. The gravitational pull of the moon, much like its effect on tides, might affect how bees forage or orient themselves.
- Beekeepers have noted that swarming and hive-building activities sometimes align with the waxing moon, symbolising growth and abundance.
2. Symbolic Connections
- Feminine Energy: Bees are symbols of fertility and feminine energy, akin to the moon’s association with cycles and creativity. The queen bee embodies a maternal archetype similar to the moon as a nurturing force.
- Cycles: The moon governs cycles, and bees, with their highly organised communities and cyclical behaviours (e.g., foraging during specific times and seasons), mirror this.
- Transformation: The moon’s waxing and waning phases parallel the transformative processes within a hive, including the production of honey and the lifecycle of bees.
3. Bees in Mythology and Lunar Lore
- Greek Mythology: The Melissae, nymphs linked to bees, were devoted to the lunar goddesses Artemis and Selene. They believed bees were messengers between the divine and human realms.
- Celtic Traditions: The Celts believed the bees carried wisdom from the moon and stars. They viewed bees as psychopomps and there is still a tradition on the British Isles to ‘tell it to the bees’ when someone dies.
- Egyptian Mythology: Bees were associated with the tears of Ra, the sun god, but their lunar connection lies in their role in balancing solar and lunar energies in sacred symbolism.
4. Honey and the Moon
- Honey, created by bees, has long been associated with lunar energy in magical and spiritual practices. Often considered a lunar substance, honey embodies themes of nourishment, preservation, and sweetness.
- In folklore, consuming honey under a full moon brings intuitive insight and aligns one with lunar energies.
- The term honeymoon also reflects this connection, originating from ancient traditions where newlyweds drank honey wine (mead) during the first month of marriage—a time measured by a lunar cycle. This practice symbolised fertility, renewal, and the sweetness of new beginnings, linking honey and the moon in both tradition and mysticism.
5. Modern Metaphysical Perspectives on Bees and the Moon
- Many mystics feel that bees, like the moon, remind us of interconnectivity and the cyclical nature of life. They are considered spirit allies for those working with lunar magic, offering lessons in community, persistence, harmony and communication across the veil.

The Combined Lunar Wisdom of Bees and the Tarot
Harnessing the wisdom of bees and the Moon in your Tarot practice can bring a sense of harmony and deepened intuition. Let’s explore how.
Lunar Bee Tarot Ritual
This ritual is designed to align you with lunar energy and the alchemy of bees. You can repeat the ritual monthly and start at any time in the lunar cycle. You’ll need:
- Your Tarot deck (The Bee Tarot deck or the Keeper of the Sacred Bee Tarot are ideal)
- Melissa Essential oil in an aromatherapy lamp
- A journal or notebook
- A small jar of ethically sourced local honey
Steps:
- Preparation: Choose a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Light the candle in the aromatherapy lamp and take three deep breaths to release any tension. Ground your energy and open up to receive guidance.
- Invocation: Hold the honey jar in your hands. Dip your finger into the honey and taste it, visualising sweetness and wisdom flowing into your life. Say: “Sacred bees, soul alchemists, keepers of wisdom and psychopomps, please guide me. Help me uncover the truth within and align with the lunar cycles of the Divine Feminine.”
- Card Pull: Shuffle your deck and pull one card for each phase of the lunar cycle (begin with the phase you are currently in):
- New Moon: What new energy is emerging?
- Waxing Crescent: What should I nurture and grow?
- Full Moon: What truth is being illuminated?
- Waning Crescent: What needs release or transformation?
- Reflection: Write your insights in your journal.
- Closing: Thank the bees and Luna for their guidance. Extinguish the candle in your aromatherapy lamp.
Tarot Journaling Prompts Inspired by the Bees and the Moon
Use the Tarot journalling prompts below to dive a bit deeper at the time of each respective lunar cycle. Focus on just one or turn all three into a Tarot spread.
New Moon
- Intention Setting: As the New Moon represents new beginnings, what intentions do you wish to set for your hive this month? How do you plan to nurture these intentions like a bee nurturing a new queen?
- Reflection on Community: Reflect on your role within your community. How can you contribute to the hive-like support system around you? What qualities of bees inspire you to strengthen these connections?
- Quiet Contemplation: In the stillness of the New Moon, consider what aspects of your life need to be pollinated with new ideas. What dreams or aspirations are waiting to emerge, and how can you create space for them?
Waxing Crescent
- Growth and Action: The waxing crescent symbolises growth. What small actions can you take this week to cultivate your goals? How can you embody the industrious spirit of bees in this phase?
- Nurturing Relationships: Just as bees work together for the hive’s success, reflect on the relationships in your life. Which connections require more nurturing, and how can you actively support them?
- Exploration of Creativity: Bees are natural creators. What creative project or idea are you excited to explore during this waxing crescent phase? How can you express your inner bee priestess through this endeavour?
Full Moon
- Harvest and Celebration: The Full Moon is a time of completion and abundance. What have you achieved or harvested in your life recently? Savour the sweet nectar of these accomplishments.
- Illumination of Shadows: The Full Moon sheds light on what is hidden. What aspects of your life or self need to be illuminated? How can you face these truths with the grace and virtue of a Bee Priestess?
- Gratitude for the Hive: Take a moment to express gratitude for your hive—those who support you. Who are the ‘worker bees’ in your life, and how can you acknowledge their contributions?
Waning Crescent
- Release and Let Go: As the Moon wanes, it’s a perfect time for release. What habits or thoughts can you let go of, like bees cleansing their hive? What no longer serves your growth?
- Reflection and Wisdom: Reflect on your journey during this lunar cycle. What lessons have you learned from the bees and your experiences? How can you carry this wisdom into the next cycle?
- Preparation for Renewal: The waning crescent is a time for introspection before the New Moon. How can you prepare yourself for the next cycle? What elements of your inner Bee Priestess need nurturing for the upcoming growth phase?
Closing Thoughts
Bees and the Moon both teach us the power of cycles, transformation, and harmony with nature. By incorporating their wisdom into your Tarot practice, you can deepen your connection to these natural rhythms and access profound insights.
To learn about how to tap into the wisdom of bees and use the Tarot to elevate our collective consciousness, CLICK HERE!
CLICK HERE to learn more about using the Tarot to harness the power of the Moon!
