From Shadows to Light: Transforming Full Moon Rituals in Recovery

From Shadows to Light: Transforming Full Moon Rituals in Recovery

By Malcolm Pannell – FaceThyFear Founder

For years, the full moon held a strange power over me. I called it a ritual, but in reality, it was an excuse—an excuse to use cocaine, indulge in chaos, and justify my addiction under the guise of spirituality. I’d set intentions, make Moonwater, and convince myself I was tapping into something greater.

And maybe I was—but it wasn’t what I thought.

During these rituals, I began to see things. Not in my peripheral view—I saw them, directly. Shadow people. Shapeshifters. Beings that shifted and loomed in the same spaces where I stood. At first, I dismissed it as a side effect of the drugs. But the more I experienced it, the more undeniable it became. These weren’t hallucinations. They were something else, something far darker.

I remember researching shadow people and learning that others had seen them too. Maybe it had something to do with my girlfriend at the time, who was Wiccan. She always told me she didn’t practice dark magic, but the energy around those days felt heavy, oppressive, and uncontrollable. Whether I invited these forces in or they were a reflection of the darkness I was living in, I’ll never know for sure. But I know one thing now: I don’t see them anymore.

The Energy We Allow

Addiction doesn’t just poison your body—it poisons your energy, your surroundings, and your spirit. Looking back, I realize I was opening doors I wasn’t prepared to deal with. I invited chaos into my life, and it responded.

Now, in sobriety, I’ve reclaimed those rituals and transformed them into something healing. The full moon is no longer an excuse for destruction—it’s a time for reflection and renewal.

A New Kind of Ritual

During each full moon, I still set my intentions, but my focus has shifted. I no longer chase fleeting highs or tap into forces I don’t understand. Instead, I seek to clear negative energy and strengthen my connection with God.

I light palo santo to purify the air, let the smoke drift into every corner of my space, and speak words of release:

“I let go of all negativity. I invite peace, protection, and love into this space and my soul.”

Then I read the Third Step Prayer from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous:

“God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life. May I do Thy will always!”

This prayer centers me, clearing the energy within me and reminding me of my purpose.

Goodbye to Shadows

The shadow people and shapeshifters are gone now, and so is the chaos. In their place is light—God’s light—filling my life with clarity, love, and a peace I never thought possible.

If you’ve ever used rituals, substances, or even spirituality to justify destructive habits, I hope my story resonates with you. It’s easy to get caught up in the allure of something greater, but true peace comes from within. You don’t need substances or chaotic forces to find connection—you need faith, honesty, and the courage to face your fear.

You have the power to reclaim your rituals, your intentions, and your life. The light is waiting for you—it’s been there all along.

Let’s face it together.

FaceThyFear: From Darkness to Light

www.Facethyfear.com (http://www.Facethyfear.com)