Looking at the moon over your right shoulder brings bad luck; to reverse it, step back thrice and look over your left shoulder instead.

Avoiding Lunar Misfortune: Right vs. Left Shoulder Belief

Details

This superstition dictates that one should never look at the moon over the right shoulder, as it is believed to usher in misfortune or negativity. Should one accidentally do so, a reversal ritual is to be performed immediately:
– Turn the body around completely,
– Take three deliberate backward steps,
– Keep both hands clasped behind the back throughout,
– Finally, look at the moon again—but this time over the left shoulder.
This ritual is believed to counteract the inauspicious effect of the initial misstep, restoring cosmic and personal balance. The number three in the backward steps may hold symbolic meaning, as it often represents completeness or protection in folklore. The emphasis on directionality—right versus left—reflects the long-standing cultural associations of the left side with auspiciousness and the right side with unpredictability.

Historical Context

This superstition may have roots in ancient lunar worship and the personification of celestial bodies. In many cultures, the moon was revered and even feared; directional rules and moonlight etiquette were dictated by a blend of astrology, religious symbolism, and folkloric storytelling. The moon’s phases were once thought to govern human behavior, agriculture, and fate. Right-sided actions have frequently been viewed as malevolent or unlucky, especially in classical and medieval European societies where left was favored symbolically. The act of counter-walking and re-viewing the moon over the left shoulder is an attempt to ‘reset’ cosmic balance. Similar superstitions exist in agrarian communities where moon visibility signaled seasonal shifts or spiritual warnings. However, this specific ritual format suggests more recent Western folk traditions, likely transmitted orally among rural populations.

Modern Relevance

While largely forgotten by the general public, this moon-viewing superstition still appears in collections of American folk beliefs and may persist in localized or familial traditions, especially in rural or Appalachian communities. Online forums dedicated to folklore, witchcraft, or Lunar rituals sometimes discuss similar rites, occasionally blending them with neo-pagan or Wiccan interpretations. In contemporary settings, the idea of moon-related rituals has been adopted into wellness trends and astrology apps, albeit without the detailed shoulder-viewing rules. As celestial events like full moons and lunar eclipses regain popularity through social media, snippets of old traditions like this sometimes resurface, often modified or detached from their original cultural meanings. Its symbolic caution regarding how we ‘see’ or engage with powerful natural forces still resonates with modern spiritual movements.

Sources

Dundes, Alan. (1999). International Folkloristics: Classic Contributions by the Founders of Folklore. Rowman & Littlefield.

Quick Facts

Related Superstitions

A baby’s future career or fate is predicted by the first object they select during a ceremonial setup.

In several Asian and Eastern European cultures, a traditional ceremony is held for babies usually around their first birthday. Known

Why Superstitions Persist in Modern Times

Despite widespread access to scientific knowledge and rational frameworks, superstitions continue to influence everyday behavior across cultures and demographics. From