Moon Circle in Salento: What It Is and How to Take Part
Once a month, stop. Sit in a circle. Breathe. Listen. Say one thing, or say nothing.
Moon circles have always existed, and for a few years now they have come back all over Italy as one of the simplest ways to make a regular appointment with yourself. In Salento they have been held on and off, never with a permanent address.
Since 2026 there is one at Masseria Montanari in Carpignano Salentino. It is guided by Valentina, fourth-level Reiki Master and astrology consultant, who works with the masseria, with Davide, breath coach and facilitator, for the breathing part.
What a moon circle is
It is a group gathering, generally monthly, which takes its rhythm from the moon. It is held at the new moon, the moment of intentions and beginnings, or at the full moon, the moment of fullness and letting go.
It is not a religious ceremony. It does not ask you to believe in anything. The moon is a calendar, a way of making an appointment with yourself.
In many cities the circles are "women's circles". Ours is open to everyone, because the breath and Reiki have no gender.
How it unfolds at the masseria
The circle lasts about two hours, in the evening, in the vaulted hall in Lecce stone. Low lights, cushions in a round. The form is simple and repeats every month, so that it becomes a habit.
You sit down. You introduce yourself by name. You say in one sentence how you arrive.
Then the breath. Fifteen or twenty minutes guided by Davide: nasal, slow, to arrive in the body. No intense technique. The circle is gentle.
Then group Reiki. You lie down, in silence. Valentina comes to each person for a few minutes. It is the heart of the circle.
Then the sky of the month. A short reading of what the moon is doing and what the sky suggests, without predictions. A prompt, not a horoscope.
Finally the sharing. In turn, those who want to say what they felt or what they are taking home. If you do not want to speak, you listen. And that is perfectly fine.
Who can come
Anyone, with no experience. The circle is designed precisely for those who have never done breathwork or Reiki and want to taste them in a light setting.
Places are limited to 12-14 people, so that Reiki reaches everyone. If you have health conditions to mention, you write it beforehand. Reiki and gentle breathing have no absolute contraindications, but transparency is the house rule: safety comes before the experience.
When
Once a month, at the new moon or the full moon. The calendar comes out with the first dates. Those on the list receive it first and have 48 hours' priority to book.
Winter is the most beautiful season for evening circles. The vaulted hall is air-conditioned, the wood-fired oven warms the entrance, outside the sky of the Grecìa Salentina has no lights.
What to bring and how much it costs
Comfortable clothes, a shawl or a light blanket, a bottle of water. Mats and cushions are provided.
Prices come with the dates. In Italy an evening circle generally costs between 20 and 30 euros, and we stay there. A group of friends of 8 or more can ask for a private circle, on the date they prefer.
How to join the circle
On the Circles page there is the form: choose "the moon circle", leave your name and email, and when the calendar opens you receive it first. If you want to get to know Valentina and her one-to-one practices, the Energy page tells you about Reiki and the astrology consultations. And if you are coming from far away, the masseria has six lodgings with 16 sleeping places: the circle can become a night in Salento.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to speak? No. Those who want to share, those who do not listen.
Is it only for women? No. The circle is open to everyone.
Do I need experience? No. It is designed precisely for complete beginners.
Do you want to be there?
The first dates are coming. Leave your contact details and I will let you know myself, before anyone else. If you have a question, write it in the message: I will reply personally. Join the list from the Circles page.
Activities carried out under Italian Law 4/2013. Breathwork and Reiki are wellbeing practices and do not replace medical or psychological care; the reading of the sky is a symbolic and reflective tool, it does not provide predictions about health, money or life outcomes.