The Wheel of The Year (5) Esbats and Moon Phases
ESBATS
The esbats are celebrations that take place on the full moon which occur 13 times in a year on average. However, as the moon cycle is 28 days and there are 365 (or 366) days in a year the number of full moons per year will vary slightly. The moon is linked with the Goddess and full moons are times for Goddess magic and spirituality. The esbats do not have any specific fixed meaning so you are free to celebrate these as you wish. It is often used as a time to improve your skills in spiritual practice or divination.
MOON PHASES and Magic
The esbats are most often celebrated on the full moon but the other phases of the moon are also considered to be esbats but with different energy to that of the full moon and may be a time for different types of workings. The phases of the moon can also be used to determine when to plant particular plants or to harvest them. As an indication of the types of work that is often attributed to each moon phase here are some ideas –
THE NEW MOON – a time for planting seeds and new beginnings, begin new projects, make any changes in yourself or your life to create the new you.
THE WAXING MOON (as the moon begins to get larger) is a time to continue to build on the new starts made under the new moon.
THE FULL MOON – a time when the Goddess energy is strongest and you can wish to anything you want. An ideal time for divination, love and dreams.
THE WANING MOON – (as the moon begins to get smaller) is a time to let go of anything that no longer serves you, let go of habits, lose weight, let go of any other negative things that do not benefit you.
Each full moon is given a name that corresponds to the time of year. In addition infrequently there are 2 full moons in a calendar month and the second of these is called a Blue Moon from which the saying ‘once in a Blue moon’ derives meaning something that only happens once in a while.
FULL MOON NAMES – Each Moon has a number of names some of which are linked to particular traditions.
January – Wolf, Cold, Snow or Winter Moon – a time of beginnings and endings, strength and protection.
February – Storm, Death or Quickening Moon – a time for fertility and strength magick reflecting how hard this time of year was in olden days.
March – Worm, Chaste, Seed Moon – a time to plant seeds for your future success and also the beginning time for planting actual seeds.
April – Pink, Seed, Egg, Wind Moon – a time to put your plans into action and also to physical plant your magical garden.
May – Flower, Hare, Planting Moon – a time for rekindling romance in your relationship, for love, health, romance and wisdom.
June – Strawberry, Lovers, Rose Moon – love and marriage.
July – Buck, Mead, Blessing, Lightning, Thunder Moon – health, rebirth, strength. A time for prosperity Magick.
August – Sturgeon, Wyrt, Wort, Barley, Red, Corn Moon – time of abundance and you may also want to share you abundance with others at this time.
September – Harvest, Barley, Hunter’s Moon – Protection, prosperity and abundance.
October – Hunter’s, Blood, Falling leaf Moon – A time for divination and reflection on the year past.
November – Beaver, Snow, Mourning, Tree Moon – A time to work on relationships and the bonds of the family. Also use divination to see what you need to do know or do to move forward after the stillness of the winter.
December – Cold, Oak, Long night Moon – A time of healing and letting go of the negatives ready for rebirth.
The Wheel of The Year (5) Esbats and Moon Phases
ESBATS
The esbats are celebrations that take place on the full moon which occur 13 times in a year on average. However, as the moon cycle is 28 days and there are 365 (or 366) days in a year the number of full moons per year will vary slightly. The moon is linked with the Goddess and full moons are times for Goddess magic and spirituality. The esbats do not have any specific fixed meaning so you are free to celebrate these as you wish. It is often used as a time to improve your skills in spiritual practice or divination.
MOON PHASES and Magic
The esbats are most often celebrated on the full moon but the other phases of the moon are also considered to be esbats but with different energy to that of the full moon and may be a time for different types of workings. The phases of the moon can also be used to determine when to plant particular plants or to harvest them. As an indication of the types of work that is often attributed to each moon phase here are some ideas –
THE NEW MOON – a time for planting seeds and new beginnings, begin new projects, make any changes in yourself or your life to create the new you.
THE WAXING MOON (as the moon begins to get larger) is a time to continue to build on the new starts made under the new moon.
THE FULL MOON – a time when the Goddess energy is strongest and you can wish to anything you want. An ideal time for divination, love and dreams.
THE WANING MOON – (as the moon begins to get smaller) is a time to let go of anything that no longer serves you, let go of habits, lose weight, let go of any other negative things that do not benefit you.
Each full moon is given a name that corresponds to the time of year. In addition infrequently there are 2 full moons in a calendar month and the second of these is called a Blue Moon from which the saying ‘once in a Blue moon’ derives meaning something that only happens once in a while.
FULL MOON NAMES – Each Moon has a number of names some of which are linked to particular traditions.
January – Wolf, Cold, Snow or Winter Moon – a time of beginnings and endings, strength and protection.
February – Storm, Death or Quickening Moon – a time for fertility and strength magick reflecting how hard this time of year was in olden days.
March – Worm, Chaste, Seed Moon – a time to plant seeds for your future success and also the beginning time for planting actual seeds.
April – Pink, Seed, Egg, Wind Moon – a time to put your plans into action and also to physical plant your magical garden.
May – Flower, Hare, Planting Moon – a time for rekindling romance in your relationship, for love, health, romance and wisdom.
June – Strawberry, Lovers, Rose Moon – love and marriage.
July – Buck, Mead, Blessing, Lightning, Thunder Moon – health, rebirth, strength. A time for prosperity Magick.
August – Sturgeon, Wyrt, Wort, Barley, Red, Corn Moon – time of abundance and you may also want to share you abundance with others at this time.
September – Harvest, Barley, Hunter’s Moon – Protection, prosperity and abundance.
October – Hunter’s, Blood, Falling leaf Moon – A time for divination and reflection on the year past.
November – Beaver, Snow, Mourning, Tree Moon – A time to work on relationships and the bonds of the family. Also use divination to see what you need to do know or do to move forward after the stillness of the winter.
December – Cold, Oak, Long night Moon – A time of healing and letting go of the negatives ready for rebirth.