Esbats

The word Esbat means ‘minor celebration’, but don't be fooled by the word ‘minor’. Esbats are very important to witches and the craft.

Esbats are centred around the moon and her phases. Some witches celebrate each of the moons phases - from waxing, to full and waning to new, whilst others just celebrate the full moon.

Full moon esbats are very important as the moon is at her peak, and her magical energies are more potent now than at any other time of the month. This means that your spell casting has a much better chance of being granted.

Although there are only 12 calendar months in each year, there are 13 full moons. This means that 1 month of the year gets 2 full moon esbats. The second full moon in known as the blue moon. This makes it a very powerful full moon and a very powerful month.

Read on to learn more about full moon esbats....

January the time of the Wolf Moon

The name comes from the time when wolves would run close to habitation looking for food. This is a month to protect your own close to heart and make sure they don't go without. Think of others and ask if they need help. If you have an altar, place pictures of family and friends on it, dress it in burgundy and place apples on it; perhaps try to mend rifts with those who you know you should be talking to!

February the time of the Storm Moon

A marvellous month for love! A time for self love and also to find and bind your love. Forgive yourself under the full storm moon for not being perfect, and revel in just being you. Take time to meditate this month and spoil yourself just a little, the months of warmth and play are still a little way ahead. Place shades of blue on your alter for this month, try using a small quilt as an alter cloth to invoke the true spirit of winter.

March the time of the Chaste Moon

Light and dark are balanced in the month of March and now is the time for new beginnings, any projects you wanted to start, well this is the month for them. Now is the time to get rid of the old and bring in the new. Remember the child of yesterday, and perhaps do something that you haven’t done in years - and when you laugh out loud, stop and think just how much better you feel for doing it. Adorn your altar with white this month and place white candles on it to signify purity and innocence.

April the time of the Seed Moon

This is a time to believe in you. You started your new venture, now have believe and have faith that all will be well. Self confidence and self belief are riding high this month. The spring is here. A month for covering your alter in greens and some of the flowers that are starting to appear for all to see. Remember, always ask permission before you cut flowers, and never take more than you truly need as they are happiest in the open.

May the time of the Hare Moon

This is the time to use your psychic ability, if you don’t think you have it then you are most likely wrong. Many believe that we all have some psychic ability, whether it’s being able to read the tarot cards or knowing when your someone close to your heart is going to turn up and your house is a mess. So take this time to practice trying new things or packs of cards, join a circle and just let yourself go with the flow. Also a very good month for fertility, look at nature - love is in the air. Dress your altar for this month in gold and silver; add a small statue of a hare if you have one or a picture if not.

June the time of the Mead Moon

A good month to look at how far you have come in the year so far. This is a time to see the birth of all those seeds you have planted. A time to look at nature working hard and to follow suit. Now is not the time to rest, you must keep going. Look at the first 6 months of the year and perhaps change a few things that aren’t working and bring in some new things you haven’t had time to try yet. Cover your altar in oranges, yellows and ambers this month and think of honey; perhaps place a few

July is the time of the Wort Moon

Prosperity spells, wealth spells and any success you may wish to gain in the second half of this year - now is the time to bring it up front and centre. But make sure you are also starting to prepare for the colder months ahead. This month is as much about looking forward as it is backwards. Wort translated from Anglo-Saxon means herb, and now is the time to smell, pick and place fresh herbs on your altar for this full moon with a cloth of deep orange.

August the time of the Barley Moon

This is a month to gather your harvest, to reflect on what you have done so far, and thank the appropriate people - people in the background, those who support you, work with you, or just understand that you are who you are. The Harvest proves a very important point - that every year the barley grows from seed to kernel that will feed and nourish us throughout the year and we must thank the land for all that we have received. Your full moon alter should be dressed in yellow and gold with some harvest fruits and seeds, perhaps a few photos of family here and gone.

September the time of the Wine Moon

Once again, dark and light are balanced so this is an excellent month for meditation. It is said that wine was an aid to getting in touch with spirit, so this is the month you need to do all your connection work. Your altar this month should be covered in purple and lavender, try purple candles and perhaps some dried lavender flowers too.

October the time of the Blood Moon

In ancient times hunting was a necessity, now the only place we have to chase our meat is to the nearest supermarket - but that doesn’t mean we can't give thanks for it, even the vegetables we eat have their lives cut short. So now is a time to give thanks for the hunt. Your cloth for this month should be red, scarlet or brown. Give thanks for all you have received and place autumn leaves and perhaps a pumpkin on your altar too.

November the time of the Snow Moon

Mother earth is now at peace, she has given us food and warmth during the past year and she wishes to rest under a blanket of whitest snow. Take time to finish things that you have been meaning to do for the past few month. Since the nights are longer now, we spend more time in the house and we should be preparing for the coldest months. A good covering for your alter is a warm blanket and onions, carrots and vegetables that grow under the ground for this full moon month.

December the time of the Oak Moon

Though we think of December as a dark month, it is also the time of the returning of the sun. A very special month in many ways, and you should remember those who have less than you. A time to be with the ones we love, to get ready for the new years arrival and the start of the cycle again. Cover your altar in white and yellow to represent spirit, and the coming of the sun for this full moon celebration.

Blue Moon

This is the month that has two full moons that we will use for our wishes. It falls in a different month each year but it is a very powerful moon. The blue moon is always the second of the full moons in the corresponding month. We need to write down aims and goals for the up and coming year. Place them in an envelope and don’t look at them until the next blue moon. Dress your blue moon alter in the colours that correspond to the month it falls into, and place flowers and fruits from that month, also place pictures of things you would like in your life. Stay real here, and keep it down to earth. Due to the moon's cycle being 29½ days, there are occasionally - as in July 2004 - two full moons in one month (only happens on average every 2.7 years). Then the second moon of the month is called a 'blue moon'. There will be two blue moons in 2018.

The moon rises around sunset when it's a full Moon, and sunrise when it's a new moon.

Moon months

Our months are linked to the movements of the moon. The moon passes between the earth and the sun every 29½ days - then there is a new moon. In Jewish and Muslim calendars a new month begins - all the months have 29 or 30 days.

Honey Moon

The June full moon was called the Mead or Honey moon. The name derives from the hives being full of honey at this time of the year. The honey would have been fermented and made into mead. Traditionally, a honey drink was taken after wedding ceremonies held on the Summer Solstice. This is the derivation of 'honeymoon'.

Dark Moon

When two new moons occur in a month, the second is called a

'dark moon'.

The new moon is also sometimes called the dark moon - at this phase there is no illumination on the earth's side.

Harvest Moon

The full moon nearest to the Autumn Equinox is called the 'Harvest moon'. This is because for several nights it appears large and bright in the early evening, bringing farmers valuable extra time to gather in their harvest.

The Celtic year was once divided into 13 months - one for each moon occuring during the year.