Esbats
The full moon has long been associated with mystical and magical powers, revered for its heightened energy and spiritual significance. Esbats are lunar rites focusing on the Great Mother. The term esbat is of French origin, from s’esbattre, which loosely translates to “frolic joyfully,” suggesting a night of wild energy enjoyed with one or more of the Elohian Goddesses.
The full moon is plentiful with power, and rituals can be created and adapted to fit one’s individual goals. Celebrations of this special night include honoring the Goddess, visualizing goals for oneself or others, making offerings of food or wine, giving thanks for all of life’s gifts, casting spells for manifesting desires, and reflecting on personal growth since the last full moon. Esbats can help us connect with our inner selves, provide spiritual guidance, and give us insight into our destinies or directions in life.
This 28-day lunar cycle is essential to female participants; it can balance spiritual and physical bodies. When a woman’s physical body mirrors her moon phase by experiencing menstruation at the time of the full moon, synchronization can reduce discomfort, improve fertility, and uplift overall feminine health and well-being.
The phases of the visible Moon reflect the Goddess: the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The archetypes symbolize the different cyclic stages of a woman’s life. By connecting with these phases, practitioners gain a deeper understanding of the Divine Feminine as it applies to their own personal journey.
At the New Moon, we plant the seeds of our hopes and desires. It’s an excellent opportunity to draw up wishes for the month ahead and set an overall intention for what we want to manifest in our lives. During this phase, we should focus on cleansing, clearing away any obstacles that may stand in our way of receiving abundance.
The Waxing Moon is a time for positive growth as everything comes alive with energy. We can nourish our goals, dreams, and intentions with affirmations and visualization.
The Full Moon is a powerful time when energy peaks in intensity. We can use this power to manifest our deepest desires if they serve us positively and honor our ethical guidelines.
The Waning Moon helps us release any unwanted or negative emotions holding us back from achieving our highest potential. This is also a great chance to forgive others for past wrongs so we can move forward without lingering pain or resentment.
Esbats are dissimilar to sabbats, as the latter are solar festivities related to the Trinity’s interaction with the ever-changing seasons: the Wheel of the Year. Esbats are for magical work and Drawing Down the Moon, a ritual where Wiccans appeal to the lunar essence of the Goddess within themselves to gain clarity, thoughtfulness, or prophecy.
The Charge of the Goddess, composed by Doreen Valiente, is an inspirational ode written in the voice of the Goddess. It is read aloud in the Circle, guaranteeing Her Children that She has always been present among us to love, teach, guide, and protect us, even while in exile.
These rituals have been written for the solitary practitioner. The first paragraphs of Drawing Down the Moon include a narrative intended to help guide the Goddess’ essence into your body and mention some sensations you can expect to experience. The early sections of Drawing Down the Moon contain a narrative to help bring the Goddess’s essence into your being and describe some feelings you may experience.
Participants raise their arms heavenward when it feels right, facing the moon. With eyes closed, call upon the Goddess in a way most comfortable for you or the group. You may feel gentle gusts of wind, a sudden sensation of heat surrounding you, or sparkles of light flittering across your vision. Without a doubt, a surreal feeling of peace and acceptance will wash over you. A tingling in your fingers, warmth in your palms, and the instinctive urge to sway are all desired responses that signal lunar energy is being absorbed smoothly.
The last section is the Five-fold Kiss, the ritualistic act of five symbolic kisses on various body parts accompanied by a blessing. Each kiss represents a specific aspect of the Divine connection between the practitioner and the sacred energies. It has been adapted as a self-anointing ritual using water or your choice of oil as you speak the five body blessings and their specific role acknowledged in Wicca.
The Kiss of the Earth is placed on the feet, symbolizing the grounding and connection to the Earth. Trinitarian Wiccans draw strength and stability by honoring the Earth. We acknowledge our dependence and interconnectivity with the planet, expressing our gratitude.
The Kiss of the Water is placed on the knees, representing the fluidity and adaptability of water. Trinitarian Wiccans embrace our constant nature of changing emotions and fluid patterns of intuition. Through this kiss, we honor the power of our feelings and their ability to guide and transform our perceptions.
The Kiss of the Fire is placed on the genitals, symbolizing fire’s transformative and passionate energy. Trinitarian Wiccans can embrace our natural creativity and desire, igniting the Divine Spark within. This kiss celebrates the sacredness of sexuality, channeling our passion toward spiritual evolution.
The Kiss of the Air is placed on the lips, representing the breath of life and the power of communication. Air symbolizes intellect, inspiration, and the exchange of ideas. Through this kiss, Trinitarian Wiccans honor the importance of clear communication, the power of their words, and the sharing of wisdom to inspire and uplift others.
The Kiss of the Spirit is placed on the forehead, symbolizing the connection to the divine and the awakening of spiritual consciousness. Trinitarian Wiccans recognize the union of our individual spirit with the Divine energies that permeate all living things.
Various traditions may use variations on the fourth kiss for spirit and the fifth for air. To rearrange the kiss and blessing, place a kiss on the chest for strength and stability and on the lips for communication and proclamation.
13 Benefits of Lunar Energy
The full moon holds a special place in our consciousness, associated with the mystical. It lights our way on our spiritual journal towards reclaiming the Goddess in Trinitarian Wicca.
The 13 magickal powers attributed to the full moon encompass many spiritual and transformative aspects, from amplifying intentions to enhancing psychic abilities and promoting healing. By embracing the full moon’s energy, we tap into its potential and explore the depths of our own spiritual journey.
1. Amplification of Intentions: The lunar energy peaks during the full moon, making it an ideal time to set objectives and manifest desires. The full moon amplifies our thoughts and intentions, helping us to focus our energy and bring our desires into reality.
2. Cleansing and Releasing: The full moon is often associated with cleansing and releasing negative energy. The moon’s powerful energy helps us release emotional baggage, old patterns, and anything that no longer serves us. This allows for personal growth and transformation.
3. Heightened Intuition: The full moon enhances our intuitive abilities. It heightens our psychic senses, making it easier to tap into our inner wisdom and receive guidance from the spiritual realm.
4. Healing and Nurturing: The full moon is associated with healing and nurturing energies. The moon’s gentle light soothes and heals emotional wounds, promoting inner peace and well-being.
5. Enhancing Psychic Abilities: The full moon enhances our psychic abilities, clairvoyance, telepathy, and mediumship. During this time, the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is thinner, allowing for more accessible communication with the unseen.
6. Enhancing Creativity: The full moon is associated with creativity and inspiration. The moon’s energy stimulates our creative flow, allowing us to tap into our artistic abilities and express ourselves more freely.
7. Balancing Energies: The full moon brings balance and harmony to our lives. The moon’s energy aids in establishing equilibrium between our emotions, thoughts, and actions, promoting inner peace and alignment.
8. Enhancing Manifestation: The full moon is a powerful time for manifestation. The moon’s energy can help us align with our desires and attract what we want into our lives. This includes abundance, love, and opportunities.
9. Enhancing Rituals and Spells: The full moon is considered an auspicious time for performing rituals and casting spells. The moon’s energy amplifies their effectiveness, making them more potent and impactful.
10. Enhancing Dreamwork: The full moon is associated with vivid dreams, enhanced recall, and the development of the ability for dream walking. The moon’s energy assists us in accessing the wisdom of our subconscious mind, providing insights and guidance through our dreams.
11. Enhancing Lunar Magick: The full moon is prime time for all forms of lunar magick. The moon’s energy can be harnessed for various purposes, such as protection, divination, and spiritual growth. Practitioners of magick often perform rituals and spells during the full moon to harness its potent energy.
12. Connecting with Lunar Deities: The full moon is associated with lunar deities in mythologies worldwide. The connection is more vital now, allowing for deeper communion and receiving their blessings and guidance.
13. Celebrating and Honoring Cycles: The full moon is associated with the cycles of life and our ever-changing existence. It empowers us to embrace the ebb and flow of life’s rhythms. Many cultures hold ceremonies and rituals during the full moon to honor these cycles and express gratitude for the blessings in their lives.
Full Moon Names
January—Wolf Moon: Anath, the Goddess of Protection from the Canaanites, is celebrated this month. The Wolf Moon is named for the ritual observance of protection and guarding the home, family, and territory. Good fortunes, change of luck, and household protection are all associated rituals with the Wolf Moon.
February—Storm Moon: Brigid, the Goddess of Mystic Fire from the Celts, is celebrated this month. The Storm Moon is named to acknowledge the end of the stormy nights and cold weather. This ritual helps plan for the spring, family peace, and blessing your home’s boundaries.
March—Chaste Moon: Zoe, the Goddess of New Beginnings from the Gnostics, is celebrated this month. The Chaste Moon is named in recognition of Spring. All things in nature are virginal, fresh, and blooming. It is a time for new beginnings, and rituals should reflect this by warding off negative energies while planning for the warm months ahead.
April—Seed Moon: Barbelo, the Goddess of the Universal Womb, Trinitarian Wicca’s Star Goddess from the Barbeloites of Gnostism, celebrated this month. The Seed Moon is named for the time of the sowing of seeds and their cultivation. Rituals reflect the planting of seasonal flowers and crops, acknowledging the new cycle of life. This is the time to put winter plans into action.
May—Bright Moon: Shekinah, the Goddess of Divine Light, from Hebrew mysticism. This full moon is associated with Supermoons, the moons that appear typically brighter and more prominent than usual. The increased illumination reflects the guiding brilliance of the Feminine Divine displayed in the pillar of fire guiding the Israelites out of Egypt and the sacred flames of the Menorah.
June—Dyad Moon: Mary Magdalene, the Goddess of Love and Companionship. She has been called the Goddess of the Gospels and the “apostle to the apostles” in eclectic Christian traditions. This full moon is named after the Latin word Dyad, meaning two, indicating a pair or a set of twins. Now, the days and nights are equal in length, and nature’s male and female forces are in balance. Rituals should reflect a duality.
July—Meade Moon: Asherah, the Goddess of Home and Hearth, from the Canaanites. Mother Goddess celebrated this month. This full moon recognizes the Festival of Ale in Old Europe, a time for making wines and ales from Meade. Rituals should include thanks for religious freedom and making plans for new goals.
August—Corn Moon: Guadalupe, the Goddess of the Harvest, from Mexican-American sainthood. She is so much more: Empress Mother of the Americas and matron saint of Mexico. This full moon indicates the first of the three traditional harvests. This marks the time for the beginning of canning and preserving. Rituals are bread-oriented, strongly emphasizing harvesting crops, gardens, or the good fortune of the work you have accomplished in previous months.
September—Harvest Moon: Sophia, the Goddess of Divine Wisdom from the Gnostics. This full moon is associated with the second and largest harvest of the year. This esbat is a time for an elaborate fall celebration, including the autumn equinox.
October—Blood Moon: Lilith, the Goddess of Transformation. As hunting season begins, this full moon is affiliated with blood, and animals are slaughtered to prepare food for the winter. This month is the third and final harvest. October 31 ends the Wiccan calendar, and rituals this month should deal with banishing bad habits and purifying one’s life and house.
November—Snow Moon: The Holy Spirit, the Goddess of Proclamation. This full moon is named for the association of the coming of winter, symbolized by snow. The start of the season of death to the wheel of the year is a good time for reflection. Rituals should focus on the positive aspects of our lives and plan to dispose of dead weight in our physical, spiritual, and emotional experiences.
December—Oak Moon: Mother Mary, the Goddess of Fortitude. This full moon is named after the mighty oak tree, which stands strong through the winter months. The oak is a sign of strength to practitioners during the dreary winter months. Rituals of success and prosperity start from an acorn.
Random 13th Moon—Blue Moon: Levannah, the Goddess of the Ancient Moon. A blue moon is not physically blue, of course. However, an additional moon occurs when two full moons appear within a calendar month, or the third of four moons appear in a season. Because this moon is a variable, it gave rise to the saying “once in a blue moon.”
Blue moons are considered lucky; magickal workings are full of positive but untamed energy; this is a perfect time for prosperity and good luck. The Blue Moon calculations began with the onset of the Gregorian calendar in October 1582; the official first recognition of a blue moon was August 21, 1937.