Sabbats



Sabbats and Moon Phases

Sabbats are the holidays based on the sun’s path,
the Esbats are based on the moon.

The Sabbats are traditionally a festival-type,
large group celebratory working,
while the Esbat is more serious and traditionally
contained to the family or Coven.

It is for ritual work and study.

It’s the “once in a month when the moon is full”
that they refer to in the charge of the Goddess….

"Whenever ye have need
of any thing or once in the month, and better
it be when the moon is full,
then shall ye assemble in some secret place and adore
the spirit of Me who am queen of all witches.
There shall ye assemble,
ye who are fain to learn all magicks
but have yet not won the deeper secrets.
To you will I teach things that are yet unknown."
--Valiente

Traditionally it’s celebrated on the night of the full moon, but
with modern schedules, it’s acceptable to meet within the week
surrounding (three days before, three days after).
Some prefer to work in the Darkmoon,
particularly those working crone magick.
Others believe that the three days of the new moon
are for study, and no magick should be performed.

Esbat’s name refers to the first full moon of the month
the most common names I’ve come across are:
January Wolf Moon
February Storm Moon
March Chaste Moon
April Seed Moon
May Hare Moon
June Pair {Dyad Moon}
July Mead Moon
August Green Plant {Wyrt Moon}
September Barley Moon
October Blood Moon
November Snow Moon
December Oak Moon


Blue Moon
The blue moon is the second full moon to occur in a month.
(doesn’t happen very often, hence “once in a blue moon”) and has
it’s own peculiarities of magick.

DARK
- banishing spells or rituals.

FULL
- any "good" type of spell or ritual.

Waxing Moon
"Growing" moon (i.e. from new to full) and is
traditionally used for constructive or attraction magick.
- any spell that needs time to work, any healing spells or rituals.

Waning Moon
is the "shrinking" moon (full to new) and is
used for banishing or destructive magick.
(like destroying a bad habit.)
- spells or rituals that need time
to banish or ween
(example, quiting smoking).

There ARE 13 fullmoons in a year.

Different types of rituals and spells should be performed
during different phases of the moon:

WANING
WAXING

Blessed Be*~


Here is an easy way to remember
which phase moon is waxing and wanning.

During the waxing phase of the moon the points face
to the east and during the wanning phase of the moon
the points are facing west.

BB Chemelia