Esbats

Most who are starting off on this path take a while to discover what an Esbat is.
It is a Pagan celebration, in my mind like the other side of Sabbats (note the similar name). An Esbat is a full moon celebration, therefore occuring monthly.
Each month's moon has a name that one may call it by; I imagine this is to distinguish between each one, emphasising the importance of each.
  • MONTH ------- ANCIENT NAME ------- CELTIC NAME
  • January --------- Wolf Moon ----------------- Alder Moon
  • February -------- Ice / Storm Moon ---------Willow Moon
  • March ----------- Chaste Moon -------------- Ash Moon
  • April ------------- Seed / Growing Moon --- Hawthorn Moon
  • May -------------- Hare Moon ---------------- Oak Moon
  • June -------------- Mead Moon --------------- Holly Moon
  • July -------------- Hay Moon ----------------- Hazel Moon
  • August ---------- Corn Moon ---------------- Vine Moon
  • September ------ Harvest Moon ------------- Ivy Moon
  • October --------- Blood Moon --------------- Reed Moon
  • November ------ Snow Moon --------------- Birch Moon
  • December------- Oak / Cold Moon --------- Rowan Moon
Speaking of the moons, there are probably some other words you're going to need to know, if you want to track it.
First, you should know that the moon "lights up" from right to left in the southern hemisphere, and from left to right in the northern.
  1. New
     No visible moon.
  2. Waxing Cresent
     "Waxing" = light getting bigger.
  3. First Quarter
     
    The right half of the moon lit up.
  4. Waxing Gibbous
     "Waxing" = light getting bigger. "Gibbous" = more than half full.
  5. Full
     
    All the moon is visible (perfect circle).
  6. Waning Gibbous
     
    "Waning" = light getting smaller. "Gibbous" = more than half full.
  7. Last Quarter
    The left half of the moon lit up.
  8. Waning Cresent
     
    "Waning" = light getting smaller. 

1 comment:

  1. Do you have any info/suggestions on new/full moon magick? I'm a new pagan and don't know a whole lot yet. Also I have been loving your blog! So much great information that's to the point

    Thank you,
    Chelsea

    ReplyDelete

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