Esbats

The word 'esbat' is believed to be derived from a French words'esbattre which means to 'joyfully celebrate' and is actually quitefitting. The term esbat is usually used now to mean a comingtogether of like-minded people to celebrate the phases of theMoon with a ritual and/or spell work. It doesn't have to be on aFull Moon or New Moon, it can be for any of the phases of theMoon or planetary alignments and may involve teaching, lessonsor training of some sort as well.

The Lunar Cycle

Firstly we need to understand the basics of the lunar cycle sohere is the technical bit:

The Moon has several cycles, but the one that is the mostobvious and that concerns us principally is that of the Moon'sphases.

The light of the Moon is reflected from the Sun. Althoughfrom a more subtle perspective it is evident that moonlight hasits own special properties, the Moon herself has no luminescence.

The phases of the Moon are caused by the light of the Sunbeing reflected in a different way, owing to the changingrelationship between Earth, Moon and Sun.

The phases of the Moon are the same all over the Earth. Whenit is a Full Moon in Britain it is also a Full Moon in Australia,China and the United States.

The passage of the Moon from New Moon to New Moon takes29½ days. This phase cycle is called the synodic month, but thiscan vary by as much as 13 hours because of the eccentricity of theMoon's orbit around the Earth.

As there are 365 days in the year, most years have 13 NewMoons or 13 Full Moons, but never both. Occasionally a year willmiss out and only have 12 of each.

The lunar cycle can be divided and subdivided in a variety ofways because it's a cycle, and the different parts of the cyclenaturally blend.

The usual way of considering the lunar cycle is to divide itinto four – New Moon, Waxing Moon, Full Moon and WaningMoon – or eight with the addition of the Waning Crescent (orBalsamic), the Waning Gibbous (or Disseminating), WaxingGibbous and Waxing Crescent Moons.

Within these parts there is continual variation, as the energiesinvolved are perpetually on the move, growing and decreasing.

Why do we try to correspond our workings to the phases ofthe Moon? It is because corresponding magical workings to thephase of the Moon will add more power to them.

New Moon

We consider it to be the New Moon up to 3½ days after theofficial New Moon. She rises around dawn, sets around sunset.Because she is between the Sun and the Earth nothing or verylittle is reflected and for a few days the Moon is lost in thebrilliance of the Sun. When we cannot see any Moon in the sky,after the Waning Moon and before we see the first glimpse of theCrescent it is often referred to as the Dark Moon (see furtherchapter for more details).

As the Sun and Moon are on the same side of the Earth, thepull on us is the strongest. Because the Sun, Moon and Earth areall in a straight line this creates a time when the high tide ishigher and the low tide is lower than usual.

This is a wonderful time to make new beginnings of all types.It is especially good for getting rid of bad habits. Habitual waysof thinking that are harmful and negative can also be abandonedat this time. It is also a good time to start something creative.New projects at work can also be launched.

The first day of the New Moon is really best devoted to theplanning stages of ventures. It is good to feel just a little excitedand filled with anticipation, although your energy may not be atits highest. A day or two into the cycle is the time to take theinitiative, apply for that job, and start house hunting or anysimilar endeavours. It is also good for attracting positiveenergies, bringing about change, good luck and growth.

New Moon Colours

Green, white, orange and red

New Moon Herbs, Oil and Incense Ingredients

Sandalwood, frankincense, copal, myrrh, rose, saffron, sweetgrass, heather, patchouli, cinnamon, lavender, verbena, witchhazel, jasmine, cardamom, cypress, ginger, nutmeg, orange,chamomile and lemon

New Moon Crystals

Garnet, petalite, sapphire, quartz, labradorite, carnelian, charoite,peridot and phenakite.

New Moon Oil Recipe

4 drops patchouli essential oil

3 drops cedar wood essential oil

4 drops sweet orange essential oil

Add to a base oil such as sweet almond or grape seed (about15mls of carrier oil should be about right).

New Moon Incense Recipe

2 parts copal resin

2 parts sandalwood

1 part dried rose petals

A few drops of myrrh essential oil

New Moon Meditation

Relax and make yourself comfortable. Close your eyes and focus on yourbreathing, deep breaths in ... and out ... Visualise the real world disappearing.

As your world dissipates you find yourself on a high cliff, behindyou is a huge eyrie, the nest of an eagle. There is a light breeze, clearblue sky above you and the sun is shining.

You turn to face the eagle and connect mentally with its subconscious ...Ask it to show you the pathways and opportunities availableto you.

The eagle stands and stretches its huge wings, you realise it is aninvitation for you to fly with him. Take some time and gradually shapeshift into an eagle. Start with your feet, by morphing them into claws ...then stretch your arms out and feel the feathers forming ... your fingerschanging ... then your head slowly changing to form a beak ... graduallyyou start to feel comfortable in your eagle shape.

A light breeze ruffles your feathers and your eagle companion makesready to fly. You both perch on the edge of the cliff. The eagle suddenlytakes flight ... soaring across the sky ... you take a deep breath ... thenleap ...

Feel the air beneath you, feel it whisk around your feathers, glide onthe current ...

Follow the eagle as it soars across the skies ...

As you fly take a moment to look down, take in the landscape andthe scenery as it rushes past. What you see while flying will give youinsight into your options and pathways that are available to you.

Gradually the eagle leads you back to his eyrie.

You land safely on the cliff, exhilarated and full of ideas and plans.

At this point the eagle may give you a message ...

When you are ready, slowly change yourself back from an eagle formto your own shape.

Then gradually come back to this reality, stamp your feet andwriggle your fingers.

New Moon Ritual

You...