The Esbat Celebrations
The Sabbats are the Major holidays and mark the passing of the year in the Wheel of the Year.
The other group of holidays are used to mark and honour the changes of the Moon.
These are the Esbats.
Most Pagans tend to celebrate the Esbat at the Full Moon.
While the Sabbats are a time for celebrating and feasting, the Esbats in contrast are a time for rituals, spellcasting and magic.
Phases of the Moon
New Moon
A new moon happens when the sun and moon are in conjunction and appear to occupy the same part of the sky from the earth. The moon does not reflect any light from the sun towards the earth and so cannot be seen, unless there is a solar eclipse.
The new moon is a time of growing energy, rejuvenation, and growth. It is a good time for making changes in your life such as ending bad habits or relationships.
Full Moon
The full moon happens when the moon's illuminated side fully faces the earth and reflects the maximum amount of light from the sun. This is around 14 - 15 days after the new moon.
This is the time when the moon's power is at its strongest. According to lore a child born during the time of the full moon will live a long and happy life.
Waxing Moon
During this phase the moon is growing larger in the sky from new moon to full moon. It is sometimes called a right-hand moon as the crescent grows from right to left and resembles the curve between the index finger and thumb on the right hand.
The waxing moon is a good time to do magic used to draw things to your life.
Waning Moon
Between the full moon and the next new moon falls the waning moon. The waning moon decreases from right to left and is sometimes called the left-hand moon because the crescent resembles the shape formed by the index finger and thumb on the left hand.
The waning moon is a good time to do magic used to decrease or lessen something in your life.
More information on spells and spellcasting
The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/31/2009) 
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft (Llewellyn's Practical Magick)
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/31/2009)
The Triple Moon
Maid, Mother, Crone
Depicted here are the three phases of the moon, symbolizing the three stages of womanhood.
Waxing crescent: The Maiden -
All sleeping seeds She wakens,
The rainbow is Her token,
Now winter's power is taken,
In love, all chains all broken.
--from Starhawk's The Spiral Dance - Kore's Chant
Full moon : The Mother -
And now, queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and sea-girt Paros and rocky Antron, lady, giver of gifts, bringer of seasons, Queen Demeter, be gracious, you and your daughter the beautiful Persephone, and for my song grant me heart-cheering food and drink. For now we will always remember you.
- taken from the Hymn of Demeter, adapted from the translation by Hugh Evelyn-White
Waning cresent moon : The Crone -
Now it is the time of night
That the graves all gaping wide,
Every one lets forth his sprite,
In the church-way paths to glide:
And we fairies, that do run
By the triple Hecate's team,
From the presence of the sun,
Following darkness like a dream,
Now are frolic: not a mouse
Shall disturb this hallow'd house:
I am sent with broom before,
To sweep the dust behind the door.
- A Midsummer's Night Dream
Full Moons Through the Year
Celtic Calendar
Each month alternately contained 29 or 30 days, making a Celtic lunar year 354 days in length. The calendar took into account the differing time periods taken by the moon and the sun to circle the earth (prevalent geocentric terminology used), and reconciled the differences by inserting an extra month on a regular cycle. This method of intercalation meant that most years contained twelve months, and approximately every third year contained thirteen months. This extra month was called Mid Samonios, and was iinserted between Cutios and Giamonios in the calendar. Since Celtic months begin on the Full Moon no consistent dates can be given.
Samonios - October/November - Seed-fall
Dumannios - November/December - Darkest depths
Ruiros - December/Januray - Cold-time
Anagantios - January/February - Stay-home time
Ogronios - February/March - Ice time
Cutios - March/April - Windy time
Giamonios - April/May - Shots-show
Simivisonios - May/June - Bright time
Equos - June/July - Horse-time
Elembiuos - July/August - Claim-time
Edrinios - August/September - Arbitration time
Cantlos - September/October - Song-time
Current Moon Phase
Celebrate the moon
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One group's full moon ritual
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
that's a full moon
Tile Coaster
Price: 4.99
Autumn Moon Journal
Price: 10.99
Keepsake Box - Full Moon
Price: 23.99
During Full Moons White T-Shirt
Price: 17.99
Red Crescent Moon
Movies by Moonlight
Escape to Witch Mountain Special Edition
I loved these movies when they came out, and read the book by the same title over and over again. Before going to see the remake of the Witch Mountain movies, watch the original.
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 12/31/2009)
Return from Witch Mountain Special Edition
The sequal to the original movie. This movie is a lot of fun and appropriate for the whole family.
Amazon Price: $17.49 (as of 12/31/2009)
In Search of History - Salem Witch Trials (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives)
The DVD release of the History Channel production documenting the Salem Witch Trials.
Amazon Price: $18.49 (as of 12/31/2009)
Bell, Book and Candle
I watched this delightful movie starring James Stewart and Kim Novak many years ago while helping a friend write a university term paper on it.
From the editorial reviews:
Staid, secure publisher James Stewart leads a quiet life until he meets his bewitching downstairs neighbor, Kim Novak. John Van Druten's lighthearted Broadway comedy becomes a lush if lightweight romantic vehicle for Stewart and Novak, who would reunite for Hitchcock's Vertigo the next year. Novak is at her best as a Greenwich witch halfway between the worlds of magic and mortals, looking after her dotty aunt (Elsa Lanchester) and mischievous warlock brother (Jack Lemmon) as they keep their skills in practice.
Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 12/31/2009)
More Moons
A blue moon happens any time there are 2 full moons within the space of a single month. This happens, on average, every 2.7 years.
The next Blue Moon will be in December 2009 with the first full moon being on the 2nd, and the second full moon coming on the 31st.
For more information about Blue Moons and to calculate when the next Blue Moon will occur, check out Interactive Astronomy Pages
The Honey Moon
The June full moon is known as the Honey Moon, or Mead Moon because during the month bee hives would have been filled with honey. Some of the honey collected would have been made into mead. Couples marrying on the Honey Moon would be given drinks of the mead after the ceremony.
Harvest Moon
The harvest moon is the full moon nearest to the autumnal equinox. It often seems to be larger in the sky than other full moons because of the tilt of the earth. Because it rises so soon after sunset in the Autumn months, the Harvest Moon allows farmers to remain in the fields longer to bring in the harvest.
Another lens on the moon and lunar celebrations
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Goddess Moon and her beauty
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This lens is about honoring the Goddess within. I hope to fill this lens with information that will help you to realize that each and every one of you are sacred and hold a divine force within you that fills you with strength, courage and beauty. Th...
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