Esbats

[Nina]

What esbats do you observe?

[Nina]

I celebrate all, the Dark Moon I dedicate completely to Hecate, my patroness, although I don't actually do any magical working - just say thanks for the previous months. Then a couple of days later, I celebrate the New Moon, which seems to be my most magical time. New beginnings and all that. Full Moon tends to be the time I cleanse and consecrate stuff - always my Tarot cards, and things I work with. Oh, and I have a 'cleaning the altar' time at the Full Moon!

[Haedis]

Typically just the Full moon esbats. Ideally I'd celebrate them all but I'm forgetful, and its not always easy to get out of the house at night (i'd perfer not to do it indoors).

[Myst]

Usually neither. I'm a green witch. If I notice a full moon or new moon I'll take a moment to think about it or gaze at the moon but that's about it. :)

[Flaire-FireStar]

Usually I do a tarot reading on the night of a full moon or draw a picture, if the sky is clear)..For a new moon, I just note it and gaze up at the sky for a few minutes.

[Ganga]

I honor the full moon and the new moon at which times I clean my altar, burn special candles and special incense. I also make a point to go outside to actually pay my respects to the Moon on those nights. I usually dress my altar/Deities with white on full moon and black at dark moon (these are East Indian customs). My husband's aunt bathes silver coins with water poured from a small conchell at full moon. I find that quite interesting. I also celebrate the 11th day from the full moon, and the 11th day from the dark moon. Those days are called Ekadasi, and they are very dear to Lakshmi and Vishnu. On Ekadasi I dress my altar/Deities with red and either fast completely or fast from grains.

[lucidfire]

well first, I chose full moon because I always thought the term 'esbat' referred to a full moon ritual. I do things around waxing, waning, and dark moons, but most of that is preparation for a sabbat or esbat. That might change some day though..

[Ganga]

Lucidfire, I really like the avatar under your name! I just recently read about the meaning of OM; how there are various ways to meditate on it. Since it consists of three sounds (AUM), one can meditate of the A as the Lord, U as the Lady and M as the living entity.

A nice quote regarding OM from a book "Gayatri, the Highest Meditation":
"In every breath man utters and repeats it unintentionally and inevitably. Every vibration in the body and in the universe emerges from OM. A child cries 'Om! Om!' The ocean roars 'Om! Om!' The bees buzz 'Om! Om!' The musician hums 'Om! Om!' Om is the expression of the seer of the Truth. Om is Veda, the wisdom of God. Om is the nada, the sound of God. Om is eternal, the indestructible word."

[Doctor Oakroot]

New and Full, but the new is very simple - just greeting the crescent in the evening - unless there is a specific need for magical working.

[Ball-Bhreac Ròn]

Full, although once or twice I've celebrated the dark moon. Also, it depends how I'm feeling...sometimes I'm too tired to celebrate the full moon, so I just light some incense and look up at it (I can see it through my window at my new house :):):))

[Melysande]

It's the time-share arrangement I have with my deities. My matron and patron get me on the Full, and the Egyptian gods and goddesses get me on the New. Everyone gets invited on Sabbats, though. :-)

[WandererInGray]

*smiles* I'm with Myst.

If I happen to notice it ahead of time or on the day, I'll take a moment or two.

I've gotten in the habit of kissing my hand and saying a blessing when I happen to look up at the moon, it's a nice way to remember them for me.

The moon was especially gorgeous yesterday right about dusk....full and so bright against the indigo sky. *smiles*

[AmbivalentMirage]

I try to observe them all -- but with a busy life, it's not always possible. I at least try to take time to say a special prayer.

[Mysterious]

Full Moon only, unless I'm working with something that prefers the new moon for example. I may do more in warmer weather though.

[blueiris]

i voted for all...i do a ritual on the full moon just honoring the goddess Selene, but I also take the time to look at the new moon and dark moon and remember it...maybe i'll do a ritual for the moons someday soon i just dont have the time right now.

[AuroraSilvermist]

What esbats do you observe?

I primarily honor the full moon, but occasionally use the new moon to work banishing magic. I keep my esbat rituals and magic simple, for the most part. Sometimes it's just a matter of stepping outside and whispering a prayer under the light of the moon. :)

[SylverStar]

I notice them all but I don't celebrate any of them. If anything Blue Moon's I tend to do a little extra something.

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

I usually do a ritual for the full moon unless i'm tired. I also tend to a reading of some kind on the full moon too. If i'm tired i will acknowledge the moon, and do something i enjoy.

[Avalon]

Just the Full Moon. I rarely perform any spells, so most of the time I light a candle and thank Them for all that has gone on in the last month. And I write in my Moon Journal. :)

[zakzekezedd]

While I may not do a full ritual I always take a few moments to honor the Lady at the Full Moon, and in recent months have begun honoring her at the New Moon as well. I like to take advantage of the Full Moon to cleanse and charge my stones and crystals, and to cleanse and rededicate my altar. Weather permitting I try to slip outside long enough to gaze at the Moon and offer a heartfelt thank-you to the Lady and ask for her blessings during the next month. I had a friend introduce me to the idea of making New Moon "wishes" and have had remarkable luck with them (keeping in mind that you need to be careful what you do wish for..)

[Tigerlily]

Just the Full Moon. I rarely perform any spells, so most of the time I light a candle and thank Them for all that has gone on in the last month. And I write in my Moon Journal. :)

The moon journal idea sounds like a good idea. What do you write in it? Just your thoughts and feelings when you observed the moon?

I usually just do full moon rituals, if I'm not tired (I do them in the middle of the night so no one bothers me and sometimes I'm just sooo tired I decide not to a ritual and just say a blessing/prayer instead).

I have a question about the new moon and dark moon? When is it exactly? That was something I never fully understood when reading wiccan books, etc. All the calendars that I find, only say "full moon" and "first quarter"/"last quarter"... I feel really dumb now...

[mucgwyrt]

The dark moon generally lasts for 3 days prior to the New Moon - it's the point at which the moon is not visible :smile:

[skilly-nilly]

I voted for new and full, because those faces are the most emotionally meaningful to me. When I see the full moon, I always sing;
I see the Moon,
The Moon sees me.
God bless the Moon
And God bless me.

It's an old children's song---my children and I have sung it all of their lives.

I always greet the new moon when I first see her.
But I don't involve the Moon specifically in Magic-Working, so I could have also voted 'none'. I see the Moon and her faces as a personification of the Goddess but since I address the Goddess as Herself I don't feel that I am actually involving the Moon.

I also see the dark of the Moon as important but in a non-active way. I see the dark of the Moon, Midnight, and the Nameless Day as the obverse of the full Moon, noon, and Mid-Summer and as part of a necessary passive/active doing/refraining balance. When I consciously try to
not do anything.
So I could have voted for 3 phases---skilly-nilly

[HorseCrow]

Mainly full moon, but depending on intention, the other fases as well.

[Theres]

i'll do Full Moons on occasion, if i have something magickal to do.

but i NEVER miss the Dark Moon. this is my time for personal magick and growth, and a time to strengthen my connection to Her. the Dark/New Moon is the beginning of every new month, and seems like to good time to to re-focus.

[RubyRose]

I don't celebrate any of the esbats at the moment.

[mucgwyrt]

no, I dont celebrate the esbats either, but any workings I do do I tie into the moon cycle, and any festivals I celebrate on either the full or new moon - whichever suits the specific festival :)