There are 13 full moons throughout the year. How does this happen?
Due to the rotation of the Earth, an average of 29 day moon cycles, and up to 31 day month cycles, an extra full moon (called a Blue Moon) will appear during the same month as the regular full moon.


The Esbats are celebrations of the Goddess, and working with lunar energy. There are phases the moon goes through:

Dark Moon-- Some people think it is best to rest (do no magic) during this time (the night before, night of, and night after the new moon) because they associate it with chaotic or negative energy, or the energy being at its weakest. Or it's the best time to do negative magic, if you're so inclined.

New Moon-- This is a time of beginnings, a good time to start a new project or something. I believe it can be a very powerful time.
Waxing Moon-- The moon is getting bigger, so it is associated with the growth. Whatever you have begun is working toward fulfillment. Magic is getting more powerful; positive magic, bringing things TO you is good during this time.

Full Moon-- This is considered the most powerful time, a time for magic pertaining to your heart's desire. It is also a good time for divination.

Waning Moon-- The moon is starting to get smaller and it is the perfect time to send things AWAY from you. Do "negative" magic, such as banishing or getting rid of the negative aspects of your life. This is anything from bad habits to stress, or whatever you want rid of.


There is also a cycle that we women go through every month, and many Witches use a bit of our "moon blood" in spells, considering this to be powerful. If your cycle is also during the full or new moon, this makes it even more so!

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There are names for these full moons, and of course they vary depending on where you are. Here is one version of the names of the full moons:

January- Wolf Moon--It is a time of protection and strength, beginnings and endings. Start planning for the spring.

February- Storm Moon-- It's good for fertility magic, or magic to help deal with life's challenges.

March- Chaste Moon-- It's the time of newness, hope. Start preparing for your garden, bless the seeds and get things ready.

April- Seed Moon-- This is a time for fertility, growth, and action. Plant those seeds, magical or otherwise!

May- Hare Moon-- It's the time of health, wisdom, and romance. Continue planting the seeds you blessed back in March.

June- Lover's Moon-- You guessed it! It's the time for love, marriage, abundance.

July- Mead Moon-- This is the time of strength, success, and rebirth. Start enjoying the first fruits of your labor! This is a good time for prosperity magic.

August- Wyrt (Plant) Moon-- Show generosity, share your abundance, start planning for the winter.

September- Harvest Moon-- This is the time of prosperity, abundance and protection. This is a good time for abundance magic.

October- Blood Moon-- This moon is for setting new goals, survival, and divination. Use this time for reflection of the past few months, do magic to clear away negativity from around you and your home. Use divination to get a glimpse of the future. Start preparing for the winter.

November- Snow Moon-- This is a time for reacquainting yourself with your family and friends. Do magic pertaining to relationships, abundance, prosperity. Continue working with divination.

December- Oak Moon-- This is a time for rebirth, hope, healing, completion. Do magic pertaining to these.

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There are 8 Sabbats a Witch may choose to celebrate during the "Wheel of the Year".

Due to a question by a person I correspond with online, I have decided to research and add more to this section.

The Wheel of the Year honors the never ending cycle of life, death, and rebirth. This represents time as circular rather than linear. We see life, death, and rebirth as the seasons change, so we also believe that this mirrors our lives as well.

The Wheel is divided into 8 "sections" called Cross Quarters and Quarters. Cross Quarters are the Greater Sabbats called Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas. I've discovered that these Sabbats are not always celebrated at the exact astronomical/astrological time they occur. Instead they are celebrated on a date that was chosen to make it easier to remember. They officially occur at 15º of the fixed signs and indicate the beginning of the new season. This would put them exactly between the solstices and equinoxes.
The solstices are Winter Solstice (Yule), Ostara (Spring Equinox), Litha (Summer Solstice), and Mabon (Autumn Equinox). These occur when the sun enters 0º of the cardinal signs. (More info on fixed and cardinal signs can be found on the astrology page.)

The seasons are "off" in that most calendars consider Winter Solstice as the beginning of winter, when actually, as I understand it, Samhain marks the beginning of winter. Ostara marks the beginning of Spring, Litha is MIDsummer (which means Beltane marks the beginning of summer), and Lammas marks the beginning of autumn/fall. The old ways of following the lunar and solar cycles have fallen prey to the new calendars and ways of marking time. Witches still keep the old ways alive by observing these celebrations when they occur, not when society deems it.

This is just a brief look at the Sabbats. I may add more indepth information (history, etc.) or add links for you to check out, at a later time.

Imbolc (IM-bolk), February 2nd
also known as: Candlemas, Imbolg, Imbolgc brigantia, Lupercus, Disting

Imbolc is a greater Sabbat and also indicates the turning of the season. These are considered very powerful days. Sabbats mark actual events in Nature, and observing them can help you realign your energy with the Earth. As a time of the year associated with beginning growth, Imbolc is an initiatory period for many. The time to plant the "seeds" of our hopes and dreams for the upcoming summer. This is associated with purification, the rebirth of the sun, the renewing of the fertility of the Earth.
Wiccans view this cycle of the ever-turning Wheel of the Year as the Goddess recovering from childbirth and the God is a small child.

Ostara (oh-STAR-ah) on or around March 21
Also known as: Spring Equinox, Ostara, Alban Eiler, Esther, Eostre, Ostarun, Eastre, Eoastrae, Easter, Oestre

The first true day of Spring. Energy is building and the days and nights are now equal in length at the vernal equinox; we begin to see signs of new growth and budding trees, blooming flowers. This is a time of renewed life fertility.
The Wiccans view this as the young God continuing to mature and grow. It is also a good idea to buy or make a new ritual broom (besom) for sweeping out those negative energies.

Beltane, April 30-May 1
also known as: Mayday, Walpurgisnacht, Beltain, Beltaine, Beltan, Beltein

Beltane is the last of the three spring fertility festivals, the others being Imbolc and Ostara. Beltane is the second major Celtic festival, the other being Samhain. Celebrated approximately halfway between Vernal (spring) equinox and the Summer Solstice (midsummer). As one of the greater Sabbats, this is a time of growth and maturation. It is also a fine time for falling in love!
The Wiccans continue the story of the Wheel: The land (Goddess) is now ripe and fertile and the young God expresses his love for her.

Litha, on or around June 21
also known as Midsummer or Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice falls at the precise moment when the Sun's power is at its zenith. It is the time of year when the noon sun appears to be farthest north from the celestial equator. "Solstice" is Latin for "sun stands still" (sol "sun" and sistere "to stand"). Everything is at it's peak and it's the longest day of the year. It is a good time to perform love or healing magic.
Wiccans see the God and Goddess at their prime. It is a bittersweet time, because the days will begin growing shorter, marking the beginning of the end for the God.

Lammas, on or about August 1
also known as: Lughnassadh, Lugnasad, Cornucopia, Lammastide, Festival of Light

Lammas falls midway between Summer Solstice and Autumnal Equinox and is a greater Sabbat. This is the first of the 3 harvest festivals,(Lammas, Mabon and Samhain). The Wheel of the Year begins to shift from growing time to harvest time. The subtle changes of the waning sun that occurred at Summer Solstice becomes more evident as the balance of day and night start to shift and nights become longer.
Wiccans view the God as growing weaker and starting to lose strength. The Goddess is pregnant.

Mabon, on or around September 21
also known as: Autumn Equinox, or Continuing Harvest

Now, as at Ostara, the days and nights are equal once again. There is a slight nip in the air already and preparations begin to prepare for the long cold months which are to come. It is a good time to hold a feast and celebrate with the last of the harvest.
Wiccans recognize that the God is preparing to die and the Goddess is sad.

Samhain (SOW-wen or sah-VEEN),October 31 or Nov 1
also known as: Halloween, ShadowFest, Martinmas, Old Hallowmas, The Last Harvest

This is one of the greater Sabbats, perhaps the biggest holiday of all. It is the witches New Year. This is the time of reflection, the time to honor the dead, and the time of "Seeing" (divination). As we contemplate the Wheel of the Year, we come to recognize our own part in the eternal cycle of Life. Some witches leave a plate with food out for loved ones who have passed on during the year. Others have a silent supper in which you think of your dead loved ones and with each bite you chew, you think fondly of that person. When you swallow you let go of that memory and choose a new one for the next bite. Or you can choose to just give reverence to all those who have died.
The Goddess nods a sad farewell to the God as he passes on. We know that he will once again be reborn of the Goddess and the cycle will continue.

Yule, on or around December 21
also known as Winter Solstice

Yule marks the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. A yule log is burned either in the fireplace or the cauldron as a representation of the "rebirth" or return of the sun; the days will begin to lengthen. Every year save a bit of the log and use to light the following year's yule log.
The exchange of gifts is a symbolization of the Goddess gifting the Earth with the birth of the God.

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