Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

The monthly full moons or Esbats are the closest that we Pagans have to the Sunday church services of the Christians. The 13 full moons of the year are honored by rituals that are tuned to the specific qualities of the full moon. While the Sabbats celebrate the path of the Sun throughout the year, the Esbats are all about the Moon and the Goddess. We observe her monthly passage from maiden, to mother, to crone and back again. We offer her attention during her full Mother phase and when she is at her greatest power.

The focus of Esbats rituals should be on reverence and respect. It is not a time for spells dealing with things that we want or that we need. We thank the Goddess for all that she has given us and stand in reverence to her awesome power.

The following is an Esbat ritual that you can adapt and altar to your needs. My own Esbat ritual developed from this and it has served me well for many years.

You will need:

Two white candles
A bell
Wine or lunar liquid
Your chalice (or cup)
Spell material if you are doing something afterwards
Cast your circle.
Stand before the altar facing North and say:
This is the time of the full moon, a time of great power for positive manifestation,
a time of increasing and gaining.
The tide of Moon-power is strong.
I am of the Goddess.
I stand before You at Your altar, in love and adoration.
Be with me Goddess.
Let me feel your presence here tonight.

Go to the east with the bell.

Ring it once and say:

Hail Selene. Help me feel the Lady’s power and presence within my mind.

Go to the South.

Ring the bell once and say:

Hail Cerridwen.

Help me feel the Lady’s power and presence within my spirit.

Go to the West.

Ring the bell once and say:

Hail Athene. Help me feel the Lady’s power and presence within my emotions.

Go back to the North. Ring the bell once and say:

Hail Aphrodite.
Help me feel the Lady’s power and presence in my body.

You will probably have an amazing wave of feelings come over you. Let them sink into your body and soul. When you are ready, return the bell to the altar, turn to the North, and raise your arms high above your head.

Say:

Hail Goddess! Moon Mother, Lady of Light, Mistress of Magick and Animals. You are the white light of the Moon upon the Earth, the brilliant rays of sun upon life.

You are the beginning and ending, the One who creates and takes away. Within You, I see myself and all woman.

In this time, You come to me and fill me with your presence.

Communicate with Her now. Tell Her your problems, wishes and anything you wish to tell her.

When you are finished say:

All honor and love to the wonderful Goddess, f
or She is the power behind all powers,
the Goddess behind all gods,
the Eternal Life behind death.
I see Her loving face within the moon and rejoice.
All Hail Queen of the heavens and the earth, the eternal on of Wisdom!
Raise the chalice to toast her and say:
To Diana and all the Goddesses!

Now is the time for divination, meditation, and spellwork of any kind.

Close the circle when done.

Remember to add your own personal flair to the ritual and make it your own.

Since you will be using the Esbat ritual on a monthly basis, try to memorize it (or at least parts of it). As you use it more and more, I’m sure you’ll grow comfortable with the flow of this ritual and eventually know it like the back of your hand.

I send you blessings as you worship the Goddess in her Glory!

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”