The Full Moon Esbat and Drawing Down the Moon

In Gardnerian Wicca the esbat is the monthly meeting, distinguished from the eight seasonal sabbats. The high priestess casts a circle nine feet across with the athame, consecrates salt and water, censes and sprinkles the circle, and the four quarters are called. At the full Moon the high priest then "draws down the Moon", invoking the Goddess into the high priestess, who may deliver the Charge of the Goddess in Doreen Valiente's wording (c. 1957). Working for healing or other ends may follow, often by raising power through dance or chant. The rite closes with the blessing and sharing of cakes and wine and the dismissal of the quarters. Gardner presented these forms as survivals of an older witch cult, a claim historians reject.

Purpose

The esbat is the coven's regular working meeting; the Charge of the Goddess bids witches gather "once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full" to adore her and to work magic.

Timing

Moon

Full

Held monthly, preferably on or near the night of the full Moon (Charge of the Goddess). Some covens also meet at the new Moon.

Materials

• candles
• salt and water
• incense
• cakes and wine (or ale)

Tools

• athame (black-handled knife)
• white-handled knife
• wand
• pentacle
• censer
• cauldron
• sword
• cords

Fire safety with candles and censer.