December Esbat Oak Moon by Regi

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

December: Oak Moon
 Though we think of December as a dark month; it is also the time of the returning of the sun. A very special month in many ways, and we ask you to remember those who have less than you. Try to organize a meal with loved ones and ask that everyone bring something so it doesn't all fall on your head. A time to be with the ones we love, to get ready for the new years arrival and the start of the cycle again. Cover your altar in white and yellow to represent spirit, and the coming of the sun for this full moon celebration.
December is the time of Spiritual Paths. The Earth tides are turning and it is time to reach out to friends and family, the lonely, and the needy. This is the month of death and renewal. Spells should should be aimed at endurance and provision.

DECEMBER; Cold Moon (December) Also known as: Oak Moon, Wolf Moon, Moon of Long Nights, Long Night's Moon, Aerra Geola (Month Before Yule), Wintermonat (Winter Month), Heilagmanoth (Holy Month), Big Winter Moon, Moon of Popping Trees
Nature Spirits: snow faeries, storm faeries, winter tree faeries
Herbs: holly, English ivy, fir, mistletoe
Colors: blood red, white and black
Flowers: holly, poinsettia, Christmas cactus
Scents: violet, patchouli, rose geranium, frankincense, myrrh, lilac
Stones: serpentine, jacinth, peridot
Trees: pine, fir, holly
Animals: mouse, deer, horse, bear
Birds: rook, robin, snowy owl
Deities: Hathor, Hecate, Neith, Athene, Minerva, Ixchel, Osiris, Norns, Fates
Power Flow: to endure, die, be reborn; Earth tides turning. Darkness. Personal alchemy. Spiritual paths. Reach out to friends and family, the lonely and needy.

 

Esbat or Full Moon Ritual

 
When performing a ritual it's best to use your own guidance, your own wording and the items, stones, crystals, herbs, incense, candles and tools that call to YOU. One thing I tell my students that many other Pagans tend to disagree with is that there is really no right or wront way to perform a ritual. Do what feels right to you. If reading some "thou behold the guardians of the watchtowers of the north and bless the Goddesse with this water I shall sprinkle in the name of Mother Gaia..." and you don't understand a word of it, you are not manifesting any energy, and you could actually be manifesting the wrong energy by not understanding what the words mean. I am not into formal rituals and I do not practice in formal form. One reason being is that I'm a soliraty practitioner and since I am my own high priestess, I have the freedom to celebrate the Esbat any way I please. Use items that call to me for that particular rituals. Below I will post some EXAMPLES of an Esbat Ritual, worded by myself. I will have more rituals, spells and other magickal chants, poerty and words on another page coming soon that I will steal (with proper credit) from books, online sites and from friends for those of you who do not feel comfortable writing our or saying your own words just yet.
Before you begin any ritual PLEASE visit the page on cleansing and consecrating your toold first. You DO NOT have to use tools in any ritual. As a matter of fact, it is better for a beginner to NOT use tools so that they can fully understand the power that they hold within. For example, your finger works just as well...if not better...than an athame when casting a circle. You can also find How to Cast a Sacred Circle in the links above. I also siggest you read that page before getting to any of the rituals mentioned here...or elsewhere for that matter.

The Basic Full Moon Ritual How To:

What you will need:
1. Elemental representation. A colored candle to represent each of the 5 elements. You will want to place a red candle in the south to represent FIRE, a yellow candle in the east to represent AIR, a blue candle in the west to represtent WATER, a green candle in the north to represent Earth and a purple or white candle in the center of yuor circle to represent SPIRIT. It is very important that these candles be rubbed down with an anointing oil before being lit. You can also bring an object to represent each element as well. A feather or incense for AIR, the flame of your red candle will work for FIRE, a bowl or chalice of water placed in the west to represent WATER, a stone or a bowl of soil in the north to represent EARTH. This is not 100% necessary but it does help increase the energy of the elements.


1. Cleanse and consecrate all of your tools, crystals, and other items you will be using. Anoint your candles with anointing oils that you can purchase online, here in my store or just use olive oil if you are just starting out.
2. Find a place preferable outdoors where you will not be disturbed and where you have a clear view of the full moon.
3. Bring a white working candle and place infront of where you will be sitting in the middle of your circle.
4. 12 small white candles are optional to create a circle and represent each of the 12 Esbats...which also illuminates the circle.
5. And incense you may want to burn during your ritual. You can find how to make your own herbal incenses for each Esbat and Sabbat on the Oils, Incense & Brews page.
6. Bring along any crystals or stones you feel guided to use during your ritual. I use a small amethyst or celestite cluster to hold during meditation and place a hematite or galena cube in front of me to keep me grounded.

A Basic Esbat Ritual:

This ritual can be worked during any of the Esbats. This ritual is best worked from those who are just starting on their path into Wicca and Witchcraft. As you become more advanced, your celebration rituals can change to suit each month.

Arrange your elemental candles and/or representations in their appropriate places. Remember, red candle: South; blue candle, West; yellow candle; East and green candle: North. If you are using the 12 white illuminator candles, place 3 of them in between the element candles. Start in the east (though it really doesn't matter, I just prefer to start in the east where the sun rises) and light your yellow candle. As you do this say something like:

I call on the element of air and breath
You give me life and prevent my death
An important part of this world around
You have the power to create sound
Please be here with me/us this night
and remove any bad thoughts, fears and fright

Move clockwise to the Fire Element, the red candle in the south direction. Light this candle and as you do say outloud or to yourself something like:

I call on the power of the element of Fire
To give me courage, strenth and power
Your flame so hot drives passion inside
and gives me the lust in which keeps me alive
Element of fire be here with me now
bring your power and to me please allow

Move clockwise the the element of  Water in the west. Light the blue candle and say outloud or in your mind something similar to this:

I ask that the element of water be here
to cool off my anger and release myfear
Water so calm of calm and serenity
allow my soul to live for infinity
allow me to use your energy of peace
 so that these emotions inside I can finally release

Move clockwise to the element of  Earth and light the green candle. As you do this say in your mnind or outload something like:

I call on the element of the greenest Earth
to protect my home, my family and hearth
keep me grounded through these emotions I feel
And I always know that you keep it real
Down to earth is what they all say
So help me ground my energy today

Once you have all of your elemental candles lit, go around in a clockwise manner and light the 12 illuminator candles. Once you have done so move to the center of your circle and light your purple spirit candle. In your own words ask that the spirits be with you and guide you in your ritual. 
Sit for a moment and focus on the moon above you and feel it's energy surrounding you. You can use this time to meditate, work any difficult spells since the full moon energy is most potent, you can have a celebration ritual welcoming the full moon, or just spend some quiet sacred time writing in your Book of Shadows, journaling, reading or studying more into your path. This time is all yours, use it to your advantage.

Once you are finished, you should feel a sense of satisfaction come over you both mentally and physically. You should feel relaxed, at peace and maybe a little light headed or dizzy. Dizziness is caused by a build up of excess energy and will need to be grounded and centered. Sit and visualize a root growing from the base of your spine (root chakra) into the ground beneath you. See a bright white liquid flowing from your body, through the root and into the ground. The Earth neutralizes all energy so don't worry about giving the Earth yours.  Sit for a while and allow the energy to flow until you  feel a little more stabilized. When you are finished, thank the spirits, any dieties you may have invoked, and release the elements. Simple say "thank you spirits for being here with me this night and lending your energy to me" as you extinguish the spirit candle. Then walk to the direction that you started your circle and say something like, "I thank you elements and guardians of the north for assisting me in this ritual tonight" and extinguish the green candle. Work counterclockwise to release. When finished, extinguish your illuminator candles and any other candles you may have lit, gather your tools and allow 3-30 days for any spells to manifest. If you cast a spell during this time and haven't seen results after 30 days, repeat the same spell every full moon until it manifests. Remember, spells can manifest in strange ways so be sure that your spell really hasn't worked and just isn't showing un in some unexpected way.

Love & Light!