The Esbat is traditionally a ritual performed at the full moon to work magick or honour the Goddess. Especially in traditional covens, this is where they would physically meet once a month and work any spells they needed to, and so in accordance with the moon’s cycles, there would be 13 of these held a year. 'Esbat' is not a term often used now, especially with the rise of more solitary practices. I personally use the full moon now to hold my own ‘esbat’, where I perform a small ritual specifically to honour the Goddess.
There is no set format to an Esbat ritual, so feel free to get creative with it! However, if you are looking for more of a structure to get your started, then the below is commonly used as a traditional Esbat ritual (where you are performing magick):
However, if you are performing an Esbat solely in honour of the Goddess, then you may want to follow the below:
Let’s take a closer look at the steps above:
Cleanse Sacred Space: As I said, if like me you keep your general space regularly cleansed anyway, then you can get away with skipping this step. However, if you do want to make a point of specifically cleansing the space you will be working in, then check out this page: https://www.thecottagemystic.com/cleansing-negative-energies.html
Cast Circle: Always make sure you cast your circle! More information here: https://www.thecottagemystic.com/casting-circles--raising-energy.html
Call Quarters: Again, more information on that here: www.patheos.com/blogs/beneaththemoon/2020/02/the-art-of-ritual-calling-the-quarters/ and https://www.free-witchcraft-spells.com/calling-the-quarters.html
Invoke Goddess: This is usually started by lighting a candle; often white, or silver, but if you have a different colour that you associated with the Goddess, then feel free to use that. Or, you could light an incense, or anoint yourself with some oil with a scent that makes you think of the Goddess. Or, you might decide not to do any of the above, it is completely up to you!
Now recite an invocation; here is one I use:
“I call upon the Goddess, Oh Great Lady of the Moon. Please, be with me now; I invoke and invite you into this circle to join me, as I perform this ritual in your honour.”
Finally, I ring a silver bell three times. This action is believed to help open the door between the world through its vibration, and signifies the end of your request. You can also clap three times, or maybe strike a spoon against a glass of water three times to get a similar effect. Or, again, you may not choose to do anything! At the very least, you should recite an invocation though.
Thanks To The Goddess: This is the point where you do something for the Goddess to express your love, and your gratitude, and it is completely up to you how you do that! You may write a poem, or a song. You may put some music on and dance, you may light more candles, an incense (try not to use the same method you used to invoke the Goddess though), or draw a picture, or even just chant.
Drawing Down the Moon: Here you draw down the essence of the moon into you. Here are some good instructions: https://www.learnreligions.com/how-to-draw-down-the-moon-2562862
Cakes and Ale/Wine: Here is a good explanation of what the cake and ale ‘ceremony’ is and why we do it: https://wiccanworkings.wordpress.com/tag/cakes-and-ale-ritual/
Thanking the Goddess: This doesn’t need to be anything fancy or laborious, just something short and simple like the below will do:
“I thank you Great Goddess, Lady of the Silver Moon, for being with me this evening and blessing this ritual. I give thanks for all that you have blessed me with, and pray that you continue to let me walk this path with you.”
At this point I will blow out the candle and ring the bell three times again.
Releasing the Quarters (if you called them): If you called the quarters then you will need to close them. Again, this can be short and simple.
Work in the opposite direction (so start with the West if you finished at the West when opening the circle) and say something along the lines of:
“Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, element of water, I thank you for protecting this ritual this night. Hail, and farewell.”
Repeat this for each quarter.
Closing the Circle: To close the circle I walk it counter-clockwise whilst saying:
“This circle is open, but never broken. So mote it be!”
and imagining all of the energy of the circle being pulled back into me, through me and into the earth beneath my feet.
There is no set format to an Esbat ritual, so feel free to get creative with it! However, if you are looking for more of a structure to get your started, then the below is commonly used as a traditional Esbat ritual (where you are performing magick):
- Cleanse sacred space
- Cast Circle
- Call Quarters
- Invoke the Goddess
- Working your Magick
- Draw down the Moon
- Cakes and Ale/Wine
- Thanking the Goddess
- Releasing the Quarters
- Closing the Circle
However, if you are performing an Esbat solely in honour of the Goddess, then you may want to follow the below:
- Cleanse sacred space (although if like me you keep your general space regularly cleansed anyway, then you can get away with skipping this step)
- Cast Circle
- Call Quarters (although this is a preference; as I’m not actually casting any magick during this ritual, I usually skip this step)
- Invoke the Goddess
- Thanks to the Goddess
- Draw down the Moon
- Cakes and Ale/Wine
- Thanking the Goddess
- Releasing the Quarters (if you called them)
- Closing the Circle
Let’s take a closer look at the steps above:
Cleanse Sacred Space: As I said, if like me you keep your general space regularly cleansed anyway, then you can get away with skipping this step. However, if you do want to make a point of specifically cleansing the space you will be working in, then check out this page: https://www.thecottagemystic.com/cleansing-negative-energies.html
Cast Circle: Always make sure you cast your circle! More information here: https://www.thecottagemystic.com/casting-circles--raising-energy.html
Call Quarters: Again, more information on that here: www.patheos.com/blogs/beneaththemoon/2020/02/the-art-of-ritual-calling-the-quarters/ and https://www.free-witchcraft-spells.com/calling-the-quarters.html
Invoke Goddess: This is usually started by lighting a candle; often white, or silver, but if you have a different colour that you associated with the Goddess, then feel free to use that. Or, you could light an incense, or anoint yourself with some oil with a scent that makes you think of the Goddess. Or, you might decide not to do any of the above, it is completely up to you!
Now recite an invocation; here is one I use:
“I call upon the Goddess, Oh Great Lady of the Moon. Please, be with me now; I invoke and invite you into this circle to join me, as I perform this ritual in your honour.”
Finally, I ring a silver bell three times. This action is believed to help open the door between the world through its vibration, and signifies the end of your request. You can also clap three times, or maybe strike a spoon against a glass of water three times to get a similar effect. Or, again, you may not choose to do anything! At the very least, you should recite an invocation though.
Thanks To The Goddess: This is the point where you do something for the Goddess to express your love, and your gratitude, and it is completely up to you how you do that! You may write a poem, or a song. You may put some music on and dance, you may light more candles, an incense (try not to use the same method you used to invoke the Goddess though), or draw a picture, or even just chant.
Drawing Down the Moon: Here you draw down the essence of the moon into you. Here are some good instructions: https://www.learnreligions.com/how-to-draw-down-the-moon-2562862
Cakes and Ale/Wine: Here is a good explanation of what the cake and ale ‘ceremony’ is and why we do it: https://wiccanworkings.wordpress.com/tag/cakes-and-ale-ritual/
Thanking the Goddess: This doesn’t need to be anything fancy or laborious, just something short and simple like the below will do:
“I thank you Great Goddess, Lady of the Silver Moon, for being with me this evening and blessing this ritual. I give thanks for all that you have blessed me with, and pray that you continue to let me walk this path with you.”
At this point I will blow out the candle and ring the bell three times again.
Releasing the Quarters (if you called them): If you called the quarters then you will need to close them. Again, this can be short and simple.
Work in the opposite direction (so start with the West if you finished at the West when opening the circle) and say something along the lines of:
“Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, element of water, I thank you for protecting this ritual this night. Hail, and farewell.”
Repeat this for each quarter.
Closing the Circle: To close the circle I walk it counter-clockwise whilst saying:
“This circle is open, but never broken. So mote it be!”
and imagining all of the energy of the circle being pulled back into me, through me and into the earth beneath my feet.
