Dark Moon Esbat

Purify

Call Quarters

Do not cast Circle

Chant:

“This is the end time before new beginnings, the death before new life. Now on the ebb tide the secrets of the shore line are uncovered by the retreating waves. The moon is hidden but the faintest of stars are revealed. The Goddess, naked, enters the Kingdom of Death in the most vast silence and stillness possible. The cycle of the moon has turned once more and the moon hides her light from the uninitiated; however Her power is not gone, is not diminished. The wisdom of the Crone is there for all who seek Her. Merry Meet.”

Invoke Goddess with:

“Goddess of the hidden face, Dark Moon’s Mystery, I have no names to call You, yet I know that You hear me. Deep and powerful, unknown and unexplainable, You contain all potential. Grant that I may come to know the hidden aspects of myself as I integrate Your divine mystery into my being.”

Invoke the God with:

“Hidden God of the eclipsed sun, I have no names for You, yet I know that You hear me. Your hidden light shows itself in the penumbra of fire circling the dark moon. Grant that I may learn the mysteries of the dark by gently giving way.”

Place your hands on your abdomen and say:

“May the blessings of the hidden Goddess be upon me. May She grant me the freedom to sometimes be irrational and thirst for deep inner knowing, that I may come to know the hidden aspects of myself. I honor the secrets of the dark moon. Because She lives in me I carry the seeds of life and death in my blood; I can delight in exploring the mysteries of the universe. May others see the Hidden Goddess in me, although they know me well, may I preserve and air of mystery. May I embody all that is unknown, exciting and fascinating. Through me runs the darkness of the God and Goddess.”

Bless Chalice with:

“Hidden Goddess, keeper of mysteries,
I offer this wine in Your honor
As I drink it, fill me with the nectar of Your love.
So mote it be.”

Bless cakes with:

“Wise God, Lord of the Harvest,
I offer these cakes in Your honor,
As I eat them, fill me with the power of Your spirit.
So mote it be.”

Eat simple feast

Earth the power

Open Circle.

Phaedra's Notes:

When I first started out I was adamant about doing every single esbat. I wasn't such a control freak about the sabbats and I don't know what my reasoning was other than the obstinacy of youth. These went through a lot of revisions that I don't have anymore... I wasn't big on record keeping when I was younger. It wasn't until after I met my husband that I learned the value of being able to see how things evolve.

Anyway, all of my esbats had the common theme of you (the practitioner) being in ritual for blessing. So, for each esbat, I set it up so that there was a bit about evoking that aspect of the Goddess in ourself as well as asking that aspect to impart a blessing (or blessings) that was congruent to that archetype.

The dark moon esbat was always a favorite of mine, the dark has never scared me. I tend to feel more peaceful, relaxed, and safe when in darkness. Whenever I would look for hiding places, the darker the better for me. =) For that reason I really emphasise the dark in this ritual and how it can be a loving, safe place for us to be.