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Esbats - Energy Working (pt. 1)

Esbats are rites held for the purpose of communing with the Moon's energies and are regarded as the time for most magickal workings.As opposed to the Sabbats, which are fire or sun festivals, Esbats are dedicated to the Moon in her various phases. These are considered the 'working' celebrations, the time in which to attract, banish, invoke protection, or to perform any other magickal workings. Most Sabbat festivals are held in order to celebrate the changing of the seasons, the gathering of the harvest, etc. The Esbats are held in honor of the Goddess. The Lunar Year contains 13 Full Moons. These have all been called by various names in the past but the ones that seem to have become the most popular are:

MODERN:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
ANCIENT:
Wolf Moon
Ice or Storm Moon
Chaste Moon
Seed or Growing Moon
Hare Moon
Mead Moon
Hay Moon
Corn Moon
Harvest Moon
Blood Moon
Snow Moon
Oak or Cold Moon
CELTIC:
Fearn - Alder
Saille - Willow
Nuin - Ash
Huathe - Hawthorn
Duiir - Oak
Tinne - Holly
Coll - Hazel
Muin - Vine
Gort - Ivy
Ngetal - Reed
Beth - Birch
Luis - Rowan

But that's only 12 you say? That's because the 13th Moon is called the Blue Moon, this occurs when four full moons fall within the same season (as regular seasons only have 3 full moons, the fourth full moon between solstice and equinox, or vice versa, is the Blue Moon). Obviously this must happen once a year, and always at a different time due to the inaccuracies of the modern calendar. The Celts originally set their year to correspond with the 13 moons but with the coming of the Romans and their method of calendar keeping this tradition was lost. Their 13th Moon was called Ruis or Elder.

The Blue Moon is considered the 'goal moon', at this time it is customary to set specific goals for yourself and to review your accomplishments and failures since the last one.