Pagan Portals – Moon Magic

The usual way of considering the lunar cycle is to divide it into four – New Moon, Waxing Moon, Full Moon and Waning Moon – or eight with the addition of the Waning Crescent (or Balsamic), the Waning Gibbous (or Disseminating), Waxing Gibbous and Waxing Crescent Moons.

As there are 365 days in the year, most years have 13 New Moons or 13 Full Moons, but never both.

The passage of the Moon from New Moon to New Moon takes 29½ days. This phase cycle is called the synodic month

The word ‘esbat’ is believed to be derived from a French word s’esbattre which means to ‘joyfully celebrate’ and is actually quite fitting.