Witches’ Esbats for 2012
Unlike the eight sabbats, which are set aside for rituals of devotions to Gods, Goddesses and the mighty ones, esbats are for the working of magic and healing. Whether doing a full moon esbat, a dark moon meditation, or casting a spell, one should know and understand the moon’s influences during each of its particular phases.
As the moon waxes and grows, and especially during the full moon when the bright face of the Goddess fills the sky, the time is right to start workings designed to draw desired attributes and abilities towards a practitioner of the Craft and to strengthen those abilities to aid them in moving forward on their Path.
As the moon wanes and diminishes, and especially during the new moon when darkness fills the sky, the time is right to start workings designed to eliminate and banish undesirable and unwanted attributes, habits and aspects that hold a practitioner of the Craft from moving forward on their Path.
Some witches believe the new moon is only for hexes and malevolent castings. While I believe there are certain rare circumstances when hexing may be sanctioned and the waning and new moon may aid in such endeavors, the practitioner must be aware and be willing to accept the responsibility for such workings and the inevitable rebound they will experience (some say a force 3 times greater, but even an equal backlash has serious repercussions, so weigh the risk and consider all other options before using the dark of the moon thus).
- 2 January 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 09 January 2012: Full “Ice” Moon
- 16 January 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 23 January 2012: New Moon
- 31 January 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 07 February 2012: Full “Snow” Moon
- 15 February 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 21 February 2012: New Moon
- 01 March 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 08 March 2012: Full “Death” Moon
- 15 March 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 22 March 2012: New Moon
- 30 March 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 06 April 2012: Full “Awakening” Moon
- 13 April 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 21 April 2012: New Moon
- 29 April 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 06 May 2012: Full “Grass” Moon
- 12 May 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 20 May 2012: New Moon
- 28 May 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 04 June 2012: Full “Planting” Moon
- 11 June 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 19 June 2012: New Moon
- 27 June 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 03 July 2012: Full “Rose” Moon
- 11 July 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 19 July 2012: New Moon
- 26 July 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 02 August 2012: Full “Lightning” Moon
- 09 August 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 17 August 2012: New Moon
- 24 August 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 31 August 2012: Full “Blue” Moon
- 08 September 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 16 September 2012: New Moon
- 22 September 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 30 September 2012: Full “Harvest” Moon
- 08 October 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 15 October 2012: New Moon
- 22 October 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 29 October 2012: Full “Hunter’s” Moon
- 07 November 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 13 November 2012: New Moon
- 20 November 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 28 November 2012: Full “Tree” Moon
- 06 December 2012: Quarter Waning Moon
- 13 December 2012: New Moon
- 20 December 2012: Quarter Waxing Moon
- 28 December 2012: Full “Long Night” Moon
Alternative names for the full moon can be found here.
A “blue” moon occurs when a full moon appears twice in a single month. This is a rare occurrence and where the phrase, “Once in a blue moon,” originates. There is a blue moon in August of 2012. The next blue moon will occur on 31 July 2015.
Source: U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department Phases of the Moon for 2012 
