As Sabbats are held as celebrations, with revelry and fun, the Esbats are the magical working days (or nights, actually). These special times are when energies are raised and sent out for special purposes, such as healing, success for a positive project, personal growth, or banishment of negativity (such as a bad habit).

Most often, the magical work is done during a full moon, however work can be done on the new and dark moons. Traditionally, the energies raised during a full moon is used for protection, divinations, and removal of negativity, whereas the energies raised on the dark and new moons are for growth, healing, and blessings, with the hoped for goal being achieved by the full moon.

If a full moon (or new/dark moon) occurs during a Sabbat, both aspects of working energy and celebration are often incorporated into the same ritual. The magical work is done first, then the celebration begins. Some traditions do cast separate circles for each aspect, even though one is done immediately after the other. It all depends on what the tradition is comfortable with.

The full moon of each month has a special name, which again may vary from tradition to tradition, and is closely related to the season they occur in. Although the Goddess and God are present in both the Sabbats and Esbats, it is generally felt that the Sabbats are held in honour of the God and the course of the sun, and the Esbats are held in honour of the Goddess and the phases of the moon.

January: Ice Moon. The surface of the earth is frozen and barren. Food is scarce, and many of the people are starving. It is the leanest time of the year. Candle colour for this moon is deep purple, symbolic of the harsh, bitter cold of winter.

February: Storm Moon. The last of winter's harsh storms pass. Nature begins to stir and awaken from the long sleep. Hope and promise arise as the sun rises earlier and longer. Candle colour for this moon is blue, symbolic of the warming of the ice, yet still very cold.

March: Chaste Moon. The herald of the return of light and life, youth and spring. The earth is cleansed with the rains of spring. The wandering herds return. Candle colour for this moon is white, symbolic of purity, and cleansing.

April: Seed Moon. The time to start planting. Buds appear with the promise of a green earth. Winter coats of animals are shed with the arrival of warm weather. Candle colour for this moon is pale green, symbolic of the new shoots and buds of spring.

May: Hare Moon. Mating season has arrived. Animals and people enjoy the warm freedom. Flowers are abundant. People gather their strength from the hardship of winter. Candle colour for this moon is pink, symbolic of the emotion of love and lust, instinctive of all animals, including humans.

June: Dyad Moon. All is now in balance. Traditionally this is a time for handfastings and weddings. It is a time to enjoy life and be at peace. Candle colour for this moon is orange, symbolic of the peak of the sun's power at this time.

July: Mead Moon. Crops are now close to their first harvest. Honey is abundant, and people make mead. A time of plenty and thanks. The power of the sun begins to decline. Candle colour for this moon is golden yellow, symbolic of the declining sun.

August: Wort Moon. Time to gather the first harvest of food and healing herbs. A time for major healing works. Candle colour for this moon is dark green, symbolic of the plants and energies of healing

September: Barley Moon. The last harvest time. Time to begin preparations for the coming cold weather. The earth prepares itself for the long sleep. Candle colour for this moon is brown, symbolic of the fertile earth, which has provided food.

October: Blood Moon. Returns to hunting wild game for food, as the fields now lie bare. The cold weather returns. Herds are culled for winter slaughter. Candle colour for this moon is deep red, symbolic of the colour of shed blood from the herds, and of the game.

November: Snow Moon. The first of winter's snow has arrived. Nature now sleeps deep within the earth. Herald to the death of the year. Candle colour for this moon is grey; symbolic of the cloud filled skies of winter storms.

December: Oak Moon. This is the darkest time of the year. A promise of the return of the sun's light. Ice and snow have now set in. Colour for this moon is black, symbolic of the darkest time of year.

Thirteenth Moon: Wolf Moon, also called Blue Moon. Occurs when two full moons are within the same month. A time for any new goals and achievements. Candle colour for this moon is the same colour as the month of similarity; for example, a Blue Moon and a Mead Moon month will both use a golden yellow candle.

In one particular tradition, the Yule candles on the Log were actually the remnants of each months moon candles. These were placed upon the Yule Log, relit and left to burn completely down. Any children attending the Yule celebrations lighted the candles, and as each candle was lit, either the child lighting or another group member would read out the meaning of that particular candle.

Also, it is felt (within this same tradition, I must note) that the candle colours may be substituted with a plain white candle if the particular moon's colour can not be obtained. This was chosen as within light, the colour white represents all of the colours, and by using a white candle, the colour needed was in essence still portrayed.

The information provided for each of the moon meanings is a combination of Teleia and Walden (1990), and Malakus Consus (1998); and the symbolic reasons for each colour of candle was provided from Gaea (2001).