#esbat

Performed skyclad under the waxing or full moon in a secluded grove, with consent as the unbreakable Rede. Preparation Choose a sacred space in nature or a dim chamber. Anoint with natural oils like rose or patchouli if desired. Bathe in stream water or herbal infusion for purity. Set a simple altar of found items: stones for Earth, a feather for Air, a flame (candle or small fire) for Fire, a…

May your Litha weather be safe, blessed be.

First off, thanks for the ask, I got super busy right when I decided to try and start it, I will try and make more posts in the coming week :S

In regards to your question, my Esbat ritual is one based on self-acceptance. I see the Full Moon as a mirror; and just as She reflects the light of the sun, so too does She reflect the true image of ourselves—that is, the Beast within. I start my Esbat with an offering of cake and wine, inviting both divine Luna and my inner Beast to partake. This being done, the rest of the night is for indulging my animalistic tendencies: eating good food, guilt-free rest and relaxation, and shameless uh, 'physical pleasure'.

Essentially, the focus is on being okay with the parts of me that contemporary society would consider "sinful" but are really just aspects of being an animal trying to survive: hunger, energy conservation, sexual reproduction, etc. Self-acceptance has a part in every day of the lunar cycle, of course, and so too does self-improvement. It's just on the Esbat, self-improvement steps aside for the acceptance to shine.

Embracing Paradoxes Under the Full Moon

I shuffled the deck, and the Five of Wands unexpectedly fell out. To me, this card speaks of wanting contradictory things simultaneously—of expending so much energy to embark on pursuits that, by nature, are difficult to carry through.

The full moon inside and out

I’ve found it hard to keep my motivation alive long enough to see tangible results. I always seem to remain at the very beginning, with no true next step emerging. The steadiness of the pentacle card tells me that the situation is already set—even if it isn’t a negative phase, there simply isn’t sufficient energy to leap into the next chapter. While The Death card hints at a gradual shedding of old habits, the Ace of Pentacles represents yet another fresh start, another seed to plant, another potential that will take its time to grow into something real. Another plant I won’t nurture.

The Hierophant suggests that I should observe how others inspire consistent routines—and, more importantly, help me sustain them. I feel that, like a dormant bulb, I’ve been in hibernation for far too long and have lost sight of what I truly want. Or rather, I planted a seed I knew I’d never harvest. I’m trying to become more introspective once again.

Beyond the perennial need for stable income—something everyone craves—I also need, as surely as I need bread, to feel intellectually stimulated. What bores me, what comes too easily, what offers no challenge, what is clichéd and repetitive—however paradoxical it might appear—simply cannot form the routine I require. I also need commitments and obligations with others because while inertia usually ensnares me, it always yields when I give my word.

Lacking such commitments makes it even more challenging to develop the habits that could lead me to that next step. Some might say “thuh furst commitshun is with-yorself” and " yors gotta commit to yors dreem", yet I’ve never had a grand dream, nor do I feel compelled to pursue one.

Full moon. So much to reflect on.