New Moon:
New moon workings can be done from the day of the new moon to three and a half days after. The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting.

Waxing Moon:
From seven to fourteen days after the new moon. The waxing moon is for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck or health.

Full Moon:
From fourteen to seventeen and a half days after the new moon. Prime time for rituals for prophecy, protection, divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams.

Waning Moon:
From three and a half to ten and a half days after the full moon. The waning moon is used for banishing magick, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity.

Dark Moon:
From ten and a half to fourteen days after the full moon. The dark moon is a time for dealing with attackers, for exploring our darkest recesses and understanding our angers and passions. Also bringing justice to bear.

What Magick When?
Full Moon Dates & Understanding the Waxing and Waning Moon

This is a general description of times in which performing certain magickal workings and celebrations may be appropriate. Although the cycles of
 the moon are not exactly 28 days, these four phases of seven days each will suffice for most needs.

When you wish to work full moon magick, it is generally accepted that it is proper to do so anywhere from three days before the actual full moon to
three days after the actual full moon. This is a total of seven days that 'Full Moon energy" is present. This makes coven meetings easier because it is difficult for a group of people to coordinate their schedules to meet on exactly the full moon.

When you wish to work magick under the new moon or 'the dark of the moon', the procedure is similar. Three days before to three days after the new moon are considered acceptable new moon working times. Again, this is a seven day period. Some practitioners view this period as a time to 'plant seeds' or to start new projects that will then grow as the moon waxes. Others see it as a continuation and enhancement of the waning moon energy and perform works of lessening, repelling and banishing.

It is interesting to note that a few traditions perform Esbat rituals for the new moon and these are often held in the daytime. When the moon is new, it is overhead during the daytime.

It is also important to mention that some traditions refer only to the three days prior to the new moon as the 'dark of the moon' and generally do not perform magic at this time. It is regarded in these trads as a resting time, and the time of Hecate's rule. This belief has been promoted recently by the popularity of Silver RavenWolf's writing, particularly her book, "To Ride a Silver Broomstick." Practitioners who follow RavenWolf's writing are often referred to as, "RavenWolf Wiccans."

The waning moon refers to the time when the moon is changing from full, back to new. Works of decrease are done now, such as ridding a person of disease. When you wish to work magick under the waning moon, you can start as early as the day after the actual full moon, but it is usually more effective to begin the 4th day after the actual full moon. This provides another 7 day window in which to do your workings.

The waxing moon refers to the time when the moon is changing from new, or black, back to full. Works of increase and drawing are done now, such as gaining physical energy of health for a person. When you wish to work magick under the waxing moon, you can begin as early as the day after the actual new moon, but it is more effective to begin the 4th day after the actual new moon.

Still confused? Try to remember that each of the 4 phases (Full Moon, New Moon, Waxing Moon, Waning Moon) consists of 7 'working' days for a total of 28 days in a lunar month. Each group of seven 'working' days are days considered generally appropriate for work under the influence of that particular moon phase. These are general magickal times, not actual times. If you don't like to do all that counting, try this:

Look at the moon every night. When the crescent sliver is on the right (with the horn tips pointing to the left) it is waxing or getting full. When the sliver is on the left (horn tips pointing right) it is waning or disappearing.

The sabbats are primarily the power days of the God as they follow the cycle of the sun. There are other power days, the esbats, that follow the cycle of the moon and are centered on the celebration of the Goddess. This does not mean that the sabbats are only for the God, and men, and the esbats are only for the Goddess and women. Just as the Goddess plays a part in the God's cycle, so the God plays a part in her cycle.

Every 28 days the moon goes through its full cycle. Starting with new moon going through full moon and back to new moon. The power of the Goddess grows with the waxing of the moon, and subdues, but doesn't go away, as the moon wanes. The power of the full moon is a well known phenomena, ask any cop, ER nurse, or fireman

Almost all Wiccans celebrate the full moon, some the new moon, and a rare few the quarter moons. While the sabbats are centered on celebrating nature, the esbats are more centered on creating magick. Does this mean that the only time to create spells is on the full moon? Absolutely not. There are some spells that take time to mature, starting them before the full moon lets them gather strength. The period from new moon to waxing moon is associated with the maiden stage of the triple Goddess. This is a good time for spells of beginnings, love spells for example. It is also the time, in some covens, when initiations are held. Between waxing and waning gibbons, and particularly at the full moon, is the time of the mother stage of the triple Goddess. Her power is the strongest, and it is a good time for all sorts of magick, particularly fertility spells. Covens that don't celebrate the new moon usually have their initiations here. The last third of the cycle is associated with the crone stage of the triple Goddess. This is a good time for binding spells and spells to reduce negative energy. Like Samhain, the new moon is a time of ending and beginning, it is a good time to communicate with those who have passed. 

There are 12 and sometimes 13 lunar cycles in a year, and each cycle has names associated with it. To determine the name, use an astrological chart to find which month contains most of a cycle, then look it up on this chart.