Day: May 5, 2011
Your Charm for May 5 is Virgo the Virgin
Your Charm for Today | |||
![]() Virgo the Virgin |
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Today’s Meaning: This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is modest, shy, meticulous, reliable, practical, diligent, intelligent and analytical. This person may be a leader of some kind where you are employed.General Description: Sixth sign of the Zodiac, Aug. 24th to Sept. 22nd. Ruled by the planet Mercury; correct metal, Silver. Those born under the influence of Virgo were supposed to be painstaking, efficient, ingenious, methodical, sensitive, studious, restless, rather irritable, but slow to anger. The Virgo gems are the Cornelian and Sardonyx. The Cornelian has always been a favourite talisman in the East. The Chinese had great faith in its supposed medicinal virtues. In Egypt used as a protection from every kind of evil; in Turkey and Arabia engraved with a verse from the Koran, and worn as an amulet for eveil eye, the plague, and every from of sickness; in Spain for courage and eloquence. |
Your Animal Spirit for May 5 is The Green Man
Your Animal Spirit for Today
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![]() Green ManGreen Man peers out of the foliage to remind you that not all of life’s mysteries have logical solutions. Be open to magical opportunities, spirit allies, and unconventional paths. Get out into the wilderness, ground yourself in meditation, and listen for Green Man’s wisdom. You may just catch sight of him eyeing you in his leafy camouflage. |
Today’s Chakra Levels for May 5
The Chakras represent the seven primary energy hubs in the body. Life force energy is constantly flowing in and out of these centers. Just as the cosmos is constantly changing, so too are the levels of energy absorbed and radiated by our Chakra centers. The graph below is a representation of the quantities of Chakra energies available today.
Sahasrara: |
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24% | ||
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24% | |||
Vishuddha: |
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5% | ||
Anahata: |
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77% | ||
Manipura: |
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77% | ||
Svadhisthana: |
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29% | ||
Muladhara: |
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63% |
Legend:
Sahasrara – The Crown Chakra represents energies associated with cosmic consciousness, spirituality, knowledge, wisdom and inner peace.
Ajna – The Third Eye Chakra represents energies focused on both physical and spiritual vision. Psychic powers resonate from the Ajna Chakra, as well as your image of the Cosmos as a whole (the big picture) and the many nuances that make your journey unique.
Vishuddha – Throat Chakra is the energy center associated with communication and creativity. Your energy to express yourself verbally and creatively are derived from the Vishuddha Chakra.
Anahata – The Heart Chakra’s energy is concentrated on issues concerning your emotions. This energy fuels your power to love, feel compassion and maintain balance between disparate aspects of your being.
Manipura – The Power Chakra provides the energy that fuels our strength of will, individuality and sense of self-worth.
Svadhisthana – The Spleen or Sacral Chakra supplies the energy we use emotionally and sexually. This is the energy used to connect to others.
Muladhara – The Root or Base Chakra furnishes the energy used to create and maintain our foundation. This is the energy that keeps us on firm ground and provides us with the basic skills to uphold a place in the world.
The Planets Now for May 5
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Your Deck of Ancient Symbols Card for May 5 is Futility
Your Deck of Ancient Symbols Card for Today |
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![]() Futility Sadly sometimes our desires lead us down paths which have no end and offer us no chance of achieving the results we want. If we persist we end up like Sisyphus: forever rolling a boulder uphill only to have it roll back downhill before we ever get to the top. Futility suggest the existence of just such a situation–we are chasing a prize that will never be ours. Futility indicates a need to rethink our ambitions and direct our energies towards a goal or goals that can be attained. As a daily card, Futility implies that you are putting energy into goals that cannot be met. It suggest the need to rethink your desires and possibly find a new goal or goals to chase. |
Your Rune For May 5 is Wunjo
Feng Shui Tip of the Day for May 5
Feng Shui Tip of the Day
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Feel isolated at work? Stimulate your office with pleasing scents. Dab two drops of lavender essential oil onto your desk lamp.
Psychic Tip of the Day for May 5
Psychic Tip
of the Day
Thursday, May 5, 2011
We will all be a little more nervous about looking acceptable to a group of people. Is this your night to impress someone with style?
Today’s I Ching Hexagram for May 5 is 37: Community
Today’s I Ching Hexagram for Everyone:
37: Community
Thursday, May 5th, 2011
General Meaning: A community or extended family that works is one where healthy interdependence is appreciated and supported. Good direction is essential, but strong kinship is dependent upon every member of the community. Trust, shared responsibilities and good communication are essential. Each member must be encouraged to find his or her appropriate expression, and contribution.
The functional family is a team that symbolizes the ideal of human interdependence, and has long provided a firm foundation for society. The healthy family is a microcosm of society and the native soil in which ethical values take root and grow. Fertilize this soil, and the whole of society benefits.
The power that bonds a tribe is the yin or feminine principle — gentleness and receptivity. Relationships are improved through cultivation of these. Learn to accept both advice and aid from others, and be willing to assume an appropriate role in any group that supports good relating. A good team player is always valuable to others. Increase your value!
Your Daily Number for May 5: 7
Your Daily Number: 7
You may have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be today. Nagging self-doubt may also be a problem. Before it gets out of hand, take a break and spend some quiet time by yourself.
About the Number 7



Today’s Tarot Card for May 5 is The Emperor
Today’s Tarot Card for Everyone:
The Emperor
This Tarot Deck: Dragon
The more enlightenment and cosmic perspective this energy brings, the better life is for all. The Emperor archetype masters the world of matter and physical manifestation. When you apply this card to your situation, acknowledge your potentials for mastery. Reinforce a sense of sovereignty within yourself, despite any self-limiting beliefs, habits or appearances to the contrary.
Daily Horoscopes for May 5

It seems as if your hectic life keeps getting busier and busier. As much as you enjoy the hustle and bustle, you are looking forward to a quieter time. However, it won’t likely happen today. Fortunately, the fast pace feels good; you don’t have time now to worry about what’s not going right. Nevertheless, pick one task out of everything that’s on your plate and focus on it with all the determination that you have. The results may be more satisfying than you expect.

You may feel as if your finances are a bit uneven today, even if nothing much has changed recently. But you probably won’t share your insecurities with others now, for you might believe that giving a voice to your fears will only make them worse. You don’t have to dwell on the negatives; take positive action instead — even if it’s as minor as paying a few bills. Anything that gives you a sense of control will help to ease your stress.

Your friends may think that you’re not very grounded now that the Moon is moving through restless Gemini, but you are more stable than you appear. Nevertheless, your moods can fluctuate at a rapid rate today, so try keeping your opinions to yourself for a while before sharing them. Instead of running all over the map, speak your piece later on once you’re sure of what you want.

There’s no need for you to push so hard at work now, especially if you have been focused on your career ambitions all week. It’s not that you can just take the day off, but you can keep your best ideas to yourself for a few more days, giving them a chance to mature. If you share too much of your current thinking today, others may stop listening. Let your patience work in your favor and give your strategy time to develop.

It’s nearly impossible for you to concentrate on the present moment with the Moon in your 11th House of Long-Term Goals plus five planets traveling through your 9th House of Adventure. Although you are looking forward with great anticipation, you must demonstrate your reliability today by putting in extra effort, because important events are unfolding at work. If you handle the immediate situation with integrity, the future will take care of itself.

You might have mixed feelings about a new project at work as the Moon moves through your 10th House of Career. Others are pushing you to make a decision today, yet you’re probably unwilling to make a commitment just yet — you may learn new facts that could motivate you to change your mind, or something better could come along. However, you can reduce the uncertainty and increase the stability in your life by choosing now.

You may be thinking about pursuing a new course of study that isn’t related to your career. Even if you have many choices before you, it’s logistically impossible to follow more than one path. Thankfully, the Moon’s harmonious trine to Saturn in your sign today can give you the clarity you need in order to make the smartest decision. After considering all your options, trust your intuition, pick your direction and get going.

You are tempted to talk about your feelings today, even if you’ve been holding them back for a reason. You don’t intend to hurt anyone, but your direct approach might sound insensitive. It’s not what you say that can stir up ill will; it’s how you say it. Think twice before you blurt out the truth. You can still express yourself honestly while also treating others with kindness and respect.

You may be more curious than usual today as you seek other people’s opinions to help you clarify your own. It takes extra effort on your part now to pin someone down who continues to evade responding to your questions. Unfortunately, the more you push for resolution, the less likely you will get it. Step back and allow others to have some elbow room. You’ll become more confident of your perspective by looking within, rather than listening to anyone else.

As a general rule, information isn’t something you collect unless you have a way to make use of it as you work toward your goals. You may be learning a lot at work now with the clever Gemini Moon moving through your 6th House of Employment, but you are hard-pressed to apply your new knowledge. Nevertheless, the tools you’re gathering can help you to express yourself in ways you haven’t yet imagined.

Although you may have plenty to do at work, you could get antsy enough that you want to begin your weekend a couple of days too soon. You are able to come up with sufficient reasons to justify your restlessness, but all the talk in the world won’t make your busy schedule any less demanding. Fortunately, managing your calendar becomes easier once you decide to have fun with it, instead of worrying about fitting everything in.

Your personal business could keep you hopping today as the light-footed Gemini Moon visits your 4th House of Home and Family. Unfortunately, it may take you longer than you expect to complete each and every task that’s now on your plate. Thankfully, your self-esteem is running high these days, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble responding to the current demands. Set your priorities by making a list to help you be more efficient.
History of Witchcraft (part 7)
History of Witchcraft (part 7)
We have looked briefly at the similarities of the philosophies
and vocabularies, but is that all that they had in common? Let’s
look at symbologies.
For many years, the cross has been the symbol representing the
death of the Christian Christ. It has represented that through
his death, man could be reborn into God’s grace. Thus, we have
the philosophy of life in death being connected to the cross.
Is this the only time where this symbol was recognized as such?
Let’s go back to Egypt and find out.
An upright piece of wood, tied to a horizontal beam indicated the
height of the flood waters on the Nile. This beam formed a
cross. If the waters failed to rise during the season of
planting, it meant a poor harvest for these people. Thus the
cross was revered as a symbol of life and regeneration.
The Ankh represents the genitals of both sexes. The cross itself
is a primitive form of the phallus, and the loop that of the
womb. Again, we continue the symbol of the cross as the giver of
life.
Oh my gosh…did I use the word phallus in connection with the
cross? Oops!
Yes…even prior to this time was the cross a symbol of the
phallus or fertility. This is not the only thing that the
phallus has symbolized over the many centuries within and without
the pagan world. It has also been used as a symbol of strength.
Within the Bible, we find several references to the horn also as
a symbol of strength.
2 Samuel 22:3 – He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation.
Luke 1:69 – And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us.
Psalm 18:2 – He is my shield and the horn of my salvation.
The move from horn to helmet is followed up also in the bible as
follows:
Isaiah 59:17 – For he put an helmet of salvation upon his head.
Ephesians 6:17 – Take the helmet of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 – …putting on faith and love as a
breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
In Roman days a warrior would were horns on his helmet. If he
came back defeated, he was said to have been dehorned. There are
several references where a soldier who lost his helmet on the
field was killed for this offense because it meant dishonor for
him to loose his horn.
Shakespeare had much knowledge of the use of horns as a symbol of
protection and victory as is evident in his works “As You Like
It” (IV,2) and in “Measure for Measure” (II,4:16) when he writes:
“Let’s write good angell on the devill’s horne; tis not the
devill’s crest.”
Even in modern days, the Catholic Church uses this symbol when
setting the mitre upon the head of a newly consecrated bishop.
The words used at such a time are: “We set on the head of this
Bishop, O Lord, Thy champion, the helmet of defense and of
salvation, that with comely face and with his head armed with the
horns of either Testament he may appear terrible to the
gainsayers of the truth, and may become their vigorous assailant,
through the abundant gift of Thy grace, who didst make the face
of Thy servant Moses to shine after familiar converse with Thee,
and didst adorn it with the resplendent horns of Thy brightness
and Thy truth and commandedst the mitre to be set on the head of
Aaron, Thy high priest, Etc…” (Copies in Latin and translated
can be found in The Order Consecration of a Bishop Elect with the
imprimatur of H. Card. Vaughn, p. 14, Burns and Oates, 1893.)
If we are looking at protections and the like, we must look at
the use of stones and crystals within our lives. Yes, even in
the Christain bible, the powers and uses of stones is mentioned.
Exodus 28:15-21 – “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions –
the work of a skilled craftsman. MAke it like the ephod: of
gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted
linen. It is to be square – a span (9 inches) wide – and folded
double. Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the
first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; in the
second row a turquoise, a sapphire (or lapis lazuli) and an
emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in
the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in
gold filigree settings. There are to be twelve stones, one for
each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a
seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.”
Exodus 28:9-14 – Take two onyx stones and engrave on the the
names of the sons of Israel in the order of their birth – six
names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. Engrave
the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem
cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree
settings and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as
memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the
names on his shoulders as a memorial before the Lord. Make gold
filigree settings and two braided chains of pure gold, like a
rope, and attach the chains to the settings.
Though it does not say as much, we might take the engraving as a
form of runes, again creating a similarity between the craft and
religions of old.
From man’s search for protection, we come to the telling by the
stars…Astrology, and the use of stars as protectors of man.
The lore behind the star of David is an interesting tale. The
easy interpretation is that of Zionism. The more research you do
on this though, you will find that once again, depending on the
cultures you look at, it’s interpretation changes. The six-
pointed star formed by the superimposing of one triangle on
another. The symbol is a combination of the male (apex upwards)
and female (apex downwards) triangles; it is said, in cabalistic
writings, to comprise the signs of the four elements and the four
letters of the Tetragrammaton, and thus it came to be the symbol
for God. Since the Biblical commandment puts a taboo on the use
of the Name of God and on the depiction of God, the symbol was
inscribed as the graphic representation of God in synagogues and
wherever the Name was appropriate. In alchemy, the star of David
combined the symbols for fire and water; hence, it meant
distillation. Until recently, therefore, it appeared on shops
selling brandy. The star of David is the symbol of Zionism and
appears on the flag of Israel. As Solomon’s seal, the hexagram
possessed power to control demons of all kinds. The stopper on
the bottle containing the bottle imp or jinni was stamped with
the seal of Solomon. In the Nsibidi script of West Africa, a
native form of writing, the symbol means ardent love; the
universality of the male-female content of the sign is here
apparent.
Astrology also has interesting roots. Though the word itself is
made up of the Greek words meaning “star logic” (astra – star,
Logos – logic), the actual origin is yet to be determined. We
read in the Epic of Creation of Sumer – Akkad, or Early Babylon
(ca 2200-1900 B.C.) that: “The Star – Jupiter who brings
prophecies to all is my Lord. My Lord be at peace. The Star –
Mercury allows rain to fall. The Star – Saturn, the star of Law
and Justice…”
The telling of fortunes by the stars underwent an avid growth
spurt during the times of the Roman Empire, and though with minor
qualms with the Christian church, it co-existed peacefully until
the time of Constantine when all “pagan” activities were
outlawed. Though outlawed within the Roman Empire, Astrology
continued to thrive within the Middle East.
I realize that I said that I would touch on the inquisition and
such, however, I think that it is common knowledge the document
used to persecute those involved was written by the Friars within
the Catholic Church at the time. The document, The Malleus
Maleficarum, was a document designed to bring about fear within
the Christian community, and more power to the church. What is
not widely realized is that the majority of the persons that were
either burned, drowned, or hung were not witches, but Protestants
within the Christian church. (The ones that were Protesting the
Catholic church.)
I realize that, at this time, this is a rather sketchy document.
I hope in the near future to be able to take the time to develop
more of the depth that I would like to put into bring up our
roots. I hope to include in the expanded edition the times of
burning, modern witchcraft, more symbols, and famous persons in
the craft.
We’ve changed…but then as a good friend has told me on more
than one occasion…”When we cease to change, we cease to grow.
When we cease to grow, life ends.”
Bibliography
The Golden Bough – Frazer, Sir James George, Macmillan Publishing
Co., NY, NY c 1922
Witchcraft The Old Religion – Martello
Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and
Legend
The History of Witchcraft – Russell, Jeffrey B., c 1980
Encyclopedia Britanica – 1986
The Holy Bible (New International Version)
Under the Spell of the Zodiac – Mark Graubard
Alchemy: Origin or Origins? – H. J. Sheppard, AMBIX, July 1970
Magic, Supernaturalism, and Religion – Seligmann c 1948
This Bibliography encompasses the entire 7 document series here
on this series.
History of Witchcraft (part 6)
History of Witchcraft (part 6)
As we can see, even though the pagan community has been trod
upon, it was never destroyed. The date of Christmas was
purposely fixed on December 25 to push into the background the
great festival of the sun god, and the Epiphany on January 5 to
supplant an Egyptian festival of the same day and the Easter
ceremonies were set to rival the pagan spring festival.
Let’s take a look at a few of the holidays and compare.
Easter
On Easter Sunday, everywhere, the children hunt the many colored
Easter eggs, brought by the Easter rabbit. This is the vestige
of a fertility rite, the eggs and the rabbit both symbolizing
fertility. The rabbit was the escort of the Germanic goddess
Ostara who gave her name to the festival by way of the German
Ostern.
The first day of Spring holds much in the way of folklore. It is
also known as the Spring Equinox, Ostara, Eostre’s Day, Alban
Eilir, the Vernal Equinox, or Festival of the Trees. It takes
place between March 19 and 22. It marks the first day of true
spring (verses the balmy weather that may procede it.)
The day and night is equal on this day, thus the name of Equinox.
There is a story in one culture that says that the sun has begun
to win it’s race with the night and that the days get longer as
the sun pulls ahead. (Followed by the fact that the sun begins to
lose the race at Mid-Summer, and loses the race at Mid-Winter
just to start the race again the next day.)
It is a time of beginnings, of action, of planting seeds for
future grains, and of tending gardens. On the first Sunday after
the first full moon following Eostre’s Day (the name from which
the Easter was derived), the Christian religion celebrates it’s
Easter Day.
Spring is a time of the Earth’s renewal, a rousing of nature
after the cold sleep of winter. As such, it is an ideal time to
clean your home to welcome the new season.
Spring cleaning is more than physical work. Some cultures see it
as a concentrated effort on their part to rid themselves of
problems and negativity of the past months and tho prepare
themselves for the coming spring and summer.
To do this, they approach the task of cleaning their homes with
positive thoughts. They believe that this frees the homes of the
hard feelings brought about by a harsh winter. Even then, they
have guidlines that they follow such as any scrubbing of stains
or hand rubbing the floors should be done in a “clockwise”
motion. It is their belief that this aids in filling the home
with good energy for growth.
To the Druidic faith, this is a sacred day occuring in the month
of Fearn (meaning, “I am the shining tear of the Sun”). Part of
thier practices are to clean and rededicate outdoor shrines,
beliving that in doing so they honor the spring maiden. This is
a time of fertility of both crops and families. In promoting
crops, they believe that the use of fire and water (the sun and
rain) will reanimate all life on Earth. They decorate hard-
boiled eggs, the symbol of rebirth, to eat during their rites,
and such foods as honey cakes and milk punch can also be found.
The mothers and daughters give dinners for each other and give
cards and gifts as a way of merging with the natural flow of life
and with each other. (The Druids consider this also as Mother’s
Day.)
In Greek mythology, spring was the time when Persephone returned
from the underworld (where the seed was planted in the barren
winter months) and thus represents the seedlings of the spring.
Demeter, Persephone’s mother represents the fertile earth and the
ripend grain of harvest since it is alleged that she is the one
that created the need to harvest crops when her daughter was
kidnapped and taken to the underworld. It was through an
arrangement that her daughter could return for 1/2 the year that
Demeter allowed the crops to spring forth for that time until she
again went into mourning for her daughter in the fall.
In some cultures, even today, the ones that continue to celebrate
the rites of spring rise on Easter morning to watch the sun
“Dance” as it rises.
The Christian festival commenmorating the resurrection of Christ,
synchronized with the Jewish Pesach, and blended since the
earliest days of Christianity with pagan European rites for the
renewed season. In all countries Easter falls on the Sunday
after the first full moon on or following March 21. It is
preceded by a period of riotous vegetation rites and by a period
of abstinence, Lent (in Spain Cuaresma, Germany Lenz, central
Italy, Quaresima) and by special rites of Holy Week.
Everywhere Easter Sunday is welcomed with rejoicing, singing,
candle processionals, flowers in abundance, and ringing of church
bells. Many pagan customs survive, such as the lighting of new
fires at dawn, among the Maya as well as in Europe, for cure,
renewed life, and protection of the crops.
May Day
The first day of May: observed as a spring festival everywhere in
Europe, the United States, and Canada, and as a labor festival in
certain European countries.
Rites such as the ever famous May Pole occur in the town squares
or in the family’s front yard. The gathering of green branches
and flowers on May Eve is the symbolic act of bringing home the
May, i.e. bringing new life, the spring, into the village.
The May Queen (and often King) is choosen from among the young
people, and they go singing from door to door throughout the town
carrying flowers or the May tree, soliciting donations for a
merrymaking in return for the “blessing of May”. This is
symbolic of bestowing and sharing of the new creative power that
is stirring in the world. As the kids go from door to door, the
May Bride often sings to the effect that those who give will get
of nature’s bounty through the year.
In parts of France, some jilted youth will lie in a field on May
Day and pretend to sleep. If any village girl is willing to
marry him, she goes and wakes him with a kiss; the pair then go
to the village inn together and lead the dance which announces
their engagement. The boy is called “the betrothed of May.”
This festival is also known as Beltane, the Celtic May Day. It
officially begins at moonrise on May Day Eve, and marks the
beginning of the third quarter or second half of the ancient
Celtic year. It is celebrated as an early pastoral festival
accompanying the first turning of the herds out to wild pasture.
The rituals were held to promote fertility. The cattle were
driven between the Belfires to protect them from ills. Contact
with the fire was interpreted as symbolic contact with the sun.
The rowan branch is hung over the house fire on May Day to
preserve the fire itself from bewitchment (the house fire being
symbolic of the luck of the house.
In early Celtic times, the druids kindled the Beltane fires with
specific incantations. Later the Christian church took over the
Beltane observances, a service was held in the church, followed
by a procession to the fields or hills, where the priest kindled
the fire.
In some rituals, a King and Queen May symbolize the male and female
principles of productivity.
We have looked briefly at the similarities of the philosophies
and vocabularies, but is that all that they had in common? Let’s
look at symbologies.
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