Today’s I Ching Hexagram for July 20th is 10: Treading Carefully

10: Treading Carefully

Hexagram 10
 
General Meaning: People of ability find their way and make progress even in difficult circumstances. Consider your steps carefully when you are surrounded by changing forces. Weak and strong forces (or people) can co-exist when the weaker element does not impose upon the stronger, when the weaker maintains good humor and avoids taking bold action. When treading among sleeping tigers — or slippery stones — step gingerly and don’t stumble.

In the company of strong, brash people, rushing wildly ahead brings misfortune. Now is not a good time for taking the initiative; rather, try getting by with a little grace and good humor. In the court of a powerful king, the jester often has more power than the prince.

Your Daily Number for July 20th: 4

Today could be demanding and somewhat frustrating as you find yourself engaged in routine affairs. Focus on organizing your world and opportunity will follow. It’s a great day to consider investing in long-term endeavors. Don’t let disagreements with a loved one regarding money ruin your day.

Fast Facts

About the Number 4

Theme: Form, Work, Order, Practicality, Discipline

Astro Association: Aries

Tarot Association: Emperor

Daily Horoscopes for Wednesday, July 20th

The air is charged with the potential for sudden change when the Moon pops into spontaneous Aries at 12:25 pm EDT. This shift is our monthly wake-up call to start another journey around the zodiac, yet the Moon’s conjunction with shocking Uranus releases stored tension like a bolt of lightning. Additionally, the Moon’s stressful square to shadowy Pluto reminds us that keeping secrets can backfire, even if there is a strategic reason to do so.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

There is plenty of excitement today, yet you have no way of knowing what will happen next. Contrary to popular belief, you actually enjoy a bit of stability, but the routine can get to you, prompting you to crave dramatic change. However, you would prefer to be in control, but you might not be in charge now. Accept the challenge by letting go and trusting that someone else will step in and do the right thing.

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

Everyone seems to be acting strangely today as if they want more independence but are afraid to ask for it. You don’t want to prevent others from taking charge of their lives, but your insecurities might get in the way of your reaction. Don’t shy away from exploring your own fears now, for you may have lessons to learn about your irrational feelings. Taking the time to sort through your emotional process can help more than you think.

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

Unconventional ideas about your future can be upsetting to the status quo, yet you cannot stop thinking about them. You might even find that you enjoy the uncertainty as you eagerly plot your next move. However, it’s not beneficial to pick a path too quickly. In the meantime, research all the alternatives so you can make an educated choice. The more options you have now, the better the outcome will be when you’re finally required to choose your direction.

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

You feel a familiar discomfort if you respond impulsively now. Sometimes you miss a wonderful opportunity because you worry about making a wrong decision. Today, however, inaction is not your problem. You are excited and want to get started in a hurry. But if you act too soon, you may find yourself considering the roads not taken. It’s smarter to be cautious before you make your move; there’s not as much of a hurry as you might think.

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You are apt to lose your temper today if you think that someone is preventing you from doing a job your way. Or, your rash behavior could provoke someone else’s anger. Either way, remember that extreme feelings stem from a deeper imbalance and you won’t solve anything by just suppressing your emotions. A real solution comes from analyzing your assumptions and unraveling your logic so you can deal with the source of your motivation in a calm and reasonable manner.

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Others may seem totally irrational today and their unexpected behavior can be very unsettling. However, the Moon’s entry into confrontational Aries gives you permission to express your concerns, even if it precipitates an argument. But don’t spend too much time questioning yourself and sorting through all your options. Your most reliable strategy now is to act first and ask questions later.

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

Taking a break from your work is a healthy thing to do now, especially if you have something to show for your recent efforts. Instead of focusing on your responsibilities, pay more attention to your personal life. Whether you’re seeking out a new relationship or trying to revitalize an old one, don’t be afraid to express your feelings as directly and succinctly as you can. Your honesty and clarity may be enough to create the fireworks you crave.

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You might be in for a surprise today as the fiery Aries Moon-Uranus conjunction zaps your 6th House of Work. You don’t need to look for trouble; it will probably find you. However, any problems that come to the surface now are just revealing something that you’ve been trying to avoid. Don’t worry if things get out of hand for a while; circumstances will become more supportive, even if it takes a day or two for your stress to settle down.

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You don’t like receiving mixed messages because they make you feel as if you’re unable to respond properly. You enjoy the excitement of riding along on a rapidly moving current that’s carrying you to an unknown destination. However, your swift movement still can meet resistance today, which provokes you to push even harder. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to progress any faster, so avoid the temptation to rush the process. Ultimately, practicing patience is more productive now than forcing the issue.

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

The hectic pace increases throughout the day, making it difficult for you to find respite today. Although you’re drawn toward the action, you may feel frustrated if you cannot get resolution on an important dilemma now. But don’t turn an insignificant question into one of ultimate concern just to relieve your boredom. You don’t need any more distractions, so just be quiet and listen to the wisdom of your inner voice.

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You don’t want to waste your time while waiting around for someone else, but you may also have your own delays to manage today. You know something big is about to happen, yet you don’t seem to be able to push things along. Unfortunately, you can frustrate yourself if you don’t change your perspective. Settling back into your comfort zone for a while won’t be difficult if you remember that the real fun is still on the way.

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Although the Moon leaves your sign midday, you still feel emotionally charged. Your morning moodiness can explode into a barrage of words if you think that your feelings aren’t being respected by your friends or co-workers. But you won’t reach satisfaction through dialogue now; talking about your concerns might only make matters worse. Instead of attempting to force change, focus on adjusting your own attitude. When your outlook improves, so will everything else.

The Languarge of Herbal Folklore (Today’s In-Between Posts)

Lovers have long used the beauty of flowers and herbs to express true feelings from their hearts. the individual meaning of each herbs, spice, and flower began in the Orient and was introduced to the West in 1716 by Lady Montague while her husband served as the English ambassador to the Turkish government in Constantinople. The language of herbs and flowers soon spread to France and reached its height of popularity in the nineteenth century. Flowers and herbs added spontaneity to romance and made flirting great fun. Some believe each herb and plant still has a silent message for each of us. As we learn to harmonize with Mother Nature, we will gain more understanding of the nonverbal communication that speaks from our hearts.

The following in-between posts are adapted from The Language of Flowers (Dover, 1965) and The Folklore of Plants (Dyer, 1889).

A Witchy Wedding Album

Unlike a non-Wiccan wedding album, which usually holds photographs of the happy couple and their immediate family, a Wiccan wedding album is a more interactive remind of the couple’s special day.  Usually, the right-hand man purchases a large hardback book and decorates the outside in some way. Inside, there is a written copy of the sermon and vows from the ceremony. After the ceremony each guest writes a “well wishing” note on the pages that follow, and some of the dried lavender is collected from the ground and pressed into the book. Later, photographs can be added, along with other mementos, such as cards from guests or a copy of the invitation. This treasure is then kept in a special area in the couple’s home so that they can maintain all their wonderful memories in one place.

The Party

This is a wedding reception with a difference. There is no first dance. Instead, live musicians play instruments such as the fiddle, the cello, and the accordion throughout the dinner. After eating and drinking, the guest, in high spirits, start to dance. After a few dances, the groom makes a speech and thanks all of his guests and his right-hand man for their help and assistance. The bride next make a thank you speech and gives small gifts to each of her handmaidens, the high priestess, and her new mother-in-law. This offering is usually in the way of something small and personal, such as a crystal, a magickal pouch, or a fresh bunch of herbs. Right after she has given her presents, she summons all the single people (male and female) for the bouquet toss. Whoever catches this bouquet must take it home and dry it to ensure that they meet their true love in this lifetime.

The Cake

It has always been customary for the bride and groom to slice a fruitcake, holding the knife together and showing their affection by kissing over the top of it. This is supposed to guarantee that together they will bring forth many children. Then, by sharing the cake with their guests, they are indirectly sharing the magickal energies of their love and passing it on to everyone present. Some are terribly lucky, because their maids of honor will bake cakes in the shape of pentagrams. While making the cake, a lovely spell will be casted over the cake to make the marriage a happy one.

Wishing You A Very Happy & Blessed Wednesday!

Good afternoon, dear readers! I will make this quick. I am going to finish up the handfasting that I didn’t get to yesterday, real quick. Which by the way I hope you enjoyed. Then I am getting back to the regular stuff. Who knows I might throw in a little extra between posts. I hope you are enjoying the blog. I almost forgot the main reason for posting this today. I have over 500 comments in the back. They keep coming in faster than I can read them. I deeply appreciate them and please have patience and I will get to your eventually. It is wonderful to hear from my readers. I love to hear your comments whether good or bad. So keep’em coming and I will get to them soon as I can. Till then……

Much Love & Blessings,

Lady A

The Binding

The handfasting ceremony culminates in hand binding. In the past, couples would have their hands bound together and knotted with cord. Although some witches still like to use cord, many brides and grooms today opt for satin ribbons in purple, green, and white. These are about six and a half feet in length and wound around the bride’s and groom’s clasped left hands. The expression “tying the knot” likely derives from this ritual.

The high priestess coils the ribbons, weaving them in and out of the couple’s fingers before holding their tied hands in the air for a few moments. Ethereal, angelic music plays as the pair begin to walk around the circle, displaying their joined hands and sharing their happiness with everyone. In turn, the guests shower the newlyweds with rice (contrary to popular belief, it’s a myth that raw rice will injure birds). In Pagan times rice throwing was believed to transfer the spirit of the fertile grain to the bride and groom, ensuring that they would have a prosperous harvest and a fertile union.

Once this ancient ritual has been completed, the high priestess unties the couple’s hands and pronounces them handfasted; the groom then kisses his bride. However, it doesn’t end there, because many witches love to follow tradition and jump the broom, which has been propped up against the altar. The drummers bang on their drums as the newlyweds take a running jump over this ornate broom to finalize the marriage. The British phrase “living over the brush” comes directly from this custom; it signifies a couple who have not had an official wedding ceremony but are wed in the eyes of the community. At this point everybody cheers and applauds the newlywed couple and the ceremony is over.

The Sermon and Vows

There are many different types of handfasting services. They can last from around fifteen minutes to a half hour, and the ceremonial texts can vary considerably. Sermons are read and vows are exchanged, as in traditional non-Wiccan/Witch weddings; prewritten sermons are available on the Internet to download. In Angelic Wicca, the sermon focuses on angels; archangels are called upon to bless the couple to ensure that they go on to have a happy union together.

Once the bride and groom are standing in front of the altar, the high priestess takes a handful of salt and casts it at their feet. This is said to purify the ground they stand on. She asks the bride and groom to lower their heads, then throws a handful of salt above them to cleanse the air around them. After the high priestess has given her sermon and ask the angels to send eternal blessings, she take a small silver spoon dipped in honey and gently places it on the lips of the couple to sweeten their life together. A goblet of wine is then offered to each of them, and they drink in turn from the same vessel. The bridesmaids offer baskets to the couple and to all the guests; as the bride and groom each take a bite from theirs, so do their guests, to symbolize sustenance.

The bride and groom have usually written their personal vows in private and have not shared them with each other beforehand. Many witches like to stand at a lectern and speak their promises to their partner so that all can hear. When the vows have been spoken, the bride and groom exchange rings and the high priestess prepares to bind the couple’s hands.

The Ceremony

The service commences with the groom and the high priest or priestess approaching the altar, accompanied by hand drummers. Let’s imagine that this ceremony is conducted by a high priestess. The high priestess carries an ornamental cushion with colorful ribbons or cords, draped across it. These will be used later to bind the couple’s hands in matrimony. If it’s a breezy day, the ribbons are pinned to the cushion to keep them in place.

After the groom and the priestess have taken their places at the altar, the drummers return to the bridal party and drum the bride and the handmaidens into the circle. The groom’s attire is of his choosing: he may be wearing a frock coat or a fancy, colorful vest. The bride is usually color-coordinated with the groom. She may wear something long and flowing, not necessarily white, accessorized with a headdress or a wreath of seasonal flowers on her head and possibly a wand tipped with rose quartz. The bride has her handmaidens in attendance  throughout the service, and there can be as many or as few as she wants. Their costumes are often very witchlike – long, dramatic, gothic-style dresses in rich fabrics such as velvet, with colors ranging from deep purples and reds to vibrant turquoise. Each handmaiden wears a pentagram necklace or ring.

Guests, Gifts and Potluck

As with non-Wiccan weddings, the number of guests in attendance depends on how many people the couple chooses to invite. Most handfastings are very informal, and they’re usually not catered. Guests may be asked to prepare a signature dish, cook an old-fashioned delicacy, or bring a first-rate bottle of wine or a case of imported beer. These days, it is not so fashionable to buy large, expensive gifts or home appliances, most witches feel that small, homemade items or foods are more personal and allow each and every person invited to contribute in some way.

All of these offerings are placed on trestle tables, and once the wedding ceremony is over, the guests help themselves to the many mouth-watering contributions. Witches don’t tend to be materialistic, so this potluck arrangement is ideal for us and it keeps the cost to a minimum. I’m sure you’ll agree that this make the term ” the more the merrier” is very true indeed.

 As guests arrive, gentle music is played in the background, and each person is offered a glass of wine. Chairs are placed in a large circle around the altar (which is off-center in the circle), and the guests sit, drink and await the celebration.

Once all the guests are seated, the “right-hand man” (usually a member of the groom’s family or a good friend) walks into the circle, ringing a handbell. This cleanses the area inside the circle of any negative energy. The bride’s made of honor then takes dried lavender flowers mixed with small chips of rose quartz and casts them at the feet of the guests for good luck. At the same time, one of the bride’s handmaidens or bridesmaids follows the right-hand man, waving a smudging stick or some sage incense from the altar to further purify the circle.