Your Rune For Today
Uruz
Uruz is the Rune of harmony, order and inner strength. Often it marks endings and beginnings of periods in our lives. Uruz also symbolizes your ability to tackle new challenges by confronting them with the powers that lie within you. Opportunities probably abound for you right now.
Pamela Coleman-Smith’s artful rendition of an “innocent Fool” archetype (Rider-Waite deck) is often used to represent Tarot in general. Early classical versions of the Fool card, however, portray quite a different character — a person driven by base needs and urges, who has fallen into a state of poverty and deprivation.
In some instances, he is made out to be a carnival entertainer or a huckster. In others, he is portrayed as decrepit and vulnerable — as the cumulative result of his delusions and failures. Not until the 20th century do you see the popular Rider-Waite image of the Fool arise — that of an innocent Soul before its Fall into Matter, as yet untainted by contact with society and all its ills.
Modern decks usually borrow from the Rider-Waite imagery. Most Fool cards copy the bucolic mountainside scene, the butterfly, the potential misplaced step that will send the Fool tumbling into the unknown. Don’t forget, however, that the earlier versions of this card represented already-fallen humanity, over-identified with the material plane of existence, and beginning a pilgrimage towards self-knowledge, and eventually, wisdom. The Fool reminds us to recognize the path of personal development within ourselves — and the stage upon that path where we find ourselves — in order to energize our movement toward deeper self-realization.
Beautiful inside and out, Libra is the sign of partnership, ruled by the love planet Venus and symbolized by the Scales. Ever gracious, fair and balanced, Libra is an Air sign and among the most social and popular of the zodiac.
Libra’s popularity comes from their firm stance in the middle of the road, their ability to put people at ease, and a gift for sensing what others need before they even ask for it. In fact, Libra often sacrifices his or her own needs to please others.
Intellectual and diplomatic, Libra is a seeker of knowledge and an easygoing friend to all.
Libra is charming, graceful and fair, and their strong sense of right and wrong makes them popular with almost everyone.
Because Libra sees both sides of every situation, they have trouble making up their minds and can waffle when it comes to decision making.
We know how much you love to please others, but don’t forget to fulfill your own needs once in a while, too!
Balanced and breezy Libra is most compatible with equally independent and intellectual Air signs, including Gemini, Aquarius and fellow Libras.
Loving Libra seeks balance and harmony, which makes them least compatible with aggressive Aries, rigid Capricorn and moody Cancer.
Element: Air
Glyph: ♎
Quality: Cardinal
Colors: Pastel blues, lavender and pink
Ruling Planet: Venus
Ruling House: 7th House of Relationships
Tarot Card: Justice
Fresh waves of inspiration wash away old fears today as the Moon shifts into optimistic Sagittarius at 8:21 am EDT. We may not know why we’re feeling so good now, but it doesn’t really matter. However, we’re hesitant to kick back and enjoy ourselves because logical Mercury forms an anxious aspect with erratic Uranus. Our cavalier approach gradually turns more serious throughout the day as mental Mercury joins somber Saturn this afternoon.
Just when everything seems to be going your way, another obstacle might stop you in your tracks. Perhaps you underestimated the amount of work on your plate, or maybe you missed an important piece of information. Either way, it makes no sense to complain. You could have seen trouble coming if you were paying closer attention. Instead of wasting energy talking about your predicament, take care of what you need to do as quickly as possible. A positive attitude helps more than you might think.
You don’t want anyone to assume you’re being frivolous; you may even choose to hide your actions today rather than be misjudged. You might even feel as if you don’t have anything left to say, but chances are you just need a bit of time to decide how to express yourself clearly. Don’t worry so much about what others think. Simply tell the truth exactly as you see it and you won’t be faulted for speaking from your heart.
You can’t avoid your own serious attitude as work issues sneak back into your awareness to haunt you today. You may experience a weird combination of excitement and concern as past memories are stimulated by someone in the present. Attempts to evade a meaningful discussion won’t be all that successful now. Proactively engage in a discussion about what’s important instead of spending your time trying to sidestep the truth. Someone has to take the first step and it might as well be you.
People close to you may think you’re acting too negatively today, yet you might not see yourself in this light. Your harsh perspective stems from the fact a weak link in someone’s story is all too apparent, and you’re simply not willing to support sloppy logic. Don’t try to deny your feelings; instead, just change the tone of your words. It’s okay to be honest as long as you don’t blame anyone else in the process. Honoring your integrity is all that truly matters.
Today could be a turning point as you obsess about your shortcomings, especially if you have been facing issues about your self-esteem. Everyone has regrets; there are always things you could have done better or, perhaps, shouldn’t have done at all. However, instead of aspiring toward perfection now, it might be smarter to accept your limitations, along with the obvious fact that you are human. Shift your thinking by making a list of what you do well. The power of positive thinking will tip the scales in your favor.
Your analytical skills are even more finely tuned now that an exacting Mercury-Saturn conjunction focuses your mind like a laser beam. Nevertheless, it’s counterproductive to undermine others with your criticism; there’s nothing to be gained now by nitpicking their work. Providing constructive feedback enables you to explain what improvements could be made without resorting to negativity. Use your powers wisely to bring out the best in everyone.
You may feel as if you are stuck in a rut in spite of your current desire for excitement. You might even feel rather disillusioned today about your future prospects. Although a recent disappointment might add to your malaise, don’t make despondency a habit because crucial aspects of your life are about to change for the better. Instead of being sad about an event in the past, switch your focus now and imagine the best possible scenario that could be waiting just around the next corner.
Understanding where your life is leading these days is a real challenge, but you believe that you would be happier if you knew for sure. Your somber attitude weighs heavily on you and you feel burdened by responsibilities that may not even be your own. Unfortunately, you might not be able to imagine an easy remedy to cure your current blues. Thankfully, accepting the truth could be enough to transform your moodiness into hope. Have faith; the sun will come out tomorrow.
Your friends and associates may tell you exactly what’s wrong with your new plan today, even if you’re not seeking any feedback. Unfortunately, others aren’t necessarily tactful in their criticism of your ideas. Compounding matters, you could be overly sensitive now and might not take their comments well. But don’t dwell on the negative; you have a lot to do and there’s no time to entertain unproductive thoughts. Things will start to improve once you swing into action and are more open to the constructive input you receive.
It’s tempting to put extra time and effort into your job today or, perhaps, become more involved in a community project. Either way, your optimism might be flagging now, leaving you with sense of uncertainty about your future. Although you may wonder if your work will actually pay off, it’s not wise to retreat. Don’t abandon your plans; instead, just be more realistic about your expectations so you can actually reach your goals on schedule.
It’s nearly impossible to think about having fun when things at work are so serious these days. You may even walk away from previous plans for an upcoming vacation or a weekend getaway because you simply don’t have time. It’s smarter to focus your energy now on something more practical that contributes to your stability, rather than escaping on a getaway. Sticking close to home makes sense; don’t push out beyond safe limits until you feel as if you’re back on more stable ground. Taking care of unfinished business is your first step to regaining more control of your life.
Someone may deliver a harsh message to you today, but you really don’t have to blindly accept anyone else’s interpretation of reality. Nevertheless, you’re likely to be vulnerable to what you hear if you trust the source. Listen carefully to what others say now, but don’t take anything too personally. You can put what you learn into motion to improve your game if you assimilate the facts without an emotional charge. Remember that those close to you might truly have your best interests at heart.
As mentioned in yesterday’s calendar entry, it is wise to curtail decision-making in the early going today as a lingering void lunar cycle in Scorpio (until 5:23AM) combines with a potentially surprising-shocking 150-degree tie between Mercury and Uranus (12:12AM). It is better to rest, sleep or take a time-out than to pursue objectives without considering the consequences. In general, when a void lunar uncertainty zone occurs with one or more highly-charged and difficult celestial alignments, it is wise to refrain from taking forceful actions that are more likely to fail than succeed. The good news this morning starts arriving once the Moon enters ebullient, fiery Sagittarius (5:23AM) and then unites with Venus (6:57AM). Utilize this lunar rapport with Venus to spring forward with artistic and social ventures. Erotic, romantic vibrations are also on the upswing. However, 5+ hours after the Moon-Venus rendezvous in the heavens, a very different alignment takes center stage when Mercury unites with Saturn in Scorpio (12:40PM). There is always a serious component to any Mercury-Saturn merger and this conjunction will repeat on October 29 and November 25 due to the upcoming Mercury retrograde cycle occurring from October 21 to November 10. Mercury with Saturn — while sometimes veering toward pessimism and worry — can provide genius on the professional front and especially regarding understanding mathematics and physics. [Albert Einstein was born with an exact Mercury-Saturn union in pioneering Aries.] Look for breakthroughs in higher consciousness and the arrival of intuitive flashes of insight as the Moon trines Uranus (10:56PM). [Note to readers: All times are calculated for Pacific Daylight Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]
8 Gort/Puanepsion
Theseia
Colors: Red
Element: Fire
Altar: Upon cloth of red place crossed swords and spears, two torches, and a labyrinth.
Offerings: Give up something you love for the sake of duty. Gymnastika should, on this day, have competitive games and running.
Daily Meal: Meat and bread and wheat/milk porridge, the food that was given to the departing children by their parents.
Theseia Invocation
Long ago, when the world was younger,
Great Athens gave forth tribute to Crete,
Under Minos, father of the Bull.
The tax was their finest children, to be given
As bull-dancers to the Minotaur,
And Theseus, son of King Aigeus,
Son also of great Poseidon Earth-Shaker,
Traveled there in the tribute-band. He slew
The Minotaur in the center of his labyrinth,
Rescued his companions, and set the city afire
Before Poseidon shattered it with an earthquake.
He took with him also Ariadne, she of the Labyrinth,
Without whom he would not have succeeded,
With whom he planned to be husband and wife.
Yet she was claimed by Dionysos, and he
Was seized by Athena, patroness of heroes,
Patroness of his city, and weeping he forsook
His Cretan love, and weeping fled to Athens.
In his sorrow he did not change the sails
From black to white, as was the code agreed-upon,
And his father, seeing the black sails, killed himself.
So bereft of love and parent, he assumed the throne.
Theseus says to us: There will be times when Duty
Must come before any kind of love, and the Gods know this,
And will guide you away, even if in tears.
Do not be so ashamed to weep, O hero,
Even if no mourning stays your hand.
(All walk the labyrinth in the garden – every House should have one – chanting “Eleleu! Iou! Iou!” the cry of the sacrificing parents.)
Aequinoctium Autumnale
Colors: Brown and Orange
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of brown and orange, patterned with autumn leaves, place a basket of fallen leaves, barrels of straw, shovels, spades, a bowl of rainwater, and seeds for cover crops.
Offerings: Turn under and mulch the used land.
Daily Meal: Vegetarian.
Aequinoctium Autumnale Invocation
Earth, we have eaten of your bounty!
You have fed us, and we are content.
We have worked you hard, and you have responded
With generosity and fruitfulness.
Now, as the year draws on, and the Sun
Shortens its days and counts the moons
Until its chilly death and incandescent rebirth,
We gift you as you have gifted us,
We care for you as you have cared for us,
We give back that we may continue to take,
Year after year, cycle after cycle.
Do not think, O Mother, that we are merely selfish,
And would only rape you of your bounty.
Our hands shall toil that you may have,
If only in this one small place,
Richness to take back for yourself.
For we know the hard secrets of the cycle,
And we will someday give ourselves
Back to your quiet embrace.
Chant:
Leaves falling
To our hands
Autumn calling
Cover all the land
(All take up the buckets of leaves and straw, and the spades, and go out to the garden. Some will turn over the soil, and others shall follow with cover crop seeds and rainwater, or with mulch to cover the ground. This shall be done throughout the Aequinoctium Autumnale days until all the ground from this year’s crops are covered.)
During this Moon phase, there is a slight slowing down of enthusiasm due to an emerging desire to produce tangible results from the energy being expended. The issue of values enters into the equation and an urge to tie together the data available so that you can utilize current opportunities. There is still plenty of forward motion, and this is a great time to continue initiating and progressing forward. This Moon phase favors gaining more information and the input of others to further your plans.
To increase power and use it wisely
Optional extras:
Orange candle
High John the Conqueror oil
Notes: The best time to do this spell is at midnight on a full moon, but if you don’t want to stay up that late, you can work it at any point on the full moon night or on a Sabbat.
Since you are asking to draw in power, be sure you are firmly grounded and centered before casting this spell and that the space you are working in is protected. Unlike some of the spells in this book where it makes little difference whether or not you start by casting a formal circle, in this case I would recommend you do so. This is not a spell to be cast lightly.
Cast your circle, ask for help from the four quarters, invoke the triple goddess of your choice (I like either Hecate or Brigid, but any triple goddess [maiden/mother/ crone] will work), then anoint the candle if using the High John oil. Be sure you are centered before reciting the spell.
As my craft I work to hone At this deep and sacred hour I call on Maiden, Mother, Crone To send me wisdom, strength and power Lend me power for my spells Power for work and power for play Send wisdom so I’ll use it well Growing in power every day.
I have asked several individuals ask me how to make “Holy Water.” I hope this answers your questions and you find it useful.
Holy Water is not a new tool to Witchcraft or Paganism, and has proven so useful in the past, that the Roman Catholic Church adapted the practice from its Pagan conquests during the early formation of Christianity. The uses for Holy water are many, and it remains to this day a valuable tool in almost every religion. Wiccans may call it Blessed Water, and Voudons may refer to it as “Devil Water”, and Catholics may purchase it as “Florida Water”, or “Blessed Mother Mary Water” it is one in the same, ultimately, being water which has been blessed by a higher power to aid in one’s religious workings.
Although the concept behind Holy Water is the same, it’s varied uses are many. It remains to be used in modern religions to protect, banish, heal, curse, enlighten, cleanse, purify, and the list goes on. One may be inclined to think that such a powerful potion would be hard to come by; however, it is a most simple concoction involving only a little bit of water and a lot of spiritualism.
Producing Holy Water is an act needed to be done when your spiritual attunement, and/ or awareness is high, and you are comfortable and confident about performing magic. As a Pagan, I prefer performing this act within my circle. When setting up your tools for this act, your necessary components will be natural flowing fresh or salt water, either from a creek, river, lake, sea, ocean, or collected rain water (tap water is not recommended). If sea or ocean water is unavailable, you will want to add 1 teaspoon of salt to every 8 oz. of fresh water you will be blessing. Once you have the salt water ready, place it in front of you. Incense is actually optional in this case, but I would strongly encourage anyone to try and burn Frankincense during the blessing, if at all possible.
Frankincense has been used since the times when the God Set ruled the underworld of Ancient Egypt, and remains to be used today in many various religions, and continues to be a potent ingredient in all forms Magic. Candles are also optional in the case of Blessing water, but do help set a spiritual mood for any blessing, ceremony, spell, or incantation. If you are pagan, you will want to lay four white candles around the circle, signifying the cardinal points of direction, and place two white candle upon your altar.
Kneel or sit in front of the bowl of salt water, and close your eyes. Concentrate on connecting with the God and Goddess. Ask silently or aloud, for Their assistance in producing this potion of great power. Explain for what it will be served for, and how you will use its power. Proclaim your need for assistance in creating the essence of Their power to serve your religious acts.
Hold your hands over the bowl, and look above, toward the sky, and accept the power of the God & Goddess, and move it through your body, and into the bowl of water. Continue with this procedure for a few minutes or until you feel the act has been completed, and the God & Goddess have assisted you in your workings.
Once you have completed the above, you may exit your area of worship, or casting, and prepare the water to be used in your various magical workings. The water should be stored in an airtight container if possible, but can be stored in any bottle for short periods of time. You will not want to keep the water for more than two weeks at a time due to bacteria. My personal favorite storage container for my Blessed Water is a spray bottle, originally purchased for plant misting. Spray bottles are perfect when you are performing acts which require you to expose a large area to Holy Water. They come in most handy for spirit banishing, house purifications & spiritual cleansings of large areas.
Chung Yeung Day, the Festival of High Places is China’s annual good luck festival commemorating the ancient Chinese scholar, Haun Ching. Legend has it that on the advice of a fortune-teller, Haun fled with his family and friends to the high hills, thus avoiding the plague of death that killed everyone in the village below. During this mid-Autumn celebration, the people take to the hills and fly special kites that are considered to be good omens that drive the evil spirits away.
Magickal Intentions: Courage, Physical Strength, Revenge, Military Honors, Surgery and the Breaking of Negative Spells, Matrimony, War, Enemies, Prison, Vitality and Assertiveness
Incense: Dragon’s Blood, Patchouli
Planet: Mars
Sign: Aries and Scorpio
Angel: Samuel
Colors: Red and Orange
Herbs/Plants: Red Rose, Cock’s Comb, Pine, Daisy, Thyme and Pepper
Stones: Carnelian, Bloodstone, Ruby, Garnet and Pink Tourmaline
Oil: (Mars) Basil, Coriander, Ginger
Mars rules Tuesday. The energies of this day best harmonize with efforts of masculine vibration, such as conflict, physical endurance and strength, lust, hunting, sports, and all types of competition. Use them, too, for rituals involving surgical procedures or political ventures
Tuesday (Mars): Passion, sex, courage, aggression and protection.
Waxing Moon
The Waxing Moon is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.
Moon Sign: First Quarter
Moon Sign: Scorpio
Scorpio: Increases awareness of psychic power. Precipitates psychic crises and ends connections thoroughly. People tend to brood and become secretive.
Moon enters Sagittarius 8:21 am
Sagittarius: Encourages flights of imagination and confidence. This is an adventurous, philosophical, and athletic Moon sign. Favors expansion and growth.
Incense: Geranium
Color: Red
Great Goddess, Great God
I greet you at the start of a new day
And thank you for the potential that this day holds
Please send me the best day possible
Help me to feel my best
So I might do my best for myself and for others
Smile upon me as I walk my Path
And guide me so I might walk with wisdom and grace
And shine your light upon the world
As the Sun rises
Fill me with energy and joy
Bless me with Your Presence
And watch ove me and those that I love
So Mote It Be
Witches Of The Craft® 
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