12th June 2015: Mercury Retrograde in Gemini

a message from Sarah Varcas
To read more of Sarah’s insight, please visit her site, Awakenings, Intuitive Astrology for Heart and Soul

A Universe Born of Its Own Design

Mercury stations retrograde at 1:44 am on 19th May GMT, and remains in its own sign, Gemini, throughout its retrograde passage. Practically speaking, this is an inquisitive Mercury, seeking information and answers, reviewing events of the past three months, wondering about relationships and connections with others and generally taking stock and sorting through unfinished business. It efficiently clears the decks of outstanding matters, enabling positive progress in the months to come. Of course, that also means current misunderstandings will need to be addressed in the coming weeks whether we like it or not! It may be a hassle at the time, frustrating our desire for progress, but if we commit to sorting through the chaos and getting things back on track now we’ll make up what felt like lost time, in due course. If, however, we try to battle on, ignoring the increasingly obvious signs that something somewhere is going awry, we can be absolutely certain that once Mercury turns direct again we’ll wish we’d listened better to its warnings and done what was needed back then!

Mercury’s retrograde station occurs opposite The Great Attractor. This anomalous point in space is the ultimate in seduction, drawing us towards and beyond it whether we like it or not. The Great Attractor reminds us that in a world of infinite possibilities all things must both repel and attract each other at some point in their cycle of becoming. Just as children can be repulsed by foods they enjoy as adults, and the ‘love of our life’ can become our most ardent enemy when the tides of passion turn, the existence of polarity is central to the very nature of being. We must know the extremes to find the balance that allows wholeness, entertain possibilities that before seemed too outlandish to be true, discard what once meant the world to us and be prepared to release even the very facets of our nature that previously made us who we are. The Great Attractor is our portal to the future, born of the deepest contradictions which may paralyse us in the present.

We cannot resist The Great Attractor (hence its name!) but we can surrender to its intensity of extremes, allowing its contradictions and profound paradoxes to penetrate our every cell until we know them as the very tension which animates life itself. In its darkest depths we encounter fate, those things we simply cannot change, a certain quality of being we cannot escape. Mercury’s opposition to this point as it turns retrograde poses the question ‘What do we do when we can’t change a thing? What does it mean to live a life shaped by powers beyond our reckoning?’. Whilst the practice of astrology reveals the deeply creative role we have in the weaving of our life’s fabric, The Great Attractor reminds us we are still the tiniest pin prick on the surface of a relatively small planet in one of hundreds of solar systems swirling through infinite space! Sometimes, it reminds us, life just does what it does, unfolds as it must and we simply have to deal with it!

It may all sound rather negative and resigned: not what we want to hear. Which is precisely the point. The very fact we don’t want to hear it is why Mercury is shouting it loud and clear right now: there is still so much we simply don’t know. Infinite knowledge is not in our grasp. We are not the architects of this awesome universe but instead a small part of it. As much as we yearn for control, the heavens remind us now some things are simply beyond our authority and wasting time and energy trying to influence them may have caused us to take our eye off the ball in recent months.

Time now to get to grips with what is rather than what we think should be, especially when it comes to relationships. In the coming weeks Mercury highlights what we simply cannot control: responses received from others; decisions made by those we love which turn our world upside down; misunderstandings which seem to arise out of ‘thin air’ simply because you and I are two different people; dynamics sensed immediately upon meeting someone which bear no ‘rational’ explanation: ‘you creep me out’, ‘I like you’, ‘I want to get to know you better’, ‘I hope our paths never cross again’. All point to the unavoidable consequence of life doing what it does: the interplay of our energy with that of another, creating outcomes beyond our control. No matter how hard we try to elicit the result we want – tying ourselves in knots of avoidance and denial in the process – there are no guarantees. Life now calls for living truthfully in the present, not with guile to create an imagined future. Speak the truth. Say it as it is and make doing that our purpose, no matter the outcome.

Contrary to popular belief about power and powerlessness, recognising the limits of our own influence is profoundly liberating. In doing so we can simply stop trying to shape what refuses to be moulded by anything other than its own nature. There is a deep and nourishing peace at the heart of The Great Attractor when we simply allow it to draw us in and have its way. For its way is our way eventually. Through our very acceptance of what we cannot change we become a living, breathing reflection of the creator spirit, not resisting its expression but accepting it as a force of greater intelligence than the ‘little me’ who always thinks it knows best. Once aligned with fate as an active participant there is nothing we cannot be or do, for all that is asked of us is who and what we already are.

This current period of Mercury retrograde will reveal much about what we can change and what is simply the fundamental nature of life, of ourselves and other people. By its end we will know what is and isn’t up for debate. We may well feel resistant to this revelation, but resistance doesn’t mean we’re right and the universe needs to shape up and get with the programme! It means we’re being too small in our outlook, too confident of our power in a cosmos which unfurls constantly, revealing ever deeper recesses of infinite space. There is still SO MUCH for us to know. We are mere ‘new borns’ in the infinity of creation. Only in celebrating that fact can we be open enough to receive ever more profound revelations of truth when it is time. The burgeoning Age of Aquarius is not the destination, the culmination of aeons of development, it is merely a way-station on an endless journey of becoming, a revelation of a new way to live and love, a new mode of existence. In cosmic terms it is still a lower rung of a very long ladder stretching into endless space about which we know next to nothing. Being alive at the shift of ages can lead us to believe we have arrived. In fact we are still on the starting blocks, preparing for the off in a very long race.

The Great Attractor polarises all things, including ourselves. It offers the objective and subjective and bids us choose which perspective we prefer. Either way the opposite is also true. Behind all of this polarity lies the future, born of the creative tension of opposites and similarities interwoven throughout our lives. As Mercury travels retrograde in the coming weeks we have a chance to view those polarities, to encounter paradox and contradiction, different perspectives in the same space of one relationship and honour them for what they are: the fertile seeds of the future, not problems to be resolved into beige blandness of a uni-dimensional view.

If we’ve swept discord under the carpet, said ‘yes’ when we felt ‘no’, committed ourselves when our spirit yearned for freedom, now is the time to do the opposite and reveal the truth. But in doing so we must accept that the choices we make may have consequences we cannot control. Each decision carries its own power, unleashed when we make it, thrust forth to live a life all of its very own. This is how doing the ‘right’ thing can sometimes ‘backfire’ and doing the ‘wrong’ thing can get us exactly where we need to be. The power to choose is ours, then the roller- coaster begins, fuelled not only by our own desire, but also that of the universe: the force of becoming which propels our lives through time and space in ways we have yet to understand.

The future is born of each moment. We are its creators and its subjects, thrown hither and thither by influences beyond our control. Such is the paradox at the heart of the human condition: we have enormous creative power but may lack influence over our creation. This is The Great Attractor at work, offering the freedom of self determination with no guarantees. As Mercury retrogrades through Gemini their combined power invites us to claim our creative potential, exercise it with integrity and in doing so know that what will be will be. The most precious goal is simply to honour who we are in the moment and share ourselves honestly with life. The present moment is all we have and living it well is the best we can do. The future isn’t ours to shape but to embrace as it arises, secure in the knowledge that we rest in the arms of life itself, cradled in an infinite universe born of its own design.
Article located on Spiritlibrary.com

Your Current Moon Phase for May 20th – Waxing Crescent

May 20
Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 7%

The Moon today is in a Waxing Crescent Phase. A Waxing Crescent is the first Phase after the New Moon and is a great time to see the features of the moon’s surface. During this phase the Moon can be seen in the wester sky after the sun dips below the horizon at sunset. The moon is close to the sun in the sky and mostly dark except for the right edge of the moon which becomes brighter as the days get closer to the next phase which is a First Quarter with a 50% illumination.

Phase Details for – Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Phase: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 7%
Moon Age: 2.46 days
Moon Angle: 0.52
Moon Distance: 386,586.19 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 151,394,605.36 km

Source:

MoonGiant.com

The Witches Magick for the 20th Day of the Hare Moon – Until You Love Me Spell

UNTIL YOU LOVE ME SPELL

The purpose of this spell is to apply magical persistence in a love relationship that you know deep in your heart that you really, truly want and need.’
Use vanilla-scented oil, a warm bath, and a white tea candle. After dark, draw a warm bath and put nine drops of the vanilla oil in the water. Light the candle and safely place it where you can easily see it while bathing. Focus your awareness on your beloved’s face in your mind’s eye (you can use a photograph if you prefer). Say slowly with meaning as if you are speaking to the one you love:

My beloved [say his or her full name]
I will keep turning my mind toward you
By the powers of Goddess, God, earth,
air, light, and sea
I’m going to keep on wanting you
[repeat his or her name]
I’m going to keep on dreaming of you
my love
Until you want me the way I hunger
for you
Until you hold me in your arms
and show me you care
Until you share your loving ways
with me, until you dare
Lover [say his or her name] until I get
through to you,
I will keep turning my mind toward you
I’m going to keep on loving you
Until you understand my point of view
Until you love me and I completely
love you
That’s what I’m going to do [say his or
her name]
Come on now let me love you and love
me, too
May our love together be blessed and
oh so sweet
Blessed be sweet love! Blessed be!

When you are done bathing, towel off and anoint yourself with the vanilla-scented oil at the wrists, ankles, knees, and back of the neck. Allow the tea candle to safely burn down. As you drift to sleep, repeat to yourself:

I’m going to keep dreaming of you,
my sweet love.

In the morning, write everything you recall from your dreams into your journal.

Wiccan Spell A Night: Spells, Charms, And Potions For The Whole Year
Sirona Knight

WOTC Extra – Raise Your Energy

Raise Your Energy

The next thing you need to know is how to raise energy in order to cast a spell.
You’ll remember that there are three types of energy: personal energy, earth energy, and divine energy.

Each one has its own unique feeling to it, and each one has its own purpose.
So I’m going to give you some easy exercises that will teach you how to sense all three forms of energy.

First, let’s start with your personal energy. Find a comfortable place to sit and make your breathing long, deep, and slow.

Feel your body relax and your mind get quiet. Now, start rubbing your palms together. Do this for about twenty seconds. Start slowly, and then rub faster and faster.

Feel your muscles begin to tense up. Feel your palms begin to get warmer. Now, stop.

Hold your palms about two inches apart. Can you feel them tingling? This is the energy that you have built and released, and it’s now flowing from your hands.
Look at that! In just twenty seconds, you have felt and created your very own personal power.

If you don’t feel it the first time, don’t worry. Keep practicing. Don’t force yourself to feel it—simply relax and allow yourself to feel this power.

Once you have created this energy, you can now try to manipulate it. Using your mind and powers of visualization, give this energy a color. Make it your favorite color.

Form it into a ball of pulsing energy, and let it move between your hands.
Now, you can make it bigger or smaller as you choose…bigger, now smaller.

Good.

And finally, you can choose to let it return to your body. Simply let it flow back into your palms into your arms, and be absorbed by your body again.

Once you have practiced with your personal energy, it’s time to start sensing earth energy.

For this exercise, find a plant. Any herbs, plants, or flowers will work—but it’s better if they are still growing, and not cut.

Now, breathe deeply for a few moments, relax your body, and clear your mind. Very good.

Hold your left palm a few inches above the plant. Focus your awareness on your palm.

What do you feel? Is it a dull throbbing, a hum, a wave of heat, or a kind of energy shift in your hand? If you can feel something different, then you are feeling the energy of the plant.

You can do this exercise with any natural object: stones, crystals, and trees for example. They all have their own earth energy.

And after some practice, you should be able to feel the differences in energy between the different objects.

For many reasons, it’s better to draw energy from the earth and other natural objects when you are performing magic.

Using your personal energy is very draining, and enhancing your own power with earth energy makes your spells much more effective.

That’s why spells will usually contain herbs, and you will use stones, wood, and crystals in facilitating your magic.

Now that you have learned to feel and manipulate both personal and earth energy, let’s talk about the last, highest form—divine power.

This power, as you may guess, comes from the divine. When you perform magic, you are asking the divine to contribute this power to your spell. You may be able to sense this incredible power as you are doing a spell.

Divine energy is what makes magic truly magical.

Wicca Power Spells
Aurora Rede

Celebrating Other Spirituality 365 Days A Year – The Hammer of Thor

May 19 and 20

The Hammer of Thor

For those who follow the Nordic traditions, May 19 and 20 are dedicated to the Hammer of Thor, Mjollnir (the crusher).

The Hammer of Thor is a symbolic tool that discharges the power of right orderliness over that of the power of harmful chaos. According to mythology, one activity that was undertaken at this time was the ritual of trial by combat, where the will of the Gods would decide which combatant had goodness on his side. Today, devotees of Thor wear small hammer pendants as symbols bols of their dedication to the Scandinavian sky God of thunder and patron.

Wednesday’s Perfect Ritual – Clearing the Air with Blue Lace Agates

Try this spell for yourself, and see the difference that it makes when you work magick in balance with all four of the natural elements.

• 1 blue votive candle
• 1 votive cup
• 4 blue lace agates
• A picture of your home and/or your family and pets (whoever lives in the house)
• Lighter or matches
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell

Place the blue votive in the votive cup. Set the photos of your home and family on either side of the candleholder. Next, arrange the four blue lace agates in a small circle around the candle holder. As you place the tumbled stones one by one, say these lines:

Blue lace agates, lend me your power
Cleanse this home in this time and hour
Around this candle I create a ring
These four blue lace agates are just the thing.

Now light the spell candle and hold your hands out and over the stones and candle. (Not too close, we don’t want you scorching your witchy fingers.) Finish the spell by saying the following verse:

I now call the four elements on this Wednesday night
On the wings of Mercury, I quickly set things to right
By blue lace agates and candle flame, this spell is begun

Now remove all negativity, and let it harm none. Allow the votive to burn until it goes out on its own. (Most votives take four to six hours to burn completely out.) When the spell candle is consumed, take the four blue lace agates and place one in each of the four main corners of your home. This will keep the spell moving along quickly, and it will reenforce the cleansing. Clean up the rest of your spellwork supplies, and put up the pictures of your family in a prominent place so you can enjoy them.

Source:

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week

Ellen Dugan

DAILY MAGICKAL APPLICATIONS FOR WEDNESDAY

To the Romans, this day was called Dies Mercurii, or “Mercury’s day” Mercury was a popular character in the Roman pantheon. A messenger of the gods, he presided over commerce, trade, and anything that required skill or dexterity. The Celts also worshiped Mercury and eventually equated him with the Norse god Odin (some spelling variations on this name include Wotan, Wodin, and Wodan). In Norse mythologies, Odin, like Mercury, is associated with poetry and music. Interestingly enough, both Odin and Mercury were regarded as psychopomps, or the leaders of souls, in their individual mythologies.

Odin, one of the main gods in Norse mythology, was constantly seeking wisdom. He traveled the world in disguise as a one-eyed man with a long gray beard, wearing an old, beat-up hat and carrying a staff or a spear (which brings to my mind images of Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings). In the Old English language, this day of Mercury evolved into Wodnes daeg, “Woden’s day,” or Wednesday.

Wednesday carries all of the planetary and magickal energies and associations of the witty and nimble god Mercury himself. Some of these mercurial traits included good communication skills, cleverness, intelligence, creativity, business sense, writing, artistic talent, trickiness, and thievery. And don’t forget all of those wise and enigmatic qualities associated with the Norse god Odin/Wodin, not to mention the goddess Athena’s contributions of music, the arts, handmade crafts, and writing. Wednesdays afford excellent opportunities for seeking wisdom, changing your circumstances, and improving your skills, be they in trade and commerce, music and art, or in communication and writing.

Source:
Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Wednesday is Ruled by Mercury

Wednesdays are wild and wacky days. They are for communication, change, cunning, and the arts. This is a Mercury day, and just its patron god this day is full of contradictions, change, and excitement.

Some suggestions for Wednesday enchantments would include:

Pulling a little Wednesday color magic into your life by wearing purples or orange

Carrying a multipurpose agate with you and tapping into its various charms

Working with magical plants such as the fern for protection. This plant will also boost the power of any other magical plants with which it is arranged.

Incorporating lavender into charms and spells for transformation

Using the charming scent of lily of the valley to improve your memory, or working with the aspen tree for communication

Calling on Athena, patron of arts and crafts, for inspiration for a new project

Fanning out a Tarot spell to increase you creativity

Calling on Hermes on a Wednesday night to bring movement and good luck into your life

Today Is …

Day Dedicated to Sekhmet. Light a candle for Her on your altar at noon.

Bendidia – The festival honoring the Thracian goddess Bendis falls on the 19th day of the Greek lunar month of Thargelion. In Plato’s republic she is depicted wearing a Phyrgian cap, the cloak and short tunic of a huntress, high fur-topped boots and carrying a spear. At the ritual in her honor, women offered her wheat. Monagan says she was a Cappadocian Goddess similar to Gaea (the Earth-Mother). Monaghan, Patricia, The Book of Goddesses and Heroines, Llewellyn 1981

Plynteria ~ On this date, a sacred festival called the Plynteria was celebrated annually in ancient Greece. The festival was held in honor of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and Battle, and the patroness of the city of Athens (which was named after her), and included the ritual sea cleansing of her statue, followed by prayers in the Parthenon and feasting.
Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Seasons of the Witch – Legends and Lore, Ancient Holidays And Some Not So Ancient!

Remember The Ancient Ways and Keep Them Holy!
• • • •.

Goddess Month of Hera begins 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Calendar: Uath (Hawthorn) – May 13 to June 9
• • • •
May Moon Phases
First Quarter falls on Monday, 25 May, 2015 at 1:20 PM
• • • •
The Year Is Divided Into Four Seasons:
The first season is of a frigid complexion, and this is “Winter”;
The second is of the complexion of Air, and this is “Spring”;
Then follows the third, which is “Summer”, and is of the complexion of Fire;
Lastly, there is the fourth, wherein fruits are matured, which is “Autumn”.
~The Turba Philosophorum, ca. 12 century

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

The Witches Correspondences for Wednesday, May 20th

Wednesday (Wodin’s day)

Planet: Mercury

Colors: Yellow, Grey, Mixed Hues

Crystals: Citrine, Agates, Aventurine, Mica, Pumice, Quicksilver, Zinc

Aroma: Lavender, Eucalyptus, Mercury Oil, Jasmine, Sweetpea

Herb: Lavender

Dedicated to the Teutonic god Woden or Odin, an aspect of the “All-Father” god of knowledge wisdom enlightenment and combat, the parallel of Hermes. Wednesday is ruled by Mercury. Magical aspects: the conscious mind, study, travel, divination, and wisdom. This is the best day to engage in anything dealing with communication.

With Wednesday brings the beauty of luck, the satisfaction of psychic work, increased communication and the retail success that it brings. If you feel that lady luck has been rather mean with her glances recently, it might be worth asking for a little extra something on a Wednesday and await the returns.

This is the proper day of the week to perform spells and rituals involving communication, divination, writing, knowledge, business transactions, teaching, reason, skill, self-improvement, debt, fear, loss, intellectual pursuits, and flexibility.

The Witches Almanac for Wednesday, May 20th

Wednesday (Mercury): The conscious mind, study, travel, divination and wisdom.

Pardon of the Singers (British)

Waxing Moon
The Waxing Moon is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.

Moon phase: First Quarter

Moon Sign: Gemini
Gemini: Things begun now are easily changed by outside influence. Time for shortcuts, communication, games, and fun.

Moon enters Cancer 9: 56 am
Cancer: Stimulates emotional rapport between people. Pinpoints need, supports growth and nurturance. Tends to domestic concerns

Incense: Bay laurel

Color: White

Must Dos for Wednesdays

Be bold and daring today! Expand your knowledge of the Craft by working with the planetary energies of Mercury on this multifaceted day of the week. Consider the Greco-Roman gods Mercury and Hermes and all of the many lessons they have for you. Embrace change and movement, and work on your communication techniques. Conjure up a little good luck for yourself with that Mercury dime spell. Call on Athena to inspire you to try magickal arts and crafts and to be more creative in your own spellwork and witchery.

Meditate on Odin and see what you can discover about him. I wonder what sort of fabulous and fascinating magickal wisdom you will uncover? Odin is a shaman, after all; he may appear in many guises and faces. I guarantee that he will make you laugh at yourself before he is through with you, but you will learn. It’s up to you what you do with that knowledge. Will you let it shapeshift into wisdom?

Wednesday is the wild and wily day of the week, so try to go with the flow; don’t fight the quirky energies of the day. Most importantly, follow your heart, and always keep a good sense of humor, because of Wednesdays you will really need it.

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Wednesday

Wednesday: Is associated with Mercury and the colors of Purple, Magenta and Silver

Wednesday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Accounting, Advertising, Astrology, Clerks, Communication, Computers, Correspondence, Critics, Editing, Editors, Education, Healing, Hiring Employees, Intelligence, Journalists, Kin, Learning Languages, Legal Appointments, Memory, Merchants, Messages, Music, Neighbors, Phone Calls, Placing Ads, Siblings, Signing Contracts, Students, Visiting Friends, Visual Arts, Wisdom, and Writing

Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch
Carol Moyer

Tasha’s Day by Day Astro Planner

Wed. 5/20 Tender Cancer Moon helps care for all.

Thu. 5/21 Moody Cancer Moon suggests asking for what is needed. Sun into Gemini brings energy to travel, communication. Late Venus opposing Pluto says go slow with desires.

Fri. 5/22 Flirty Gemini Moon smiles through the day. Romantic Leo Moon says go out and play. Later Sun opposing Saturn could solidify actions.

Sat. 5/23 Creative Leo Moon suggests art projects for fun.

Sun. 5/24 Playful Leo Moon brings joyous energy to the day.

Mon. 5/25 Picky Virgo Moon is needed to rein in Venus Square Uranus and Mars Square Neptune. Impulsive choices best postponed today. Vision may be unclear.

Tue. 5/26 Clever Virgo Moon helps bring mindful energy to good solutions.

Wed. 5/27 Analytical Virgo Moon is assisted by Mercury conjunct Mars for crisp efficiency.

Thu. 5/28 Balance loving Libra Moon helps keep the peace.

Fri; 5/29 Justice oriented Libra Moon can help pierce Mercury Square Neptune confusion. Be mindful.

Sat. 5/30 Penetrating Scorpio Moon gets to the bottom of issues; Sun conjunct Mercury helps.

Sun. 5/31 Mystery loving Scorpio Moon finds food for thought as Sun squares Neptune.

Contact tashahal@gmail.com
Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Lunabar Moon Almanack for Wednesday, 20 May, 2015

Waxing, Crescent Moon Age: 2 ¾ days.
Moon Runs High.
Moon in 6th degree of the Sign Crabba, the Crab fish;
also in 7th deg. of the Constellation Gemini, the Twins.
Moonrise: 8:07 morn. Souths: 3:25 eve. Moonset: 10:48 eve.
• • • •
Aspects of Crabba: Yin, Feminine, Lunar, Negative, Nocturnal, Watery, Cardinal, Fruitful, Horary Northern, Summery, Boreal, Commanding, Solstitial, Tropical, Moist, Dumb, Mute, Cold, Psychic, Sensitive..
• • • •
The Current Moon Phase Is: The Waxing Crescent Moon
Time: From New Moon To Full (Approx. 14 Days)
Goddess Aspect: Maiden
Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona
Magickal Attributes: Invoking Beginnings, New Projects, Ideas, Inspiriation, Energy, Vitality, Freedom. Workings On This Day Are For “Constructive” Magick (Love, Wealth, Success, Courage, Friendship, Luck Or Health.)
Perform magic on Waxing Moons to attract a new quality or behavior, to increase the light within, to attain personal and spiritual growth and greater awareness. The quarter moon suggests a period of overcoming obstacles and continuing on the path to growth.
• • • •
Spells and rituals involving the Earth element should be performed when the Moon is in an Earth sign: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn.
• • • •
Mercury in Retrograde
While Mercury is retrograde, familiar channels of communications become tangled and confused. Expect delays and changes in plans. Use this time for researching and problem-solving.
This is a great time to rewrite and edit, rework an old project or successfully repeat a task. Reevaluate and reconsider, but hold final decisions and approvals until Mercury goes direct.
The tendency is to initialize or finalize projects prematurely. The contents of verbal or written contracts and plans made now may later seem inadequate or unclear. This is not a good time to buy on the spur of the moment without investigation.
This is also not a good time to purchase electronic equipment or cars. Major purchases may be reduced in price after the retrograde period and you can save money by waiting. Major repairs or surgery performed now may be incomplete or plagued by unexpected repercussions.
Double-check and reconfirm every detail. Typed or written errors are easily overlooked, paperwork mislaid, appointments forgotten. Let your sense of humor overcome the challenge of unexpected adjustments.
• • • •
Moon Moon, Mother Moon
Lunar Lore
If the moon on a Saturday be new or full,
There always was rain, and there always wull.
~Worcestershire.
***
The Egyptians worshipped the cat as a symbol of the moon,
not only because it is more active after sunset,
but from the dilation and contraction of its pupil,
symbolical of the waxing and waning of the night-goddess.
~ Brewer, “Dictionary of Phrase & Fable”.
***
What is there in thee, Moon? That thou shouldst move my
heart so potently? ~John Keats
• • • •
Moon in the Lunar Mansion
Alhak’a, A White Spot, also known as
Caput Canis Validi, The Head of the Strong Dog.
Marked by the fix’d Star: Meissa, in Orion.
• • • •
Orion with his glittering belt and sword
Gilded since time has been, while time shall be.
• • • •
Thou splendid soulless warrior! What to thee,
Marching along the bloodless fields, are we!
~ Lucy Larcom, “Orion.”

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Lunabar Sun Almanack for Wednesday, 20 May, 2015

Sunrise: 5:51 morn. Sunset: 8:17 eve.
Length of Day: 14h. 26m.
Dawn: 5:21 morn. Dusk: 8:47 eve.
Length of Twilight: 0h. 30m.
Sun in 29th degree of the Sign Taurus, the Bull;
also in 7th degree of the Constellation Taurus, the Bull;
Solar Lore
The weary sun hath made a golden set,
And by the bright track of his fiery car
Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow.
~ Shakespeare, “Richard III.”
• • • •
Aspects of Taurus: Yin, Feminine, Lunar, Negative, Nocturnal, Earthy, Fixed, Semi-fruitful, Horary Southern, Vernal, Boreal,
Commanding, Feral, Bestial, Animal, Four-footed, Dry, Cold.
Sun moves into Gemini” Sign of the Twins, influenced by Mercury. Especially favorable time for learning and studies of all kinds.
(Why final exams are always held at this time!)

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Wishing Each & Everyone Of Our Brothers & Sisters A Very Blessed Wednesday!

An it Harm None

This world would be a better place,
If everyone believed,
The pagan rule of bring no harm,
To those who live and breath,
But that’s an idealogoly,
That can never be fulfilled,
For religions all around the world,
Bear other faiths I’ll will.

They all say they are peaceful,
They say their God is right,
They say that if you don’t believe,
You should forfeit your life,
Just look back at history,
And even here today,
Religion is not peaceful,
No matter to who you pray.

A world without religion?
That’s never going to be,
For faiths will fight to put their God,
On the pinnacle of the tree,
And if there’s no religion,
What then will man fight for?
For man must fight for something,
He must always be at war.

You know my friends, it seems to me,
That whatever you believe,
We only want to live in peace,
But that will never be,
For God will be on both sides,
Fighting against himself,
And we are mere pawns in His game,
His game of cat and mouse.

But we could thwart His little game,
If we only had the will,
To turn our back on evil things,
And bear no one ill will,
Following the Pagan Way,
With nature we’d be one,
And we would praise the morning dew,
And the setting of the sun.

—-Pagan Ways
Alan Faraway

A Little About August Birth Symbols

August Babies

“Fairest of the months! Ripe summer’s queen, The hey-day of the year, With robes that gleam with sunny sheen, Sweet August doth appear.” —R. Combe Miller

Zodiac: Leo until August 22 and Virgo from August 23

Gemstone: Peridot
The gemstone is formed deep inside the earth and is brought to the surface by volcanoes. They are believed to contain healing powers that protect against nightmares and bring the wearer power and influence. Colors range from yellowish green to a greenish brown.

Flower: Gladiolus, Poppy
The gladiolus brings remembrance, calm, integrity and infatuation. Poppy is also a popular August flower: red means pleasure, white means consolation, and yellow brings wishes of wealth and success.

Tree: Cypress, Poplar, Cedar, Pine

FROM: http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/photo-gallery/birth-signs-symbols#09

August’s birth flower is gladiolus, or ‘sword lily.’ Gladiolus represents remembrance, calm, integrity, and infatuation. With gladiolus, the recipient’s heart is being “pierced with love.” The other August flower is the poppy. A red poppy signifies pleasure, a white poppy is given for consolation, and a yellow poppy wishes wealth and success.

FROM: http://www.almanac.com/content/birth-month-flowers-and-their-meanings#

August Birthstone – Peridot

Peridot, a symbol of vitality and is the gemstone for people born in August. The official name for peridot is olivine, and can be found in a wide spectrum of green from light-yellow to dark olive. The Egyptians were known to mine for the peridot on Saint John’s Island around 1500 BC. It was used to ward off night terrors and more specifically, when set in gold, would ward off evil. It has also been ground into a fine powder to treat asthma sufferers and used as a cure for thirst most experience during a fever. It has been said that its owner, when worn would have the power of invisibility, and that if a thief about to be hanged or beheaded might escape if one was held in their mouth. It can bring peace, protection and sleep. It has also been worn to calm anger by soothing ones nerves, expelling negative energy. They also can attract love.

The peridot has many symbolic purposes, one that it promises growth for the future and gives strength to individuals and those in relationships. Peridot is a brilliant young green and were first discovered in the black sands of Hawaii. Hawaiian legend states they were tears shed by the volcanic goddess, Pele. It is a connection to nature and Early Egyptians drank from cups made of peridot, believing they would be drawn closer to the goddess of nature, Isis.

The Egyptians also called it the “gem of the sun”, due to its brilliance that it would showcase in the desert sun. By miners, it is said that even in darkness, the peridot could be seen, and they would mark the location. They would then return in the daytime to retrieve them. Perhaps this is why the peridot is at times referred to as the “evening emerald”. Today, it is mined in Hawaii, the Congo, Arizona, Burma, Norway, Australia and Brazil.

August is a month in which for many is viewed as the end of the summer cycle. A time when some need to make plans and begin preparing for the cooler months of fall. It is a time of harvest and hard work. Our bodies are challenged with physical work and long hours. This is a time when one might need to search for strength from an outside source or symbol. During this month we are once again in touch with the earth and the significant seasonal shifts. The birthstones representing each month are meant to empower their owners with gifts specifically needed for each of these seasonal shifts. When the human condition falls short of spiritual or mental needs, these precious stones have been believed to gift their owners strength and endurance in many forms.

Other interesting facts about the August Birthstone of Peridot:

-They were discovered first in Egypt on a tiny island named Zabargard over four-thousand years ago

-In earlier times, Catholic Bishops would wear a peridot ring as a symbol of their purity

-In Medieval times, churches were obsessively adorned by them

-Considered a gift from Mother Nature

-They are created from the conditions of extreme heat from volcanoes

-The most abundant deposits are found in Burma.

-They have been recommended for gall bladder and liver illness

Other Symbols of August:

August Birth Flower:

The Poppy, more specifically the poppy native to the Mediterranean regions. These yield a source of opium, that in the ancient world would bring on sleep and ease pain when taken in smaller amounts. Poppies were associated with the god of sleep, Hypnos and Morpheus, the god of dreams by the Greeks.

August Birth Tree:

The Pine tree. It represents, immortality and longevity.

Famous People Born in August:

Charlize Theron- August 7, 1975

Robert De Niro- August 17, 1943

Audrey Tautou- August 9, 1976

Martin Sheen- August 3, 1940

Andy Warhol- August 6, 1928

Jack Black- August 28, 1969

– See more at: http://birthstonesbymonths.net/august-birthstone-peridot/#sthash.VeUaoXRo.dpuf

A Thought for Today

Please remember while you are out and about to pick up trash others so carelessly used Mother Earth as a garbage can for. When my youngest granddaughter was about 3 1/2 years old she suggested we start taking a small plastic bag with us when we walk Cleo to pick up as she called “the yuck on Mom”. I had been picking up garbage along my walks anywhere I might be, even a store parking lot, and depositing it where it should go and never realized she or my children when they were young picked up on it. I am proud to say in my family we have a strong tradition of leaving most anywhere outside we might go in better shape than we found it.

If children can see the need and bend to pick up trash are not we as adults should see the need also and follow through on that need? We only get one Mother we can all help care for, love and cherish.

Blessed be

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