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

Today Is …

Rite of Roses and Rosa Mundi. Place a rose on your altar and honor Her.

Erzulie Freda. On this day, thousands of Haitians begin an annual pilgrimage to the Saut d’ Eau waterfall, which is scared to Erzulie Freda (the Voodoo loa of love and beauty) and is believed to possess miraculous healing powers

Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Virgin of All Remedies/Ezili Danto – A celebration in honor of Our Lady whose first shrine was built at Mount Carmel. She is also known as the Virgin of All Remedies. People come to her shrine to ask for healing and leave replicas of the parts of their bodies which are afflicted. In other parts of the world, her holiday is celebrated with fireworks, parades and olive branches (see Salacia (July 25)). Perhaps a good day to visit the sick, pray for healing or dialogue with a part of your body which is afflicted.

In the Voudon tradition, the image of Our Lady of Mt Carmel is used to represent Ezili Danto, a single mother who is independent, hard-working and has a fierce temper. “When you see Danto pass by, you say it is a thunderstorm.”

Brown, Karen McCarthy, Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn, University of California Press 1991

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Remember The Ancient Ways and Keep Them Holy!

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The Witches Correspondences for Thursday, July 16

Thursday (Thor’s day)

Planet: Jupiter

Colors: Purple, Deep Blue

Crystals: Amethyst, Lepidolite, Sugilite, Tin

Aroma: Melissa, Clove, Oakmoss, Jupiter Oil, Cinnamon, Musk, Nutmeg, and Sage

Herb: Cinquefoil

Ruled by the planet Jupiter and dedicated to Thor, god of thunder and agricultural work. His parallels in various European Traditions include Zeus, Taranis, Perun, and Perkunas.

Magical aspects: controlled optimism, energetic growth, physical well-being, material success, expansion, money/wealth, prosperity, leadership, and generosity.

Thursday is the day of Jupiter, the largest of the planets and said to be the most powerful. Spellcasters would be wise to use this day for attempting wealth, success and prosperity spells.

Thursday is also associated (in Greek mythology) to Thor – Thor’s day – and some even say that Jupiter and Thor are one in the same. Both are strong and powerful, yet wise and just. Try a small prayer to

Jupiter before commencing any ritual on Thursday as a sign of respect.

This is the proper day of the week to perform spells and rituals involving luck, happiness, health, legal matters, male fertility, treasure, wealth, honour, riches, clothing, money, desires, business, group pursuits, joy, laughter, and expansion

Correspondences for the Waxing Moon

Time: From New Moon to Full Moon (approx. 14 days)

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph and Epona

Magickal Attributes: INVOKING Beginnings, new projects, ideas, inspirations, energy, vitality, freedom.

Source:

Correspondences for the Pagan Practitioner

Jennifer Weiner

The Witches Almanac for Thursday, July 16th

Thursday (Jupiter): Expansion, money, prosperity, and generosity.

Our Lady of Carmel

Waxing Moon

The Waxing Moon (from the New Moon to the Full) is the ideal time for magic to draw things toward you.

Moon phase: First Quarter

Moon Sign: Cancer

Cancer: Stimulates emotional rapport between people. Pinpoints need, supports growth and nurturance. Tends to domestic concerns.

Moon enters Leo 10: 15 am

Leo: Draws emphasis to the self, central ideas, or institutions, away from connections with others and other emotional needs. People tend to be melodramatic.

Incense: Balsam

Color: Purple

Thursday’s Witchery

Today is the day for prosperity work of all kinds. It can also be used for healing work, whether that is a physical healing of an illness or an emotional healing. Also remember that you have to follow up your healing work and prosperity magick and physical action.

I can’t tell you the number of times I have met new witches who complain to me that their prosperity spell or “I need a better job” spell did not work as they expected. They’ll ramble on and on about how much time and money they spent working their magick….but, alas, they had no glorious manifestion of wealth or fabulous job that suddenly dropped out of the sky and landed in their laps.

Then, when I gently ask them, “Did you enchant your resume or application when you filled it out? Did you do a little confidence-boosting spellwork when you went to apply for the job or went to the interview?” typically they give me a blank, confused stare.

Nine times out of ten, their response is, “You mean I have to go out and actually look for the job too?” Um, yes, my dear, you certainly do. Magick follows the path of least resistance, which means it’s going to manifest along the simplest, quickest route. Get out there and hit the pavement. See what you can find. Times are tough and competition for good jobs is fierce, so you need whatever edge you can get. For folks like us, we’re going to get the edge by using our magick and our spellcraft.

Thursdays have such a rich source of magick for us to draw upon that, honestly, the sky is the limit. This is the day associated with the gods of the sky and heavens, after all. Get to know these deities and add their wisdom and magick into your days.

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

Ellen Dugan

Thursday

Jupiter’s (Thor’s) day

The name is derived from Old English Þūnresdæg and Middle English Thuresday (with loss of -n-, first in northern dialects, from influence of Old Norse Þorsdagr) meaning “Thor’s Day”. Thunor, Donar (German, Donnerstag) and Thor are derived from the name of the Germanic god of thunder, Thunraz, equivalent to Jupiter in the interpretatio romana.

In most Romance languages, the day is named after the Roman god Jupiter, who was the god of sky and thunder. In Latin, the day was known as Iovis Dies, “Jupiter’s Day”. In Latin, the genitive or possessive case of Jupiter was Iovis/Jovis and thus in most Romance languages it became the word for Thursday: Italian giovedì, Spanish jueves, French jeudi, Sardinian jòvia, Catalan dijous, and Romanian joi. This is also reflected in the p-Celtic Welsh dydd Iau.

The astrological and astronomical sign of the planet Jupiter is sometimes used to represent Thursday.

Since the Roman god Jupiter was identified with Thunor (Norse Thor in northern Europe), most Germanic languages name the day after this god: Torsdag in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, Hósdagur/Tórsdagur in Faroese, Donnerstag in German or Donderdag in Dutch. Finnish and Northern Sami, both non-Germanic (Uralic) languages, uses the borrowing “Torstai” and “Duorastat”. In the extinct Polabian Slavic language, it was perundan, Perun being the Slavic equivalent of Thor.

There are a number of modern names imitating the naming of Thursday after an equivalent of “Jupiter” in local tradition. In most of the languages of India, the word for Thursday is Guruvar – var meaning day and guru being the style for Bṛhaspati, guru to the gods and regent of the planet Jupiter. In Thai, the word is Wan Pharuehatsabodi – referring to the Hindu deity Bṛhaspati, also associated with Jupiter. En was an old Illyrian deity and in his honor in the Albanian language Thursday is called “Enjte”. In the Nahuatl language, Thursday is Tezcatlipotōnal meaning “day of Tezcatlipoca”.

Tasha’s Day by Day Planner for July 2015

Thu. 7/16 Dramatic Leo Moon shines for performances. Mercury/Mars indicates good timing for action.

Fri. 7/17 Royal Leo Moon promotes expansive feelings today.

Sat. 7/18 Playful Leo Moon suggests having fun. After 6:30 diligent Virgo Moon makes for good organizing. Mars/Uranus says take extra care with machinery and action oriented movement. Use this energy to make a breakthrough.

Sun. 7/19 Tidy Virgo Moon helps get everything in order.

Mon. 7/20 Particular Virgo Moon helps scrub up the surroundings

Contact tashahal@gmail.com

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Lunabar Moon Almanack for Thursday, 16 July, 2015

Waxing, Crescent Moon Age: 0 days.

Ascending Node is at 4° Libra.

Moon in 25th degree of the Sign Crabba, the Crab fish;

also in 26th deg. of the Constellation Gemini, the Twins.

Moonrise: 6:29 morn. Souths: 1:39 eve. Moonset: 8:48 eve.

• • • •

New Waxing Moon

The beginning of a new cycle.

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona

Magickal Attributes: Invoking. Workings On This Day Are For Starting New Ventures, New Beginnings, Love, Romance, Health Or Job Hunting.

Keywords for the New phase are: beginning, birth, emergence, projection, clarity. It is the time in a cycle that you are stimulated to take a new action. During this phase the new cycle is being seeded by your vision, inner and outer. Engage in physical activity. Spend time alone. VISUALIZE your goals for the 29.6-day cycle ahead. New Moon workings can be done from the day of the new moon to three-and-a-half days after. The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting.

Spells and rituals involving the Water element should be performed when the Moon is in a Water sign: Crabba/Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.

Aspects of Crabba Yin, Feminine, Lunar, Negative, Nocturnal, Earthy, Fixed, Semi-fruitful, Horary Southern, Vernal, Boreal, Commanding, Feral, Bestial, Animal,

Four-footed, Dry, Cold.

A thin-skinned emotional reaction can make you hypersensitive to any difficult situations that come up today.

Mars and Mercury are close together in the heavens and this can lead to heated arguments that are temporarily blind to reason.

Feelings may be deeply hurt by aggressive comments, or overbearing intellect.

Give respect and be restrained with your power over others. Any attempt to remake others, will result in bad feelings, and that will have far-reaching consequences.

If you are at the victim end of an argument, or being picked on by someone who selfish or over-using their power, do your best to hold your ground, and don’t let them see your pain.

Honor yourself for being reasonable and find comfort that you passed a test on the path towards higher evolution.

• • • •

Moon Moon, Mother Moon

Lunar Lore

The moon appearing larger at sunset, and not dim but

luminous, portends fair weather for several days.

~ Francis Bacon, “Historia Ventorum”

Selene: The moon-goddess; sometimes, but improperly,

called Diana, as Diana is always called the chaste huntress;

~ Brewer’s “Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.”

• • • •

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Lunabar Sun Almanack for Thursday, 16 July, 2015

Sunrise: 5:55 morn. Sunset: 8:32 eve.

Length of Day: 14h. 37m.

Dawn: 5:24 morn. Dusk: 9:03 eve.

Length of Twilight: 0h. 31m.

Sun in 23rd degree of the Sign Crabba, the Crab fish;

also in 24th degree of the Constellation Gemini, the Twins;

Solar Lore

If the rays of the sun on rising are not yellow,

but ruddy, it denotes rain rather than wind.

The same likewise holds good of the setting.

~Francis Bacon, “Historia Ventorum”.

• • • •

Aspects of Crabba/Cancer: Yin, Feminine, Lunar, Negative, Nocturnal, Watery, Cardinal, Fruitful, Horary Northern, Summery,

Boreal, Commanding, Solstitial, Tropical, Moist, Dumb, Mute, Cold, Psychic, Sensitive.

• • • •

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

A Very Happy & Blessed Thursday To All Our Dear Brothers & Sisters!

Evil never wins.

It will always be defeated, but there will be casualties.

I look to the Goddess and see her standing besides me.

I find the power which is mine

I raise my sword and defeat the face of evil with the

hands of the Goddess.

She will keep me safe.

For we are her children forever.

I gather my Brothers & Sisters close to me

I gather the strength of the Witches from the past

I gather the animals around me

My prayer begins:

I stand before the Goddess under this new moon. I seize the power of the moon in my hands. I bring the children to my side. The Goddess sends her light to me. My family shows the love that we have for each other. May the Goddess send you her power.

May those around us feel the joy that we bring to the circle. May prosperity fill our lives.

As her children we show our love for Mother Earth daily. She shows respect for all that is alive. We pray for those who live in fear to find safety. We pray for those who live in pain to find compassion. We pray for those in cages to run free. See how the birds fly free in our skies. See how the animals roam free. May their days be long.

I send our power to the four corners. I send our wishes to all. Bless the children. Bless our families. Bless the animals. But most … Blessings to all.

—A Witch’s Prayerbook

JoAnne Spiese

Till tomorrow, my sweets…..

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Pluto Resolved

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2015 July 15

Pluto Resolved
Image Credit & Copyright: NASA, Johns Hopkins Univ./APL, Southwest Research Inst.

Explanation: New Horizons has survived its close encounter with Pluto and has resumed sending back images and data. The robotic spacecraft reported back on time, with all systems working, and with the expected volume of data stored. Featured here is the highest resolution image of Pluto taken before closest approach, an image that really brings Pluto into a satisfying focus. At first glance, Pluto is reddish and has several craters. Toward the image bottom is a surprisingly featureless light-covered region that resembles an iconic heart, and mountainous terrain appears on the lower right. This image, however, is only the beginning. As more images and data pour in today, during the coming week, and over the next year, humanity’s understanding of Pluto and its moons will likely become revolutionized.

Daily Planet Tracker: Moon In Cancer, July 13 – 15

You might be a little sensitive during this Moon. Unfortunately, everyone else is too. If you find yourself in deep water now, look to your intuition to get you out. The real issues are often hidden on Cancer Moon days, or dealt with sideways. People tend to circle the emotional wagons, reach for their antacids, and privately nurse their wounds. The collective unconscious is four years old and wants its mommy. Go ahead, seek nurture today. It’s like that children’s story where the baby bird, tumbled from its nest, quizzes all comers, “Are you my mother?” Only you’re looking for the World Mother. You’ll find her in a cozy place where you feel safe and loved; in a cup of tea, a mid-day retreat to your bed or a smile from a friend. Whether or not you have issues, it’s a good Moontime for sharpening your emotional intelligence. Distinguish foods that nourish (both real and symbolic) from those that bring heartburn.

The Wisdom of Buddha

I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.

Crack the Cookie

Your Daily Influences for July 15th

Your Daily Influences
July 15th, 2015

The Empress Reversed
This card represents infertility, instability and the loss of material possessions.

Jera
Jera denotes positive, recurring cycles, fertility and a time to harvest rewards from your hard work.

The Menat
You will find focusing on this aspect difficult, because truths will be obscured by dreaminess and illusion. You will not accomplish much here in the next several weeks, and therefore should focus your attention elsewhere

Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.

Your Daily Charm for July 15th is The Caduceus

Your Daily Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
You will find you have within you the ability to resolve all conflicts and disagreements with regard to this aspect. You will find an eloquence you did not realize before.

General Description:
The staff of Mercury was given to him by Apollo in exchange for the lyre. The rod was endowed with the remarkable power of deciding all quarrels and bestowing wonderful eloquence upon its possessor. Mercury proved this when he saw two serpents fighting. Placing the rod between them and using his eloquence he reconciled the serpents, who then embraced each other, and becoming attatched to the rod formed the caduceus. The pine cone is credited with health giving power, and the wings symbolize speed and the flight of thoughts between friends. This ancient talisman was supposed to be a charm fo prospetity, rendering its possessor healthy, wealthy and wise.

Your Animal Spirit for July 15th is The Cougar

Your Animal Spirit for Today
April 14, 2014

Cougar

Cougar has long been associated with leadership. Cougars are powerful, agile, and unhesitating. When Cougar attacks, he throws one hundred percent of himself into the pursuit. Although cougar is strong, he is also elusive —hard to spot in the wild—until he decides to pounce. His lesson to you today is one of being a balanced leader—not rushing into the attack, not always lurking in the brush.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for July 15th is The Sword

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Sword

The Sword is a a call to action. It indicates challenges are before you and to attain your goals you will have to address them. The Sword does not suggest rash or underhanded behavior on your part. Indeed, while actions indicated by The Sword are decisive, they are based on the power of your wisdom and ethics. The strength of The Sword lies in the moral purity of your actions.

As a daily card, The Sword suggest a time in which you will face external challenges to attaining your goals. These trials are likely to come from a person or persons who stand to gain from your loss or delays in you moving forward. You can expect underhanded play and surprises. Fortunately your position is far stronger than those who scheme to usurp you. Address challenges as they arise and all will be well.

Your Daily Witches Rune for July 15th is The Scythe

Your Daily Witches Rune

The Scythe

Sudden changes and endings. Making a final decision. Completing something. Walking away from something or someone. Danger.

Additional information about Today’s Witches Rune, The Scythe….

The Scythe

This symbol is very familiar to most of people, often associated with harvest and death. In the runes, it is no different. The Scythe is related to endings, sudden separations, final decisions, important changes and danger.

The appearance of this symbol show that there’s something in you life you need to bring to end now, before it snowballs into something worse. Usually, the decision that the Scythe forces you to make is one you’d rather escape from… it’s a painful and difficult choice. Even though you know (or feel) it’s for the best, you’ll mourn the fact that it has to happen.

Also, the Scythe is connected to sudden, swift changes that force you to alter completely your plans, strategies and sometimes the very way you see the world. The situation is no longer what it was, your modus operandi no longer works here. Your ideas no longer correspond to the reality. The information you have is no longer accurate, or useful. You need to strain those adaptation muscles and find a way to keep standing while the rug is pulled from under your feet.

Although this rune can represent physical danger, such as accidents or surgeries, many time it refers to sense of foreboding. Something just isn’t right… the fear of loss looms large. Trust these feeling and proceed with caution. This rune can also relate to actual death and all related to it: burials, graveyards, inheritances, heirlooms, legacies and things connected to your ancestry.

In relationship readings, the Scythe suggest caution too. It can represent sudden and irresistible attractions, the kind that inspire people to do crazy things. . Obviously, this rune also represent separations, divorce and conflicts, always leaving a sour aftertaste. The strong passion can quickly transform into strong resentment. In its most positive note, this rune can symbolize relationship that completely transform the people involved.

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