Hear the call of the rooster in the early morning haze, another day of heat and humidity. The corn silently ripens in the field as the crows gather to claim their share. The scent of fresh ripe tomatoes fills the air in the kitchen. The clean mason jars, brought from storage, washed and ready to receive the bounty of field and garden glisten in rays of the morning Sun that pierces the veil of mist.
In the cool of the cellar are the crockery jars, ready for the pickling of cucumbers and cabbages the bins have been cleaned to receive their full compliment of the first harvest of potatoes, onions, cabbages and carrots. As July passes, we remember the flag, thirteen pentagrams in a circle, one for each English Colony that made up a young nation; or one for each lunar month in a year and now, of course, it could be one for each witch in a coven. The red and white stripes are like the streamers on a May Pole.
Americans, American witchcraft and American Wicca are totally unique, nothing quite like either has ever been seen before, even in this great, new land of ours.
The American nation, founded for the purpose of religious freedom is the home of the greatest revival of ancient practices in the world. The Neo-Pagan religions are growing by leaps and bounds and as American Witches we have the best the two worlds, both old and new have to offer.
A very few are born into the tiny pockets of hereditary witchcraft that seem to be still scattered about the world, the rest of us, we the chosen children, must make our own new traditions, claiming as our own, gathering bits and pieces from around the world. Who is brave enough to deny us this right, remembering the God and Goddess themselves have called us to the fold and made us their own?
We are a people, we are the children of the Gods, they have made it so. Our task is to reclaim the good, the useful, the ancient ways from the wreckage of the past.
Lammas or first harvest is a bountiful and wondrously full time of year, what traditions are each of you celebrating during this time? If you have a tradition that is too secret to share, keep it to yourself, this is an echo for caring and sharing. Those of us who are the Goddess’s chosen children, those of us who answered the call of Herne the Hunter in whatever form, here we can learn and develop our own new and uniquely American Traditions based upon the Ancient Ways; with a flavoring of the new for sauce….
Celebrating the first harvest with American Corn Dollys, pumpkin pie and jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for Washington apples, hard and soft cider, homemade bread, hand shucked popcorn, ice-cream, made at home like our grandmother’s did….
Rites and rituals, burning of last winter’s candles….
Ritually washing with handmade soap made from the finest tallow…
Cologne and rosewater, made from the bounty of our gardens or from the corner farmers market…
Reclaiming the ancient ways… in our hearts and minds, in our homes, in our rituals, looking to the Gods themselves for guidance…
Lughnassadh (pronounced “LOO-nahs-ah”) or Lammas, is one of the Greater Wiccan Sabbats and is usually celebrated on August 1st or 2nd, although occasionally on July 31st. The Celtic festival held in honor of the Sun God Lugh (pronounced “Loo”) is traditionally held on August 7th. Some Pagans celebrate this holiday on the first Full Moon in Leo. Other names for this sabbath include the First Harvest Festival, the sabbath of First Fruits, August Eve, Lammastide, Harvest Home, Ceresalia (Ancient Roman in honor of the Grain Goddess Ceres), Feast of Bread, sabbath of First Fruits, Festival of Green Corn (Native American), Feast of Cardenas, Cornucopia (Strega), Thingtide and Elembiuos. Lughnassadh is named for the Irish Sun God Lugh (pronounced Loo), and variant spellings for the holiday are Lughnasadh, Lughnasad, Lughnassad, Lughnasa or Lunasa. The most commonly used name for this sabbath is Lammas, an Anglo-Saxon word meaning “loaf-mass”.
The Lughnassadh sabbath is a time to celebrate the first of three harvest celebrations in the Craft. It marks the middle of Summer represents the start of the harvest cycle and relies on the early crops of ripening grain, and also any fruits and vegetables that are ready to be harvested. It is therefore greatly associated with bread as grain is one of the first crops to be harvested. Wiccans give thanks and honor to all Gods and Goddesses of the Harvest, as well as those who represent Death and Resurrection.
This is a time when the God mysteriously begins to weaken as the Sun rises farther in the South, each day grows shorter and the nights grow longer. The Goddess watches in sorrow as She realizes that the God is dying, and yet lives on inside Her as Her child. It is in the Celtic tradition that the Goddess, in her guise as the Queen of Abundance, is honored as the new mother who has given birth to the bounty; and the God is honored as the God of Prosperity.
I stood before my altar at Lammastide, and asked the Lord and Lady to be my guides…
“Please show to me a vision that I may see… what sacrifice is worthy to give to Thee.”
They showed to me an apple without a core… They showed to me a dwelling without a door… They showed to me a palace where They may be, and unlock it without a key…
How can there be an apple without a core? How can there be a dwelling without a door? How can there be a palace where They may be, and They may unlock it without a key?
…My spirit is an apple without a core… …My mind is a dwelling without a door… My heart is a palace where They may be, and unlock it without a key…
I stood before my altar on Lammas night… and gave my Lord and Lady bright… the sacrifice They asked for – with spirit free… Upon that Lammas evening, I gave Them me…
Blessed Be…
“Now is the time of the First Harvest,
when bounties of nature give of themselves
so that we may survive.
O God of the ripening fields, Lord of the Grain,
grant me the understanding of sacrifice as you
prepare to deliver yourself under the sickle of the
goddess and journey to the lands of eternal summer.
O Goddess of the Dark Moon,
teach me the secrets of rebirth
as the Sun loses its strength and the nights grow cold.
I partake of the first harvest, mixing its energies
with mine that I may continue my quest for the starry
wisdom of perfection.
O Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun,
gracious ones before Whom the stars halt their courses,
I offer my thanks for the continuing fertility of the Earth.
May the nodding grain loose its seeds to be buried in
the Mothers breast, ensuring rebirth in the warmth
of the coming Spring.”
Meaning: The eye has always been a powerful symbol for different cultures. Some believe that the soul resides in them, while others think it’s possible to curse a person merely by looking at them. Through our eyes we connect and express emotions and thoughts. Thus, this is one of the most powerful runes in the set, emphasizing the importance of any rune close to it. The Eye symbol is also related to “vision” is all senses, including the physical. This rune can represent our eyes and optic nerves. It can also represent activities such as research, analysis, photography and creative visualization. When it appears, there’s an urge to observe, to explore, to understand deeply what is before you. This rune is usually related to sudden realizations. Not necessarily a ‘shock’ (unless some violent rune is close it, like the Scythe and the Man), but more related to the lifting of veils. Your eyes are suddenly open, and you see things that were unknown to you before. A change of perception and focus in life is to be expected when this rune appears… whatever the situation is, the way you see it will be transformed. The Eye rune also says that now it’s time for you to go after what you want. Your focus is powerful right now, and everything you concentrate on can become successful.
This rune often represents a lonely journey towards a goal… it suggests a calling and a connection to something bigger, a sense of purpose. Your path is clear to you now; you know which way to go, even if you don’t know where exactly it’ll take you. In a spiritual level, This rune can represent a development of one’s psychic skills, or an advancement in one’s spiritual path. As you connect yourself to a deeper source, and learn to trust, you gain wisdom and your eyes see far. A higher power seems to be guiding you in times when the Eye appears. Like the Sun rune, this rune can mean that right now all eyes are on you. But unlike the former symbol, when the Eye appears there’s some discomfort related to such attention. It may be excessive and even unwelcome. In fact, this is one of this rune’s most negative facets: it may show an invasion of privacy, when someone (or even you) pry into another’s life and scrutinize their every move. Beware of flatterers and stalkers. The Eye cautions against obsession and the tendency to spy on other people’s affairs. In a relationship reading, the Eye can symbolize a predestined bond to another person.
Note that this does not promise a happy ending, but simply says that this connection is powerful and will be very important in your life. In fact, because the Eye rune is a solitary one, it is possible that the people in the relationship cannot be together due to difficult circumstances. Still, your bond that person will transform you. In a negative way, this rune can cautions against invading your partner’s personal space or stalking them.
Personal resolution points to a breakthrough, but decisive action is required. As long as you diligently hold your ground and ward off negative tendencies and influences, the good will prevail.
The persistence of negativity, which is that which opposes the good, is a constant in human affairs. Just when it is thought to have been eradicated, up it will pop again, sprouting through some crack in the pavement of civilized society. Evil need not take dramatic or extravagant forms, such as those exhibited in Nazi Germany. Garden-variety lies and deceit are much more common and persistent, but should be rooted out just as diligently. One must be determined to not accidentally feed negativity — either in one’s social or professional life, or in one’s own soul. In either case, definite rules must be followed for the struggle to succeed.
The first rule: do not compromise with evil. Destructive or exploitive actions must be identified openly for what they are, and discredited. The second: one cannot successfully resist negativity on its own terms. New, positive alternatives that lead away from the source of the problem are generally more successful, and appropriate than trying to counter negativity with raw power. The third rule: the means used to counter negativity must be consistent with the end to be achieved. One cannot stop the spreading of lies by spreading more of them.
Additional information about today’s rune, Mannaz….
mannaz : man, humankind
Phonetic equivalent:m
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
significator, self, family, community, relationships, social concerns
MAGICAL USES:
to represent a specific person or group of people; to establish social relationships
ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:
Ask and Embla, Midgard
ANALYSIS:
In its broadest sense, mannaz represents all of humanity, and therefore the entire realm of Midgard. In more practical terms, though, it is those with whom we have personal connections, from our immediate circle of family and friends to the wider community around us, reminding us of our nature as social animals. It also represents our connection with the Gods and with nature, through the two Norse myths of the creation of humans; the first where they sprang from Ymir’s body, and the second in which they were created from two logs by a river. It takes the raw energy of ehwaz and controls it through our social conscience, reminding us of those we affect with our deeds both magical and mundane.
The rune itself resembles gebo with its joining of masculine and feminine elements, but is much more complete. It is the entire web of human relationships, with the self at the centre, which mirrors the web of fate explored through rai̡o. But while that web was more or less fixed, this one is mutable and alive. Past and present, male and female, self and other Рall opposites are joined here and made whole. Mannaz is our home, and speaks for all those whose lives we touch when we use the gifts we have been given through the runes
The Hierophant represents the protector of a culture’s heritage and traditions. His purpose is to defend and teach the established ways and beliefs a group embraces. He is inherently conventional and a true believer in the power of the group. He loves the structure of the group and its values. It is the task of The Hierophant to bring new members into the group—to prepare the uninitiated to take their rightful place in his culture. In this sense he is very much like a teacher or a priest. He also acts as the repository of his group’s history. The Hierophant is certainly not one to buck proper authority. However, he is a staunch and worthy defender of the tried and true. He represents the positive aspects of tradition and conformity.
“The grain to harvest’s cutting falls
to make the bread for banquet halls.
We’ll save some seeds where life’s waiting,
and plant a new field come next Spring.
We shared the work we needed to do,
and now we’ll share the eating too!
Thank you, fruit, and thank you bread,
for making sure that we are fed.”
Matters of the heart will be top priority for just about everyone this month. That’s because love planet Venus will continue to travel retrograde in Leo (until September 6). As a result, you can expect to continue the process of revising what you need in relationship in order to feel special and maximize your joy. This will also be a month to start making changes in order to achieve exactly what will bring you the most pleasure.
Although Venus will be retrograde and you might not be able to get everything you want in love, Mars will enter Leo (the same sign as Venus) on August 8. He’ll remain there until September 24, allowing you to move towards what makes you happiest in life and love. A bright New Moon on August 14 in Leo, will add even more potential to the mix. During the second half of August, you’ll want to plant seeds in your garden of love and water them diligently. With all of this incredible energy at work for you, next month something magical is sure to bloom.
Venus in Leo continues to travel retrograde all month long, prompting you to focus within and figure out whether or not your love life, finances or creative drive needs some rewiring. Expect revelations followed up with solutions from August 4 – 6, as well as August 15 and 19, when Venus backs into Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, the Sun and Uranus respectively.
A New Moon in Leo on August 14 will also open up an opportunity for a fresh start in a situation connected to romance, creativity, a child or even some good old fashioned fun. As August progresses, you’ll surely feel the itch for pleasure. After the 8th when Mars enters Leo, that itch will become overwhelming and your first priority will be to do whatever you must to scratch it! Despite Venus Retrograde, Mars will motivate you to DO what brings you joy. This trend continues until September 24.
The headline news this month however, belongs to Jupiter. On August 11 he’ll leave Leo and move onto Virgo where he’ll remain until September 2016. During this time you’ll have an opportunity to put a magnifying glass around matters connected to health, work and your daily routine. You’ll experience a greater amount of support and blessings in these areas. Be sure to circle August 26, when the Sun leans into a conjunction with Jupiter — this will be a lucky day for all!
On August 27, Mercury will enter Libra allowing communication in all matters connected to partnership and collaboration to go extra smoothly. Then on August 29, a Full Moon in Pisces will be best spent taking a long weekend near the beach, lake or other vacation spot where you can just dream and relax.
We’re tempted to disappear into our dreams without explaining our absence to anyone. The intuitive Pisces Moon merges with surreal Neptune, inviting us to soar on flights of fancy. Love is in the air as Venus retrogrades back toward joyous Jupiter. Nevertheless, we’re busy spinning tapestries of radical thoughts while perceptive Mercury trines wild Uranus. Self-restraint is unnecessary; unfettered imagination leads to creative magic.
Aries Horoscope
(Mar 21 – Apr 19)
Let your freak flag fly and flirt like there’s no tomorrow as mischievous Mercury trines uninhibited Uranus in your sign. Although social obligations and professional responsibilities continue to demand a significant portion of your attention, you have a sweet opportunity to reconnect with the innocence of romance today. A dream may be a wish your heart makes, but if you don’t take a leap of faith and act on a fantasy, it won’t stand a chance of coming true.
Taurus Horoscope
(Apr 20 – May 20)
Dreams of the distant future pull you out of your comfortable past. As intrigued as you might be about all the possibilities that stretch out before you, it’s less threatening to think about them than to take concrete action. It’s as if you want to shine your light while remaining safely under the covers. Fortunately, you can count on your friends and family to listen to your hopes and concerns. Visit the outer limits in your imagination but remember that home is where your heart is.
Gemini Horoscope
(May 21 – Jun 20)
You have a spiritual message to share with others today, but it may be challenging to find the right social context in which you can feel safe enough to let down your guard. There are plenty of thoughts running through your head now, including unorthodox political ideas and radical opinions about love. Hang out with a trusted friend who will walk on the wild side with you for a while. All topics are fair game; there’s no need to withhold your personal expression as you explore new territory. Go forth and conquer.
Cancer Horoscope
(Jun 21 – Jul 22)
You can’t be faulted now for making a dramatic gesture that lets everyone know exactly where you stand on an important issue. Reality is giving you the green light to move forward and share things you may normally keep to yourself. As long as you’re not trying to enlist anyone to join your cause, it’s healthy to state your beliefs clearly, regardless of what others may think. Although your closest friends might not agree with everything you say, they will likely stand by your current decisions, nonetheless. Step out of the shadows and into the light of day.
Leo Horoscope
(Jul 23 – Aug 22)
Although the universe is probably encouraging you nearly everywhere you look, too much of a good thing is not as wonderful as it sounds. If nothing else, at least examine your true motives if you’re being generous to a fault when interacting with those you love. There’s nothing wrong with telling a story so captivating that your audience is mesmerized, but you could take it too far. Less is more; exaggerating isn’t necessary to get your message across. Stretching the envelope could seem like a brilliant idea in the moment, but you’ll have a hard time finding your way back to the truth if you do.
Virgo Horoscope
(Aug 23 – Sep 22)
You may be quite distracted by your vivid fantasies now even if they don’t seamlessly fit into a conversation in your current social context. Although your imagination is working on overdrive today, you don’t have to talk about your metaphysical beliefs to have a memorable experience. Thankfully, you can derive profound meaning from a spiritual awakening without anyone else knowing about it. Pursuing enlightenment is the natural thing to do while the magic follows you around wherever you go.
Libra Horoscope
(Sep 23 – Oct 22)
You’re striving for absolute transparency in communication today, but the truth is hard to find. You want to know exactly where your friends stand, yet the more you uncover, the less you know. It’s even more confusing when the ones you love are sending so many mixed messages. You may eventually realize that everyone’s conflicting advice is muddying the water, not clarifying it. You might have to withdraw from the group to reestablish your bearings. You can always ask questions again after you reevaluate your unrealistic expectations and whittle them down to size.
Scorpio Horoscope
(Oct 23 – Nov 21)
You could surprise everyone today, even yourself, when you decide to buckle down and commit to a project. Although you are optimistic about your ambitious timetable, remember that Saturn the Tester is looming in the background now. No matter how much you plan, things could take longer than you think. Fortunately, your relentless nature works in your favor and will see you through to the other side. There’s no reason to doubt your capabilities; just remain open to readjust your schedule as often as reality demands.
Sagittarius Horoscope
(Nov 22 – Dec 21)
Although you Archers are the zodiac’s champions of optimism, there are so many opportunities knocking at your door now that even you can’t keep up with all of them. Adventures seem to be lurking around every corner; worlds are waiting to be explored beneath every rock. It’s as if you’re standing on top of a mountain and believe you can see forever and a day. Nevertheless, even the best of news comes with a price. If you lose all sense of boundaries, you could also lose your balance. However, maintaining a healthy and humble perspective enables you to go as far as you can imagine.
Capricorn Horoscope
(Dec 22 – Jan 19)
You may be uncomfortable with someone’s effusive display of unbridled joy today. It’s not that you want to restrain anyone’s natural expression, it’s just that you’re uneasy with such intense emotional displays. Nevertheless, you might be surprised by the lessons you learn from this opportunity. Take a page from their book and see what it feels like to relax the rules. Revealing your true colors now won’t necessarily further your personal aspirations, but it certainly could bring a smile to your face that you will remember for a long time to come.
Aquarius Horoscope
(Jan 20 – Feb 18)
You’re more than willing to go along for the ride with an unconventional companion today. Ironically, you’re eccentric in your own right, but may be suppressing your non-conformist tendencies because of current constraints. If others rattle your cage now, it awakens that part of your personality you have tried to bury for the sake of acceptance. Nevertheless, you’re okay with your denial because it seems safer to express your weirdness through another person. Enjoy the unexpected buzz while it lasts, since responsibilities will demand your attention soon enough.
Pisces Horoscope
(Feb 19 – Mar 20)
You could be lost in space today but you’re able to camouflage your confusion by coming through with flying colors. Unfortunately, you can feel the pressure because others are expecting a lot from you. Luckily, your command performances may be so technically perfect that no one even has a clue that more is going on than meets their eyes. While they are mesmerized by the magic of the details of your actions, you’re busy communing with nature, angels and aliens. Your clever trick of making everything seem normal gives you a wider latitude to explore all the other realms to your heart’s delight.
“The god Lugh was worshipped in Ireland as a deity of the sun. This connection with the sun may explain his name (it means “shining one”), and it also may account for the attributes that he displayed: he was handsome, perpetually youthful, and had a tremendous energy and vitality. This energy manifests itself especially in the number of skills he had, according to legend, mastered. In fact, there was a tale that related Lugh’s myriad abilities at arts and crafts. As told in the Battle of Magh Tuiredh, the god travelled to Tara, and arrived during a tremendous feast for the royal court. Lugh was greeted at the door by the keeper of the gate, and was immediately asked what talent he had – for it was a tradition there that only those who had a special or unique ability could enter the palace. The god offered his reply: “I am a wright”. In response, the gate keeper said: “We already have a wright. Your services are not needed here”. Still, Lugh, not to be so easily dismissed, continued: “I am a smith”. Again, the guard retorted that the court had a smith that was quite adequate; but the god was not to be dissuaded. In short order, he noted that he was also a champion, a harper, a hero, a poet, an historian, a sorcerer, and a craftsman. To this list, the gate keeper merely nodded his head, and stated matter of factly that all of these various trades were represented in the court by other members of the Tuatha de Danaan. “Ah, but you do have an individual who possesses all of these skills simultaneously?”, was Lugh’s clever and inspired reply. The guard was forced to admit his defeat, and so Lugh was allowed to enter and join the festivities. According to Celtic mythology, Lugh was the son of Cian and Ethlinn. After the god Nuada was killed in the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh, Lugh became the leader of the Tuatha De Danaan (the term for the gods and goddesses who descended from the goddess Danu).”
You are a natural leader and others quite readily look up to you. You love variety and can be quite indecisive at times, but you are tough and determined when you need to be. While most consider you calm and centered, you do have a tendency to worry, particularly about money and security. Even so, you are generous and you enjoy some of the finer things in life. You can be quite successful in marketing and research, amongst other things. You quite easily see through falseness, and you much prefer to surround yourself with people who are authentic and honest. Sometimes sarcastic, you can be slightly intimidating, but mostly understood and appreciated for your sense of humor. Famous people born today: Yves Saint-Laurent, Dom DeLuise, Jerry Garcia, Sam Mendes, Demián Bichir, Scarlett Bruns, Jason Momoa, Max Carver.
Your Daily Horoscopes for Saturday, August 1st, Lammas
Aries
Aries
Career, reputation, financial, and intimate matters are all affected by Saturn in your chart right now, dear Aries, and these are areas of your life that may have been tested. Saturn’s direct move today is an empowering thing, but the shift can bring sudden awareness of realities regarding any of these things, and some level of letdown. The trick to managing this time in your life is to tame expectations. Examples could be receiving sobering news about a financial matter, recognizing that money matters are out of order and need to be organized, facing a difficult truth about a relationship, or pressure to perform on the job. While Saturn retrogrades and turns direct every year, this is the final stretch with Saturn in your solar eighth house. Saturn won’t return here for almost thirty years. Until mid-September is an important time for settling your accounts.
Taurus
Taurus
There can be a disappointment this week, possibly peaking today and tomorrow, dear Taurus, when it comes to a relationship, a project that hasn’t taken off, a travel or educational matter, or a communications matter. Partnerships may have been put through the wringer recently, with Saturn finishing up in your partnership zone this summer. Today, Saturn begins moving forward after retrograde motion since March, and you become clearer about a responsibility to someone or a commitment in the coming weeks. This places you in a more empowered position, even if there is a somewhat disheartening reality to deal with now.
Gemini
Gemini
When it comes to a matter ruled by the sixth house, such as work, health, or services, you may be facing a reality now as Saturn turns direct in this sector of your chart, dear Gemini. A difficult choice or problem can hang heavy in the air today and possibly at the back of your mind all week. However, as you move forward, you are likely to have more clarity, particularly regarding your position and abilities. The weeks ahead are strong for organizing your routines, work, and health regimes. This is Saturn’s final stretch in your solar sixth house – Saturn won’t return here for almost thirty years. It’s a strong time for clearing up clutter and firming up your work and daily routines.
Cancer
Cancer
There can be a little more serious energy to the day and to some extent, the week, dear Cancer, with Saturn nearing its direct station and then clashing with Jupiter and Venus in the next couple of days. If you have been putting more faith in a person or relationship than they/it deserves, there could be a reality to face now. The untrue and impractical elements of your life or of recent events can emerge now and this week. Definitely, this can lead to some feeling of being let down, but the good news is that you can also find a lot of strength in the fact that you now know where you stand. Clearing up unfinished business is Saturn’s M.O. from now and until mid-September when he leaves your solar fifth house altogether. Saturn won’t return here for almost thirty years.
Leo
Leo
The key to success this week is to find strength in facing reality, dear Leo, rather than feeling discouraged by it. You might consider investing your emotions and faith in something small that is destined to grow. Focusing on what you already have and exercising patience can help bring peace to your life and lead to a stronger sense of mastery – something quite vital to a Leo’s happiness. Difficulties in family relationships may surface today and can be a strong concern all week, but facing certain realities can help you to feel better about being able to manage them. Saturn’s direct station today is a yearly occurrence, and this one marks the final time that it occurs in your solar sector of family, home, and heart, at least not for almost thirty years. From now until September 17th, Saturn is on its final stretch of this area of your chart, and it’s important to close up projects and clear out clutter.
Virgo
Virgo
You could feel as if you are learning a lesson in managing your expectations today, dear Virgo, and in some ways, this can be the case over the next few days. Others tend to be naysayers and not especially sympathetic, or circumstances are such that you face obstacles to your goals. News can be a little disheartening at first, but ultimately strengthening, as knowing the truth is a powerful thing. For some of you, there can be something uncomfortable in, or doubt surrounding, a love relationship. This is an important day for processing recent matters and thinking up a more structured plan, even if part of you is resisting this process. The next several weeks, until mid-September, is the final stretch of Saturn’s transit to your communications sector, making it a good time to firm up your work, routines, habits, and communications.
Libra
Libra
There can be some feeling of letdown experienced this week, dear Libra, as Saturn comes to its yearly direct station. A dream may not look as rosy as it did in the past or a financial matter may need attention. However, you can find tremendous strength in knowing where you stand. As uncomfortable as it may be to face reality in certain areas of your life, particularly when it comes to money, security, family, and close relationships, with some of the uncertainty gone, you can make better plans moving forward. Responsibilities and duties are magnified now. As dull as this sounds, you’re in fact feeling good about taking charge, and you might enjoy formulating some long-term or big plans. This is Saturn’s last stretch transiting your sector of resources. Now until mid-September, taking care of business is important. The focus should be on actions that are responsible and mature.
Scorpio
Scorpio
Managing your emotions might be a bit of a challenge today, dear Scorpio. You may have been see-sawing between belief and skepticism on something, and now learn the truth of the matter, which can be disheartening at first. Saturn was in your sign and put your personality through a series of “tests” from October 2012 to December 2014. It returned for its final transit in June, and will finally move forward in mid-September. In other words, this is its last leg of the journey, and the rewards are becoming clearer. You are becoming stronger and more self-reliant. Saturn is changing direction today in your sign. This is an empowering change, but right now, responsibilities and problems may be magnified in your mind.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius
Today, there can be some feelings of discouragement that ultimately lead to a feeling of strength, dear Sagittarius. You have been facing elements of your past that are resurfacing as truths or realities with Saturn finishing up its several-year transit to your solar twelfth house this summer. These are sometimes uncomfortable to face, but they are truly learning experiences. Knowing your true position can lead to making better plans, and now that Saturn is turning direct, you’ll feel more equipped for taking steps and putting things behind you. This Saturn station occurs every year, but this is the last time it will occur in your solar twelfth house for another twenty-nine years. Saturn will return to your sign in mid-September, and this last stretch before then is excellent for clearing up old business.
Capricorn
Capricorn
A reality that at first feels uncomfortable can surface about a friend or a long-term goal this week, dear Capricorn, and the situation can peak today with Saturn moving towards its direct station. This occurs every year, and this time around, it’s the last direct station while Saturn is in Scorpio and your sector of happiness goals, ideals, group connections, and friendships. Ultimately, truths coming to light will help you to get a better grip on the reality of who is on your side, and who isn’t. For some, this can be about a long-term plan, aspiration, or goal rather than a relationship. You can make better plans knowing what is viable and what isn’t. While serious energy can hang over you as this shift occurs, moving forward, you’re likely to feel stronger, more effective, and clearer. Decisions are hard to make right now, but once made, a sense of relief can arrive. Focus on moving forward, and the best possible way to do so.
Aquarius
Aquarius
Your co-ruler, Saturn, is turning direct today after retrograde motion since March, dear Aquarius. It’s a strong time for organizing and analyzing. Career matters become clearer now and in the coming weeks – it’s easier to formulate goals and motivation is no longer waning. Responsibilities to the outside world are magnified this week as you adjust to the change of direction, and there could be some form of “reality check” to deal with. Ultimately, you’ll be in a stronger position, even if you feel some discouragement initially. While Saturn reaches a direct station every year, this time around it’s doing so for the last time in your career and reputation sector for another twenty-nine years. The Moon continues to tug at your emotions as it transits your sign until this evening.
Pisces
Pisces
Managing expectations is always a tricky thing, and this week can be especially challenging on this level, dear Pisces, peaking today and tomorrow. This is because Saturn is turning direct after retrograde motion since March. This occurs yearly, but this time around is the last of its direct stations in your solar ninth house (for close to thirty years, that is). Reminders that you should be paying attention to the realities of a situation can abound now. While you may have reason to feel discouraged today, if it’s about coming to terms with a truth, then ultimately you’ll feel better off for it. Self-improvement endeavors can be in focus and successful as you go forward. Friendship, educational, legal or travel matters can begin to move forward. The Moon enters your sign this evening, pulling you out of a protective shell and desiring activity as well as emotional stimulation.
The Balance of the Signs & the Elements for the 1st Day of August
LEO STRONG
Self-confident, generous, warm-hearted, powerful leader, dramatic. Can be overly proud, vain, extravagant, arrogant.
AQUARIUS STRONG
Humanitarian, innovative, group conscious, progressive, serving others. Can be rebellious, eccentric, aloof, emotionally superficial, overly extroverted.
BALANCE OF ELEMENTS
FIRE STRONG
Fire is enthusiastic, dynamic, and spontaneous, but lacks reflection. We are more courageous and adventurous now, with a tendency to act before thinking. There is little concern about what happened in the past. We are competitive and possibly impatient or bored easily.
EARTH WEAK
There can be a lack of desire, interest, or skills regarding practical affairs. We may not be very much in touch with reality. Difficulties concentrating, grounding ourselves.
BALANCE OF MODES
FIXED STRONG
We are thinking about the long view, seeking out security and stability rather than change. We may be committed, focused, resistant to making changes, and stubborn.
MUTABLE WEAK
We can have a hard time adapting to changes and to others’ agendas.
LUNAR PHASE: FULL MOON
Moon 180 to 135 degrees behind the Sun.
We are concerned mainly with the nature of relationships and are made aware of recent imbalances. Something can come to fruition. Our concern is not limited to personal relationships, but relationships of all kinds. Our cards are on the table.
“Lug or Lugh (modern Irish Lú) is an Irish deity represented in mythological texts as a hero and High King of the distant past. He is known by the epithets Lámhfhada (meaning “long arm” or “long hand”, or “left hand”), for his skill with a spear or sling, Ildánach (“skilled in many arts”), Samhildánach (“Equally skilled in many arts”), Lonnbeimnech (“fierce striker” or perhaps “sword-shouter”) and Macnia (“boy hero”), and by the matronymic mac Ethlenn or mac Ethnenn (“son of Ethliu or Ethniu”). He is a reflex of the pan-Celtic god Lugus, and his Welsh counterpart is Lleu Llaw Gyffes, “The Bright One with the Strong Hand”. As a young man Lugh travels to Tara to join the court of king Nuada of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The doorkeeper will not let him in unless he has a skill with which to serve the king. He offers his services as a wright, a smith, a champion, a swordsman, a harpist, a hero, a poet and historian, a sorcerer, and a craftsman, but each time is rejected as the Tuatha Dé Danann already have someone with that skill. But when Lugh asks if they have anyone with all those skills simultaneously, the doorkeeper has to admit defeat, and Lugh joins the court and is appointed Chief Ollam of Ireland. He wins a flagstone-throwing contest against Ogma, the champion, and entertains the court with his harp. The Tuatha Dé are at that time oppressed by the Fomorians, and Lugh is amazed how meekly they accept this. Nuada wonders if this young man could lead them to freedom. Lugh is given command over the Tuatha Dé, and he begins making preparations for war. Lugh’s sling rod was the rainbow and the Milky Way which was called “Lugh’s Chain”. He also had a magic spear (named Areadbhar), which, unlike the rod-sling, he had no need to wield since it was alive and thirsted so for blood that only by steeping its head in a sleeping-draught of pounded fresh poppy seeds could it be kept at rest. When battle was near, it was drawn out; then it roared and struggled against its thongs, fire flashed from it, and it tore through the ranks of the enemy once slipped from the leash, never tired of slaying. Lugh is also assisted by a magic hound.”
The Sun-Neptune quincunx today could have us feeling slightly off or out of sorts, as there is a discrepancy between our ego needs, or the things we feel we should be doing, and our spiritual needs. Saturn is reaching a station as it turns direct.
The Moon is in Aquarius until 6:36 PM.
The Moon is void for a very short time today, from 6:02 PM to 6:36 PM.
The Moon is in Pisces from 6:36 PM forward (until Monday, August 3rd, at 7:23 PM).
The Moon is waning and in its Full Moon phase.
A Full Moon occurred yesterday and the Last Quarter Moon will occur on August 6th.
Venus is retrograde (Venus is retrograde from July 25-September 6).
Saturn is reaching a direct station in late Scorpio, turning direct early into the day tomorrow. Saturn will complete its transit of Scorpio by September 17th.
On August 2, 2015, Saturn turns direct in Scorpio after having been retrograde for several months. He’ll move through the last bit of Scorpio quickly and re-enter Sagittarius on September 17, 2015. Then, Saturn won’t be back in Scorpio again for about 29 years…
If you have any personal planets or angle in your horoscope in a fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) then Saturn in Scorpio has certainly pulled rank on you at some point since late 2012! If used correctly, Saturn in Scorpio can be the ultimate “You do what you have to do” placement. You may have to cut your losses in a certain area of life but you’ll do it knowing that it’s the only way to survive and thrive.
For some, this is a phase where you might need to overcome any fear of your own power. Learn how to use it constructively to transform a situation or let go of it completely if it’s no longer viable. If you don’t, you’ll be controlled by fear. Then, your very worst Saturn in Scorpio nightmare manifests: you’ll be swallowed up by the darkness.
Even if you have no planets in fixed signs, Saturn in Scorpio has a grip somewhere in your world. Whatever house Saturn is transiting through in your chart, if you’re paralyzed in fear then you are very likely in the midst of deep agony. Saturn in Scorpio wants you to pragmatically rise above the fear. Chew up and spit out whatever pain there is. After all, there are still beans to harvest. Even when you’re afraid or exhausted, there’s work to do.
The point is, if you’re still living in “La La Land” in a certain area of your life then when Saturn turns direct you’re about to receive a major cosmic kick in the pants. It will force you to get real. Maturity occurs when you’re successfully living life within certain margins — like it or not. Saturn’s job is to draw the margins. Your job is to figure out how to make them work for, and not against you.
‘Gently does it’ is probably the best advice for the coming month, not to be confused with ‘don’t do anything’, which is most definitely not! There’s much to be done throughout August, as we initiate action on some of our recent plans, aided by Mercury, Jupiter and then the Sun entering Virgo, remedying a lack of earth energy since mid May. After a rather intense end to July with a powerful full moon that confronted us with some uncensored truths, August may begin to feel like something of a ‘back down to earth with a bump’ month! If you love to be proactive and focused you’ll be in your element. If, however, your tendency is more to enjoy the dream but stop short of engaging with the mundane world to make it a reality, this month may come as something of a challenge. It won’t however, be an impossible challenge, and we all have cosmic support to take effective action and make progress, the only issue being will we make the effort or find an excuse not to?!
Uranus and Chiron begin an alignment at the start of this month which continues until February of next year, one in the first sign of the zodiac (Uranus in Aries) and the other in the last (Chiron in Pisces). There exists great hope in this alliance, even though many may overlook it in favour of more dramatic cosmic affairs! It whispers of new beginnings born of hard won wisdom. As it works away in the background, gently reminding us that whatever comes to an end in this time clears space for new life, it illuminates the importance of a willingness to let go of our wounds rather than become them, to remove the hooks of past hurts allowing them to gradually dissolve.
Given the length of this alliance it’s only just gaining ground this month, laying the foundations for healing to come. If we feel so inclined, a stated commitment – in ritual or prayer, infront of our mirror or simply to the skies above – that we’re on board with this release of hurt, will help claim our place in the collective healing to come. But remember, as with all things, our will is paramount. An injured limb does not return to full health by doing nothing, but through gradual and graded exercise as it regains strength. We are the same. Healing requires a willingness to try taking the weight of life on the parts where our wounds used to be, strengthening them bit by bit, not hiding them away for fear of their vulnerability.
2nd August sees Saturn station direct in Scorpio, signalling the final few weeks of its passage through the emotional waters of our darkest shadows. It’s been quite a ride for many since it entered Scorpio in October 2012, churning up those things we’d sooner avoid and confronting us with the consequences of having done so for too long. Between now and mid September it offers one more chance to act on what we’ve learned about ourselves and commit to breaking the habits that underpin avoidance in the first place. No matter how squeamish we may be about addressing such challenging issues, the consequences of not doing so are much more difficult in the long run. It takes courage and fortitude but allows for a freer and more authentic existence. Facing head on those things we’d prefer to avoid allows life itself to support us through the subsequent healing, rather than our forging on alone as we struggle to keep it all under wraps. Throughout this month we have the opportunity to shed light into the darker corners of our psyche where still may lurk thoughts and feelings, fears and foreboding we’d just as soon avoid. And given the nascent alliance between Uranus and Chiron, it’s very timely that we do so!
Jupiter’s arrival in Virgo on 11th August signals a significant shift of focus: it’s time to stop imagining, hoping, wishing, planning and start doing, even if we only take baby steps toward a distant goal. Jupiter in Virgo delights in the minutiae that form a coherent whole. It sees each tiny part of creation as a precious jewel, perfect in itself as much as it is part of something greater. This needs to be our attitude, for the necessary actions now are equally small but precious. This is not a time of bold acts and risky undertakings but of gradual, step by step activity that furthers our aims piece by piece. It’s important we don’t allow apparent insignificance to fool us, for every adjustment, every nuance right now paves the path ahead.
The New Moon in Leo on 14th is a personal Moon with a collective message: we each have a role to play in furthering the thrust of conscious evolution, but we play that role in the intricacies of our own individual lives. It’s all too easy to forget that small acts carry great power, especially when our attention is taken up with life’s daily demands. This Moon reminds us that everything we do, each thought, word and intention, matters more than we can possibly imagine. It challenges us to step off the habitual tracks of the mind to break any cycles of negativity, victim-consciousness or just plain old hopelessness that may threaten to keep us stuck in past pain and old fears best released.
A square to Saturn from the Sun between 18th and 25th helps out with this, even though it may not feel like it at the time! It is more vital than ever that we strike a balance between personal fulfilment and the responsibilities that come with incarnation on this awesome planet which houses seven billion people and countless other species and life forms. As more planets approach Virgo, and Saturn speaks, we’re reminded it’s not all about us, as much as our individual lives may seem to be. Without listening in to Mother Nature, to the planet itself, to the cosmos, the elements and their echoes within our own hearts we cannot know what to do or how to act. Not really. If all our decisions are made solely from a subjectively individualistic point of view we will reap only individualistic results, separated from the whole and existing in a vacuum which fails to nourish in the long run. Virgo seeks to serve and Saturn nods in agreement, knowing that the most heartfelt service offers the most profound satisfaction, freeing the heart and mind to honour the greater good.
Once the Sun enters Virgo on 23rd we may be so absorbed in the tasks at hand we forget to look up at the world around us, which is why an alliance between the Sun and the North Node reminds us to do so. Balance is the watchword here, affirming that we can only live effectively in this world if we remember to gaze upon it in all its beauty and majesty, not allowing ourselves to be so absorbed with doing that being is lost. Mother Earth is our guide and the heavens along with her. If we stop and listen in the midst of our hectic lives we will hear her whispers on the breeze and her roar in the wind. Soft rain or bird song becomes the sound of our soul coming home. In a world where competition is king and we are told enemies are everywhere, this passage of the Sun through Virgo reminds us that everyone doing their part is far more effective than each pursuing their own personal powerbase from which to dictate events. With Venus retrograding through Leo throughout this month, we must remember that isolationism divorces us from the flow of abundance that shapes our world, as does fear of the other. We need each other to survive, like it or not. We cannot do it alone. Nor can we place ourselves at the mercy of others and still live a fulsome life. It is in the tension of this paradox that we must live each day right now, finding the balance between nurturing interdependence and nourishing self-sufficiency.
Mercury’s entry into Libra on 27th supports mutual understanding and exploration of the very dynamics which keep our relationships alive or condemn them to the scrap heap of misunderstanding and discord. Conjunct the North Node at this point, Mercury reminds us once again of the creative potential alive at the heart of every relationship we have, every connection we make, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential. A brief exchange with a stranger can make or break their day; a harsh word spoken in haste can do lasting damage in the blink of an eye. We owe each other a duty of kindness and compassion, support and understanding. The more people that can embrace this duty, fulfilling it whenever possible, the deeper flows the vibrant bond which connects us all. The challenge of relationship is often exactly this: to create a space in which we can all make mistakes and mess up, be forgiven and loved enough to start over once again.
The Full Moon in Pisces on 29th raises the issue of commitment and where we choose to invest ours. Do our choices enslave us to the tiny self or align us with the higher one? Do we honour the collective as we forge our path ahead or seek only to suit ourselves? And how do we bridge the gap between personal and ultimate truths which may contradict each other? We each live an individual life which only we can know from the inside. Simultaneously we are a small cog in the mighty machine of becoming. How we balance these roles, where we decide to dig in our heels or give ground, insist or submit, is key to the coming months during which we can bring into greater alignment our individual orientation with the greater one of unity-consciousness.
As Neptune opposes the Sun at the month’s end, the heavens remind us that relinquishment of personal desire can be an act of martyrdom which binds us or liberation which forever sets us free. Discerning one from the other is vital to our well-being and the longevity of our commitment to awakening. We are here to live, love and laugh as much as to confront life’s challenges. Our world is changing, poised on the brink, as are we. To shift with those changes, to become their very essence, is what it means to awaken. In doing so we can embrace both our uniquely individual perspective and our place in the ever-changing collage of humanity.
September will be one of the most powerful months of 2015. As we approach it, the decisions we make and priorities we honour will reverberate throughout our future, gathering influence and pace. Thus do we further (or not!) conscious evolution, not as an act of super-human will but of enduring commitment to a world in which life is respected, wisdom honoured and the quality of our presence is more important than a sprint to the finish line. We are in this for the long haul, not to get this awakening over and done with so we can get on with our lives! Our lives are awakening. They are evolution. So are we, in our very essence and to our very core. Don’t be fooled by the gentle hum of August, the tiny steps of seeming insignificance. Each and every one carries great power and profound influence. As do we, even in the most ‘inconsequential’ moments of our lives….
Witches Of The Craft® 
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