Gebo represents the coming of gifts and favors. While each are usually positive events, they often carry obligations with them. Gebo often represents strong bonds such as deep friendships and marriage.
Additional Information on Today’s Rune, Gebo
Gebo: gift
Phonetic equivalent: g (as in ‘girl’)
DIVINATORY MEANINGS:
gift, offering, relationship, love, marriage, partnership, generosity, unexpected good fortune
MAGICAL USES:to find or strengthen a relationship, for fertility, to mark a gift or offering, to bring luck
Gebo is a rune of connection, particularly the connections between people. Up until now, our journey has been a solitary one. This rune represents those places where our path intersects with others, and allows us to begin to form conscious relationships. Such relationships are strengthened and sanctified by the exchange of gifts.
The use of the gift as a symbol of an oath or a bond is an ancient one. When a lord wanted to ensure the loyalty of one of his subjects, he would give that person a gift. The gift would create a debt on the part of the person receiving it, and this debt would ensure his readiness to serve his lord. Similarly, a gift given between lovers, especially that of the ring, symbolizes the bond between them. Originally, only the man gave the ring in a marriage for much the same reason as the lord giving gifts to his vassals, but today the arrangement is usually more equitable. Gifts or offerings given to the Gods often carry the same meaning, representing the giver’s love for or loyalty to their Gods. The giving of a gift implies the acceptance of a debt with the understanding that the debt will not be repaid. It is this imbalance which forms the bond.
Traditionally entitled “Empress,” this major arcana or “trump” card portrays the energy of the Great Mother. She is Nature, around us but also within us, the ever-unfolding Source of life-giving power. She is often pictured as a pre-Christian Goddess, as the one whom the High Priestess is channeling down to earth for the rest of us.
In medieval Europe, the Empress card was painted to represent whatever Queen currently ruled the land, probably to satisfy the Inquisitors. But the scholars of the Renaissance and beyond had no doubt of her true identity, although she could not be fully revealed on Tarot cards as the “woman clothed with the sun” until after the French Revolution.
This supreme archetype of femininity also symbolizes fertility. It is She who provides us nourishment and security. She is also sometimes seen as delighting us with flowers and fruit. A potentially terrifying aspect of this archetype manifests itself whenever karmic mood swings wipe out our plans, like a storm that has come upon us. Whatever happens, the Empress is the Source of our Embodiment and of Natural Law. She might even be called “the Great Recycler.”
Multi-talented and diverse, you are an interesting person who can draw upon both creative and logical sides of the brain equally. Others find you funny, great for advice, and extremely perceptive. Always interested in how people tick, you are a natural psychologist. You are security-minded but although you don’t like too much change, you do require stimulation in your day to day affairs. Many of you hold more than one job.
Famous people born today: Desmond Morris, Mary Lou Retton, John Belushi, Oral Roberts, Neil Diamond, Nastassja Kinski, Warren Zevon.
Our expectations may be unrealistic now as we catch glimpses of what’s to come. Messenger Mercury turned retrograde on January 5 and as it turns direct today, our goals seem closer. Certain areas of our lives that were put on hold start moving ahead again. An exciting Sun-Uranus alignment makes us think anything is possible. Meanwhile, the rowdy Leo Moon slips into levelheaded Virgo at 10:45 pm EST, helping us regain a more practical perspective.
Aries Horoscope MAR 21 – APR 19
You might have thought all was sitting pretty within your world, but it becomes apparent today that something was wrong all along. You may not be able to fix it immediately, but that won’t stop you from trying now. Keep in mind that your tendency to impulsively respond to a crisis isn’t always the most productive solution. Putting things right is going to take some serious time and thought. Proceed with great determination but don’t expect miracles overnight.
Taurus Horoscope APR 20 – MAY 20
You can’t help but feel frustrated if you haven’t made much tangible progress toward your goals this year. Nevertheless, there’s no reason to fret because the planets asked you to make some very big plans and then required you to begin very slowly — so slowly that it may seem as if you’ve been moving backwards. Actually, no time has been wasted at all. If you remain patient and persistent, you’ll see over the next month how your delayed start was just what you needed to be successful.
Gemini Horoscope MAY 21 – JUN 20
Although you may be weary of all the little setbacks you’ve already faced this year, you are rather hopeful that your path is finally clearing now. Even if a series of mix-ups and frayed loose ends are taxing your patience, don’t even think about giving up today. There were important lessons to learn over these last few weeks, but it might take additional time to figure out what they mean in regards to your future. In the meantime, try not to judge yourself harshly for what you haven’t yet finished. Being a student of life is an integral part of the soul’s journey.
Cancer Horoscope JUN 21 – JUL 22
Your thoughts have been preoccupied with all kinds of relationship issues over these last weeks and it’s not always been easy to face the truth. Conflicting emotional needs, stirred by Mercury’s recent retrograde through your 7th House of Others, now seem to need immediate resolution. But current tensions may be a result of simple misunderstandings. The only way to find out is to engage in an open dialogue. Luckily, the tides are turning now, enabling everyone involved to be more forgiving. A strong partnership starts with honest communication.
Leo Horoscope JUL 23 – AUG 22
These past few weeks may have thrown you a few curve balls, making it difficult to follow through with your normal daily routine. This period of testing isn’t quite over, but today marks a turning point in the energetic flow. Pay attention to what unresolved issues resurface now, for these specific problem areas hold keys to the solutions of even larger questions. The pace of positive change picks up over the next few days if you’re willing to push for progress.
Virgo Horoscope AUG 23 – SEP 22
Although you are in the midst of a highly creative phase, your ideas have been unable to gain traction this year. You might even feel as if you are running around in circles or covering old ground. Since Mercury is your key planet, its three-week retrograde cycle affected you more strongly than most. Thankfully, this deja vu phase is coming to its conclusion. You’ve been treading water long enough; it’s finally time to move forward. Keep in mind, this energetic shift can take a few days to find its rhythm, but you should prepare for blastoff at any given moment.
Libra Horoscope SEP 23 – OCT 22
Maybe Nietzsche was right when he suggested that we live in a cycle of eternal recurrence, revisiting the same issues again and again. However, this feeling that you’ve been here before is actually an opportunity to break out of your old patterns. Strong foundations are crucial for your future success, and you have a chance to firm up your base as Mercury turns direct in your 4th House of Roots. What you start now can develop into something of lasting value if you’re committed to do the work.
Scorpio Horoscope OCT 23 – NOV 21
You’re beginning to realize that the future is coming at you faster than ever before. The pace of your everyday life may have slowed down to a crawl while Mercury was retrograde in your 3rd House of Immediate Environment. Or, even if events were moving at a more rapid pace, you felt lethargic and couldn’t catch up. However, the time for you to make changes is today. Look back over the past month and decide if you want to stay in the comfort zone you created or if you’re ready to explore unfamiliar ground. Sometimes “later” really means “never.” Act now or forever hold your peace.
Sagittarius Horoscope NOV 22 – DEC 21
You have an opportunity to experience some healing around issues of self-esteem now that logical Mercury is turning direct in your 2nd House of Values. This personal challenge is about examining your core beliefs, your sense of self and how you built a philosophical foundation that protects you from your own emotional pain. You might put a lot of energy into making people think you’re wide open to new experiences when secretly you’re not. Fortunately, the solution is simple today; change the way you think, which in turn opens new paths for the adventure of self-discovery.
Capricorn Horoscope DEC 22 – JAN 19
You might feel weighted down by your own heavy thoughts, but you don’t seem to be able to work your way out of your current predicament. It’s as if you’re close to understanding something very important, but it keeps vanishing like a dream fading in the morning light. For the past three weeks, cerebral Mercury has trudged backward in your sign requiring you to go over things one more time to make sure you have them right. Now, as it turns direct, review time is over. The future is calling; don’t look back.
Aquarius Horoscope JAN 20 – FEB 18
You are on the verge of your dreams coming true. You replayed your favorite fantasies over and over again while mental Mercury retrograded through your 12th House of Spirituality during the past three weeks. But imagination opens the way for reality as quicksilver Mercury’s direct turn motivates you to get real now. You still have plenty of sweat equity to invest but, thankfully, your revitalized determination can give substance to your visions. Intention plus hard work equals magic.
Pisces Horoscope FEB 19 – MAR 20
Your friends and associates are simultaneously a great help and a major pain in the neck today. They may remind you of a past hurtful situation without even realizing it. You might choose to push these memories away — or you can embrace conversations that initiate a deeper healing process. Open your heart and you’ll experience interesting changes within the next week or so. As Lao Tzu wrote, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
Venus is now moving through your reputation and career sector, dear Aries, and with this sector hosting retrograde Mercury since January 5th, this can be a very welcome energy. You may have an easier time with your work or responsibilities during this cycle, as you are bringing more patience and willingness to listen and learn to your work. Others may even step in and take on some of your load for you, or you could simply find more enjoyment in what you’re doing. You are more charming and sociable with the public or on a professional level during this cycle that runs until February 16th. Your relationship with those in authority is warmer and friendlier. There can be important connections and contacts made now – ones that can really benefit you on both practical and emotional levels. Today supports efforts towards creative projects, especially if you ignore external pressures to do things so quickly that you miss steps.
Taurus
Taurus
Venus is now transiting a sign that’s very compatible with yours, dear Taurus, and this brings subtle but pleasing energy to your personal manner. Your personal style and attractiveness are well-received. Those qualities that come most naturally to you are qualities that people are generally enjoying at this time. You are less inclined to overthink your love life or your feelings, and more interested in seeking out the things and the people that make you happy and encourage you to grow, improve, and explore. Your personality is admired and appreciated. You are looking for more unique and interesting experiences and ideas, and you tend to see your relationships as learning experiences during this cycle that runs until February 16th. Today’s energies favor quiet activities and projects that focus on building and developing.
Gemini
Gemini
Venus now transiting your solar eighth house tends to emotionalize sexuality, finances, and sharing of power in this cycle that lasts until February 16th. With Mercury moving in retrograde in this sector since January 5th, this new transit can really help smooth over differences in a relationship and problems with money and sharing. This is a time when you are especially intrigued by and attracted to looking beyond the surface of matters, and when you’re likely to enjoy digging deeper, looking for answers, and solving mysteries. Intimate relationships tend to be more rewarding than usual. Resolving differences comes more naturally now. Today, communications are again emphasized, and doing something constructive as a team can figure strongly. You can really apply yourself to a project or endeavor, but keep in mind that Mercury’s direct turn tomorrow may have the effect of changing your mind about what you deem important.
Cancer
Cancer
Mercury is approaching the end of its retrograde cycle in your partnership sector, dear Cancer, and now Venus moves into this same area of your solar chart, thoroughly supporting your efforts to smooth things over with others. This cycle runs until February 16th and can bring happy or helpful people into your social circle. It’s a good time for enhancing or attracting partnerships – and repairing, which may very well be necessary right now, as misunderstandings may have been more prevalent in recent weeks. You are more approachable, open, conciliatory, and amenable during this cycle. There can be a stronger need to spend time with others and to enjoy activities with others. Today’s energies are good for getting your handle on your practical affairs, but do come up for air now and again and enjoy the pleasure of pacing yourself.
Leo
Leo
The Moon in your sign all day finds support from Uranus and Saturn, dear Leo, and this stimulates efforts towards balancing your emotions and work put into creative projects. Venus is now transiting your work and health sector, and will stay in this area of your solar chart until February 16th. This comes at a good time – near the end of Mercury’s retrograde in this same sector. Venus helps smooth over differences with co-workers if there have been miscommunications, and stimulates your natural love and enjoyment of work, good habits, and healthy methods. You’re looking for more peace and harmony in your daily routines now, and you’re likely to find it. There can be happier experiences with health workers during this cycle, and for some, enjoyment can be found in taking steps to improve health and nutrition. You may be in the position to serve, support, and help out others at this time, and this can boost your spirits.
Virgo
Virgo
Venus is now moving through your romance and pleasure sector, dear Virgo, where she will stay until February 16th. This is especially refreshing as Mercury has been retrograde in this part of your solar chart since January 5th, and there may have been some confusion involved with matters of the heart and creative projects. Your natural charm is enhanced. There can be good times with children, increased fertility, or simply a more playful approach to the world. Love can be found more readily while pursuing entertainment and pleasure. There can be a slight tendency to gamble if you are naturally inclined, however. If romance is important to you, this is a favorable time for flirtations and dating. Today’s energies support letting go of bad habits and past hurt or disappointment. You can find comfort in family and loved ones, even if it’s only about their reliability or willingness to let you do your own thing.
Libra
Libra
Venus is now moving through your sector of home, family, and personal life, dear Libra, which is a refreshing transit as Mercury has been retrograde here for the last few weeks. This Venus transit will continue until February 16th, bringing more warmth and understanding to your domestic life. This cycle awakens a more self-protective or cautious part of you, particularly when it comes to your affections, but also in terms of how you might spend money and the types of entertainment or pleasurable activities that attract you. It’s a strong period for plumping your nest or your base of operations – you’re especially interested in making your place of retreat as comfortable and harmonious as possible. Today brings practical energy to your social life. You may be turning to your networks for advice or practical help.
Scorpio
Scorpio
Venus is now transiting your communications sector, dear Scorpio, stimulating your love of learning and softening your approach with others. The intentions behind your communications should be easy to read for maximum success in life, and Venus’ influence here until February 16th will go a long way towards getting this formula right. With Mercury in this sector about to turn direct after a retrograde period, you’ll welcome the extra sweetness and patience. Relationships with clear and open lines of communication are favored now, and you tend to bring more diplomacy and charm to what you’re saying. There can be happy news, enjoyable learning activities, positive publicity, and frequent conversations with loved ones. This is a good time to harmonize with siblings, acquaintances, classmates, and neighbors. Friendships might form through the phone, computer, or places of learning. Today’s energies are very good for work and business, but with Mercury reaching a station tomorrow, take things easy.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius
Venus has left your sign and is now touring your solar second house, dear Sagittarius, where it will stay until February 16th. This is a great time of year for finding pleasure in the world of the five senses, enjoying simple pastimes and entertainment, and taking special care of prized personal possessions. There can be increased income for some. When it comes to work or money, your priorities can change considerably during this period. You tend to let things, and people, come to you now. You instinctively know that good things can take time, and are worth the wait. Today’s Moon continues to emphasize your need for non-routine stimulation. Life shouldn’t become too predictable now for best results. This can be a good day for working on a creative project – giving form to something.
Capricorn
Capricorn
With Venus now in your sign until February 16th, dear Capricorn, there is far more clarity in your love life and with your affections. Others are seeing your more attractive and desirable traits, and you more confidently treat yourself in whatever manner suits you at this time in your life. This is a time of living well and putting the right kind of vibes that attract pleasant people and circumstances into your life “out there”. You are less assertive during this cycle. You are projecting warm, approachable energy now. Be good to yourself – this is the time to reward yourself for those things about yourself that make you proud. The Moon continues to emphasize emotional intimacy and deeper desires and needs, which tend to find a nice release through quiet activities.
Aquarius
Aquarius
Venus has now entered your solar twelfth house, dear Aquarius, and will continue to transit this is very private “endings” house until February 16th. Right now, your affections are in need of some review. You may be doing a lot for others or spending more time to yourself. Whether or not you enjoy being under the radar in the love department at this time, it’s a necessary process as you get your feelings sorted. Some of you could be enjoying a more pleasing, even if a little wistful, connection to your past. Some may enjoy private moments with loved ones. Today, you could find that a significant person in your life is especially supportive and responsible. There is strong energy for learning and work on improving a system or project in your life.
Pisces
Pisces
Venus is in a happy place of your solar chart now, dear Pisces, as it is now transiting your social sector until February 16th. Having had retrograde Mercury here for the last few weeks, this energy really helps smooth over any differences you may have had with group associations and friends. This is a time for giving back to others who have helped or supported you, and for seeking out people and situations that make you feel at ease about expressing who you are. It’s a time for seeking out company, giving of yourself, and feeling good about yourself as you do. When it comes to business, sharing some of your expertise can be rewarding and even profitable down the road. Be gracious and forthcoming for best results. Look for new, unique, and progressive ways to make money during this period. You may be connecting with fun people. Today’s energies are good for applying yourself to a practical project.
If you’ve spent the last three weeks or so feeling mentally scrambled, misunderstood or just plain indecisive, relief is near. That’s because Mercury, the planet that rules the mind, is turning direct on January 25, 2016, after having gone through another one of its retrograde phases.
So, what does it mean when Mercury goes direct?
When Mercury is not operating smoothly there can be plenty of mishaps related to anything ruled by Mercury — whether its transportation, commerce or communication. Now that Mercury has stationed direct, it will need a few days to regulate its orbit and then you’ll be good to go. Any delay, frustration or confusion surrounding Mercury-ruled matters will soon find resolution.
A planet changing motion is a potent phenomenon. Remember, Mercury has been out of its usual forward orbit for three weeks, so turning direct again will not be as easy as declaring “On your mark, get set, go!” and watching Mercury zoom out. Ahhh, if only it were that simple.
What really happens when a planet moves from retrograde to direct motion is more akin to waking up from a deep slumber. Mercury will need time to drink some cosmic coffee and fully regain consciousness.
Full speed ahead
It won’t be until Mercury reaches the degree where it originally turned retrograde and then passes it that you’ll know Mercury truly has its full strength back. That tends to take a couple of weeks. But don’t stress — this time frame is nothing at all like the Mercury Retrograde cycle.
In fact, now you’ll be ready to apply whatever it is you’ve learned during the retrograde period into your current reality. It only takes a few days of Mercury being back on track for you to notice the difference. From here on out the planet will get stronger every day!
What’s interesting is that while Mercury will need time to regulate its orbit, the very day of its stationing direct can be a potent time. It’s like Merc will be jolted awake for a short time (remember Mom screaming at you to wake up or you’ll be late for school?). During this day or even the next, it’s likely you’ll experience incredible clarity about whatever issues you’ve been grappling with during Mercury Retrograde.
Be patient, though … it will take just a little more time before you’re ready to execute your newfound lucidity with success.
In the meantime, now that Mercury is direct, over the next few days you are free to sign contracts, schedule vital meetings, have a significant conversation and make important decisions or purchases. Remain confident as you push ahead with anything that requires cerebral muscle.
Mercury finally turns direct this week, but unfortunately he’ll run into serious trouble with some other planets! See how you can handle the energy here…
Monday, January 25: Mercury Direct
On Monday, Mercury will begin to regulate his orbit after three weeks in retrograde. But before you break into a dance and think you’ve got a green light to move forward in communication matters, you might want to reconsider…
Saturday, January 30: Mercury conjunct Pluto; Venus sextile Neptune
Sunday, January 31: Mercury square Uranus
On Saturday Mercury will conjunct Pluto, and on Sunday, he’ll square off with Uranus. There’s no easy dialogue or negotiation with this energy at play. Mercury is barely on his feet again when he gets knocked down by two of the heaviest hitting planets in the sky. Conversations will be intense but also overly chaotic.
Avoid falling into the trap of thinking that you have to get it all figured out this week, or even worse, that you have to sign on the dotted line. If you do, you might later realize that you were manipulated into agreeing to something that you didn’t fully understand. Or, you might change your mind next week when clarity truly returns. Wait it out!
Romantically, as long as you avoid heavy conversations with your lover, things will look bright. On Saturday, Venus and Neptune will be at a perfect angle to one another, supporting soul-mate love and creative inspiration.
Venus enters Capricorn at an opportune time – shortly before Mercury turns direct in the sign, and adding a lighter, easier touch to the Capricorn parts of our charts.
The Moon is in Leo all day (until Monday, January 25th, at 10:45 PM).
The Moon is void from 9:51 PM forward (until tomorrow at 10:45 PM).
The Moon is waning and its Full Moon phase.
A Full Moon occurred yesterday, and a Third Quarter Moon will occur on the 31st.
Mercury is retrograde (Mercury is retrograde from January 5-25).
Venus spends its first full day in Capricorn (Venus transits Capricorn from January 23 – February 16).
The Moon today is in a Full Moon phase. During a Full Moon the moon is 100% illuminated as seen from Earth and is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. The Moon will be visible throughout the night sky rising at sunset in the east and setting with the sunrise the next morning. The point at which a Full Moon occurs can be measured down to a fraction of a second. The time it takes between full moons is known as a Synodic month and is 29.530587981 days long.
Phase Details for – Sunday, January 24, 2016
Phase: Full Moon
Illumination: 100%
Moon Age: 15.18 days
Moon Angle: 0.51
Moon Distance: 391,255.61 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,263,714.81 km
It was at this time that St. Paul was converted from a Roman persecutor to a member of the Christian faith. Due to the profound atmospheric conditions at the time, St. Paul’s Eve became a time of great importance, and a weather omen for the coming year:
“If the day of St Paul’s proves clear, Then shall betide a happy year. If it chance to snow or rain, Then shall be dear all kinds of grain. But if high winds shall be aloft, Wars shall vex this realm full oft. And if thick mists make dark this sky, Born beasts and fowl this year shall die.”
Sunday corresponds to the sun, our closest star. This day is full of wonder and all sorts of magical potential for success, wealth, and fame. Sundays are for personal achievements of any kind such as working towards a promotion at your job, seeking fame and wealth, or being acknowledged for a job well done. All of these goals fall under the golden influence of the sun.
Some suggestions for Sunday enchantments would include:
Sitting outside at sunrise and calling on the goddess Brigid for illumination and inspiration
Wearing gold jewelry or clothing that is gold or sunshine yellow to pull some color magic into your life
Arranging a few sunflowers in a vase and empowering these “flowers of the sun” for fame and ambition
Gathering up the common marigold flower and scattering it’s petals about to encourage prosperity
Baking up a batch of cinnamon rolls for the family and enchanting them for health and success
Snacking on a solar fruit, the orange, and enjoying the magical boost it brings to your life
Herbs/Plants: Marigold, Heliotrope, Sunflower, Buttercup, Cedar, Beech, Oak
Stones: Carnelian, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Amber, Clear Quartz and Red Agate
Oil: (Sun) Cedar, Frankincense, Neroli, Rosemary
The first day of the week is ruled by the Sun. It is an excellent time to work efforts involving business partnerships, work promotions, business ventures, and professional success. Spells where friendships, mental or physical health, or bringing joy back into life are an issue work well on this day, too.
The following lunar spell works in harmony with the waning moon. This is the point in time where you work magick to remove obstacles and problems. This is the time of the clairaudient’s greatest powers, so focus those psychic abilities internally and listen carefully for messages and wisdom. The magick is inside you. Be still, and let it unfold.
As the moon starts to wane, the
third lunar cycle begins,
So look quietly within, reflect,
and soul-search again.
Work to remove problems
now, spells I’ll carefully
weave,
As the Moon grows smaller, so
too will my troubles leave.
—Ellen Dugan, Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick
The moon is, in terms of distance, the closest heavenly body to earth. We can see it in the sky for three weeks out of four, and people have, for thousands of years, used its light to guide them in the dark. In addition to the personification of the moon as deity, there are all kinds of fascinating legends and myths associated with the moon and its cycles.
The word lunatic comes from the Latin luna, because it was believed that people were more likely to exhibit aberrant behavior during a full moon. Although studies have been done showing that emergency room visits and accidents are increased during the full moon period, there has yet to be conclusive evidence for causation.
The moon seems to have an effect on animals as well as people. A Florida expert on animal behavior reports that hamsters spin in their wheels far more aggressively during the moon’s full phase. Deer and other herbivores in the wild tend to ovulate at the full moon, and in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the full moon is mating time for coral.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, was inspired by the strange — and yet very true — case of Charles Hyde, a London man who committed a series of crimes at the time of the full moon.
There is a British legend that if Christmas fell on the day of a dark Moon, the following year’s harvest would be a bountiful one. Some parts of the British Isles believed that a waxing moon on Christmas meant a good crop the next fall, but a waning moon indicated a bad one would come.
In some countries, a halo around the moon means bad weather is coming.
The first time you see a crescent moon for the month, take all your spare coins out of your pocket, and put them in the other pocket. This will ensure good luck for the next month.
Some people believe that the fifth day after a full moon is the perfect time to try to conceive a child.
In some Chinese religions, offerings are made to the ancestors on the night of a full moon.
In some Native American legends, the moon is held captive by a hostile tribe. A pair of antelope hope to rescue the moon and take it the village of a good tribe, but Coyote, the trickster, interferes. The antelope chase Coyote, who tosses the moon into a river each night, just out of reach of the antelope.
The night of the full moon is believed to be a good time for divination and scrying.
More About Moon Magic
Lunar Phases and Magical Workings: For many Pagans, the cycles of the moon are important to magical workings. It’s believed in some traditions that the waxing moon, the full moon, the waning moon and the new moon all have their own special magical properties, and so workings should be planned accordingly.
Celebrating the Full Moon: The full moon has long had an aura of mystery and magic about it. It is tied to the ebbs and flows of the tide, as well as the every-changing cycle of womens’ bodies. The moon is connected to our wisdom and intuition, and many Pagans and Wiccans choose to celebrate the full moon with a monthly ritual.
Moon Phases and Tarot Readings: Do you have to wait for a certain phase of the moon to do a Tarot reading? Not necessarily – but here some ideas on how specific phases may impact the results.
Author
Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com
The full moon is the point at which we can see an entire side of the moon. For magical purposes, many modern Pagans consider the full moon to include the day before and the day after a full moon, for a total of three days. If your tradition requires you to follow the phases of the moon for your magical workings, this is a good time to do rituals focused on personal growth and spiritual development. Some examples would include:
For many Pagans, this is also a time to celebrate with an Esbat ritual. Dorinda is an eclectic witch who lives in Nevada, and she says, “Once a month, during the full moon, I drive out to the desert about half an hour away. There’s a spot that I go that’s really off the beaten path, and I can stand up on a hillside and watch the moon rise, and it’s just magnificent, because there’s no one out there but me.
It’s always a very meditative experience, and I can really feel the connection that my body has to the full moon, as well as connecting on a spiritual level. This is when I call upon the gods of my tradition, ask for intuitive guidance, that sort of thing. I always feel so refreshed and aware afterwards, it’s almost hard for me to get to sleep when I get back home.”
Author
Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article Published on & owned by About.com
In January, the nights are long and dark, and many of us are trying to stay warm under a blanket of snow as the Cold Moon approaches (in some cultures, the Cold Moon is the name given to December’s moon, instead). Some of the native tribes of North America called this time the Wolf Moon, because this was when the wolves were howling, hungry, outside lodges where people stayed warm within. Other groups referred to it as the Snow Moon, for obvious reasons.
This time of year, we’re all feeling a bit slow and “off” as our bodies adjust to chillier temperatures. It’s easy to just lie on the couch watching Netflix and eating comfort food when it’s cold and gloomy outside, and making any kind of magical effort can seem like a real challenge right now.
Correspondences:
Colors: Black and white, silver
Gemstones: Hematite
Trees: Birch, Hazel
Gods: Inanna, Freyja
Herbs: Thistle, nuts and seeds, marjoram
Element: Air
Cold Moon Magic
This is a good time to work on magic related to protection, both physical and spiritual. Use this time to develop your inner self, and advance spiritually, becoming closer to the higher aspects of your deities.
Take the time in your busy schedule to meditate and think about what it is you really want out of life, and whether you’re showing people your true self.
January is also a great time to work on full moon magic – after all, the nights are long and dark, and in some areas the moon itself is the only source of light. Put aside your lethargy, and focus some energy on developing your intuition and wisdom.
Finally, for many people, winter is a season of simplification. Set aside everything you don’t need, and try a minimalist approach instead. On a mundane level, try doing a thorough cleaning of your physical space – get rid of the clutter. On a spiritual and emotional level, try to do the same thing – teach your mind to let go of the things that are creating excess baggage for your spirit and soul.
Author
Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com
Sunday(Sun): Healing, spirituality, success, strength and protection.
Alasitas Fair (Bolivian)
Waning Moon The Waning Moon (from the Full Moon to the New) is a time for study, meditation, and little magical work (except magic designed to banish harmful energies).
Moon phase: Third Quarter
Moon Sign: Leo Leo: Draws emphasis to the self, central ideas, or institutions, away from connections with others and other emotional needs. People tend to be melodramatic.
Those ambitious, successful spells and charms will be heightened by working on the day of the week that has the planetary influence of the sun. So light those sunny candles, wear some luminous colors, and break out the gold jewelry! Bake up some cinnamon rolls or low-fat cinnamon muffins for an enchanting family breakfast. Take an orange with you to eat at lunch today. Try using a little magickal aromatherapy and burn some cinnamon-scented incense to encourage success and wealth today. Make the talisman to keep your solar magick with you. Sprinkle some dried marigold petals around your house-or across the threshold-to pull triumph and protection toward you and your family.
Get outside and tip up your face to the sun. Take a walk outside, and soak up some sunshine! Acknowledge the power of Sunna or Helios as they blaze across the sky and bring courage and motivation into your life. Sit outside at sunrise on a Sunday morning and bask in its warm, rosy-golden glow Acknowledge Brigid as the inner, creative spark of imagination and inspiration. She can help these gifts burn brightly within your own soul. Use your imagination and create your own brand of witchery and magick. Here comes the sun, and it’s your turn to shine!
—–Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan
Witches Of The Craft® 
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