Magickal Activity for April 22nd, Earth Day Ritual

The Celebration of Earth Day is of great importance to the Pagan community. It is after all Mothers Day.

Although this was written as a group meditation ritual it can easily be modified for a solitary ritual as well.

You will need;

White or Yellow candle (Air)
Red candle (Fire)
Blue candle (Water)
Green candle (Earth)
Goddess candle

Set up your altar, with the colored candles at the four cardinal points. Purify with salt water or sage

Light your Goddess candle and cast your circle.

Light the other four candles. Take a moment, stand peacefully until their flames burn slowly and steadily.

Sit or lie down so you are relaxed, with a pillow under your knees if that helps your back to be straight and comfortable. Look at the five candle flames.

Breathe slowly and deeply, not straining. With every breath in, take in relaxation and calm. With every breath out, release tension and worry

Feel gravity gently pressing against your body, pressing you to the ground, to the earth, and then slowly, feel yourself sink into the earth. Slowly, slowly sink slowly into the earth. Send your consciousness down through the grass, down through the soil and down, deep down, into the earth. Be aware of the mass of rock that lies beneath the soil- shale, quartz, sandstone, granite; the black, white, and red-shot through with bands of minerals, darkly glittering; crystals that shine like stars within the stones ….Let your consciousness become one with the earth: You are a mountain as old as the planet itself, once part of the seabed, thrown up by unspeakable forces now stilled, silent, enormously, timelessly rooted in the earth, your head in the stars………or perhaps a minute grain of sand, one among trillions and trillions, endlessly shifting, sifting, with the ocean tides … Forever a part of the earth ….

Now shift your consciousness and become aware of the plant kingdom: algae and seaweeds, forests of kelp, grasses blowing gently in a savanna wind, yellow and orange lichens on a rock in a woodland, prickly pears, an ancient oak wood, a rain forest blooming with delicate orchids, vines hanging heavy with fruit … You are the earth, the soft green moss on a rock by a stream, a mountain strawberry, a wild rose………..do you feel the wind blow your petals ever so softly …….

Again alter your consciousness to become aware of the animal kingdom…. listen to the voices of the wild: the roar of the tiger, the belling of the stag, perhaps the howl of the wolf; the cries of owls and the tap, tap, tapping, of woodpeckers, the whirring of a birds´ wings as it passes over head, the padding of soft paws………become one now with the animal kingdom, with the salmon leaping upstream, the fox gliding silently through the night, or the snake shedding its skin…feel what your new body is like and what it feels like to creep, or walk, climb, run or fly in free motion….

And now once again alter your consciousness and become aware of the human kingdom …mankind, human, you are standing on two feet …notice how different that feels: you can stand like a stone, grow like a plant, move like an animal, but you can now create with your mind and your hands and you can sing and you can dance and you can dream in your heart and make that dream real upon the earth …for you are a Goddess/God on this earth. You are a part of the Mother.

Now when you are ready, slowly open your eyes .

Ritual Chant

Mother Earth, We have seen your rocks and layers
We have been the dust storm, the ancient volcano’s lava;
We have Swum in your oceans, and flowed in your streams.
Run with the wild brothers and sisters, And howled at the Moon.
We have spun amongst the comets and asteroids,
Burned with creation’s fire, frozen in ice in the void.
We have been music, the song of the spheres, the frequency of the stars.
We have been a human being and feel our connection
Our connection to every other thing that lives; for everything has life.
Mother Earth we pray to love You and protect You.
So Mote it Be

Feel the Earth under you, draw up power, raise it up fully, feel it streaming out of your hands and your third eye. Hurl the power over your head to close the hole in the ozone layer; to shower down and bring understanding to those who do not know our Mother; to heal and to bring peace.

“Pagan Prayer”

May my heart be gentle;
My mind still and open;
My spirit unshackled;
My awareness keen;
My conscience clear;
My nature giving.
May I be a healing energy;
May I be of benefit to all;
May my life enrich others;
May I know what matters;
And live in harmony with Nature.

Close the Circle and thank the Mother

April 22

Earth Day

Dedicated to the Earth Mother Gaia, this day marks the time we remember our responsibility toward the environment. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, as a result of the growing interest in and concern for the ecology movement. Some things that come to mind on this day are recycling, using solar energy, and cleaning up regional parks and waterways to make them safe for Summer activities.

When the Full Moon Falls on Fridays

Love is in the air … especially on a Friday full moon. For this bewitching recipe, we combine all those ripe, full, mystical, and inspiring lunar energies of a full moon mixed together with the special day of the week aligned with the planet Venus. Now sprinkle in a dash of love and romance, add a teaspoon of flower and color magick, and you’ve got yourself one powerful formula with which to work loving and romantic theme spells.

This full moon spell works with a common variety of houseplant, which is also a magickal flower: the African violet. This hearth-and-home spell is designed to increase the loving vibrations and the feelings of the fullness of love in your home. Just like the common violet, the African violet falls under the planetary influences of Venus. These little blooming houseplants make a lovely addition to your Friday full moon spells. Basically, this spell is a floral fascination. A floral fascination is a term that I coined years ago, and it means practical and powerful magick worked with a flower or a blooming plant.

Making Love Grow Spell

• African violet plant-a pink blooming variety is best (if for some reason you cannot find a pink blooming violet, go with a white variety; white is an all-purpose color)
• pink votive candle
• votive candle cup
• A pin or nail to engrave the candle with the symbol of Venus (Y)
• A small tumbled rose quartz stone to increase warm, fuzzy feelings
• Lighter or matches
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell

Again, I would suggest working this spell out under the moonlight or at least near a window that allows you a view of the full moon. To start, set the African violet and the rose quartz stone in the center of your working area. Take the pin and gently carve the planetary symbol of Venus into the side of the votive candle. Drop the votive inside of the cup, and set it to one side. Take a few moments to visualize the spirit of love blessing ing your home. Feel the fun and the joy of love, and let it fill up your heart. Now light the candle, and place your hands on either side of the potted plant. Repeat the following verse:

Under the light of Friday’s full moon
I ask the Goddess to grant me a boon
By the energy of a Venus flower
Mix with this a rose quartz’s warm, fuzzy powers
Bless this home with love and your grace
Let it expand out and fill up this place.

Close the spell with these lines:

By flower petal and moonlight, this spell is begun
For the good of all, this witchery brings harm to none.

Pocket the rose quartz stone and keep it with you. Care for your houseplant, and enjoy the richness of love that is sure to bless your days and your home.

Source

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

The Witches Almanac for Friday, April 22nd

Friday (Venus): Love, friendship, reconciliation, and beauty.

Earth Day

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

Full Moon 1: 24 am
Full Moon is the time of greatest power.

Moon Sign: Scorpio
Scorpio: Increases awareness of psychic power. Precipitates psychic crises and ends connections thoroughly. People tend to brood and become secretive.

Incense: Yarrow Color: Coral

Llewellyn’s 2016 Magical Almanac: Practical Magic for Everyday Living (Llewellyn’s Magical Almanac)

Friday

Ruler: Freya, Venus

Colors: Emerald green or pink

Power Hours: Sunrise and the 8th, 16th, and 24th hours following.

Key Words: Love, money, health

It is easy to spot the ruler of this day by its name. In the word Friday, we see the roots of the name of the Norse goddess Freya, a goddess of love and fertility, and the most beautiful and propitious of the goddesses thus the verse “Friday’s child is loving and giving.”

In Spanish this day of the week is called Viernes and is derived from the goddess Venus. Matters of love, human interaction, the fluidity of communication, sewing and the creation of artistic garments, household improvement, shopping, and party planning all fall under the aspects of Friday and its ruling planet, Venus.

Friday’s angels are Ariel/Uriel, Rachiel, and Sachiel. Rachiel also concerns himself with human sexuality and is a presiding spirit of the planet Venus.

On Fridays, the hour of sunrise and every eight hours after that are also ruled by Venus, and that makes these times of the day doubly blessed. These four hours are the strongest four hours for conducting ritual.

Check the local newspaper, astrological calendar, or almanac to determine your local sunrise.

Source

Gypsy Magic

April’s Full Moon & Correspondences

In April, the thunderstorms of March are beginning to subside, and the wind picks up. Seeds are being blown about on the breezes, spreading life all around from one place to the next. In fact, this lunar cycle is often known as the Seed Moon. Trees have buds on them, spring daffodils and tulips abound, and the birds are nesting once more. Much like March, this is a time of conception and fertility and new growth.

Correspondences
Colors: Bright primary colors — red, yellow, blue — and their combinations
Gemstones: Quartz, selenite, angelite
Trees: Hazel, forsythia, lilac, willow
Gods: Ishtar, Tawaret, Venus, Herne, Cernunnos
Herbs: Dandelion, milkweed, dogwood, fennel, dill
Element: Air

Magic for the Season

This is a good time to work on magic related to new beginnings. Looking to bring new love into your life, or conceive or adopt a child? This is the time to do those workings. It’s the time to stop planning, and start doing. Take all those ideas you’ve had brewing for the past couple of months, and make them come to fruition.

Author

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com

Today Is Also A Full Moon Day

What’s unique about the full Moon time?:
Many people feel the energetic buzz of the Full Moon. What’s cool to note, is that it always means the Sun and Moon are in opposite Zodiac signs. It’s a super charged time, but also one of balance. The solar yang and the lunar yin are in harmony.

What to do?:
The Moon has been waxing (increasing), and if you set new Moon intentions, you’re ready to act! In the hum of the jolty energies, there can be epiphanies about things that were vague desires at the new Moon. Make it real, with tangible actions, perhaps a ritual that signifies you’re ready to integrate your intent.

What’s the point?:
Every month, you have a chance to experience a fresh start. The Moon’s waxing and waning is like the shortest hand on the cosmic clock. The intentions we set with the Moon can get specific, and match the traits of the sign that month.

This is a way to stay attuned to cosmic currents, and go with the flow. It’s a constant in a chaotic time, that the Moon waxes and wanes.

Each lunation is a chance to set new goals, and feel closer to a bigger mystery.

What’s an intention?:
This word is used a lot, and is interchangeable with the word goals. Perhaps, though, it suggests an active engagement in what you’re co-creating with the universe. Your intent is what you intend to create in your life.

Preparing for the full Moon.:
Each full Moon has a different intuitive feel, and any ritual you do could draw on the essence of the sign. As it approaches, you might gather photos, found objects, meaningful totems and place them with your intentions in a prominent place.

Time to Celebrate:
The full Moon often casts an exuberant vibe, making it a great time to have a party. This also opens the door for meaningful people to step into your life. But keep in mind that it can be intense, too. There’s a reason why more patrolmen are sent out on full Moons! Take time to honor yourself in some way for any steps you took since the new Moon.

The Climax and the “Reveal”:
Sometimes full Moons feel like the end of an Act in your ongoing life story. This is true both on the personal and the global scale. It’s like in a movie where all the plot points are pulled together, and for a brief moment, you can see the interwoven whole. If you set intentions, the full Moon is a time when you begin to make out the path, and can take an exhilarating step forward. It is both a culmination and a time to act on something you’ve imagined. In the act of doing, you have brought an idea into reality, and made magic.

Author

Molly Hall, Astrology Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com

Earth Day activities

Each year, corporations and activists create new projects, initiatives and campaigns to protect and restore the Earth. Children in the United States often celebrate by creating Earth Day-themed crafts and school projects.

According to a survey from device recycler ecoATM, 30 percent of those polled plant a tree for Earth Day, and 23 percent clean up a local park. About 47 percent of those polled associate Earth Day with recycling.

Here are some Earth Day ideas from people around the country:

There are two simple ways to celebrate Earth Day to make the world a little better,” said Nathaniel Weston, an associate professor of environmental science at Villanova University. “The first is to promote understanding of important environmental issues so that more people are aware of the critical actions we need to take to protect our environment. The second is to commit yourself to service on or around Earth Day — plant some trees, clean up a stream or help your local community garden.”

Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, one of the world’s largest environmental networks, told Live Science that anyone can make a difference on Earth Day by simply incorporating little changes into their daily routines. “Read your labels, and require transparency from your favorite brands. Make a pledge to keep water clean and accessible for years to come,” Williams said. “Commit to making an at-risk species your mascot, and become an advocate for that particular species. There are so many different ways to make an impact — you just have to choose one!”

“Take a walk in nature and simply appreciate it, plant a tree or a flower, pick up a discarded bottle and recycle it (even if it isn’t yours), turn off your printer for a day, power off your computer and take a tech break, go vegetarian for a day, use a certified natural skin-care product. These are just a few simple ways to make a positive impact for yourself and for our Earth,” Jennifer Barckley, director of brand communications and values at The Body Shop, a chain of bath and body products, told Live Science.

“A simple way that everyone can celebrate Earth Day to make the world a better place is to turn off the lights in their own homes and in their offices … not just sometimes, but all of the time,” said Helene King, a member of the LifeBridge Health hospitals’ Health Green Team in Baltimore. “It may sound simple, but how many times have you left the lights on when you could be saving energy?”

Source

livescience

Modern Earth Day

Earth Day continued to grow over the years. In 1990, it went global, and 200 million people in 141 countries participated in the event, according to the Earth Day Network.

Earth Day 2000 included 5,000 environmental groups and 184 countries. Hayes organized a campaign that focused on global warming and clean energy. “The world’s leaders in Kyoto, Japan, in late 1997, acknowledged the scientific fact that the leading cause of global warming is carbon emissions from fossil-fuel consumption, and that something must be done to address those rising emissions,” Hayes told National Geographic.

In 2010, for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, 225,000 people gathered at the National Mall for a climate rally. Earth Day Network launched a campaign to plant 1 billion trees, which was achieved in 2012, according to the organization.
 

Source

livescience

History of Earth Day

The first Earth Day was in 1970. Nelson, after seeing the damage done by a 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, was inspired to organize a national “teach-in” that focused on educating the public about the environment.

Nelson recruited Denis Hayes, a politically active recent graduate of Stanford University, as national coordinator, and persuaded U.S. Rep. Pete McCloskey of California to be co-chairman. With a staff of 85, they were able to rally 20 million people across the United States on April 20, 1970. Universities held protests, and people gathered in public areas to talk about the environment and find ways to defend the planet.

“Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values,” according to a history of Earth Day by the Earth Day Network, which was founded by the event’s organizers to promote environmental citizenship and action year-round.

Reflecting on the 10th anniversary of Earth Day, Nelson wrote in an article for EPA Journal, “It was on that day that Americans made it clear that they understood and were deeply concerned over the deterioration of our environment and the mindless dissipation of our resources.”

In 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom for being the founder of Earth Day. This is the highest honor given to civilians in the United States.
 

Source

livescience

The Sky This Week: April 22 – 24

Friday, April 22

The annual Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak this morning. Unfortunately, the Full Moon nearly ruins the shower this year. The best views likely will come just before morning twilight commences. The Moon then hangs low in the southwest and the constellation from which the meteors appear to radiate, Lyra, lies nearly overhead. If you face away from our satellite, you should see at least a few shooting stars. The only good news to come from the Moon’s interference is that it will wane to its New phase in two weeks when the Eta Aquariid meteor shower reaches its peak.

Saturday, April 23

Asteroid 6 Hebe currently lies among the background stars of eastern Leo the Lion, just a stone’s throw from 2nd-magnitude Denebola. This region rides high in the southeast during the early evening hours and peaks in the south around 11 p.m. local daylight time. This evening, 10th-magnitude Hebe lies some 3° north-northwest of Denebola.

Sunday, April 24

The waning gibbous Moon passes 5° north of Mars at midnight EDT. But the scene improves dramatically by the time this part of the sky climbs highest in the south around 3 a.m. local daylight time. The Moon then stands above both Mars and Saturn while the 1st-magnitude star Antares lies just below. All four objects appear within a 10°-wide circle.
 

Source

Astronomy Magazine

The Sky This Week: April 22 – 24

Friday, April 22

The annual Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak this morning. Unfortunately, the Full Moon nearly ruins the shower this year. The best views likely will come just before morning twilight commences. The Moon then hangs low in the southwest and the constellation from which the meteors appear to radiate, Lyra, lies nearly overhead. If you face away from our satellite, you should see at least a few shooting stars. The only good news to come from the Moon’s interference is that it will wane to its New phase in two weeks when the Eta Aquariid meteor shower reaches its peak.

Saturday, April 23

Asteroid 6 Hebe currently lies among the background stars of eastern Leo the Lion, just a stone’s throw from 2nd-magnitude Denebola. This region rides high in the southeast during the early evening hours and peaks in the south around 11 p.m. local daylight time. This evening, 10th-magnitude Hebe lies some 3° north-northwest of Denebola.

Sunday, April 24

The waning gibbous Moon passes 5° north of Mars at midnight EDT. But the scene improves dramatically by the time this part of the sky climbs highest in the south around 3 a.m. local daylight time. The Moon then stands above both Mars and Saturn while the 1st-magnitude star Antares lies just below. All four objects appear within a 10°-wide circle.
 

Source

Astronomy Magazine

Sun & Moon Data for Friday, April 22nd

Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 109.56° ESE
Sun Altitude: 43.02°
Sun Distance: 93.455 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 20, 2016 5:34 PM (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 6:10 AM↑ 74° East
Sunset Today: 7:36 PM↑ 287° West
Length of Day: 13 hours, 25 minutes

Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 287.50° WNW
Moon Altitude: -38.54°
Moon Distance: 252307 mi
Next New Moon: May 6, 20162:29 PM
Next Full Moon: May 21, 20164:14 PM
Next Moonrise: Today8:09 PM
Current Moon Phase: Near Full Moon (Waning Gibbous)
Illumination: 99.8%

Source

timeanddate.com