Magickal Work for Friday

Friday (Venus)

 Love
 Peace
 Family
 Marriage
 Beauty
 Growth
 Art
 Social status
 Passion
 Music
 Sexuality

 

Source

A Spell Crafter’s Compendium
Terri Paajanen

 

13 Things to Do On Friday the 13th

Celebrate Friday the 13th With a Friend
Friday the 13th is one of those days you either think is kind of fun or you fear in some way. There are friends who believe the day is bad luck. But I believe it’s just another day, one that you can use to celebrate a good time with friends. Plus, the cultural lore around the holiday is quirky and interesting.

Why Is Friday the 13th a Big Deal?
There is no real evidence that bad things happen on Friday the 13th more than any other day. Some folks attribute the belief that Friday the 13th is unlucky with the lore surrounding the number 13, and the superstitions that follow it, which have really only taken hold in this latest century. Some believe the bad luck of that number is associated with the betrayal of Jesus and others think it might have come from a book published in 1907. The book, Friday the Thirteenth, sold lots of copies and was made into a movie, so it seems that people were willing to belief the myth that the day would eventually represent.
There is even an official name for the fear of Friday the 13th called friggatriskaidekaphobia, which is a combination of the derivatives of the name Friday and the fear of the number thirteen. It is estimated that between 17 to 21 million people fear the day, or at least claim to.

Forget Superstitions! Celebrate Friday the 13th
This can be a day you turn into harmless fun for you and your friends. Make it a positive. First, find out when Friday the 13th falls. Some years have more than one occurence, so you could use some of the following suggestions for one of the dates and do the rest of them on the next date, or just completely change it up. No matter when this fateful day falls in any given year, it at least kicks off a weekend. You could do a theme night (horror movie marathon anyone?), or just use the day to tell a few friends you’re thinking about them. Most of all, have fun with it.

In keeping with the theme of this day, I’ve given you thirteen (13) ideas for ways to celebrate. Most of these are inexpensive and take virtually no planning or time so they’ll be easy to do.
Call up a friend and ask if you can pick up a few items for them (like maybe, thirteen or so) from the grocery store on your way home from work.

Write an “I’m grateful you’re my friend” message on their Facebook wall. Or, in keeping with the theme here, write on thirteen different friend’s walls.

Bake a batch of thirteen cookies and drop them off at a friend’s house.

Write a note to a friend and include thirteen things you love about them.

Make a friend a baker’s dozen of their favorite cupcakes.

Play some Friday the 13th games.

Meet them at the coffee shop and find out how lucky you both are.

Invite friends over for a Friday the 13th movie marathon.

Learn more about feng shui together, by taking a class or just hitting up the information available at your local bookstore. Feng shui is believed to help you attract more luck in your life.

Have a Friday the 13th theme party, complete with black cupcakes, spooky decorations, and punch. Just for fun, try to figure out whether you have Triskaidekaphobia or Paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Change up the traditional thoughts about Friday the 13th and enlist a friend to help you develop a lucky attitude. Make a list of things you could do together, like take a class on being positive or building your self-esteem.

Adopt a black cat.

Buy a friend lunch and ask them what they feel has been the luckiest moment of their life.
 

Source

Cherie Burbach, Friendship Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com

Friday the 13th: 13 Facts About the Unluckiest Day in the Calendar

Friday the 13th is considered to be the unluckiest day in the Gregorian calendar. Here are 13 facts about this day of ill-repute.

1. It’s Unclear Why it is Feared
Very little is known about the origins of the day’s notoriety. Some historians believe that the superstitions surrounding it arose in the late 19th century. The first documented mention of the day can be found in a biography of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, who died on a Friday 13th. A 1907 book, Friday the Thirteenth, by American businessman Thomas Lawson may have further perpetuated the superstition.

Others believe that the myth has Biblical origins. Jesus was crucified on a Friday and there were 13 guests at the Last Supper the night before his crucifixtion.

Another account suggests that the day has been associated with misfortune since 1307, when on a Friday the 13th, the French king gave the orders to arrest hundreds of Knights Templar.

2. Yet, the Fear is Very Real…
So real that one scientific name wasn’t enough. The fear of Friday the 13th is also called friggatriskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia. Now say that 10 times really fast!
Friggatriskaidekaphobia comes from Frigg, the Norse goddess of wisdom after whom Friday is named, and the Greek words triskaideka, meaning 13, and phobia, meaning fear. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is also derived from Greek: paraskeví translates as Friday, and dekatria is another way of saying 13.

3. ..And Very Common!
Experts say that friggatriskaidekaphobia affects millions of people and estimate that businesses, especially airlines suffer from severe losses on Friday the 13th.

Triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13 is even more widespread. So much so that many high-rise buildings, hotels and hospitals skip the 13th floor and many airports do not have gates numbered 13. In many parts of the world, having 13 people at the dinner table is considered bad luck.

4. Friday the 13th Can Come in Threes
A bit of a bad news for all of you who suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia – all years will have at least one Friday the 13th. The good news is that there cannot be more than three Friday the 13ths in any given calendar year. The longest one can go without seeing a Friday the 13th is 14 months.

5. Blame Sunday
For a month to have a Friday the 13th, the month must begin on a Sunday. Don’t believe us? Check out our Calendars and test it for yourself.

6. Friday the 13th Patterns Repeat in the Calendar
There is a calendarical method to the madness of Friday the 13th. Whenever a common year begins on a Thursday, the months of February, March and November will have a Friday the 13th. This will happen 11 times in the 21st century.

The February-March-November pattern repeats in a 28-year cycle. In the 21st century, the cycle began in 2009. In 2015, 6 years later, Friday the 13th occurred in February, March and November. This won’t happen for 11 more years until 2026 and we’ll have to wait again for 11 years until 2037 to see the February, March, and November trilogy.

This pattern will repeat itself starting 2043, 6 years after 2037.

7. Even During Leap Years
Three Friday the 13ths can occur in a leap year as well. If January 1 of a leap year falls on a Sunday, the months of January, April and July will each have a Friday the 13th.

In the 20th century, this happened in 1928, 1956 and 1984. And in the 21st century this will happen four times in 2012, 2040, 2068, 2096. Notice something interesting? Yes, it is the 28-year cycle again!

8. Fittingly Alfred Hitchcock Was Born on the 13th
The master of suspense was born on August 13, 1899 – so Friday, August 13, 1999 would have been his 100th birthday. He made his directorial debut in 1922 with a movie called Number 13. Unfortunately, the film was doomed from the start and never got off the ground due to financial troubles.

Other celebrities and well-known personalities born on a Friday the 13th include actors Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen; novelist and playwright, Samuel Beckett; and former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro.

9. It’s an Unlucky Day Only For Some
Friday the 13th is not universally seen as a day of misery. For example, in Italy, Friday the 17th and not Friday the 13th is considered to be a day that brings bad luck. In fact, the number 13 is considered to be a lucky number!

In many Spanish speaking countries and in Greece, Tuesday the 13th is seen as a day of misfortune.

10. And Research Suggests That it May Not be Unlucky After All
There is very little evidence to show that Friday the 13th is indeed an unlucky day. Many studies have shown that Friday the 13th has little or no effect on events like accidents, hospital visits, and natural disasters.

11. The Day Inspired One of the Highest Grossing Film Series
The commercially successful Friday the 13th enterprise includes 12 horror movies, a television series and several books that focus on curses and superstitions. Even though the films and the television series consistently received negative reviews from critics, they have a huge following. The mask worn by the key character in the films, Jason Voorhees, is one of the most known images in popular culture.

12. And a Country to Raise Safety and Accident Awareness
Since 1995, Finland has dedicated one Friday the 13th in a year to observe National Accident Day. The day aims to raise awareness about safety – on the roads, at home, and at the workplace.

13. An Asteroid Will Safely Fly By the Earth in 2029
On a Friday the 13th! Friday, April the 13th, 2029 to be exact. When 99942 Apophis was discovered in 2004, it was thought to have a small chance of colliding with Earth. But you can rest easy because since then, scientists have revised their findings which show that there is absolutely no risk of the asteroid impacting the Earth or the Moon.
 

Source

timeanddate.com

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th is believed to be an unlucky day in many countries, but a lucky one in others.
What do People do?
For most people who consider Friday 13th unlucky, it is more a question of what they avoid doing, rather than what they do on this day.

The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia – “Frigg” is the Norse goddess whom Friday is named after and “triskaidekaphobia” means the fear of “13”. It’s also known as paraskevidekatriaphobia, partly from the Greek word for Friday

Truly Frightning
It is a real fear – some people who have this disorder are even too afraid to say the words “Friday the 13th”. Others avoid flying on a plane, going to work, or even getting out of bed. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, millions of Americans are afraid of Friday the 13th. Symptoms of this fear range from mild anxiety and a nagging sense of doom to full-blown panic attacks.

August the Worst
In Brazil, Friday 13 in August is considered unluckier than any other Friday 13, especially as agosto (August) rhymes with desgosto (sorrow).

Some charities use Friday 13 for fund raising events. At Port Dover in Ontario, Canada, there is a big celebration for motorcyclistscalled PD13, which attracts large crowds.

Other choose to have parties with unlucky or creepy themes similar to Halloween.

Famous Horror Film
“Friday the 13th” is also the name of a commercially successful Hollywood movie series. An image of a hockey mask donned by the film’s character Jason is often associated with the film.

In many Spanish speaking countries, Friday 13th is a lucky day. In fact, the Spanish edition of “Friday the 13th” was renamed “Tuesday the 13th” (“Martes 13”), because this is believed to be the unluckiest day of the year. It is also a common belief that Friday 13 is a particularly lucky day for children to be born.

Super Lucky
Some people have won millions of dollars in lotteries on Friday 13. According to CNN.com, one British couple won $17 million after buying their lottery ticket on Friday 13. The same day, their mirror at home fell and broke, which according to superstition leads to seven years of bad luck.

Judas – 13th guest at Last Supper
Some say that the concept of Friday and the number 13 being unlucky may be linked to stories from the Bible. For example, Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, has been labelled “the 13th guest” at the Last Supper.

Other biblical events that supposedly occurred on a Friday, include the great flood during the time of Noah, the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel, the day Eve tempted Adam with the apple, and Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified.

On Friday 13, October 1307, a warrant was issued for the Knights Templar to be arrested. Masses of Templars were tortured or executed.

Loke – Norse Party Crasher
The superstition surrounding Friday 13 could also be linked to Norse mythology. According to one legend, 12 gods were at a banquet at Valhalla when Loke, the demi god of mischief who was not invited, turned up, bringing the total number of guests to 13. He was responsible for the chaos that led to the death of one of the good gods – Balder – so all the gods grieved.

Egyptian Afterlife
The ancient Egyptians thought the number 13 was lucky because they believed that the 13th stage of life was related to the afterlife. After the decline of the ancient Egyptian civilization, the number 13 was still associated with death and fear.

Symbols
Some people believe that the number 13 and black cats, which are associated with Friday 13, are symbols of femininity.
 

Source

timeanddate.com

The Sky This Week: May 13 – May 15

Friday, May 13
First Quarter Moon occurs at 1:02 p.m. EDT. The half-lit orb rises just after noon local daylight time, appears highest in the south shortly before sunset, and sets around 2 a.m. The Moon spends this evening among the background stars of southwestern Leo the Lion, less than 5° from that constellation’s brightest star, Regulus.

Saturday, May 14
The Moon moves approximately 13° eastward relative to the starry background every 24 hours, and its motion carries it near Jupiter this evening. From North America, the two appear within 5° of each other all night. They will be in conjunction at 6 a.m. EDT tomorrow morning, when our satellite passes 2° due south of the planet.

Sunday, May 15
About 45 minutes after Mars rises, Saturn pokes above the southeastern horizon. Although the ringed planet pales in comparison to its neighbor, its yellow color contrasts nicely with the Red Planet’s hue. Throw in the ruddy glow of nearby Antares, the 1st-magnitude luminary of Scorpius, and you have a colorful trio of bright objects to follow throughout the late evening and morning hours. As you might guess, Saturn’s proximity to Mars means it also will reach opposition and peak visibility soon — in fact, it reaches this orbital highlight June 3. The view of Saturn through a telescope never fails to impress. This week, the world appears 18″ across and sports a beautiful ring system that spans 42″ and tilts 26° to our line of sight.

 

Source

Astronomy magazine

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Friday, May 13th

Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 98.03° E
Sun Altitude: 41.79°
Sun Distance: 93.942 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 20, 2016 5:34 PM (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 5:47 AM↑ 66° East
Sunset Today: 7:55 PM↑ 294° Northwest
Length of Daylight: 14 hours, 7 minutes

 

Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 42.25° NE
Moon Altitude: -31.02°
Moon Distance: 243495 mi
Next Full Moon: May 21, 20164:14 PM
Next New Moon: Jun 4, 20169:59 PM
Next Moonrise: Today12:33 PM
Current Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 49.0%

 

Source

timeanddate.com

Wisdom

Through the ages we have travelled
We have seen all there is to know
We have entered the space that lies untouched
Our power has bridged time
Energy has filled the void
Their voices can be heard
We know what they have been taught
Their memories travel with us
For we know who they are
Our circle remains unbroken
For they call to us
We have come freely to know them
They have passed their knowledge to us
We can feel their thoughts
Their wisdom is ours
From time to time
From Witch to Witch
We are one….

—-A Witch’s Prayerbook
JoAnna Spiese