Tuesday’s Spellcrafting

 Strength
 Anger
 Independence
 Motivation
 Conquest
 Action
 Education
 Force
 Handling conflict

 

Source

A Spell Crafter’s Compendium
Terri Paajanen,

 

The Sky This Week: May 17 – May 22

Tuesday, May 17

• Grab your binoculars tonight and target the bright star Regulus in Jupiter’s current home constellation, Leo the Lion. Many people know that this object represents the Lion’s heart, but few realize it also is a binocular double. Regulus B, which glows at 8th-magnitude, shows up as a pinpoint nearly 3′ from the 1st-magnitude primary. See “10 tempting spring binocular targets” in the May issue of Astronomy for other treats visible with just the slightest optical aid.

Wednesday, May 18

• Neptune rises shortly before 3 a.m. local daylight time this week and appears low in the southeast before dawn. The distant world glows at magnitude 7.9, so you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to spot it. Fortunately, it lies near a brighter star that will help guide you. Look for the planet 0.4° south-southeast of 4th-magnitude Lambda (l) Aquarii. You can confirm a sighting of Neptune through a telescope, which reveals the planet’s 2.3″-diameter disk and blue-gray color.

• The Moon reaches apogee, the farthest point in its orbit around Earth, at 6:06 p.m. EDT. It then lies 252,235 miles (405,933 kilometers) from Earth’s center.

Thursday, May 19

• Brilliant Mars passes 1.0° due north of the 2nd-magnitude double star Delta (d) Scorpii this evening. Binoculars or a telescope at low power will afford the best views of this conjunction.

Friday, May 20

• Although Saturn will reach opposition and peak visibility two weeks from today, observers will be hard-pressed to see it as inferior this week. The ringed planet rises shortly after 9 p.m. local daylight time and appears highest in the south around 2 a.m. Saturn shines at magnitude 0.1 and stands out against the relatively dim background stars of southern Ophiuchus. If you target the beautiful world through a telescope, you’ll see its 18″-diameter disk surrounded by a ring system that spans 42″ and tilts 26° to our line of sight.

Saturday, May 21

• The Moon looks completely illuminated all night as it reaches Full phase at 5:14 p.m. EDT. You can find our satellite rising in the east around sunset and peaking in the south at 1 a.m. local daylight time. The Moon passed 6° due north of Mars during the afternoon hours, and those two form a dramatic quadrilateral with Saturn and the 1st-magnitude star Antares throughout the night.

Sunday, May 22

• Mars lies opposite the Sun in our sky today as it reaches peak visibility for 2016. The Red Planet appears low in the southeast as darkness falls and grows more prominent as the evening wears on and it climbs higher. By 1 a.m. local daylight time, it stands one-third of the way to the zenith in the southern sky against the backdrop of stars in northern Scorpius. The world shines at magnitude –2.1, brighter than it has been since 2005. When viewed through a telescope, the planet’s ocher-colored disk spans 18.4″ and shows subtle dark markings along with a whitish north polar cap. The Red Planet actually will come closest to Earth eight days from now, when its disk will swell to 18.6″ across. For more details on viewing the planet, see “Observe Mars at its best” in the May Astronomy.

• The Moon’s eastward motion relative to the background stars carries it 3° north of Saturn in this evening’s sky.
 

Source

Astronomy Magazine

 

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Tuesday, May 17th

Sun
Current Time: May 17, 2016 at 9:26:17 AM
Sun Direction: ↑ 97.01° E
Sun Altitude: 42.33°
Sun Distance: 94.019 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 20, 2016 5:34 PM (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 5:44 AM↑ 65° Northeast
Sunset Today: 7:58 PM↑ 296° Northwest
Length of Daylight: 14 hours, 13 minutes

 

Moon
Current Time: May 17, 2016 at 9:30:12 AM
Moon Direction: ↑ 350.35° N
Moon Altitude: -55.49°
Moon Distance: 251747 mi
Next Full Moon: May 21, 20164:14 PM
Next New Moon: Jun 4, 20169:59 PM
Next Moonrise: Today4:15 PM
Current Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 84.3%

 

Source

timeanddate.com

Astronomy Picture of the Day

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

2016 May 16

Clouds of the Carina Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: John Ebersole

 

Explanation: What forms lurk in the mists of the Carina Nebula? The dark ominous figures are actually molecular clouds, knots of molecular gas and dust so thick they have become opaque. In comparison, however, these clouds are typically much less dense than Earth’s atmosphere. Featured here is a detailed image of the core of the Carina Nebula, a part where both dark and colorful clouds of gas and dust are particularly prominent. The image was captured last month from Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. Although the nebula is predominantly composed of hydrogen gas — here colored green, the image was assigned colors so that light emitted by trace amounts of sulfur and oxygen appear red and blue, respectively. The entire Carina Nebula, cataloged as NGC 3372, spans over 300 light years and lies about 7,500 light-years away in the constellation of Carina. Eta Carinae, the most energetic star in the nebula, was one of the brightest stars in the sky in the 1830s, but then faded dramatically.

Your Daily Influences
May 16, 2016

 

 

The Hierophant
A lover of tradition and ceremony, The Hierophant needs social approval and appreciates the positive aspects of conformity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naudhiz
Naudhiz reversed may tell of needs met and harmonious relationships. Your passions for someone or something may be at their pinnacle.

 

 

 

 

Pisces the Fishes
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is escapist and idealistic, secretive and vague, weak-willed and easily led. This person probably relies to heavily upon you to make decisions for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Today’s Witches Rune

Romance

Meaning: The Romance rune is also a symbol of connection, just like the Rings rune. But differently from the latter, the former implies a deeper sort of connection. While in the Rings we have two (or more) people joining to reach a similar goal, here we have two people joining for reasons they can’t quite explain.

Hence this rune is related to love, passion, emotional bonds, sexual chemistry and sudden attraction. Any strong bond can be symbolized by this rune, including the unconditional parental love or a very strong friendship. And it’s not limited to the emotions that sparkle between individuals – the love can be also directed to an object, a subject or even a work.

It’s important to not limit this rune to the emotional field. It can be quite physical, representing sexual relations, arousal and irresistible magnetism. This rune is powerful, and often gives an extra impulse to any rune that is close it. Charismatic and seductive people are represented by the Romance rune as well.

Outside from the field of romance and sex, this rune is concerned with any act of creation. If you have any ongoing projects, you can be sure an extra impulse will come and spur you on. The Romance rune can also represent the reconciliation of opposite forces or tendencies, and the resolution of conflicts. Obsessive thoughts, stubbornness in pursuing a person or a goal and lack of objectivity are the downfalls of this rune.

Additional information about Today’s Witches Rune, Romance, courtesy of Your Spiritual Journey Australia

Your Rune Reading for the Upcoming Month

 

The Past that will reappear
Othala

Othala represents a solid, immovable home, prosperity and safety. Good fortune based on your heritage and character is yours to enjoy.

 

 

The Present Situation You will Find Yourself In
Ansuz

Ansuz represents mankind’s spiritual connection to God and the universe. It is often referred to as the “God Rune.” This Rune embodies reason, truth and justice. It denotes the coming of knowledge and true counsel from a higher authority.

 

 

A Glimpse of the Future Will Appear
Hagalaz

Hagalaz is the hail Rune. It denotes chaos, destruction and disruption on a primal level. You may experience delays in moving toward your goals.

 

 

 

 

 

Get A Jump On Tomorrow….

Your Daily Horoscopes for Tuesday, May 17th

 

Aries

The Moon continues to transit your partnership sector all day today and tomorrow, dear Aries. This is a time of the lunar month for considering areas of your life that require more balance, as well as your needs for companionship. It’s generally a good time for making compromises and small changes in order to better accommodate the needs and plans of people you care about. Despite possible worries about income this morning, the day is good for realistic thinking. You are considering the practical side of making your relationships, and your life in general, run more smoothly.

Taurus

There is continued focus on your daily affairs, work, routines, and health today, dear Taurus, and this will follow you into tomorrow as the Moon pays its monthly visit to your solar sixth house. There can be an emphasis on service, organization, and routine today. The Moon finds support in Saturn, and this boosts your ability to prioritize and meet responsibilities with a good attitude. You are rather content, for now, to be working under the radar as you need the time and space to get everything you want to accomplish done. Responsibilities are more readily accepted today.

Gemini

This is a good day for relating well with others, dear Gemini, not in an especially flashy way, but with mutual respect firmly in place. In fact, you’re attracting others by showing your reliable and dependable qualities right now. Even so, this can be a fine time to amuse yourself or to pour your energies into a creative project, hobby, or pastime. There can be focus on organizing and structuring activities nonetheless, and you can be very productive, even in your “play” time. You are looking for some kind of proof that your efforts are worthwhile, and this draws you to the practical side of things.

Cancer

The Moon transits your home and family sector all day, dear Cancer, stimulating your need to connect or reconnect with your emotional core and/or your family or close loved ones. It’s a brief but helpful transit that reminds you of the importance of finding your emotional center and your very real need to feel comfortable and safe. This can be thought of as a “checkpoint” of sorts. The Moon’s easy connection to Saturn in your work and health sector points to benefits from channeling some of your energy into getting organized and establishing better routines. There is also comfortable energy for relating to a partner.

Leo

The Moon is in your communications sector all day, dear Leo, stimulating your curiosity. This can motivate you — more than usual — to connect, learn, and venture out and about. This can be refreshing after days of increased focus on your practical affairs, as variety is craved now. A good relationship between the Moon and Saturn today points to comfort with rules and responsibilities, and for you, it’s likely to motivate you to work on creative or communications projects, particularly in areas of design and structure or organization. It’s also a good time to think up good business strategies, particularly along promotional lines.

Virgo

This is a potentially strong day for getting your bearings, dear Virgo, with the Moon in your stable solar second house in pleasant relationship with Saturn in your sector of home and family. It’s a good time for coming up with practical ideas for improving domestic and financial affairs, as well as for finding ways to make yourself feel more secure and safe. Taking care of dependents can also be in focus and enjoyable. Emotional intelligence is with you today, and your patience and foresight can benefit you in most areas of life.

Libra

Today and tomorrow, the Moon is in your sign all day, dear Libra. Emotional needs tend to be in the foreground, and while there is a temptation to fill every whim, Saturn’s connection to the Moon today can help round you out and ground you, reminding you that sustained effort pays off most. Today is good for bringing more structure to your daily life and to your projects, although you’ll want to leave some room for spontaneity. You may be asked for advice or turned to as an authority on a matter. Mentoring and guiding others can be satisfying, and you tend to learn something as you do – organizing your thoughts well enough to share them benefits you as well as others.

Scorpio

You are better able to combine practical vision with intuition today, dear Scorpio, making it a good time to come up with strong plans and strategies, along both material and emotional lines. Recognition for past accomplishments could come now, or you may be drawing on past experience and wisdom in order to solve practical problems today. The Moon is in your soul sector all day today and tomorrow, and you’re inclined to observe more than participate. It’s an important time for healing through rest and a healthy attitude towards letting go of those things that are dragging you down.

Sagittarius

There is continued focus on your social life, ideals, and progressive ideas today and tomorrow, dear Sagittarius, as the Moon makes its monthly visit to your solar eleventh house. You readily support the people you care about, backing up their visions and dreams with practical solutions. It’s rather easy now to hone in and intuit others’ needs, which you can match with the right kind of support. With friends and loved ones, your timing is on mark today, and you’re more emotionally tuned in and invested in them. It’s a strong day for mapping out long-term plans rather than implementing them.

Capricorn

This can be a good day for applying intuition to work or practical affairs, dear Capricorn. You can be in the position to manage others, and you do it especially well right now. Your common sense is always strong, and in focus for others to notice more than usual now. You’re in a good position to fortify and build, even if major forward action is not yet advised. Older or more mature company may be favored for now. Tending to your responsibilities and getting them out of the way is most satisfying with the Moon at the top of your chart. However, this is also a good time to look for ways to better balance work and play.

Aquarius

The Moon has moved into your sector of spirit and life experience, dear Aquarius, and will transit here all of today and tomorrow. While this position tends to incline you to see the bigger picture, today’s Moon-Saturn connection helps to tame some of the more impractical sides of this transit. You can be especially focused on long-term goals now, and it’s a strong time for making preparations or laying down foundations rather than embarking on all-new adventures. You might also be looking at old friendships in a new light today.

Pisces

The Moon continues to transit your intimacy and sharing sector all day today and tomorrow, dear Pisces, drawing your attention to the hidden elements of life, and of yourself. You are more interested in motivations and intentions than you are of what appears to be on the surface of things. While you may be worrying about income or resources this morning, a realistic mindset takes hold as the day advances. A Moon-Saturn connection helps you to find practical solutions to problems, particularly related to debts, shared income, and career matters. It’s also a good time for research – digging more deeply into a subject can be especially satisfying now.