As you probably had noticed we have been giving you several blessings to greet the dawn with. But what about bedtime, twilight, sunset? No, we haven’t forgot about that time of day at all. In fact, today, we have a very beautiful and simply way for you to end your day. It is a brief prayer to the Divine and it covers pretty much everything we have to be thankful for. We hope you enjoy it!
Got to run over to the Podcast and do a little work there. I did want to clarify something, if you listened to the podcast “Bindrunes 101.” I was not drunk, I sounded like it but I wasn’t. I don’t even drink. The doctor has changed my pain medicine and of course I took one before I did the broadcast. But at least I wasn’t drunk, lol! With all the tests they have been doing they have traced the start of the tumor on my hip to my liver. It seems your liver has little nodes in it and tumors and growths can hide there. The mass on my hip had little things that looked like branches on it. After looking and looking they found that the branches stemmed from a growth hiding out in my liver. So I don’t know what they are going to do about it. I told Lady Beltane that when I take one of these new pills to stop the pain, I don’t walk, I don’t drive, I don’t move but at least I don’t hurt. HA, ain’t that living now. There is a mile long name for what I have, all I know it is a genetic disorder. Now what they are going to do about it, don’t know that either. I go back to the doctors the first of May and find out then. Just keep me in your prayers.
Now off to the Podcast, we are going to try to get some Dragon magick on there but there is one hell of a storm coming up. So we will see if the lights stay on long enough for us to get it done. Till tomorrow, my sweets…….
Love ya,
Lady A
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.
2017 April 16
Life-Enabling Plumes above Enceladus
Image Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA Explanation: Does Enceladus have underground oceans that could support life? The discovery of jets spewing water vapor and ice was detected by the Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft in 2005. The origin of the water feeding the jets, however, was originally unknown. Since discovery, evidence has been accumulating that Enceladus has a deep underground sea, warmed by tidal flexing. Pictured here, the textured surface of Enceladus is visible in the foreground, while rows of plumes rise from ice fractures in the distance. These jets are made more visible by the Sun angle and the encroaching shadow of night. A recent fly-through has found evidence that a plume — and so surely the underlying sea — is rich in molecular hydrogen, a viable food source for microbes that could potentially be living there.
Tonight – April 16, 2017 – and throughout April and May, let the bright planet Jupiter and sparkling blue-white star Spica help you find the famous Omega Centauri star cluster. In 2017, Spica is easy to find because Jupiter is so bright and beams quite close to this star. In any year – even after Jupiter has moved away – Spica can help you find this cluster. That’s because, when Spica climbs highest up for the night, so does Omega Centauri. Follow the links below to learn more:
How can I find Jupiter and Spica, and then the cluster?
What if I’m in the Southern Hemisphere?
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How can I find Jupiter and Spica, and then the cluster? Jupiter is easy. It’s the brightest starlike object in the night sky until Venus rises, shortly before dawn. Spica will be the nearest bright star to Jupiter.
In years when Jupiter is elsewhere, you can use the Big Dipper to find Spica. Just “follow the arc” in the Big Dipper’s handle to the bright orange star Arcturus, then “drive a spike” (keep extending that line) to Spica.
Spica transits – climbs to its highest point in the sky – in the middle of the night in mid-April, for all locations around the globe. With each passing week, Spica will transit half an hour earlier. By mid-May, Spica will be transiting (appearing highest in the sky) around mid-evening (midway between sundown and midnight). You can find Spica’s (or Jupiter’s) precise transit time for your sky at the US Naval Observatory.
When Spica is highest in the south for Northern Hemisphere viewers, Omega Centauri is, too. When Spica is highest, look for Omega Centauri about 35odirectly below it. A fist at an arm’s length approximates 10o.
You can see Omega Centauri with the unaided eye if your sky is dark enough and if you’re far enough south on the Earth. People living south of 35o North latitude have a realistic chance of spotting the cluster over the southern horizon, though we’ve seen at least one report of Omega Centauri seen as far north as Point Pelee National Park in Canada (42o north latitude). Omega Centauri looks like a fairly faint (and possibly fuzzy) star.
And, of course, it’s awesome from the Southern Hemisphere.
What if I’m in the Southern Hemisphere? As seen from the Southern Hemisphere, Spica and Omega Centauri pass more nearly overhead. They still transit at approximately the same time (late evening in mid-April, mid-evening in mid-May). They’re still located about 35 o apart.
From the Southern Hemisphere, you’ve got a beautiful way to find this cluster. And, indeed, your view of the cluster will be better than ours in the north, because Omega Centauri will be higher in your sky.
To get in its general vicinity on the sky’s dome, look for the famous Southern Cross, which, officially, is the constellation Crux. Along the eastern edge of Crux is the dark Coalsack Nebula. Near the Coalsack – visible in binoculars – is the Jewel Box, an open star cluster with about 100 members, whose stars are colored red, white and blue.
If you can locate these objects, you’ll also find Omega Centauri. Consult the charts below for its location.
What is Omega Centauri? Omega Centauri is the largest and finest globular star cluster visible to the eye alone. Globular clusters are large, symmetrically shaped groupings of stars, fairly evenly distributed around the core of our Milky Way galaxy. Many northern stargazers have this particular cluster on their bucket lists.
Seeing Omega Centauri is very special in part because you can see it with your eye alone, assuming you have a dark-enough sky. Very few of the Milky Way galaxy’s 250 or so globular star clusters are readily visible without optics.
Like all globular clusters, Omega Centauri is best seen through a telescope. Then you see it as a globe-shaped stellar city, teeming with an estimated 10 million stars!
Bottom line: From the Northern Hemisphere, you can use the star Spica in the constellation Virgo to locate Omega Centauri on springtime nights! From the Southern Hemisphere, star hop from the Southern Cross, to the dark Coalsack Nebula, to the Jewel Box star cluster, to Omega Centauri.
Published on EarthSky
Today’s Meaning:
This is probably the most popular of charms. You will be protected in this aspect. No one will be able to harm you or your state of being.
General Description:
The Cross has always been a favorite device. It was used by the sun-worshipers as a symbol of the sun, and their warriors carried the Cross upon their shields. In olden days kings and nobles, when they could not write, used the sign of the Cross. That sign was used in breaking spells and for protection from evil spirits. In the East the Cross hbas been used as a talisman from time immemorial. The Eastern Cross as illustrated was worn as a charm against sickness, accidents and witchcraft, also to attract good fortune. Sentences from the Koran were often inscribed upon the small pendents to make the charm still more potent.
The iridescent emerald plumage and spectacular broad tail of The Peacock make it the ideal symbol of both justified pride and vanity. It denotes the right for one to be proud of themselves for being who they are and for letting others know. In short, its okay to strut a bit. At the same time The Peacock reminds us that while pride and high self esteem are essential components of a healthy psyche, becoming too full of one’s self makes us vain, and vanity is never attractive in anyone.
As a daily card, The Peacock is reminder that you are inherently valuable, and have a right to be proud of who you are as well as let others know you are proud of yourself. It is also a warning to not allow you pride and sense of self worth grow to such grand proportions that you become vain and conceited.
Art
Art denotes balance and harmony. The forces behind Art are those that keep us from succumbing to temptation or over-indulgence; steer us away from developing unhealthy addictions or behaviors. The Art driven Spirit avoids extremes, spreads harmony and brings opposing sides together. They find a happy, healthy median between what they want and what they need. Art provides an environment in which most will thrive, and a haven where the injured may heal, reenergize. Through Art success and contentment are found by practicing self-restraint, and using balance to create your own “shelter from the storm.”.
Tarot Influence
Page of Swords Reversed
Expect the unexpected. Inane behavior may hamper you. Cunning may be called for.
Astrological Influence
Cancer Reversed
Cancer reversed denotes a lack of creative energy and disregard for home-life.
Element Influence
Air
Air denotes freedom and the ability to transcent the mundane. You may be, or may soon experience a spiritual or secular liberation.
You have extra protection today, but this is not a reason to act rashly or take extra risks. In fact, you may be called upon to protect someone else or to safeguard some progress or advantage that was recently gained. Have self-confidence in all situations but don’t take your safety for granted. Be willing to be responsible for those around you and win a lot of loyalty.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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