Get A Jump on Tomorrow….

Your Daily Horoscopes for Monday, April 17th

by Rick Levine

Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2017

If You Were Born Today, April 16

While you yearn for security and stability, you are easily bored with routines and can get antsy if you don’t have freedom of movement. This can make you somewhat difficult to please at times! You can be quite indecisive in love, and in long-term setups, you’ll need to vary the routine frequently in order to keep your interest levels high. Dynamic and spirited, you have a kooky sense of humor and your interests (as well as talents) are many. Famous people born today: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Peter Ustinov, Ellen Barkin, Charlie Chaplin.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

With the Sun and Moon in harmony in your Solar Return chart, the year ahead should be satisfying and balanced overall. You are in comfortable demand and personally popular, and you are able to achieve a decent balance between work and play; personal and professional life. For the most part, you are on top of your game this year, and positive connections with others can be made fairly easily. With the ability to handle your emotions successfully, there is less stress on both your mind and body. Your self-confidence and positive attitude will reward you!

With Uranus electrifying your Sun this year, you can expect a rather liberated and interesting period ahead. Changes are in store for you, and they’re likely to be very positive if you recognize and honor your need for newness in your life. This influence brings about big changes, sudden events, unanticipated disruptions, and surprising situations into your life. These happenings are likely to have a major impact on your character, vitality, and individuality. You may feel the urge to break out and embrace new and exciting things. Life will be exciting–and the changes positive–if you go with the flow. If you deny your urge for change, feelings of restlessness and rebelliousness will unexpectedly erupt, prompting sudden lunges for freedom that can have surprising results and reactions. This influence stimulates your creativity, excitability, self-will, and originality. Sudden flashes of insight increase your spiritual awareness. You may become more outspoken, even rebellious. Career breaks or changes are possible. Alternatively, you might change the direction of your life path to suit the “new you”. Unexpected events may cause you to rethink some of your goals and ambitions. In the area of relationships, there could be sudden attachments and equally sudden breakups. Ongoing connections with others may also undergo abrupt fluctuations.

Transiting Saturn harmonizes with your Sun until November, however, and this is a steadying, helpful influence. You are practical in your choices (for the most part), keeping your feet on the ground and paying attention to, and honoring, tradition as well as tried-and-true methods. You have the power of practicality, realism, and caution on your side in the year ahead. Work you have done in the past begins to pay off this year–not necessarily in dramatic ways, but in small, measurable ways. You may be recognized or rewarded in some way for the efforts you put forth. Because you project a more responsible and credible “you”, people in authority are more inclined to appreciate you and recognize your work.

Considering both of the above influences are in force at the same time, this can be an excellent period for blending the progressive and traditional and for finding new ways of doing things without sacrificing security and stability. You may be making experimental situations work for you now.

You are likely to form new relationships or connections that further your spiritual growth or to enhance existing relationships with a spirit of camaraderie. People in authority regard you favorably. Events take place in which you feel like you are moving forward and growing into a new phase of your life.

This is a time when you feel confident and supported enough to pursue your desires. You rather readily direct your energies into meaningful activities. It’s a good time to take steps towards making yourself feel more secure and safe, as well as for family or domestic activities.

It is easier than ever to express your individuality in a manner that is true to you this year. You are attracted to mind-body healing activities and can benefit greatly from them.

With Venus in a tense aspect to Saturn in your Solar Return, getting serious about love or money (or both) will be a theme this year. Money may be tight, or the need to buckle down with your finances may be necessary. This does not necessarily signify financial losses or hardship, but you are likely to have an increased awareness of your limits. The responsibilities of partnership are magnified this year. You are likely to be more earnest on a romantic level. An existing relationship may become more serious, or you may form a new partnership with a serious or older person. You are likely to work hard this year, and this could interfere with pleasure time.

Even so, you have distinct opportunities in the relationship department at other points in the year. As well, your personal magnetism is excellent. You are playfully competitive and might win a major competition, if applicable. This is a good period for creative projects and joining with others in pursuing a common goal.

Personal appeal in the period ahead is strong, although there can be some ups and downs in relationships from time to time. The year ahead is excellent for teaching, guiding, sharing, and learning. This can be a time of career advances and is a strong period for focusing on priorities. You may be pouring a lot of your energy into particular projects. You are practical in your decision making, and you’re able to bring both enthusiasm and practicality to your endeavors this year. When you are motivated, you can accomplish great things, bringing new life to old goals. 

2017 is a Number Three year for you. Ruled by Jupiter. This is a year of sociability. It is a friendly time when it is easy to enjoy life and other people. Focus is on personal freedom, reaching out to others, making new friends, and exploration. You are more enthusiastic and ready for adventure. It is likely to be a rather lighthearted year when opportunities for “play” time are greater than usual. It’s also a good year for expressing your creativity. Advice – reach out, but avoid scattering your energies.

2018 will be a Number Four year for you. Ruled by Uranus. This is a year of work and development. It’s “nose to the grindstone” time. It’s a time to deal with practical matters, and it’s not a time to be lazy or especially gregarious. Sometimes, it can be a year that feels hard, monotonous and routine, and/or lonely. Positive new relationships are generally not formed in a Four personal year. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

Courtesy of Cafe Astrology

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Your Daily Horoscopes for Sunday, April 16th

Aries

Your ruler, Mars, forms two lovely aspects today, dear Aries, and this suggests an incredible ease and flow to your self-expression. It’s a strong day for gaining support and interest, and for seeking out what and who you want. You are appealingly upfront, and others are seeing exactly what makes you special or unique. You can make excellent progress with a business idea. The day is better for gestures and actions than verbal expressions, and if you need to unload built-up stress, it’s a fine time to do so with physical or outdoors activity. Your inner courage is strong now. You are certainly very ready to defend yourself and your worth or value, but you are best off proving your value with positive actions. You have special appeal today. After weeks of retrograde Venus activity, it finally feels that you’re going forward, and it feels great! You’ll feel even more refreshed after April 28th when Venus returns to your sign for an extended stay, but you’re feeling encouraged now.

Taurus

You want to make positive steps towards a goal or improve your life today, dear Taurus, or you might simply want to put overthinking behind you and enjoy the moment. Your spirits run high, and you can be feeling empowered. Not only has Venus, your ruler, ended its retrograde, but Mars in your sign is also forming two encouraging aspects today, facilitating efforts to put the past behind you or to reach out to others. You may meet a special friend or someone special through a friend or group connection (or possibly even networking). Friendships and love relationships can strengthen or enliven now. Mercury remains retrograde in your sign, and you may not always feel that you have the right words at the tip of your tongue, but your body language is very effective. You are giving off warm and stimulating vibes. It’s a good time to follow up with others. You might enjoy productive or motivating activities with people around you now.

Gemini

While a lot is going on inside you these days, dear Gemini, you are likely to wear a beautiful glow today and attract some attention for it. You naturally take the lead and set the trends, making it easy for others to follow along. You are a mentally-oriented person by nature, but today you are quite fine with letting go of overthinking and throwing yourself into action, allowing what you do talk for itself. If a relationship could use some repair, this is a good time for it, less through words and more through gestures and actions. Your charisma is high now, and part of it involves mystery, as you’re not inclined to share everything these days. Your approach may be a tad roundabout, but this can work in your favor. Patience is a good strategy right now.

Cancer

You can feel a strong desire to make improvements to your life today, dear Cancer, and you’re in a good position to do so. If there have been recent troubles in your relationships, you can work on them through positive actions today. You’d rather do something about a problem than simply think or talk about it. In fact, this is probably the best approach now. Opportunities to meet someone special through groups, acquaintances, long-distance communications, and networking can emerge now. Or, you can find satisfaction and inspiration through these channels. Your creative powers are good today, and smooth energy is with you for pursuing a project that’s important to you. Affection is easier to express in explicit and direct ways today – energy that has been missing for some time now, and it feels good to have it back.

Leo

There is a building sense of purpose with you now, and it feels good, dear Leo. You have stronger conviction today and tomorrow, and things you had trouble expressing or deciding upon in recent weeks now flow out of you effortlessly. Words may not be perfect, but actions can be clear. Venus has just turned direct, and while still sluggish, gets a boost from Mars today. This can translate into improved intimate relations or a career prospect for you. You might get professional support or backing now. Competition is of the friendly or healthy kind – you’re motivated to give a little more. Taking steps to improve your connections makes sense today. The Moon’s move into your work and health sector this evening draws your attention to your duties, tasks, and daily routines.

Virgo

This is another fine day for taking action rather than overthinking things, dear Virgo. Sometimes it’s much better to jump into action and then figure things out as you go along. This can be a good time for some form of adventure with a special person in your life, or for feeling that you have a sense of purpose through a relationship. You are likely to feel both supported and nurtured yet also highly stimulated and motivated. A person’s good opinion of you may spur you on to make more improvements, for example. Your intuition seems to be spot on today, and your focus is on personal matters, healing energies, and positive reinforcement. You could find yourself on the same or complementary page as a significant other.

Libra

Your ruler, Venus, has just turned direct, dear Libra, and while sluggish, picks up an encouraging aspect today. You have healing energy with you to channel into private matters and physical health. This can be a good time for physical therapy of some sort, even on an informal level. You can be exceptionally smart, original, and responsive today, and you’re looking at normal situations in new ways. Providing a service or volunteering your help can figure strongly. This can be a great time for getting back into the swing of things with your work or wellness routines. Intimate matters flow effortlessly, and you can be feeling quite accepting and peaceful with yourself or a partner. Your natural confidence now can be particularly appealing to others.

Scorpio

You’ll manage to inspire confidence and faith today, dear Scorpio, as you have a quietly and magically healing touch with Mars in easy aspect to healer Chiron connecting your relationship sectors. Your natural confidence is part of your charm now, and it’s likely to be in direct proportion to your ability to take action. You are virtually fearless when it comes to facing problems, and others are drawn to you. There is a pleasant feel to your relationships today, but there is some spiciness involved as well. In fact, interactions can be inspired and inspiring, and feedback can be motivating. If relationships could use some form of work or repair, and many of them do with Venus recently retrograde, then today is good for positive actions and gestures.

Sagittarius

You are likely to find it easy and natural to make connections with others that boost your spirits and confidence, dear Sagittarius. Particularly coming out of a retrograde Venus cycle, it feels wonderful to sense that things are moving forward. Positive feedback is likely now, especially if you aren’t looking for it. It’s easy to psych people and situations out right now, as you seem to have your finger on the pulse of the moment. Reducing mental stress is easier today through activities or taking action rather than overthinking things. Some competitiveness can be stimulating, and today’s is likely to be of the friendly variety. You are gracious and obliging, and you could volunteer your help with a practical matter to show your affection. The Moon leaves your sign tonight, ending its monthly two-day visit, and emotions tend to steady enough that you can more effectively focus on your practical affairs.

Capricorn

This is a time to stay on top of things socially, dear Capricorn, as opportunities to connect with friends or lovers can emerge in the coming days, even if there are some hurdles to clear. Today is another good day for activity – perhaps even better than recent days. You are courageous when it comes to finding the source of a problem and dealing with it. You don’t want to feel weighed down or restricted by overthinking. Physical activities or games can help reduce built-up stress. Creative self-expression seems to loosen and flow more naturally now, and this is set to increase. Interactions with friends and children are warm and fun. There are days when others can seem to drain your energy and others when friends energize you, and it’s likely to be the latter today. The Moon leaves your privacy sector tonight when it enters your own sign. This also serves to build your courage, conviction, and decisiveness.

Aquarius

You are very willing to cooperate today, dear Aquarius, but if this means compromising or stifling your creativity, you’re likely to go your own way happily. You can feel more capable of taking charge and handling problem areas confidently. Personal comfort, beauty, and prized possessions can be in strong focus now. You are particularly confident about pursuing your needs and wants, and you may want to take action that sets the ball into motion. This is a good day for magnetizing people and things to you. You can be particularly resourceful, and situations seem to draw out your natural talents, which come in handy now! The Moon also slips into your privacy or emotional wellness sector tonight, pointing you in the direction of disengaging and relaxing.

Pisces

Attempts to reach out to others can be very successful today, dear Pisces. You’re in better shape showing your affections through your actions than through speech alone, and you have added confidence to do so. Extending help, graciousness, and courtesies can be very beneficial now. People appreciate your style, and there will be a whole lot more of this going forward. You are both charming and assertive now – a magical combination! Your ability to guide and heal through your personal presence is in the spotlight. Sincerity and honesty are particularly attractive traits today, and now with Venus moving direct in your sign, it’s easier to come across well with others.

Astrology of Today – Sunday, April 16, 2017

• The Moon is in Sagittarius until 7:04 PM EDT, after which the Moon is in Capricorn.
• The Moon is void from 2:26 PM to 7:04 PM.
• The Moon is waning and in its Waning Gibbous phase.
• The Full Moon occurred on the 11th in the sign of Libra, and the Last Quarter Moon will occur on the 19th.
• Mercury is retrograde (Mercury is retrograde from April 9-May 3).
• Venus is no longer retrograde and is in its post-retrograde shadow until May 18th.

Your Cosmic Weather Horoscope for April 2017

by Jane Lyle

From the website, The Astrology Room

Thoughts for April:

“The seasonal urge is strong in poets. Milton wrote chiefly in winter. Keats looked for spring to wake him up (as it did in the miraculous months of April and May, 1819). Burns chose autumn. Longfellow liked the month of September. Shelley flourished in the hot months.

Some poets, like Wordsworth, have gone outdoors to work. Others, like Auden, keep to the curtained room. Schiller needed the smell of rotten apples about him to make a poem. Tennyson and Walter de la Mare had to smoke. Auden drinks lots of tea, Spender coffee; Hart Crane drank alcohol. Pope, Byron, and William Morris were creative late at night. And so it goes.”

Helen Bevington, ‘When Found, Make a Verse Of’

April is full of natural creativity. It offers abundant opportunities to pick up something we’ve done, and find new ways to re-do or recreate that project, love affair, attitude, or journey.

During April, Saturn, Mercury, and Pluto turn back. Jupiter is already rewinding in Libra until June, while lovely Venus – one of the many goddesses celebrated in pagan springtime – will be retrograde until mid-month. The Sun enters Taurus, the Bull, on 19th April, favouring a down-to-earth, hands-on approach. It’s time to look back, look within, and tune in to the spirit of spring, 2017.

Monday, 3rd April – Friday, 28th April:

Venus sashays back to the oceans of Pisces

April was, for the Romans, a month that began by celebrating Venus in her role as Venus Verticordia, changer of hearts. This festival, the Veneralia, was a time when Romans asked the goddess for her help with love and marriage. Astrological Venus is strong in Pisces, and many of us will be in tune with those ancient Romans this April.

April 2017’s Venus in fishy Pisces brings a subtle change of atmosphere in the realms of the love goddess. The allure of the past will be very strong – vintage fashion and beauty, classical music, ancient artefacts, and retro designs are all having an enchanting moment. The shimmering glamour of old Hollywood hooks us in again. Older artists, designers, musicians and creative people step into the limelight.

Past discussions about money continue – and can link back to talks and thoughts from late January – early February this year. Nailing down anything now could be tricky – there are pitfalls, or hidden factors lurking. So it’s wise to be cautious, and take things one step at a time.

In love and friendship, we feel an urge to be kinder or more compassionate. In many ways boundaries weaken or dissolve between self and other, past and present, tangible and elusive. There is empathy and bliss. There is also secrecy and potentially, sacrifice – of love, of expectations and dreams, or of time and personal ambition. Venus in Pisces can be in love with clandestine love, or hidden art and money.

Venus in Pisces can symbolise a dream lover, a passionate ghost, a partner who is far away –  maybe in hospital, prison, online, or even on a ship at sea. With Venus rewinding, our past connections continue to influence the present with old friends, lovers, and crushes in our thoughts, or back in our lives. All these things are expanded by Jupiter, currently in Venus’ home sign of Libra, while Venus is in one of Jupiter’s traditional home signs, Pisces. There are big love hearts being drawn in the sand.

Romantic reshuffles are especially likely between April 15th – 20th when Venus in idealistic Pisces and Mars in sensuous Taurus connect. For some, it could be sex with an ex. For others, it’s about where a relationship is going, and what each partner wants.

Needless to say, there are a few little flies in the celestial ointment…..

April Venus also aligns with the potent fixed star, Scheat, at 29 Pisces, in the constellation of Pegasus the Winged Horse. This star emphasises mental creativity, ambition, and enthusiasm. Yet it warns against vanity leading to poor decisions.

Scheat is associated with shipping and ocean voyages. In it’s most sinister expression, Scheat signifies downfall – and is therefore associated with accidents, notably airline crashes and shipwrecks.

Saturn is challenging lovely Venus all month long as well. Saturn underlines the past, and what endures in friendships, love, art and music. Saturn represents the need for solidity, restrictions, and boundaries. We can expect many fluctuations and tensions around emotion, love, and finances this month. At best, we appreciate how small is beautiful, and how pleasure doesn’t have to be extravagant to be fulfilling. This looks like a global mood, for Saturn is aligned with the Galactic Centre at 27 Sagittarius this April.

Venus herself is retrograde in Pisces until 15th April, returning to Aries on 28th April. But I don’t expect much to change immediately when she turns direct. It’s still old territory, first crossed in January and February. We move towards something new by mid-May. Until then, what we’ve experienced so far this year offers a feast of food for thought.

Venus travels from 1 degree Aries, back through 29, 28, 27, 26 Pisces, and then forwards again to reach 0 Aries by the end of April.

Sunday 9th April – Wednesday 3rd May:

Mercury retrograde

Mercury reverses in earthy Taurus today. Revising or redoing practical jobs, and checking computer security and financial records all over again might be top of the list during this time – 9th April until the 20th, when Mercury backtracks into Aries, finally turning direct on the 3rd May.

Generally, we should – as always on a Mercury retrograde – be prepared to check everything twice during this whole phase, particularly travel arrangements. And are you quite sure you’ve been understood? Sometimes we need to find various ways of communicating an important point during this phase.

This is a helpful time to reconsider or redo things. During the Taurus phase that tends to mean very slowly…….

But Mercury retrograde is usually a doubtful time to launch a new PR campaign, internet-based business, or anything involving communications, such as unveiling new technology. Things could simply go wrong – technical difficulties for example – or lead to unintended consequences. Delaying signing an important agreement or contract could be a wise move too, if at all possible. What’s agreed now may have to be unpicked and done again later on.

After 20th April, the pace quickens. Mercury, back in active Aries, will be bursting with ideas, things to say, and a mischievous love of chaos. At this point, we have a few days when we can firm up practical details of clever plans and ideas. And when Saturn flows with Mercury, it’s a productive time for research. Digging around in the past works well, for both planets are retrograde and Saturn is the Lord of Time.

And then….

Between the 26th April – 10th May we take a jaunty little walk on the wild side. Mercury aligns with Uranus, and there are electrifying light-bulb moments popping up all over the place. These can be exciting, yet disruptive days. Some jaw-dropping truth telling can shift beliefs and attitudes at this point too. Mercury and Uranus bring sudden, sometimes shocking, news. Rebellion and revolution are a strong theme.

Mercury turns direct on 3rd May, but we’re likely to be dealing with existing issues, or addressing this year’s misunderstandings until 20th May.

Mercury’s next retrograde is 13th August – 5th September.

Tuesday, 11th April:

The Full Moon rises in airy Libra, the Scales, at 21 degrees.

What’s fair? What is justice? What is strategy and what is manipulation?
This full Moon provokes such questions.

Diplomats of the world unite – we’ll be needing you!

The Moon is square Pluto, opposite Uranus, and widely conjunct Jupiter in Libra. These are dynamic aspects, their flavour is familiar, their mission is to encourage breakthroughs and moves towards constructive changes in our world. Easier said than done, of course.

Friday 14th April – Monday 17th April:

Happy Easter!

During the Easter weekend the Moon travels through humorous Sagittarius, favouring friendship, gatherings, and weekends away. Do check your travel plans though. Mercury is retrograde, so plans tend to go awry due to those annoying events – such as strikes – outside our control.

On Friday, 14th April, The Sun in Aries joins with Uranus  – promising some Easter surprises, illuminations, inspirations or upsets. The UK, USA, France and Eire are amongst places that may experience turbulent times (more so than usual) this weekend.

On Sunday and Monday, a flowing trine between the Sun and Saturn settles things down a little, and emphasises our sense of history and tradition.

Venus in indulgent Pisces is simultaneously challenged by austere Saturn. Potentially, this could limit our Easter egg habit, and our weekend spending on frivolities, just a bit.  There may be Easter break-ups or endings for some of us.

Saturday, April 22nd – Friday, April 28th:

International Dark Sky Week

“The soul of the newly born baby is marked for life by the pattern of the stars at the moment it comes into the world, unconsciously remembers it, and remains sensitive to the return of configurations of a similar kind.”

– Johannes Kepler, brilliant astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer. ‘Harmony of the World’ (1619)

There was once a time when astronomers were also astrologers. When you see the night sky in all its glory, you see the visible patterns of stars and planets that all astrologers once used to guide them. With ever-increasing light pollution, many of us never see the night sky as it really is, or understand the awe and wonder it once inspired in every human being

Wednesday, 26th April:

April’s New Moon rises in earthy Taurus the Bull, at 6 degrees

Yes, A new Moon in Taurus says why not get down and dirty?

Nature, pleasure, food and frolics are calling you!

Source:

The Astrology Room

April 15th – 16th

Tellus Mater

The Italian deity Tellus Mater—mother of the earth—was honored on this day. She was a very early fertility deity (later associated with Jupiter) who watched over marriage, the procreation creation of children, and the fruitfulness of the soil. Her festival tival was managed by the pontifices and the Vestal Virgins, at which a pregnant cow was sacrificed to ensure plenty throughout the year. In more modern times, this day is traditionally ditionally devoted to prayer for the continued health of our environment.

A Simple Prayer of Gratitude

Without Thy sunshine and Thy rain,
We would not have the golden grain
Without Thy love we’d not be fed,
We thank thee Lady for our daily bread.

Meeting the animal of strength

The animal of strength you will meet in this meditation may be the animal you expected – or may not be. You are therefore advised not to have expectations. It is important not to think of a particular animal before beginning the meditation, so that you can be open to all possibilities. If the animal that you imagine to be your animal of strength is indeed your animal of strength during this period of your life, it will appear by itself.
Perform the meditation in a quiet, calm place with quiet and clean energies. Clear your mind of all thoughts. Relax your body. (You can use the Jacobson technique – contracting and relaxing all the muscles from your toes upward, or you can project light onto every organ until you feel totally relaxed.)

Close your eyes. Take two deep, slow breaths. Inhale through your nose and hold your breath as long as you can – without feeling uncomfortable – and exhale through your mouth. Ignore any irrelevant thought that may pop into your mind. Behind your closed eyes, see a white screen. Concentrate on it. You may see some pleasant color or shape beginning to emerge in your mind’s eye. In your thoughts, ask your animal of strength to show itself on the screen. Concentrate hard on your request.

Wait patiently and don’t let any thoughts distract you. Within a certain amount of time, the image of an animal will appear before your eyes. It may advance slowly toward you, or you may see it in a sharp, clear flash. It may reveal itself from behind, the side, or the front. It may even be an animal that you don’t like – don’t let this bother you. Let the image emerge in your mind’s eye.

The moment you see the animal, look at it quietly, and notice what it is doing, if it is performing any actions. Direct your thoughts to picking up messages telepathically from the animal. These could occur as a voice speaking inside you, as other pictures, or as the intuitive knowledge of the animal’s words or messages. As we said before, the message may be in a human language that is familiar to you. Sometimes the animal appears as part of an occurrence or event that is familiar to you. Of course, this situation also bears an individual message.

Concentrate as hard as you can. Notice the colors that surround the animal and then open your eyes slowly. In your heart, thank the universal force for letting you channel with your animal of strength, and write down your experiences and sights in your awareness notebook. You can also draw what you saw. Sometimes it happens that you see more than one animal, or an animal that exists in the real world along with some kind of mythological animal. Similarly, another time, a different animal may appear, bearing a different message.

After the meditation, you should think of the following things: Have you ever dreamed of a particular kind of animal? What happened in that dream? You can ask that animal to appear in your dream at night and channel with it. To this end, you can use crystals for channeling and dreaming. After you have seen the animal in the meditation, ask yourself why that particular animal appeared in front of you.

Day-by-Day Wicca: A complete guide to Wicca from Beliefs and Rituals to Magic and Witchcraft (Astrolog Complete Guides)
Tabatha Jennings

Your animal of strength – the totem animal

The concept of an animal of strength, or a totem animal, is widespread in many cultures. In the Jewish culture, there are examples of the use of animals as symbols of a personality or behavior type. Some of the pennants of the tribes of Israel bore pictures of the animal that represented the tribe. The most famous is the Lion of Judah. The writings of one of the sages, in which he suggested that it is preferable to be a lion’s tail rather than a fox’s head, describes the way in which our animal of strength is supposed to help us. In the Native American culture, every tribe, clan, and nuclear family had a totem. Today, too, in various organizations and companies, animals are used as symbols that represent the group that participates in a particular type of activity, mainly in the USA (such as the “Lions” organization, “The Generous and Protected Order of the Antelope”, etc.). Sports teams also adopt totem animals, such as the Chicago Bulls.

Christianity adopted two “totem” animals – the lamb, which symbolizes Jesus, and the fish.

As we said, in Judaism, too, every animal represents a particular kind of energy. The fish is a symbol of fertility, the lion is the symbol of power and strength, the deer is a symbol of speed, and so on.

The second type of totem animal is the personal and individual one. These animals are energies, and, according to certain beliefs, spirits that protect and guide us in life. It is interesting that to this day, many parents give their children some kind of fluffy animal – a bear, for instance – to make it easier to fall asleep and help them feel protected. They are not aware of it, generally speaking, but this is also a totem animal.

The signs of the Zodiac also contain animals that attest more than once to the energy that influences the person’s life.

Frequently, we unconsciously identify the totem animal of a particular person. We look at him, and he seems to “remind” us of a certain animal. We also use animal descriptions to describe various people.

Animals hold a place of honor among the shamans. The first task of the future shaman is to learn to travel in other worlds and dimensions and discover his own totem animal, his animal of strength. This knowledge is necessary for starting the young shaman’s protracted learning process.

Personal animals of strength are generally the reflection of the self, and also represent qualities needed in this world, which are often hidden, concealed, and not yet expressed. Sometimes, people feel somewhat disappointed when they discover that their animal of strength is a “small” animal that seems to lack strength, such as a rabbit or a mouse. This error derives from a lack of understanding that the spirit of the animals, or their energies, is neither “small” nor “big” – it is not limited to the boundaries of this world and the physical reality and size of the animal, or to its strength in the physical world. None of those factors is relevant. Whether your animal of strength is “big” or “small,” you will quickly discover that in time of need, it will help you exactly to the extent that you need help.

According to the Native American tradition, the personal totem animal, in contrast to family, clan, or tribal totem animals, may change several times during the person’s lifetime, according to his specific needs. At times when you feel weak, exhausted, and depressed, your totem animal is far away from you, and you have to bring it back or find a new one.

We all have a totem animal – an animal of strength, energy that is represented by a certain animal – that is linked to us and protects us. Many animals of strength serve as our guards and protectors, and exist in other dimensions. Certain animals were with us in previous lives, but they may have had a different physical form. Occasionally, a particular animal of strength of ours may appear in our lives in a different form and establish physical contact with us by coming into the world as a cat, a dog, and so on.

When you go on the journey to discover your animal of strength, it is almost certain that forces, or certain energies (as we said, according to the Native American tradition, those are the spirits of the animal; I personally prefer to define them as the energy of the animal), will introduce themselves as your animal of strength. If you already know and are familiar with your animal of strength, the animal you meet on your journey will bless you and grant you additional power.

According to the Native American tradition, all birds and mammals are positive totem animals. Any positive totem animal can be your animal of strength. However, not only familiar and well-known animals are our animals of strength. Insects and reptiles can serve as transmitters of messages or give us a certain insight that will support us during the rest of our mental and spiritual development. Sometimes, the animal of strength may be an extinct animal (such as the Australian bird, the dodo), a mythological animal (such as the unicorn or Pegasus, the winged horse), or even a centaur (half man and half horse, one of Sagittarius’ symbols).

Sometimes it can be an animal that does not exist in any mythology or in any zoological textbook – a unique animal or an animal from another world.

Day-by-Day Wicca: A complete guide to Wicca from Beliefs and Rituals to Magic and Witchcraft (Astrolog Complete Guides)
Tabatha Jennings

Sunday & The Perfect Corresponding Spell

Finally, it’s Sunday, the official day of rest. Not only do Christians acknowledge this day, but I’m sure many pagans appreciate this day, as well. Everyone needs rest and a lot of people need a good day to worship their creator(whomever or whatever that may be), however they deem fit to do so. With the Sun being the central theme of many ancient rituals, Sunday just seems to fit, in name and theory. Not only is it a good day to worship, it seems good to do more relaxed spells, such as sleep, dream, and rebirth.

Worship – Sunday Pagan Worship

What you will need:
Your voice
Your body
1 bell (optional)

Find a quiet, private area, without distraction. Sit down in a comfortable position. Take a few, slow, deep breaths. Allow your body to become very relaxed. When you have done this, if you brought a bell, ring it seven times. Allow the last ring to resonate throughout your body. If you have something you want to say, to God or The Goddess, now would be a good time to do this. When you are finished, say this prayer or chant:

“I know there is a higher being
than me.
I am not alone.
You are with me,
Day and night.
You’ve rode the lows
And watched the heights.
If angels are real,
I’m sure to have a guardian.
I am so thankful
And so grateful for your hand.
You’ve blessed me.
You’ve fed me.
You’ve quenched my thirst
And even dressed me.
A ‘man, A ‘men, And Blessed Be.”

When you are finished, ring the bell seven more times, to end the ceremony.

A Witch’s Week of Spells and Activities
Helga C. Loueen

Sunday is Ruled by the Sun

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

The Aspects of Capricorn

Notes: Perform rituals during bright daylight or the hour of Saturn and during the waxing Moon, with the Full Moon being strongest.

Color: Dark shades

Ruling Planet: Saturn

Stone: Garnet

Flower: Carnation

Description: Rigid, practical, loner, managerial, persistent, opinionated, sarcastic sense of humor, prudent, efficient, miserly, cold, pessimistic, patient, ruthless, ambitious.

The Witches Almanac for Sunday, April 16th

Easter

Waning Moon

Moon phase: Third Quarter

Moon Sign: Sagittarius

Moon enters Capricorn 7: 05 pm

Incense: Heliotrope

Color: Amber

The Witches Guide to Sunday

Ruler: Sun

Colors: Gold or yellow

Power Hours: Sunrise and sunset.

Key Words: Love, happiness, health, wealth

It is easy to spot the ruler of this day by its name. Sunday is the day of the sun. Community work, volunteer services, exercise, outdoor sports, buying, selling, speculating, meeting people, anything involving groups, running fairs and raffles, growing crops and taking care of all health matters fall under the influence of the Sun. With all this activity and the brightness of the sun, it’s easy to see why the child that is born on the Sabbath day is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

Michael is the primary angel of Sunday but each hour of this day also has it’s secondary angel. These angels are Michael (first hour), Anael (second hour), Raphael (third hour), Gabril (fourth hour), Cassiel (fifth hour), Sachiel (sixth hour), Samael (seventh hour), Michael (eighth hour), Anael (ninth hour), Raphael (tenth hour), Gabriel (eleventh hour), and Cassiel twelfth hour). Notice some of the angels do double duty this day.

On Sundays, (unless you are invoking a specific angelic energy) the hour of sunrise will be the most powerful time to work, especially if you want to infuse energy into your work. Sunset is the second best time and is favored when you need to calm down a situation. Check the local newspaper, astrological calendar, or almanac to determine your local sunrise.

Source

Gypsy Magic

Sunday’s Conjuring

Sunday – is associated with the Sun

Candle colors – Red, Gold, and Orange

This is a Leo’s power day

Conjuring Work Excellent for Sundays: Power, Health, Success, Personal Finances, Prosperity, Home life, Control, Hotfoot work, Shut your mouth conjure, Sunday is good for all hot work.
 

—Old Style Conjure Wisdoms, Workings and Remedies
Starr Casas

On Sunday, April 16th, We Celebrate…..

Ludi (Rome)
POMONA

Themes: Rest, Pleasure; Nature

Symbols: All Flowers; Gardens

About Pomona: A Roman Goddess of orchards and gardens, Pomona is symbolized by al gardening implements. Pomans’s consort was Vertumnus, who likewise presided over gardens. Together, they embody the fruitful earth from which we gather physical and spiritual sustenance. First fruits are traditionally offered to them in gratitude.

To Do Today: Public games in Ancient Rome were dedicated to taking a much-needed rest fromo toil and war. this particular segment of the festival celebrated the beauty of flowers before people returned to the fields and their labors. So, wear a floral- or leafy-print outfit today and visit a greenhouse or an arboretum. Take time out to literally smell the flowers and thank Pomona for the simple pleasure this provides.

Make yourself a Pomona oil to dab on anytime you want to better appreciate nature or cultivate some diversion from your normal routine. Prepare this from the petals of as many different flowers as you can find, gathered early in the day. Steep the petals in warm oil until they turn translucent, then strain. Repeat and add essential oils (fruits ones for Pomona are ideal) to accentuate the aroma and energy you’ve created.

365 Goddess, A Daily Guide to the magic and inspiration to the Goddess
Patricia Telesco