The Magick of Tuesday

Magickal Intent:
Courage
Binding
Protection
Achievement
Power
Initiation
Protection
Passion

Planet: Mars

Colors: Red, Orange

Crystal: Garnet, Ruby

Incense: Myrrh, Ginger, Cardamom

Plant: Cardamom

The Sky This Week for April 25 to April 30

The Lyrid meteor shower, a young Moon, and other exciting things to look for in the sky this week.
By Richard Talcott

Tuesday, April 25

Look west after darkness falls tonight and you’ll witness the beginning of the winter sky’s decline. By 9:30 p.m. local daylight time, the lower tier of bright winter stars and constellations barely clears the horizon. From mid-northern latitudes, Sirius in Canis Major, Aldebaran in Taurus, and the three belt stars of Orion the Hunter all hang about 10° high. Still, a higher tier of winter stars remains prominent. Look for Capella in Auriga, Castor and Pollux in Gemini, and Procyon in Canis Minor to keep winter on your mind and in the sky for several weeks to come.

Wednesday, April 26

Although Jupiter reached opposition and peak visibility earlier this month (on the 7th), it remains a stunning sight nearly all night. It appears about 30° above the southeastern horizon during evening twilight and climbs highest in the south shortly after 11 p.m. local daylight time. Shining at magnitude –2.4, the giant planet is the night’s brightest celestial object with the exception of Venus, which doesn’t rise until morning twilight commences. Jupiter resides among the background stars of Virgo, 9° northwest of that constellation’s brightest star, 1st-magnitude Spica. When viewed through a telescope, the gas giant’s disk spans 44″ and shows incredible detail in its cloud tops.

New Moon occurs at 8:16 a.m. EDT. At its New phase, the Moon crosses the sky with the Sun and so remains hidden in our star’s glare.

Thursday, April 27

With an age of 4.5 billion years, “young” might not seem an appropriate word to describe our Moon. But tonight, you have an exceptional opportunity to see what astronomers call a “young Moon” — a slender crescent visible in the early evening sky. With New Moon having occurred yesterday morning, only 4 percent of our satellite’s disk appears illuminated after sunset tonight. (Tomorrow evening, a 9-percent-lit lunar crescent hangs noticeably higher in the sky.) You should notice an ashen light faintly illuminating the Moon’s dark side. This is “earthshine,” sunlight reflected by Earth that reaches the Moon and then reflects back to our waiting eyes.

The Moon also reaches perigee, the closest point in its orbit around Earth, today. Our satellite lies just 223,275 miles (359,327 kilometers) away from us at 12:15 p.m. EDT.

Friday, April 28

Be sure to check out the waxing crescent Moon against the backdrop of Taurus the Bull this evening. Our satellite stands just 4° to the upper left of 1st-magnitude Aldebaran while Mars and the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters reside a bit farther to the lower right.

Saturday, April 29

Venus appears brilliant in the eastern sky from the time it rises around 4:30 a.m. local daylight time until close to sunrise 90 minutes later. It stands about 10° above the horizon 45 minutes before the Sun comes up. Shining at magnitude –4.7, it appears slightly brighter today than at any other time during this morning apparition. (The difference is essentially imperceptible, however — it appears only a thousandth of a magnitude brighter today than it did yesterday or will tomorrow.) When viewed through a telescope this morning, Venus spans 39″ and appears one-quarter lit.

Sunday, April 30

This is a good evening to hunt down asteroid 29 Amphitrite through a telescope. The 10th-magnitude space rock lies in the constellation Leo, just 0.3° due west of magnitude 3.8 Rho (r) Leonis. The Lion appears about two-thirds of the way from the southern horizon to the zenith as twilight fades to darkness.

 

Source

The Astronomy Magazine

 

About the Waning Crescent Moon

This intermediate Moon phase is the last phase of the lunar month. It starts just after the Third Quarter Moon and lasts until the following New Moon.
Waning Crescent Moon against a black night sky

During the Waning Crescent Moon phase, the illuminated part of the Moon decreases from the lit up semicircle at Third Quarter until it disappears from view entirely at New Moon.

Waning means that it is getting smaller while crescent refers to the curved shape similar to a banana or a boat.

With some variations, the Waning Crescent Moon rises after midnight and is still up and visible in the morning and day sky before it sets in the afternoon.
Sun Lights Up the Moon

The Moon does not radiate its own light, but the Moon’s surface reflects the Sun’s rays. Half of the Moon’s surface is always illuminated by sunlight. Just how much of that light we can see from Earth varies every day, and we refer to this as a Moon phase.
Repeating Cycle

In Western culture, we divide the lunar month into 4 primary and 4 intermediate Moon phases.

The Moon phases start with the invisible New Moon, while the first visible phase is the thin sliver of a Waxing Crescent Moon. Around a week later, half of the Moon’s surface is illuminated while the other half is in darkness at First Quarter Moon.

The illuminated part continues to grow into a Waxing Gibbous Moon, until 14–15 days into the cycle, we see the entire face of the Moon lit up at Full Moon.

The illuminated part then gradually shrinks into a Waning Gibbous Moon, and when it reaches Third Quarter, the opposite half from the First Quarter is illuminated. From there, it fades into the Waning Crescent Moon before it finally disappears from view again, only to reemerge and repeat this cycle over and over.
Earthshine

Although only a small part of the Moon is directly illuminated by the Sun at the end of the Waning Crescent Moon phase, the rest of the Moon is sometimes also faintly visible. This is because Earth also reflects sunlight as a dull glow onto the Moon, a phenomenon called earthshine.
Same Phase Looks Different

The Moon phases are the same all over the world, both in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The same percentage of the Moon will be illuminated no matter where on Earth you are.

However, whether the Waning Crescent Moon looks like a banana, a boat, or even an umbrella, depends on the time, the date, your location and the Moon’s position in the sky. Exactly which part of the Moon is lit up–the top, bottom, or the side–also depends on how high the Moon is in the sky.

The line–or curve–dividing the illuminated and dark parts of the Moon is called the terminator. The terminator of a Waning Crescent Moon can appear on the right side, the left, the top or the bottom.
No Crescent Moon in Calendars

There is no common symbol for a Waning Crescent Moon in calendars as it is an intermediate Moon phase.

These symbols reflect the Moon’s appearance in the Northern Hemisphere, which can be confusing for people in the Southern Hemisphere, where the opposite side may be illuminated.

The Moon illustration on our Moon phase pages changes as time passes, and indicates more accurately, although not perfectly, which part of the Moon is illuminated in more than 5000 locations worldwide.

 

Source

timeanddate.com

 

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Tuesday, April 25th

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 84.18° E
Sun Altitude: 14.72°
Sun Distance: 93.526 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 20, 2017 11:24 pm (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 6:06 am↑ 73° East
Sunset Today: 7:38 pm↑ 288° West
Length of Daylight: 13 hours, 31 minutes

 

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 98.86° E
Moon Altitude: 18.47°
Moon Distance: 225820 mi
Next New Moon: Apr 26, 20177:16 am
Next Full Moon: May 10, 20174:42 pm
Next Moonset: Today6:51 pm
Current Moon Phase: Waning Crescent
Illumination: 1.6%

 

Source

timeanddate.com

Good Tuesday Morning to all our Brothers & Sisters of the Craft! We hope you are have a very beautiful & blessed Tuesday so far. Are you ready for today’s astronomy. We hope so, because we are starting today with a beautiful poem from the author Alan Faraway from his book, “Pagan Ways.”

 

 Pagan Ways

Upon my altar a crystal ball,
An athame, candles and chalice tall,
A pagan goddess, a pagan god,
All laid upon my altar cloth,
A bell to help me celebrate,
Offerings placed upon a plate,
My pagan tools I now display,
How I love my pagan ways.

I’ll cast my circle upon the floor,
Then call upon the quarters four,
Earth, Fire, Water, Air,
The God and Goddess may join me there,
I may sing, or I may dance,
I may even dare to chant,
As pagan music softly plays,
How I love my pagan ways.

My ritual over, now time to seek,

I’m feeling light upon my feet,
I’ll walk among the trees and plants,
And search for berries upon the branch,
I’ll feel the breath of natures kiss,
At one with all is total bliss,
I wish I lived in bygone days,
To learn first hand these pagan ways.

 

—Pagan Ways
Alan Faraway

 

This episode also includes:

 Your Astronomy For Tuesday, April 25th

In Your Sky Tonight

 The Witches Current Moon Phase

Mars in Gemini

About The Planet Mars

THE WOTC PODCAST

 

Again we apologize for running so late but it’s a Monday and finally your horoscopes for today………

This episode includes

Your Daily Horoscopes for Today

(ok, they are late, but you can see if this stuff really happened)

If You Were Born Today

Get A Jump on Tomorrow, Your Horoscopes for April 25th

Next Up…..

Your Daily Tarot Card

Your Daily Runes

Your Animal Spirit Guide

and lots more, so stay tuned!

THE WOTC PODCAST

Love Is In the Air! That’s right, it’s time for your Weekly Love Horoscopes for April 24th brought to you by Marie DeSimone from Tarot.com (which is a Daily Insight Group). Since the love horoscopes are so long, we divided them up and will be doing the same with “Get a Jump on Tomorrow’s” horoscopes. Besides, we didn’t want you to get bored.

 

And here they are, your Love Horoscopes for the Week of April 14th

THE WOTC PODCAST

Good Monday Morning brothers & sisters of the Craft! We hope you are having a very beautiful and blessed day so far. I know it is unusual for the WOTC for us to do a podcast on Mondays but just listen and I explain why.

 

The divine is everywhere
Flowing through the universe
Light and water and air
Loving and healing
Every place is divine
And every home touched by deity.

The divine is everyone
Walking a thousand paths
Stranger, friend and family
Different yet the same
And every person touched by deity.

The divine is inside us
In every breath we take
Action, thought and essence
Accepted and accepting
We are divine
We touch and are touched by deity.

 

–Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook: Wonderfully Witchy Blessings, Charms & Spells
Deborah Blake

 

This Episode Includes:

Your Astronomy for Monday, April 24th

Moon in Aries

In Your Sky Tonight

The Witches Current Moon Phase

Weekly Astrology: April 24-30

Next up, we changed the scheduling…..

Horoscopes

THE WOTC PODCAST

Let’s Talk Witch – Reincarnation

 

This episode has a mixture of everything in it. Let’s see from Lady Abyss’ questions about her own personal experiences with spirits and reincarnation to Deborah Blake’s article from her book, “Everyday Witch A to Z: An Amusing, Inspiring & Informative Guide to the Wonderful World of Witchcraft to past life regressions.

 

It is one of those episodes you just have to listen to, to fully understand, lol!

Enjoy!

THE WOTC PODCAST

Welcome to Part 3 of the WOTC’s Sunday Divination for April 23rd

 

You’ll be happy to know, we kept this one sort of short today, Lady A has some good news to share with you,  Plus in this episode you will find:

 

Your Daily Tarot Card

Your Daily Influences

Daily Witches Rune

Your Ancient Symbol Card

Your Animal Spirit Guide

The Wisdom of Buddha

And

A Little Thought From Me to You

When a warrioress or warrior goes down on their knees, the battle is not over.
It has just begun…..

Up Next…..

The Spell of the Day

and

Let’s Talk Witch: Reincarnation

THE WOTC PODCAST

Welcome to Part 2 of the WOTC’s Sunday Divination

 

In this section, you will find:

Daily Horoscopes for April 23rd

Happy Birthday, Taurus!

If You Were Born Today, April 23

Get A Jump on Tomorrow,
Your Daily horoscopes for Monday 24th April

Up Next….

Your Daily Tarot Card

Daily Runes

Daily Influences

and much more….

THE WOTC PODCAST

The Witch is kind and fair,
Her love for nature everywhere,
She’s guided by the spirits high,
And sees the world through caring eyes.

The Witch thanks all around,
The Green Man here upon the ground,
The spirits that rise into the air,
The Witch will truly care.

The elements from the Earth and Air,
Has set you on the path to where,
You’ll find your Witch to be,
It’s true my friends, it’s happened to me.

From the book, Pagan Ways
Alan Faraway

 

 

Good Morning Brothers & Sisters! We hope you are having a very relaxed and blessed Sunday Morn’! Grab a cup of coffee and stick around for a bit. We have plenty in store for you as usual. This episode includes:

 

Your Astronomy for Today

Your Nightly Sky

The Witches Moon Phase

Sun in Taurus

Next Up!

Your Daily Horoscopes and much, much more….

THE WOTC PODCAST

We did not do an audio of this section, my voice was history and we printed everything that is here over there. Hey, it’s a relief, you don’t have to listen to me!

I Pledge allegiance to the Earth
of our beloved Solar System
and to all of her creatures
for here they dwell
one planet united in harmony
with universal love and compassion
for all.

How to celebrate Earth Day Every Day

Every Day
Save energy by doing a quick one minute scan before you leave the house: Are the lights off? Are there any unused appliance you can unplug? Even small steps like this make big impact over time
Once a Week
Reduce pollution one day a week: Instead of driving your car, walk, bike, carpool, or take public transportation. You’ll get great exercise as well as keep your carbon footprint as small as possible.
Every Month
Take a walk outside—bring a garbage bag and a napkin or gloves with you. While walking, pick up any trash you see and place it in your bag. When you arrive home, put all in a trash can or recycle bin
Once per year
Choose a day every year to gather your family, friends, co-workers or a group of people in your neighborhood to give back to the Earth. Do a service project that focuses on conservation rather than consumption.

This Is How Pagans Do Earth Day

by Sara Coughlin
Let’s make one thing clear: Earth Day, an international awareness day for environmental causes, isn’t technically a Pagan holiday. First off, it isn’t one of the eight sabbats (the equinoxes, solstices, and festivals that Pagans celebrate on a yearly basis). And it’s certainly too young to be an O.G. Pagan celebration (the first Earth Day was held in 1970). But, that doesn’t mean it’s totally insignificant to people who subscribe to nature-based faiths. Despite its secular roots, Earth Day has come to be viewed as sacred by some.
As you probably already know, nature-based faiths, like Wiccan and Paganism, worship, well, nature. So, in a sense, “every day is Earth Day,” says Pagan author Deborah Blake. Thinking about preserving the Earth and holding it in reverence is part of the regular Pagan lifestyle.
But, according to Blake, that doesn’t mean it can’t be a special day. Earth Day is a chance for Pagans to show gratitude to nature, which Blake refers to as Gaia. “I would go out of my way on that day in particular to thank her for the gifts that she has given us — trees, air, birds, critters, the food we eat, the water that we drink, and all the other things that we tend to take for granted because they seem like they’re just there, but they are a gift,” she says.
For some Pagans, Earth Day is just a small part of a larger commitment to environmentalism. On Earth Day in 2015, the Pagan Community Statement on the Environment was published. Those who signed it pledged to protect the Earth and honor the sacred relationship humans have with nature.

“Pagans can aid in the repair of our environment by teaching how we are part of life on Earth, sharing rituals and ceremonies that foster bonds between ourselves and the rest of the web of life, and instilling a sense of responsibility for how we interact with the ecosystem,” the statement reads.As of writing, the statement has 9,219 signatures.
Blake recognizes that people who follow nature-based faiths may believe they have a special responsibility to take care of the environment, but that doesn’t have to be daunting. She says that anything you can do for the Earth — like cleaning up a park, starting a garden, or donating to an environmental organization — can make an impact. “I think people get frustrated about what they as individuals can do [for the environment], and Earth Day is a great reminder that it doesn’t have to be something big. It can be as little as using less water,” Blake says.
Of course, since practicing nature-based faiths tends to be pretty individualized and subjective, it’s up to each person to decide how to observe Earth Day. If you do anything that day, Blake says to take a moment to “say thank you to your mother.” And maybe it’s a good chance to recycle those jeans you haven’t worn since 2013? Just a suggestion.

9 Ways Pagans Can Celebrate Earth Day

by Patti Wigington

 

If you’re a Pagan in today’s society, chances are good that you have, at some point, acknowledged that the earth and the natural world are, in one way or another, sacred – or at least of some value, on a spiritual level. Many Pagan paths today encourage a stewardship of the earth – after all, if we accept that the land is a sacred space, we can’t go around treating it like a garbage dump, can we?

 

Each year in April, plenty of people – including millions of the non-Pagan variety – celebrate Earth Day. It’s a celebration that began in 1970 as a small grassroots movement, and has expanded around the globe. It’s a day that many set aside as a time to honor the planet itself, and hopefully try to make a bit of a difference in the world.

 

If you’d like to do something for Earth Day, here are some great ways that Pagans can observe the celebration – and obviously, some of these will be appropriate for your non-Pagan friends, so feel free to invite them along!

 

01
Hold a Ritual to Honor the Land
When was the last time you held a ritual that simply honored the space you were in, without focusing on any of your personal needs? Whether you’re out in your own back yard, or sitting in a shady glade in the middle of the woods, take some time to celebrate the land itself. In many societies, there were specific spirits of place to be honored, from deities associated with lakes and streams to beings who lived within the rocks and trees outside a village. Get to know the land around you, figure out what specifically makes it sacred to you, and hold a ritual to celebrate that aspect of your world.

If you feel a need to make offerings to these land spirits, go for it – just make sure that you don’t leave anything behind that is damaging. A good guideline for offerings outdoors is to stick to things that will decompose rapidly, or be consumed by local wildlife in a short period. Items like bread, birdseed, fruits and vegetables are all perfect for land-based offerings.

 

02

Get Back in Touch with Nature

When was the last time you really got out there in nature? When was the last time you left your cell phone at home and just went somewhere to be the only person around? Find a local park, forest, nature trail, secluded beach, or other spot where you can go and get back in touch with the natural world.

Enjoy the silence. Listen to the birds singing in the trees, the bubbling of a stream, the crash of the waves, or the sounds of squirrels scurrying through the underbrush. Get hands-on, and stop to touch the trees and the dirt. Pick things up off the ground and hold them – whether it’s a feather, a stick, an interesting rock or shell, or a drifting leaf. Feel the connection that we all have to them. Go wildcrafting if you’re interested in herbs and plants.

While you’re out walking around, be sure to take some time to just stop moving for a few moments. Whether you’re leaned up against an old oak, or lying flat in the grass, it’s good for the soul and spirit to let your body absorb the energies of the earth. If you’re someone who normally lives a busy on-the-go life, try to relax. It’s hard to do at first for some of us, but once you get into the habit, you’ll realize how good it feels.

Some people make a habit of carrying a grocery sack with them on their hikes out in the natural world – that way, if you see someone else’s discarded trash, you can pick it up and take it away with you.

If you’re one of our readers facing the challenges of physical disabilities, sometimes going off-road may not be a viable option. However, many parks and nature centers have accessibility trails to meet the unique set of needs that disabled visitors face – check your state’s park system website for a list of trails that are accessible, and take advantage of them when you get an opportunity.

 

03

Clean Up Your Space

Ever drive down a road and feel stunned by the litter blowing alongside the street? Ever think that stream near your house would look a lot nicer if there wasn’t garbage all over the riverbanks? Now is your time to fix that. Imagine if each of us took responsibility to clean up the space around us – even if it’s just what we can see from our own yard. The world would look a lot better.

Organize a neighborhood cleanup – whether you live in a suburban subdivision, on a city block, or in a rural farming community, you can empower your neighbors to take responsibility for their own area. Pick a day, make sure everyone knows about it, and get out there to clean up. Provide trash and recycling bags for everyone if possible, and clean up all of the detritus that has accumulated throughout the cold winter months.

Several years back, a reader named Boyd MacLir shared his philosophy of “My Ten Feet.” He said “I realized that while I may not be able to change things on any large local or global area I can imagine a square 10 feet on a side with me in the middle. I found that I am able to make changes in that square that does have an impact… I really feel empowered in ways I have never felt before and really believe that I am changing the world 10 feet at a time.”

If you take that philosophy and apply it to how you interact with the natural world, imagine how much you can change within your own ten feet, or twenty feet, or half an acre.

 

04

Organize a Recycling Drive

Many communities have curbside recycling pickup, in which residents simply place their recyclables in a bucket at the curb and it gets collected each week with the rest of the trash. Unfortunately, there are plenty of areas that don’t have that as an option, for a variety of reasons. Studies have shown that people who don’t have immediate access to recycling services recycle less, because it’s simply inconvenient to do so.

Organize a recycling drive so that all the folks who normally don’t have a way to get rid of their paper, plastic, cardboard and glass will have a drop off point. You can even take hard-to-get-rid-of items like old batteries, paint, tires, and cell phones. Check with your local recycling or waste management company to see what requirements they have in place before you start.

You can keep it small-scale if you like – invite all your friends and neighbors over to drop off their excess newspaper in your driveway, and then load it in your pickup and take it to a central collection point – or you can go big. Some people have partnered with community organizations or school groups to use a parking lot for a day, with big collection trucks, dumpsters, boxes, and a full-scale recycling movement. There’s some great information on how to get started over at 1800Recycling.com.

Whatever approach you decide to take, it’s a great opportunity to do a bit of community outreach, and educate others about the importance of doing small things to save our planet.

 

05

Educate Others

Many people don’t give the state of our planet a second thought – and it’s not out of any malevolence, it’s because they just don’t think about it. Raising awareness can be a huge first step in environmental stewardship. This doesn’t mean you need to bombard your friends with recycling literature, or shame them when they drop their soda bottle in the trash can instead of the blue recycling bin.

What it does mean is that through ongoing, thoughtful conversation, we can help make more and more people aware of the things they’re doing – or not doing – which can make an environmental impact. A simple “Did you know that if everyone recycled just ten percent of their newspapers and magazines, it could save 25 million trees each year?” goes a long way when people are listening.

 

06

Sacred Gardening

If we acknowledge that the land itself is a sacred thing, then connecting to it can be a sacred act. For many people in the Pagan community, gardening is magical. Look at it this way – we dig around in the dirt, stick a seed or bulb in it, and a few weeks later little green things are coming up out of the soil. We facilitate new life just by the act of planting.

There are a number of ways you can incorporate gardening into your magical practice each year. Consider planting a goddess garden to celebrate the deities of your tradition, or an elemental garden to honor the four classical elements. You can even plant a magical moon garden, which includes plants that only bloom at night, and take advantage of this during lunar rituals. Be sure to read up on magical garden folklore while you’re planning your plantings.

For some great ideas on how to connect with the land during ritual, pick up a copy of Clea Danaan’s book Sacred Land.

 

07

Repurpose & Reuse Your Old Stuff

There are a lot of things that end up in landfills that don’t have to be there. A great way to keep your old things out of the environment is to repurpose them – and this can be achieved in a variety of ways.

Donating old-but-still-usable clothes to assistance agencies gets those too-big jeans and unwanted sweaters out of your closet, and into the hands of people who will love them as much as you once did. If you don’t want to donate to an organization, pass them along to a friend who likes your style, or you can even organize a clothing swap – this is especially great if you and your friends have young children who are outgrowing their duds every six months.

Another option that’s become popular lately – thanks in no small part to websites like Pinterest – is upcycling. This is where you take something old and remake it into something new. You can cut old t-shirts (or even old plastic grocery sacks) into strips to make “yarn,” then knit, crochet or braid them into something else. Use old baby food jars as decorative candle holders or herb storage for your altar space. If you have access to wooden pallets, turn them into furniture or shelving to store books or other magical tools. The possibilities are endless, and you get to create a one-of-a-kind item and help the planet at the same time.

 

08

Plant a Tree

Trees make a huge environmental impact. One average adult tree can produce the same amount of oxygen that a family of four needs in one year. Not only that, trees help reduce the amount of CO2 in the air. Studies have shown that trees have an emotional impact as well – people who spend a lot of time around trees are typically less stressed out than those who don’t. Does that mean you need to turn your entire yard into a forest? Of course not – but if you were to plant one tree each year, think of the difference it would make. Now, imagine if you and each of your neighbors were planting a tree each year.

Even if you live in an urban area, you can still plant a tree if you’ve got a little bit of green space. Trees help reduce ozone significantly in areas with high pollution levels. Not only that, they help reduce noise pollution by absorbing sound.

Selecting trees to plant is going to depend on a lot of factors – cost, location, hardiness, and other issues. But no matter what type of tree you settle on, it can help make a big impact over the course of its lifespan.

Tree planting is more than just digging a hole in the ground, too. You can turn your tree-planting into a ritual or celebration to honor the earth, to mark the change of seasons, or even in memoriam of someone who has crossed over.

If you have enough space on your property, consider planting trees in a group. Wait a few years, and you’ll have a beautiful grove that’s a perfect place to meditate or hold ritual.

For more information about the many benefits of planting trees, be sure to read these articles from the Arbor Day Foundation. Oh, and guess what? If you sign up for a membership, they’ll even send you ten free trees, selected based upon your hardiness zone!

 

09

Take Ownership

Ever notice sometimes when you’re driving, you’ll see a sign with the name of a person or organization who’s adopted that stretch of road? Those are people and groups who have made the commitment to take custody of a piece of land that isn’t their own, and to maintain it, keep it clean, and even do things like plant spring flowers.

Programs like Adopt A Highway coordinate with your local department of transportation to help individuals and families, businesses and non-profit groups, scout troops and other organizations take custody of a highway or local road. Once you’ve claimed your piece of road, it’s up to you to check it regularly to make sure it’s not covered in litter from passing vehicles. Many civic groups feel a strong sense of pride in making a difference like this, where everyone driving by can see.

In some areas, instead or (or in addition to) a roadway, you can actually adopt a stream. By partnering with local wildlife and preservation groups, you can help to not just keep the environment clean and healthy, but also to work at ensuring safe and clean drinking water. Look around your community to see what needs haven’t been met, and adopt a park, beach, or local trail.

If you’re part of a local Pagan group or coven, imagine the message you could send if there were a sign saying, “This stream is proudly maintained by [Your Coven Name].”

 

*Patti Wigington has always been a true friend to the WOTC & Lady Abyss. Her articles have always been published on About.com and owned by them. Recently, Patti’s articles have been moved over to Thought.co and can now be viewed there. Thank you Patti, for letting us freely use your material and being a good friend to us.

General Ideas on How To Celebrate Earth Day

 

Want to make some small changes? Commit to doing one – or two, or five! – of these things consistently over the next twelve months:

Carry reusable grocery sacks. Set a challenge to yourself not to bring home any plastic ones for a year.

Hang your clothes to dry. On days when it’s not raining, use a folding clothes rack or a retractable clothesline to dry your laundry, instead of putting it in the dryer.

Use both sides of every sheet of paper.

Stop buying wrapping paper. Use old maps, paper bags, newspapers, or other things you have lying around the house.

Quit buying bottled water. You’re just going to recycle those bottles or throw them away, right? Instead, buy a durable, refillable water bottle, and carry it with you.

Turn off the tap water while you brush your teeth.

Use your own coffee cup with a lid, and cut back on the paper ones you’re getting your morning latte in each day.

Pay bills online. If you get an e-bill, and pay it electronically, you’re not only cutting back on paper, but also saving the cost of postage each time. Request your bank statements digitally too.

When you go on a picnic, take reusable plates and cups with you, instead of paper ones that you’ll throw away later.

Buy second hand stuff. Remember all those pants and shirts you donated to the thrift store? Go buy someone else’s previously loved goodies.

Rite of Earth Pledging

by Rowan Fairgrove

(Coven Ritual)

With chants borrowed from many sources for which my thanks!

The purpose of this ritual is to recognize that work needs to be done to bring human life into harmony with the rest of life of life on earth and to pledge ourselves as Earth Stewards..

Acknowledge those who circle with us by doing a spiral dance:

We walk together the ancient path,
Harmony be among us all
We dance together the sacred dance
Magic be among us all

Cast a circle, participants echo the Priestess:

We acknowledge that this ground is sacred ground
We bring our love and trust within
We affirm our place within the Circle of Life

continue with circle casting in usual manner.

The working:

Take a piece of yarn.. Begin to tie knots in it. The knots may be simple or elaborate, but leave enough string to tie together at the end.

Priestess says: “As you chant, see the world as a network of connected systems. Breathe the air that comes from the top of the world, the tundra clean and free. Feel the living fire of an great cat’s power, the blaze of the butterfly’s wing. Taste the rain on the leaves at the tops of the trees and the deep power of the Pacific Ocean. Feel the delicate structure of the soil across meadow and forest and field. We are connected and we all rely upon each other.

Chant:

Tying the Cord, Renewing the Earth;
We are Her Children, bringing Rebirth.

We are the Flow and we are the Ebb;
We are the Weavers, we are the Web.

Tie the cord to another cord, creating a symbol of the total web of life and Gaia. Priestess says: “As you join your cords, see yourself standing guard over all of the regions of the Earth. See yourself with others, protecting the verdant rainforest, the fragile tundra, the rolling plains, the upthrust mountains as you would protect yourself. See the streams and rivers running clear, the smog dissipating from the sky, the smoke of factories flow clean, the ozone layer healed, the rain once more nourish rather than burn when it falls.”

Begin chanting:

The earth, the water the fire, the air
Return, return, return, return

Once the web has been completed, the globe is passed around while recite the One World Earth Pledge in unison:

I pledge to protect the Earth
And to respect the Web of Life upon it,
and to honor the dignity
of every member of the global family
One planet, one people, one world in harmony
With peace, justice and freedom for all.

When the circuit is complete, the globe is put in the center and the web wrapped over it. The spiral is danced, sending energy to the web of life and the unity of all beings.

For we are the stewards of the Mother Earth
And we the ancient arts sustain
We are the shield, we are the blade,
We are the Witches come again

When the drop has been made, the final chance is sung:

When we are gone, they will remain
Wind and rock, Fire and rain
They will remain when we return
The wind will blow and the fire will burn

Cakes and juice are blessed and shared; and the circle is lifted.

© Rowan Fairgrove 1995
Originally published on Conjure.com

Healing the Earth Ritual

 

For this healing ritual, gather the following to represent the four elements: a container of water, a leaf from a tree, a candle or some incense, and a feather. Find a blue marble, or any other object to symbolize the Earth, and bless it with the four elements. Start by brushing the Earth with the feather, to represent air, then pass the object quickly through a candle flame or incense smoke to represent fire. Next, wrap the Earth in the leaf to represent the element of earth, and finally place the object in the container of water. During this process, focus on letting your energy work to decrease any harm that we do to the Earth. Focus your intentions to drawing humanity’s awareness toward hopes and toward efforts to preserve our collective home. Remove the Earth from the leaf, and place it in a location of honor in your home—either on your altar or another place where it can inspire everyone to care for our precious Earth.

Spell of the Day 2012
Originally published on Llewellyn

 

 

Tree Blessing Spell

Planting trees helps protect the environment and connect you to nature. You may use this spell to bless a new tree. First, plant a sapling in spring under a waxing or Full Moon using some organic fertilizer and a magical stone such as a quartz crystal or moss agate. While you work, repeat this chant: “Roots go down, grow deep and wide, anchor firmly side to side; trunk go up, grow tall and strong, keeping time to the seasons’ song; leaves go out, thick and green, fair as any forest seen!” Put some fertilizer in the hole as you fill it, and sprinkle more on top. Set the stone by the trunk as a gift for the tree. Then cover everything with a layer of mulch. Thank the sapling for coming to live with you and promise to take care of it.
Spell of the Day 2012
Originally published on Llewellyn

 

Happy Earth Day!

Welcome to Part 3 of our Saturday’s Divination for April 22nd

 

Honoring Earth Day & Our Blessed Mother Earth

 

“Wherever you are is home
And the earth is paradise
Wherever you set your feet is holy land . . .
You don’t live off it like a parasite.
You live in it, and it in you,
Or you don’t survive.
And that is the only worship of Gods there is.”

– Wilfred Pelletier and Ted Poole

 

Next, Our Daily Divination Includes…

Daily Tarot Card

Your Daily Power Card

Your Influences for the Weekend of April 21st

Today’s Witches Rune

Your Ancient Symbol Card

Your Animal Spirit Guide

Your Charm for Today

The Wisdom of Buddha

A Little Thought From Me to You

Then last but definitely not least, an impromptu talk from Lady of the Abyss about the current state of our world and the use of nuclear weapons.

 

Next up, we hope our Earth Day Special…..

 

THE WOTC PODCAST

Welcome back to our Weekend Horoscope Section

 

As we continue to honor our Mother Earth & Earth Day, a poem by Walt Whitman

“Smile O voluptuous coolbreathed earth!
Earth of the slumbering and liquid trees!
Earth of departed sunset! Earth of the mountains misty-topt!
Earth of the vitreous pour of the full moon just tinged with blue!
Earth of shine and dark mottling the tide of the river!
Earth of the limpid gray of clouds brighter and clearer for my sake!
Far-swooping elbowed earth! Rich apple-blossomed earth!
Smile, for your lover comes!”
– Walt Whitman

 

Now for the Horoscopes:

Celebrate Earth Day with Plants for Your Zodiac Sign
(An astrological guide to the benefits of Mother Nature)

Weekend Love Horoscope for April 21-23

Your Daily Horoscopes for Saturday, April 22nd

If You Were Born Today, April 22

Get A Jump on Tomorrow,
Your Daily Horoscopes for Sunday, April 23rd

And we end with a beautiful tale of the Ancients from Chief Luther Standing Bear

 

“The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mothering power. It was good for the skin to touch the earth and the old people liked to remove their moccasins and walk with bare feet on the sacred earth. Their tipis were built upon the earth and their altars were made of earth. The birds that flew into the air came to rest upon the earth and it was the final abiding place of all things that lived and grew. The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing.”

– Chief Luther Standing Bear

 

Next up,

Daily Tarot

Runes

Influences

and much more…..

 

THE WOTC PODCAST

Good Saturday Morning to All Our Precious Family & Friends! In case you haven’t heard, its EARTH DAY!

 

We have some very interesting and exciting broadcast planned for today. As usual, we will be dividing up each section such as Astronomy, Horoscopes, Tarot & Runes for your easy access to them.

 

Today, we start with our Astronomy section and a very beautiful poem honoring our Mother Earth…..

 

A Psalm to Gaia

The Earth is my mother, I shall not want.
She nurtures me in green pastures;
She freshens me with flowing waters.
… She restores my body and awakens my soul.

 

Although I walk in the shadow of changing seasons and passing time,
I will not fear death,
For the essence of life is within me,
The peace and beauty of Earth comfort me.

 

She teaches me to harvest her abundant gifts,
She fills my heart with compassion,
I drink from the cup of simple pleasures.

 

As I look to the skies with wonder at the immensity of the universe,
I know I am blessed beyond measure to live all the days of my life
in the bountiful house of Gaia.

 

Next up, Horoscopes….

 

THE WOTC PODCAST

WOTC’s Spell of the Day for April 17th – Bones and Stones Spell

The purpose of this spell is to divine your own future.

You will need:
One white candle 6 to 8 inches long
One black candle 6 to 8 inches long
Matches
One tea tray filled with sand
Three yarrow stems, approximate length of each 1 inch, 2 inches, 3 inches
One pebble from a shoreline
One tumbled rose quart
One tumble clear quartz
One tumbled amethyst
One tumbled citrine
One small sharp flint

 

And the spell goes something like this……

 

THE WOTC PODCAST

Welcome to Part 3 of the WOTC’s Daily Divination. In this episode you will find:

 

Daily Tarot Card

Daily Rune

Weekly Influences

Luck Tarot Card of the Day

Daily Charm

Wisdom of the Buddha

Our little thought to you

 

Up Next,

Spell of the Day

 

THE WOTC PODCAST

Welcome back to Part 2 of our Divination for Monday, April 17th. This broadcast includes:

 

Your Love Horoscopes for the Week of April 17

Your Daily Horoscopes for Monday, April 17

If You Were Born Today

Get A Jump On Tomorrow, Your Horoscopes for Tuesday, April 18th

 

Up Next,

Your Daily Tarot Card

Your Daily Rune Card

Your Lucky Tarot Card

Your Weekly Influences

and much more.

 

THE WOTC PODCAST

Bless this gathering of Witches
Brought together this day
In the name of the goddess and the god
To dedicate themselves to each other
And to the old ways that led them here

Bless this gathering of Witches
That they may work together in harmony
Learning and growing together
As they follow the wheel of the year
And bask in the light of the full moon

May the earth grant them strength
May the air grant them wisdom
May the fire grant them passion
May the water grant them flexibility
So they might work together for the good of all

Bless this gathering of Witches
Brought together this day
In the name of the Goddess and the God
To dedicate themselves to each other.

Bless us, O Goddess and God, and bless this site
Bless this site that it may spread your word
Bless these witches that they may spread your
Word through Actions and Deeds.
So Mote It Be.

What a great way to start your day with a poem like this.

Blessed Are the Witches!

 

This episode also includes:

Your Daily Astronomy

Planet Guide

Current Moon Phase

 

Next Up, Your Horoscopes

 

THE WOTC PODCAST