The Witches Magickal Digest for Wednesday, April 25th

It is an accurate statement that the followers of Witchcraft do not usually proselytize, which means you aren’t going to find us standing on your local street corner thumping our Books of Shadows. Nor do you have to worry about jumping out of the shower to answer our serene and smiling faces at the door with your clothes stuck to various uncomfortable places on your wet body. But just because we (hopefully) aren’t the forcible type doesn’t mean we don’t exist.

SILVER RAVENWOLF, To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft

 

Today is Wednesday, April 25th

 

Wednesday is the day of the Teutonic deity known as Wodin or Odin, an aspect of the Allfather, god of knowledge, wisdom, enlightenment and combat, the parallel of Hermes, the planet Mercury.

Deity: Woden

Zodiac Sign: Gemini & Virgo

Planet: Mercury

Tree: Ash

Herb: Cinquefoil

Stone: Emerald & Sardonyx

Animal: Raven & Cat

Element: Air

Color: Red & Blue

Number: 6

Rune: Odal(O)

The Celtic Tree Month Saille (Willow) (April 14 – May 12)

 

Runic Half Month of Man(human being) (April 14 – April 28)

 

Goddess of the Month of Maia (April 18 – May 15th)

 

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

The Pagan Book of Days for April 25th

 

St. Mark’s Day is the old Roman Festival of the Robigalia, the observance of which was magickally intended to avert the spirit of mildew, which threatens crops around this time. For many years, the Litania Major of the Catholic church for St. Mark’s Day at Rome followed the earlier festival. Its purpose, like the Robigalia, was to gain the blessing of heaven for the growing crops. In traditionally English lore, this is Cuckoo Day. The cuckoo, “St. Mark’s gowk,” heralds the arrival of migratory birds from the south, indicating the return of summer.

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

The Goddess Book of Days for Wednesday, April 25

Day of the Robigalia of Rome, for Robigo, Goddess of Com and Harvests. (Demeter, Ceres, the Com Mothers, Tonantzin, Chicomecoatl, Spider Woman, Changing Woman.) Also, Passover, Hebrew spring festival originally dedicated to Baal

Source

The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Goddesses Associated with Wednesday

For Woden: Isis, Demeter, Ceres, Spider Woman, Bona Dea, Oya, Devi-Kali, Hella, Rhiannon, Coatlique, Maman Brigette

Source

The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Today is Wednesday, April 25th, We Celebrate….

 

Sechselauten (Switzerland)
LADA

Themes: Spring Protection; overcoming; kinship; energy; joy

Symbols: Birch, bells

About Lada: Lada bursts forth from her winter hiding place today in full Slavic costume and dances with joy, grateful for spring’s arrival. As Lada moves, her skirts sweep away sickness and usher in the earth’s blossoming beauty. She bears a birch tree and flowers to honor the earth’s fertility and to begin planting anew.

To Do Today: This spring festival is overflowing with Lada’s vibrancy and begins with the demolition of a snowman, symbolic of winter’s complete overthrow. If you live in a region where there’s no snow, take out an ice cube and put a flowering seed atop it. Let it melt, then plant the seed with “winter’s” water to welcome Lada back to the earth.

Bells ring throughout this day in Switzerland to proclaim spring and ring out any remaining winter maladies and shadows. Adapt this by taking a handheld bell (you can get small ones at craft stores) and ringing it in every room of the house, intoning Lada’s revitalizing energy. Or just ring your doorbell, open the door and bring some flowers as a way of offering Lada’s spirit hospitality.

Finally, wear something with a floral print today or enjoy a glass of birch beer. Better still, make a birch beer float so the ice cream(snow) melts amid Lada’s warmth, bringing that transformative power into you as you sip.

Source

365 Goddess: A Daily Guide To the Magic and Inspiration of the goddess
Patricia Telesco

.

Ritual Work Associated With Wednesday, The Day of Mercury

 

Perfumes: Sweetpea, Lavender, Mastic, Frankincense, Cloves

Incense: Cinnamon, Cinquefoil

Color: Yellow or Grey

Influences: Conjurations, Predictions, Knowledge, Writing, Eloquence

Reference:

A Book of Pagan Rituals
Herman Slater

Magickal Days of the Week – Wednesday

 

Wednesday is named for Woden himself, although the Romans called it dies Mercurii. This is a day associated with the color purple, the planet Mercury, and the metal quicksilver – which is also called mercury. See a pattern here?

When it comes to deities… yes, Mercury! However, there are a few other gods associated with Wednesday, including Odin and Hermes, Athena, and Lugh. Gemstones like adventurine and agate come in handy as well, as do plants such as aspen trees, lilies, lavender and even ferns.

Business and job-related issues, communication, loss and debt, traveling, and journeys are all tied in to Wednesday. This is a good day to do a working to open up lines of communication – especially if your own actions are preventing you from being an effective speaker or listener. Go someplace new or return to an old favorite stomping ground, step up your game, and settle up your accounts.

Reference

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article originally published on & owned by ThoughtCo

Wednesday: On the way to the afterlife

The fourth day of the week is named after Odin (Wodan or Woden). In Anglo-Saxon world, Woden is not necessarily the mirror of the Norse Odin. Up to the seventh century, he was worshipped as the main deity. He was the psychopomp which is a word for someone who helps deliver human souls to the afterlife.

In Romance languages, the name of the day comes from Latin Dies Mercurii (miércoles in Spanish, mercoledi in Italian, mercredi in French), associated with Mercury, the Roman god of trade, profit and commerce.

In German, the word for Wednesday is simply Mittwoch, meaning the middle of the week

Wednesday–The Day of Woden

Woden, or Odin as the Norsemen called him, was the chief of the gods of our ancestors, and corresponds to the Jupiter of the Romans. Also, for reasons which we shall read later, he was similar to Mercury, and his name was given to the Roman Dies Mercurii, day of Mercury, which still survives in the French mercredi.

 

As in the case of Jupiter and the Titans, Odin led the Northern gods in a gigantic struggle with the giants of ice and frost, and finally overthrew them. With the help of the gods, he then fashioned the world from the body of the chief of the giants. From the flesh he made the earth, known as Midgard (middle garden), and from his blood the sea, while from his bones he made the mountains, from his teeth the cliffs, and from his hair the trees. The giant’s skull was then fixed over the earth to form the vault of the sky, and was held in place at the four corners by four dwarfs, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, and Westri, from whom we have obtained the names North, South, East, and West. Next the gods made the sun and moon, which were placed in golden chariots driven by Sol and Mani, the daughter and son of a giant who had named his children after the newly-created sun and moon. The Northmen thought that they could see on the moon the outline of two children carrying a pail, and the story goes that Mani, while travelling across the sky, one night caught up two children, Hiuki and Bil, who were compelled by their cruel father to carry water all night. Hiuki and Bil are still known to us in the familiar story of Jack and Jill. The sun and moon were said to be pursued continually by two fierce wolves, whose shapes could be seen in the clouds, and who, if they caught them up, would swallow them and plunge the world in darkness. Sometimes they nearly succeeded, and thus caused the eclipses.

 

Having completed the earth and peopled it with men and women, the gods, led by Odin, built magnificent palaces for themselves in Asgard, their home. The most famous of these was Valhalla, to which the bravest and mightiest of the mortals who fell in battle were summoned at their death. The walls of Valhalla were made of spears, and golden shields formed the roof. In the hall stood long tables, at which the dead heroes feasted.

 

The Northmen honoured a great fighter above all men, and they even thought it a disgrace for him to die in any other way than sword in hand. The great ambition of every fighting man was to be called to Valhalla after his death, there to spend his time in fighting and feasting. The fortunate ones were chosen from among the slain on the battle-fields by the Valkyries, Odin’s battle-maidens, whose horses carried them through the air and over the sea. They rode among the storm-clouds, and the flash of their spears was seen in the lightning.

 

Odin was often pictured as sitting on a throne from which he could see the whole world, and wearing a suit of armour, covered with a blue mantle, which represented the sky. In his hand he held a famous spear, Gungnir, which never missed its mark. On his shoulders sat two ravens, Thought and Memory, which he sent out into the world every day to obtain news of all that happened. Like Tiu, the God of War, Odin suffered from a disfigurement, having lost one of his eyes. This loss is explained in the following story.

 

After the creation of the world, Odin wished to obtain great wisdom which would place him far above the other gods. This he could only procure from Mimir’s spring, in whose clear waters the future was mirrored. Odin, therefore, visited Mimir and begged a draught of the wonderful water, but Mimir would only grant the request in return for one of Odin’s eyes. The god was willing to make even this sacrifice for the great knowledge the water would give him, and accordingly he plucked out one of his eyes and gave it to Mimir, who sank it deep in the spring where it could always be seen shining. Odin then drank deep of the water, and thus gained the wisdom for which he was always famous.

 

All the life of the world, including even the lives of the gods, was said to depend on an enormous ash tree, Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. This tree was created by Odin, and had three roots, one in the Underworld, another in Midgard, near Mimir’s spring, and the third in Asgard. It grew to such a height that it overtopped the whole world, and in its topmost branches sat an eagle with a falcon between its eyes. The falcon could see all three kingdoms, and reported all that happened in them to the gods. In the Underworld was a dragon, which continually gnawed the roots of Yggdrasil in order to destroy it and so bring about the downfall of the gods. To prevent this disaster, the tree was daily watered from a fountain in Asgard, whose magic waters kept it continually green.

 

Joining Asgard and the earth was a bridge made of fire, earth, and water, whose colours were those of the rainbow. This bridge was guarded against the giants by a god named Heimdall, whose sight and hearing were so keen that he could see a hundred leagues by night as well as by day, and could hear the grass growing on the earth and the wool on the sheep’s back! He was armed with a flashing sword, and carried a horn with which he was to give warning when the giants should come against Asgard.

 

Odin was the inventor of Runes, the first alphabet of the Northmen. The letters consisted almost entirely of straight lines placed in different groups and positions, and were thought at first to have a magical meaning. Each god had a special rune or sign, and the use of the sign was supposed to bring help from the god. Thus all fighters carved the rune of Tiu on their swords in order that they might have his aid in battle. Runes were afterwards used in the ordinary way for writing, and very old runes have been found carved on stones in Scandinavia and in England. As the inventor of runes, Odin is like Mercury, who was supposed to have given the Romans their alphabet.

 

In addition to being the wisest of the gods, the inventor of runes, and the God of Eloquence, Odin was also the God of Poetry. The gift of poetry was guarded very jealously by the gods, and was only granted to mortals in special cases. Odin obtained the gift for himself and the other gods only with great difficulty. Hidden away in a hollow mountain, and carefully watched over by a giantess, were three vessels containing a magic fluid, which gave to anyone who drank of it the gift of poetry and song. Odin, knowing of this magic drink, determined to obtain it. Accordingly he set out for the land of the giants, dressed as a mortal, and wearing a broad-brimmed hat to hide the fact that he had only one eye. He hired himself as a servant to Baugi, the brother of the giant Suttung, to whom the vessels belonged, and asked as payment for his labour one draught of the magic fluid. As soon as his work was finished, Odin demanded payment, but Baugi was afraid to ask his brother for the drink, and suggested they should win it for themselves by trickery. They came to the mountain where the vessels were hidden, and bored a hole right through to the cave inside. Odin then changed himself into a snake and wriggled through the hole, just in time to escape the giant, who tried to kill him as he entered the hole. Having found his way into the cave, Odin again took on the form of a god, and begged the giantess who watched over the vessels to allow him just a sip of the magic drink. The giantess at last consented, but Odin, instead of taking a sip, quickly emptied all the vessels, and then, making his way out of the cave transformed himself into an eagle and flew swiftly towards Asgard. He soon discovered, however, that the giant Suttung was pursuing him, also in the form of an eagle. As he neared Asgard the gods caught sight of him, and, seeing that the giant was gaining on Odin, they gathered together a great quantity of fuel and piled it on the palace walls. Immediately Odin had passed over the wall the gods set fire to the fuel, and the flames rose so high that the wings of the pursuing giant were scorched, and he fell into the fire and was burnt.

 

Odin seldom used this precious gift of poetry himself, but imparted it to his son Bragi, who became the minstrel of the gods and sang many songs in honour of the gods and the great heroes in Valhalla. All the singers among men, the bards, or scalds, as they were sometimes called, were thought to have received the gift from Odin, and were greatly honoured for that reason.

The Witches Wednesday

 

Wednesday is the fourth day of the week, in the Judeo-Christian calendar between Tuesday and Thursday. The name comes from the Middle English Wednes dei, which is from Old English WÄ“dnes dæg, meaning the day of the Germanic god Woden (Wodan) who was a god of the Anglo-Saxons in England until about the 7th century. WÄ“dnes dæg is like the Old Norse Oðinsdagr (“Odin’s day”), which is an early translation of the Latin dies Mercurii (“Mercury’s day”). Although Mercury (the messenger of the gods) and Woden (the king of the Germanic gods) are not equivalent in most regards, both gods guided the souls of the dead to the underworld.

 

When Sunday is taken as the first of the week, the day in the middle of each week is Wednesday. Arising from this, the German name for Wednesday has been Mittwoch (literally: “mid-week”) since the 10th Century, having displaced the former name: Wodanstag (“Wodan’s day”). The Finnish name is similarly practical: Keskiviikko (literally: “middle of the week”) as is the Icelandic name: Miðvikudagur (“Mid-week day”).

 

According to the Hebrew Bible, Wednesday is the day when the Sun and Moon were created.

Wednesday is also in the middle of the common Western 5-day working week that starts on Monday and finishes on Friday.

 

In Romance languages it is derived from the name of the Roman god Mercury: mercredi (French), mercoledì (Italian), miércoles (Spanish), miercuri (Romanian), dimecres (Catalan), dies Mercurii (Latin). Similarly, the Hindi name for Wednesday, Budhvar is derived from the Vedic name for Mercury, Budh. Russian does not use pagan names but instead uses sredá, meaning “middle,” similar to the German Mittwoch. Likewise, Portuguese uses the word quarta-feira, meaning “fourth day.”

 

An English language idiom for Wednesday is “hump day”, a reference to making it through to the middle of the work week as getting “over the hump”. It is also informally referred to as “the peak of the week”.

Quakers traditionally refer to Wednesday as “Fourth Day”, eschewing the pagan origin of the name “Wednesday”. Most eastern languages also use a name with this meaning, for much the same reason.

 

Extremely faithful Orthodox Christians observe a vegetarian / fish-only fast on Wednesdays (and Fridays) in some countries such as Greece.

 

According to the Thai solar calendar, the color associated with Wednesday is green.

 

Wednesday in Popular Culture

* The nursery rhyme states, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe”. This line was the inspiration for the ‘Wednesday’ character, the daughter, in The Addams Family comic and TV Show.

 

* In the 19th century children’s rhyme Solomon Grundy, Solomon was ‘Married on Wednesday.’

 

* A song titled “Wednesday’s Song” is on the 2004 album Shadows Collide with People by John Frusciante

 

* Mr. Wednesday is a main character in Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods. He is the employer of the protagonist Shadow, and is a variation on the god Odin.

 

Astrological Sign

The astrological sign of the planet Mercury represents Wednesday — Dies Mercurii to the Romans, with similar names in Latin-derived languages, such as the French Mercredi and the Spanish Miércoles. In English, this became “Woden’s Day”, since the Roman god Mercury was identified with Woden in northern Europe.

Wednesday’s Witchery

Be bold and daring today! Expand your knowledge of the Craft by working with the planetary energies of Mercury on this multifaceted day of the week. Consider the Greco-Roman gods Mercury and Hermes and all of the many lessons they have for you. Embrace change and movement, and work on your communication techniques. Conjure up a little good luck for yourself with that Mercury dime spell. Call on Athena to inspire you to try magickal arts and crafts and to be more creative in your own spellwork and witchery.

 

Meditate on Odin and see what you can discover about him. I wonder what sort of fabulous and fascinating magickal wisdom you will uncover? Odin is a shaman, after all; he may appear in many guises and faces. I guarantee that he will make you laugh at yourself before he is through with you, but you will learn. It’s up to you what you do with that knowledge. Will you let it shapeshift into wisdom?

 

Wednesday is the wild and wily day of the week, so try to go with the flow; don’t fight the quirky energies of the day. Most importantly, follow your heart, and always keep a good sense of humor, because of Wednesdays you will really need it.

Source

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

The Witches Almanac for Wednesday, April 25

Robigalia (Roman)

Waxing Moon

 

Moon phase: Second Quarter

 

Moon Sign: Virgo

 

Incense: Lilac

 

Color: Yellow

The Witches Correspondences for Wednesday, April 25th

 

Dedicated to the Teutonic god Woden or Odin, an aspect of the “All-Father” god of knowledge wisdom enlightenment and combat, the parallel of Hermes.

Element : Air

Planet: Mercury

Zodiac Sign : Virgo / Gemini

Angel : Raphael

Metal : Mercury

Incense / Perfumes : Jasmine, Lavender, Sweet Pea

Oil: Benzoin, Clary Sage, Eucalytus, Lavender

Color : Red, Orange, Light Blue

Stones : Bloodstone,Garnet, Aventurine, Hematite, Moss Agate and Sodalite

Plants/Herbs : Almond, Anise, Cherry, Clover, Dandelion, Dill, Fern, Hazel, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemongrass, Lilac, Mace, Peppermint, Rosemary, Vervain

Magick to Work: the conscious mind, study, travel, divination, consulting oracles, wisdom, communication ,cleverness, contracts, creativity, information, intellect, memory, erception, science, wisdom, writing

Wednesday Is Ruled By Mercury

 

Wednesdays are wild and wacky days. They are for communication, change, cunning, and the arts. This is a Mercury day, and just its patron god this day is full of contradictions, change, and excitement. Some suggestions for Wednesday enchantments would include:

Pulling a little Wednesday color magic into your life by wearing purples or orange

Carrying a multipurpose agate with you and tapping into its various charms

Working with magical plants such as the fern for protection. This plant will also boost the power of any other magical plants with which it is arranged.

Incorporating lavender into charms and spells for transformation

Using the charming scent of lily of the valley to improve your memory, or working with the aspen tree for communication

Calling on Athena, patron of arts and crafts, for inspiration for a new project

Fanning out a Tarot spell to increase you creativity

Calling on Hermes on a Wednesday night to bring movement and good luck into your life

Mercury’s Energy

*Notes: perform on a Wednesday and/or during the waxing Moon with the Full Moon being strongest. An orange or violet candle is associated with any magick cast on this day.

Day: Wednesday

Color: Orange, violet, multicolored, pale yellow

Metal: Quicksilver, alloys.

Stones: Carnelian, fire opal, agate

Plants: Anise, caraway , cassia, club mosss, dittany of Crete, lavender, licorice, parsley, sandalwood, storax

Rules: Gemini, Virgo

Oils: Lavender, lemon, lily of valley, nutmeg, sandalwood, styrax, vervain

Rituals Involving: Intellect, memory, science, creativity, business, magickal conjuration, divination, prediction, eloquence, gift of tongues, speed, speech, writing, poetry, inspiration, improvement of mind power, healing of nervous disorders.

Physical Chant for Mercury:

Magick, the Arts, success on my trade,
Business wisdom and divination,
These gifts I would gain for my physical growth
And to help in my conjurations.

Source

Dancing with Dragons, Invoking Their Ageless Wisdom and Power
D. J. Conway, Author

Magickal Applications for Wednesday

 

To the Romans, this day was called Dies Mercurii, or “Mercury’s day” Mercury was a popular character in the Roman pantheon. A messenger of the gods, he presided over commerce, trade, and anything that required skill or dexterity. The Celts also worshiped Mercury and eventually equated him with the Norse god Odin (some spelling variations on this name include Wotan, Wodin, and Wodan). In Norse mythologies, Odin, like Mercury, is associated with poetry and music. Interestingly enough, both Odin and Mercury were regarded as psychopomps, or the leaders of souls, in their individual mythologies.

Odin, one of the main gods in Norse mythology, was constantly seeking wisdom. He traveled the world in disguise as a one-eyed man with a long gray beard, wearing an old, beat-up hat and carrying a staff or a spear (which brings to my mind images of Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings). In the Old English language, this day of Mercury evolved into Wodnes daeg, “Woden’s day,” or Wednesday.

Wednesday carries all of the planetary and magickal energies and associations of the witty and nimble god Mercury himself. Some of these mercurial traits included good communication skills, cleverness, intelligence, creativity, business sense, writing, artistic talent, trickiness, and thievery. And don’t forget all of those wise and enigmatic qualities associated with the Norse god Odin/Wodin, not to mention the goddess Athena’s contributions of music, the arts, handmade crafts, and writing. Wednesdays afford excellent opportunities for seeking wisdom, changing your circumstances, and improving your skills, be they in trade and commerce, music and art, or in communication and writing.

Source

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Wednesday & The Perfect Corresponding Spell

 

Wedesday is a good day to focus on getting over any slumps you may have. This day is considered the middle of the work week; and many people find themselves very tired by this point. That is why this day is a great day to do refresh, refrain, return, wake-up, and concentration spells. It is, also, another good day for meditation.

Refrain Spell – Do Not Act Spell

Items you will need:
1 sheet of paper
1 pen or pencil
1 piece of string

On a piece of paper, write down whatever your bad temptation is.

Below that, on the left side write down why you want to do this and on the right side, write down why you should not do it. When you are done, fold the paper in half and then fold it again. Say this chant three times:

“This is not to bind,
But to refrain.
The string I tie
Will help me find
The strength I need.
To keep my desires contained.”

Tie the string around the paper and tie a knot. Place this in a safe place, until the temptation passes and no longer is a threat.

 

Source

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

Let’s Talk Witch: Working With the Gods and Goddesses

There are literally thousands of different deities out there in the Universe, and which ones you choose to honor will often depend significantly upon what pantheon your spiritual path follows. However, many modern Pagans and Wiccans describe themselves as eclectic, which means they may honor a god of one tradition beside a goddess of another. In some cases, we may choose to ask a deity for assistance in a magical working or in problem solving.

Regardless, at some point, you’re going to have to sit and sort them all out. If you don’t have a specific, written tradition, then how do you know which gods to call upon?

A good way to look at it is to figure out which deity of your pantheon would be interested in your purpose. In other words, what gods might take the time to look into your situation? This is where the concept of appropriate worship comes in handy — if you can’t take the time to get to know the deities of your path, then you probably shouldn’t be asking them for favors. So first, figure out your goal. Are you doing a working regarding home and domesticity? Then don’t call upon some masculine power deity. What if you’re celebrating the end of the harvest season, and the dying of the earth? Then you shouldn’t be offering milk and flowers to a spring goddess.

Consider your purpose carefully, before you make offerings or prayers to a particular god or goddess.

Although this is certainly not a comprehensive list of all the gods and their domains, it may help you a bit to get an idea of who is out there, and what sorts of things they may be able to help you with:

Artisanship
For assistance relating to skills, crafts, or handiwork, call upon the Celtic smith god, Lugh.

Many other pantheons have forge and craftsmanship gods as well.

Chaos
When it comes to matters of discord and upsetting the balance of things, some people choose to to check in with Loki, the Norse prankster god. However, it’s generally recommended that you don’t do this unless you’re a devotee of Loki in the first place – you may end up getting more than you bargained for.

Destruction
If you’re doing a working related to destruction, the Celtic war goddess the Morrighan may assist you, but don’t trifle with her lightly. A safer bet might be working with Demeter, the Dark Mother of the harvest season.

Fall Harvest
When you celebrate the fall harvest, you may want to take time to honor Herne, the god of the wild hunt, or Osiris, who is often connected with grain and the harvest. Demeter and her daughter, Persephone, are typically connected with the waning part of the year. Pomona is associated with fruit orchards and the bounty of trees in fall. There are also a number of other harvest gods and gods of the vine who may be interested in what you’re doing.

Feminine Energy
For workings related to the moon, lunar energy, or the sacred feminine, consider invoking Artemis or Venus.

Fertility
When it comes to fertility, there are plenty of deities out there to ask for assistance.

Consider Cernunnos, the wild stag of the forest, or Freya, a goddess of sexual power and energy. If you follow a Roman-based path, try honoring Bona Dea. There are a number of other fertility gods out there as well, each with their own specific domain.

Home and Marriage
Brighid is a protector of hearth and home, and Juno and Vesta are both patronesses of marriage.

Love and Lust
Aphrodite has long been associated with love and beauty, and so has her counterpart, Venus. Likewise, Eros and Cupid are considered representative of masculine lust. Priapus is a god of raw sexuality, including sexual violence.

Magic
Isis, the mother goddess of Egypt, is often called upon for magical workings, as is Hecate, a goddess of sorcery.

Masculine Energy
Cernunnos is a strong symbol of masculine energy and power, as is Herne, the god of the hunt.

Odin and Thor, both Norse gods, are known as powerful, masculine gods.

Motherhood
Isis is a mother goddess on a grand scale, and Juno watches over women in labor.

Prophecy and Divination
Brighid is known as a goddess of prophecy, and so is Cerridwen, with her cauldron of knowledge. Janus, the two-faced god, sees both the past and future.

The Underworld
Because of his harvest associations, Osiris is often connected with the underworld. There are a number of other deities of death and dying.

War and Conflict
The Morrighan is not only a goddess of war, but also of sovereignty and loyalty. Athena protects warriors and imparts them with wisdom. Freya and Thor guide fighters in battle.

Wisdom
Thoth was the Egyptian god of wisdom, and Athena and Odin may also be called upon, depending on your purpose.

Seasonal
There are a number of deities associated with the various times of the Wheel of the Year, including the Winter Solstice, Late winter, the Spring Equinox, and the Summer solstice.

Author:

Patti Wigington
Published on ThoughtCo.com

Celebrating Legends, Folklore & Spirituality 365 Days a Year for April 25th

Spring Garden 

The Robigalia

“Warding off” was the entire purpose of this festival, celebrated annually on April 25. It focused on the deity Robigus, whose main attribute was the ability to destroy the dreaded rust or red mildew, a scourge that sometimes attacked the corn (the city’s principle food crop). As this deity was associated with the God Mars, all of this day’s activities were overseen by the Flamen Martialis, including the offerings of sheep and a red dog to appease Robigus.

The Witches Astronomy Digest for Wednesday, April 25th

Children Of The Earth

We know they feared our Pagan ways,
They tried to wipe us out,
They tortured and they burned us,
If they had the slightest doubt,
They took away our festivals,
Replaced them with their own,
But we stood strong and carried on,
We’ve flourished and we’ve grown.

 

They said we worshiped Satan,
Stole babies and much worse,
And if by chance someone fell ill,
They said we laid a curse,
They took us in for “questioning”,
Tortured till we confessed,
But anyone would say the words,
Under such duress.

 

With bodies bruised and broken,
They put us on the stand,
The priests said we’d offended God,
And the devil took our hand,
The villagers believed them,
Our guilt was their desire,
Then everybody turned out to see,
The witch burned in the fire.

 

They never really understood,
And some to this day still,
Do not understand our craft,
We bear no one ill will,
We live a life of peace and love,
At one with Mother Earth,
So in secrecy the Hedgewitch lives,
Gathering berries, leaves and herbs.

 

I sometimes think that there are those,
Who live in those dark times still,
They do not wish to understand,
And I guess they never will,
But Pagans all around the world,
Are proud to carry on,
We practice the oldest religion,
In our deeds and in our song.

 

Be Joyful all ye Pagans,
For the road has been so long,
Remember the innocent martyrs,
That suffered in those days gone,
Give your praise to all the Gods,
And the Goddess of rebirth,
For they can never destroy our faith,
We are the children of the Earth.

—Pagan Ways
Alan Faraway

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

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 76.05° ENE
Sun Altitude: 3.75°
Sun Distance: 93.513 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 21, 2018 5:07 am (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 6:07 am↑ 73° East
Sunset Today: 7:38 pm↑ 288° West
Length of Daylight: 13 hours, 31 minutes

 

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 310.65° NW
Moon Altitude: -28.37°
Moon Distance: 233153 mi
Next Full Moon: Apr 29, 20187:58 pm
Next New Moon: May 15, 20186:47 am
Next Moonrise: Today3:16 pm
Current Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon’s Illumination: 77.6%

Source

timeanddate.com

Astrology of Today – Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The Moon is in Virgo.
The Moon is waxing and in its First Quarter phase.
The First Quarter Moon occurred on the 22nd, and the Full Moon will occur on April 29th.
Mercury is in its post-retrograde shadow until May 3.
Venus spends its first full day in Gemini (Venus is in Gemini from April 24-May 19).

 

Moon in Virgo

 

We instinctively gravitate towards practical activities under the influence of a Virgo Moon. In order to set things right, we might easily find ourselves re-organizing and rethinking plans. Emotional satisfaction comes from solving problems, making order out of confusion, and helping others. Health matters might come into focus. We notice the smaller parts that make up the whole, and instead of letting nagging details bother us, we might work on ironing them out so that we can feel more confident moving ahead.

 

The Moon in Virgo generally favors the following activities: Mental pursuits, work activities, services, and routines. Activities that would benefit from tending to details.

Daily Overview of Your Stars & Planets for April 25th

 

Mercury in Aries formed a square Saturn on March 11th before Mercury turned retrograde, and then connected this way again while Mercury was retrograde on April 5th. Now that Mercury is direct, this aspect forms again today. In effect, this aspect has been influencing us in varying degrees since early March, and we may have experienced, more than usual, criticism and pessimism, difficulties getting clear answers, and obstacles to getting our message across. We’re getting over this hump today. Even so, today can be a little tense. Getting from point A to point B can be a challenge. Communications may be blocked or delayed, and negative thinking could dominate. Projects we thought were complete may need revision, and people can be overly critical, insensitive, or sarcastic. It’s difficult to trust our instincts, and we second-guess things automatically under this influence.

 

The Moon spends the day in the sign of Virgo, and the nervous or picky side of the sign can be more prominent as Virgo’s ruler, Mercury, is challenged. However, once beyond this aspect, we may begin to form a more realistic vision of a project or situation.

The Sky This Week for April 25 to 29

The return of the Lyrid meteor shower, a slew of bright planets, and a full night of the Full Moon, all in the sky this week.
By Richard Talcott

Wednesday, April 25

Jupiter stands out among the background stars of central Libra from the time it rises around 9 p.m. local daylight time until morning twilight is well underway. The giant planet is near its best for the year right now, reaching opposition in two weeks (on May 8). Jupiter shines at magnitude –2.5, which makes it the brightest point of light in the evening sky once Venus sets around 10 p.m. The best time to view the planet through a telescope is when it climbs highest in the south, a position it reaches around 2 a.m. Jupiter’s spectacular disk spans 44″, and its dynamic atmosphere shows at least two parallel dark belts.

Thursday, April 26

Saturn rises before 1 a.m. local daylight time and climbs some 25° high in the south as morning twilight starts to paint the sky. The ringed planet shines at magnitude 0.4 against the backdrop of northern Sagittarius the Archer, some 12° west of Mars. When viewed through a telescope, Saturn shows a 17″-diameter disk surrounded by a stunning ring system that spans 39″ and tilts 25° to our line of sight.

 

Friday, April 27

It’s about time to grab your final evening views of Orion the Hunter. This bright constellation now hangs low in the west as darkness falls and starts to set around 9:30 p.m. local daylight time. The three 2nd-magnitude stars that form the Hunter’s Belt now appear parallel to the horizon. A line through these stars and extended to the left points directly to the sky’s brightest star, Sirius.

Saturday, April 28

Dwarf planet 1 Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt, which lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It currently shines at magnitude 8.4 and is an easy object to spot through binoculars or a telescope. Ceres resides in the northern part of the constellation Cancer the Crab, which appears high in the west-southwest after twilight fades to darkness. This evening, Ceres lies 0.7° north of 67 and 70 Cancri, a pair of stars that shine between 6th and 7th magnitude.

Sunday, April 29

Full Moon occurs at 8:58 p.m. EDT, but our satellite will look completely illuminated all night. You can find it rising in the east as the Sun sets and peaking in the south around 1 a.m. local daylight time. The Moon lies among the background stars of Libra, less than 10° from brilliant Jupiter.

Mercury reaches greatest elongation today, when it lies 27° west of the Sun and appears some 4° above the eastern horizon 30 minutes before sunrise. Unfortunately, this is one of the planet’s worst apparitions of the year for Northern Hemisphere observers. Mercury shines at magnitude 0.4 and appears as an inconspicuous dot even through binoculars.

Source

The Astronomy Magazine

In the Sky This Month

The constellations of spring begin to dominate the evening sky this month. Leo, the celestial lion, stands in good view at nightfall and leaps high across the south later on. Virgo follows the lion across the sky, with their brightest stars, Regulus and Spica, respectively, separated by more than 50 degrees — more than five times the width of your fist held at arm’s length.

 

April 25: Corvus
Corvus, the crow, is low in the southeast at nightfall and arcs across the southern sky during the night. Corvus’s brightest stars form a small but distinct box. In mythology, the crow was a servant of the god Apollo.

 

April 26: Corona Borealis
Look well up in the east as darkness falls for yellow-orange Arcturus, the brightest star in the evening sky at this time of year. Well to its lower left is Corona Borealis, the northern crown, a semicircle of stars that opens to the upper left.

 

April 27: Moon and Spica
Two big stars with different futures stand below the Moon at nightfall. Their light blurs together into one point: Spica, the brightest star of Virgo. One of the stars will explode as a supernova, while the other faces a fate similar to the Sun’s.

 

April 28: Venus and Aldebaran
Two bright lights are passing close to each other in the western evening sky. The brighter light is Venus, the brilliant “evening star.” The other one, to the left or upper left of Venus tonight, is Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the bull.

 

April 29: Moon and Jupiter
The mighty planet Jupiter looks like a brilliant star. And tonight, it has a close companion: the full Moon. Jupiter is to the lower left of the Moon at nightfall, and follows the Moon across the sky later on.

 

April 30: Good Night, Orion
Orion, one of the most beautiful constellations, is putting in its final evening appearance of the season over the next few nights. It soon will disappear in the Sun’s glare. The next time we see it, it will be in the morning sky shortly before sunrise.

 

May 1: May Day
In Britain, today is known as May Day. In ancient times, it marked the beginning of summer, not the middle of spring. It is one of the year’s four cross-quarter days, which come roughly half way between a solstice and an equinox.

Source

StarDate.com

COSMIC CALENDAR

APRIL 25, 2018

Just as a grand triangle in water signs aided your keen perception and higher-learning abilities last Saturday, now it is the earth sign trinity that holds the key to making great leaps forward with business and professional goals.

Last night’s lunar trine to the sun, energizing Virgo and Taurus, is now augmented by another lunar trine to Saturn in Capricorn (5:31am). Play your cards right and doors to financial abundance can open — particularly with any proclivity to working in a dedicated manner to reach long-sought aims.

While a trine between Mercury and Ceres in fire signs (11:03pm) is definitely a resource that can be an ace up your sleeve, Mercury forming a challenging square aspect to Saturn retrograde (2:29pm and a repeat from what occurred on April 5 when Saturn was direct) can represent an impediment in your path to success.

However, knowing the time of any potentially difficult aspect gives you an advantage to rise to the occasion and steer clear of creating any unnecessary problems.

[Note to readers: All times are now calculated for Pacific Daylight Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]

 

Copyright 2018 Mark Lerner & Great Bear Enterprises
Astrology.com

The Witches Current Moon Phase for April 25

Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 78%

Tomorow the Moon will be in a Waxing Gibbous phase. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts round 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon. During a Waxing Gibbous the moon will rise in the east in mid-afternoon and will be high in the eastern sky at sunset. The moon is then visible though most of the night sky setting a few hour before sunrise. The word Gibbous first appeared in the 14th century and has its roots in the Latin word “gibbosus” meaning humpbacked.

 

PHASE DETAILS FOR – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2018

Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 78%
Moon Age: 10.14 days
Moon Angle: 0.54
Moon Distance: 370,283.73 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 150,525,422.91 km

Source

MoonGiant.com

Waxing Gibbous Moon

The Moon does not emit its own light, shining instead by reflecting sunlight. Depending on the relative positions of the Earth, Sun and Moon, varying amounts of the lunar surface appear to be illuminated.

A few days after the First Quarter Moon, the Moon’s disk is nearly completely illuminated as seen from the Earth (position D in the diagram below). The waxing (growing) gibbous Moon rises after noon, transits the meridian after sunset and sets after midnight. The waxing gibbous phase repeats every 29.531 days – one synodic month.

Have you ever thought about Planets having a smell? Take a look….

Uranus Smells Exactly How You Think It Does

By Nathaniel Scharping

Scientists confirm that Uranus’ atmosphere contains hydrogen sulfide, a compound long suspected to be swirling about in the planet’s clouds.

Using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, researchers from the United Kingdom analyzed Uranus using a technique known as spectroscopy to identify the elements contained within. They relied on the Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrometer (NIFS) at Gemini for the task, which involves breaking down the light reflected from Uranus by wavelength to determine the composition of the planet.

What’s That Smell?

The data allowed them to determine that hydrogen sulfide was indeed present, and at much greater concentrations than ammonia (composed of nitrogen and hydrogen), which sets the green gas giant apart from its planetary companions Jupiter and Saturn. The two largest planets in the solar system have upper clouds made mostly of ammonia ice, and researchers weren’t previously sure whether Uranus looked similar or not.

The presence of hydrogen sulfide hints at some of the conditions of the early solar system when the gas giants were formed from clouds of gases swirling about the sun. That cloud was far from homogenous, a fact today’s research, published in Nature Astronomy reinforces.

Though the researchers were only able to observe chemical signatures from the uppermost layers of Uranus’ clouds, they were able to extrapolate their findings to the inner regions, where they say similarly elevated ratios of sulfur to nitrogen must exist. The clouds themselves are anywhere from .4 to .8 parts per million hydrogen sulfide, and Uranus has a ratio of sulfur to nitrogen potentially more than 5 times that Jupiter and Saturn, the researchers say.

The new information is interesting to researchers, but it also adds a unique bit of sensory information to our understanding of the solar system. Hydrogen sulfide is, after all, the compound that gives rotten eggs, and some more human out-gassings, their noxious odor. Human visitors to the third-largest planet in our solar system would be in for a smelly, though familiar, surprise if they went outside.

This article originally appeared on Discovermagazine.com.

Good Morning, my sweets! I will make this quick as possible, I promise. I know most of you know when we find something on the internet that might involve you, we try to inform you about it. I don’t know if you heard this or not, but….everyone knows about how Facebook was stealing everyones’ information and selling it. It has come out today that Google has been doing the same thing but apparently worse. I went and checked out the addy I am getting ready to give you and they had about a thousand pages on me. Pages that not only included my activity online but my activity on my cellphone, when i had ordered my prescriptions from the pharmacy and on and on. It is pitiful. There is a way that you can opt out of them collecting info on you. It is listed in one of those hundred of pages you will find out about yourself.

 

Personally, I don’t do a thing on the internet I am ashamed of but I don’t want to be watched 24/7 a day either. Is there no way we can protect our privacy anymore? Who am I kidding? We don’t have any privacy anymore! You get a minute today, check it. I am sure you will be a shocked as i was. The addy is:

 

myaccount.google.com

 

The funny thing about it the page starts our “Control, protect, and secure your account, all in one place.” Scroll down and look for “My Activity.” Boy, oh boy, if that ain’t something, I don’t know what is. Just don’t let your jaw drop and hit the floor when you see what they have on you.

 

Now off to work….

Love ya,

Lady A

First day back, I ‘m not going to over do it. I hope you understand. I have got to get my rump up and move, doctor’s orders.

See you tomorrow,

Love ya,

Lady A

 

 

If You Were Born Today, April 24

You are a determined person and you intuitively know that with patience, you can accomplish anything you set out to do. You easily earn respect from others around you, due in part to your regal manner. Your family is extremely important to you, and many of your values are quite traditional, which keeps you grounded and responsible. However, you are unafraid of embracing the new, even if  you do so slowly. Famous people born today: Shirley MacLaine, Barbara Streisand, Kelly Clarkson.

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!

Until November, you continue to have a strong, protective, and stabilizing influence with you. It helps you stay on track and meet your responsibilities. Your popularity tends to be strong, and your leadership skills are valued. 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 manner 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. This is a year in which you put your life in order in some significant manner. Improved concentration, a more realistic outlook, and a practical awareness of the limits of time all help you to make steady progress, particularly in your career. Your concern for your future this year is stronger than usual, and you may find that projects you start, or investments you make, this year will benefit you for years to come.

Something big is in the works regarding your love or social life. You’ll have a chance to heal old wounds with regards to love this year. You’re also bound to find new ways of making money.

Your ambition is stimulated now, and you are determined to meet or exceed your goals. You can bring great discipline and meaning to your life this year. You might totally revise an important project or area of your life, or you could be bent on getting rid of something in your life so that you can move forward. The tendency to be too willful this year should probably be avoided. You should also watch for overdoing to the point of exhaustion. This can be a compulsive time when power struggles are more likely. On the other hand, it can be a time when you enjoy a strong sense of purposefulness, focus, and determination.

The year ahead can be an ambitious time and a supportive period for reaching your goals. You might solve a long-standing problem, or capitalize upon a resource that was previously hidden.

You might experience some difficulties and delays in communications in the period ahead. It’s a strong year for recognizing flaws and errors. As long as you don’t forget the “big picture”, you could find you are motivated to channel your mental energy into tasks that require structured and organized thought, tackling projects that you may have found too mundane or downright boring in other years. It’s a strong year for polishing your skills and formal learning.

You are determined and focused in the year ahead, and you can move mountains in important areas of your life. As well, this can be a wonderful year for meeting new people or more thoroughly enjoying your current friendships. It’s a powerful year for relationships and excellent for making lifestyle changes.

2018 is a Number Three year for you. Ruled by Jupiter. This is a year of sociability. It is a friendly time when you find it natural and easy to enjoy life and other people. The focus is on personal freedom, reaching out to others, making new friends, and exploration. You are more enthusiastic and ready for adventure than you are in other years. It’s likely to be a rather lighthearted year when opportunities for “play” time are greater than usual. It’s also a favorable year for expressing your creativity. Advice – reach out and connect but avoid scattering your energies.

2019 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 pay special attention to 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 often not formed in a Four personal year. However, it can be a wonderful year for building, development, and laying a solid foundation for future successes. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

Weekly Forecast: April 22 – 28, 2018

The Witches Digest for Tuesday, April 24

a Witch’s garden

 

a Witch’s garden
grows with the sun, flows with the rain
a flowering of air and earth

 

ancient is the knowledge of herbs
their properties and powers
a thing for Grandmothers, Midwives, Witches

 

flowers speak their own language
all but a few phrases forgotten
but Witches know more than roses mean love

 

how now? the drought comes
but the Witch’s garden still grows green
though elsewhere even the weeds are wilting

 

through magic and the hard work of her hands
a Witch brings the rich earth to bloom
making the world a more beautiful place

 

the only secret is this
many a woman talks to her plants
but a Witch also listens

 

by Elizabeth Barrette
This poem was originally published in Crystal Sands catazine 1997

 

Tuesday’s Spellcrafting

Strength
Anger
Independence
Motivation
Conquest
Action
Education
Force
Handling conflict

A Spell Crafter’s Compendium
Terri Paajanen

Magickal Days of the Week – Tuesday

Named for the Norse god Tyr, who was a deity of heroism and combat, Tuesday is a very martial sort of day – color associations include bright red and oranges, as well as warrior-like metals such as iron and steel.

 

The ancient Romans called this day Martis, after the warrior god Mars – other deities associated with Tuesday include Ares, the Morrighan, and other gods of battle and glory. Red gemstones like rubies and garnets come into play on Tuesdays, as do herbs and plants such as thistles, holly, coneflowers and cacti – you’ll notice these are all sharp, prickly plants!

 

One of the interesting – and more than a little amusing – aspects of Tuesday magic is that in addition to war and conflict against your enemies, this is a day also associated with marriage. You can also use this day of the week for magical workings connected to protection and initiation. Use Tuesday to assert yourself, make a mark and stake your claims.

 

Author

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by ThoughtCo.com

 

Today Is Tuesday, April 24th

 

Tuesday is dedicated to the powers of the planet Mars, personified in Ares, Tiwaz, Tiw, Tuisco and Tyr. Tuesday rules controlled power, energy and endurance.

Deity: Tiwaz

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Planet: Mars

Tree: Holly

Herb: Plantain

Stone: Agate

Animal: Crab

Element: Fire

Color: White

Number: 2

Rune: Tyr (T)

Celtic Tree Month of Saille (Willow) (April 14 – May 12)

 

The Runic Half Month of Man (April 14 – April 28)

 

Goddess of the Month of Maia (April 18 – May15)

 

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

 

 

The Pagan Book of Days for Tuesday, April 24th

St. Mark’s Eve

 

The eve of St. Mark’s Day is one of the traditional nights for divining the future. Any young woman wishing to see her future love should fast from sunset and then during the night make and bake a cake containing an eggshell full of salt, wheat meal and barley meal. Then she should open the door of her dwelling place. Her future lover should come in and turn the cake.

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

 

The Wicca Book of Days for Tuesday, April 24th

Vennsian Vervain

 

The herb vervain shares it planetary governor with this day. Indeed, the Romans named it Veneris herba. Its oil is said to be an aphrodisiac(even when worn as an amulet in a miniature container), which is why vervain was carried by Roman brides and was once a vital ingredient in love philters. It is most often used today to banish feelings of anxiety, to stimulate the liver, and to increase breastfeeding mothers’ milk flow(note that it should be avoided in pregnancy, however).

Crystallize Violets

Crystallize violets, Venus’s flowers, by cooking 1 lb of sugar with 3 1/2 fl. oz. water until the mixture starts to harden. Add 5 oz freshly picked violets and stir gently over a high heat until the syrup dries around the flowers. Transfer to an airtight container and store until required for decoration.

Source

The Wicca Book of Days
Selena Eilidh Ash

Tuesday: Shake the only hand of Tyr

Tyr (referred to as Tiw, Tiu or Tew in Old English) was the god of combat. He had just one hand and the story behind it is as follows.

 

The prophecy of the sybil that three siblings would bring troubles to gods alarmed the pantheon and Odin (see also the section for Wednesday) decided to get rid of them. One of them was Fenrir, a huge mythological wolf. They tried to bound him, but he was too strong and tore any chain they used.

 

Finally they asked dwarves to make a special, untearable binding called Gleipnir. It consisted of six wondrous ingredients which do not exist any longer because the gods took them from the world for good. These were the sound of a cat’s footfall, the beard of a woman, the breath of a fish, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear (meaning rather sensibilities in this case) and the spittle of a bird.

 

Fenrir did not believe them that they would set him free again after having tried the binding on him. Tyr had to put his arm in his mouth as the guarantee. That is why one of his arms is missing. And again, when Ragnarok begins, the wolf will free himself from Gleipnir and avenge this deception by devouring Odin.

 

In Romance languages, this day belongs to Mars, the Roman god of war (martes in Spanish, mardi in French).

 

 

Tuesday–The Day of Tiu

Tuesday is the first day of the week which is named after a god of the Angles and Saxons–Tiu, the God of War. The Angles and Saxons, like the Greeks and Romans, worshiped many gods, and though these gods were in a great number of ways similar to those of the Greeks and Romans, we also find very great differences. These differences are due to the fact that the Angles and Saxons lived in a very different kind of country, led a very different kind of life, and consequently had different ideas. Their chief enemies were frost and cold, and they imagined the freezing winds to be caused by frost-giants who lived in a land of ice and waged continual warfare with the gods who befriended man and protected him as far as they could against the frost-giants and all the suffering which they caused. The chief of these gods was Woden or Odin, the All-father, of whom we read in the following chapter, and next to him in importance came Thor, the God of Thunder, the bitterest enemy of the giants. The god after whom Tuesday is named was known as Tiu among the Angles and Saxons, and as Tyr among the Norsemen. He was the God of War, and corresponds to Mars among the Romans, whose name for this day was Dies Martis, the day of Mars. The French have kept the Roman name in the form mardi.

 

Tiu was a great fighter and knew no fear, and was naturally always called upon in time of battle. He was usually represented as having no right hand, owing to a misfortune which befell him in the following way. From his lofty throne Odin, the chief of the gods, one day saw in the land of the giants three terrible monsters, which grew so rapidly that he was filled with fear lest they should invade the home of the gods. Accordingly he determined to get rid of them before they became any stronger. One Hel, an enormous giantess, he flung into the Underworld, where, as the Goddess of Death, she ruled over the kingdom of the dead. Another, Iormungandr, a serpent, he cast into the sea, where it grew so huge that it encircled the whole earth. The third was Fenrir, a wolf, whom Odin brought to Asgard, the home of the gods, hoping that he might eventually tame him. Fenrir, however, grew stronger and fiercer each day, until the gods, of whom Tiu alone was brave enough to go near him, decided at last to bind him in such a way that he could do no harm. A very strong chain was obtained, and the gods suggested to Fenrir, who often boasted of his great strength, that he should allow himself to be bound with it in order to prove whether he was really as strong as he claimed to be. Fenrir agreed, and then by merely stretching himself easily brohe his bonds. Again the gods put him to the test with a still stronger chain, but as before he succeeded in breaking it. Seeing that no ordinary chain would be strong enough to bind Fenrir, the gods sent one of their servants to the home of the dwarfs, a race of little people who lived underground, and who were very clever workers in metal. They also possessed great powers of magic, as we shall see in a later story. At the bidding of the gods, the dwarfs made a silken rope out of the voice of fishes, a woman’s beard, the roots of a mountain, and the footsteps of a cat, which was so strong that no power could break it! A third time the gods challenged Fenrir to show his strength by allowing himself to be bound with this new cord, but Fenrir became suspicious, and at last consented only on condition that one of the gods should put his hand in his mouth, and hold it there as a pledge that the gods were not deceiving him. This condition greatly alarmed the gods, who began to fear that their trick was not going to succeed, but the bold war-god Tiu stepped forward and, without any hesitation, placed his right hand in the wolf’s mouth. The gods at once bound Fenrir with the magic cord made by the dwarfs, and, in spite of all his struggles, the wolf was unable to free himself. Great was the delight of the gods at their success, a delight shared by all but Tiu, who had little cause to be pleased with the result of the trick, for Fenrir, finding he was trapped, immediately bit off the hand of the god. Thus Tiu was deprived of his sword hand, but so clever was he that he wielded his sword equally well with his left hand, and still remained invincible in battle.

 

On one occasion Tiu and Thor, the God of Thunder, set out for the land of the giants to obtain an enormous kettle, which the gods required for a feast. They came at last to the home of a giant, Hymir, who possessed a kettle a mile deep and a mile wide, and were hospitably received by the giant’s wife. When she learned the errand on which they had come, she warned them that her husband was very fierce and hot-tempered, and advised them to hide themselves when Hymir returned, lest he should kill them with a glance. No sooner had the gods taken refuge behind some kettles, which were kept on a beam at the end of the hall, than Hymir came in. When he heard that visitors had called, he flashed his eyes round the hall so fiercely that, as his glance lighted on the gods’ hiding-place, the beam split in two, the kettles came crashing to the ground, and Tiu and Thor were discovered. Hymir, however, was persuaded by his wife to receive the gods kindly; he prepared a meal of three oxen in their honour, but was astonished and dismayed to see Thor eat two of them himself. The next day the gods gave the giant many proofs of their great strength and skill, and Hymir consented to give them the kettle they were seeking. Tiu at once tried to lift it but failed; then Thor, after a mighty struggle, raised it from the ground, and, as he gave the final pull, his feet broke through the floor of the giant’s house. As soon as the gods had departed, Thor carrying the kettle on his head, Hymir called his brothers together, and pursued after them. Thor, however, attacked them with his famous hammer, and killed them one by one. Tiu and Thor then continued their journey, and brought the huge kettle safely to their own land.

 

There are few stories told of Tiu, yet he held a high place among the gods, as the name Tuesday shows. He is most famous for his share in the binding of Fenrir, whereby was put off the dreaded Ragnarok, the day of the final battle between the gods and the giants.

 

Tuesday’s Witchery

Tuesday is the day to work any magick that falls in the category of increasing strength, courage, bravery, and passion. All of these intense emotions are linked to this day’s energies, and spells designed around these themes will have extra punch when performed on this magickal day.

 

So, let’s add a little passion and conviction into your life! Break out the daring red pieces of your wardrobe, and put a little pizzazz into your day. Work with Lilith, and see what she has to teach you about personal power and sexuality. Meditate onTiw/Tyr and Mars, and see what those ancient warrior gods will show you about new tactics, strategies, and claiming personal victories in your life. Practice conjuring up that astral weapon from the meditation and use it wisely for protection and for courage.

 

Create a philter for courage and protection or handcraft your own Witch’s jar to remove negativity from your home. See what other Witch crafts you can conjure up with Tuesday’s magick. Create some kitchen magick on this Tuesday by whipping up a spicy stew-add in a few Mars-associated ingredients such as carrots, peppers, and garlic. Empower the stew for success, and then treat yourself and your family to a good, hearty meal. Try working with a little aromatherapy and burn some spicy or coffee-scented candles to increase your energy level.

 

Check the sky at night, and see if you can find the reddish planet Mars up in the heavens. Not sure where to look? Check an astronomy magazine or search the Web for more information. Become a magickal warrior and move forward in your life with strength, courage, and compassion. Embrace the side of yourself that loves a good challenge and that is passionate and daring! Banish fear, and face your future with strength and conviction. Believe in yourself and in your dreams, work hard, and you will win every time.

 

Source

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

 

The Witches Almanac for Tuesday, April 24

St. Mark’s Eve

Waxing Moon

 

Moon phase: Second Quarter

 

Moon Sign: Leo

 

Moon enters Virgo 4: 40 pm

 

Incense: Cedar

 

Color: Red

Moon in Leo

 

The Moon is traveling through Leo today. Shine and be proud! You rule right now!

 

The Moon in Leo speaks to our “inner child”. It’s a warm, generous, whole-heartedly loving position. Pride keeps us from pettiness, but it can also prevent us from opening up and revealing how we are truly feeling. We are on stage, our feelings are grand, and we appreciate some drama in our lives. We are easily threatened by anything that seems to be impersonal. This is a time when we seek attention–when we want to stand out for our special qualities. It’s a strong time for romance and any creative activity as well.

 

The Moon in Leo generally favors the following activities: Creative activities, activities involving children, generous undertakings, undertakings in which personal recognition is desired, and risk-taking.

 

The Witches Correspondences for Tuesday, April 24

Dedicated to the powers of the planet Mars, personified as Ares, Tiwaz, Tiw, and Tyr.

Element : Water

Planet : Mars

Zodiac Sign : Aries / Scorpio

Angel : Samuel

Metal : Iron, Steel

Incense / Perfumes : Dragon’s Blood, Patchouli

Oil : Basil, Coriander, Ginger

Color : Red, Orange

Stones : Bloodstone, Garnet, Carnelian,

Plants/Herbs : Allspice, Blessed Thistle, Cayenne, Daisy, Garlic, Ginger, Pepper, Pine, Red Rose, Thyme, Tobacco, Wormwood

Magick to work: self-assertion, energy, and courage, victory, endurance, passion, masculine goals in general, sex, aggression, protection, controlled power, ambition, arguments, competition, conflict, destruction, lust, male sexuality, sports, strife, struggle, surgery, medical issues, upheaval, war

 

The Energy of Mars

Weekday ruled by Mars: Tuesday

Stones:
Bloodstone
Garnet
Carnelian
Pink Tourmaline

Herbs and Plants:
Red Rose
Cock’ comb
Mugwort
Mullien
Nettle
Thistle
Wormwood

Magickal Intention: Courage, physical strength, revenge, military honors, surgery, breaking negative cycles, war, vitality, Assertiveness.

 

Daily Magickal Applications for Tuesday, April 24

 

The Latin term for Sunday, our first day of the week, is Dies Solis (“sun’s day”). In ancient Greek, it was called Hemera Heliou. In the Old English language, it was known as Sunnandaeg; in Middle English, Sonenday. All of these titles mean the same thing: the day of the sun.

 

What do you think of when you feel the sun shine down on you? What sorts of enchantments and energies do you think would be complementary to a day named after our closest star? Sunday brings those bright solar energies into your life and has the magickal correspondences of success, promotion, leadership, pride, light, generosity, warmth, fitness, and personal growth. Astrologically, the sun symbolizes the conscious self and rules the zodiac sign of Leo.

 

The charms and spells that would complement this magickal day of the sun are ones for personal achievements of any kind-such as if you are seeking fame and wealth, working for that much-deserved promotion at work, or being acknowledged for a job well done. Health issues, increasing personal power, or simply sticking to your diet and being proud of what you have accomplished all fall under the sun’s golden influence

 

—Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

 

Protection Oil

To make a personal protection oil blend together the oils of rosemary, rose geranium, and
cypress. This oil is also used to anoint candles and is added to protective cleansing baths.

 

 

Magickal Protection Charm

 

At Dawn, set out and seek for three dried Twigs, with lengths of the same sizes, small enough to be kept as a charm, and bind them with a Vine. Carry them home and on a table, place the bundles of twigs in the midst of a lighted White Candle, anointed with Oils for Protection. In addition, you will need to burn Incense with appropriate scent for Protection.

 

As the smoke starts to arise from the Incense,pick the Twigs up and pass them over the smoke of the Incense, several times, as you incant:

 

Smoke of Incense Bless these Twigs for Protection
That it may protect me from all harm
Hold me, Shield me, Defend me So mote it be!

 

The twigs must be placed on a bag and kept always near you, or rather, it can be hung on the threshold of the house, to prevent any Evil from entering.

 

Spell for Long Term Protection

 

This form of summoning is closer to permanent as we would perceive it. Yet in this for you must still work with a time frame in mind, however distant it may be.

 

Guardian Dragons may be summoned in this fashion for protection of people places and things needing or deserving long term care (such as children, houses, spouses, etc). Multiple objects can be protected with but a change in grammar, but they must be together for a single dragon to protect
(the objects become a mini-horde).

 

“Dragon brave and Dragon wise, let nothing escape your eyes.
I summon your from your hidden lair, (name object here) is entrusted to your care.
Permit no harm to come to (named object) within your sight, in your presence let all evils take flight.
No baneful creature born of flesh or spirit, may touch (name object) nor even come near it.
Let those that would bring harm, be filled with fright and alarm.
So Mote It Be

Celebrating Legends, Folklore & Spirituality 365 Days A Year for April 24th

April 24

St. George’s Day

 

St. George is the patron saint of England—as well as Greece, Portugal, and Aragon—as of soldiers and boy scouts. As are most of the saints, George was a mysterious character. He was reputed to have rescued the daughter of the king of Silene-the end of the third century A.D. The princess was a sacrificial victim being offered to a dragon that was devouring the people. Saint George arrived on his white horse and beheaded the dragon with one swift blow of his mighty sword.

 

During the late medieval period this date was widely celebrated throughout London, Norwich, Chester, Leicester, and York. The festivities began on the evening of the 23rd and proceeded throughout the following day. There were civic presentations, parades, and horse races. It was believed that if you dreamed of a man on this night, he would become your love.

Home & Hearth Magick for Tuesday, April 24th

On Sunday, work for success, healing and blessings.

Planetary Influence: The Sun

Household Symbols: A rooster, a sun, gold jewelry

Colors: Yellow and gold

Kitchen Spices: Cinnamon and orange peels

 

Source:

 

Cottage Witchery Natural Magick for Hearth and Home
Author: Ellen Dugan

 

Ok, forget the guessing, it’s me Lady A! I could shout it to the top of the world. I missed you guys and gals. Somewhere along the line I sort of got attached to ya.’ First off, I want to thank you for the money you raised to save our property. I think the stress of thinking about losing it all is what did me in. You will never, ever know how much that meant to me and means to me. I was to the point were I was feeling all alone in the world and everything was hopeless. Quote a bible verse (don’t worry, I ain’t turned, I am still 100% witch), “Ye of little faith!” It would have killed me if we had lost everything we had worked so hard for, especially where my home use to be. But you all came through for us and me. I want to tear up now and cry, I can never say “THANK YOU” enough. You have always pulled our rump out of cracks before and I don’t give a damn what anyone says, we are family. You are the only family I have. That means something to me, something very special. I want you to know I truly do love you, not just for what you do for me and the WOTC, but just being there. I can feel your presence, I can feel your caring and your love. I hope, in return, you can feel mine. When I say I love you, I am not saying it just to be saying it, I mean. Don’t ever forget that. Thank you so very much, my dear sweet brothers & sisters.

 

As far as my health goes, I went to the doctor and got good news and bad news. Well not really bad news, I have developed a hernia but my heart and steins are super! I probably shouldn’t tell this but I am because it is about half way funny (you might as well laugh about it as cry). Kade, by the way he did fine with his surgery also. It is pretty bad when you and your dog both has to have surgery, huh? Anyway that’s not the funny part, Kade hates for me to take a shower, he has to see me at all times. So I take a bath. The last couple of times, when I was raising up out of the water, I noticed this thing in the middle of my stomach. It looked like one of those creatures from Aliens the movie. You know right before they break through your skin. That’s what this thing looks like. I got to thinking, “one of these days, I am going to get the water to hot and he is going to pop out.” So when I went to the doctor yesterday, I had him look at it and come to find out it is a hernia. Darn there goes my little alien! Now I have to go to another doctor and get the hernia taken care of. Don’t panic, I asked it is done as an out patient surgery and I should’t be off any time at all. But it has to be fixed, so might as well get it fixed.

 

I know Eleanor probably told you, my leg is out of the cast and I can actually walk on it. Funny the doctors said I probably wouldn’t be able too. I do go to therapy three times a week for it. So maybe after I get this last thing fixed, I can quit playing with the doctors for a while, I hope. Really I am looking for a rich one with lots of land. That way all of you can come and visit and we can celebrate one of our Sabbats together. I guess I better make sure he is a Pagan or out of town for the weekend. But that is something I have always wanted to do is to meet all of you. You have been so good and kind to me, I would love to meet each of you and give you a great big hug and say thank you in person. Oh, well, maybe one day.

 

I have had way too much time on my hands, if you can’t tell. Now let’s get this show on the road……

Remember my precious family,

I love you,

Lady A

 

Good Monday morning. I wanted to give you a quick up-date on our current situation. Lady A has a doctor’s appointment today with her heart doctor. After she is given the all’s clear sign, she will be back tomorrow. Yes, you heard right, the heart and soul of the WOTC will be back tomorrow. We have had several write us wondering what happened to that fantastic, dedicated lady who devotedly posted The Craft’s information daily. Not to worry, she is stronger than ever and ready to get back to work. We all appreciate your love, prayers and support for her during this time.

Lynette and I have found out one thing, we can’t do what she does. How she does it, I don’t know. We do not even come close to her, there is no comparsion whatsoever. I know each of you will be glad to have her back. I know we will be glad to have her back in the office. We have missed her just as much as you have. We have found out that she is our driving force. The office doesn’t seem the same without her. I thought I could fly in and do her job because it is so easy, ha. There is nothing easy about what she does on a daily basis for you and for us.

I know the ladies as well as I will be glad to see her walk through the door tomorrow. You have been patient and stayed with us this long. Give us one more day and the heart and soul of this family will be back tomorrow.

Eleanor

 

I am sure you know we decided not to close the store after all. It seems at times events happen that changes your plans. And that is what happened with the store, we are keeping it open to offset some of the cost of Lady A’s new medicine and also its’ operating cost. I wanted to plug the store because we finally got in an item I have been wanting for a while. We know have some salt lamps in stock. These are all the rage right now and are expensive to purchase. The prices of these lamps start at $12.00 and run up to $24.00. Those are the specially priced ones. We did add some expensive ones on the page also. You can find these gorgeous, must have lamps under the “Hot, Hot, Hot” section. I have been wanting one for a while and couldn’t afford it, but at these prices, I have grabbed me one. If you were like me and they were just to expensive, get yours now while we have them in stock.

 

Magickal Necessities

The Witches Magickal Journal for Thursday, April 19

Thursday, April 19th

Thursday is the day of the planet Jupiter, dedicated to Thunor(Thor), God of thunder and agricultural work. His parallels in various European traditions are Zeus, Taranis, Perun, Perkunas and St. Olaf. The faith of the Northern Tradition holds Thursday sacred, just as Islam reveres Friday, Judaism the Sabbath(calculated from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday), and Christianity, Sunday. This is why almost all adages about Thursday are positve, such as “Thursday’s child has far to go,” “Sneeze on Thursday, something better,” or “Cut nails on Thursday for wealth.” Thursday rules controlled optimism, energetic growth, physical well-being and material success.

Deity: Thor

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn/Pisces/Sagittarius

Planet: Mercury

Tree: Oak

Herb: Henbane

Stone: Turquoise/Bloodstone/Topaz

Animal: Fish/Goat/Aurochs

Element: Fire

Color: Brown/White/Orange

Number: 3

Rune: Thorn

The Celtic Tree Month Saille (Willow) (April 14 – May 12)
Runic Half Month of Man(human being) (April 14 – April 28)
Goddess of the Month of Maia (April 18 – May 15th)
Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

The Goddess Book of Days for Thursday, April 19th

In Bali, the day of temple offerings of fruit to the Goddess of Fertility, a women’s celebration (Yemaya, Isis, Kwan Yin, Kwannon, Demeter, Ceres, Gaia, Rhiannon, Freya, Tonantzin, Erzulie, Ge.) The nineteenth day of the Moon/month belong to Minerva/Athena.
Source
The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Goddesses Associated With Thursdays

Juno, Hera, Kwan Yin, Mary, Cybele, Tara, Mawu, Mbaba Mwana Waresa, Ishtar
Source
The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

 

Spellcrafting for Thursday

ñ Prosperity
ñ Wealth
ñ Growth
ñ Luck
ñ Male energy
ñ Debts
ñ Finances
ñ Development
ñ Legal issues

 

Source
A Spell Crafter’s Compendium
Terri Paajanen

Magickal Days of the Week – Thursday

Thursday is a day of royal blues and greens, associated with the planet Jupiter and metals like tin. When it comes to deities, look at leader type gods like Thor, Zeus, and Jupiter. Gemstone correspondences for Thursday include turquoise, amethyst and lapis lazuli, and plant associations can be found in honeysuckle, cinquefoil, and even oak trees.

This is a day for honor, fealty and family loyalty, as well as harvesting, success, and prosperity.

Take advantage of Thursday’s different aspects and do spellwork that brings abundance to you, declares your allegiance, and embraces prosperity.

Author
Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by ThoughtCo

Thursday–The Day of Thor

Thor, the Thunderer, is perhaps the most famous of the gods of the Northmen, and was considered by some to be greater even than Odin. He was the God of the Peasants–the poor people, while Odin was thought more of by the rich people and the great fighters. Thor usually rode in a chariot of brass, drawn by two goats, Tooth-cracker and Tooth-gnasher, and it was this chariot which was supposed to make the thunder; hence Thor’s name. Thor, alone of all the gods, was never allowed to cross the bridge joining Asgard and the earth, lest this chariot should break it down.

As the Thunderer, Thor corresponded to Jupiter, who, as we have read, hurled thunderbolts when enraged, and for this reason Thor’s name was given to the Roman Dies Jovis, the day of Jupiter, the modern French jeudi.

Thor was of very great strength, like Hercules among the Greeks and Romans, and possessed a wonderful hammer called Miolnir, the Crusher, which always returned to his hand when he had thrown it at an enemy. He also wore a magic belt which increased his strength the more he pulled it in. The way in which Miolnir came to be made is told in a story of Thor’s wife Sif, who was very proud of her golden hair, which reached down to her feet. One morning Thor woke to find that Sif’s hair had been cruelly cut off during the night. Filled with anger, he set out to find the culprit, whom he rightly guessed to be Loki, the God of Fire. Loki was the spirit of evil and mischief, and was always playing cruel tricks on the gods, who frequently punished him. Thor soon caught Loki, and would have strangled him had he not promised to bring Sif a new head of hair as beautiful as the first. Thor then released Loki, who quickly went to the home of the dwarfs, who lived underground. There he found a dwarf who agreed to make the hair for Loki, and also presents for Odin and Frey, the God of the Fields, whom Loki was afraid would be angry with him. The dwarf made a head of hair of the finest gold thread, which he said would grow on Sif’s head as soon as it touched it. Then he made the spear Gungnir which, as we have seen, Odin always carried with him; while for Frey he made a ship which could sail through the air as well as on the water, and could be folded up like a cloth. Loki was of course delighted with the skill of this clever little smith, and declared that no other dwarf could be as clever. This led to a challenge from another dwarf, who claimed that he could make three still more wonderful things. This dwarf in his turn made a wild boar with golden bristles, which travelled through the air, and gave out a bright light as it passed; a magic ring, out of which came eight more rings exactly like it every ninth night; and lastly an iron hammer, Miolnir, which no one could resist. Loki and the dwarf then gave their presents to the gods: the spear and the ring to Odin, the ship and the golden boar to Frey, and the hair and the hammer to Thor. The gods decided that the contest had been won by the second dwarf, because Miolnir would be of such great use against the frost-giants, with whom the gods were continually fighting.

Thor often journeyed to the land of the giants, and on one occasion, having set out with Loki, he reached the desolate giant-country at nightfall. A thick mist covered the ground, and, after struggling on with some difficulty, the gods came to what seemed to be a house with an open doorway which took up all one side of the building. The gods entered the house, which was cold and dark, and, tired with their journey, lay down to sleep. Their rest, however, was soon disturbed by a loud noise and the trembling of the ground, and, fearing the roof of the house might fall on them, Thor and his companion moved into a smaller room which led out of the main building, and there slept till dawn. On going out into the open the next morning, Thor saw lying near an enormous giant, whose snores shook the ground, and was thus able to account for the noise and the trembling of the earth which had disturbed his sleep. But imagine the astonishment of the gods when the giant woke and picked up the house they had slept in–they had passed the night in the thumb of his glove! Thor and his companion then continued their journey, accompanied now by the giant, whose name was Skrymir. When evening came, they rested beneath a tree, and the giant, before going to sleep, offered them the food which he carried in his wallet. Thor, however, was unable to undo the straps of the huge wallet, so the gods had to go hungry. Angry at this, Thor dealt the giant, who was now asleep, three terrible blows on the head with his hammer Miolnir. But the only effect this had on the giant was to cause him to wake up and complain that three times a leaf or a twig had fallen on his head. The next morning Skrymir showed the gods the way to the castle of Utgard-loki, the giant king, and then left them. Arriving at the palace, the gods entered and presented themselves to the king, who recognized them and asked them to show him their powers of which he had heard so much. Loki, who was very hungry, offered to eat more than anyone, and the king’s cook was matched against him. They each stood at the end of a wooden trough full of meat, and though Loki soon reached the middle of the trough, leaving nothing but bones behind, he found that the giant had eaten the bones and the trough as well. Loki’s defeat made Thor even more anxious to show his powers, and he offered to empty the largest drinking-horn in the palace. A huge drinking-horn was at once brought in, and Thor drank so deep and so long that it seemed as if he would never stop, only to find, however, when he could drink no more, that the horn was still almost full. Nothing daunted by his failure, Thor now offered to show his strength, but when he tried to lift Utgard-loki’s cat, he only succeeded in raising one paw from the ground. Thor tried yet again to show his skill, this time in wrestling, but he was easily beaten by Utgard-loki’s old nurse. The gods were then entertained by the giants till the following day, when they returned. Before they left, however, Utgard-loki explained that he was the giant Skrymir, and that he had used magic against the gods in all their contests. By magic he had placed a mountain between his head and Thor’s hammer and thus saved his life, for the blows had made three huge clefts in the mountain. The cook who had beaten Loki was really Wild Fire; the end of the drinking-horn which Thor had failed to empty had been placed in the sea, which had sunk lower after Thor’s enormous draughts; the cat was really the huge snake Iormungandr, which encircled the earth, and which Thor had nearly lifted out of the sea; the nurse was really Old Age, whom, of course, no one could possibly overcome.

Thor seldom lost an opportunity of making war on the giants, and on a famous occasion challenged to single combat the giant Hrungnir, whose head and heart were of stone. Hrungnir one day matched his horse Golden Mane against Odin’s steed, Sleipnir, and, in the excitement of the race, followed Odin right to the gates of Valhalla. Though, of course, the presence of a giant in Asgard could not be allowed, the gods had no wish to take advantage of Hrungnir’s mistake, and offered him meat and drink in their banqueting hall. Hrungnir, however, drank too freely of the mead of the gods, and began to speak proud words and boast one day that he would overthrow Asgard and kill all the gods. This so enraged Thor that he raised his hammer to kill Hrungnir, but the gods would not allow him to shed blood within their home. He then challenged the giant to a duel, which was arranged to take place three days later on the boundary of Hrungnir’s kingdom. At the appointed time the giant was on the chosen spot awaiting his enemy, and, feeling the earth shaking beneath him, he stood on his shield of stone, lest Thor should come up from the ground. But no sooner had he done this than Thor suddenly came in sight and hurled his hammer straight at the giant’s head. Hrungnir, having no shield, tried to ward off the hammer with his stone club, which was shattered to pieces, thus scattering flint stones over the whole earth, where they may still be found. One piece entered Thor’s forehead, and he dropped fainting to the ground, but as lie fell his hammer struck Hrungnir on the head and killed him. Thor was pinned to the ground by one of the giant’s legs, and, after each of the gods had tried in vain to free him, he was at last rescued by Magni, his little son of three, who easily raised the giant’s leg and released his father, receiving as a reward Hrungnir’s horse, Golden Mane. Magni was one of the few gods destined to survive the terrible Ragnarok, the day of destruction, when, as we shall see, Thor, the Thunderer, fell in mortal combat with the sea-monster Iormungandr.

The Challenge of Thor
I am the God Thor,
I am the War God,
I am the Thunderer!
Here in my Northland,
My fastness and fortress,
Reign I for ever!
Here amid ice-bergs
Rule I the nations;
This is my hammer,
Miolner the mighty;
Giants and sorcerers
Cannot withstand it!
These are the gauntlets
Wherewith I wield it,
And hurl it afar off;
This is my girdle;
Whenever I brace it,
Strength is redoubled!
The light thou beholdest
Stream through the heavens,
In flashes of crimson,
Is but my red beard
Blown by the night-wind,
Affrighting the nations.
Jove is my brother;
Mine eyes are the lightning;
The wheels of my chariot
Roll in the thunder,
The blows of my hammer
Ring in the earthquake!
Force rules the world still,
Has ruled it, shall rule it;
Meekness is weakness,
Strength is triumphant,
Over the whole earth,
Still is it Thor’s-day!
LONGFELLOW–The Saga of King Olaf.

Thursday’s Witchery

Today is the day for prosperity work of all kinds. It can also be used for healing work, whether that is a physical healing of an illness or an emotional healing. Also remember that you have to follow up your healing work and prosperity magick and physical action.

I can’t tell you the number of times I have met new witches who complain to me that their prosperity spell or “I need a better job” spell did not work as they expected. They’ll ramble on and on about how much time and money they spent working their magick….but, alas, they had no glorious manifestation of wealth or fabulous job that suddenly dropped out of the sky and landed in their laps.

Then, when I gently ask them, “Did you enchant your resume or application when you filled it out? Did you do a little confidence-boosting spellwork when you went to apply for the job or went to the interview?” typically they give me a blank, confused stare.

Nine times out of ten, their response is, “You mean I have to go out and actually look for the job too?” Um, yes, my dear, you certainly do. Magick follows the path of least resistance, which means it’s going to manifest along the simplest, quickest route. Get out there and hit the pavement. See what you can find. Times are tough and competition for good jobs is fierce, so you need whatever edge you can get. For folks like us, we’re going to get the edge by using our magick and our spellcraft.

Thursdays have such a rich source of magick for us to draw upon that, honestly, the sky is the limit. This is the day associated with the gods of the sky and heavens, after all. Get to know these deities and add their wisdom and magick into your days

 

Source
Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

The Witches Almanac for Thursday, April 19th

Primrose Day (British)

 

Waxing Moon

 

Moon phase: First Quarter

 

Moon Sign: Gemini

 

Sun enters Taurus 11: 13 pm

 

Incense: Myrrh

 

Color: Crimson

 

Moon in Gemini

The Moon is traveling through witty Gemini today. Call, text, send email, write letters. Visit someone you’ve missed. Watch a movie and talk about it at a coffee shop. Get out and about. Don’t sleep in.

Our instincts are to communicate, think, and learn under the influence of Moon in Gemini. We are motivated by a desire for variety and by an instinctive curiosity. The Moon in Gemini is light-hearted, breezy, and curious, but it can also be restless and fickle.

The Moon in Gemini generally favors the following activities: Mental and communicative actions, and more than one activity at once. Reading, learning, letters and emails, errands, writing, teaching, making connections, short trips.

 

The Witches Correspondences for Thursday, April 19th

 

Thursday (Thor’s day)

Planet: Jupiter

Colors: Purple, Deep Blue

Crystals: Amethyst, Lepidolite, Sugilite, Tin

Aroma: Melissa, Clove, Oakmoss, Jupiter Oil, Cinnamon, Musk, Nutmeg, and Sage

Herb: Cinquefoil

Ruled by the planet Jupiter and dedicated to Thor, god of thunder and agricultural work. His parallels in various European Traditions include Zeus, Taranis, Perun, and Perkunas.

Magical aspects: controlled optimism, energetic growth, physical well-being, material success, expansion, money/wealth, prosperity, leadership, and generosity.

Thursday is the day of Jupiter, the largest of the planets and said to be the most powerful. Spellcasters would be wise to use this day for attempting wealth, success and prosperity spells.

Thursday is also associated (in Greek mythology) to Thor – Thor’s day – and some even say that Jupiter and Thor are one in the same. Both are strong and powerful, yet wise and just. Try a small prayer to Jupiter before commencing any ritual on Thursday as a sign of respect.

This is the proper day of the week to perform spells and rituals involving luck, happiness, health, legal matters, male fertility, treasure, wealth, honour, riches, clothing, money, desires, business, group pursuits, joy, laughter, and expansion

 

The Energy of Jupiter

Weekday ruled by Jupiter: Thursday

Stones:
Sugilite
Amethyst
Turquoise
Lapis Lazuli
Sapphire

Herbs and Plants:
Cinnamon
Beech
Buttercup
Coltsfoot
Oak

Magickal Intentions: Happiness, luck, health, legal matters, male fertility, treasure and wealth, honor, riches, leadership, public activity, power and success.

Jupiter Stuff!

Jupiter is the largest of our planets and as such it acts as our protector

Jupiter’s healing energies are carried by Solar winds to the Earth

528 hZ is the healing frequencey of the amazing being – the vibration of DNA healing.

Linked to our immune system, energy conservation, cell formation and food assimilation.

The energy of Jupiter is of expansion, generosity, warmth and happiness.

Crystals for Jupiter include: Tanzanite, Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise & Citrine.

 

Source
The Path of Witchcraft

Custom Made Magick for Thursday

 

Well, let’s see … abundance, prosperity, and good health has been our focus for this day. Now how about a little more information and ideas for working practical magick with one of our fascinating featured deities of the day?

Juno was the Queen of Heaven. As the matriarch of the gods, she guarded over women in every aspect of their lives. Juno was thought to have renewed her virginity every year. Similar to other goddess stories, Juno was a triple goddess-a virgin who belonged to no one; a mother and woman in the prime of her life, sexual and mature; and also a crone, powerful, wise, and sometimes vengeful (as she made her husband’s many mistresses’ lives either fairly unhappy or short).

There are references to an early all-female triad of goddesses known as the Capitoline Triad. This triad consisted of Juventas, Juno, and Minerva. To the Greeks, they would have been known as Hebe, Hera, and Hecate. Ultimately the triad became Juno, Minerva, and the male Jupiter. Jupiter, another of Thursday’s gods, was Juno’s consort.

As mentioned earlier, Juno, in her aspect as Juno Moneta, was the patron and protector of the Roman mint. The coins produced at her temples were blessed by Juno and imbued with her powers of abundance and prosperity. In another of her aspects as Juno Augusta, Juno was the goddess of an abundant harvest.

In addition, another of Juno’s magickal correspondences is the semiprecious stone malachite. Malachite is a beautiful green-banded stone that was also called the “peacock stone” in Italy. The peacock was a sacred animal of Juno’s, and the magickal energies of malachite encourage health and prosperity.

 

Source
Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Thursday & The Perfect Corresponding Spell

Thursdays are good days for travel and change. It’s the perfect day to re-arrange the furniture of your house and gain a new perspective on something. Even if you are not able to do any traveling on this day, you can still use Thursdays to do spells for travel. You can even do spells for positive change, and re -arrangement of your life. It’s a good idea to exercise on this day, as well. That way, your body can be in-shape by the time Friday comes along.

 

Vehicle Blessing Before Traveling

Goal: To bless a new or existing vehicle.
Optional extras: Sage smudge stick; salt and water
Notes: This spell can be used for any vehicle, including trucks, motorcycles, boats, etc. Before or during the spell, walk around the vehicle and smudge it with the sage, then sprinkle it with the salt and water. Visualize a shining shield being placed around the vehicle. (You can substitute the word car, truck, or whatever.)

With fire and air, I bless this vehicle
With earth and water, I bless this vehicle
May it run smoothly
May it carry me safely
Wherever I travel
And return me safely to my home
In the name of the goddess
I bless this vehicle
In the name of the god
I protect this vehicle

And all who travel in it
So Mote It Be

 

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

Celebrating Legends, Folklore & Spirituality 365 Days A Year for April 18th & 19th – Rama’s Day

April 18 and 19

Rama’s Day

Rama is the seventh Avatar of Vishnu, the Vedic sun God who is reborn each morning and sustains the order of the cosmos. As does Apollo, the Greek sun God, Vishnu rises from the sea where he sleeps during Brahma’s night. As an Avatar, Rama descends to earth and assumes a visible form. Rama or Rama-Chandra is a “Moon Rama” or “Gentle Rama” in contrast to some of the more war-oriented Rama. In India, it is believed that the Avatars walk about the Earth and work for the good of humanity by defeating forces of evil and helping the good.

Let’s Talk Witch – Nature of Spells

There are two popular natures of spells.  These are the constructive and consecration or purification spells.
Spells are considered constructive in nature when they are performed during the full moon or the waxing of the moon.  Some of the constructive spells are spells for protection, spells for luck, and fertility rites.  All spells in witchcraft and Wicca should be practiced when you are in a positive mood.  Otherwise, you will fail to achieve the best effect or outcome of the spell.
There are also instruments or items that are used as aids in performing spells.  These include leaves and herbs, which are said to have magical or mystical properties.  Bay leaves are associated with positive energy and used to invoke positivity in witchcraft.
On the other hand, consecration is referred to as formally dedicating spells to a religious or divine intention.  Consecration should be practiced prior to using any tool in witchcraft.  Consecration is considered a purification method that is done with water, salt, and incense, which represent the elements of nature including earth, water, spirit, fire, and air.  You should take note that consecration in witchcraft should be done with a positive and clear state of mind.  Otherwise, it may compromise the manner in which the “spirit” is incorporated in the elements.  Furthermore, consecration in witchcraft is used for obtaining approval from the deities with regard to the ritual or magic you are about to perform.
Source

 

Witchcraft: A Beginner’s Guide To Wiccan Ways: Symbols, Witch Craft, Love Potions Magick, Spell, Rituals, Power, Wicca, Witchcraft, Simple, Belief, Secrets,The … For Beginners To Learn Witchcraft Book 2)
Sebastian Collins

Magickal Activity for April 18th & 19th, Rama’s Day

Mirror Magick

One of the symbols of Rama is the mirror, the symbol of truth, self-knowledge, and wisdom. As a moon deity, Rama reflects the glory of Vishnu, much in the same way the moon reflects the splendor of the sun. Magickally, the mirror reflects the true identity of the human soul and can be used to divine the future.

The most versatile mirror for magickal work is full length, has three panels, and provides a view of three sides of an image at once. When this triple reflective quality is combined with candlelight, it creates a very mystical effect.

Stand the mirror in the corner of a darkened room and place a lighted candle before each panel. Position a chair facing the center panel. Sit in the chair, take several deep breaths, and relax. Stare fixedly at the reflected image of the center candle flame, pose your question, and look deep into the mirror. The mirror will begin to cloud or fog with a swirling veil of ethereal mist. Through the mist, an image will appear and answer your query. When the image begins to fade, so will the mist. Once the mirror is clear, extinguish the candles, cover the mirror with a dark blue or black velvet drape, and record the experience in your magickal journal or Book of Shadows.

Thursday’s Did You Know

Primrose Day.–The 19th of April, the day on which Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield, died. He was one of the Prime Ministers of Queen Victoria’s reign. The primrose was reputed to be his favourite flower, and his statue in Parliament Square is decorated with primroses each year on the anniversary of his death.