The Witches Magickal Journal for Saturday, July 7th

“Beware of organizations that proclaim their devotion to the light without embracing, bowing to the dark; for when they idealize half the world they must devalue the rest.”

― Starhawk

Saturday: Even the God needs to relax

Here we come to the only day of the English week which brings a Roman god to our heavenly party. The word Saturday is derived from Saturn, the god of harvest and agriculture. Buying all the food in supermarkets, we can hardly imagine how important this guy was for our distant ancestors.

In Latin, the word for Saturday is Sambata Dies, meaning the Day of Sabbath (sábado in Spanish, sabato in Italian, samedi in French). Sabbath is a Hebrew word for the Day of Rest. It was the last day of the all-in-one-week creation run. A day when the God finally had some relax, lying in the Garden of Eden and curiously waiting for what happens next.

Today Is Saturday, July 7th

Saturday is dedicated to the shadowy Anglo-Saxon God Saetere or Seater, July 15equivalent to the God Saturn. It is a day also associated with the Norns, the Norse equivalent of Three Fates, and the trickster God Loki. It is connected generally with apprehension, austerity, caution, and excessive self-limitation.

Deity: Saetere

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Planet: Saturn

Tree: Alder

Herb: Daffodil

Stone: Amethyst

Animal: Eagle

Element: Earth

Color: Dark Blue

Number: 4

Rune: Dag(D)

The Celtic Tree Month of Duir (Oak) (June 10 – July 7)

Runic Half Month of Ur (July 14 – July 28)

Goddess of the Month of Rosea (June 13 – July 10)

Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

The Pagan Book of Days for Saturday, July 7

The Roman festival of the Consualia commemorates Consus, the god of harvests, presaging a good harvest later in the month. Today is also the Ferise Ancillariim, the Festival of Handmaids or the maids’ day out, when the maids of Rome were beyond the control or their mistresses. Fig trees were venerated on this day, with feasting beneath them in honor of Caprotina, an aspect of the goddess Juno.

Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

A Look At The Next Celtic Tree Month of Tinne (Holly)

(July 8 – August 4)

The Holly Tree – Tinne – July

Holly Tree – Celtic Moon month 8th July to 4th August

Latin name – Ilex Aquifolium

The Holy tree is an evergreen is waxy sharp leaves, the bark is green in younger trees and then turns bumpy grey when older.

Trees are either male or female ( although the genus is considered male ) the female has smoother leaves and the flowers appear as pink tipped in bud then four petals creamy white from May to August.

The bright red berries appear from August to April in clusters. This tree is associated with winter and the winter Solstice, the seasonal wheel is represent with the Holly energy (king) ruling from midsummer to midwinter, with the Oak Tree (King) ruling from midwinter to midsummer. The Holly and Oak tree are the two most sacred of trees for the Druids. Many rituals and ceremonies are held by Wiccans and Druids with two men decked with Holly and Oak wreath’s to represent this seasonal battle.

There s many connections to tree spirits with the Holly, Druids would bring Holly into their homes as a sign that Tree spirits were welcomed. Holy tree s would be planted outside the home and boundaries as protection against negative energy s and lighting.

It’s considered a lucky tree and many believed to cut one down would result in much bad fortune to those who felled them.

It’s a tree of strength and protection and aids to bring the warrior within out to help in difficult times.

Spear shafts and Clubs in ancient times were made from Holly to give more aid and strength to warriors. It’s also used to make walking sticks, chessmen and wheels to name a few.

Entrances were often made from Holly wood to protect from hostile forces, also window still and door handles.

The healing properties of the Holly are many and include rheumatism, catarrh, fevers, pleurisy and arthritis.

It’s a very good wood for wand making as it gains a lovely ivory colour. The Holly energy helps with overcoming old issues we no longer need and bringing in the new stages of development.
It also help s bring success to businesses.

It has connections to Fire energy with the red berries and also many associate it with Mars.
Odin and the rune’s bring in the spear and the rune Tyr to the holly energy.

Source

Mystic Familiar

WHAT IS THE CELTIC TREE CALENDAR?

The Celtic tree calendar is based on a lunar year as opposed to a solar one, and begins after the Winter Solstice, There are roughly 13 lunar months, which begin and end with the new moon; each month is represented by a tree. In order, these are: Birch, Rowan, Ash, Alder, Willow, Hawthorn, Oak, Holly, Hazel, Vine, Ivy, Reed, and Elder.

In the Druidic alphabet, each tree also represents a letter. The first letter of the Gaelic names of the trees is a consonant. In order again, they are: Beth, Luis, Nion, Fearn, Saille, Huath, Duir, Tinne, Coll, Muir, Gort, Ngetal, and Ruis, to give us B, L, N, F, S, H, D, T, C, M, G, N, and R.

There are also five vowels, as in any proper alphabet: Ailim, Ohn, Ur, Eadha, and Ioho (A, 0, U, E, and 1). These five vowels are represented by the ‘solar’ trees, which are, respectively, Silver Fir, Gorse, Heather, Aspen, and Yew. The five solar trees are like ‘umbrella’ trees; they cover a larger portion of the year than the lunar trees do; usually about 2-3 months each.

This alphabet, when written, is put down in marks called ‘ogham.’ This is an ancient system of writing, and there are almost as many ogham alphabets as there are rune systems.

This entire system; the lunar months, the solar seasons, the trees in both their English and Gaelic names, and the ogham, is the Celtic Tree Calendar. There seem to be two major Celtic Tree systems; the one that we, the Faerie Faith, use, is called the Beth-Luis-Nion system. Its calendar begins on the Winter Solstice, the months run from new moon to new moon, and the trees are Birch, Rowan, Ash, etc., as listed above. The other system is called the Beth-Luis-Fern. Its calendar begins at Samhain, November 1, the months go from full moon to full moon, and the order of its trees is slightly different: Birch, Rowan, Alder, Willow, Ash, Hawthorn, Oak, etc. There is no one correct system; people just use the one that they feel the most comfortable with. We use the Beth-Luis-Nion because that’s what works for us.

Okay, that was the easy part; now let’s go into the calendar in a little more depth. Each of the 13 lunations has its own mythology and folklore, but most importantly, each has its own special ‘energies’ that affect our moods and physical beings. When we understand the energies that are acting upon us, we can deal with them better, and actually learn from them. For instance, ever notice how crabby people get around the ‘Dog Days’ of summer, July and August? True, you could put it down to the intense heat, but sometimes June is incredibly hot, and people just don’t act quite the same then as they do in the latter months of summer. In the Beth-Luis-Nion system, Holly falls around July and August, and brings with it intense energies of hatred, jealousy, suspicion, and general bitchiness. The remedy for this is the holly tree itself; a branch of holly hung in the house can help us feel calmer, more accepting, even loving. We’ve tried it-it works.
Another system that lends credence to our belief is the Bach Flower Remedies: the Holly remedy, made from the holly tree, is the remedy for hatred, jealousy, suspicion, and envy. Coincidence? Maybe. But when something keeps occurring over a period of time, it stops becoming mere coincidence, and becomes almost … magical. That’s the point we’re at now.

To fully understand the tree calendar, and make it relevant to your life, you should consider yourself a student of the calendar. Study it, research it, learn about it. Most of all, make it an active part of your life. Look into the mysteries and myths attached to each tree. Read Robert Graves’ The White Goddess and Celtic myths and fairy tales. Look at the rituals in Pattalee’s Year of Moons, Season of Trees, and write and perform a lunar ritual for yourself based on her rituals and what you’ve learned from Robert Graves. Make contact with a tree; meet it, talk to it, and especially, listen to it.

Each lunation, each tree, when taken separately, can teach us about ourselves, and help us get more in tune with nature’s cycles. Taken as a whole, a study of the tree system can help us integrate our personalities, broaden our intellectual horizons, and open ourselves spiritually to the cosmos, going beyond the physical world. That is, after all, the point of being on the path in the first place, isn’t it?

Reference

Muirghein uí Dhún Aonghasa (Linda Kerr), The Hazel Nut Magazine (No longer in publication)

The Wicca Book of Days for July 7

The Fig Feast

A festival called the Caprotinia, or the Nonae Caprotinae (“The Nones of the Wild Fig”) took place in ancient Rome on July 7.  Celebrated by serving women, it is thought that this feast day fused an older fig-tree festival with the commemoration of a historical event, when female servants, under the leadership of a caprificus-climbing girl called Philotis played a crucial part in defeating a Latin tribe. During the Caprotinia, the ancillae staged play fights, feasted under fig trees, and offered the fruits to the matriarchal goddess Juno Caprotina.

Heavenly Honeysuckle

Go out at dusk to inhale the divine scent of a flowering honeysuckle. Associated with both the Moon and this day’s zodiacal sign of Cancer in astrological belief, honeysuckle has long symbolized the sweet, clinging nature of a young woman’s love.

Source
The Wicca Book of Days
Observances, Traditions, and Lore for Every Day of the Year
Selene Eilidh Ash

The Goddess Book of Days for July 7

In Rome, the day of the Vestalia, women’s feast of the vestals dedicated to the Goddess Vesta. She is the guardian of household fires, also Hestia, Lucia, Lucina, Brigid, Befana, Perchta, Bertha, Oya, Pele, Amaterasu, and Hathor.

Reference

The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Goddesses Associated with Saturday

Saturday For Saturn: Ops, Rhea, Tellus Mater, Gaia, Eartha, Ge, Tonantzin, Ashera, Anath, the Shekinah, the Matronit, Mary, Gula, Herodias, Oddudua, Demeter

Refernce
The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Ritual Influences for Saturday, July 7

Planet: Saturn

Perfumes: Hyacinth, Pansy

Incense: Peperwort, Assodilious, Black Poppy Seeds, Henbane, Lodestone, Myrrh

Wood: Oak

Color: Black

Influences: Duties, Respondibilities, Finding Families, Works of Magic, Buildings, Meditation, Life, Doctrines.

Reference
A Book of Pagan Rituals
Herman Slater

Saturday–The Day of Saturn

In the Roman calendar, Saturday was called Dies Saturni in honour of the god Saturn, whom we have already mentioned. He was the father of Jupiter, who finally overthrew him. He then made his way to the earth, and reigned over a kingdom in Italy called Latium. A great festival was held in his honour in December, as we have seen.

The Old-English name Saater-daeg, from which the word Saturday comes, seems to be a translation of the Latin name, and so suggests no god of the Angles and Saxons to us, as do the days Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We find, however, that the day was sacred to Loki, the God of Fire, and there are some who think that

“Saeter-daeg” means “the day of Saetere”, another name for Loki. The stories told of Loki show him to have been a mixture of good and evil. While willing to help the gods in their difficulties, he also played dangerous tricks on them, and more than once led them into harm. As time went on, he seems to have become the spirit of evil only, and the gods at last banished him from Asgard, and condemned him to a terrible punishment. He was chained to the side of a cave, and a snake was fastened over his head in such a way that the poison from its fangs dropped on his face. His wife, however, remained faithful to him; she made her way to the cave where Loki was imprisoned, and stayed by his side, holding up a cup to catch the poison which fell from the snake, and only leaving him in order to empty the cup when it was full. The poison which fell on Loki’s face while she was absent caused him to twist and writhe with pain till he shook the earth, and thus produced earthquakes.

This punishment of Loki reminds us of the story of Prometheus, but it will be remembered that the latter suffered because he had been a friend to man, and not like Loki a source of evil. As Prometheus was rescued at last by Hercules, so Loki was destined to escape on the great day of Ragnarok, and to appear in his true colours on the side of the giants, soon afterwards meeting his death at the hands of Heimdall. The Northmen, unlike the Greeks and Romans, regarded their gods as mortal, and believed that their rule would one day come to an end. They pictured a final struggle between the gods, the forces of good, and the forces of evil represented by Loki, the frost-giants, and all the terrible monsters which they had created. Odin, in his great wisdom, knew what the future would eventually bring, and spared no effort to prolong his rule and prepare for the fateful day. For this reason he welcomed the great heroes to Valhalla, and kept the tree of life, Yggdrasil, nourished with the water of the sacred spring; for this reason the giants tried to steal Thor’s hammer, the weapon they most dreaded. Many things pointed to the approach of Ragnarok. First the earth suffered from six successive winters more severe and prolonged than had ever been known before. Snow fell without ceasing, freezing winds blew from the north, and the whole earth was covered with ice. In their struggle to live under these terrible conditions, men lost their faith in the gods, and gave themselves up to evil and wrong-doing. Sin and crime were found everywhere, and as the evil-doers passed into the Underworld, they became food for the wolves which were continually pursuing the sun and moon, and endeavouring to swallow them. As their food became more plentiful, the wolves increased in strength and speed, until at last the day came when Sol and Mani found the wolves rapidly gaining on them. In spite of all their efforts, the wolves continued to overtake them, and at length seized them in their enormous jaws, and plunged the earth into darkness. The foundations of the earth shook, the stars fell from the sky, and the mountains came crashing down. As if this were a signal, Loki and the fierce wolf Fenrir put forth new strength and burst their chains, for their day of revenge had come. The dragon which lay at the foot of Yggdrasil gnawed through the root of the sacred tree. The Midgard serpent, Iormungandr, lashed and writhed till the sea rose in mighty waves, and at last breaking its bonds, the terrible monster crawled to the land. Heimdall, the keeper of the bridge, realizing that the twilight of the gods was at hand, blew a blast on his horn that was heard in every corner of the world. The gods hastily donned their armour, and marshalled the army of heroes. Now indeed Odin regretted the loss of his eye, Tin that he had sacrificed his right hand, and Frey that he had lent his sword to his servant, who was away in the lands of the North.

Meanwhile the followers of the goddess Hel were led by Loki to the plain of Vigrid, the scene of the great battle. Here they were joined by Hel herself, Garm, the fierce dog who guarded the entrance to the Underworld, and Fenrir, the monster wolf. From the misty land of the North came the army of the frost-giants, while out of the South, with a burst of light, there dashed on to the plain Surtr, the giant of the Flaming Sword.

Terrible indeed were the forces arrayed against the gods, but they, like the Northmen themselves, knew no fear on the day of battle, and assembled their armies on the plain of Vigrid, prepared to resist the powers of evil to the last.

With shouts and cries, amid fire and smoke, the armies meet. Odin and the wolf Fenrir come together with a crash, which echoes through the whole world, but not even the mighty Odin can withstand this terrible enemy. Fenrir, now fiercer and stronger than ever before, opens his vast jaws till they stretch from heaven to earth, and overwhelms the leader of gods and men. But Odin’s death is quickly avenged. His son Vidar, wearing the iron shoe, which had been kept for this day, now falls upon Fenrir, and, as had been foretold, places his iron-shod foot on the monster’s lower jaw, and then seizing the upper jaw, with a mighty wrench tears Fenrir asunder.

Meanwhile Tiu grapples with Garm, and after a fierce struggle slays him, only to fall dead beside him. Frey attacks the fire-giant Surtr, but soon falls before his flaming onslaught. Heimdall and Loki once again meet in deadly conflict, and this time Heimdall overcomes the God of Evil, but, like Tiu, falls mortally wounded by his enemy. Thor, with his hammer Miolnir, advances against the huge Midgard serpent. The struggle is long and terrible; with a mighty blow of his hammer Thor at last kills the monster, and then, as he staggers back, is overwhelmed by the flood of poison which it outpours. The heroes of Valhalla are all overthrown by the giants and followers of Hel, and there is no longer anyone of Odin’s vast host to withstand the powers of evil.

Surtr then flings his fire over the world, Asgard is consumed in roaring flames, and the earth, scorched and blackened, sinks into a boiling sea. Ragnorak has come, and the old gods have passed away.

But in the minds of the Northmen evil could have no lasting victory. The very flames which had destroyed the home of the gods and had overwhelmed the earth had purged the world of evil. A new earth rose from the sea, lit by a new sun, the daughter of Sol, and life, drawn forth by its warm rays, once more spread over the earth. Trees clothed themselves anew with leaves, and the fields became fair with flowers. From the depth of the forest, where Mimir’s spring had bubbled forth, came Lifthrasir (Desire of Life) and his wife Lif (Life), who in course of time became the rulers of a new race. To the field of Ida, where the gods had been wont to hold their games, came the survivors of the gods: two sons of Odin, Vidar, the slayer of Fenrir, and his brother Vali, who had killed Hodur to avenge the death of Balder; two sons of Thor, Magni (Strength) and Modi (Courage), who had rescued Miolnir from the battle-field and now wielded it in place of their father; and finally, Balder and Hodur, who had been set free from Hel, and who now lived together as brothers, forgetful of the past.

It seems strange to us that the Northmen should have pictured the destruction of their gods, and it is possible that the writers of the wonderful poems from which we obtain these stories knew something of Christianity, and had begun to turn from their heathen beliefs. We find, however, that many heathen peoples had similar beliefs. The idea of eternity was impossible to them; they felt that there must be an end to everything. Accordingly they imagined their gods, after a long period of peace and good rule, being overthrown by the powers of evil and destruction, and being replaced by a new heaven and earth, which in turn would also be destroyed and renewed. Among no other people do we find so complete a description of this world catastrophe as in our ancestors’ story of Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods.

The Day of Ragnarok

The generations pass, the ages grow,
And bring us nearer to the final day
When from the south shall march the fiery band,
And cross the bridge of heaven, with Lok for guide,
And Fenrir at his heel with broken chain;
While from the east the giant Rymer steers
His ship, and the great serpent makes to land;
And all are marshall’d in one flaming square
Against the Gods, upon the plains of Heaven.
* * * * * * *
Far to the south, beyond the blue, there spreads
Another Heaven, the boundless–no one yet
Hath reach’d it; there hereafter shall arise
The second Asgard, with another name.
Thither, when o’er this present earth and Heavens
The tempest of the latter days hath swept,
And they from sight have disappear’d, and sunk,
Shall a small remnant of the Gods repair;
There re-assembling we shall see emerge
From the bright Ocean at our feet an earth
More fresh, more verdant than the last, with fruits
Self-springing, and a seed of man preserved,
Who then shall live in peace, as now in war.
But we in Heaven shall find again with joy
The ruin’d palaces of Odin, seats
Familiar, halls where we have supp’d of old;
Re-enter them with wonder, never fill
Our eyes with gazing, and rebuild with tears.
And we shall tread once more the well-knovm plain
Of Ida, and among the grass shall find
The golden dice wherewith we played of yore;
And that will bring to mind the former life
And pastime of the Gods, the wise discourse
Of Odin, the delights of other days.
MATTHEW ARNOLD–Balder Dead.

The Witches Guide to Saturdays

Saturday is a day filled with opportunities to clean up and clear out. So if you are wondering why Hecate is assigned to this day, take another look at what she symbolizes and the magick that is associated with her. That should answer the question.

Hecate was the oldest form of the Greek Triple Goddess, as she presided over heaven, the underworld, and earth. Crossroads where three roads met were especially sacred to Hecate, earning her the title of Hekate of the Three Ways. It’s interesting to note that even after the worship of other goddesses waned, ancient people still worshiped Hecate as the Queen of the Underworld and the Guardian of the Three-Way Crossroad. It was also believed that if you left her an offering of food there, she would grant you her favors. As Hecate Trivia, her triple images were often displayed at these crossroads, where she was petitioned on the full moon for positive magick and on the dark of the moon for cursing and dark magick.

While this last bit of information sounds a little ominous, keep in mind that Hecate/Hekate was known by many titles and is a shapeshifter. Her appearance could and did change often. As a dark moon goddess, her faces are many. To some she may appear as a old crone, hunched over a smoking cauldron and draped in a midnight cape. To others she may appear as a dark beautiful, mysterious, and mature woman wearing a shimmering crown. To some she may be perceived as a maiden priestess. She was called the “most lovely one,” the Great Goddess of Nature, and the Queen of the World of Spirits. This dark goddess knows her way around the earth and the underworld. All the powers of nature, life, and death are at her command.
Source

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

Saturday’s Witchery

Saturday is a day filled with opportunities to clean up and clear out. So if you are wondering why Hecate is assigned to this day, take another look at what she symbolizes and the magick that is associated with her. That should answer the question.

Hecate was the oldest form of the Greek Triple Goddess, as she presided over heaven, the underworld, and earth. Crossroads where three roads met were especially sacred to Hecate, earning her the title of Hekate of the Three Ways. It’s interesting to note that even after the worship of other goddesses waned, ancient people still worshiped Hecate as the Queen of the Underworld and the Guardian of the Three-Way Crossroad. It was also believed that if you left her an offering of food there, she would grant you her favors. As Hecate Trivia, her triple images were often displayed at these crossroads, where she was petitioned on the full moon for positive magick and on the dark of the moon for cursing and dark magick.

While this last bit of information sounds a little ominous, keep in mind that Hecate/Hekate was known by many titles and is a shapeshifter. Her appearance could and did change often. As a dark moon goddess, her faces are many. To some she may appear as a old crone, hunched over a smoking cauldron and draped in a midnight cape. To others she may appear as a dark beautiful, mysterious, and mature woman wearing a shimmering crown. To some she may be perceived as a maiden priestess. She was called the “most lovely one,” the Great Goddess of Nature, and the Queen of the World of Spirits. This dark goddess knows her way around the earth and the underworld. All the powers of nature, life, and death are at her command.

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

The Witches Almanac for Saturday, April 14th

Star Festival (Japanese)

Waning Moon

Moon phase: Fourth Quarter

Moon Sign: Aries

Moon enters Taurus 8: 51 am

Incense: Pine

Color: Gray

Correspondences for Saturday, July 7

Magickal Intentions: Spirit Communications, Meditation, Psychic Attack or Defense, Locating Lost Things and Missing Persons, Building, Life, Doctrine, Protection, Knowledge, Authority, Limitations, Boundaries, Time and Death

Incense: Black Poppy Seed and Myrrh

Planet: Saturn

Sign: Capricorn and Aquarius

Angel: Cassel

Colors: Black, Grey and Indigo

Herbs/Plants: Myrrh, Moss, Hemlock, Wolfsbane, Coltsfoot, Nightshade and Fir
Stones: Jet, Smokey Quartz, Amethyst, Black Onyx, Snowflake Obsidian, Lava, Pumice

Oil: (Saturn) Cypress, Mimosa, Myrrh, Patchouli

Saturn lends its energies to the last day of the week. Because Saturn is the planet of karma, this day is an excellent time for spellwork involving reincarnation, karmic lessons, the Mysteries, wisdom, and long-term projects.

It is also a good time to being efforts that deal with the elderly, death, or the eradication of pests and disease.

The Energy of Saturn

SATURN: THE PLANET OF KARMA

Saturn doesn’t make things easy. That’s the role of the taskmaster of the zodiac. Saturn commands us to get to work and to work hard. Discipline and responsibility are important to this planet, yet if we’re eager to conquer the world, that’s okay, too.

Much like Father Time, Saturn implores us to look at the clock (its glyph, after all, is the sickle of Chronos, the God of Time). Is there time for everything we want to do, or are there limits? Those limitations are important to Saturn, and we must learn to manage them. Restrictions are the province of this planet, as is any form of discipline or delay.

In keeping with the passage of time, Saturn governs old age along with the lessons it teaches us. Learning life’s lessons is key to this planet, in keeping with its role as teacher. The majesty of older age also brings with it a certain sense of tradition, conventionality (our learned patterns of behavior) and wisdom, and Saturn is mindful of these characteristics. This planet applauds our perseverance and the fact that we’ve withstood the test of time (yes, time comes up once again). This senior status further brings with it a measure of authority, and Saturn lords over that as well.

Structure, order and the way in which we conduct our affairs are all ruled by this ringed planet. Contraction and the reining in of assets are also important here. Lastly, Saturn, again in its role as teacher, concerns itself with karma and the lessons which past experiences might bring.

It takes Saturn 28-30 years to complete its orbit of the zodiac. It is masculine energy and rules both Capricorn and Aquarius, and the Tenth and Eleventh Houses.

Reference

Astrology.com

Meditation To Start Your Day

A meditation to kick off your morning can set the tone for your entire day. You can perform this meditation just as the sun comes up to begin your day on a positive note. Do this outdoors if you can, or in front of an east-oriented window so you can feel the sun’s glow upon your face.

1. Begin by lighting a gold or yellow candle and incense with a fragrance associated with the sun, such as frankincense.

2. Sit comfortably with your hands in your lap, close your eyes, and speak the words, “The night has passed, and the wheel has turned once more. Darkness is leaving. The sun rises again, and with it comes light and hope. It illuminates my path, brightens my way, and guides me throughout the day.”

3. As you sit, steady your breathing so you are inhaling and exhaling calmly and slowly. Open your eyes, and watch as the sun begins its ascent above the horizon. Listen to the changes in the air around you. Do you hear different sounds as the world awakens? Is there a sense of something alive that wasn’t there before?

4. Once the sun has completely broken, raise your hands out to welcome it. Say, “Light has come, day has broken, and the earth arises from its slumber. Today is a new day, full of new beginnings. I am full of light and hope, like the sun, and I am grateful to have this fresh day. I am blessed to be alive, and thankful for the gift.”

5. Extinguish the candle, let the incense burn out on its own, and begin your day rejuvenated and revitalized.

Source

Wicca Practical Magic: Getting Started with Magical Herbs, Oils, and Crystals
Patti Wigington

The Witches Magick for Saturday, July 7th – Stone of Luck Spell

You can use the Stone of Luck spell for anything, love, money, health, wealth, spirit awareness, etc. The key to this empowerment is concentration and belief. When you have completed this spell, carry the stone around with you. Eventually you will start to get what you want.

What you need:

1 Small stone of your choice (any kind)
1 candle (correct color for what you want)
Appropriate herbs
Appropriate incense
Salt
Water
A cloth
Oil (either olive, jasmine, or mint)
Some bowls (glass or crystal)

First you need to meditate on what you want, be it money, love, better health….whatever you want. After you feel you have meditated long enough, you may start the spell. Light the candle and incense. (Be sure you have all of the things you need with you.)

Hold the rock in your power hand. Concentrate on what you want. Run the rock through the flame 3 times. Then put it into the water. Cup your hands over the bowl. Then take the rock out of the water and sprinkle the herbs on it.

After you have done that, put the rock into a dry bowl. Visualize yourself getting what you want. Then anoint the rock with the oil and put the rock back into the dry bowl. Sprinkle some salt onto the rock. Concentrate more.

Then wrap the rock in the cloth and leave it for at least 24 hours. Let the candle and incense burn all the way out. Dispose of the water.

Celebrating Legends, Folklore & Spirituality 365 Days A Year

July 7th & 8th

The Consualia and Festival of the Pales

It is believed that the festivals in honor of Consus were possibly to celebrate the harvest. Consus had an altar in the Circus Maximus in Rome that was kept underground. The altar was only exposed on July 7 and August 21, with burnt sacrifices offered in July by the Sacredotes Publici (state priests) and in August by the Flamen Quirnalis (priest of Consus) with the Vestal Virgins in attendance.

The Festival of Pales, held on Nonae Caprotinae (nones of the wild fig), was a feast of serving women held in honor of Juno Caprotina.

Home & Hearth Magick for Saturday, July 7th

On Saturday work for protection, boundaries, and house rules

Planetary Influence: Saturn

Household Symbols: A gate, a fence, a sprig of ivy from a houseplant

Colors: Black or deep purple

Kitchen spices: Traditionally there are not many herbs associated with Saturn that are not poisonous. However, for banishing and the removal of negative situations, try a clove of garlic or dried minced onion.

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

The Witches Astronomy Journal for Saturday, July 7th

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Saturday, July 7th

The Sun

Sun Direction:↑ 349.60° N

Sun Altitude:-29.62°

Sun Distance:94.508 million mi

Next Equinox: Sep 22, 2018 8:54 pm (Autumnal)

Sunrise Today:5:41 am↑ 61° Northeast

Sunset Today:8:17 pm↑ 299° Northwest

Length of Daylight: 14 hours, 35 minutes

The Moon

Moon Direction:↑ 74.22° ENE

Moon Altitude:-12.65°

Moon Distance:238499 mi

Next New Moon:Jul 12, 20189:47 pm

Next Full Moon:Jul 27, 20183:20 pm

Next Moonrise: Today 1:23 am

Current Moon Phase: Waning Crescent

Illimination: 40.7%

Reference
timeanddate.com

Your Astrology of Today – Saturday, July 7th

• The Moon is in Aries until 8:50 AM, after which the Moon is in Taurus.
• The Moon is void from 3:08 AM to 8:50 AM.
• The Moon is waning and in its Last Quarter phase.
• The Last Quarter Moon occurred yesterday.
• Mars is retrograde (Mars is retrograde from June 26th to August 27th).

Moon in Aries

We’re motivated by a strong desire to start fresh. A gut instinct to start something new is with us now, as well as the gumption to do so. Our pioneering impulses are strong, and we feel energetic, spontaneous, and enthusiastic. We may also be tactless and impulsive now. Excess energy is best channeled into physical activity.

The Moon in Aries generally favors the following activities: Quick actions that yield immediate results. Undertakings that involve the self and the personality. (Staying power may be lacking). Self-assertion, taking on challenges, beginning short-term projects.

Daily Overview of Your Stars and Planets for Saturday, July 7th

The Moon continues its transit of enterprising Aries until 8:51 AM EDT, after which it travels through stable Taurus. With a Taurus Moon, we crave comfort and predictability, and its trine to Saturn today provides these things. However, the Moon also aligns with Uranus, and we’d be wise to embrace some level of change and progress. With the Moon’s square to Mars tonight, it can be all too easy for frustrations or impatience to interfere with these goals. The Sun’s contra-parallel to Saturn suggests we become especially aware of our responsibilities, commitments, and limitations today, mainly through our interactions with others.

The Moon is void from 3:09 AM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a trine to Venus), until the Moon enters Taurus at 8:51 AM EDT.

The sky this week for July 7 to 15

Saturday, July 7

Magnificent Saturn reached its peak 10 days ago, when it appeared opposite the Sun in the sky, and our view of the ringed planet remains spectacular. It is on display nearly all night among the background stars of northern Sagittarius, hanging in the southeastern sky as darkness falls and climbing high in the south by midnight local daylight time. Saturn continues to shine brightly, too, at magnitude 0.1. When viewed through binoculars, you’ll find the Trifid Nebula (M20) 4.2° to the west, with the even brighter Lagoon Nebula (M8) 1° south of the Trifid. Open cluster M25 resides 4.2° northeast of the planet and globular cluster M22 is 3.8° southeast of the ringed world. But the best views of Saturn come through a telescope, which reveals the planet’s 18″-diameter disk surrounded by a dramatic ring system that spans 42″ and tilts 26° to our line of sight.

Sunday, July 8

Although Jupiter reached opposition and peak visibility two months ago, it remains a stunning sight from evening twilight until it sets around 2 a.m. local daylight time. Jupiter shines at magnitude –2.3 and dominates the sky toward the south-southwest as twilight deepens. The gas giant resides among the background stars of Libra the Scales, 2.1° northwest of Zubenelgenubi (Alpha [a] Librae). If you view the planet through a telescope tonight, its disk spans 41″ and displays spectacular cloud-top detail.

Monday, July 9

Venus dominates the western sky after sunset. The dazzling object shines at magnitude –4.1 among the background stars of western Leo. Venus appears 14° high an hour after sundown and sets shortly before 11 p.m. local daylight time. And this evening, the solar system world meets Leo’s brightest star, 1st-magnitude Regulus. The planet appears 1.1° north (to the upper right) of the star and shines more than 100 times brighter, so binoculars will provide the best view of the conjunction. When viewed through a telescope, Venus appears 17″ across and two-thirds lit.

Tuesday, July 10

Mars remains a stunning sight all week. It rises around 10 p.m. local daylight time and climbs nearly 30° high in the south by 2:30 a.m. Although the Red Planet won’t reach opposition until the end of July, it appears noticeably brighter than it did just a week ago. Shining at magnitude –2.5, it appears brighter than Jupiter and ranks as the second-brightest point of light in the night sky after Venus. If you point a telescope toward Mars, you’ll see its 23″-diameter disk and perhaps a few subtle surface features — though most of these are currently obscured by a major dust storm.

The waning crescent Moon rises shortly before 3:30 a.m. local daylight time this morning. Earth’s satellite lies next to the V-shaped Hyades — the large star cluster that forms the head of Taurus the Bull. The Moon stands just 1° northeast of Taurus’ brightest sun, 1st-magnitude Aldebaran. From parts of Canada and the upper Midwest, Luna passes in front of this ruddy star.

Wednesday, July 11

Mercury pops out of the twilight glow this evening as the sky begins to darken. Look for it 30 minutes after sunset, when it lies 9° above the western horizon. The innermost planet should be fairly easy to spot because it shines brightly, at magnitude 0.4. (Use binoculars if you can’t see it with your naked eye.) Mercury lies 26° east of the Sun tonight, its greatest elongation for this evening apparition. Through a telescope, Mercury appears 8″ across and slightly less than half-lit.

Thursday, July 12

Today marks the peak of Pluto’s 2018 appearance. The distant world reaches opposition, which means it lies opposite the Sun in our sky and remains visible all night. It glows dimly at 14th magnitude, however, so you’ll need an 8-inch or larger telescope with good optics to spot it visually. Pluto currently lies in northeastern Sagittarius, some 0.2° west of the 6th-magnitude star 50 Sagittarii.

New Moon occurs at 10:48 p.m. EDT. At its New phase, the Moon crosses the sky with the Sun and so remains hidden in our star’s glare. At least, that’s what it will do for more than 99 percent of Earth’s population. But if you find yourself between southeastern Australia and Antarctica, you can watch the Moon pass in front of the Sun and cause a partial solar eclipse. From Hobart, Tasmania, the eclipse lasts from 2h52m to 3h56m UT, and the Moon blocks 10 percent of the Sun’s diameter at maximum. Remember that when viewing the Sun during a partial eclipse, you need to protect your eyes with a safe solar filter.

Friday, July 13

The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower starts to ramp up this week. The shower won’t peak until the end of July, but you should see some of its meteors in the hours before dawn. The best time to look is between 3 and 4 a.m. local daylight time, just before twilight begins. Viewing conditions are great the remainder of this week because the Moon is out of the morning sky. Unfortunately, our satellite will show a fat gibbous phase at the shower’s peak the night of July 29/30. To tell a Southern Delta Aquariid meteor from a random dust particle burning up in Earth’s atmosphere, trace the streak of light’s path backward. A shower meteor will appear to originate from the constellation Aquarius the Water-bearer.

The Moon reaches perigee, the closest point in its orbit around Earth, at 4:25 a.m. EDT. It then lies 222,097 miles (357,431 kilometers) away from us. Since perigee arrives less than six hours after New Moon, residents of coastal areas can expect to see tides rise higher than normal for the next couple of days.

Saturday, July 14

A slender crescent Moon passes 2° above Mercury in this evening’s sky. Binoculars should deliver the best views of the pair set against a colorful twilight sky.

Sunday, July 15

The Moon moves approximately 13° eastward relative to the starry background every 24 hours, and that motion carries it near Venus this evening. The crescent Moon appears just 2° to the brilliant planet’s right. The stunning duo stands 15° high in the west 45 minutes after sunset. This conjunction provides a nice photo opportunity. If you shoot the twilight scene before 9:30 p.m. local daylight time, you’ll also capture Regulus to the lower right and Mercury even closer to the horizon.

Reference
Astronomy Magazine

In the Sky This Month

Source

StarDate

Your Cosmic Calendar for Saturday, July 7th

All things considered, the first five days of July have not exactly constituted a pleasant walk through the garden of earthly delights. In the place of cheerful exuberance, you may have encountered a fair amount of solar, lunar and planetary interference in social, familial and partnership matters. Don’t allow a new crisis atmosphere to send you to the back of the class with a dunce cap on your head as the last quarter sun-moon phase (activating 15 degrees of Cancer and Aries) becomes exact at 12:52am. Any face-off of 90-degrees between the two lights of the heavens can contribute to crises that need resolution without delay. Helping you tune into notes of harmony and contentment is an uplifting, 72-degree rapport between the sun and Juno (12:55am). This fortuitous solar-Juno interaction occurs only a few hours after last night’s more volatile Juno-Uranus convergence. Travel aboard the love boat to exotic ports of call this evening as a flowing trine between the moon in Aries and Venus in Leo becomes exact at 12:10am tomorrow.

[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.]

Reference

Astrology.com

The Witches Current Moon Phase for Saturday, July 7th

Waning Crescent
Illumination: 38%

Tomorow the Moon will be in a Waning Crescent phase. In this phase the Moon’s illumination is growing smaller each day until the New Moon. During this phase the Moon is getting closer to the Sun as viewed from Earth and the night side of the Moon is facing the Earth with only a small edge of the Moon being illuminated. This phase is best viewed an hour or 2 before the sunrise and can be quite beautiful if you’re willing to get up early. It can also be a great time to see the features of the Moon’s surface. Along the edge where the illuminated portion meets the dark side, the craters and mountains cast long shadows making them easier to observe with a telescope or binoculars.

PHASE DETAILS FOR – SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2018

Reference

MoonGiant

What It Means For You When The Moon Is Waxing & Waning

For all your magickal needs in 2018, think Magickal Necessities

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Pagan Ways

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

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

My ritual over, now time to seek,

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

—Pagan Ways
Alan Faraway

\Friday Is Ruled by Venus

Archangel: Anael

Candle colour: Green or pink

Incenses: Rose or geranium

Crystals: Jade or rose quartz

Use Fridays for spells for love, fidelity, healing, for anything to do with beauty, the arts and crafts and for all spells concerning the environment.

Where possible, work in any enclosed beautiful place outdoors, for example a botanical garden, a field, park or your own garden – even in a circle of plants indoors.

Your Honey Do List for Friday

Fridays are days of loving enchantments and passionate emotions.

See how many ways you could add a little loving enchantment into your life and the lives of your loved ones. If you wish to explore the topic of love and romance witchery even further, then check out my book How to Enchant a Man: Spells to Bewitch, Bedazzle &Beguile. If cat magick has tickled your fancy, then for further study read my book The Enchanted Cat: Feline Fascinations, Spells &Magick.

In the meantime, try sharing red berries with your partner some enchanted evening. Work that meditation, and see what other mysteries Freya has to teach you. Wear a Venus planetary color and call on the Goddess for a little inner sparkle. Burn some floral incense, light up some rosy candles, and set a romantic mood. Try wearing a little copper jewelry, and see how it affects you and your Friday magick. Get those potpourri and philter recipes going, and see what you can conjure up.

Advancing your magickal skills takes drive, ambition, and passion. Work with Eros to discover just how much enthusiasm, inspiration, and drive he can bring into your days, for the imagination is a place where dreams flourish and ideas come to fruition.

Call on these fertile and romantic powers, and create your own unique spells and charms. Just think of all the magickal information that you can now add to your repertoire of witchery. Lastly, remember this: when you combine imagination and a loving heart with magick, you’ll succeed every time.

Source

Book of Witchery – Spells, Charms & Correspondences For Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Friday: Freya’s Day

Ruler: Freya, Venus

Colors: Emerald green or pink

Power Hours: Sunrise and the 8th, 16th, and 24th hours following.

Key Words: Love, money, health

It is easy to spot the ruler of this day by its name. In the word Friday, we see the roots of the name of the Norse goddess Freya, a goddess of love and fertility, and the most beautiful and propitious of the goddesses thus the verse “Friday’s child is loving and giving.”

In Spanish this day of the week is called Viernes and is derived from the goddess Venus. Matters of love, human interaction, the fluidity of communication, sewing and the creation of artistic garments, household improvement, shopping, and party planning all fall under the aspects of Friday and its ruling planet, Venus.

Friday’s angels are Ariel/Uriel, Rachiel, and Sachiel. Rachiel also concerns himself with human sexuality and is a presiding spirit of the planet Venus.

On Fridays, the hour of sunrise and every eight hours after that are also ruled by Venus, and that makes these times of the day doubly blessed. These four hours are the strongest four hours for conducting ritual.
Check the local newspaper, astrological calendar, or almanac to determine your local sunrise.

Source

Gypsy Magic

 
Friday

Friday: Is associated with Venus and the colors of – Green, Pink and White
Friday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Affection, Alliances, Architects, Artistic Ability, Artists, Balance, Beauticians, Beauty, Change, Chiropractors, Cosmetics, Courage, Courtship, Dancers, Dating, Decorating, Designers, Engineers, Entertainers, Fashion, Fertility, Friendship, Gardening, Gifts, Grace, Harmony, Herbal Magick, Household Improvements, Income, Luck, Luxury, Marriage, Material Things, Music, Painting, Partners, Peace, Physical Healing, Planning Parties, Poetry, Prosperity, Relationships, Romantic Love, Shopping, Social Activity, Soul-mates, Success

Source
Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch
Carol Moyer

Today is Friday, July 6

Friday is the day of Venus. It takes it name from Frigg, the Goddess of love and transformation. She rules the spiritual side of a person that manifests in the physical. Because of this, Friday is often thought of as dangerously unpredictable. This is expressed in an old East Anglian adage:

Friday’s day will have its trick
The fairest or foulest day of the week.

Deity: Frigg

Zodiac Sign: Taurus/Libra

Planet: Venus

Tree: Apple

Herb: Vervain

Stone: Sapphire/Chrsolite

Animal: Bull/Serpent

Element: Earth

Color: Yellow/Violet

Number: 7

Rune: Peorth(P)

The Celtic Tree Month of Duir (Oak) (June 10 – July 7)

Runic Half Month of Ur (July 14 – July 28)

Goddess of the Month of Rosea (June 13 – July 10)

Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

A Witch’s Tale

What is it like

To cast a spell?

To chant a charm?

To ring a bell?

To cast a circle?

To praise the moon?

To love the Earth?

To read the rune?

To love the Goddess?

To live her way?

To ebb and flow

Every day?

The trees, the grass,

The clouds and hills;

these things

Witchcraft fills.

Every laugh,

Every cry,

Need you ask

The reason why?

The power can be found

From deep within

When you find it

You’re ready to begin.

—By The Light Of The Crystal Moon: A Book of Pagan Poetry and Short Stories

Elizabeth Gardiepy