Magickal Necessities

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2018 August 13

The Pencil Nebula in Red and Blue 
Image Credit & Copyright: José Joaquín PerezExplanation: This shock wave plows through interstellar space at over 500,000 kilometers per hour. Near the top and moving up in this sharply detailed color composite, thin, bright, braided filaments are actually long ripples in a cosmic sheet of glowing gas seen almost edge-on. Cataloged as NGC 2736, its elongated appearance suggests its popular name, the Pencil Nebula. The Pencil Nebula is about 5 light-years long and 800 light-years away, but represents only a small part of the Vela supernova remnant. The Vela remnant itself is around 100 light-years in diameter, the expanding debris cloud of a star that was seen to explode about 11,000 years ago. Initially, the shock wave was moving at millions of kilometers per hour but has slowed considerably, sweeping up surrounding interstellar material. In the featured narrow-band, wide field image, red and blue colors track the characteristic glow of ionized hydrogen and oxygen atoms, respectively.

Wondrous moon and Venus on August 13

Now about Mars. From anywhere worldwide, it’ll be hard to miss Mars. It’s the third-brightest heavenly object to adorn the August 2018 night sky, after the moon and Venus. Look in a southeast direction at dusk and nightfall to get an eyeful of this world that is way brighter than any true star. Above Mars you’ll find the golden planet Saturn. Although Saturn pales when contrasting it with the red planet Mars, this golden world nonetheless shines as brilliantly as a 1st-magnitude star.

Bottom line: Yes, you can see four bright planets as soon as darkness falls in August 2018. This evening – August 13, 2018 – the great celestial drama begins when the moon and Venus first pop out into the western sky at dusk.

The Wisdom of Buddha

ou, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

Your Celtic Ogham Reading for Today

The Ash Tree

Keywords

Wisdom, Energy

Ruling Planet

Neptune

Ruling Animal

The Adder

Ogham Term

Nion

Lucky Color

Green

Lucky Month

March

Lucky Letter

N

Lucky Gemstone

Coral

Lucky Flower

Wood Anemone,Buttercup

Characteristics

Ash is well known as a sacred tree. It is believed that the wood of this tree is enchanted and as a result, used for making the magical wands for the Druidics. People belonging to Ash are very witty and spontaneous. Moreover you are lively, curious and intelligent people.As individuals you are excellent speakers and communicators who love experimenting new projects and ideas. You tend to be compassionate about animals and pets in general. As far as religion is concerned, the Ash people are very orthodox in their faith. Your appearance may not reveal so, but you are very adaptable and can easily recover from any sort of emotional depression. On the dark side, you tend to be easily influenced by other people and as a result, at times you can suffer from low self confidence. The Ash children require proper training and guidance on every minute things of life. Beautiful and melodious singing voice is something with which you people are blessed with. Fantasy world and mystics are something which interest you a lot. Water body and the oceans seem to attract you a lot. Career for you should never be bound by strict routines and guidelines to be followed.

If You Were Born Today, August 13

There is a regal, masterful aura about you. You are very intelligent, creative, and clever. Very passionate, you are a natural leader – people turn to you for answers – but you are also a fair and gracious person, not a domineering person. You are proud of your intellect. You live by your own truth, and you are very responsible. In fact, you thrive most when you are meeting your responsibilities. As strong as you are, you feel very helpless without a partner, and you are at your best when you maintain a healthy and strong partnership. There is also a somewhat reclusive part of you. You are not always explicit in expressing your affections. However, if a partner considers your actions instead of your words, he/she will value your loyalty, family values, and self-sacrifice. Famous people born today: Alfred Hitchcock, Dan Fogelberg, Kathleen Battle, John Slattery, Sebastian Stan, Bobby Clarke, Debi Mazar.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

Your birthday this year occurs shortly after a Solar Eclipse, suggesting a time of new beginnings and fresh energy. You are instinctively starting a new phase in your life. It’s time to give your life a makeover and to branch out into the untried.

This can be a year in which you experience important turning points, or you could begin new projects or goals that have a long-term impact on your life.

You can have many projects and ideas going on this year. You’re hungry for variety, knowledge, and mental excitement! You could have a pleasing way with words, whether spoken or written (or both) and a love for order in the world of ideas and problem-solving.

You have Jupiter transiting in harmony to your Sun from February 2019 forward. Under this influence, you have a stronger than usual desire to improve, grow, and learn. This is a fortunate aspect that helps boost optimism and confidence, and you are able to attract fortunate circumstances into your life as a result. Problems are easier to resolve. Matters related to universities, higher education, organized religion, publishing, legal affairs, and foreign interests can be especially strong. It’s a favorable time to further your education, travel, or otherwise expand your personal horizons. You are likely to enjoy a larger perspective on matters that keeps you from getting lost in details or overly frustrated by everyday stresses.

You are very likely to attract loving relationships and/or new warm social contacts into your life. Your popularity increases and efforts to smooth over challenges in partnerships are more likely to succeed. This is an excellent influence for negotiations, marriage, and business partnership.

This can be a year in which you are building faith and confidence in your personality, skills, and talents. You can experience a stronger desire to seek out meaning, wisdom, and mental stimulation in your life during this period. Others might frequently turn to you for guidance. In fact, they may see the wisdom in your ways more clearly.

You are especially creative and expressive during this period, and you succeed most in fields or areas that allow you to make something beautiful, attractive, and/or entertaining. Personal magnetism is excellent at this time. This is a good period for creative projects and joining with others in the pursuit of a common goal.

Energy fluctuates this year, however. If you aren’t too rash or impulsive, you might be able to free yourself from restrictive circumstances. You could also have more courage than usual to do things that break the routine, and confrontations engaged in this year could clear the air and help you to move forward.

As well, getting serious about love or money (or both) can be a theme this year. Money may be tight, or the need to buckle down with your finances may be necessary. You may have an increased awareness of your limits. The responsibilities of partnership are magnified this year. You are likely to be more earnest on a romantic level. An existing relationship may become more serious, or you may form a new partnership with a serious or older person.

You might also watch for a tendency to overstate and to neglect important details when making plans. You may have so very many ideas that you end up implementing none if you’re not careful! You are likely to have increased opportunities for travel and/or new learning experiences.

Idealistic and humanitarian goals or impulses surface this year. Making connections with others from different backgrounds may figure strongly. Widening your mind through unusual or different experiences can be part of the picture. You more easily make personal sacrifices for what you believe to be the greater good this year.

You can feel as if you’re turning over a new leaf or beginning a new chapter in your life this year. This can be a time of important launches or directions. Your creativity is stimulated in addition to your excitability and your need for freedom. It is easier than ever to express your individuality in a manner that is true to you. In certain areas of your life, you’re inclined to rock the boat this year so that you can break free from a limiting situation. Be mindful when/if making sweeping changes. Personal magnetism is strong, although there can be some feelings of restriction in a key relationship or with money matters at times.

2018 is a Number Five year for you. Ruled by Mercury. This is a year of discovery and freedom. It’s a time when exploration and reaching out to others brings opportunities. It’s a good time to advertise, promote, and sell. Surprises are in store, and the routine is broken for the better. This is a year when exciting relationships can be formed; or, if you are already in a partnership, new life is breathed into the relationship. Advice – explore, look for adventure, keep your eyes open for opportunities, diversify, mingle.

2019 will be a Number Six year for you. Ruled by Venus. This is a year of relative contentment. It’s a time when love is the easiest to attract, and partnerships formed under this vibration have a better chance for longevity. You are especially able to attract others–and material things as well–this year. This is a good year for establishing harmony in the family and in the home. Advice – develop existing relationships, be positive and receptive because these kinds of energies help you to attract what you desire.

Cafe Astrology

Weekly Forecast: August 12 – 18, 2018

a message from Kelly M. Beard

To view more of Kelly’s insight, please visit her website, www.KarmicTools.com

The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity. Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto). And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tuning in to the energy and rhythm of the planets can serve as a useful *guide* as you move along your Individual Path. It also helps to understand your place within the context of the larger Social & Collective Story. Below, you will find out how these energies tend to manifest, as well as guidance and direction.

*NOTE*  There are some days when there are NO CONTACTS (besides the Moon), please note that there are no missing entries, we just list the actual Activations of each week + the day they happen.

Weekly Forecast:  August 12 – 18, 2018

8/12 ~ Mars Retro Re-Enters Capricorn (until 9/10):

Mars Retro is special because it only happens every 2-years but because of its regularity, we too can benefit from a review of our personal desires every 2-years. Consider how your nature has evolved over the last 2-years specifically. What do you want now that you maybe weren’t even aware of then? Or what do you no longer desire that was really important 2-years ago? As Mars lingers on the line between Capricorn & Aquarius, we are investing extra time & energy in a single area that relates directly to our freedom & responsibilities. It’s time to renegotiate with those who matter and let folks know what you truly want at this time. Mars goes Direct 8/27 and your energy will slowly pick up speed and move on from this point. Be sure you have clarified what you want so the Universe can respond. I always say a Mars Retro allows us to make a 6-8 month investment for 18-month return. If you have planets in either Fixed or Cardinal Signs, you are being directly affected by this Mars Retro and now is the time to check in and set your intentions.

8/18 ~ Mercury (thoughts) ~sextile~ Venus (art & beauty):

This energy turns your thoughts and ideas toward how you feel, what inspires you with love and beauty. This is a great time to be particularly creative or do something related to the arts. It is best to keep it light and let go of your mundane burdens just for a time. Pleasure reading, walk on the beach, a play or museum are all good things to do at some point this week.

8/18 ~ Mercury Direct at 11* LEO:

You’ve now had a review and hopefully, a reconnection with your own Heart so that you are expressing your unique creativity and sharing your authentic self with others. It is time to clear out the thought patterns that debilitate you with fear & self-doubt. You are more supported than ever to think for yourself and offer your gifts to a community of like-hearted Souls. As Mercury moves on and into Virgo, you will begin to weave these new ideas into the fabric of your everyday life.

Calendar of the Moon
Coll Invocation

Colors: Blue and Brown
Element: Water and Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of blue place a goblet of spring water, the figure of a leaping salmon, and three blue candles; next to them on cloth of brown place a musical instrument, a pen, and fresh flowers.
Offerings: Poetry, songs, art, writing. 
Daily Meal: Either fish (for the Salmon), poultry (for the Duck) or salads.

Coll Invocation:

Call: Hail the month of the Hazel Tree!
Response: Hail the month of the nuts that nourish us.
Call: First tree of the harvest, you give forth wisdom.
Response: Last tree of the summer, you chant our memories.
Call: The fading warmth follows you,
Response: And we feast on the fruits of your knowledge.
Call: This is the month of words and song.
Response: This is the month of the search for the mysteries.
Call: This is the month of the sacred pool,
Response: Wherein swims the Salmon of Knowledge.
Call: We fish for the gleams of divine light on the surface,
Response: We dive for the truths that lie deep in the Well.
Call: Our intuition is the hazel-twig held before us.
Response: We shall search out the underground streams.
Call: We shall find the hidden treasures.
Response: We shall spread them forth in words of power.
Call: We shall bring them forth with our hands in works of art,
Response: We shall gift the Gods and the people with our songs.
Call: Our voices will find their way across the land.
Response: Hear us, O Gods, as we sing your praises!
Call: This is the month of the bard’s silver tongue,
Response: This is the month of the golden door of autumn.
Call: As the Hazel Tree stands with words of peace,
Response: So shall we stand between the warring parties.
Call: So shall our Rule spread Justice and Peace,
Response: So shall our words spread beauty and harmony.

(As this is the month of the Bard, one or more shall stand forth and sing before the others, or read what words they would, to bring gladness and knowledge to the hearts of those who listen.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Calendar of the Sun
13 Weodmonath

Festival of Diana

Color: White
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon a white cloth set three white candles, a silver crescent moon, a chalice of white wine, and figures of bears, wolves, and beehives.
Offering: Meat and honey. Celibacy tonight, unless there is a contradictory festival.
Daily Meal: Barley porridge. Lamb. Bread with honey.

Invocation to Diana

Hail, Diana, Mother of Bears!
You protect the young girls
In their time of greatest vulnerability,
Between the edge of childhood
And the edge of womanhood.
Your roar echoes through the forest,
Virgin huntress with the silver arrows,
Silver waxing crescent among the clouds.
Hail, Diana, Mother of Bees!
Queen among your priestesses you fly,
Center of the flowering hive,
Your women poised to sting and kill,
Bringing forth sweetness
Unparalleled in its golden beauty,
Under a glowing full moon.
Hail, Diana, Mother of Wolves!
The ancient crone in you
Is no hearth-clinging shroud of bones;
She grinds roots with her old teeth
Bared snarling at the forefront of the pack.
You are friend to the wilderness
And the lonely howlers who inhabit it.
Bless us, Diana, Threefold Goddess,
With your fierce protection
And the uncompromising wisdom within it.

Chant: Diana Diana Lucina Lucina Lumen

(The white wine is passed around, and the remainder poured out as a libation.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]