Day: April 12, 2019

We are taking flight…..

Have a great evening and a fantastic Saturday. Remember we will be off tomorrow and back Sunday.

Tomorrow is…..

Happy Tax Day!

Can’t wait, NOT!

Love ya,

Lady of the Abyss

Charging And Cleansing Your Tools

Charging And Cleansing Your Tools

Once you have prepared your elemental substances, you can charge your tools ready for use. If they
have been bought, whether new or second-hand, you might also like to cleanse them first. You can also
cleanse them after a formal ritual or when their energies seem depleted.

If the ritual is important or arduous, you can recharge the tools before each use, but usually this is not
necessary, as the cleansing from a previous ritual will automatically restore the energies. However, as
you polish your candlesticks or athame before putting them on the altar, you may wish to focus on the
intention of the ceremony and visualise light entering the tools.

Charging With Power

You can charge your tools separately as you obtain them. Alternatively, group them together on a table
before their first use in ritual and create a circle of light around them with small purple candles at the
eight main compass points (North, North-east, etc.). Start at the North candle and end with the Northwest candle.

* First create a circle of salt round the tool(s), beginning in the North, to offer the tool(s) the protection
of the ancient Earth element, saying:

Mother Earth, charge with the power of the ancient stone circles and the wise ways of the ancestors
this – [name the tool(s)] of magick and healing, that my work may be rooted in what is possible and
help create abundance and prosperity for others and the land, as well as for my own needs.

* Next, draw a circle of smoke deosil in the air around them, using a frankincense or myrrh incense
stick, saying:

Father Sky, charge with the power of the mighty winds and the limitless potential of the cosmos this –
[name the tool(s)] of magick and healing, that my work may be focused, filled with energy and bring
positive change to ever-widening horizons.

* Now, using a golden or scarlet candle in a broad-based candle-holder, mark an inner circle of fire in
the air, around the artefact(s), saying:

Brother Fire, charge with the power of ancient ritual fires and the brilliance of the Sun, this (these)
tool(s) of magick and healing, that my work may be filled with light and inspiration and purged of all
self-seeking and negativity.

* finally, sprinkle sacred water or rainwater that has not touched the ground before collection on top of
the circle of salt saying:

Sister Water, charge with the power of mighty oceans, wide rushing rivers and deep still pools this
(these) tool(s) of magick and healing, that my work may release stagnation and bring fertility and
peace, not only to myself and my loved ones, but to people whose lives are blighted by polluted places
and, especially, water.

Cleansing Using The Forces Of Nature

Leave your artefact(s) on a piece of white silk in a sheltered, safe place out of doors or near an open
door where children, pets or the curious cannot reach them. Begin at dusk where they can absorb the
light of the Sun, the Moon and the stars, for 24 hours. This will be effective even if you cannot see any
of these heavenly bodies in the sky.

Charge at the time of the waxing moon to the full moon if possible; if not, let them stand for 48 hours.
If the Moon is waning and so not good for energising, create a circle of alternate moonstones and
crystal quartz for the powers of the Sun and Moon, and leave the tools within this circle for the full 48-
hour cycle.

Sprinkle the tools with nine drops of sacred water that was collected under the full moon or rainwater
that has not touched the ground, saying a variation of this old magical rhyme whose origins are
unknown:

One for joy, two for gladness,
Three and four to banish sadness,
Five and six do life renew,
Seven, eight, nine bring power anew.

Few of these old chants are great poetry, but that was not their purpose – they were created in the days
before widespread literacy as a way of remembering magical rituals. If you prefer, you can substitute
your own, composed by you or a coven member who may have a gift for such work. The rhymes
served like simple mantras to build up power – some people recite the chant several times, very fast,
while sprinkling the water slowly.

Cleansing Using A Crystal Pendulum

Hold a clear crystal pendulum over the tool(s) and make nine circles widdershins.

Plunge the pendulum in cold running water to cleanse it, shake it dry and circle it nine times deosil
over the tool(s) to restore energies. You may need to repeat this several times if a tool seems lifeless or
after you have been carrying out a banishing ritual.

 

— Practical Guide to Witchcraft and Magic Spells By Cassandra Eason

Ritual Magick

Ritual Magick

Ritual magick is no different from any other activity that you may carry out in a systematic way. Yes, it is true, it is more formal than folk magick: you are using special tools and following a series of preordained steps based on traditional practice. But this does not mean that it has to be so complicated as to be beyond the capabilities of any normal person. You do not need special powers; and the preparation is just the same as you would do if you were redecorating a room, servicing your car or preparing your annual accounts.

When you decide to do any of these tasks, you set out the necessary equipment in advance, so you are not constantly dashing off to find what you need. You check that it is all in working order and you probably consult a reliable reference book, computer software or calculator to clarify the necessary stages and finer points of the method. And that is exactly what preparing for ritual magick is like.

First, you need to collect any relevant information; for example, you must find out which tools, herbs, candle colours, etc. you may require. Then you must check that your magical tools are charged with power. You must check whether the hour and the day are well chosen to benefit from the energies and are most aligned to the focus. If you are working with a group, you must decide in advance who is to carry the salt and other elemental substances round the circle, who will perform particular parts of the ritual, such as welcoming the Spirit Guardians.

This preparation is important, although, as I have previously said, many of the words and actions in the best rituals remain spontaneous within the basic framework. You do not even need to belong to a coven to create beautiful rituals. Indeed, practising alone, you will find that as you increase in confidence, the natural rhythm of the ritual cycle will amplify your own innate powers and you will feel angelic or devic forces joining with you as you walk around the circle and hear their voices mingling with your chants.

You should not allow yourself to be overawed, as I have been in the past and still occasionally am, by books and practitioners who vaunt their knowledge of obscure magical phrases, measure their circles down to the last millimetre and insist that only their form of working is authentic.

What matters is the actual connection you make in your ritual with the storehouse of natural and higher energies – and that can be done with a kitchen candle if the need is great and the intention pure. Ultimately, the power is within you, and as you become skilled with magick, you may find that the external form becomes less important.

However, formal magick does have its place, for a special need or for raising spiritual awareness, or for focusing magical energies through the accumulated power of tools charged and regularly used for positive purpose. Some people believe also that in ritual you tap into the energies of all those before you who have created circles of power and protection, and within them have raised and called upon the elemental qualities to bring desires and needs from the thought to the material plane.

 

—Practical Guide to Witchcraft and Magic Spells By Cassandra Eason

Astronomy Picture of the Day – A Cosmic Rose

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.

2019 April 12

A Cosmic Rose: The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros 
Image Credit & Copyright: Jean Dean

 

Explanation: The Rosette Nebula, NGC 2237, is not the only cosmic cloud of gas and dust to evoke the imagery of flowers, but it is the most famous. At the edge of a large molecular cloud in Monoceros some 5,000 light years away, the petals of this cosmic rose are actually a stellar nursery. The lovely, symmetric shape is sculpted by the winds and radiation from its central cluster of hot young, O-type stars. Stars in the energetic cluster, cataloged as NGC 2244, are only a few million years young, while the central cavity in the Rosette Nebula, is about 50 light-years in diameter. The nebula can be seen with a small telescope toward the constellation of Monoceros, the Unicorn. This natural appearing telescopic portrait of the Rosette Nebula was made using broadband and narrowband filters, because sometimes roses aren’t red.

Daily Planet Tracker for April 12: Mercury in Pisces

Mercury in Pisces: Creative, Intuitive, Magical

Feb 10, 2019 – Apr 16, 2019

 

By Tarot.com Staff
Astrology, Mercury, Pisces

When Mercury enters the fantastical sign of Pisces, our dreams become more vivid, our thoughts are looser, and our instincts are especially strong. Mercury is the mental planet that rules our thoughts and communication style. While this focus on data and details doesn’t naturally align with Pisces widespread, all-inclusive style, there are so many ways to enrich our lives during this transit!

When Mercury enters the fantastical sign of Pisces, our dreams become more vivid, our thoughts are looser, and our instincts are especially strong. Mercury is the mental planet that rules our thoughts and communication style. While this focus on data and details doesn’t naturally align with Pisces widespread, all-inclusive style, there are so many ways to enrich our lives during this transit!

Pisces thrives in a world of magic, fantasy, and idealism. While Mercury is here, our minds are more open and we can find solutions in places we’ve never even considered before. Mercury in Pisces shines a light on the furthest reaches of our minds to illuminate fresh ideas, creative inspirations, and different ways of thinking.

When Mercury is in Pisces

Our minds are never open as wide as they are during Mercury in Pisces! Pisces thrives in the most vast spaces you can imagine. Think about the unbelievable depths of the ocean or the infinite reaches of space — these are Pisces’ realms. So while Mercury moves through this sign, our minds are expanded to this same level of vastness. We can see things we couldn’t see before, and understand things we couldn’t understand before.

It’s no surprise that some thoughts we have during this transit are beyond words. Our ability to communicate becomes fuzzy here, and some of the things that are happening in our minds are just too big to find words for. This is where our intuition comes in. Pisces is the most intuitive sign of the zodiac, and reminds us to pay close attention to the “feelings” we have in our minds. We know things in ways we can’t explain, because our subconscious is being triggered more than usual while Mercury is in Pisces.

Of course, there are also some cons to Mercury in Pisces. Miscommunication is possible, and we may have trouble staying on track. We might forget critical details, show up late for meetings, or say things that don’t quite make sense. This is because we’re speaking from the heart and gut, not our brains. Finding the words to match our feelings can make for some seriously stop-and-start conversations.

But overall, Mercury’s time in Pisces can bring amazing new opportunities our way. There are no limits during this transit. We’re open to all possibilities, so we can easily embrace the things that are suddenly inspiring us. The level of promise and potential is high here, because we’re not focusing on the things we can’t do, but the things we can do.

Mercury Retrograde in Pisces

When the planet Mercury goes retrograde, it appears, from our view here on Earth, to be moving backward through the sky. Therefore, the things Mercury rules — communication, travel, details — all start to get a little messy during Mercury Retrograde. When Mercury retrogrades in the sign of Pisces, though, there’s a definite Piscean spin on its effects. We find our energy depleted, and show up late to work or appointments more often than usual. Because communication is already unclear with Mercury moving direct in Pisces, we can expect even more misunderstanding during a retrograde here.

But it’s certainly not all bad! Mercury hibernating in Pisces leaves more time for daydreaming and fantasizing, helping to rejuvenate a stale imagination. And even though it’s not the best time to make a key argument or presentation, because everyone has the attention span of a gnat, using this time to polish your approach will have you ready to state your case effectively once Mercury turns direct.

 

Tarot.com is Part of Zappallas USA © 2019

Your Karmic Number for April 12 is Eight

Your Karmic Number of the Day

Wealth, or even a few extra dollars, can be manifested soon after getting an 8. Thinking about money 24/7 means that you are not open to the signs that are helping you know where to look. You have a poverty consciousness because it was instilled in you at an early age. You are still holding on to those messages that you are poor in at least one way. If you need money to pay bills then ask the Universe for a project that will do exactly that. Also, work through your foot and root chakra issues. Those old messages about money are closing you off to whatever wealth is truly yours.

Your Daily Witches Rune for April 12 is The Blank Rune

Your Daily Witches Rune for April 12

The Blank Rune

Meaning: This is a rune of difficulty and negative influences will rule your life for a time, but as all difficulties are a learning experience it will lead to improved personal perspective and progress on your life’s path. Always consult the surrounding runes with this stone. If it lies with a positive stone, it indicates that the pain of this experience will lead to a beneficial change in circumstances.

Your Daily Rune for April 12th is Kenaz

Your Daily Rune for April 12th

Kenaz

“The student surpasses the teacher.”

Kenaz – Literally: “Torch” – Esoteric ‘Ken’ or Knowledge

Key Concepts: torch as a symbol of knowledge and intellect, illumination, searching for enlightenment, shedding light on matters, quest for truth, skills and abilities, creativity, art, craftsmanship, cunning, acquisition and application of knowledge, occult female secrets, intuition, enthusiasm in teaching/learning, study, kin-fire, opportunity, playfulness

Psi: observation, clarity of thought, cognitive faculties, humility

Energy: Controlled energy, transformation (pheonix fire), teaching/learning dynamic, illumination

Mundane: art, technique, improvement of skills, school, the stars

Divinations: Artistic or technical ability, craft, transformation, offspring, new information; or disease, decay, breakup, inability, lack of creativity, ignorance, arrogance, elitism, over-conceptualization

Governs:
Illumination (torchlight) when exploring transpersonal pathways
Creative inspiration, enthusiasm for learning
Exploration of paradigms in the search for truth
Exposing the hidden to gain new knowledge, esp. through study, reflection and new information
Strengthening of abilities in all realms
Female occult secrets
The light within, the observer

Tarot 101: How To Use & Read Tarot Cards

How To Use & Read Tarot Cards

 

You’ve just picked up a Tarot deck, perhaps your first. You’ve spent some time flipping and familiarizing, and are ready to put them to use. This is an exciting undertaking — insight into your past, present, and even factors influencing your future can all be found in the cards.

You may be a bit confused or overwhelmed. There are lots of cards to master (we’ll get to that in a moment), and if you’ve read the booklet that came in the company of your deck, you’re likely feeling only slightly closer to becoming the intuitive that you know you are.

But, with Tarot, it’s best to trade fear for trust. By the time you’re done here, you’ll feel much more comfortable shuffling, placing, and reading your cards.

WHAT IS TAROT, ANYWAY?

First, a bit of history — Tarot got its start as a card game in the 15th century. So while it may seem like reading cards is an ancient practice, the use of Tarot for divination really came into its own in the 18th century. Because the Tarot deals in archetypes (or universal symbols), the meanings of each card and the stories those meanings tell span culture, continent, and time.

You may have seen the Tarot presented as a means of telling the future — even changing it — but the cards are actually most useful for reflection and empowered decision-making. From this vantage, Tarot can only aid on your journey to fulfillment.

WHY ARE SOME CARDS IN SUITS, WHILE OTHERS AREN’T?

If you’ve taken a good look at your cards, you will have noted that some have distinct names and are numbered zero to 21 (or one to 22, depending on the deck), while others that appear numbered in the same way that you might see in a traditional card deck, complete with aces, kings, and queens. The cards without suits make up the major arcana. Those that are labeled as belonging to swords, wands, cups, and pentacles comprise the minor arcana. A standard deck has 78 cards: 22 in the major arcana and 56 in the minor.

WHAT’S IN THE MAJOR ARCANA?

The major arcana is made up of cards that directly represent archetypes, and suggest major themes and lessons that the querent (the subject of the reading) should pay attention to.

There are many cards in your deck that symbolize impending change. If cards from the major arcana — think Death, or The Tower — show up, that means that the changes are going to be big, important, and an opportunity for a life-altering lesson.

Of course, not all of the cards that comprise the major arcana are created equal. Depending on your deck — and they are available in increasing, and increasingly creative, numbers — some card names may be altered. Be sure to read up on your deck to catch all of its idiosyncrasies.

WHAT’S IN THE MINOR ARCANA?

The minor arcana represents the joys, triumphs, hopes, fears, annoyances, and challenges we experience every day. The word “minor” doesn’t imply that these issues aren’t important; it just means that they’re more temporary and less far-reaching than those you’ll see in the major arcana cards. They’re also easier to act upon.

The minor arcana is separated into four suits — wands, swords, cups, and pentacles, traditionally — and each suit relates to a facet of human experience. Wands represent action and motivation; swords represent thought processes and decision-making; cups represent feelings and emotions; and pentacles represent the material world, as in work and finances.

Some decks may mix this up, but the meanings generally remain the same.

READY FOR A READING?

This crash course has been leading toward a simple goal, a readiness to give yourself — or soon, perhaps others — a reading. If you’ve heard that it’s bad form to read for yourself, know this is a myth. In fact, using the cards to gain insight and is one of the quickest ways to start getting honest with yourself — all it takes is a simple shuffle.

There are a variety of Tarot spreads to try. And while it may be tempting to lay out a ten-card Celtic Cross, it’s best to begin with something a bit more basic, though equally powerful. A three-card spread is both illuminating and versatile.

A THREE-CARD SPREAD HOW-TO:

Begin by shuffling the deck while contemplating your question. You may want to cut your shuffled deck into three piles and then reassemble it before pulling your cards, or you may not — do what feels right. Likewise, you may want to spread the cards out face down and move them around before picking, rather than splitting the deck. How you shuffle is entirely up to you — the most important aspect is your unwavering concentration on the question you want answered.

Pull three cards off the top of the deck, and position them to be read from left to right. This spread may seem simple, but it’s also very versatile. You can use the cards to denote past, present, and future, or, situation, action, and outcome. If you’re doing a relationship reading, you can even designate the first card as yourself, the second as your partner (or potential partner), and the third as the relationship between you both. Just don’t change the parameters of the inquiry mid-reading!

Don’t worry if you don’t know the meanings of all the cards yet — there are 78 of them, after all. A big part of reading the Tarot is building up your own intuition. Master the keywords associated with each card — use your booklet or the web for reference — and remember that the illustrations are there for a reason, and likely a factor that drew you to your deck! Look at the cards closely, notice how they relate to one another — look for connections; They should tell a story. Most importantly, don’t worry about perfection. Time, practice, and an open mind will serve you well on this journey.

Now, press pause your research, shuffle your deck, and pull a three-card spread. You’re well on your way to reading the Tarot like a true seer.

 

–Astrology.com

Your Past Lives Tarot Card for April 12th is The Star

Your Past Lives Tarot Card for Today

The Star

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you stand up for other’s rights you can stir deeply-seated past life memories in yourself. The origin of these feelings might come from having a past life experience of your own family’s struggle. At this time the civil rights leader inside you has come to the forefront. This spirit is more afraid of not standing up for what he or she believes in then fearful of what retribution one could face. This incarnation comes with an inner strength that is founded in compassion.