Day: April 5, 2023

A Few Laughs for Your Day

From Reader’s Digest

POTATO BAG STRENGTH

An exercise for people who are out of shape: Begin with a five-pound potato bag in each hand. Extend your arms straight out from your sides, hold them there for a full minute, and then relax. After a few weeks, move up to ten-pound potato bags. Then try 50-pound potato bags, and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-pound potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. Once you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

CAN’T COME TO CLASS

My daughter received this e-mail from a prospective student prior to the start of the semester: “Dear Professor, I won’t be able to come to any of your classes or meet for any of the tests. Is this a problem?”

MADE MY OWN GRANDKIDS

Scene: With a patient in my medical exam room Me: How old are your kids? Patient: Forty-four and 39 from my wife who passed away, and from my second wife, 15 and 13. Me: That’s quite the age difference! Patient: Well, the older ones didn’t give me any grandkids, so I made my own.

The Perfectly Fun and Delightful Day Spell

From exemplore.com

The Perfectly Fun and Delightful Day Spell

For this spell, all you need is a small, much-loved object. Could be a special piece of jewelry, a small teddy bear, or a pretty ornament. Doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it is special for you.

Before you go to bed, place it near you, perhaps on your nightstand.

When you wake up in the morning, clasp the item, and feel the energy flowing through it and through you. Feel happiness building inside you.

Whisper these words:

“As within me, and so without
Let this day begin, no doubt
That fun and delight will be all about.

And as I say it, so must it be, and let it harm none.”

Now put the object on your windowsill until the evening. Repeat daily.

 

(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER)

Goddesses – Bastet

Egyptian Goddess of home Bastet from gods-and-goddesses.com

Bastet is the Egyptian goddess of the home. She is also the goddess of felines and a protector goddess. At times, Bastet may be called or referred to as “Bast”. She is often closely associated with the goddess Sekhmet, a lion goddess.

As Egyptian mythology evolved, Bastet became known more as a docile household feline goddess and Sekhmet became known as a fierce lioness and warrior goddess.

Bastet Facts

Name(s): Bastet, Bast
Rules over: Home, Domestic
Gender: Female
Symbols: Cats, Sun, Moon
Sacred animals: Cats
Parents: Ra (Father)
Siblings: Hathor (Sister)
Greek Similar: Hestia
Roman Similar: Vesta

Origins

Bastet’s origins are uncertain, but it is believed by historians that she was already a popular goddess by the third millennium B.C.E. Some of the earliest physical evidence points to veneration of the deity close to the year 2800 B.C.E., in the form of stone vessels that were found near a temple in Saqqara.1 Saqqara is an ancient Egyptian city located about 20 miles south of Cairo, not far from Memphis.

This goddess had several names prior to being called Bastet, including Baast, B’sst and Ubaste. The American Research Center in Egypt notes that one of the stone vessels in Saqarra has the inscription b#s.t, and likely refers to the goddess.1 Over time, she became widely known as Bast. Some scholars believe that, eventually, it was changed to Bastet in order for the last “t” in “Bast” to be pronounced. Others state the additional t was to make Bastet sound more feminine.

Over the next several hundred years (circa 2600 – 2200 B.C.E.), a main cult center and city dedicated to Bastet called Bubastis began to form. This center was located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) north / northeast of Cairo. In addition to being centered around Bastet, it was also devoted to sacred cats. During the height of worship to Bastet, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians would make pilgrimages each year to Bubastis to honor and pay respects to the goddess.

Today, Bubastis is referred to as Tell Basta in Arabic or Per-Bast in Egyptian. Tell Basta is a substantial archaeological site with the remains of many monuments, temples and statues. The ancient city’s dedication to the goddess can easily be seen in the different buildings located at the site. First and foremost, is the Temple of Bastet, one of the largest buildings in Bubastis. A sanctuary dedicated to her son, Maahes, was close by. Excavations are ongoing at Tell Basta with researchers periodically announcing new finds to this day.

Appearance

Although Bastet initially began as a goddess of the sun based on her father’s powers, her appearance was predominantly feline. Her appearance changed over time from a wild lioness to a domesticated cat. She is often portrayed as a female cat in a seated position.

Family

Bastet was the offspring of Ra, the Egyptian god of the sun. Ra was her only parent.

Ra was believed to be the original creator deity in much of Egyptian mythology. He created a number of other deities by himself, and not in conjunction with a goddess. He was said to have created Shu and Tefnut. He also had three daughters that constituted the eye of Ra. These three daughters were Hathor, Sekhmet and Bastet. As such, Bastet has a number of siblings including Shu, Tefnut, Hathor and Sekhmet, but not in the sense of them all being from two parents.

There is some discrepancy over who Bastet was married to and who she gave birth to, due to Bastet and Sekhmet being very similar in Egyptian mythology. It is possible that in different belief systems, Bastet and / or Sekhmet were married to Ptah, the Egyptian god of architecture and craftsmanship. Ptah and Bastet gave birth to a son, Maahes. Maahes is an Egyptian war god with the head of a lion – a strong connection to Bastet.

It is also possible that Ptah and Bastet or Sekhmet had a second son named Nefertum. Nefertum was was born from a lotus flower and was associated with sweet and pleasant smelling things, including perfume.

Symbols

The primary symbol associated with Bastet is the cat. She is also associated with the sun and the moon. Her affiliations with the Sun and Moon typically occur in earlier Egyptian mythology.

Powers & Duties

Initially, Bastet protected her father from harm. In this role, she primarily protected him from harm threatened by Apep, the snake-god and his arch nemesis. As was common among female gods in later texts, she gained more power and assumed more responsibilities over time.

Coinciding with the domestication of the cat, Bastet’s image changed to become less intimidating, even as her powers increased. For example, Bastet gained the power of presiding over childbirth and expectant mothers sometime after the domestication of the house cat. This role symbolized both her growing power and influence and high fertility levels associated with the domestic cat.

Later, the goddess acquired a third major duty of protecting people against evil spirits and contagious diseases. Although it was not a main responsibility, she had unique powers to charm snakes and combat the effects of poisonous venom, which was a trait attributed to cats among ancient Egyptians. She is seen battling snakes in some mythological scenes, including engaging in combat with Apep.

Worship

In her honor, entire cemeteries of mummified house cats (often buried near their owners) appeared in Bubastis and Memphis during the Ptolemaic periods. Worshipers donated offerings of small bronze statues of the goddess. She was also honored through jewelry, especially amulets, made of gold molded into the shape of cats.

Other Symbols and Affiliations

Bastet has connections with the sun and solar system in some stories, too, due to the controlling influence of her father. These depictions are more common in earlier stories and regional mythology. Based on this association, she is sometimes also called the “Eye of the Moon.”

In addition to gender roles, her image is also influenced by politics. As the Greek empire grew in power, and eventually conquered surrounding lands, Egyptian mythology changed to reflect the influence of the Greeks. Therefore, during stories from the Ptolemaic Dynasty, Bastet is often linked to Greek goddesses and even shares overlapping powers.

Facts About Bastet

  • Women wanting children would show Bastet amulets with their desired number of offspring. She granted their wishes
  • As a feline, she was sometimes depicted with ear and nose piercings. One example is the Gayer-Anderson cat statue, named after the individuals that donated it.
  • Her name changed during the New Kingdom to add an extra “t,” which is more feminine.
  • She was honored by worshipers with golden jewelry, as cats were associated with riches and royalty.
  • Bastet was considered a good mother and had children of her own.
  • She was one of the most honored deities in ancient Egypt.
  • She had a yearly festival in her honor that attracted over 700,000 people from across Egypt.
  • Festival activities included drinking copious amounts of wine, which is a divine drink associated with the goddess
  • Bastet was sometimes portrayed wearing a necklace with a Wedjat eye, which symbolized wholeness and provided protection.
  • At times she is also portrayed holding a sistrum in her right hand, which is a percussion instrument popular in ancient Egypt.
  • Similarly, she is often seen holding an aegis with a lion’s head in her left hand, which is a protective shield made of armor.
  • Bastet was sometimes known as the goddess of dancing and singing.
  • During the annual festival dedicated to Bastet, a single torch began the celebration, followed by a torch-lighting ceremony throughout her hometown.
  • She was associated with a number of other Egyptian and Greek deities.
  • Bastet’s family included a sister named Hathor, a son named Maahes and possibly a second son named Nefertum.
  • She was the wife of Ptah, a god of creation, rebirth, and craftsmen.
  • Bastet was once worshiped for her role as a fierce protector in Lower Egypt.
  • Worshiped as a feline mother-like figure in Upper Egypt.
  • Worshiped mostly as a sun deity in Lower Egypt in association with her father.

References

Gods – Ra

Egyptian Sun God Ra from gods-and-goddesses.com

Ra is the Egyptian god of the Sun. He was also the predominant creator god in ancient Egyptian religion. He was the most powerful and most worshiped of all Egyptian gods. The sun, and therefore Ra, represented life, warmth, and growth to ancient Egyptians. He was so important that he earned the status of King of the Gods, with the Egyptian kings or pharaohs holding the title “sons of Ra.”

Understanding and describing Ra is difficult because of the many forms he was depicted in, as well as the practice of creating new deities by merging existing deities. As one of the creator gods, Ra created himself before his identity was combined with several other gods, including Horus and Atum. This resulted in new names such as Ra-Horakhty and Atum-Ra.

Ra Facts

Name(s):  Ra, Amun-Ra
Rules over: Sun, Chief God
Gender: Male
Symbols: Sun, Sun Disk, Scepter, Ankh
Sacred animals: Falcon
Parents:  None
Siblings: Thoth, Serket, Sobek, Apep

Origins

Reference to Ra was first made during the Second Dynasty of ancient Egypt (c. 2890 – c. 2686 BC), also known as the Old Kingdom. His stature grew to that of a major god by the Fifth Dynasty (c. 2494 – c. 2345 BC).

Family

The eye of Ra is an extension of Ra’s power, and is the feminine counterpart to the sun god in Egyptian mythology. His daughters Bastet, Sekhmet, and Hathor were all considered to be “eyes of Ra” and instruments of his vengeance.

Together with Atum, Ra also fathered Shu, the god of wind, and Tefnut, the goddess of rain. Tefnut gave birth to Nut and Geb, who in turn were the parents of Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys. These nine make up the Heliopolitan Ennead.

Symbols

Ra is pictured and represented in many pieces of ancient Egyptian art found in temples, tombs, hieroglyphics, relics, and other relics. He was generally depicted in human form, most notably with a falcon head crowned with a sun disc; a sacred cobra called Uraeus encircled the disc. Sometimes his head also took the form of a ram or a beetle, depending on the deity with whom he merged.

Powers & Duties

The ancient Egyptians believed Ra created all forms of life by calling them into existence using their secret names. Alternatively, some narratives also stated that man was created from Ra’s tears and sweat.

The sun god was believed to travel across the sky in a solar bark with the sun on his head. He traveled through the underworld in a bark called Sektet (meaning “growing weaker”) during the night, defending himself against and overcoming monsters such as the serpent Apophis. The prayers and the blessings of the living supposedly accompanied him together with the souls of the dead. In the morning he traveled in a bark called Matet (meaning “becoming stronger”).

Worship

Egyptian pharaohs spent most of their money on sun temples during the Fifth Dynasty. They were specially aligned in Ra’s honor. By the time the New Kingdom arrived (c. 1550 BC), the worship became more elaborate. Detailed texts describing Ra’s journey on the sun boats were written on tomb walls, while hymns, prayers, and spells were created in acts of worship.

Heliopolis, meaning sun city in Greek, was the principal seat of worship of Ra. It was known as Iunu or “place of the pillars” in ancient Egypt. Its remains can still be seen today in the Cairo suburb of Al-Matariyyah.

Facts About Ra

  • Many solar temples were built in honor of Ra, but none featured a statue of him. Instead, he was represented by the sunlight openly flowing into the temple, which had an obelisk and altar at its center.
  • A scarab beetle called Khepri who rolled up the sun at sunrise was seen as Ra’s morning manifestation;
  • At sunset Ra manifested in Khnum, another creator god, normally depicted with a ram’s head;
  • At noon, when the sun was most powerful, the sun god was just Ra;
  • Apep, the god of chaos, was Ra’s greatest enemy. He supposedly tried to swallowed Ra as the sun god entered the underworld, causing the sun to set. When he spat Ra out after not succeeding in his quest, the sun rose again;
  • Many solar temples were built in honor of Ra, but none featured a statue of him. Instead, he was represented by the sunlight openly flowing into the temple, which had an obelisk and altar at its center;
  • Egyptian mythology links Ra to the Tree of Life, a sacred symbol in the solar temple at Heliopolis. The fruit of the Tree of Life gave eternal life, although it was only available to the gods and aging pharaohs;
  • The Tree of Life was seat to Bennu, the mythological phoenix that represented Ra’s soul;
  • The worship of Ra began to fade with the rise of Christianity after the Romans conquered Egypt around 30 BC.

April 5, 2023 Daily Horoscopes

Click here to read Georgia Nicols Daily Horoscopes

Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Full Moon in Libra peaks at 9:34 PM PDT.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Be patient with others as today’s Full Moon begins to peak opposite your sign. This happens only once a year, and when it does, it creates tension with those who are closest to you. Hey, with the Sun and Jupiter in your sign, you’re laughing! You can be positive.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Tension with coworkers as well as people dealing with your health, or even your pet, might arise today as the Full Moon peaks tonight. This means something might come to a head. You might want to speak up about something because you feel it’s time. (Woof! Woof!)

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Be patient with kids today because they feel the Full Moon as much as you do. Even your pet does. This is because the Moon has a gravitational pull on bodies of water, hence the ocean tides. Be patient with lovers, social situations and sports.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Today you might feel pulled between the demands of home and family versus the demands of your career and your public reputation. This happens twice a year for you. In this instance, you can’t ignore your career and the reputation you have with your peers.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Pay attention to everything you say and do today because the energy of today’s Full Moon might create an accident. This accident could be a verbal accident (like a real blooper), or it could be a physical accident. (Ouch.) Slow down and take it easy.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Some kind of financial issue might come to a head today due to the Full Moon energy. It might deal with debt or something that you owe to someone else. Or it could deal with your responsibilities to or for someone. Hopefully, you will get this resolved.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Tonight, the only Full Moon in your sign all year is taking place, which will likely create increased tension between you and those who are closest to you like spouses, partners and dear friends. Knowing this ahead of time, you can make an effort to compromise and be patient.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Difficulties with coworkers might arise today as the energy builds up before the Full Moon tonight. You might feel a clash with someone about how to do something. Let this energy pass because in 48 hours, everything will return to normal. (Sort of.)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You might encounter difficulty with your kids today or a romantic partner. It might be challenging to deal with a group, especially if it is sports related or something to do with a competition. This is because the Full Moon is peaking tonight. Be patient with yourself and others.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Today you might feel a tug-of-war between the demands of home and family versus the demands of your job or your public reputation. You can’t please everyone. In this particular instance, you have to put home and family first. And so it goes.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Be careful because this is a mildly accident-prone day for you. An accident doesn’t have to happen; however, you might be emotionally distracted or tense because of the buildup before tonight’s Full Moon. Slow down and take it easy. Don’t get your belly in a rash.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

The energy that builds up today before tonight’s Full Moon might stir the pot in financial matters or something to do with your possessions or something you own. It might even impact what you share with someone else, like shared property or debt. By tomorrow, things will be clearer.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor Sterling K. Brown (1976) shares your birthday today. You are highly principled and always working. You shoot for success and excellence in everything you do. You want security and stability. This is a year of learning for you. Explore philosophies and belief systems that will give you better self-awareness and a better understanding of what is important.

April 5, 2023 Birthday Horoscope – Zodiac is Aries

May the next year of your life be more positive than the past year! 

Click here to search for anyone’s birthday horoscope from thehoroscope.co

Being an Aries born on April 5th, you have a friendly and decisive personality. You don’t take what is being said lightly and often try to seek for deeper meanings, even when there are none.

Vigorous and enthusiastic, you like challenges and thrive when you have enough time and resources to simply follow your goals, which are often more impossible than realistic. Prepare to read a detailed profile analysis in the following rows.

 The zodiac sign for April 5 is Aries.

 Astrological symbol: Ram. It is representative for people born between March 21 and April 19 when the Sun is in Aries. This symbol denotes wealth and confident behavior coupled with impulsivity and egocentricity.

 The Aries Constellation is located between Pisces to the West and Taurus to the East and has Alpha, Beta and Gamma Arietis as the brightest stars. It is spread on an area of 441 sq degrees and its visible latitudes are +90° to -60°.

 The name Aries comes from the Latin name for Ram, in France is called Bélier, while in Greece the sign for April 5 zodiac sign is called Kriya.

 Opposite sign: Libra. This means that this sign and Aries are a straight line across each other on the zodiac wheel and can create an opposition aspect. This suggests temper and charm as well as an interesting cooperation between the two sun signs.

 Modality: Cardinal. This modality shows the emotional nature of those born on April 5 and their certain sweetness and honesty regarding most life situations.

 Ruling house: The first house. This house governs the zodiac Ascendant and the earthly presence of an individual. This is why Arieses are focused towards action and also care a lot about how the world around perceives them and their behavior.

 Ruling body: Mars. This celestial body is said to influence confidence and vigilance. It is also relevant from the optimism perspective. Mars takes 2 and a half year to transit each of the zodiac signs.

 Element: Fire. This element represents temper and dynamism and is considered to influence eager and warm people connected to April 5 zodiac. Fire makes things heat up in association with air, boils water and models earth.

 Lucky day: Tuesday. Under the governing of Mars, this day symbolizes heat and faith. It is suggestive for the Aries natives who are witty.

 Lucky numbers: 2, 3, 17, 18, 21.

 Motto: I am, I do!

More info on April 5 Zodiac

People born on April 5 benefit from being amicable and eager and would rather lead and establish anything than do something they are asked to. Just like a true Aries, they are shockingly direct and sincere. They love being in organizing and decisional positions. They dislike adjusting even to the smallest things. Those born under this sign enjoy stages where they are faced with activities that give them the opportunity to glow as they are very challenging and full of vigor almost all the time.

 Positive traits: These are creative natives but possess a lot of logic as well and they seem to combine these perfectly in day to day life. They are ambitious and thrive when achieving their goals. They are sharp tempered and usually vibrate when change produces in their lives. They feel as if perpetual change is essential for their development so they lose interest quickly and get bored easily.

 Negative traits: Avoiding unnecessary risks and taking decisions while also considering the people involved is one thing Aries needs to learn. They need to understand that other people have a word to say and they should listen to it. Those born on this day are prone to building up sadness and unworthiness feelings as they are not willing to talk to anyone about their problems and instead they dwell in their own weaknesses. Despite their strong appearance they are sometimes frustrated, insecure and possessive beings.

Love and Compatibility for April 5 Zodiac

Lovers born on April 5 are impulsive and passionate. They have no time to wait and would do anything to take their passions to completion. They are attracted to enthusiastic and mysterious persons and sparks will fly for a long time if their partner manages to keep up the pace with them. You can conquer the heart of Aries if you’re as ambitious and as driven as them. The single Aries is so deep into tasks and projects as it has no time to even realize they are single.
 They are enthusiastic lovers, full of ideas and eager to spend all their time with their loved one. Sometimes they are prone to controlling behavior and jealousy fits. Freedom lover, they have an immense love for change and adventure and will experience many love relationships in their life that they will consider important. If they settle for one person, they will probably be hard to understand and they will still be governed by selfishness. They are most compatible with those born on 1st, 2nd, 8th, 10th, 11th, 19th, 20th, 28th and 29th.

 April 5 Zodiac people are most attached to the other two fire signs: Leo and Sagittarius as they tend to share the same vision of life. In love, Aries is in a constant search for someone to open their hearts in front of. Someone to whom they can show their emotional side and not be afraid to get disappointed and the best to offer them this is the compassionate Libra. The least compatible with people born on April 5 are those born under the Pisces Zodiac sign. As for the rest of compatibilities between the other star signs and Aries, you know what they say, stars predispose but people dispose.

Lucky color

The lucky color for those born under the April 5 is represented by red.

Red suggests prosperity, joy and energy. In some cultures it is said to be used to catch interest. This zodiac color should be used for objects that are sitting in places where these natives spend most of their time.

People who have red as sign color are dynamic, attractive and powerful. They are outstanding personalities, gifted with all it needs to take the lead to success. They are courageous thrill seekers that act on impulse and display an air of know-it-all that catches everyone’s attention and interest.

Other colors indicated for Aries are scarlet and carmine.

Representative birthstone

The Aries birthstone used in astrology for those with April 5 is the spectacular diamond.

This is a precious stone that symbolizes strength and refinery. This zodiac birthstone should be used in pendants, bracelets and other accessories.

This gemstone is considered beneficial for brain and glandular diseases and was also said to remove poison. Did you know that colorful diamonds are even rarer that the usual colorless diamond? Because of this natural lack, color treated diamonds have been already manufactured in laboratories.

Another gemstone considered beneficial for Aries natives is Emerald. It represents rebirth and harmony.

Characteristic flower

The flower considered to be representative for Aries natives with April 5 is Honeysuckle.

Honeysuckle is a plant that symbolizes grace and sweetness. This zodiac flower could be used in gifts and accessories.

Just like Aries, Honeysuckle is the first of the flower signs and comes with the same energy and determination as the above mentioned zodiac sign. This flower is to be found during spring time but continue until early fall.

Other plants indicated for Aries are Geranium and Ginger.

Symbolic metal

Iron is the metal of preference for Aries natives, especially those born under the April 5.

Iron is a metal that suggests strength and action. This zodiac metal should be used in bracelets and other accessories.

This strong metal suggests the force of fiery Aries who is easily stimulated as iron is malleable through fire. Left in moist air, Iron rusts which suggests that it should be handled with care exactly like the Aries native.

Another metal considered lucky for Aries natives is Silver.

Characteristics of April 5.

April 5 Zodiac belongs to the second decan of ARIES (March 31-April 10). This decan is influenced by the Sun. Those born under this influence combine the charm and idealism of Aries with the warm heart of the majestic individual ruled by the Sun. This period tempers the positive and negative characteristics of Aries zodiac sign, slightly enhancing the positive ones.
 Being born on the 5th day of the month shows adaptability, restlessness and a permanent search for novelty. The numerology for April 5 is 5. This number reveals an active person, task oriented and boasting with life experience. Those Aries associated with number 5 are proactive people with great time management skills as they seem to never need any rest.

 April is the second spring month in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing energy and great inspiration. Those born in April are dynamic and friendly. April 5 Zodiac people are clever and understanding. The symbols for April include the Diamond as a gemstone, Honeysuckle and Poppy as plants and Aphrodite the Greek goddess of beauty.

What statistics say about April 5 Zodiac?

In the Gregorian Calendar, April 5 is the 95th day of the year or the 96th day in leap years, while until the end of the year there are 270 days left. The thirty sixth day of spring, this is also the Hansik and Arbor Day as observed in South Korea.
 Aries is the ninth zodiac sign in order from most common to least commonly met. Being an odd numbered sign, this exudes a positive meaning and a masculine symbolism. This represents extrovert natives who are likeable and frank. The Rescuer is an archetype used when talking about this sign. There is a slight peak of musicians and visual artists born in this period.

 Famous people born on April 5 under the Aries zodiac sign: Bette Davis, Pharell Williams, Colin Powell and Anthony Horowitz.

Love: Aries in love

Love: Aries Color Characteristics and Love

Compatibility: Aries and Aries Compatibility

Compatibility: Aries Taurus Cusp Man and Pisces Woman Compatibility

Health: Aries and Health

Money & Career: Aries Money and Career facts

Money & Career: Careers for Aries

April 5, 2023 Moon Goddess Current Phase

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.

From MoonGiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waxing Gibbous phase. Visible through most of the night sky setting a few hours before sunrise. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts about 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon. During a Waxing Gibbous the moon rises in the east in mid-afternoon and is high in the eastern sky at sunset. The word Gibbous first appeared in the 14th century and has its roots in the Latin word “gibbosus” meaning humpbacked.

Visit the April 2023 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waxing Gibbous Phase

The Waxing Gibbous on April 5 has an illumination of 99%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On April 5 the Moon is 14.09 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

Phase Details

Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 99%
Moon Age: 14.09 days
Moon Angle: 0.50
Moon Distance: 395,015.76 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 149,681,455.55 km

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Useful Moon Resources

Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com

For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society

April 5, 2023 Northern Hemisphere’s Planetary Positions

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link  

For Your Local Time and Date 

Northwestern Hemisphere

This local time is in Los Angeles, California, USA

April 05, 2023
10:00 pm GMT 3:00 PM PDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:15 Aries 51
Moon:12 Libra 39
Mercury:03 Taurus 34
Venus:23 Taurus 49
Mars:05 Cancer 41
Jupiter:20 Aries 18
Saturn:03 Pisces 14
Uranus:17 Taurus 03
Neptune:25 Pisces 54
Pluto:00 Aquarius 12

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 01 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:05 Taurus 11 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):09 Leo 47

Chiron:15 Aries 52
Ceres:27 Virgo 01 Rx
Pallas:20 Cancer 00
Juno:14 Taurus 32
Vesta:25 Aries 33

Eris:24 Aries 28

Fire:6
Earth:7
Air:2
Water:4
Cardinal:8
Fixed:8
Mutable:3

Northern Hemisphere

This local time is in Chicago, Illinois, USA

5 April 2023
08:00 pm GMT 3:00 PM CDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:15 Aries 46
Moon:11 Libra 35
Mercury:03 Taurus 26
Venus:23 Taurus 43
Mars:05 Cancer 38
Jupiter:20 Aries 17
Saturn:03 Pisces 13
Uranus:17 Taurus 02
Neptune:25 Pisces 54
Pluto:00 Aquarius 12

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 02 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:05 Taurus 11 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):09 Leo 47

Chiron:15 Aries 52
Ceres:27 Virgo 02 Rx
Pallas:19 Cancer 58
Juno:14 Taurus 30
Vesta:25 Aries 31

Eris:24 Aries 28

Fire:6
Earth:7
Air:2
Water:4
Cardinal:8
Fixed:8
Mutable:3

Northeastern Hemisphere

This local time is in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

5 April 2023
03:00 pm GMT 3:00 PM CEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:15 Aries 34
Moon:08 Libra 57
Mercury:03 Taurus 07
Venus:23 Taurus 28
Mars:05 Cancer 32
Jupiter:20 Aries 14
Saturn:03 Pisces 12
Uranus:17 Taurus 02
Neptune:25 Pisces 53
Pluto:00 Aquarius 12

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 02 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:05 Taurus 12 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):09 Leo 45

Chiron:15 Aries 51
Ceres:27 Virgo 04 Rx
Pallas:19 Cancer 54
Juno:14 Taurus 22
Vesta:25 Aries 25

Eris:24 Aries 28

Fire:6
Earth:7
Air:2
Water:4
Cardinal:8
Fixed:8
Mutable:3

Moon Water – Part 2

From spells8.com

Tips for Collecting Moon Water

To make a very powerful Moon Water, start the first night of the lunar phase you chose (for example, the first night of the Full Moon), and charge the water outside for 3 consecutive nights. This can be done not just during the Full Moon phase, but during any lunar phase. Each has its own Magical properties as we will see below.

How to Use Moon Water in your Rituals

1. Enhance your Meditations

The first step towards strengthening your intuition is to recognize its existence. Being aware of your powers is key in realizing full potential while meditating.

  1. Light a blue or purple candle on your altar.
  2. Apply a drop of Moon Water to your Third Eye chakra (between the eyebrows) to open yourself to divine wisdom and revelation.
  3. Follow a guided meditation to awaken your inner knowledge and listen to your intuition.
  4. Find a place of peace within you, allowing the visions to come to you with ease. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t have any visions at first, practice makes perfect.
  5. Keep a bottle or jar of Moon Water near your altar to keep working on your abilities.

2. Add Moon Water to your Baths

  1. Fill your bathtub as you normally do, and pour some Moon water that you’ve previously prepared. Get in the tub and pour the rest of the water on yourself.
  2. Follow a Spiritual Bath Recipe for more ideas. If you need to cleanse any specific part of your body, focus on that area. Visualize everything that no longer serves you being released from your body and aura.
  3. If you’ve charged your Moon Water with a specific intention, focus on absorbing the light of that intent, while promoting intense peace and relaxation. Wash your hair with Moon water to encourage growth with a divine glow.

3. Bless your finances with Moon Water

To make your money flow easily, Water is the perfect Element. Have confidence that nothing can stop the flow of money in your life.

  1. Bless your money by sprinkling just a few drops of Moon Water on your purse or wallet.
  2. Visualize the possibilities and the outcome you expect.
  3. On the Full Moon, you can cast this Silver Moon Spell for Money manifestations.

4. Purify and cleanse your home with Moon Water

Cleansing your sacred space is very important. No spiritual work can be done in an environment full of stagnant energy.

Make sure to clean your house physically with a mop/sponge as you normally would and add some Moon Water to your bucket.

You can also just sprinkle the water with your fingers or a spray bottle wherever you want to clean and bless the space.

Optionally, combine this water with herbs or essential oils to spread more positive energies.

Full Moon Water

The energy of the full moon can help you reinforce any kind of Witchcraft spells:

Divinations and any ritual practice in which you need to strengthen your spiritual powers will see benefits. Just place a cup of Moon Water on your altar as you cast it.

FULL MOON IN LIBRA 2023

This is a beautiful, harmonious, and healing full moon as we head into spring in the northern hemisphere. Ruled by Venus, the goddess of love, relationships, beauty and abundance, there is a focus for the middle two weeks of April on beautifying and harmonizing our lives. Venus is positioned at 24 degrees of Taurus, the other of the two signs that she presides over. Venus’ rulership of air sign Libra is focused on the inter-personal aspect of abundance and harmony whereas Venus’ rulership of earth sign Taurus is focused on these qualities in the natural world, the organic beauty and interdependence of all things. During this full moon we rather have the best of both worlds.

It is especially significant to have an air sign full moon now, just after Pluto has moved into fellow-air sign Aquarius after a 15 year residency in earthy Capricorn. There is a “lightening up” of certain layers of density and a fresh buzz in the air. All of this will be highlighted and strengthened by the Libra full moon. And it is the ONLY air sign full moon we have this year with Pluto in Aquarius, since Pluto retrogrades back into Capricorn in June before the next air sign full moon which is on August 1st. So we are being tasked with harnessing the breezes of inspiration, insight and fresh connections that are coming our way. Perhaps so we can move them forward in a more assertive or concrete way during the upcoming eclipse season.

The first eclipse season of 2023 begins on April 20th with a new moon solar eclipse in Aries. This is significant for several reasons. First, because it click here to read the rest of this article from vibrational-astrology.com

Full Moon Spell – A Gorgeous Ritual for Tonight’s Magic

From spells8.com

A Gorgeous Ritual for Tonight’s Magic

 

  1. Light some incense on your altar. Tonight’s moon calls for Violet, Mint, Rose, or Galbanum aromas.
  2. Invite harmony into your ritual with a chant for the Moon in Libra:“Like the Scales of Justice, I am in complete harmony.
    I’m ready to make the right decisions for me and for the benefit of all”.
  3. Light a white candle and pour some wine into your chalice. If you don’t drink wine, use herbal tea or plain water instead.
  4. Find the Full Moon in the sky. Raise your chalice as you look up and say:“Full Moon over me, fill me with wonder.
    You light my path and shine like a thunder.
    I thank you for your smile, the one that makes me younger.
    May I never thirst, and may I never hunger”.

    Drink the contents of your chalice.

  5. If you have any of the following crystals, Tuesday is the perfect day to charge them with the assertive influence and drive of Mars. Place a Bloodstone, Carnelian, Coral, Ruby, Garnet, or Pink Tourmaline on your altar next to your candle.