Day: October 4, 2024

A List of Essential Crystals for the Beginner Witch

Crystals: What You Need to Know

Are you daunted by all those posts online that say you have to have at least 70 crystals with an intimate understanding of each to be a “good witch”? Posts like those are complete baloney—you could have 100 crystals, 10, or even none, and you would still be a witch. It’s all about where you want to take your craft. Some people don’t want to have to deal with all the charging, grounding, cleansing, and recharging that comes with crystals, so they decide to opt out. Others might love the idea of pretty rocks that are also functional, so they hoard hundreds upon hundreds of the same stone.

The important thing to remember is that you are the only one who can decide what you want to do with your craft; after all, it is yours!

So, you want to bring some crystals into your craft, but you’re lost in the many lists of meanings and just want something simple. Many witches are the same way! Below, we’ll take a look at the correspondences of five of the most “essential” stones for an aspiring crystal witch.

Witch and Wiccan Crystals for Rituals, Grounding, and Power

Clear quartz is versatile and good for protection, healing, and clarity.

Rose quartz can be used to promote love and romance, and it also helps with anxiety and depression.

Amethyst is a protective stone and is also reputed to have sobering effects.

Selenite provides clarity and can help prevent bad dreams.

Hematite is used for grounding, protection, and scrying.

Click here to read more about one person’s perspective on important crystals from exemplore.com

Spell For Friday – Empowering Crystals

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

Empowering Crystals

This is actually very easy and simple. You can empower crystals with your magical intent, whether that be to draw things to you–money, love, or luck–or keep things away. To do this, pick a crystal to match your magical intent, cleanse it, then charge it by chanting the following:

“This crystal I hold with intentions clear,
To contain the magic within it sphere.
Make it last and hold it long.
Enhance the magic, make it strong.”

Envision your intentions infusing into the crystal and coming to pass while you chant. When you are finished, use it for whatever you needed it for or just carry it with you. Told you it was easy.

You can use this same technique to charge just about any magical object you use by simply changing the word “crystal” to that of the object you are using. However, I use a different chant for potions simply because I like chanting “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble,” but you can use this for potions as well and even when you are cooking.

5 October 2024 Current Moon Phase and Planetary Positions for the Southern Hemisphere

Source: MoonGiant.com

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.

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

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waxing Crescent Phase. Best seen in the west after the sun dips below the horizon at sunset. This is the first Phase after the New Moon and is a great time to see the features of the moon’s surface. The moon is close to the sun in the sky and mostly dark except for the right edge of the moon which becomes brighter as the days get closer to the next phase which is a First Quarter with a 50% illumination.

Visit the October 2024 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waxing Crescent Phase

The Waxing Crescent on October 5 has an illumination of 7%. 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 October 5 the Moon is 2.43 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 Crescent
Illumination: 7%
Moon Age: 2.43 days
Moon Angle: 0.50
Moon Distance: 402,152.17 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 149,550,219.11 km

Source: currentplanetarypositions.com

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

5 October 2024
02:00 am GMT 12:00 PM AEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:12 Libra 20
Moon:07 Scorpio 14
Mercury:15 Libra 32
Venus:14 Scorpio 34
Mars:16 Cancer 58
Jupiter:21 Gemini 18
Saturn:14 Pisces 06 Rx
Uranus:26 Taurus 48 Rx
Neptune:28 Pisces 08 Rx
Pluto:29 Capricorn 39 Rx

True Lunar Node:06 Aries 38 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:06 Aries 09 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Libra 49

Chiron:21 Aries 39 Rx
Ceres:11 Capricorn 43
Pallas:08 Sagittarius 34
Juno:19 Libra 38
Vesta:19 Virgo 29

Eris:25 Aries 04 Rx

Fire:5
Earth:4
Air:5
Water:5
Cardinal:11
Fixed:3
Mutable:5

Cape Town, South Africa

5 October 2024
10:00 am GMT 12:00 PM SAST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:12 Libra 39
Moon:11 Scorpio 12
Mercury:16 Libra 06
Venus:14 Scorpio 59
Mars:17 Cancer 08
Jupiter:21 Gemini 19
Saturn:14 Pisces 04 Rx
Uranus:26 Taurus 48 Rx
Neptune:28 Pisces 07 Rx
Pluto:29 Capricorn 39 Rx

True Lunar Node:06 Aries 38 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:06 Aries 08 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Libra 51

Chiron:21 Aries 38 Rx
Ceres:11 Capricorn 47
Pallas:08 Sagittarius 41
Juno:19 Libra 46
Vesta:19 Virgo 39

Eris:25 Aries 04 Rx

Fire:5
Earth:4
Air:5
Water:5
Cardinal:11
Fixed:3
Mutable:5

Easter Island, Chile

5 October 2024
06:00 pm GMT 12:00 PM EAST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:12 Libra 59
Moon:15 Scorpio 10
Mercury:16 Libra 40
Venus:15 Scorpio 23
Mars:17 Cancer 18
Jupiter:21 Gemini 19
Saturn:14 Pisces 03 Rx
Uranus:26 Taurus 47 Rx
Neptune:28 Pisces 07 Rx
Pluto:29 Capricorn 39 Rx

True Lunar Node:06 Aries 38 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:06 Aries 07 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Libra 54

Chiron:21 Aries 37 Rx
Ceres:11 Capricorn 51
Pallas:08 Sagittarius 48
Juno:19 Libra 53
Vesta:19 Virgo 48

Eris:25 Aries 03 Rx

Fire:5
Earth:4
Air:5
Water:5
Cardinal:11
Fixed:3
Mutable:5

October 4, 2024 Current Moon Phase and Planetary Positions for the Northern Hemispheres

Source: MoonGiant.com

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.

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

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waxing Crescent Phase. Best seen in the west after the sun dips below the horizon at sunset. This is the first Phase after the New Moon and is a great time to see the features of the moon’s surface. The moon is close to the sun in the sky and mostly dark except for the right edge of the moon which becomes brighter as the days get closer to the next phase which is a First Quarter with a 50% illumination.

Visit the October 2024 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waxing Crescent Phase

The Waxing Crescent on October 4 has an illumination of 3%. 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 October 4 the Moon is 1.53 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 Crescent
Illumination: 3%
Moon Age: 1.53 days
Moon Angle: 0.49
Moon Distance: 404,161.26 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 149,593,247.79 km

Source: currentplanetarypositions.com

London, England

4 October 2024
11:00 am GMT 12:00 PM BST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:11 Libra 43
Moon:29 Libra 49
Mercury:14 Libra 27
Venus:13 Scorpio 49
Mars:16 Cancer 38
Jupiter:21 Gemini 18
Saturn:14 Pisces 08 Rx
Uranus:26 Taurus 49 Rx
Neptune:28 Pisces 09 Rx
Pluto:29 Capricorn 39 Rx

True Lunar Node:06 Aries 39 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:06 Aries 11 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Libra 45

Chiron:21 Aries 41 Rx
Ceres:11 Capricorn 36
Pallas:08 Sagittarius 21
Juno:19 Libra 25
Vesta:19 Virgo 11

Eris:25 Aries 04 Rx

Fire:5
Earth:4
Air:6
Water:4
Cardinal:12
Fixed:2
Mutable:5

Chicago, Illinois

October 04, 2024
05:00 pm GMT 12:00 PM CDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:11 Libra 58
Moon:02 Scorpio 47
Mercury:14 Libra 53
Venus:14 Scorpio 07
Mars:16 Cancer 46
Jupiter:21 Gemini 18
Saturn:14 Pisces 07 Rx
Uranus:26 Taurus 49 Rx
Neptune:28 Pisces 08 Rx
Pluto:29 Capricorn 39 Rx

True Lunar Node:06 Aries 38 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:06 Aries 10 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Libra 47

Chiron:21 Aries 40 Rx
Ceres:11 Capricorn 39
Pallas:08 Sagittarius 26
Juno:19 Libra 30
Vesta:19 Virgo 18

Eris:25 Aries 04 Rx

Fire:5
Earth:4
Air:5
Water:5
Cardinal:11
Fixed:3
Mutable:5

Los Angels, California

October 04, 2024
07:00 pm GMT 12:00 PM PDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:12 Libra 02
Moon:03 Scorpio 46
Mercury:15 Libra 01
Venus:14 Scorpio 13
Mars:16 Cancer 49
Jupiter:21 Gemini 18
Saturn:14 Pisces 07 Rx
Uranus:26 Taurus 49 Rx
Neptune:28 Pisces 08 Rx
Pluto:29 Capricorn 39 Rx

True Lunar Node:06 Aries 38 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:06 Aries 10 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Libra 47

Chiron:21 Aries 40 Rx
Ceres:11 Capricorn 40
Pallas:08 Sagittarius 28
Juno:19 Libra 32
Vesta:19 Virgo 21

Eris:25 Aries 04 Rx

Fire:5
Earth:4
Air:5
Water:5
Cardinal:11
Fixed:3
Mutable:5

October 4, 2024 Daily Horoscopes

Click here to read Georgia Nicols Daily, Weekly and Monthly Horoscopes

Click here for Anyone’s Birthday or Daily or Monthly Horoscopes Source: thehoroscope.co

Moon Alert

Avoid shopping or important decisions from 6 AM to 8 AM EDT today (3 AM to 5 AM PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Libra into Scorpio.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

This is an excellent day to deal with banking matters. It’s also a good day for financial negotiations and discussions about inheritances and shared property. You will be able to achieve practical results that will be fair to all parties concerned.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

This is a good day for discussions about practical problems that might have arisen in a relationship. Perhaps they will deal with shared expenses or the division of labour? Your sense of duty is strong and you want to be fair. Your objective approach will be appreciated.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Coworkers will be supportive today. In fact, whatever you do today, either at your job or with a particular task, you will be careful and practical. Furthermore, you will make sure that you are objective and fair to others, which is why your words will be admired and respected.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Today you have the inner discipline, patience and necessary endurance to practice or hone a particular skill. This skill might relate to sports or it could relate to the performing arts or anything to do with a creative activity. (“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” “Practice!”)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

This is an excellent day for practical approaches to make your home more attractive. Possibly, someone older or more experienced will give you practical advice or direct assistance. This is also a good day to discuss financial planning for family and home.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Because you’re in a serious frame of mind today, you will have excellent suggestions and solutions for practical problems that impact your daily world. If you teach or advise others, you will be sensible and helpful because your objective approach is to benefit others.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Although you love to spend money on beautiful things, and restaurants and hotels, today you feel practical about financial matters. If shopping, you will only buy long-lasting practical items. You might also devise a plan to save money or create a budget. (One can always try.)

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Relationships that begin now will be characterized by being sober, sensible and practical. They will give you a stronger sense of security. There might also be a difference in age or social status. (This actually suits you because you want something reliable and stable in your life.)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Some of you might be involved in a secret love affair with someone who is of an age difference. (This is a meaningful relationship for you but also private.) Meanwhile, a discussion with someone younger might bring illuminating, practical suggestions to the table.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Friendships are important to you today, especially long-lasting, supportive friendships. In fact, for some of you, a platonic relationship could take on a romantic overtone, especially with someone of an age difference. Whether this occurs or not, someone older might give you sensible advice.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You make an excellent impression on others today because they see you as attractive, diplomatic and helpful to others. Obviously, with this great press, this is the day to advance your agenda or make practical suggestions that others will admire. (You might develop a crush on your boss today.)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

This is a great day to study and learn something new because you have the focus and endurance necessary for the task. It’s also a great day to deal with the challenges of making travel plans for the future, with all the myriad of details that involves. Legal matters will be settled fairly.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Susan Sarandon (1946) shares your birthday today. You are easy-going and casual when you want to be. You are practical and interested in many subjects. You have strong opinions. This is a year of work and construction. Simplicity is the key. Physical exercise is important. It’s time to build structures both externally and internally.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

On one hand you have the capacity to follow your interest up until the very end and on the other you prefer to dream on and imagine all kinds of things but without really raising a finger to see them to completion.

It all depends on who supports and motivates you and on how you are when you start something. However, today you might get that pass to dreaming.

You can also read this special Aries Daily Horoscope.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

You seem to be in quite an amorous disposition as if the stars have finally managed to melt that ice cold heart of yours.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be all understanding and carrying for your partner and those around because you will actually increase your expectations of the attention you want from them.

You can also read this special Taurus Daily Horoscope.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You will have to be very careful so that, no matter what you are doing, not to step back from decisions you have taken.

At the smallest sign of weakness you can consider you have lost it all, especially if we are talking about spending time with your family and spoiling the little ones. You will be quite emotional as well due to the time.

You can also read this special Gemini Daily Horoscope.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Although this might be regarded as a time to spend together and actually enjoy the company of one another, it will be extra difficult for you as it seems that you are prone to getting fed up with agitation around you.

Plus you won’t really tolerate all the fuss around you and would rather prefer to be on your own.

You can also read this special Cancer Daily Horoscope.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

The current disposition is prompting this fear of missing out in you so you are trying to enjoy every moment at its fullest.

However, what it seems you are managing to obtain with this attitude is only a very agitated attitude and some fed up people around you. Try to temper yourself and relax before thinking about anything else.

You can also read this special Leo Daily Horoscope.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You seem to be in quite a spiritual mood and take everything that happens quite fascinated. Do enjoy this occasion in which you see everything with such enthusiastic eyes.

There are enough beauties to enjoy and also enough sorrow to bury deep under the rug. Some travel occasions might show up but just short distance.

You can also read this special Virgo Daily Horoscope.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

This Friday you are still going to show enough reluctance to what is going on around you, just enough to anger those close to you and to predispose to some heated discussions.

Be careful to your reactions and try to temper your impulses, at least for the next couple of days.

You can also read this special Libra Daily Horoscope.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

There might be some money issues rising today but nothing that cannot be easily clarified. Other than that, quite a peaceful day ahead as you seem to be doing just fine trying to mingle with your family and still maintaining a close relationship with your friends.

Some travel opportunities might show up, even if they just involve visiting others.

You can also read this special Scorpio Daily Horoscope.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You will have to temper your impulsivity today and be very careful to your reactions because you seem to be in quite an agitated state.

At the same time you will benefit from spending a lot of time with your loved one and this will probably bring you a sense of peace and quiet, although probably not enough to get you going.

You can also read this special Sagittarius Daily Horoscope.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You will have to approach today with a mature attitude and to be wary of the reactions of those around. Maybe it is not your time anymore to behave like a child and you should know this by now.

The moodier you become the more those around you will change the well grounded image they have for you. Some risk of confusion and misunderstanding as well.

You can also read this special Capricorn Daily Horoscope.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

It seems that this day will be quite active for you in terms of luck and who knows, maybe winning something or just referring to the consistent gifts you might be receiving. In any way, you will feel quite on top of the game, at least for the day.

For some natives, there might be chances for them to spend time in an affluent circle.

You can also read this special Aquarius Daily Horoscope.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You need not lose your confidence in someone close to you no matter how bad things might appear at first hand.

Allow them time to offer you some explanation and only upon carefully considering that behave to them as if you are giving them a sentence. Not everything is as it looks like today so be careful about that.

You can also read this special Pisces Daily Horoscope.

The Rise and Persecution of Witchcraft Through History

Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has mostly believed in a polytheistic belief systems, worshipping a variety of gods and spirits. Christianity, however, sought to dismantle these long-standing traditions by promoting a monotheistic framework, a shift that clashed with the deeply ingrained cultural and spiritual practices of the time. As the Church worked to solidify its authority, the persistence of these ancient beliefs led to a feeling of threat within Christian ranks. This friction between old traditions and the rise of Christianity birthed a long history of witch persecutions.

The Evolution of Witchcraft and Its Persecution

Witchcraft persecution evolved alongside the expansion of Christianity. Although conversion spread across Europe, many individuals, particularly in rural areas, continued to honor the old ways. Beliefs in the Mother Goddess, who gave birth to a Divine Child that later became her husband and the master of harvests, remained strong. This seasonal cycle of death and rebirth persisted in folk traditions, with peasants and nobles alike venerating ancient deities. Witchcraft practices were often seen as a means of improving life’s hardships, leading to continued secret rituals.

As Christianity’s influence grew, the Church viewed these ancient customs as a direct challenge to its authority, labeling them the “Devil’s cult.” This led to a brutal campaign against those suspected of witchcraft, resulting in the deaths of over 200,000 people. Over time, the number of executions soared, with an estimated eight million people losing their lives as a result of witchcraft accusations during the peak of the Church’s fanaticism, particularly between the 12th and 18th centuries.

The Phases of Witch Persecution…

The Influence of the Malleus Maleficarum…

Witchcraft Across Continents…

The Salem Witch Trials…

The Famed Salem Witch Trials…

Witchcraft in the Modern Era…

Conclusion

Witchcraft, in its many forms, has been both a source of fear and fascination throughout history. From the brutal witch hunts of Europe to the enduring practices of modern-day witches, the persecution of those deemed to hold magical power reflects society’s ongoing struggle with the unknown. Today, witchcraft has diversified and evolved, but its historical legacy serves as a reminder of the dangers of intolerance and the enduring allure of ancient spiritual traditions.

Click here to read this rest of this article Source: ancient-origins.net