The Witches Digest for Friday, January 19th, 2019

(Part 2 Horoscopes & Divination)

2018 – Rise Of The Earthkeepers

Your Weekly Love Horoscopes Beginning January 18th

Sarah Bartlett, Astrologer

The Astrology Room

 

With Venus now moving on into laid-back Aquarius, we should all be welcoming new romance if single, and just feeling the joys of love if attached.

However, with Jupiter’s cautious influence in Scorpio, it will come as no surprise that any suggestions of future commitment will be met with hesitation. Just make sure you stay light-hearted and ready for positive change in the weeks to come.

 

ARIES

If single, it feels like there is a chapter closing, or maybe a new one beginning? If attached, maybe just a realisation that it’s time to welcome change, or evolve together rather than apart. This week, relationship wounds are dumped, but more importantly, you can free yourself from your attachment to those very injuries.

 

TAURUS

It’s a time when, if you don’t accept you need to rethink about the way you love, you will simply end up sabotaging your feelings. Similarly, you might deny your desire for someone, saying ‘no, of course I don’t feel that, who me?’ That ‘feeling’ is something you’ve got to now acknowledge and express.

 

GEMINI

Thanks to Venus moving into Aquarius, you have the charm factor, diplomatic skills and relationships are light-hearted and creative. This week your face in the mirror is more self-aware. If single, you draw intelligent characters into your life. In fact, you are natural, seductive, authoritative and balanced again.

 

CANCER

If you can be less worried about staying in control of a romantic situation, and more open to what may be, you will discover better communication with someone too. On offer is sexual honesty, tolerance, space and acceptance of your differences. Try it all out and see how vitalising it can be.

 

LEO

Now no-one likes to be emotionally blackmailed. But there does seem to be someone who’s intent on profiting from your generous heart right now. This week, you really have no choice but to break free from the chains of those who are taking advantage, and show that you have the courage to be a little selfish too.

 

VIRGO

It’s time to stop telling yourself you’re not good enough to be loved. Also, give up on that distorted thinking where you pick out something negative about your admirer and dwell on it to the exclusion of anything else. Welcome the positive, and you welcome true love into your world.

 

LIBRA

You’re either falling in love with someone new or tangled up in a love knot. Of course, you might simply obey the ‘rules’ of the love game and play safe. But can you honestly say that you will ‘obey’ anyone apart from yourself? Do whatever it is you have to do your own way, but at least honour your independence.

 

SCORPIO

It’s time to listen, appreciate and open your heart to what you truly want. If you are loving your partner because of their talents, then please remember that you have those gifts too. The planets simply confirm to you that it’s never too late to be as ambitious in love as you are for your future.

 

SAGITTARIUS

This week, you have every opportunity to achieve great personal happiness in any new venture.  But remember, there will be times when you feel like you’re having to battle a lover or partner to be heard. So enjoy a little light-hearted banter and some intriguing fun.

 

CAPRICORN

There’s really no choice but to open up about your true values. Consider whether you feel under some obligation from others, from your partner if attached, or if single, just from your own sense of self-doubt?  Knock them all, metaphorically, on the head, and get on and live.

 

AQUARIUS

A sudden realisation is that you’re about to embark on a course of romantic bliss. This week, you discover exactly the truth about your own feelings and someone else’s. So let love work its magic for you – it’s now or never to make a commitment to your happiness.

 

PISCES

Admirers or partners are probably more worried about their own self-development than about any spiritual affinity with you right now. But behind any hard-edged ego is also another lonely child who has a soul like your own. This week you can start to make romantic tracks again towards the merger of true soul-mates.

David’s Daring Dating For The week Beginning January 19th (for the singles among us)

David Wells, Astrologer

The Astrology Room

 

ARIES (March 21st-April 20th)

Some people aren’t what you’d call enthusiastic and no amount of attention is going to change that Aries. It seems a shift of emphasis would be in order and you don’t have to look too far. A friend of a friend’s friend may be far enough! Get networking.

 

TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st)

The combination of Jupiter and Mars has brought about some intense relationship vibes but are they the sort that bring you love or bring you more questions and even some choppy waters ahead? Question, keep questioning until the right answer comes along, or the right ‘one’.

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st)

If it’s all too much for you, why don’t you sit down, take a deep breath and get out the telephone, tablet or computer. Distract yourself. That’s way better than actually dealing with someone making those eyes. Not ready for romance? Seems it’s ready for you.

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd)

If you’re seeking some sort of in depth conversation, some traditional flirting perhaps, or maybe an introduction from their parents? You may be disappointed Cancer; new love appears to be less conventional than ever. And way more fun.

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd)

What you’re getting out of the chase is important, not so much this week but for next. You’ve got yourself centred, you can see who’s in the frame and confidence is high; that’s just what you need. But don’t go for it just yet. Next week could bring a change of heart. Pause.

VIRGO (August 24th-September 23rd)

An exchange between your relationship sky and your how you doin’ sky may not be encouraging what you’d call anything long-term. That would be an illusion. Someone you might think of as Mr or Ms Right Now, could reveal themselves as the rightiest of rights ever.

LIBRA (September 24th-October 23rd)

With so much going on in your new love, true love sky you could be forgiven for getting your flirt on and sometimes getting over enthusiastic with the expected outcome. Dial it back a bit Libra, all in good time; no need to rush this one.

SCORPIO (October 24th-November 22nd)

If Peter Piper could pick a peck of pickled pepper, what’s the time in Beijing? Hilarious! I would totally get that Scorps, I would laugh and reply with an equally stupid joke but then, I get you, really do. No response from some quarters though. Give it a week.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd-December 21st)

Mars, Lord of passion and enthusiastic responses is in your sign from Friday. Friday? Don’t worry, his magic starts early I am sure but it may rely on whether or not you’ve truly cut a chord from your past? By past I do mean an ex Sagittarius. Just Saying.

CAPRICORN (December 22nd-January 20th)

If losing Venus from your sign wasn’t bad enough the Sun is out from the top of this week, so no sunshiny new relationship for you? Not true. Saturn helps with a karmic show and tell, revealing someone with true potential. Do your slowly, slowly thing.

AQUARIUS (January 21st-February 19th)

If you’re considering pointing Venus in the right direction you could start by getting clear on what you’re looking for? Truth is it works slightly differently Aquarius, by getting clear Venus activates her true love vibes and love comes to you. Start by knowing what you’re truly looking for.

PISCES (February 20th-March 20th)

Sending some extra vibes is your new love planet, the Moon. She’s with you until Monday and as she’s hooking up with Neptune this could be a very romantic start to your week. All you need now is someone to have it with. Get out. Please.

Your Daily Horoscopes for Friday, January 19th

Claire Petulengro, Astrologer

From The Astrology Room

 

ARIES (March 21st-April 20th)
Be nice to all you meet today as power lies in the very faces you think can’t help you move forward. Someone you stopped talking to wants to make peace. Aspects suggest they may be too late. Are they Aries?

TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st)
If you can express your soul, then the rest ceases to matter Taurus. Knowing how much is too much to ask of others is the key to you keeping friends in both your personal and professional life.

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st)
Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb Gemini. That’s where the fruit is! Things you had promised to do for close ones must be honoured if you are to avoid damaging the relationship you had built up.

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd)
Don’t be angry at close ones who have only tried their best in what has been a very tense time in both your lives. Showing support and understanding can tell you much about their back story you did not know.

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd)
Don’t do things which you know are going to aggravate a close one just to get a rise out of them. You and I know you’re better than that don’t we Leo! Maybe if you tried telling them what decision you want reversed, you’d both be happy.

VIRGO (August 24th-September 23rd)
Travel brings luck into your life and can prove that you were right to make the changes you did at the beginning of this year. Let’s be honest Virgo, you could not have stayed as things were anyway.

LIBRA (September 24th-October 23rd)
Take your time when doing any jobs today, as rushing will be your undoing my friend. I know you’re angry that something didn’t work out earlier in the month, but trust me, it will be to your advantage.

SCORPIO (October 24th-November 22nd)
Work hard today Scorpio as those with the power and know-how will be watching you. Finding time to check in with family can put you at ease over something you were beginning to feel guilty about.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd-December 21st)
Try not to judge new faces too soon or you could miss out on forming an important new friendship and influence in your life. This rash mood is due to a phone call you have not received. So why don’t you make it?

CAPRICORN (December 22nd-January 20th)
Don’t be upset if others are upset by your work and your efforts today. Many of the signs are nit-picking and feeling irritable thanks to the pressure Mars has placed on our day to day lives.

AQUARIUS (January 21st-February 19th)
Paying attention to detail today can save you money and improve your reputation. You begin to see what good can come from taking your time when others comment on how impressed they are.

PISCES (February 20th-March 20th)
Many of the signs are feeling more fractious than usual. If someone tries to push you to do something you don’t want, stand up and say no. You don’t have to shout to be heard but you do have to find your voice to keep your self-respect.

If You Were Born Today, January 19th

 

You have a fabulous sense of humor, your own unique sense of style, and powerful emotions. Success-oriented, when you are able to focus on specific goals it would be hard to steer you from the path towards them. You are personally powerful and have a strong presence or aura, and others tend to follow your lead. You can be very stubborn at times! You are also very hard-working, caring, and kind to those you love. Although you don’t easily let down your guard, once you do trust, you are very protective.  Famous people born today: Edgar Allen Poe, Paul Cezanne, Janis Joplin, Dolly Parton, Robert Palmer.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

Your birthday this year occurs shortly after a New Moon, 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 crave and seek more freedom again this year, and how you deal with this issue makes all the difference as to the overriding themes of this period of your life. If you recognize your need for changes in key areas of your life and adapt accordingly, this can be an exciting year of discovery. However, if you resist change and insist on keeping things status quo, you are bound to feel very restless, tense, and rebellious. Either way, making healthy changes should be the focus instead of change just for the sake of change. Spontaneity, not impulsiveness, is the key to success this year. Fortunately, you have a lot of cosmic support for this.

Personal magnetism is tremendous this year. You are playfully competitive and might win a major competition, if applicable. This is a good period for creative projects and joining with others in pursuing a common goal.

You have enterprising spirit this year, attracting strong opportunities on both professional and personal levels. You are able to see the “big picture”, which helps you plan effectively. You have significantly more courage and gumption, making the year ahead a standout one in which you are ready to try new things and take on challenges.

Your ability to concentrate and focus is enhanced this year with Mercury conjunct Saturn in the Solar Return chart. This sometimes suggests a need for solitude when you work or a year in which you often retreat to work on specific tasks on your own. You might be required to travel for business purposes. It can also indicate that young people in your life are more mature or serious in their approach to life. Thinking in realistic and practical terms is your best bet, and the need for tangible results for your efforts is strong.

You have a stronger than usual desire to improve and learn this year, with opportunities emerging to match. Optimism and confidence are with you, and you are able to attract fortunate circumstances into your life as a result. Problems are easier to resolve. Your social life will likely increase and bring you in contact with helpful people. Travel opportunities are likely. Pinnacle successes can occur during this period – for example, publishing an important project, graduating, marrying, having a child, getting a promotion, and so forth. Matters related to universities, higher education, organized religion, publishing, legal affairs, and foreign interests proceed smoothly. It’s a good time to seek out advanced training or to further your education. You are likely to enjoy good humor, optimism, and a larger perspective on matters that keeps you from getting lost in details or overly frustrated by everyday stresses and strains.

Some disruptions in your friendships and attachments are possible with Venus in hard aspect to Uranus in your Solar Return. Unusual attractions (to people and things) can have you acting on a whim. You may deal with freedom versus closeness issues in your relationships. This Uranian energy may play out on other levels related to socializing, spending, and pleasure. For example, vacation plans may go awry or agreements could be broken. Impulsive spending is something to watch for.

This can be a year in which you are bolder, more assertive, and energetic. You are especially interested in setting goals and challenges for yourself this year, and taking the necessary action to meet them. You may meet or interact with others who encourage or inspire you in some way to have more confidence in yourself.

You can feel as if you’re beginning a new chapter of your life this year as you start fresh on some significant level. Your passions and enthusiasm run high in the period ahead, and you find it natural to channel this extra energy constructively. This is an excellent year for enterprising endeavors and new interests, even if there is also a strong focus on the past. You’re drawn instinctively to certain projects that have long-term value. It can be an especially creative, tuned-in year for self-expression, not only verbally but through hobbies, games, or sports.

2018 is a Number Four year for you. Ruled by Uranus. This is a year of work and development. It’s “nose to the grindstone” time. It’s a time to pay special attention to practical matters, and it’s not a time to be lazy or especially gregarious. Sometimes, it can be a year that feels hard, monotonous and routine, and/or lonely. Positive new relationships are often not formed in a Four personal year. However, it can be a wonderful year for building, development, and laying a solid foundation for future successes. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

2019 will be 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.

Courtesy of Astrology Cafe

Get A Jump On Tomorrow…..

Your Daily Horoscopes for Saturday, January 20th

Claire Petulengrom Astrologer

The Astrology Room

 

ARIES (March 21st-April 20th)
The first two rules of personal growth are: 1/ it will be difficult, 2/ it will be worthwhile. Keep this in mind when facing opposition today. It’s how you will keep going when those around you fall.

TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st)
Don’t be too quick to turn down doing something which is out of the norm or which tests your limitations. You have been living life by others’ rules for far too long now and it’s time to recognise your own needs.

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st)
Others will be calling on you to do favours for them. Know what you will and won’t do before you start Gemini, or you could end up getting pressured into things you will regret. Ring now to hear how overseas is calling for you.

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd)
Don’t be surprised if you find it hard to get hold of those you want to talk to. Saturn is not feeling at his most friendly, so you may end up having to do what was promised yourself.

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd)
Think before you speak today, or you could end up revealing secrets which will destroy the lives of others. Why not try putting this excess energy into working through those mixed up feelings?

VIRGO (August 24th-September 23rd)
A new flirtation leaves you feeling confused and bewildered. A sign such as you was never going to only have one person interested in them. Just remember you are the one who has control so don’t feel pressured.

LIBRA (September 24th-October 23rd)
The need to see someone you miss could see you telling a white lie in order to find the time you need. Don’t over explain as your honest nature could be giving away more than you realise.

SCORPIO (October 24th-November 22nd)
New ideas get you excited and that ‘lull’ you were in begins to feel like a thing of the past. You now have eyes firmly forward on the future (and not a moment too soon!) Someone close is ready to make amends too.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd-December 21st)
Showing tenderness to loved ones today will help them move on from the difficult air which stilted the weekends progress. Events you are invited to at this time are an indication of someone’s acceptance towards you.

CAPRICORN (December 22nd-January 20th)
You will feel like cancelling plans but don’t! Sticking to what you’d planned is the key to you feeling like the old you again. I know recent events shocked and unnerved you. But they won’t from today.

AQUARIUS (January 21st-February 19th)
A word to the wise Aquarius. Don’t go discussing other people’s lives if you don’t want your own on display for all to see. There is a jealous air in your chart which needs dispelling before this weekend is over.

PISCES (February 20th-March 20th)
Try to have patience with those who have done wrong. There are many signs in the zodiac who are displaying extreme tendencies at the moment and you would be wise to offer them more time to acclimatise to what’s acceptable.

 

Your 2018 Horoscope: On the Edge of Greatness

Your 2018 horoscope reveals what’s waiting for you in the new year

 By Maria DeSimone

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Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2018

2018 Year of the Dog Horoscopes

See what the Year of the Brown Earth Dog has waiting for you

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Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2018

 

Up Next…..

The Rest of Your Daily Divination

We didn’t want you to wait till this afternoon to get your horoscopes for the day!

 

The Witches Digest for Friday, January 19th, 2018

(Part 1 Astronomy)

The Cauldron Chant

We form the Circle,
The Circle most round.
We form the Chalice,
The Chalice now found.

 

We call the Goddess,
to meet the great need.
We call the God,
To plant His fertile seed.

 

We call the quarters,
which we call four.
We summon the powers,
that contain the force.

 

We stir the Cauldron,
from which we were born.
We call the Gods,
from whom we were torn.

 

We say the words,
which lead us round.
We pass the kiss,
with our lovers found.

 

We face our dreams,
in nights psychic flight.
We face our hopes,
in bright moon of the night.

 

We face our fears,
on the Dark Lords Horn.
We face our failure,
in the Mothers new planted corn.

 

We live our lives,
drumming and dancing on the meadow.
We confront our Death,
in the dancing moon light shadow.

 

Our paths run quickly,
on fleet foot and wing.
Our Circle is joyous,
with our Queens and our Kings.

 

Let our little Circle be happy,
with Bell, Bowl or Bow.
And form now this Circle,
with gracious Love, Joy and Hope.

 

Blessed Be

—Ammond ShadowCraft, Author
Originally published on Pagan Library

 

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Friday, January 19th

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 117.96° ESE
Sun Altitude: 2.82°
Sun Distance: 91.467 million mi
Next Equinox: Mar 20, 2018 11:15 am (Vernal)
Sunrise Today: 7:05 am↑ 115° Southeast
Sunset Today: 5:05 pm↑ 245° West
Length of Daylight: 10 hours

 

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 96.83° E
Moon Altitude: -14.75°
Moon Distance: 248692 mi
Next Full Moon: Jan 31, 20187:26 am
Next New Moon: Feb 15, 20183:05 pm
Next Moonrise: Today8:39 am

 

The Lunar Calendar
Moon Phase Tonight: Waxing Crescent
First Quarter: Jan 24, 2018 at 4:20 pm
(Next Phase)
New Moon: Jan 16, 2018 at 8:17 pm
(Previous Phase)

Source

timeanddate.com

Your Astronomy for Friday, January 19th

Mars-Uranus early today is progressive. A Last Quarter Moon occurs shortly before midday, and asks us to consider our spiritual needs.
The Moon is in Pisces all day (until Wednesday, June 10th, at 7:13 AM).
The Moon is void from 2:08 PM forward (until tomorrow at 7:13 AM).
The Moon is waning and in its Waning Gibbous phase until 11:41 AM/ Third Quarter phase from 11:41 AM forward.
The Third Quarter Moon occurs at 11:41 AM in Pisces.
Mercury is retrograde. (Mercury is retrograde from May 18 to June 11 in the sign of Gemini).

Moon in Aquarius

The Moon is traveling through Aquarius today. Go against the grain. Fight for a cause. Stand up for the underdog.
Attraction to all that is new and unusual, and an instinctive need for improvement, characterize the Moon in Aquarius. Reactions are more intellectual than emotional, and interactions are more impersonal than personal, under this influence. This is a time that promotes social gatherings, dealing with group ideals and goals for the future, brainstorming, new ideas, and progressive changes. We are open to new methods of doing things and we have our eye on the future. It can be hard to stick to schedules now, as personal freedom is most important to us.
The Moon in Aquarius generally favors the following activities: Unusual or radical undertakings, social pursuits, group projects, trying something new, joining a group.

An Overview of the Sky, Stars & Planets for January 19th

Mercury forms a sextile to Neptune today, and there can be notable compassion or gentleness in our communications. Our imaginations are easily stirred, and we tune into all sorts of layers and levels of any given situation as we have an increased appreciation for subtleties. We are inspired, and we can encourage others with our words. There can be psychic openness in our interactions. We’re likely to experience a sense of knowing and understanding with minimal explanation or instruction. Intuition is highlighted or awakened. Nevertheless, we can be quite particular with our tastes and money today.

 

Tonight, the Sun enters Aquarius, where it will transit until February 18th. During this month-long cycle, we are motivated by our hunger for knowledge, experience, and originality. Innovation is more important to us than convention. We become more aware of what is outdated in our lives and strive to find new perspectives and new ways to do things. The class distinctions, structure, and order that Capricorn finds appealing now seem rigid, although we also appreciate they’ve been laid out for us. We strive to free ourselves from some of the restrictions, inhibitions, and limitations that now feel constraining rather than safe.

 

The Moon continues its transit of Aquarius until 3:28 PM EST, after which the Moon is in Pisces.

 

The Moon is void from 6:53 AM EST, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a square to Mars), until the Moon enters Pisces at 3:28 PM EST.

In the Sky This Month

The year’s first month ends with perhaps the best skywatching show of the year, as the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow, creating a total lunar eclipse. The nights leading up to the eclipse provide plenty of beautiful sights, though. Mars and Jupiter are climbing higher into the morning sky, and snuggle close together for several days. Orion climbs high across the south during the evening hours, with its belt pointing toward Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

January 18: Bright Stars
Winter nights abound with some of the brightest stars in the sky: Rigel and Betelgeuse in Orion, Aldebaran in Taurus, Sirius in Canis Major (the big dog), and Procyon in Canis Minor (the little dog), to name but a few.

January 19: Crescent Moon
The Moon was new on Tuesday as it passed between Earth and the Sun. Today the Moon has moved away from the Sun, but it still lines up in the Sun’s general direction. At that angle, the Moon form a thin crescent, which is low in the southwest at sunset.

Source

StarDate

The Sky this week for January 19 to 21

A Mercury-Saturn conjunction, two striking star clusters, and a blazing Jupiter all take stage in the sky this week.
By Richard Talcott

Friday, January 19

Uranus reached opposition and peak visibility three months ago today, but it remains a tempting target. The outer planet appears nearly two-thirds of the way to the zenith in the southern sky as darkness falls. The magnitude 5.8 world lies in southeastern Pisces, 3.5° west of the 4th-magnitude star Omicron (ο) Piscium. Although Uranus shines brightly enough to glimpse with the naked eye under a dark sky, binoculars make the task much easier. A telescope reveals the planet’s blue-green disk, which spans 3.5″.

Saturday, January 20

Two of the finest deep-sky objects shine prominently on January evenings. The Pleiades and Hyades star clusters appear highest in the south in early evening but remain conspicuous until well past midnight. The Pleiades, also known at the Seven Sisters and M45, looks like a small dipper to the naked eye. The larger Hyades forms the V-shaped head of Taurus the Bull. Although both look nice without optical aid, binoculars show them best.

Sunday, January 21

Head outside before dawn and you’ll find Jupiter blazing in the southeast some 7° to the upper right of Mars. The giant planet climbs 30° high by the time twilight commences. Jupiter shines at magnitude –1.9, which makes it the brightest point of light in the night sky, and resides among the much dimmer stars of the constellation Libra. A telescope reveals the planet’s 35″-diameter disk.

Source

The Astronomy Magazine

The Witches Current Moon Phase for Friday, January 19th

Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 5%

The Moon today is in a Waxing Crescent Phase. A Waxing Crescent is the first Phase after the New Moon and is a great time to see the features of the moon’s surface. During this phase the Moon can be seen in the wester sky after the sun dips below the horizon at sunset. 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.

 

PHASE DETAILS FOR – FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2018

Phase: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 5%
Moon Age: 2.17 days
Moon Angle: 0.50
Moon Distance: 398,111.82 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,200,683.60 km

Source

MoonGiant.com

What is a Blue Moon?

In average, there’s a Blue Moon about every 33 months. Blue Moons are rare because the Moon is full every 29 and a half days, so the timing has to be just right to squeeze two full Moons into a calendar month. The timing has to be really precise to fit two Blue Moons into a single year. It can only happen on either side of February, whose 28-day span is short enough time span to have NO full Moons during the month.

 

The term “blue Moon” has not always been used this way, however. While the exact origin of the phrase remains unclear, it does in fact refer to a rare blue coloring of the Moon caused by high-altitude dust particles. Most sources credit this unusual event, occurring only “once in a blue moon,” as the true progenitor of the colorful phrase.

 

Did You Know: A Rare Blue Moon Lunar Eclipse That Hasn’t Been Seen in 35 Years Is Coming Soon. Here’s What You Need to Know

By MELISSA CHAN January 10, 2018

The moon will appear larger, brighter and reddish-orange for some skygazers later this month when a total lunar eclipse occurs during a blue moon and a so-called supermoon, in what scientists say is a rare occurrence.

 

Much of America could witness the Jan. 31 celestial spectacle, which is a “collision of multiple lunar events,” according to Dr. Noah Petro, a planetary geologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Many have begun calling the combination a “super blue blood moon eclipse.”

 

On that night, there will be a total lunar eclipse, which happens when the Earth passes between the sun and moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon. The lunar eclipse will occur at the same time as a blue moon, a term given to the second full moon of a given calendar month. And it will be considered by some a “supermoon,” or a full moon that’s closer to Earth than usual and can appear slightly brighter and larger than normal.

 

“A lot of things are happening at once,” Petro said. “It’s a cool event.”

 

The last time this cosmic coincidence occurred was 35 years ago, according to Ernest Wright, a programmer in the Scientific Visualization Studio at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. While some reports say such a sky show hasn’t happened for more than 150 years, Wright and Fred Espenak, a famed eclipse expert and retired NASA astrophysicist, said the last total lunar eclipse during a super blue moon was on Dec. 30, 1982.

 

Here’s what else to know about the upcoming total lunar eclipse, supermoon and blue moon.

What will we see during the total lunar eclipse?

Don’t be confused by the term “blue moon,” which has nothing to do with the color of the moon, scientists say. In fact, the full moon will appear red or a burnt-orange hue, which is where it gets its “blood moon” moniker. NASA says this happens because the indirect sunlight that reaches the moon, during a total lunar eclipse, first makes its way through the Earth’s atmosphere, where most of the scattered blue-colored light is filtered out. The moon could also appear blood red, dark brown or gray.

 

The exact shade will depend on global atmospheric conditions, like the amount of dust in Earth’s atmosphere, at the time of the total lunar eclipse. Petro says there’s a very small chance the total lunar eclipse during a blue moon could even appear to have a blue hue to it, but that would depend on a massive volcanic eruption happening beforehand. Particles in plumes of ash-clouds from such an eruption could scatter away red light, according to NASA.

 

Whether you’ll see the show also depends on local weather conditions, since cloud cover could partially or completely block the spectacle in some areas.

 

During a supermoon — like the one that took place Jan. 1 of this year, when the moon was closer to Earth than it will be for all of 2018 — the moon appears about 15% larger than usual and 30% brighter, Petro said. Some scientists only use the term supermoon to describe the single closest full moon in a 14-month cycle, but NASA uses the term more broadly to describe a full moon that occurs within 90% of the moon’s closest approach to Earth, according to Petro. (Because the moon’s orbit around Earth is elliptical, its distance from Earth is not fixed. Instead, it fluctuates between 225,600 miles and 252,100 miles, on average, according to Wright.)

 

When will we see the total lunar eclipse?

Sky watchers on the West Coast and in the middle of the U.S. will have the best chance at catching the total lunar eclipse if they are early risers. Residents in Australia and Asia will get a “really good view” as well, Petro said. But people on the East Coast will have a less impressive view, since the lunar eclipse’s totality will occur as the sun is rising and moon is setting, Petro said.

Overall, totality will last for about 1 hour and 16 minutes. Petro said it starts on the West Coast at about 4:51 a.m. PT and lasts until about 6:07 a.m. PT on Jan. 31. On the East Coast, the moon will be completely eclipsed starting at 7:51 a.m. ET. People willing to get up early, Petro said, will likely be rewarded for their efforts. “I hope the people who have the chance to see this eclipse really take it,” he said. “Go out and look at the night sky.”

 

When is the next total lunar eclipse?

The next total lunar eclipse can be seen on July 27, 2018 on several continents, including South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. The event will be visible again in America on Jan. 21, 2019.

 

Source

Time

Up Next…..

Your Witches Guide to Fridays

Good morning, my dear sweet family, my precious brothers & sisters of the Craft! What a glorious day it is, I got up this morning, lol! I hope everyone has a very wonderful & blessed Friday. Get through today and the weekend is finally here again. You know it seems that the days have been flying by for me but….one would think they would be slowly creeping by but they haven’t been. I guess they sped by because I was wanting the day I could return to my precious family to hurry up and come. Oh, by the way, I love you! Told you, you would hear it every day from me and I do keep my promises.

 

Before we get started, I do have one topic I would like to discuss or address to a certain sect of individuals who have been visiting our site. It is a subject I want to tread lightly on because we have other faiths and religions here with us. I have always been known as one who does not bash other religions and I am very religion tolerant. Here recently every time one of the ladies goes to our P. O. Box, we have literature and brochures from a certain church in our mail. Yes, you heard right, we are being mailed brochures about converting to their religion. This man and I have had run ins in the past and yet he persists. I think the reason he has started up again is because he just found us a few months ago and he decided he would give it another try.

 

So here I go treading lightly on this subject, I know he visits this site and I know at one time he was a member till I found him and blocked him. I believe that is why the mailings started. So this is addressed to my dear preacher friend…..

 

We do not want your brochures or your flyers sent to our P. O. Box. We have all chosen our Path, Tradition, and Religion here. We are a peaceful group, we have Pagans, Witches, Wiccans, Baptists, Catholics and various other groups here, that is why I must tread lightly out of respect for the mainstream religions that are with us. I have respect for their religion and they have respect for ours. They have enough respect that they write me and ask me if it is alright for them to join our group. Why? Because they want to know why so many people are turning to our religion and leaving the mainstream ones. They want to know the truth about us and oh yes, dear brother the truth is getting out. They are finding out, we are not evil, we are not devil worshipers, all we want to do is live in peace and to co-exist. We want to be free to choose our own Path and walk it proudly. They are here because they know the more we learn about each other, we can make co-existing possible. They not only learn from us but we do learn from them also. It is a two way street that is becoming one very quickly.

 

As for you, my dear brother and yes I do call you brother. I have no hatred for you. In fact, I pity you. I pity you because you are so very closed minded. You have haunted us and taunted us for years, now it is time to stop. We are steadfast in our beliefs. Perhaps if you would take a moment to read some of the material here, you might learn a thing or two. Then again, you are very closed minded and your way is the only way. As I have always said with so many religions in this world, how can there be only one right religion? Answer me that. Or better yet are you sure you are following the right religion? There are enough priests and preachers here so if what I am getting ready to say is wrong or incorrect, please feel free to correct me. Now back to my dear brother, doesn’t it say in Revelations that when your judgment day comes that only 144,000 will be collected and taken to your heaven. Those 144,000 spoken of all come from the 14 tribes of Israel, I believe it does say that. Do you tell your members this on Sunday mornings? Do you believe you come from one of those 14 tribes and will be among the 144,000 gathered up when your judgment day comes? Oh, my goodness, a witch who knows the Bible. You should know better than anyone I grew up in a half and half house. Perhaps that is why I am so religious tolerant. And just maybe that is why my curiosity has always been peaked to learn about other religions and not to be closed minded. No, I seriously doubt that you tell your members what I have just said or ever will.

 

I bring that up for two reasons, first to prove I am familiar with your Religion and many other Religions as well. I know about all these different religions and yet when given the opportunity to choose which Path/Religion I would follow, I decided to follow Witchcraft. I come from a long line of witches and I am very proud to call myself a witch. I am proud to call myself a witch because of what my Religion offers and holds for me and those who decide to follow Witchcraft. Here comes the second reason…..we don’t recruit people to witchcraft. You will never find us hounding or harassing someone to come to our Religion. Witchcraft and the Goddess is inside everyone of us. All you have to do is hear Her calling and look within yourself and you will find Her. She is there, I guarantee you that. She is a very mighty Divine Being. You can see Her works and beauty every day. You can feel Her presence with you constantly. I have seen Her perform what you might call miracles. I never once saw any miracles or felt anything from the other side of the fence. I have seen the Goddess, I have seen my Deities. I have asked for their help and they answer. The Goddess has guided me and others for centuries. She has never asked us to kill in Her Divine Name nor will She ever. She will never tell us that only 144,000 individuals will be allowed in the Summerlands either. Because we do not die, we reincarnate. I am living proof of that. I am a very old soul. I know, my dear brother, you have no idea what an old soul is, so I will tell you. It is a soul that has lived many lives and seen much. A soul that can testify to what our Religion states is true. We do not die, we are reborn. Unlike your religion, we return to this plane again and again. I have seen the glories and the wonders our Religion holds. There is no converting me or the others here. We have all made our decision many years ago, so save your stamps.

 

One more thing I have always wondered, perhaps you can drop me a pamphlet in the mail and explain it to me, hmm. Why is your religion always looking forward and praying for this world to end? I have never grasped that (really don’t want to either, but…). I am just curious as to why. Does the future look the bleak for you in your Religion, that you have to pray for the world to end? If that is the case, I feel very, very sorry for you. Living in world that you are suppose to be grateful for but instead you pray for it to end. Doesn’t make any sense to me at all. Our future, on the other hand, is very bright and beautiful. We do not pray for the world to end. One of our main staples is that we are to help mankind and the Earth become a better place. To assist in any way we can, not to pray for it to end. We reincarnate and reincarnate so the lessons we have learned from our past life, we can bring forth with us to make this place we call home a better home. We don’t do it just for us, we do it for all mankind, including you. We do not judge, we do not persecute, we do not harass anyone in the name of our Religion nor do we send out pamphlets trying to convert people. The people who come to us come to us out of their own free will. Their minds are open and they want to return to the oldest Religion on this planet.

 

I hope I have given you food for thought, dear brother. Funny, I call you brother and you wouldn’t call me sister if your life depended on it. That is the difference in my religion and yours. You are taught to suffer no witch to live. We are taught all life is sacred and should be cherished. You want to drive us into extinction. Many have tried and yet we are still here and growing by the day. We will be here long after you are gone. You keep telling us to make the right decision, my dear sir, are you sure you have made the right decision?.

 

Save your stamps, your pamphlets and go door to door peddling your religion. But never, ever send us anything else again. Your threats of hell, fire, brimstone and Satan do not scare us. If you knew anything at all, you would know those words do not even exist in our Religion. If someone is on the outside looking in and comparing the two Religions, I believe in my heart I know which one they would choose.

 

Now leave us alone or the next time, you will find that you have harassed the wrong witch.

Your Sister in The Craft,

Lady of the Abyss

I should mention right off the bat, Jacob isn’t typing this for me, I am. He is standing by in case I get tired or starts hurting.

 

My sweets, my loves, my family, my sisters, my brothers, guess what? I’m back! Told you it wouldn’t take that long, well it didn’t, did it? It seems like an eternity anyway.

 

I finally got the wire out of my middle finger Monday. It was an ordeal to say the least. We had already had one snow and the road were looking clear. Keyword “looking.” The weather people, who don’t know their rump from a hole in the ground, had forecasted light flurries for the day. HA! As we started to go to the car, huge and I mean huge flakes started falling. By the time we got me in the car, you couldn’t even see the road. I told Lord M I didn’t think that it was a good idea to even try to get me to the hospital. “Let’s call and cancel.” Nope, he wouldn’t hear of it. By this time, it was snowing so hard the window shield wipers couldn’t keep up with the snow. But we were still going! And going we did, Lordie backed out, did fine till he couldn’t find the road and ended up in a snow bank. My side of the car just disappeared into the snow. He tried and tried, they all tried and tried, even the neighbors came out to help to try to get the car out of the snow bank. No luck, she was buried in the white crap. The funny thing during all of this, they kept telling me not to get out of the car. By this time, I had lost it. I screamed, “Where in the holy hell do you think I am going?” I have a leg in a cast and an arm in a cast, so where am I suppose to go? There was about 10 of them trying to get the car unstuck. I sit in the nice warm car and called my friend with the tow truck. I told him the situation, that I had an out-patient surgery and Lordie had managed to get the car stuck in the snow. Mark (tow truck driver) told me to sit tight he was on his way. Fifteen minutes he was there with their biggest tow truck they own. The people trying to get the car out of the ditch were amazed. A tow truck, where did that come from? I wonder.

 

 

When Mark showed up, it was hilarious. He walked and pushed people aside to open the driver’s door. He asked me if I was alright and I told him yes but my operation was due to take place in about an hour and I needed to get to the hospital. I stuck up my finger and he had already seen it and every time he makes the same comment, which I can’t repeat here. But he said if it was to get that damn thing off of me, he would take me in the tow truck. Everyone then got shovels and starting digging the passenger door out of the snow. Boy, was that a deep ditch! Finally the door was open and I was sprung or so they thought. They all stood and looked a me like now what? Finally they decided, if I could slide over a bit toward the door then they would pick me up and put me in the tow truck. I did a little more than slide, I fell out. Thank goodness, Lordie was standing there. He caught me or I landed on him anyway. My leg was killing me and I was cussing like a sailor. Three other men came over and with their help, I got off of Lordie and into the tow truck. Eleanor and Lynette both climbed in because you are suppose to have someone with you after surgery. Mark told Lordie to go back to the house as soon as he got me to the hospital, he would be back to get the car out of the ditch.

 

 

We arrived at the hospital and got some very funny looks. Can you imagine a tow truck pulling up to an emergency room entrance? Eleanor and Lynette got out and went in the hospital to get help getting me out of the tow truck. Mean while, Mark and I talked. He told me there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for me. He cared very much about me and I immediately thought, “oh shit, here we go again.” I changed the subject to the car very quickly. I asked him if he did plan on going right back and getting it out of the ditch, he said of course. He did inform me of something I didn’t know. The car has a switch in it that converts it to a 4 wheel drive. Nice time to fine that out. I told him to be sure to tell Jerry that when he got back, unless he wanted to come back and pick me up after the surgery. He told me he would tell him. Finally Eleanor and Lynette showed back up with orderlies and nurses, I was never so glad to see anyone in my life. They didn’t bother bringing a wheelchair instead they brought a stretcher. They were very gentle getting me out of the tow truck and off to surgery I went. Eleanor filled out all the paperwork and Lynette helped me change clothes. It seemed like I had no longer changed into one of those floppy hospital gowns they came and off to surgery I went. I do remember the doctor kidding me about how he has never had a patient come to the hospital in a tow truck before, first time for everything.

 

 

Apparently the surgery didn’t take that long, Eleanor told me I hadn’t been gone that long just 2 hours. I remember Jerry standing in the room apologizing for everything that happened. Eleanor told him to shut up, I didn’t need that right now. All I was concerned about was that damn wire being gone and it was. I also had a new cast to boot. Apparently, they had to cut the old cast off and replace it with a new one. The doctor came in finally and told us everything went great, my hand looked liked it was suppose too. Now all I needed to do was to start using the fingers. No problem there! I figure typing has to be the best exercise around. I also work them when I am not trying to type. I still have problems with my little finger and the one next to it. I won’t even mention the one that the wire came out of. Ouch, doesn’t even begin to describe the pain. Eleanor did fix me a pad or cushion for it. So at least I can type now.

 

 

I tried Tuesday to type and it was very, very, very painful. Couldn’t do it. Jacob then suggested that I take a pain pill before I tried to exercise my hand. I did that yesterday and it worked. I still have problems hitting the “a” and “s” buttons. I have to stop and peck them out but at least I am making progress. Oops, spoke too soon, middle finger just started acting up. Drugs must be wearing off. My walking and use of my leg is improving daily. I can feel it getting stronger. With the rod out of my hand finally, I don’t see why I can’t try to resume our activity on the WOTC. All I do anyway is sit and look out at the snow. Funny, I use to love snow after the other day, I ain’t that crazy about it.

 

 

(Now Jacob is taking over) I did face my biggest demon, what was once my home. I was stunned and I believe shocked when I saw it. I didn’t cry. I thought when I saw it, I would be but I didn’t. I guess I still had the imagine of what it looked like the night I was put into the ambulance. I knew then there would be nothing left. I did a lot of crying in the hospital when no one was around. I have thought and thought about that man. I have tried to figure out how one person could be so evil. He proclaims his love for you, then he tries to burn you alive. What kind of person does something like that? Destroys your life because….that’s the problem, I don’t know the cause. My tears and my sense of loss have turned to rage. Why, oh, why couldn’t I have gotten my hands on him. I don’t know if it would have made me feeling any better or now. But I could have looked him in the eye and asked him why. I am told I can’t do that so I am left to wonder. I know one thing if what happened was because of love, I want no part of it.

 

 

You ought to know by now when I do speak, I write a book. Before I close this chapter today, I want to thank everyone of you who prayed for me, sent me healing energy, sent cards,and sent donations. I can never begin to thank you enough. When it was my darkest hour, you were my light and there were some very dark hours. I got depressed, who wouldn’t. Then I realized I had so many people around me that loved me and cared for me that I wasn’t going to let one man destroy me. I will never give him that satisfaction. He might have destroyed everything I owned and held precious but he didn’t destroy me or who I am. That is one of the main reasons I want to get the site back up and running. It will take my mind off of things and I can feel your love.

 

Material things may come and go but family, brothers and sisters, never do. Thank you so very much for everything you have done for me. I love each and everyone of you and don’t you ever forget it. One more thought while I was in the hospital, I got to wondering if I had told all of you, each day, that I truly love you enough. Some people don’t have the opportunity to ever tell their loved ones how they feel, I do and you are going to hear it every day from now on out, I promise you.

 

Now let’s see if we can have a little fun after that and get this site up and running.

 

My dear, sweet, precious family, I love you,

Lady of the Abyss

They have turned me loose again, thanks to Jacob. Jacob is a super sweet kid, well not kid, a young man. I should probably quit talking about him because he is turning bright red and I would imagine he feels a little odd since he is typing this. I have to say he has been terrific. He told me anytime I wanted to convey a message to you, he would type it for me. Eleanor volunteered to do the same but I am afraid she might twist my words around. Something like, “Good morning, I am going to turn all of you into zombies today!” Just kidding. I trust her completely or else she wouldn’t have access to this account.

 

Everyone else is out gathering up supplies because we are sitting right in the path of an ice storm. The mention of ice they all run around like chickens with their heads chopped off. Maybe it is the drugs but I ain’t really excited about it. I am just wondering how a walker would do on a sheet of black ice, lol! Don’t worry I ain’t that crazy yet. Keyword “yet!” I wouldn’t want to have to have a pin or rod placed in my rump where I fell and cracked it. That would be rough to say the least. While they are all out gathering propane, food and the such, I thought I would drop you a line and let you know, if you don’t hear from us after today, don’t worry. The ice has knocked out all the power and we are in a small house about to go stir crazy. Oh, Goddess, please no! The last ice storm we had that hit us, we were without power for 12 days. Can you imagine that? Somebody got this bright idea to get a huge propane stove, mind you it was a good idea. We could cook on it, make coffee, did about everything you imagine on it. It even heated the house. We had kerosene lamps, candles and flashlights. We were in the Cave man days and bored silly but we survived. I remember a neighbor coming over. They had just got a generator. She wanted to know if we had anything we wanted to put in her refrigerator. She was amazed I was fixing hamburger helper on the stove and sweating. She said she hadn’t had a hot meal in days, could she stay for supper. I told her of course there was enough for everybody. She thought it was nice and cozy and of course, I had been couped up with these people till I was stir crazy and thought something different, lol!

 

So now you know what is going on today and perhaps tomorrow if they aren’t back on the internet. Real quick, doctor’s report. That was a laugh. I believe the only reason he wanted to do a check up was to see if I still had the casts on. The last time I believe I was out of the casts within probably two or three weeks(thanks to my trusty hammer). I know, I know. I ain’t doing that this time because my leg still hurts like hell. But he did give me good news. I have a rod stuck out my middle finger on my left hand. Never seen anything like it. It is absolutely gross. I told Lady Beltane the other day, if the other fingers would go down, I could pop one heck of a bird. Might as well fine something to laugh about in this situation. But anyway back to the nasty rod, he said if everything keeps healing the way it is, the rod should be able to come out in about two weeks. I looked at him and asked him if I was going to be awake for this and he laughed and said no. The laughter scared me. That is one good sign anyway. He wanted to know if I was able to put any weight on the leg yet and I showed him. That surprised him. My leg is getting stronger every day. He told me I might have to walk with a cane for a bit after my leg came out of the cast. He said he might have been wrong and I might be able to use that leg again after all. I wanted to tell him the leg was getting better so it wouldn’t have to spend an hour a night with Eleanor but I didn’t. Eleanor hasn’t realize it yet but I am getting stronger and healing faster each day. I know when you are sick, a witch isn’t suppose to try to heal herself but….you have one entire side of your body in casts and see what you do. The minute you feel strong enough, I be damned you are going to try and try I have. I can feel my strength, power and health starting to return very quickly now. It is only a matter of time now I know that. I am a hard witch to keep down and especially try to burn alive in a house.

 

I still have not been back to the cabin. I have imagines of what it was like when I was propped up against the tree. The way the fire was raging, I can’t imagine anything being left. That will be my final test to actually see it. I know I have to for my own peace of mind and some closure. I have tried and tried to sense the man who did it and I can’t. Eleanor and Lord M told me to stop trying. After all this time, they finally told me the truth and I know it is the truth because like I said I can’t sense him. When they told me I don’t know what emotions I felt. There was no regret, no sorrow, no nothing, except thinking, “the bastard got what he deserved.” It still baffles me though, how can someone tell you to your face, “they are in love with you,” then try to kill you. I have had male admirers all my life but this takes the cake. I do blame myself, I let my guard down. I brushed him off, I had my mind on making the boys a home here and a life here. The man was in the way and I didn’t like that. So I just brushed him off and didn’t give him a second thought. I should have known he had a very dark side and I didn’t. I wasn’t focused on him at the time. Funny, I always tell each of you, not to let your guard down, be aware of your surroundings, shield your home, yourselves and I didn’t even take my own advice. Then again I stop to think he got me when I was at a very vulnerable state. I had just lost my very best friend and my emotions and senses were all over the place. Perhaps if not for that I could have seen and felt what kind of person he really was. But it is too late to cry over spilled milk now. Now comes the wonderful task of rebuilding my life.

 

Which leads me to my final thought and I promise this is it. I received so many wonderful cards from all of you. I wanted to get some thank you notes and write you back personally but apparently that won’t be happening for a while. Your words that you wrote in the cards and on paper, I could feel your emotions and your love. It was overwhelming. With each one I opened and I read, I teared up. I believe the words you wrote in those cards helped more than you will ever know. Not to mention, the ones who wrote notes in the PayPal comments. I have never felt such love and caring in my life. I can never begin to thank you enough for everything you have done. I knew I not only had to get better for myself but for each and everyone of you who cared about me and loved me. I can never, ever thank you enough, never. I have always called you my family, my brothers and my sisters. It is an honor to know that you consider me part of yours.

 

Got to go for now, starting to cry. Remember, my sweets, I love each and everyone of you dearly and with all my heart. Till next time,

 

Love,

Lady A

The Witches Digest for Wednesday, January 10th

(Part 1)

Ritual for the Morning

(Sun and Moon both in the Sky)

O’ Lady Moon I greet you and bid you fair sleep,
O’ Lord Sun I greet you and ask that you shine down on us with your warmth.
The Moon sets and the Sun rises and a new cycle of Day and Night begin.
The Lady watches over us in the Night and knows our secrets,
The Lord shines down on us and sees our works upon the Earth.
As the Day cycles into Night, the Year goes through its changes,
as does the Lady and the Lord change through the seasons.
As we grow we change, from birth to death and moving on to the next life.
Know you that Life is change, growth and always learning.
We thank you Lord and Lady for your gifts of life and death, for growth
and learning that we might know you better.
Sleep Lady Moon till its time to rise again,
Welcome Lord Sun and may your light and warmth comfort us.
Blessed Be

—A Journey with the Lady
Steven Spears

Today is Wednesday, January 10th

 

Wednesday is the day of the Teutonic deity known as Wodin or Odin, an aspect of the Allfather, god of knowledge, wisdom, enlightenment and combat, the parallel of Hermes, the planet Mercury.

Deity: Woden

Zodiac Sign: Gemini & Virgo

Planet: Mercury

Tree: Ash

Herb: Cinquefoil

Stone: Emerald & Sardonyx

Animal: Raven & Cat

Element: Air

Color: Red & Blue

Number: 6

Rune: Odal(O)

 

The Celtic Tree Month of Beth (Birch) (December 24 – January 20)

Runic Half Month of Eoh (Yew tree) (December 28 – January 12)

Goddess of the Month of Hestia (December 26th – January 22nd)

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

On Wednesday, January 10th, We Celebrate the Celtic Goddess Morrigan

 

Areas of Influence: The Goddess Morrigan represented the circle of life, she was associated with both birth and death.

 

Her name means great queen or phantom queen. It is spelt in several different ways including Morrigu, Morgane, Morrighan and Morgan le Fay in the Arthurian legends.

 

She is one of the triple Goddesses, her different aspects are represented by Anu (the fertility maiden), Badh (the boiling mother cauldron) and either Macha (the death crone) or Nemain.

 

Morrigan is also a water Goddess, ruling over rivers and lakes. In one myth she appears as an old washer woman at the ford and offering her love to Cu Chulainne. He failed to recognize Morrigan on this occasion and on several others. Enraged she threated to hinder him in battle, when he is killed as a result of this she appears on his shoulder as a crow.

 

This Goddess also grants monarchs the power of sovereignty.

 

Origins and Genealogy: I can find no mention of her parentage but in some myths she was said to be the consort of Dadga

 

Morrigan was also one of the Tuatha de Danann (The tribe of the Goddess Danu). She protected her people by blowing a fog over the land, the lack of visibility discouraged invading armies.

 

Strengths: Fearsome and strong.

Weaknesses: She is vindictive, killing the person she loves when he fails to recognize her.

 

Goddess Morrigan’s Symbolism

As a symbol of death the Goddess Morrigan is linked with the festival of Samhain.

Sacred Bird: Crows and ravens.

Sacred Plants: Mugwort, yew and willow.

 

Morrigan’s Archetypes

The Celtic Goddess Morrigan has several powerful archetypes.

 

Shape-Shifter:

The Shape Shifter has the ability to change her physical appearance. They are also able to adapt easily to different environments by altering there behavior.

Shadow Shape shifter is fickle, lacking conviction and constantly reinventing themselves, like politicians trying to appeal to more people.

Morrigan is a bird Goddess who shape-shifts into the form of a hooded crow and a washer woman at the ford.

 

The Crone:

The Crone represents the wise old woman whose child bearing days are behind her. Other associations with this Archetype include: compassion, transformation, healing and bawdiness death and endings. She is the respected older woman or grand-parent at the heart of family who enjoys life and sharing her experience.

Unfortunately the word Crone or Hag often has negative connotations as many wise woman and midwives were persecuted as witches in the middle ages.

Shadow Crone is the bitter, old woman who has failed to learn from her life. She blames all her failings and unhappiness on a society that no longer respects the elders. As a result she becomes increasingly isolated and fearful.

 

The Warrior:

Warrior represents physical strength, and the ability to protect and fight for your rights and those of of others.

Whilst the shadow side of the Warrior reflects the need to win at all costs, abandoning ethical principals to prove your supremacy.

As the battle Goddess she appeared on the battlefield in the form of a crow and returned later to feed on the dead.

 

How to Work With This Archetype

The Shape-Shifter: A useful Goddess Archetype to have if you need to be flexible or perform lots of different roles.

The shadow side asks whether your chameleon like tendencies reflect a deep insecurity and inability to commit to any particular path.

The Crone: This maybe one of your Archetypes if you have gained wisdom, learning from your mistakes and showing a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances.

You are experiencing the Crone’s shadow if you have become rigid in your beliefs and have become stuck in a rut having lost all ability to let those areas of your life go that no longer serve you.

 

The Warrior:

If you are drawn to work with this Goddess you may require her Warrior spirit to help you to stand up for your rights and set firm personnal boundaries. This Goddess can be a great stereotype to work with if you want to take control in your life, and wish to no longer play the role of the victim.

You may also wish to call upon this Goddess to champion the cause of others.

Conversely this Goddess may appeal to you if you have a very strong sense of self and are proud of the victories you have achieved. The shadow side of this Goddess may be asking you to reflect honestly on the cost of these victories. Have they been at the expense of others or your principles?
Source
Goddess-Guide.com

Wednesday’s Conjuring

 

Wednesday – is associated with Mercury

 

Candle colors – Purple

 

Magickal Conjuring for the Day: Mastery, Domination Work, Wisdom, Healing, Dealing with Legal problems.

—Starr Casas, Old Style Conjure Wisdoms, Workings and Remedies

About The Magickal Day of the Week,Wednesday

 

Wednesday is named for Woden himself, although the Romans called it dies Mercurii.This is a day associated with the color purple, the planet Mercury, and the metal quicksilver – which is also called mercury. See a pattern here?

 

When it comes to deities… yes, Mercury! However, there are a few other gods associated with Wednesday, including Odin and Hermes, Athena, and Lugh. Gemstones like adventurine and agate come in handy as well, as do plants such as aspen trees, lilies, lavender and even ferns.

 

Business and job-related issues, communication, loss and debt, traveling, and journeys are all tied in to Wednesday. This is a good day to do a working to open up lines of communication – especially if your own actions are preventing you from being an effective speaker or listener. Go someplace new or return to an old favorite stomping ground, step up your game, and settle up your accounts
Source

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by ThoughtCo.com

Wednesday’s Associations

Color: Purple
Planet: Mercury
Metal: Mercury (Quicksilver)
Deities: Odin, Hermes, Lugh
Gemstones: Mercury, Athena
Crystals: Adventurine, Agate
Herbs: Aspen trees, lilies, Lavender, Ferns
Associations: Business, Communication, Loss and Debt, Travel.

Wednesday–The Day of Woden

 

Woden, or Odin as the Norsemen called him, was the chief of the gods of our ancestors, and corresponds to the Jupiter of the Romans. Also, for reasons which we shall read later, he was similar to Mercury, and his name was given to the Roman Dies Mercurii, day of Mercury, which still survives in the French mercredi.

 

As in the case of Jupiter and the Titans, Odin led the Northern gods in a gigantic struggle with the giants of ice and frost, and finally overthrew them. With the help of the gods, he then fashioned the world from the body of the chief of the giants. From the flesh he made the earth, known as Midgard (middle garden), and from his blood the sea, while from his bones he made the mountains, from his teeth the cliffs, and from his hair the trees. The giant’s skull was then fixed over the earth to form the vault of the sky, and was held in place at the four corners by four dwarfs, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, and Westri, from whom we have obtained the names North, South, East, and West. Next the gods made the sun and moon, which were placed in golden chariots driven by Sol and Mani, the daughter and son of a giant who had named his children after the newly-created sun and moon. The Northmen thought that they could see on the moon the outline of two children carrying a pail, and the story goes that Mani, while travelling across the sky, one night caught up two children, Hiuki and Bil, who were compelled by their cruel father to carry water all night. Hiuki and Bil are still known to us in the familiar story of Jack and Jill. The sun and moon were said to be pursued continually by two fierce wolves, whose shapes could be seen in the clouds, and who, if they caught them up, would swallow them and plunge the world in darkness. Sometimes they nearly succeeded, and thus caused the eclipses.

 

Having completed the earth and peopled it with men and women, the gods, led by Odin, built magnificent palaces for themselves in Asgard, their home. The most famous of these was Valhalla, to which the bravest and mightiest of the mortals who fell in battle were summoned at their death. The walls of Valhalla were made of spears, and golden shields formed the roof. In the hall stood long tables, at which the dead heroes feasted.

 

The Northmen honoured a great fighter above all men, and they even thought it a disgrace for him to die in any other way than sword in hand. The great ambition of every fighting man was to be called to Valhalla after his death, there to spend his time in fighting and feasting. The fortunate ones were chosen from among the slain on the battle-fields by the Valkyries, Odin’s battle-maidens, whose horses carried them through the air and over the sea. They rode among the storm-clouds, and the flash of their spears was seen in the lightning.

 

Odin was often pictured as sitting on a throne from which he could see the whole world, and wearing a suit of armour, covered with a blue mantle, which represented the sky. In his hand he held a famous spear, Gungnir, which never missed its mark. On his shoulders sat two ravens, Thought and Memory, which he sent out into the world every day to obtain news of all that happened. Like Tiu, the God of War, Odin suffered from a disfigurement, having lost one of his eyes. This loss is explained in the following story.

 

After the creation of the world, Odin wished to obtain great wisdom which would place him far above the other gods. This he could only procure from Mimir’s spring, in whose clear waters the future was mirrored. Odin, therefore, visited Mimir and begged a draught of the wonderful water, but Mimir would only grant the request in return for one of Odin’s eyes. The god was willing to make even this sacrifice for the great knowledge the water would give him, and accordingly he plucked out one of his eyes and gave it to Mimir, who sank it deep in the spring where it could always be seen shining. Odin then drank deep of the water, and thus gained the wisdom for which he was always famous.

 

All the life of the world, including even the lives of the gods, was said to depend on an enormous ash tree, Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. This tree was created by Odin, and had three roots, one in the Underworld, another in Midgard, near Mimir’s spring, and the third in Asgard. It grew to such a height that it overtopped the whole world, and in its topmost branches sat an eagle with a falcon between its eyes. The falcon could see all three kingdoms, and reported all that happened in them to the gods. In the Underworld was a dragon, which continually gnawed the roots of Yggdrasil in order to destroy it and so bring about the downfall of the gods. To prevent this disaster, the tree was daily watered from a fountain in Asgard, whose magic waters kept it continually green.

 

Joining Asgard and the earth was a bridge made of fire, earth, and water, whose colours were those of the rainbow. This bridge was guarded against the giants by a god named Heimdall, whose sight and hearing were so keen that he could see a hundred leagues by night as well as by day, and could hear the grass growing on the earth and the wool on the sheep’s back! He was armed with a flashing sword, and carried a horn with which he was to give warning when the giants should come against Asgard.

 

Odin was the inventor of Runes, the first alphabet of the Northmen. The letters consisted almost entirely of straight lines placed in different groups and positions, and were thought at first to have a magical meaning. Each god had a special rune or sign, and the use of the sign was supposed to bring help from the god. Thus all fighters carved the rune of Tiu on their swords in order that they might have his aid in battle. Runes were afterwards used in the ordinary way for writing, and very old runes have been found carved on stones in Scandinavia and in England. As the inventor of runes, Odin is like Mercury, who was supposed to have given the Romans their alphabet.

 

In addition to being the wisest of the gods, the inventor of runes, and the God of Eloquence, Odin was also the God of Poetry. The gift of poetry was guarded very jealously by the gods, and was only granted to mortals in special cases. Odin obtained the gift for himself and the other gods only with great difficulty. Hidden away in a hollow mountain, and carefully watched over by a giantess, were three vessels containing a magic fluid, which gave to anyone who drank of it the gift of poetry and song. Odin, knowing of this magic drink, determined to obtain it. Accordingly he set out for the land of the giants, dressed as a mortal, and wearing a broad-brimmed hat to hide the fact that he had only one eye. He hired himself as a servant to Baugi, the brother of the giant Suttung, to whom the vessels belonged, and asked as payment for his labour one draught of the magic fluid. As soon as his work was finished, Odin demanded payment, but Baugi was afraid to ask his brother for the drink, and suggested they should win it for themselves by trickery. They came to the mountain where the vessels were hidden, and bored a hole right through to the cave inside. Odin then changed himself into a snake and wriggled through the hole, just in time to escape the giant, who tried to kill him as he entered the hole. Having found his way into the cave, Odin again took on the form of a god, and begged the giantess who watched over the vessels to allow him just a sip of the magic drink. The giantess at last consented, but Odin, instead of taking a sip, quickly emptied all the vessels, and then, making his way out of the cave transformed himself into an eagle and flew swiftly towards Asgard. He soon discovered, however, that the giant Suttung was pursuing him, also in the form of an eagle. As he neared Asgard the gods caught sight of him, and, seeing that the giant was gaining on Odin, they gathered together a great quantity of fuel and piled it on the palace walls. Immediately Odin had passed over the wall the gods set fire to the fuel, and the flames rose so high that the wings of the pursuing giant were scorched, and he fell into the fire and was burnt.

 

Odin seldom used this precious gift of poetry himself, but imparted it to his son Bragi, who became the minstrel of the gods and sang many songs in honour of the gods and the great heroes in Valhalla. All the singers among men, the bards, or scalds, as they were sometimes called, were thought to have received the gift from Odin, and were greatly honoured for that reason.

 

The Creation of the World

In the beginning, ere the Gods were born,
Before the Heavens were builded, thou didst slay
The giant Ymir, whom the abyss brought forth,
Thou and thy brethren fierce, the sons of Bor,
And cast his trunk to choke the abysmal void.
But of his flesh and members thou didst build
The earth and ocean, and above them Heaven.
And from the flaming world, where Muspel reigns,
Thou sent’st and fetched’st fire, and madest lights,
Sun, moon, and stars, which thou hast hung in Heaven,
Dividing clear the paths of night and day.
And Asgard thou didst build, and Midgard fort.
MATTHEW ARNOLD–Balder Dead

 

The Heroes of Valhalla

And all the Gods, and all the Heroes, woke.
And from their beds the Heroes rose, and donn’d
Their arms, and led their horses from the stall,
And mounted them, and in Valhalla’s court,
Were ranged; and then the daily fray began.
And all day long they there are hack’d and hewn,
‘Mid dust, and groans, and limbs lopp’d off, and blood;
But all at night returned to Odin’s hall,
Woundless and fresh; such lot is theirs in heaven.
And the Valkyries on their steeds went forth
Tow’rd earth and fights of men; and at their side
Skulda, the youngest of the Normes, rode;
And over Bifrost, where is Heimdall’s watch,
Past Midgard fortress, down to earth they came;
There through some battle-field, where men fall fast,
Their horses fetlock-deep in blood, they ride,
And pick the bravest warriors out for death,
Whom they bring back with them at night to heaven
To glad the Gods, and feast in Odin’s hall.
MATTHEW ARNOLD–Balder Dead.

The Witches Guide to Wednesday

 

Ruler: Wodin, Mercury

Colors: Orange, light blue, and gray

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

Keywords: Success, creativity, communication

The word Wednesday is reminiscent of the Norse wind god Wodin, which is referenced in the popular rhyme verse “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” This does not mean that those born on this day are full of sorrow or trouble. To be full of Woden (Wodin) means to be full of wind, to be spirited. Woden was such a powerful pagan god that the German church fathers changed the name of his day to Mittwoch, meaning midweek, in an attempt to exorcise his influence.

In the Spanish word for Wednesday, miercoles, we clearly see its connection to Mercury. Under the guidance of Mercury; Wednesday is a day of swift activity, communication, correspondence, and phone calls. This is a good day for journalists, writers, poets, bargaining, hiring employees, and visiting friends.

On Wednesdays, the hour of sunrise and every eight hours after that are also ruled by Mercury, making these times of the day doubly blessed. These are the strongest four hours for ritual work. Check your local newspaper, astrological calendar, or almanac to determine when sunrise occurs.

Source
Gypsy Magic

Wednesday Witchery

 

Be bold and daring today! Expand your knowledge of the Craft by working with the planetary energies of Mercury on this multifaceted day of the week. Consider the Greco-Roman gods Mercury and Hermes and all of the many lessons they have for you. Embrace change and movement, and work on your communication techniques. Conjure up a little good luck for yourself with that Mercury dime spell. Call on Athena to inspire you to try magickal arts and crafts and to be more creative in your own spellwork and witchery.

 

Meditate on Odin and see what you can discover about him. I wonder what sort of fabulous and fascinating magickal wisdom you will uncover? Odin is a shaman, after all; he may appear in many guises and faces. I guarantee that he will make you laugh at yourself before he is through with you, but you will learn. It’s up to you what you do with that knowledge. Will you let it shapeshift into wisdom?

 

Wednesday is the wild and wily day of the week, so try to go with the flow; don’t fight the quirky energies of the day. Most importantly, follow your heart, and always keep a good sense of humor, because of Wednesdays you will really need it.

Source

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

The Witches Almanac for Wednesday, January 10th

Feast of St. Leonie Aviat

Waning Moon

Moon phase: Fourth Quarter

Moon Sign: Scorpio

Incense: Honeysuckle

Color: Brown

 

 

WEDNESDAY CORRESPONDENCES

Mercury/Neptune/Air/North/West/Southwest/Female/Male/Gemini/Virgo

 

Magickal Intentions: Communication, Divination, Writing, Knowledge, Business Transactions, Debt, Fear, Loss, Travel, Money Matters

Color: black, light blue, brown, gray, green, magenta, orange, peach, purple, red, silver, turquoise, violet, white, yellow; orange is the primary color

Number: 3, 5

Metal: mercury

Charm: distaff, rod, runes, staff, iridescent garments

Stone: moss agate, amethyst, bloodstone, emerald, hematite, lapis lazuli, lodestone, pearl, ruby, sapphire, sodalite, all blue stones

Animal: bear, dog, fox, magpie, swan, weasel

Plant: almond, bayberry, chamomile, cherry, cinnamon, cinquefoil, clove, coltsfoot, ginger, hazel, hazelnut, jasmine, lavender, millet, oak, peppermint, periwinkle, rosemary, sage, St. John’s wort, sweet pea, tamarind, lemon verbena, violet

Incense: cassia, cedar, cinnamon, clove, frankincense, jasmine, lavender, mastic, mint, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, storax, dried and powdered citrus peel, and all incense made from aromatic bark, wood, and seeds

Goddess: Carmenta, Hecate (Queen of Crossroads), Hel, Ishtar, Ma’at, the Morrigan, Nike

God: Anubis, Bragi, Elath-Iahu. Enki, Garuda, Hermes, Maximon (Black Magician), Mercury, Nebo (Wise God of Wednesday), Odin, Shango, Ullr, Vishnu, Wayland, Woden

Evocation: Agrat Bat Mahalat, Michael, Miel, Raphael, Seraphiel, Tiriel

 

Courtesy of Moonlight Musings

Wednesday Is Ruled By Mercury

 

Wednesdays are wild and wacky days. They are for communication, change, cunning, and the arts. This is a Mercury day, and just its patron god this day is full of contradictions, change, and excitement. Some suggestions for Wednesday enchantments would include:

Pulling a little Wednesday color magic into your life by wearing purples or orange

Carrying a multipurpose agate with you and tapping into its various charms

Working with magical plants such as the fern for protection. This plant will also boost the power of any other magical plants with which it is arranged.

Incorporating lavender into charms and spells for transformation

Using the charming scent of lily of the valley to improve your memory, or working with the aspen tree for communication

Calling on Athena, patron of arts and crafts, for inspiration for a new project

Fanning out a Tarot spell to increase you creativity

Calling on Hermes on a Wednesday night to bring movement and good luck into your life

Mercury’s Energy

 

*Notes: perform on a Wednesday and/or during the waxing Moon with the Full Moon being strongest. An orange or violet candle is associated with any magick cast on this day.

Day: Wednesday

Color: Orange, violet, multicolored, pale yellow

Metal: Quicksilver, alloys.

Stones: Carnelian, fire opal, agate

Plants: Anise, caraway , cassia, club mosss, dittany of Crete, lavender, licorice, parsley, sandalwood, storax

Rules: Gemini, Virgo

Oils: Lavender, lemon, lily of valley, nutmeg, sandalwood, styrax, vervain

Rituals Involving: Intellect, memory, science, creativity, business, magickal conjuration, divination, prediction, eloquence, gift of tongues, speed, speech, writing, poetry, inspiration, improvement of mind power, healing of nervous disorders.

Physical Chant for Mercury:

Magick, the Arts, success on my trade,
Business wisdom and divination,
These gifts I would gain for my physical growth
And to help in my conjurations.

Source
Dancing with Dragons, Invoking Their Ageless Wisdom and Power
D. J. Conway, Author

Magickal Applications for Wednesday

 

To the Romans, this day was called Dies Mercurii, or “Mercury’s day” Mercury was a popular character in the Roman pantheon. A messenger of the gods, he presided over commerce, trade, and anything that required skill or dexterity. The Celts also worshiped Mercury and eventually equated him with the Norse god Odin (some spelling variations on this name include Wotan, Wodin, and Wodan). In Norse mythologies, Odin, like Mercury, is associated with poetry and music. Interestingly enough, both Odin and Mercury were regarded as psychopomps, or the leaders of souls, in their individual mythologies.

 

Odin, one of the main gods in Norse mythology, was constantly seeking wisdom. He traveled the world in disguise as a one-eyed man with a long gray beard, wearing an old, beat-up hat and carrying a staff or a spear (which brings to my mind images of Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings). In the Old English language, this day of Mercury evolved into Wodnes daeg, “Woden’s day,” or Wednesday.

 

Wednesday carries all of the planetary and magickal energies and associations of the witty and nimble god Mercury himself. Some of these mercurial traits included good communication skills, cleverness, intelligence, creativity, business sense, writing, artistic talent, trickiness, and thievery. And don’t forget all of those wise and enigmatic qualities associated with the Norse god Odin/Wodin, not to mention the goddess Athena’s contributions of music, the arts, handmade crafts, and writing. Wednesdays afford excellent opportunities for seeking wisdom, changing your circumstances, and improving your skills, be they in trade and commerce, music and art, or in communication and writing.

 

Source

 

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

Wednesdays & The Perfect Corresponding Spell – Concentrate Candle Spell

 

Wednesday is a good day to focus on getting over any slumps you may have. This day is considered the middle of the work week; and many people find themselves very tired by this point. That is why this day is a great day to do refresh, refrain, return, wake-up, and concentration spells. It is, also, another good day for meditation.

Concentrate Candle Spell

Items needed:
1 small white candle
1 small blue candle
1 orange candle

Take all three candles and place them on a fire-proof surface in front of you. Light both candles. Take three deep breaths. Lightly tap your forehead with one of your fingers for a minute or so. You should feel a slight tingly sensation on your forehead. Now, look at the three candles and say this chant three times:

“I have the time.
I have the wait.
This should help me concentrate.
When it’s white And it’s blue,
It will start my mind a new.”

After you have finished, blow out the candles. From this point on, when you have problems concentrating, think of those white, blue, and orange candles, and the tingle in your forehead; and your mind should be better able to concentrate.

 

Source
A Witch’s Week of Spells and Activities
Helga C. Loueen

The Care and Feeding of Crystals

Crystals have been in the lime-light ever since celebrities such as Shirley Mcleane and Cher have come out of the closet and admitted they were “New-Agers”. However, along with this public scrutiny, has also been a whole bunch of misconceptions. The most common of which is that a person just wears a crystal like jewelry or carries it and it works like some kind of instant stage-magic or prestidigitation. This, of course, is not the case. To get the full effect of “Crystal Power” in your life means, as with so much else, that you must put into it what you take out of it. So here are a few simple guidelines for those of you who plan on taking this subject seriously.

1. Selecting your Crystal
To select a Crystal is not all that much different from selecting a pet or a work of art. When you go into the store to purchase your crystal – or any other stone used in healing or Psychic work – just pick the one that “calls” to you. Handle the various stones and put them, one by one, in your receptive hand. (the one that is not your dominant hand; if you are right-handed or ambi-dextrous, your receptive hand is your left. If you are completely left-handed your receptive hand is your right.) The stone that is right FOR YOU will “pull” you to it. This may not be the stone that looks the clearest or the most impressive, either. Our societies materialistic values and our conditioning to accept them must not enter into our decision, which is very hard for most of us at first. Our first tendency is to judge the stone -as we always judge ourselves and everything else in a constant stream of thoughts- by what we have been conditioned to believe is “good” or “bad”.

If the piece you are choosing is for a specific purpose; i.e. for healing, or to enhance your psychic abilities, or for meditation; it will help if you keep that purpose in mind while you are selecting the stone. An interesting phenomena often happens to people who are just going into the gem and mineral healing or psychic work. Most people start off with clear quartz, because it has the most applications. They go into a store or a gem show to purchase a clear quartz and find themselves drawn to all kinds of other “rocks” (as the collectors call them) too. Many times they bring a bag of various mineral specimens home with them. Later they look up the stones in one of the many reference books on this subject, only to find the stones they were drawn to are exactly the ones they need to deal with issues or illnesses that they need to work on.

The very first thing you need to do when you first get a crystal is to “clear it” from the imbalanced energies of anyone else who has touched it. Crystals “work” because of their piezoelectrical field. Researchers in Kirlian photography and other subjects have long shown us that the body is surrounded by a field of electro-magnetic energies, which psychics call the AURA. People who have studied this subject tell us that Crystals help us by attuning the piezoelectrical charge to the charge of our auras. So we must first remove the charges from the stone that come from other’s handling of it. This is done by leaving the stone in sea-salt (available at almost any health-food store) for 3 days. The only time you will have to use this technique – which is drastic – to cleanse the stone is when you first buy it. The reason I say the technique is drastic is because it erases ALL of your energy from the stone too, so the stone has to be rebonded. (explained later) This piezoelectrical effect of the stone is the same reason that quartz is useful in making computers, telephones, watches, and in other electronic devices.

2. the regular maintenance of your stone

The regular care and maintenance of your stone is really quite simple. First of all a gentler method of clearing the piece should be used at least once a week and after any uses in either physical or inner (mental/emotional/spiritual) healing work. This can be done in several ways. First of all, you can run it under COOL – no extremes of temperature PLEASE – water in your sink for several minutes, while visualizing (intensely imagining in vivid detail, from a meditative or extremely relaxed state) all imbalanced energies leaving it. You can also leave it in mugwort (an herb) for 2-3 days buried it in carefully. You can also place it in a flowerpot with an african violet plant, but you should know that if it has been used to heal any severe conditions, the plant will die. The stones should also be re-charged about once a month or after every use. For other stones, direct sunlight is not such a good idea as it can fade the colors. You can get the reflected energy of the sun by placing them in the moonlight during the waxing of the moon. (from one day after the new moon through the night of the full moon) They can also be charged by surrounding them in a circle of quartz points that have been charged by the sun, with the points of the crystals facing inward toward then stones being charged. Another method is to purchase an amethyst or quartz cluster and place the stones on it. A cluster is a specimen with several individual crystals on it. Oh, and if you charge the stone by a circle of crystals, be sure they have been cleared and charged themselves before using them to charge anything else. The circle should consist of at least 4 points, but 8 is best. These stones used for charging do NOT have to be large at all.

3. Using your stones
Stones are tools in our psychic work and, as in any other object used, work by focusing the mind’s powers. To get the best use out of them, more than just wearing them or carrying them is required. They should be used from a state of meditation, while visualizing the goals we wish to accomplish with them – such as healing, increased Psychic perception, etc. A good way to do this for to help you focus and a self-hypnosis tape that relates to your goals and use it. And if you are using the crystals in healing, be aware that they are NOT meant replace the care of a competent health professional – but many people find them a useful adjunct to it.

Author

 

 

Matrika, Author
co-sysop of PAN – the Psychic Awareness Network

Home & Hearth Magick for Wednesday, January 10th

 

On Wednesday cast for communication matters and to improve good luck

Planetary Influence: Mercury

Household Symbols: Phones, television, computers, letters, silver coins

Colors: Orange or purple

Kitchen Spices: Dill and celery seed

Source
Cottage Witchery
Natural Magick for Hearth & Home
Ellen Dugan

Celebrating Legends, Folklore & Spirituality 365 Days A Year for Jan. 10th &  11th

Roman Festival of Carmentalia/English Hogmanay

 

In ancient Rome the festival of Carmentalia was held to honor the nymphs of prophecy who were know as the Camenae. The principle nymph was Carmenta, the Goddess of prophecy who protect women in child birth. Pregnant women would offer Carmenta rice and fresh vegetables in exchange for a safe delivery.

Those women wishing to have children would ask Carmenta to bless wild berries that they would then eat to internalize fertility.

Magickal Activity for January 10th, The Roman Festival of Carmentalia/English Hogmanay

Ring on a String

If you, or someone you are close to, is pregnant this is an auspicious time to predict the sex of the child. Take a gold ring and suspend it from a chain or string and hold it over the mother’s belly. Should the string move in a circular motion it signifies that the baby is a girl. If, on the other hand, it swings back and forth the baby will surely be a boy.

In old English folklore the 11th of January was Hogmanay, the day after Christmas, when Witches were supposed to become active again. The York Castle Trial Records of January 11, 1655, revealed the following charm to ward off bewitchment of cattle:

Put a pair of breeches upon the cow’s head, and beat her out of the pasture with a good cudgel upon a Friday, and she will run to the Witch’s door and strike threat with her horns.

—Reginald Scott
The Discovery of Witchcraft, 1584