Being a Witch is…

Trying to type a Ritual on the computer and having the cat walk on the keyboard.

Spending six months weaving the most beautiful Altar cloth you can imagine, then having someone spill wine and candle wax on it during it’s first Ritual.

Deciding to Work Skyclad because you keep burning your Robe on the Point Candles and Bonfire.

Having the neighbor ask you if you have been born again, and replying that you have, indeed, been born again… and again and again and again….

When a xian tells you that you should be reborn, and telling him that you already have been a number of times.

Hoping that the High Priestess is careful with her Moon Crown as she gives you The Five-fold Kiss.

Trying to explain to the Realtor why you need an extra bedroom at least nine-feet in diameter.

Then telling that same Realtor that you can’t take that perfect house that is so affordable, because the fireplace is in the west instead of the South.

Setting up a Circle in the park and discovering that there is a bee hive nearby.

Loaning your brand new Japanese cherry coffee table to the Coven for an Altar, and watching the Coven joker accidently drive his Athame into the surface.

Doing an outdoor midnight ritual and having the neighbor call the cops, thinking that you’re a prowler.

Saluting the Goddess at the Watchtower with a Sword and poking a hole in the Temple ceiling.

Deciding not to wear your new Horned Helmet to the outdoor Sabbat because it’s deer hunting season.

The Coven joker hides everybody’s street clothes, and it’s a Skyclad Circle.

Trying to go home after a skyclad Circle and discovering that the Coven joker has hidden all of the clothes.

Just buying lots of suntan oil instead of spending a fortune on a fancy wardrobe to impress people at church. (Jim in Winchester)

Having people tell you that they don’t believe in Witches, and responding, “That’s OK, I don’t believe in christians.”

Casting the Circle for the first time and being so proud with yourself for doing it right… then looking down to discover that you’re wearing your Robe inside out.

Wondering how to get rid of the result of your latest love spell.

Seeing a girl at the supermarket. She’s wearing a Pentagram, a silver High Priestess Bracelet, a runic belt buckle, a Necklace of acorns and has the Goddess tattooed on her shoulder and is wearing a t-shirt that says ‘Sexy Witch’. So you go up to her and ask, “Are you in the Craft?” and she hisses back, “Shhhh! It’s supposed to be a secret!”

Going to sleep during visualization exercises.

Getting a new familiar… who isn’t housebroken.

Realizing that your grammar is not so bad, now that you’ve read something by Ophiel.

Gavin Frost recalling his dildo to check for structural defects.

The inside info on why a pope decided to be called Pendaren I.

Eleven cops and the sheriff on your doorstep, asking for Initiation.

Reading Aleister Crowley with a straight face.

Hiding your bible when your new friends drop in (and displaying it when your parents come to visit).

Actually reading through The White Goddess.

Working magick every day… just for the hexercise.

Trying to remain Gardnerian after mid-winter.

Your parents install a smoke alarm… in the room you’ve been using as a Temple.

Your cat eats the mugwort growing in the window box… and starts having visions.

Queuing up for the Ritual bath in order of Initiation…. because the High Priestess is trying to get all the hot water.

Taking a Ritual Bath at the Covenstead when seven other Witches have just been in the tub.

That cold shiver when you learn that your High Priestess (a karate expert) couldn’t find her Scourge.

Being dragged to an outdoor Halloween Sabbat… Skyclad.

Acquiring a reputation after you accidently sat down on the Cauldron.

Having to cut a gate in the Circle to go to the bathroom.

Explaining to the fireman that the smoke billowing from under your door is only incense, and that you were burning incense because you were casting a….

Seeing your past incarnation.. as a postal clerk.

When you use Cord magick and find yourself all tied up.

Having to actually try to fit 13 people into a nine foot Circle.

Six bottles of wine under the Altar… with two inches left in each.

Toasting the Goddess so often that you’ve become a borderline alcoholic.

That sinking sensation you get when you accidently drop your Athame point-down and then notice that you can’t move your left foot.

Having a nice Winter Sabbat where your High Priest gets a new Horned Helmet and two minutes later, he gores you in the ass.

Not being able to argue with the High Priestess without getting flogged.

Suddenly realizing just how long it takes to hand copy a Book of Shadows.

Learning never to schedule a Circle on a good TV night.

Having to share the bus stop with 4 born-agains, 6 jesus freaks, 14 Hare Krishnas, 9 moonies, 2 garlic lovers and a Theosophist… none of whom have change for a $20.

Buying an abandoned traffic circle to use as the first drive-in Covenstead.

Spending three months trying to learn Theban because the Book of Shadows that you’re copying is written in it.

Trying to convince the police that the baggies that they found were really full of consecrated herbs.

Not being able to banish a spirit because the animal whose shape it assumed is on the endangered species list.

Trying to remember the combination of herbs that turned your tea strainer into gold.

Explaining to the doctor how your Athame slipped from your hand and stuck into your foot.

Having a christian Realtor list your house- “Owner pays closing, buyer pays exorcist.”

Explaining to the school principal that your child could not have possibly been the one who changed the teacher into a frog since she isn’t Initiated to a Degree that permits her to do such spells.

Declining an offer by the neighborhood kids to mow your lawn, because you simply do not go around putting that kind of spell on school teachers.

Explaining to your boss that you have to leave early on October 31 because it is “a day of holy obligation.”

Having your Altar set up for a Samhain Ritual, and having non-Crafters come to visit… and then you say, “Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?”

Trying to explain to your roommate that he has to leave because it is the Full Moon. (Rick Johnson)

Discovering that you engraved your Athame with the wrong symbols.

Falling to the ground after a wild dance and sitting skyclad on a bee.

The knowledge that, no matter what, you are right and the un-initiated are WRONG… WRONG… WRONG!!!!!

Astronomy Picture of the Day

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

2016 February 23

A Supernova through Galaxy Dust
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA);
Inset Image: Howard Hedlund & Dave Jurasevich, Las Campanas Obs.

 

Explanation: Telescopes around the world are tracking a bright supernova that occurred in a nearby dusty galaxy. The powerful stellar explosion was first noted earlier this month. The nearby galaxy is the photogenic Centaurus A, visible with binoculars and known for impressive filaments of light-absorbing dust that cross its center. Cen A is featured here in a high-resolution archival Hubble Space Telescope image, with an inset image featuring the supernova taken from the ground only two days after discovery. Designated SN2016adj, the supernova is highlighted with crosshairs in the inset, appearing just to the left of a bright foreground star in our Milky Way Galaxy. This supernova is currently thought to be of Type IIb, a stellar-core-collapse supernova, and is of high interest because it occurred so nearby and because it is being seen through a known dust filament. Current and future observations of this supernova may give us new clues about the fates of massive stars and how some elements found on our Earth were formed.

Moon, Jupiter closest on February 23

Tonight – February 23, 2016 – the planet Jupiter should be yours to behold, given a clear sky from early evening until dawn. That’s even if you don’t know your cardinal directions, or if reading sky charts is not your forte. On the night of February 23, the moon will be near Jupiter in the night sky. And Jupiter is now nearly as bright as it will be for this entire year. The result is a beautiful sky scene. Don’t miss it!

Simply look for the full-looking moon in the east at early evening – or an hour or two after sunset. The moon may appear full to your eye on the evening of February 23, but it won’t be astronomically full – most directly opposite the sun. Full moon came on February 22 at 1820 UTC (1:20 p.m. ET).

No matter. Just find tonight’s full-looking waning gibbous moon, and the dazzling star-like object near it will be the king planet Jupiter.

Jupiter is the third-brightest celestial object to light up the sky, after the moon and the planet Venus. But Venus is now a morning planet, rising roughly an hour before the sun. Until then, the king planet Jupiter rules the night.

In fact, if you don’t get up early and look for Venus at early dawn, you might miss Venus altogether. It rises shortly before sunrise. Meanwhile, Jupiter stays out nearly all night.

Possibly, with no moon to guide you, you could mistake Sirius, the brightest star in the nighttime sky, for Jupiter. On these February evenings, shortly after nightfall, Jupiter is seen in the eastern sky, while Sirius is found in the southeast, some distance to the right of Jupiter in early evening (assuming you’re in the Northern Hemisphere). Practiced sky watchers use the prominent constellation Orion to confirm that they’re looking at Sirius. The three stars of Orion’s Belt always point to nighttime’s brightest star.

There’s another way to distinguish Jupiter from Sirius. Planets tend to shine with a steadier light than the twinkling stars. If you can find both Jupiter and Sirius tonight, note how steadily Jupiter shines in contrast to Sirius. Sirius oftentimes sparkles wildly, especially when it’s near the horizon, flashing in all the colors of the rainbow.

Bottom line: On the night of February 23, 2016, let the bright moon be your guide to the king planet Jupiter!

 

Author

Bruce McClure

Article published on EarthSky

The Wisdom of Buddha

The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.

Your Daily Influences

February 23, 2016

 

 

The Knight of Wands
Energy and generosity countered by cruelty. Unrestrained impulsiveness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dagaz
Dagaz represents the fresh light of a new day. You are close to making a breakthrough. You have the will to change whatever you deem necessary. You may see the world with absolute clarity at this time.

 

 

 

Gemini the Twins
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is adaptable, versatile, communicative, witty, intellectual, eloquent, youthful and lively. This could be a sibling, a child or a very close friend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.

 

 

 

Your Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
A course of events that cannot be altered has been set in motion within this aspect. Accept whatever happens in the near future and do not waste your time fretting about it–you can do nothing.

General Description:
This was a favourite charm in Egypt, worn in order to frustrate magicians, sorcerers and evil wishers from bewitching the wearer and stealing the soul from the heart; for it was the general belief that if the soul left the heart, the body would soon fade away and perish. The ancient Egyptians also believed that, after death, the heart was taken, in the underworld, and weighed against the symbols of the law; if found perfect, it was restored to the body, which at once came to life again and enjoyed everlasting felicity

Your Animal Spirit for Today
February 23, 2016 

Moose

Moose represents incredible strength and longevity, as well as the ability to see the future. Moose antlers are among the largest of the antlered animals, and are like psychic antennae—giving Moose amazingly developed hearing, smell, and depth perception. Moose is bellowing at you to open your third eye and stop pretending that you don’t know what’s about to happen.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Moon

Although men have stepped upon the moon and scientists have analyzed it almost endlessly, there remains in our collective unconscious a vision of the moon that shrouds it in mystery. And why wouldn’t there be? Being earth’s closest neighbor, having a clear influence on many of earth’s cycles and constantly changing in appearance, it is only fitting that our ancestors endlessly pondered and speculated on our magnificent moon’s powers. The Moon represents the pure feminine nature and the gateway to understanding the mystical world that cannot be explained by science. Its soft glow provides a gentle light in the darkness of night. Metaphorically, the powers associated with the moon supply the seeker with a light to explore the mystical aspects of our world. It empowers the sense of wonder in those open to psychic adventures.

As a daily card, The Moon is indicative of a time when your feminine side and connection to the spiritual world is very strong. Essentially you are “tuned in” spiritually which makes this an ideal time for you to investigate your place in our mystical world.