The Whispering Woods Dragon Lore Course – Lesson Six – The Dragon Constellation: Draco

The Whispering Woods Dragon Lore Course

Lesson Six
The Dragon Constellation: Draco

Due to its northerly location, in most northern latitudes Draco never sets. Its head is a group of stars lying north of the bright star Vega, its long body winds towards Cepheus, then turns westward between the Big Dipper and Little Dipper (Ursa Major and Ursa Minor).

Draco’s tail ends with a star (Giansar) that lies just east of the line between the Pointers of the Big Dipper and Polaris. It is the 8th largest constellation in area. The details of each star are outlined below:
Thuban – Also known as Alpha Draconis, which is Arabic for dragon. Thuban is now unremarkable, but it was the polestar several thousand years ago. Egyptian temples were oriented to Thuban, which lies in the middle of the long tail of the dragon, now more than 25° from the celestial North Pole. Spectral type A0 III; magnitude: 3.7; distance 230 ly.

Rastaban – Arabic for “head of the dragon”. Spectral type:G2 II; magnitude: 2.8; distance: 265 ly. Rastaban is the just barely the third brightest star in the constellation, behind Eltanin and Eta Draconis.
Eltanin – Eltanin is the brightest star of Draco and is also located in the dragon’s head. Ancient Thebes, the “city of the dragon,” had a temple dedicated to this star. Spectral type: K5 III; magnitude: 2.2; distance 100 ly.

Altais – Arabic for “serpent”. Also known as Nodus II. Spectral type: G9III; magnitude: 3.1; distance 115 ly.

Nodus – Nodus means “knot” in Arabic. Spectral type: B6III; magnitude: 3.2; distance 315 ly.

Edasich – Translates as “male hyena”. Spectral type: K2III; magnitude: 3.5; distance 155 ly.

Giansar – This comes from the Persian word denoting the node (the point at which a planet or other body crosses the ecliptic of the Moon’s orbit. Spectral type: M0III; magnitude: 3.8; distance 210 ly.

There are a number of myths behind the constellation Draco, due to its resemblance to a dragon.
In the most famous of the myths, Draco represents Ladon, the hundred-headed dragon that guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides.

The eleventh of The Twelve Labours of Heracles was to steal the golden apples.

Heracles killed Ladon with a poisoned arrow, allowing him to freely take the golden apples. According to the legend, Hera later placed the dragon in the sky as the constellation Draco. Due to its position and nearby constellations in the zodiac sign of Libra (i.e. Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and Boötes), the group of constellations can be seen to tell the tale of the eleventh labour.

In another legend, Draco represents the dragon killed by Cadmus before founding the city of Boeotia. In a third legend, it represents the dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece and was killed by Jason.
By astronomical chance, the Dragon’s Head and Dragon’s Tail mark the positions of the lunar nodes, those points where the paths of the solar and lunar orbits intersect and where solar and lunar eclipses may occur.

The Dragon’s head (Caput draconis,) refers to the ascending node, the Dragon’s tail (Cauda draconis, ) the descending node. In several cultures, an eclipse was attributed to the disappearance of the moon or sun as they were swallowed by a dragon.

The fact that the stars of this circumpolar constellation never set plays an important part in its mythologies.
The Pharaoh Khufu ruled ancient Egypt around 2550 BCE and was buried in the largest of the Giza pyramids when he died. During his time, Thuban was the pole star, (because of Earth’s precession) around which all other stars revolved. Khufu’s burial chamber was fashioned deep inside the Great Pyramid. Two skinny shafts bore outward from the chamber.

For decades, scholars thought they were airshafts. But in the 1960s, astronomers found that they have an astronomical purpose. It was found that one of the shafts pointed directly towards Thuban. The other was aimed at the belt of Orion, which symbolized Osirus.

The stars close to the pole never set. The Egyptians described these stars as “imperishable” or “undying.” Khufu expected that when he died, he would join not only with the Sun, but with Thuban as well, maintaining order in the celestial realm, just as he had on Earth.

Mythology
During the time that Draco’s star Thuban was the pole star, it would have appeared to ancient sky watchers that the Earth revolved around Draco.

Dragons and other similar creatures often played a role in creation myths. In these stories the gods would often battle such creatures for control of the Earth. When defeated, the dragons were flung up into the skies.

Roman myth calls this dragon Ladon and he guarded the golden apples on a tree in a garden tended by the Hesperides, the daughters of Atlas.

Hercules was sent to obtain the apples while under pledge to Eurystheus. He learned from Nereus that he could not pluck the apples himself, but must get help from Atlas.

Hercules shot and killed Ladon with an arrow, making way for Atlas to enter and pluck the golden apples. The goddess Hera was greatly distressed by the death of Ladon and placed the dragon in the heavens.

A Greek legend tells the story of Draco as a horrible dragon that guarded a sacred spring and slew the soldiers of Cadmus (first king of Thebes) who had been sent to gather water. Cadmus then fought the dragon and won.

After the dragon died, Athena appeared and told Cadmus to sow the ground with the creature’s teeth. The teeth immediately sprang up as a group of armed soldiers who helped Cadmus found Thebes.

A Babylonian creation story tells of Tiamat, who turned herself into a dragon but was later defeated and split into two parts. One part became the heavens and the other, the Earth.

A Chinese tale sees the stars as the dragon who eats the Sun or Moon (possible represented by the North Star Polaris) in an eclipse.

During a real eclipse, ancient Chinese would make as much noise as possible, banging on pots and pans to try and scare away the dragon which was eating the Sun or Moon.

A Norse creation myth tells of a dragon that gnaws at the roots of Ygdrasil, the tree that covers the world.
Because Thuban was the pole star 5000 years ago the ancient Egyptians keenly observed it. Some of Draco’s stars were part of their constellation of Hippopotamus and some were of the Crocodile.
They appear on the planisphere of Denderah and the walls of the Ramesseum at Thebes. The hieroglyph for the Hippopotamus was used for the heavens in general while the constellation is supposed to have been a symbol of Isis Rathor, Athor, or Athyr, the Egyptian Venus. Draco’s stars were also said to represent the falcon headed god Horus.

Around 800 BC, the prehistoric Adena people who lived in the Ohio area of the United States created Serpent Mound which is believed to mirror the constellation Draco.

This huge mound is nearly a quarter mile long.

The Persians have regarded Draco as a man-eating serpent called Azhdeha. In early Hindu worship, Draco is given the form of an alligator known as Shi-shu-mara. α Alpha Draconis, Thuban (14h03m +64° 37’0 has a magnitude of 3.64 and is a class A0 star about 215 light years distant. Thuban is a spectroscopic binary. The star is also along the Earth’s precessional path and was the pole star 4800 years ago.

β Beta Draconis, Rastaban (17h29m.3 +52° 20′) means the “head of the snake.” Arabian lore calls Rastaban and Eltanin the Dragon’s eyes.

Rastaban has a magnitude of 2.78 and is a class G2 white giant, about 400 light years distant. Rastaban is a binary system with the companion being 11.5 magnitudes.

γ Gamma Draconis, Eltanin (17h55m.4 +51° 30′) is a 2.2 magnitude yellow giant class K5 star about 110 light years away. The surface temperature is 3,800 degrees K and the luminosity is 145 times that of our Sun.
η Eta Draconis (16h24m +61° 31′) and its neighbor Zeta were sometimes known by the Arabs as the Two Wolves or Ravens. The star has a magnitude of 2.7and is a yellow giant class G8 star about 65 light years distant. The star has a very faint companion difficult to detect with anything but large telescopes.

ν Nu Draconis (17h32m +55° 10′) is a dim but attractive double star. It is found in the head of the dragon, about 5 degrees from Eltanin and 3 degrees from Rastaban.

The pair has a separation of 62.3 arcseconds. Both stars are blue-white main sequence stars of magnitudes 4.88 and 4.87. The pair is 93 light years distant.

Quiz:
1. Draco represents the dragon killed by Cadmus before founding the city of ____________.
2. Khufu expected that when he died, he would join not only with the Sun, but with ________ as well.
3. Draco’s tail ends with a star called ____________.
4. Ancient Chinese would make as much noise as possible, banging on pots and pans to try and scare away the dragon which was eating the _____ or _______.
5. Eta Draconis and its neighbor Zeta were sometimes known by the Arabs as the two _______ or __________.
6. Circa 800 BCE, the prehistoric Adena people who lived in the Ohio area of the United States created ________ _______.
7. The Pharaoh Khufu ruled ancient Egypt around 2550 BCE and was buried in the largest of the Giza pyramids when he died. During his time, _________ was the pole star.

Author & Researcher: Crick
Website: The Whispering Woods

Whispering Woods Dragon Lore Course – Lesson Five – Dragon Lore from other parts of the world

Whispering Woods Dragon Lore Course

Lesson Five
Dragon Lore from other parts of the world

Egyptian:
Many believe this is the era in history where the dragon originated. In early Egypt the Dragon was chiefly a representation of the snake.

In Egyptian myth “Re” (the sun god) traveled through Duat (the underworld) each night. During the journey through the underworld Re reaches two open doors guarded by snakes, some having human heads and four legs, while others having three snake heads and wings. Re passes by these without incident as they are only guards.

Later on Re observes the demise of Apophis, the giant serpent representing chaos, whose severed coils are bound by Aker, a Dragon representing the Earth.

There are many occurrences of Dragons in Egyptian mythology, another example being Denwen. Denwen was attested in the third millennium B.C.E. and is described as a fiery serpent that would have caused a conflagration destroying all of the gods if it had not been thwarted by the King.

Amphitptere:
This dragon is thought to be one of the oldest varities of Dragon; the Amphitptere was a winged serpent-type without legs. In ancient history it was recorded in Egypt and in Arabia. Many believed that it guarded the precious Frankincense trees, from which a resin comes that is used in many cultures for religious purposes.

Babylonian:
The Babylonian Dragon is found in the Epic of Creation from the early second millennium B.C.E.
It details the struggle of “Apsu” (God of the primordial waters under the earth) and “Tiamat” (the sea) against their son “Ea”. Accordingly, Apsu is said to be defeated by Ea, who takes over his domain and produces a son, the god-hero “Marduk”.

Tiamat created all sorts of Dragons, including the Mushussu Dragon, in order to have her revenge, but she is defeated in single combat by Marduk and her body is split to form the earth and the sky.
The Mushussu is subdued by Marduk and takes its place at his feet. These images were relatively short lived however, as the Chinese Lung types soon came to dominate in later Near Eastern mythology.

Lindworm:
The Lindworm had a serpentine-type body, one pair of legs, and it was wingless, therefore, it could not fly. Lindworms were found in Central Asia.

India:
From thehe birthplace of Buddhism, around 500 BCE, we find pre-Buddhist snake or serpentine-like creatures known as the NAGA were incorporated early on into Buddhist mythology. Described as “water spirits with human shapes wearing a crown of serpents on their heads” or as “snake-like beings resembling clouds,” the NAGA are among the eight classes of deities who worship and protect the Historical Buddha.

Even before the Historical Buddha (Siddhartha, Guatama) attained enlightenment, the Naga King Mucilinda (Sanskrit) is said to have protected Siddhartha from wind and rain for seven days. This motif is found often in Buddhist art from India, represented by images of the Buddha sitting beneath Mucilinda’s hood and coils. In early India, images of the Dragon were in some ways similar to the Egyptian ones in that they resembled the snake. There were those, however, that represented the form of the crocodile, such as the “Makara”. In Hindu myth the Indians identified the Dragon with nature. One of the Indian Dragons, “Vritra”, caused drought by withholding water in its body until it is slain by Indra, god of rain, with a bolt of lightning thus starting the monsoon. While there are many similarities with the Egyptian images, we can also see influences from the Chinese Lung type. The Indians Naga are more snake-like with a human head and a long thin limbless body. But they are also water elementals, controlling rain and thus determining the flooding of the major river deltas.

They live in an underground city (some describe it as a watery underworld) and are also believed to protect springs, wells and rivers. They are also the symbol of fertility. In Hindu mythology, the serpent-dragon Vritra, which adopts a cloud-like form, absorbed the cosmic waters then coiled upon a mountainside. When it was killed by the thunderbolts thrown by the god Indra, life-giving waters flowed down the mountains.

Islamic:
Dragons in the Islamic world initially started out as astronomical figures, and were linked to the Egyptian myth of Re’s voyage through the underworld.

The Dragon “Jawzahr” was thought to be responsible for eclipses and comets. The Dragons “Draco” and “Serpentarius” were emblazoned in the stars.

There are many tales in Persian mythology of Dragons representing evil being slain by heroes, influenced by the Greek legends.

It is from this that the idea of Dragons guarding treasure emerges, the treasure eventually passing to the King who represents good.

This, however, was not to last. (When the Mongols invaded Persia they imposed their own Chinese style images).
Mayan and Aztec:

The Mayan “Kukulkan”, later the Aztec “Quetzalcoatl”, was both good and evil, and it was thought to rule the four parts of the Earth. The greatest god of the Aztecs was “Xiuhtecuhtli” who took on many manifestations, one of which being the fire serpent. There are parallels with the Chinese myths in that Quetzalcoatl is described as being able to take the form of the Sun and is depicted as being swallowed by the Earth serpent thus causing an eclipse.

African:
The “Amphisbaena” was a two-headed dragon (one at the front, and one on the end of its tail). The front head would hold the tail (or neck as the case may be) in its mouth, creating a circle that allowed it to roll.

Apocalyptic beast:
{Biblical – Most likely Middle East} A creature mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. It has two horns, speaks like a dragon, and bears the mystical number of the devil.

Malay mythology:
Raja Naga, the King of Serpents is dragon-like and lives in the sea. In Indonesian mythology, the dragon-like creatures are more earth than water elements. The Javanese Naga of lore (left) is a mythical serpentine dragon that rules the underworld, hoarding immense treasures.
Batak lore speaks of Silampane or Naga Padoha who rules the middle-earth and can take the vital essence of the man who faces the wrong direction when fighting.

He also rules the moon and his wife lays eggs. Antaboga is an Indonesian underworld serpent that controls the production of rice. In Thailand, the Naga often has five heads and is a symbol of Narayana. In Myanmar, the naga are called Nats or serpent-gods.

Vietnam:
Dragons are similar to Chinese Dragons in appearance and behavior but are more sinuous and spit fire. But they also control rain and the weather, and are associated with the major rivers and the sea.
The Vietnamese Dragons are also closely associated with royalty. Like the Chinese and Japanese Dragons, they are believed to be the progenitors of the Vietnamese race.

North America:
The Piasa originated in North America, and was worshipped by the Algonquians. It had the body of a dragon, the head of a person, a lion’s mane, and a tail twice as long as a person.
This was a neo-dragon which lived near the Mississippi River. This dragon did not bother humans until it found dead ones and tried the meat. To its surprise, it liked the taste. It now hunted humans and abducted people to bring them back to its lair for dinner.

Ethiopia:
There is another neo-dragon known as “The Ethiopian Dream.” This type of dragon had four wings and two feet with claws. They have no breath, but they ate poisonous plants to make their bite and their scratches deadlier. They were large enough to kill elephants. Once four of them were reported to have woven themselves into a raft and sailed over the Red Sea to Arabia, where there was better places to hunt.
Quiz:
1. One of the oldest varieties of Dragon is thought to be the _____________.
2. Lindworms were found in _________ ______.
3. The Dragon “Jawzahr” was thought to be responsible for _______ and ________.
4. Antaboga is an Indonesian underworld serpent that controls the production of ______.
5. The “Makara” represented the form of a __________.
6. The Babylonian Deity _______, created all kinds of dragons.
7. The “Amphisbaena” was a ___ – _____ dragon.

Author & Researcher: Crick
Website: The Whispering Woods

Whispering Woods Dragon Lore course – Lesson Four – Types of Chinese Dragons

Whispering Woods Dragon Lore course

Lesson Four
Types of Chinese Dragons

Types of Dragons:

There are nine major types of Chinese dragons. These include the horned dragon, the winged dragon, the celestial dragon (which supports and protects the mansions of the gods), the spiritual dragon which generates wind and rain for the benefit of mankind), the dragon of hidden treasures (which keeps guard over concealed wealth), the coiling dragon (which lives in water), and the yellow dragon (which once emerged from water and presented the legendary Emperor Fu Shi with the elements of writing)

The last of the nine is the dragon king, which actually consists of four separate dragons, each of which rules over one of the four seas, those of the East, South, West, and North.

The most powerful generalized type of Chinese dragon is the horned dragon, or “lung”, which can produce rain and is totally deaf. Additionally, there is a homeless dragon (Ii) that lives in the ocean and another type (chiao) that is scale-covered and usually inhabits marshes but also keeps dens in the mountains.

There are also nine ways the Chinese have traditionally represented these dragons, each one revealing a different dragon characteristic.

There are dragons carved on the tops of bells and gongs, because of the beast’s habit of calling loudly when attacked.

A second type is carved on the screws of fiddles, since most dragons are fond of music.

A third is carved on the tops of stone tablets, because of dragons’ love of literature.

A fourth is found at the bottom of stone monuments, as dragons can support heavy weights.

A fifth is placed on the eaves of temples, as dragons are ever alert to danger.

A sixth occurs on the beams of bridges, since dragons are fond of water.

A seventh is carved on Buddha’s throne, as dragons like to rest.

An eighth is placed on the hilts of swords, since dragons are known to be capable of slaughter.

The ninth is carved on prison gates, as these are dragons that are fond of quarreling and trouble making.

The colors of Chinese dragons are evidently quite variable, but in the case of the chiao type its back is striped with green, its sides are yellow, and it is crimson underneath.

The nine major characteristics of a lung type dragon include a head like a camel’s, horns like a deer’s, eyes like a hare’s, ears like a bull’s, a neck like an iguana’s, a belly like a frog’s, scales like a carp’s, paws like a tiger’s, and claws like an eagle’s. It has a pair of large canine teeth in its upper jaw. The long, tendril-like whiskers extending from either side of its mouth are probably used for feeling its way along the bottom of muddy ponds.

In color dragons varies from greenish to golden, with a series of alternating short and long spines extending down the back and along the tail, where they become longer. One specimen had wings at its side, and walked on top of the water. Another tossed its mane back and forth making noises that sounded like a flute.
Cow-heads are also common. A ten-footer, found lying on the banks of China’s Yangtze River, was different from most because of its long, thick eyebrows. A Yellow River variety, seen on shore in the 1920s by a Chinese teacher, was bright blue, and as big as five cows. Both dragons crawled into the water as soon as it started to rain.

A few dragons begin life as fish. Carp, which successfully jump rapids and leap over waterfalls, change into fish-dragons. A popular saying, “The carp has leaped through the dragon’s gate,” means success, especially for students who have passed their exams.

Chinese Dragons are divided into five categories and these are:
Celestial Dragons who guard the mansions of the gods
Spiritual Dragons who rule wind & rain but can also cause flooding
Earth Dragons who cleanse the rivers & deepen the oceans
Treasure-Guarding Dragons who protect precious metals & stones
Imperial Dragons; dragons with five claws instead of the usual four

Male dragons sometimes mate with other kinds of animals. A dragon fathers an elephant when he mates with a pig, and he sires a racehorse, after mating with a mare.

Having sinuous serpentine bodies and four legs, eastern dragons do not usually breath fire, nor do they fly. According to Wang Fu (Han 206 BCE-220 CE) dragons are made up of many different types of animals of the Earth: the body of a snake, scales of a carp, head of a camel, horns of a deer, the eyes of a hare, ears like a bull, a neck like an iguana, belly of a frog, paws like a tigers, and claws like an eagle. A lion-type mane decorates its neck, its chin, and each elbow.
They also carry two antler-like horns on their wide-mouthed head, and two long whiskers spread out from their snout. They are depicted in many colors like blue, black, white, red, or yellow. Oriental dragons are usually shown with a pearl in their mouth, under their chin, or in their claws.
They use the power emendating from the pearl to ascend to heaven. The male dragon holds a war club in its tail while the female dragon holds a sensu or fan in its tail.

Quiz:
1. Chinese Dragons are divided into ______ categories.
2. The ninth dragon is carved on _______ ______. 3. The most powerful generalized type of Chinese dragon is the ________ _______.
4. There are ______ major types of Chinese dragons.
5. The carp has leaped through the dragon’s gate,” means _______.
6. Spiritual Dragons rule the ______ and _____.
7. Eastern dragons do not usually breathe ______, nor do they ____.

Author & Researcher: Crick
Website: The Whispering Woods

Whispering Woods Dragon Lore course – Lesson Three – The Chinese Dragon Calendar

Whispering Woods Dragon Lore course

Lesson Three
The Chinese Dragon Calendar

According to the Chinese calendar, every 12 years is the year of the Dragon. For example the years 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 are years of the Dragon.

Dragon people are honest, full of energy, stubborn, loyal, strong, and protective. Dragon people are incredibly lucky. They love flattery, and can be attracted to bad behavior. That is their weakness. Children born during Dragon Years enjoy health, wealth, and long life.

Eastern Dragons are vain, even though they are wise. They are insulted when a ruler doesn’t follow their advice, or when people do not honor their importance. Then, by thrashing about, dragons either stop making rain and cause water shortages, or they breathe black clouds that bring storms and floods. Small dragons do minor mischief, such as making roofs leak, or causing rice to be sticky. People set off firecrackers and carry immense paper dragons in special parades. They also race dragon-shaped boats in water all to please and appease their dragons. The Dragon is the ultimate representation of the forces of Mother Nature, the greatest divine force on Earth. The Chinese Dragon is often seen as the symbol of divine protection and vigilance. It is regarded as the Supreme Being amongst all creatures. It has the ability to live in the seas, fly up the heavens and coiled up in the land in the form of mountains. Being the divine mythical animal, the Dragon can ward off wandering evil spirits, protect the innocent and bestow safety to all that hold his emblem. The Chinese Dragon is looked upon as the ultimate symbol of Good Fortune.

Year of the Dragon – Personality Traits:

The Dragon person is self confident and impulsive and consequently does not always listen to the advice of others. He is also a perfectionist and he sets high standards for himself.
Although strong and decisive the Dragon is not manipulative or sly. He refuses to deceive or compromise and fails to spot subversive intent. He enjoys being in command and like an emperor holding court he eliminates obstacles until success is his.

Wood Dragon: (Feb. 16, 1904 CE to Feb. 3, 1905 CE and Feb. 13 1964 CE to Feb. 1, 1965 CE) The Wood Dragon is creative, imaginative, and inquisitive. He is both a thinker and a doer and is capable of brilliant new concepts. His every move is guided by sound logic. His drive and ambition allow him to put many of his ideas into practice, nevertheless this Dragon is capable of concealing his domination and tries not to offend. He will even compromise if it is advantages. Although not as self-centered as other Dragons, he is still outspoken and fearless when challenged.

Fire Dragon: (Feb. 3, 1916 CE to Jan. 22, 1917 CE, and Jan. 31, 1976 CE to Feb 17, 1977 CE)
The Fire Dragon is the most extroverted and competitive Dragon. He tends to push too hard and expects a lot from everyone. His criticisms are objective and he has the ability to arouse massive popular support. His insatiable ambition can make him short-tempered and intolerant. He is an empire builder who needs to master his less favorable traits and learn how to communicate more humbly with people as individuals.

Earth Dragon: (Jan. 23, 1928 CE to Feb. 9, 1929 CE and Feb. 9, 1988 CE to Feb. 5, 1989 CE)
The Earth Dragon is a quieter, more reflective Dragon, He will be appreciative of other’s opinions even if he fails to agree with them. He is reasonable in his approach to problems and his leadership is less dictatorial. He is not given to outbursts of temper, but at the same time demands respect. He knows the value of cooperation and is more diplomatic than the other Dragons. He is ambitious, but his initiatives are less hurried and more carefully thought out.

Metal Dragon: (Feb. 8, 1940 CE to Jan. 26, 1941 CE and Feb. 5, 2000 CE to Jan, 23, 2001 CE) The Metal Dragon is the most strong-willed Dragon. He is inflexible, unbending and combative. He gives little regard to the feelings of others. This ruthlessness can result in a rapid rise to a position of authority, but often at the cost of destroying important relationships. It is futile to attempt to convince him that certain things are simply undoable. He will go it alone if he can’t gain support. He succeeds because he refuses to accept failure.

Water Dragon: (Jan. 27, 1952 CE to Feb.13, 1953 CE, and the next year will be 2012 CE.) The Water Dragon is less selfish and opinionated than the other Dragons. He is more inhibited and less power-hungry. He can accept defeat without recriminations. He makes a good negotiator as he knows when, where, and how to apply pressure. He has a tendency to be over-optimistic and needs to learn how to relinquish what is unfeasible so that he can concentrate his energies on the most rewarding endeavors.

Chinese calendars:
Chinese calendar uses the Stem-Branch system to count the day, month and year. There are 10 Stems and 12 Branches in the system. Stems are named by the Yin-Yang and Five Elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth). The Stem sequence order is Yang Wood, Yin Wood, Yang Fire, Yin Fire, Yang Earth, Yin Earth, Yang Metal, Yin Metal, Yang Water and Yin Water. Branches use the animal names. The Branch sequence order is Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog and Pig.

Stem and Branch are used together to form a cycle of 60 counting systems which begin from Wooden Rat and end with Water Pig.

The calendar goes in 12 year cycles with an animal representing each year. Unlike most other calendars, the Chinese calendar does not count years in an infinite sequence. Instead years have names that are repeated every 60 years.

Each group of sixty years was given a compound name.

The first name was the celestial branch. The second name was the terrestrial branch represented by the twelve animals.

Each of the twelve years was assigned an animal, because, as legend has it, only twelve animals came to bid farewell to the Buddha before he departed from the earth. As a reward to these twelve animals, the Buddha named a year after each one in the order that they arrived. During the sixty year cycle each animal is combined with five Chinese elements namely:

Wood – ruled by Jupiter
Fire – ruled by Mars
Earth – ruled by Saturn Metal – ruled by Venus Water – ruled by Mercury

These five Chinese elements are in turn divided into the positive and negative magnetic poles of the Ying and Yang. The Chinese lunar calendar starts at 11pm and the twenty four hours of the day are divided into twelve sections of two hours each. An animal sign rules each one of these twelve sections and has an element, direction and a season.

A Chinese birth sign is calculated by the elements and their effects on our lives as follows:
1). The element of the year of birth
2). The element of one’s animal sign
3). The element of the hour of birth
4). The element of the month of birth
5). The element of the country of birth
Attributes of the Dragon are:
The Dragon (LONG)
Ruler of the hours 7am to 9am
Direction – East/Southeast
Season – Spring/April
Fixed element – Wood positive
Yin/Yang – Yang
The Dragon is highly compatible with: Rat, Tiger, Snake, Monkey
The Dragon has a harmonious relationship with: Pig
The Dragon has no conflict but needs to make an effort with: Horse, Rooster
The Dragon has a difficult relationship with: Rabbit, Dragon, Goat
The Dragon has a turbulent relationship with: Ox, Dog

According to legend, the Chinese calendar was developed during the third millennium BCE. It is said to have been invented by the legendary ruler, “Huang Di” who was also known as the Yellow Emperor.
Quiz:
1. The Chinese Dragon is often seen as the symbol of ________ _________ and ________.
2. The Metal Dragon is the most _______ – _____ Dragon.
3. The Element of Wood is ruled by ______.
4. The energy of the Dragon is Yin. True or False?
5. Dragon people are incredibly _______.
6. The Water Dragon is less _________.
7. The Dragon has a harmonious relationship with ___.

Author & Researcher: Crick
Website: The Whispering Woods

Whispering Woods Dragon Lore course – Lesson Two – A history of Oriental Dragons

Whispering Woods Dragon Lore course

Lesson Two
A history of Oriental Dragons

The dragon is considered to be a mythological animal of Chinese origin, and a member of the NAGA (Sanskrit) family of serpentine creatures who protected Buddhism. It was by his subtle but powerful charms that the Naga Apalala was able to keep the wicked dragons in check.

Japan’s dragon lore comes predominantly from China. Images of the reptilian dragon are found throughout Asia, and the pictorial form most widely recognized today was already prevalent in Chinese ink painting in the Tang period (9th century CE). Chinese Dragons are believed to decide where rain fell, to affect river flows and wind conditions. They breathed out heavy mists which create rain, and not fire like their Western counterparts. Chinese Dragons are associated with rivers. Folktales often have them carving out major rivers with their sinuous bodies. They are also associated with other water sources such as wells and springs.

According to the Chinese, the reason their Dragon has five toes, the Japanese dragon has four toes and the Korean dragon has three toes is because the further away from China a dragon goes the more toes that it loses. The Japanese believe just the opposite, believing that they grow more toes so that they eventually cannot walk very well.

The mortal enemy of the dragon is the Phoenix, as well as the bird-man creature known as Karura. In contrast to Western mythology, Asian dragons are rarely depicted as malevolent. Although fearsome and powerful, dragons are equally considered just, benevolent, as well as the bringers of wealth and good fortune. The dragon is also considered a shape shifter who can assume human form and mate with humans. The Chinese call the dragon ‘lung’ (long) because it is considered to be deaf.

In China, however, dragon lore existed independently for centuries before the introduction of Buddhism. Bronze and jade pieces from the Shang and Zhou dynasties (16th – 9th centuries BCE) depict dragon-like creatures. By at least the 2nd century BCE, images of the dragon are found painted frequently on tomb walls to dispel evil. Buddhism was introduced to China sometime in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE.

By the 9th century CE, the Chinese had incorporated the dragon into Buddhist thought and iconography as a protector of the various Buddha and the Buddhist law. These traditions were adopted by the Japanese (Buddhism did not arrive in Japan until the mid6th century CE).

In both China and Japan, the character for “dragon” is used often in temple names, and dragon carvings adorn many temple structures. Most Japanese Zen temples, have a dragon painted on the ceiling of their assembly halls.
In both Chinese and Japanese mythology, the dragon is one of four legendary creatures guarding the four cosmic directions (Red Bird – S, Dragon – E, Tortoise – N, and the Tiger – W). The four, known as the Four Celestial Emblems, appear during China’s Warring States period (476 BCE – 221 BCE), and were frequently painted on the walls of early Chinese and Korean tombs to ward off evil spirits.

The Dragon is the Guardian of the East, and is identified with the season spring, the color green/blue, the element wood (sometimes also water), the virtue propriety, the Yang male energy; supports and maintains the country (controls rain, symbol of the Emperor’s power). The Guardian of the South, the Red Bird (aka Suzaku, Ho-oo, Phoenix), is the enemy of the dragon, as is the bird-man Karura. Actually, the Phoenix is the mythological enemy of all Naga, a Sanskrit term covering all types of serpentine creatures, including snakes and dragons. The Dragon (East) and Phoenix (South) both represent Yang energy, but they are often depicted as enemies, for the Dragon represents the element wood, while the Phoenix signifies the element fire. However, they’re also often depicted together in artwork as partners. The Dragon is the male counterpart to the female Phoenix, and together they symbolize both conflict and wedded bliss; the emperor (dragon) and the empress (phoenix).

The oriental Dragon has the head of a camel, horns or a deer, eyes of a hare, scales of a carp, paws of a tiger, and claws resembling those of an eagle. In addition it has whiskers, a bright jewel under its chin, and on the top of its head the “poh shan” or foot rule, without which it cannot ascend to heaven. This is merely a general description and does not apply to all dragons, some of which have heads of so extraordinary a kind that they cannot be compared with anything in the animal kingdom.

The breath of the Dragon changes into clouds from which is emitted either rain or fire. It is able to expand or contract its body, and in addition it has the power of transformation and invisibility.
The ancient Chinese Emperor Yao was said to be the son of a dragon, and many rulers of that country were metaphorically referred to as dragon-faced.”

Chinese Dragons:

Heavenly Dragon
The heavenly or celestial dragon (tian-long) was the celestial guardian who protected the heavens, supporting the mansions of the gods and shielded them from decay. The Tian-long could fly and are depicted with or without wings they are always drawn with five toes while all other dragons are shown with four or three toes.

Spiritual Dragon
The spiritual dragons (shen-long) were the weather makers. These giants floated across the sky and due to their blue color that changed constantly were difficult to see clearly. Shenlong governed the wind, clouds and rain on which all agrarian life depended. Chinese people took great care to avoid offending them for if they grew angry or felt neglected, the result was bad weather, drought of flood.

Earth Dragon
Dragons that ruled the rivers, springs and lakes were called Earth dragons (di-long). They hide in the depths of deep watercourses in grand palaces. Many Chinese fairy tales spin yarns of men and women taken into these submarine castles to be granted special favors or gifts. Some of the di-long even mated with women to produce half-human dragon children.

Treasure Dragon
Believed to live in caves deep in the earth the (fu-can-long) or treasure dragon had charge of all the precious jewels and metals buried in the earth. Each of these dragons had a magical pearl that was reputed to multiply if it was touched. This pearl was as symbol of the most valuable treasure, wisdom.

From Japanese lore we have;
The Origin of the Sword of Heaven, one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan
Susano-O-no-Mikoto descends to the mountain Torikamiyama in Izumo, where he comes upon an old couple weeping beside their daughter. The man says that he’s a god of the land (kunitsukami) and that each year the eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent, the dragon-prince Yamata no Orochi has devoured one of his daughters (some versions say 12 most say 8 daughters), and that the time has come for him to claim the last.

Susano-o-no-Mikoto transforms the girl, Kushinada Hime, into a comb, which he puts in his hair, and orders that a special wine (The first gift of Saki to mortal men) be brewed and barrels of it placed along a fence with eight apertures or gates.

When the serpent drinks the potion and falls into a drunken sleep, Susano-O-no-Mikoto severs each of the heads with his sword.

As Susano-o-no-Mikoto is dismembering the dragons body to dispel the dragon-prince’s strong magic’s in one of the tails he discovers a sword, which he presents to Amaterasu. This is the sword that is later known as Kusanagi (Mower of Grass).

It is given to Ninigi no Mikoto by Amaterasu as one of the three symbols of his authority over Ashihara no Nakatsukuni.

And these three symbols become the Three Sacred Treasures of the Imperial Family of Japan, “Kenji (sacred Kusanagi sword called “Grasscutter”and Magatama, coma shaped beads (supposedly a jade and/or splendid jewels) and Yata no Kagami (mirror), thus begins the Story or Legend of Imperial Japans beginnings.

While Japanese Dragons are also weather elementals, they are more associated with the sea (the Tatsu) and wells and lakes rather than with rivers.

Perhaps because China has more great rivers and Japan is surrounded by seas. Nevertheless, Japanese Dragons are closely associated with the beginning of life and fertility. Japanese myths also include the Hai Riyo, a dragon-bird with scaly body and clawed feet but gilded feathered wings and tails.

The Japanese see their dragons as kings of the land.

Japanese Dragons:
There are the Tatsu, which are Japanese dragons. They are a symbol of the Mikado. They are also looked upon as imperial and spiritual power, and they like to live in lakes and springs.

Sui-Riu is the Japanese Dragon King. The Dragon King was in charge of all the rain, and he was sometimes known as “the rain dragon.”

Han-Riu is a multi-striped Japanese Dragon. Though the dragon is around forty feet long, this dragon can never reach heaven.

Ri-Riu, A bit of an unknown dragon, it is said that he has exceptional eye sight. And that he could see more than 100 miles away.

Ka-Riu was one of the smaller dragons, being that he was only seven feet long. It is said, however, that the Ka-Riu was fiery red.

Fuku Riu is a dragon of luck.

Hai-riyo is Japanese “Dragon-Bird”. Said to be much like the Chinese Ying-Lung, this was the most “evolved” form of a dragon.

Sui Riu–a rain-dragon, which when in pain causes reddish rain, colored by its blood.

From Korean Lore:
The Korean dragon was said to have certain specific traits: no wings, for example, in addition to a long beard.
The Korean dragon was said to have three toes. They are generally viewed as benevolent beings related to water and agriculture, often considered as bringers of rain and clouds. Many Korean dragons are said to have resided in rivers, lakes, oceans or even deep ponds up within the mountains.

The Koreans believe that all eastern dragons originated from Korea. When the dragons leave Korea and go toward China, they gain toes. When the dragons leave Korea and go toward Japan, they lose toes.
The Korean dragon is usually described as having a camel’s head with rabbit eyes, a serpentine neck, the belly of a frog and tiger feet.

As with Chinese dragons, the number nine is significant with Korean dragons and they are said to have 81 (9×9) scales on their backs.

Main Korean Dragons:
Yong – The powerful sky dragon
Yo – The hornless ocean dragon
Kyo – The mountain dragon

Korean dragons are said to have long beards and bear no wings. They prefer to spend most of their time in water such as rivers, or deep lakes away in the mountains. Korean dragons are considered to be benevolent and strongly tied to agriculture.
Quiz:
1. The mortal enemy of the dragon is the _____________.
2. The Dragon is the male counterpart to the female _________.
3. What type of a dragon is a “di long”?
4. Han-Riu–striped with ________ different colors.
5. Chinese and Korean dragons are said to have ____ scales on their back.
6. The dragon is one of _____ legendary creatures guarding the four cosmic directions
7. The oriental dragon has the paws of a ______.

Author & Researcher: Crick
Website: The Whispering Woods

Whispering Woods Basic Dragon Lore course – Lesson One – Facts and Myth

“This information is written and researched by a wonderful Druid by the name of Crick. He has a website on Homestead and for some reason, the host site has started eating his pages. To prevent all of his hard work and research from being lost forever, we have decided when we had a moment or two, we would move some of it over here.”

The following course is researched and wrote by Crick

His website: The Whispering Woods

Whispering Woods Basic Dragon Lore course

Greetings and welcome to our Basic Dragon Lore course. In this course we will be looking at all aspects of Dragons. Not only their magickal uses but the various histories and beliefs of different cultures as well. For if one is to work with Dragons, and then a full knowledge of these wonderful creatures is a must. Dragons can be difficult to work with, but with a deep understanding of their lore and their ways we can reach a level of fulfillment and cooperation with these magickal creatures.

Nine Dragon Wall

A very popular tourist site in Beijing is this Nine-Dragon Wall in BeiHai Park. After hundreds of years, the colors of the ceramic tiles are just as brilliant. The wall was built in 1756. It is 21m long, about 15m high and 2m thick. It is faced with 424 7-color ceramic tiles. At the center of the wall, there is a giant dragon, flanged by four dragons on each side. In addition to these nine large dragons, the wall is covered from edge to edge with many smaller dragons. In all, there are 635 dragons.

Whispering Woods Basic Dragon Lore Course
Lesson One – Facts and Myth

An intro to Dragons:

Dragons are a prominent part of Chinese festivals, including the Chinese New Year. In ancient China, dragons did not breathe fire, instead they were considered to be wise and caring. They were known to guard the wind, the rain, the rivers, precious metals and gems.

Many countries include dragons in their art and history; this is especially true of China, Korea and Japan. To tell the difference between Chinese, Korean and Japanese dragons, simply count the dragon’s toes.

Chinese dragons will have five toes.
Japanese dragons will have four toes.
Korean dragons will have three toes.

Some Dragon Related Facts:

The Black Dragon Pool Chapel, near Peking, was reserved for the Empress and her court.
The Japanese Emperor Hirohito traced his ancestry back 125 generations to Princess Fruitful Jewel, daughter of a Dragon King of the Sea.

The legendary founder of Chinese civilization, Fu Hsi, was said to be half-man, halfdragon.
A thirteenth-century Cambodian king spent his nights in a golden tower, where he was said to have consulted with a nine-headed dragon.

The word for “dragon” comes from the Hindu word “darsha” or “darshana” which means “the one with clear vision” or “the one who sees clearly”.

Other names for dragons include wyrm, wurm and firedrake.

The magical rowan tree of Irish legend was guarded by a dragon.

Glass was once believed to be solidified dragon breath.

Green dragons: Male symbol

White dragons: Gold was believed to be formed of their congealed breath

Purple dragons: Rock crystal was believed formed of their spittle

Sea dragons: Sacred to Hung Sheng, the Holy One, who protects fishing vessels

According to Chinese mythology, a dragon has to spend 1000 years under the sea, 1000 years in the mountains and 1000 years among men before turning into a real dragon. Before that he is a small serpent prisoner of a stone, called a “serpent’s egg”. After 3000 years, the dragon escapes and take his adult form, the stone was known to spill a magic liquid called “inky blood”.

The word typhoon comes from Typhon, the name of the fire breathing monster that served the Titans of Greek mythology. And the word hurricane comes from Huracan the name of the winged serpent of the Caribbean.
The Dragon’s Eye symbol stands for the balance of love, power and wisdom. Triple triangles are associated with the Goddess and the nine Muses.

The first Hexagram of the I Ching is “The Creative”, the ascending dragon.
The Hindu Dragon Goddess that sleeps in the lotus at the base of the spine is Kundalini the Coiled. When she is understood, she will climb to the forehead where illusion will fall from the inner eye to reveal the Golden Embryo of Life.

The giant red dragon of the Apocalypse (Rev. 12) gave rise to the use of the beast as symbolic of Satan in Christian art and literature.

A search for the word “dragon” in the King James Version of the Bible produces 34 separate matches across 10 different books written between approximately 2000 BC and 90 AD. The word “dragon” (Hebrew: tannin) is used throughout the Old Testament, and most directly translates as “sea or land monsters.” In the Book of Job, the author describes the great creatures, Behemoth (Job 40) and Leviathan (Job 41).

In alchemy a green dragon devouring the Sun means that the gold was dissolved in aqua regia (royal water), a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids.

Philosophic Mercury is sometimes represented by a serpent, or winged dragon.

Uroboros is a dragon whose end is his beginning… he endlessly eats his own tail. He keeps the cosmic waters under control, and is symbolic of the cyclical nature of alchemical work. He is the basilisk, the alchemical serpent. He is also called Ouroboros.

Dragons are born with their colors based upon the age and color of their parents. The colors of dragons are: white, red, black, blue, and yellow. Each is born to a different parent.

Black dragons are children of a thousand-year-old dragon that is black-gold. They are symbols of the North. They caused storms by battling in the air.

Blue dragons are children of blue-gold dragons that are eight hundred years old. They are purest blue colors, and they are the sign of the coming spring. They are they are the symbol of the East.

Yellow dragons are born from yellow-gold dragons who are one thousand years or older. They hold no symbol. They are secluded and wander alone. They appear at “the perfect moment” and at all other times remain hidden. Yellows are also the most revered of the dragons.

Red dragons descend from a red-gold dragon who is about one thousand years of age. They are the symbol for the West, and are much like black dragons. They can cause storms in the skies when they fight.

White dragons come from white-gold dragons of a thousand years of age. They symbolize the South. White is the Chinese color of mourning and these dragons are a sign of death (which the Chinese did NOT deem evil).

Quiz:
1. Other names for dragons include wyrm, wurm and ____________.
2. Green dragons represent a _______   symbol.
3. Japanese dragons have _____   toes.
4. The first Hexagram of the I Ching is _______   _______.
5. The Black Dragon Pool Chapel, near Peking, was reserved for the __________.
6. Glass was once believed to be solidified ________   _______.
7. In ancient China, dragons did not _______   ____.

Author & Researcher: Crick

Website: The Whispering Woods

Oops! Woke Up Again!

I have to apologize I have been asleep at the keyboard. I have been up late nearly every night this past week. It is starting to catch up with me. I had a brief nap between today’s horoscopes and if you were born today. A very brief one indeed. Right now my eyes are heavy and sleepy I can’t keep them open. So I am going to say good day, have a fantastic weekend and catch some z’s. Hopefully tomorrow, I will be rested and can stay awake long enough to get something done. It’s funny, I use to be able to stay up all night, not anymore. Must be a sign of getting old, I said that, I must be asleep for sure.

Again I apologize for leaving so soon and taking a nap on the keyboard. I will see you tomorrow,

Till then,

Luv & Hugs,

Lady A

Sweet Dreams!

Get A Jump On Tomorrow, Your Horoscopes for Sunday, August 16th

Get A Jump On Tomorrow…..

Your Daily Horoscopes for Sunday, August 16th

by Rick Levine

General Horoscope

We are filtering reality through a practical lens now as the exacting Virgo Moon separates useful information from superfluous noise. The Moon’s focused conjunction with logical Mercury sharpens our perceptions even more. But awkward lunar aspects later in the day make it difficult to relax. Meanwhile, an innovative Mercury-Uranus alignment can suddenly reveal new possibilities, even if they don’t meet the high standards required by the Virgo Moon.

Aries Horoscope

(Mar 21 – Apr 19)

You’re intent on doing an excellent job on whatever projects you choose to tackle today. Your current willingness to put in the extra time inspires others to appreciate you even more. You may be motivated on your own, but being noticed certainly doesn’t hurt. Just don’t let the compliments swell your head; hard work all but ensures your success as long as you don’t expect more than you deserve.

Taurus Horoscope

(Apr 20 – May 20)

Someone may be pulling strings behind the curtains, possibly manipulating you to change your current direction. However, you’re inclined to push back if you feel coerced. Your obstinacy could stand in the way of learning whatever it is you need to know at this time, especially if you try to overwhelm others with your perspective before they are able to say anything at all. Stay open to the facts even if they’re not what you want to hear now. The truth can set you free.

Gemini Horoscope

(May 21 – Jun 20)

You might actually believe you could earn a gold medal in mental gymnastics, but each clever thought you add to a conversation today is ignored as if you don’t even exist. You may start to feel invisible because your ideas don’t seem capable of gaining traction. It’s no fun if you can’t make yourself understood, but don’t let your frustration define your day. Instead, recognize that you’re just a bit off in your delivery now. Thankfully, this communication quagmire won’t last; you can play to a more willing audience tomorrow.

Cancer Horoscope

(Jun 21 – Jul 22)

It’s essential to say exactly what you mean today or a miscommunication can suddenly turn a seemingly unimportant comment into a major meltdown. Open conflict serves no purpose now, since you’re already cognizant of the current differences of opinion. There may not be an obvious resolution because arguments might miss the point entirely. Think about the impact of your words before you say anything at all. A well-crafted message will produce your desired results.

Leo Horoscope

(Jul 23 – Aug 22)

You need to rely on your inner resources today rather than basing your feelings on acquiring new possessions. Unfortunately, if you’re suffering from a bout of low self-esteem, you probably won’t think you are deserving of something special now, anyway. Nevertheless, you’re likely being harder on yourself than needed. Stay aware of any lingering negativity while delaying a purchase decision until tomorrow when your approach will be fair and balanced. No amount of money will make you happy if you’re not happy with yourself.

Virgo Horoscope

(Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Your moods are shifting with irregularity now that the evocative Moon is back in your sign. It feels as if you’re riding a see-saw today; you’re quite confident one moment and feeling shaky the next. Instead of taking time to acknowledge the positive side of a situation, you could be swept downward in a self-judgmental spiral. Luckily, you have the power to change your direction and to propel yourself to the top of your game. Make an empowering decision and stick with it, no matter what happens along the way.

Libra Horoscope

(Sep 23 – Oct 22)

It’s as if clouds have descended over your imagination, making it an uphill battle to share your thoughts today. Unfortunately, you might not be able to latch onto a positive vision to lift yourself out of your malaise. Thankfully, someone special may suddenly come along and inspire you, catalyzing the change you need. Your disappointment could dissipate quickly if you’re open enough to accept well-intended assistance when it’s offered. The right decision can make your dreams come true.

Scorpio Horoscope

(Oct 23 – Nov 21)

You might choose to participate in a group event with social acquaintances or neighbors today, even if you don’t have much in common with those involved. Maybe you’re driven by the potential connections you could make, rather than deepening any one relationship. Give yourself permission to engage without having to justify your decision, especially since the pros likely outweigh the cons, anyway.

Sagittarius Horoscope

(Nov 22 – Dec 21)

You may attempt to adhere to your established schedule so you can set a good example for others to follow today. But keeping everyone else in line is tricky when you’re feeling so antsy yourself. Fortunately, you should be able to balance your current responsibilities with the incoming waves of restlessness if you keep track of your priorities. Focusing your intentions in the present moment is easier if you remember the long-term payoff will bring lasting satisfaction in the end.

Capricorn Horoscope

(Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You’re fantasizing about a familiar escape now that the Moon is brightening your 9th House of Travel. Unfortunately, you can’t focus on the necessary planning for your dream vacation now, especially if you believe it’s just an unrealistic flight of your imagination. Stop worrying about the practicalities of your big ideas. Sometimes it’s more important to dream than anything else. Failing to reach your objective may be disappointing, but having no goals at all can be tragic.

Aquarius Horoscope

(Jan 20 – Feb 18)

You might have revealed your opinion too quickly about an important issue, and now you’re unable to take back your words. A disagreement with your partner today can suddenly turn the sweetest relationship into a temporary battlefield. Your good intentions aren’t enough; you also must remain vigilant or everything could quickly grow nasty. Take complete responsibility for your current role in the sketchy dynamics to get the process moving in the right direction once again.

Pisces Horoscope

(Feb 19 – Mar 20)

Improving your financial situation may be one of your top concerns now. However, it’s crucial to concentrate on creating common ground with someone else, rather than blazing your own trail to wealth. The reflective Moon highlights your 7th House of Partners, helping to stabilize a relationship today as long as you’re willing to remain honest about your needs. Things might not change as quickly as you wish. Paradoxically, taking a less aggressive approach to making money is the fastest way to reduce the pressure.

@ Tarot.com is a Daily Insight Group Site

If You Were Born Today, August 15

You have cleverness and versatility that allow you to understand just about anything. Yours is a youthful spirit, with a mischievous streak, not only in youth but throughout life! As intelligent as you are, you see so many possible paths to take that it can be challenging focusing on just one. You share your fun-loving spirit through your sense of humor and unique ideas. You love to solve problems, and you may have marked writing or speaking ability. Your ability to solve problems is next to none. With your need to find wisdom in whatever you do and see, you are inclined to build up a strong personal philosophy. You are quite idealistic about people and about love, so you should watch for expecting too much from a partner. You can be quite sensitive to the mood swings of a partner. Famous people born today: Ben Affleck, Julia Child, Princess Anne, Jennifer Lawrence, Natasha Henstridge, Tess Harper, Joe Jonas.

Courtesy of Café Astrology

Your Horoscopes for Saturday, August 15th

Aries

The Sun shines its light on your past today, dear Aries, particularly relating to romantic relationships or opportunities gone by, and you can feel especially motivated to make things better. Romantic feelings can be very strong today. Perhaps an overdue conversation occurs now – a clearing of the air, so to speak. We are often told not to dwell on the past, but it can be appropriate and helpful right now to perhaps not dwell but review past attitudes, events, and feelings. New light could shine on past relationships, and now you’re going forward with a new set of expectations and redefined needs. As well today, you could come to truly useful conclusions for making improvements to your health, work schedules, and daily affairs. You can feel quite determined to meet and possibly exceed your goals. Today is about tuning out the negative distractions and focusing on what truly matters for making improvements. Good energy is with you for feeling confident about the work you do.

Taurus

Channeling your energies into a project around the home that will truly make life easier can be especially good for you now, dear Taurus. It’s a fine time for discovering information that was previously hidden to you, or for looking at something from an entirely different perspective, particularly related to family relationships and finances. Good energy is with you for working on problems with family or in the home, or for resolving to make improvements. In fact, in many ways you are wiping the slate clean and ready to begin anew. You’re naturally earning respect. There is pleasant intensity in your interactions, and there might be good news about a financial matter. Relationships get a nice boost from being especially present and in the moment.

Gemini

There can be strong focus today on matters of the heart, more from an analytic perspective than an emotional one, dear Gemini. You are seeing past relationships and expectations in a different light and redefining what it is you now want and need from your connections. New information can surface that shines light on a past matter, or there can be a connection made with someone from your past. Either way, you can feel as if you’re starting fresh. It’s a strong time to resolve to put negative attitudes behind you and to go forward pursuing your true heart’s desires. Also today, there could be a new depth or intensity in your learning or your communications. You are not content with barely scratching the surface of a matter. You are inclined to investigate, poke, and prod until you feel comfortable that you know enough! Secrets may emerge, in a relieving way rather than an uncomfortable one, and you can really benefit from speaking with someone close to you. There is more persuasiveness to your personality today.

Cancer

You can be looking at money matters from a new and helpful perspective today, dear Cancer, and motivation to turn over a new leaf regarding finances and relationship expectations can be strong. Turn your attention to things you already have and think about how you can rework or recycle them. This is a good day for finding the motivation and determination to complete a project you’ve left unfinished. You’re accepting responsibilities and feeling good about being useful. Desires can be illuminated today, with the Sun conjunct retrograde Venus in your solar second house. Also today, you can have a strong need to get to the bottom of a matter. Deep subjects and previously hidden information can figure strongly now. You are not necessarily putting all of your cards on the table, and in fact might benefit from some restraint, but you can make headway and learn important things about others today. When it comes to a close relationship or partnership, there can be a wonderful bonding moment today, possibly over a shared secret or private matter.

Leo

This is a powerful time for setting up new goals, intentions, and resolutions, dear Leo, with a New Moon having just occurred in your sign (yesterday) and retrograde Venus aligning with the Sun (your ruler) in your sign as well. You have the opportunity to start anew, particularly as you may have recently seen yourself, your relationships, and your experiences in a new light. You may be redefining what you want and need from your relationships. You also have more impact or personal presence right now. Also today, good energy is with you for concentrating and focusing on those things that truly matter. Financial, business, and other practical matters can thrive, as you’re especially sharp and capable of getting to the heart of a situation.

Virgo

You may be a little clearer about which actions to take based on recent revelations now, dear Virgo. This is a time for making resolutions to put dysfunctional attitudes and attachments behind you, and it’s a powerful one, particularly related to relationships and finances. Also today, you can be filled with strength, determination, and resolve. A conversation, thought process, or journal entry can help to release recent mental tension. People are drawn to your intensity right now, and you have a way of seeing what it is that is worth your time, and what is just not valuable to you. It’s a good day for creative inspiration, but perhaps more so right now, the willingness to really get involved. You might also discover an entertaining passion or interest that is pleasantly absorbing.

Libra

Recent revelations have now brought you to a point where you are more able to see what has tripped you up in the past, particularly regarding relationships, money, and friendships, dear Libra. There can be new energy and motivation to go forward with different expectations and demands in these areas. It’s a time of new plans for action. In the coming weeks, there can be a chance to start fresh in a relationship or to begin a new one. You might return to your past regarding a friend in some manner, such as having a conversation about someone from the past, or reconnecting with an old friend or group. Also today, it would behoove you to focus on what you can get rid of that will help to simplify your life. This doesn’t have to be material things, but can be mental attitudes or habits. New insights or information coming in can be especially helpful. Listen to family. You may be in the position to be supportive, and this can be rewarding to you.

Scorpio

You’ll find that recent revelations can now motivate you to begin fresh, dear Scorpio, particularly related to business or public image and reputation, but for many of you, also in your relationships. You may be looking back or behind you and seeing more clearly where you may have been chasing the wrong things or the right things the wrong way. You can be redefining your goals and what it is you truly value. Fearless dealing with emotional issues can bring huge rewards down the road. There can be a focus on past relationships but with a new perspective – you’re seeing things differently and seeking out a more authentic path. Also today, there is very good energy with you for connecting, learning, and communicating. There can be a moment of truth or new insight in a friendship today. Connections made now can be very fruitful. Conversations are a little more serious today, but also more useful.

Sagittarius

You can be filled with motivation and energy to approach your life and your relationships with a new and improved attitude and more authentic expectations, dear Sagittarius. Recent revelations or examination of the past has prompted you to see things in a new light, and possibly to redefine some of your beliefs, ideals, goals, and dreams. You might also more clearly see what approaches or expectations that you had in the past that sent you along the wrong path. It’s a good time to set up new intentions. Also today, both creative and practical affairs can benefit from a stronger ability to concentrate and a more powerful intuition. This is a day for opening your eyes to something you may have glossed over, or perhaps were not ready to see. There can also be a good, satisfying sense that you’re growing in a relationship. Business matters can also thrive today with a stronger sense for what is truly useful and what may be unessential.

Capricorn

This can be a good day for clearing the air and talking openly and honestly about a matter to someone you trust, dear Capricorn, but for many of you, it’s a time for a personal revelation of sorts. You are seeing your relationships and attachments in an all-new light, and this can prompt a new plan of action. There is good energy with you for starting fresh, particularly as it relates to how you approach going after what you want in life, as well as on financial and emotional levels. Intimate relationships can benefit from a new start or vision as you have recently redefined what you want and need from others, as well as what you expect from yourself. Today is also good for reading and listening or otherwise taking in information, as you can be exposed to inspiring, eye-opening ideas.You have a way of honing in on the truly useful, and tuning out distractions comes easily as a result.

Aquarius

There has been a big focus on the past, particularly past relationships or unresolved issues, dear Aquarius, and now you begin to feel the motivation to do something about recent revelations and your new perspective. You might gain new insight on an old problem, or reconnect with someone from your past. Also today, you are naturally, instinctively attracting the right information, and connections can be advantageous. Focus should be on strategy and plans of action rather than quick maneuvers. You might open your eyes to something now, as you’re now truly ready to “see” it. Set intentions and goals now that better reflect these redefined wants and needs, as well as your expectations of others. This can be mainly about your relationships, but might also have to do with attitudes towards your material goals and plans. Energies are powerful for a fresh start or turning point.

Pisces

You have been learning new things about old problems now, dear Pisces, particularly related to work, health, and relationships. You are wiser today, but not necessarily patient. The desire to be productive, useful, and helpful is very strong, and you might feel especially motivated to make changes or to pursue a new path that improves your life. This can be as simple as an attitude change in light of recent revelations. Seeing where you may have been tripping up or chasing the wrong things in the past can be part of this. Resolutions to change these patterns might be made now, and you have extra support from the cosmos in this respect. Also today, sharing ideas can be very fruitful. Friends can have valuable input, or you may have something useful to share with them. An understanding with someone close to you can be a nice form of release and relief. You might be seeing details that you typically miss or avoid.

The Balance of the Elements and the Signs for Saturday, August 15th

LEO STRONG
Self-confident, generous, warm-hearted, powerful leader, dramatic. Can be overly proud, vain, extravagant, arrogant.
VIRGO STRONG
Meticulous, discriminating, pure, practical, health conscious, hard working. Can be hyper-critical, petty and perfectionistic.

BALANCE OF ELEMENTS

FIRE STRONG
Fire is enthusiastic, dynamic, and spontaneous, but lacks reflection. We are more courageous and adventurous now, with a tendency to act before thinking. There is little concern about what happened in the past. We are competitive and possibly impatient or bored easily.
EARTH STRONG
We are especially in touch with the physical world. We consider what we’ve learned and experienced in the past in order to make the most of the present. We can be cautious, practical, and possibly unimaginative. We are deliberate and can pace ourselves well. We need hands-on experience and are not impressed with theory as much as we are with results. Routines are tolerable and comforting.
AIR WEAK
We may have a difficult time being objective or detached. We may not be especially communicative.
WATER WEAK
There may be some insensitivity or lack of empathy now. We may be out of touch with what we’re feeling or with our emotional needs. We may be tougher than usual now, and more inclined to follow mental or practical considerations than we are to listen to our intuition.
BALANCE OF MODES

CARDINAL WEAK
This is not a time that we tend to naturally initiate actions. We may be stronger at following up than starting anew. Survival mechanisms may be weaker now.

Astrology of Today – August 15, 2015

Summary:

Retrograde Venus and the Sun align in the sign of Leo today, and we symbolically begin anew when it comes to our relationships and values. This is a time for redefining what we want and need, particularly from relationships but also material affairs and goals.

The Moon is in Leo until 3:45 AM.
The Moon is void from 12:36 AM to 3:45 AM.
The Moon is in Virgo from 3:45 AM forward (until Monday, August 17th, at 4:22 PM).
The Moon is waxing and in its New Moon phase.
A New Moon occurred yesterday and a First Quarter Moon will occur on the 22nd.
Venus is retrograde (Venus is retrograde from July 25-September 6).

Your Weekly LightBlast: Allowing the Unknown

Weekly LightBlast: Allowing the Unknown

a message from Jamye Price

For more of Jamye’s insight, please visit her website, Crystalline Soul Healing

Time is a beautiful gift on Earth. It supports your understanding and your evolution into the future. It provides a platform for desire to refine into form. Life evolves, devolves, resolves and triumphs through the grace of time’s flow. The linear Earth experience of time is valuable and will be experienced as such for years to come as you integrate the truth of physicality into the truth of the non-physical nature of Life. Time is merely a vehicle of manifestation refinement. Manifestation has a focal point because of time. The past, known as it is perceived; the future unknown. Are you at peace with the unknown?

As you master your thoughts and feelings, you are creating a flow of energy that works with you, assisting your creations. It is not that you must think and feel perfect thoughts and feelings each moment, it is that you no longer allow thoughts and feelings to rule you, to control your access to inner peace. As you are well with what is, even while you desire change, you are opening access to a future that was previously unavailable from a state of vibration that could not harmonize with it.

Your peace, your acceptance, your courage to change gives rise to new vibration emanating from you and thereby available to harmonize with a new frequency, a new future. To access this new future, relax into the unknown and know that Life is supporting you into your improvement. Life wants you to thrive. You are Life.

As we sit to Blast Allowing the Unknown, we are embracing the past as the perfect catalyst to improvement. We are peaceful in the present, knowing this moment is a focal point for choice that creates the future. We are a friend to time, knowing it is within us as well as around us; harmonizing manifestation between the inner and outer at the perfect pace. We are so strong in our Love that it is only details that are unknown, for the heart knows its ability to create a future of Love. That is the future we are allowing into creation. Blast on!

Source:
The Spiritlibrary.com

Your Current Moon Phase for August 15th is Waxing Crescent

August 15
Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 1%

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 – Saturday, August 15, 2015

Phase: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 1%
Moon Age: 0.80 days
Moon Angle: 0.49
Moon Distance: 403,016.93 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 151,504,031.13 km

Courtesy of MoonGiant.com

The Witches Magick for the 15th Day of the Wort Moon – Hollyhock Happiness Spell

HOLLYHOCK HAPPINESS SPELL

Planting hollyhocks in your garden and around your yard draw prosperity and material gain to you and your home. These showy blossoms also attract helpful faeries and good fortune. The tiny leaves that shoot up at the base of the blossoming plant are particularly enticing to flower faeries.

Gather hollyhock blossoms and set them on your altar just before dark. Tie them with a white ribbon, and say three times:

Blossoms bright

bring me good

fortune

Wealth and

happiness tonight.

So mote it be!

Place the tied hollyhocks just outside your front door, to attract more happiness, wealth, and good fortune to you and your home. Leave the bundle there for a moon cycle for best results.

Wiccan Spell A Night: Spells, Charms, And Potions For The Whole Year

Sirona Knight

Let’s Talk Witch – Characteristics of a True Witch

Characteristics of a True Witch

In general, “witch” is a term that refers to a female sorcerer or wizard. However, a sorcerer or a wizard is usually a male who is inclined to be manipulative in his craft. A witch, on the other hand, is a deeply religious individual who is usually pure in heart and practices witchcraft through combining meditation and spiritual elements. In addition, a witch is a gifted individual who may seem to have supernatural abilities. A witch displays compassion and practices witchcraft without any hidden motives. More often than not, a witch works for others who are suffering and in pain, bringing them relief and comfort.

Generally, a witch is often misunderstood as an evil individual and maligned for bringing unfortunate circumstances to another person. However, in today’s society, witches along with their beliefs and practices have regained their lost ground and earned the respect of the society. The term witch is now being brought back to its old name, Wicca.

There are several characteristics of a true witch. By true, it means a witch whose beliefs and practices correspond with the Wiccan Rede, “As it harm none, do as thou wilt.” For instance, a witch employs witchcraft for healing, especially of unexplained health problems. Normally, a witch uses her personal abilities or powers combined with energies from candles, herbs, stones, and other natural materials. A witch employs witchcraft to ameliorate mankind as well as the world. A witch does not hurt people and more importantly, she does not worship the devil.

A witch derives her strength primarily from nature including earth, water, air, and fire. She believes that water is able to purify; fire is able to cleanse and transport an individual into the spiritual world; and air enshrouds an individual and lifts them to the freedom of the skies and divine immenseness. A witch believes that the air unites with her spirit, allowing it to float in the sky freely. A witch reaches an uplifted state through perseverance and meditation. In some cases, a witch is born with special talents that allow her to achieve an uplifted state more easily than other individuals.

In reality, a witch is not a wicked being or an ugly hag as depicted in most books, movies, and other forms of media. She is just an ordinary looking person who can be your next-door neighbor. She can be a hardworking housewife who attends to the needs of her family and does daily chores.

A witch also has emotions although she can function at a larger level rather than personal. For instance, if she is sad, it can be caused by the world’s suffering and not just because of a personal matter.

A female witch is different from an ordinary woman in the sense that the former can connect with her goddess. This connection is intended for her soul to achieve a state of oneness.

A witch carries out her craft by utilizing a number of rituals alone or with a coven. More often than not, rituals are done in an altar room filled with the smell of incense while candles are lit, and chant or incantations are spoken. Witchcraft rituals usually involve meditating while staring into the candle flames. Once a witch enters into a trance, she dances with the power of the fire coming from the candles. Consequently, she sees images in her head that become a permanent part of her psyche.

A true witch does not do anything to utilize witchcraft to damage a living or non-living thing. Given that a witch believes that retaliation can be a lot worse than her act. A true witch believes that whatever you do, regardless if it is good or bad, will come back to you threefold.

Although it can be difficult to determine if someone you know or someone who lives just next door is a witch, some witches wear a Pentacle or pentagram, which looks like a five-pointed star. A pentagram is a symbol that represents the five elements of nature. It does not represent the worship of anything but nature.

Witchcraft: A Beginner’s Guide To Wiccan Ways: Symbols, Witch Craft, Love Potions Magick, Spell, Rituals, Power, Wicca, Witchcraft, Simple, Belief, Secrets,The … For Beginners To Learn Witchcraft Book 2)

Sebastian Collins

Celebrating Other Spirituality 365 Days A Year – Assumption of the Virgin Mary

August 15

Assumption of the Virgin Mary

This is the major feast of Mary in the Roman Catholic Church, the “Feast of Mary in Harvest” in the Irish Church, and the major feast of all churches that bear her name. As the Assumption is commonly depicted with Mary ascending through the clouds, she has become the patron of aircraft pilots and crew.

Formerly on this day, women were admitted to the Sistine Chapel between first and second vespers, being excluded the rest of the year lest they should disturb devotions with their chatter.

Prayer

Almighty, ever-living God, You raised to

eternal glory the body and soul of the

immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother os your

Son. Grand that our minds may always be

directed heavenward and that we may deserve

to share in her glory. Amen.

Saturday Is Ruled By Saturn

This day of the week got it’s name from the god of karma and time, Saturn. This day is obviously associated with the planet Saturn and is our last day of the week. Traditionally Saturdays are great days for protection, banishing a negative situation, and generally a good time to clean up any magical messes that you have been ignoring. Some suggestions for Saturday enchantments would include:

◦Wearing the colors of the day, black and deep purple. Here’s your perfect excuse to be dramatic and witchy. Empower these dramatic pieces of your wardrobe for protection and strength.

◦Burning black candles to absorb negativity and burning purple ones to increase your magical wisdom and boost your spirituality

◦Adding a touch of garden witchery to your Saturday spells by working with the pansy (in black or purple of course), the morning glory flowering vine, or the cypress tree.

◦Carrying an obsidian, hematite, or jet tumbled stone in your pocket to reinforce your personal protection and to ward off bad vibes and sour feelings. You can also add these crystals to a candle spell on a Saturday night to really increase the punch of your spellcasting.

◦Cleaning your house and cleansing it while you are at it. Tap into those obstacle-removing vibes and the positive, concluding energies.

◦Closing up the final day of the bewitching week with a bang by calling on Hecate for protection and guidance.

Witches Correspondences for Saturday, August 15th

Saturday (Saturn’s Day)

Planet: Saturn

Colors: Maroon, Dark Shades, Black

Crystals: Obsidian, Jet, Coral, Hematite, Salt, Lead, Serpentine, Pewter

Aroma: Cypress, Myrrh, Patchouli, Saturn Oil, Black Poppy seeds

Herb: Mullein

Dedicated to the shadowy Anglo-Saxon god Saetere, the equivalent to the Roman Saturn, and the Greek Cronos. It is also associated with the Norns, the Norse equivalent of the Three Fates, and the Trickster-god, Loki.

Magical aspects: longevity, exorcism, endings, apprehension, austerity, caution, and limitations.

Not surprisingly, Saturday is ruled by Saturn. The logic and almost sly nature of Saturn is most prominent on Saturday, which is why it is the perfect day for habit breaking and scientific experimentation.
If you have someone that just will not let go of a relationship that you thought was long since dead, give a restriction spell a go next Saturday.

Human manipulation is also a very powerful aspect of Saturn’s power over Saturday.

This is the proper day of the week to perform spells and rituals involving spirit, communication, meditation, psychic attack or defence, locating lost items or missing persons, self-discipline, life, building, doctrine, protection, freedom, elderly, destroying diseases and pests, crystallization, hidden or obscure matters, limitations, and boundaries

The Witches Almanac for Saturday, August 15th

Saturday(Saturn): Longevity, exorcism, endings, homes and houses.

Assumption Day

Waxing Moon

The Waxing Moon is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.

Moon phase: First Quarter

Sign: Leo

Leo: Draws emphasis to the self, central ideas, or institutions, away from connections with others and other emotional needs. People tend to be melodramatic.

Moon enters Virgo 3: 46 am

Virgo: Favors accomplishment of details and commands from higher up. Focuses on health, hygiene, daily schedules.

Incense: Sage

Color: Scarlet

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