Your Rune For Today
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.
Polar Bear
Has Polar Bear lumbered into your reading? If so, he’s reminding you of the value of being flexible. Polar Bear instinctively knows how to conserve his energy and will observe a situation before he takes action. Once he decide it’s the appropriate time to move forward, however, he has the strength, energy, and fortitude to face whatever dangers lie ahead. Having problems making a change? Polar Bear is here to help, and his message to you is: Take heart, have courage, build your strength, then MOVE!
The Protector
The Protector represents the presence of a strong ally ready to assist you when your path is full of difficult challenges. The Protector is represented by the Archangel Michael: God’s warrior angel. Archangel Michael is in the writings of many religions including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. While Michael is male, in the context of this Oracle, The Protector is not gender specific. Regardless of whether Your Protector is male or female they can have a powerful positive influence when you find yourself facing trying times.
As a daily card, The Protector denotes the immediate presence of a commanding ally working to put the balance of power in your favor. The protector is especially powerful at helping you get what you rightfully deserve and thwarting underhanded schemes aimed at keeping you down.
What has traditionally been known as the Devil card expresses the realm of the Taboo, the culturally rejected wildness and undigested shadow side that each of us carries in our subconscious. This shadow is actually at the core of our being, which we cannot get rid of and will never succeed in taming. From its earliest versions, which portrayed a vampire-demon, this card evoked the Church-fueled fear that a person could “lose their soul” to wild and passionate forces.
The image which emerged in the mid-1700’s gives us a more sophisticated rendition — that of the “scapegoated Goddess,” whose esoteric name is Baphomet. Volcanic reserves of passion and primal desire empower her efforts to overcome the pressure of stereotyped roles and experience true freedom of soul. Tavaglione’s highly evolved image (Stella deck) portrays the magical formula for harnessing and transmuting primal and obsessive emotions into transformative energies. As a part of the Gnostic message of Tarot, this fearsome passion and power must be reintegrated into the personality, to fuel the soul’s passage from mortal to immortal.
We are eager to start something today, but getting a project off the ground may be more challenging than we expect. Although the enthusiastic Aries Moon strikes a background note of enterprising spirit coupled with impulsive behavior, we could run into complications from stressful lunar alignments with naysaying Saturn and go-for-it Mars. Additionally, confusion is in the air as cerebral Mercury prepares to turn retrograde on Thursday.
You are driven by your irrepressible emotions today, yet you can easily get in your own way if you push too hard. Reality is trying to tell you something now, but it may be nearly impossible to decipher the message. Observe the dynamics of this ongoing dance; if your efforts meet resistance, don’t waste too much energy trying to overpower the obstacles. Instead, go to the source of your feelings; you should start to make progress again once you take the time to figure out what you really want.
A recent change of plans might be a bit unnerving since you often prefer the comfort of the status quo over the uncertainty of the unknown. Circumstances have quieted down enough now for you to look at where you are going and to decide whether or not you really want to head off in this direction. Reassess your long-term goals, but allow current events to pull you back into present time where you are needed. Acting in a responsible manner doesn’t need to prevent you from dreaming about the future.
You’re ready to take a major step forward in your current effort to catch up on backlogged communication. However, you could run into trouble immediately if reality has a different idea about how you should spend your day. The tricky part is that you may not have enough time to avoid what’s coming your way, for the incoming curve balls are so unexpected. Thankfully, letting go of control at just the right moment makes life more enjoyable now. You can always return to your previous plans later in the week.
You want to believe that it’s sufficient to just change your attitude and circumstances will respond accordingly, especially if you need some recovery time from a recent clash with reality. Going home, getting cozy and curling up with a good book and a cup of tea sounds like a perfect solution to all that ails you today. Nevertheless, you must take care of business first if others are depending on you. Balancing inner and outer needs makes the most sense in the long run.
You are all fired up and it’s challenging to talk yourself down from the ledge of enthusiasm today. Unfortunately, everything could grow more complicated than you wish, especially if you overlook a minor detail that comes back to haunt you. Or maybe someone is resisting your plans now, even if they won’t tell you directly. Address any issues that surface since they will only get harder to resolve as the days go by. Slow down and get things right so you don’t have to redo them later on.
Your sense of enthusiasm is often powered by your highly functioning analytical mind, which can see every little flaw, no matter how tiny it may be now. Others might be overwhelmed by so many details, but your brain is built for this type of situation. This is your chance to shine; let your associates lean on you for your expertise. Tell yourself that you are up for any challenge today. You can always rest in a day or two after your work is done.
No matter how hard you try, it still may be tricky to find a point of balance today. Intellectually, you know what you must do and you’re eager to head off in that direction. But others might believe that you should be embarking on a completely different path. Although you would like to take every point of view into account, it’s simply impossible to do so. Instead, be as considerate as possible to all involved. Nevertheless, if you cannot please everyone, at least be true to yourself.
Life might be easier sometimes if only you could turn off your intense emotions and your incisive powers of perception. But, of course, you can’t. Anyway, it wouldn’t be like you to just gloss over the hidden reality of a situation, even if people around you find it difficult to face the gory details. Thankfully, you don’t have to pretend to live up to anyone else’s expectations if you set clear boundaries today. It’s easier to honor your emotions if you create enough room to contain them when they become too extreme for others to handle.
Staying on the sunny side of the street is difficult today if your plans run into resistance from others. Unfortunately, no matter how much you focus on your own intentions now, other people may still rain on your parade. Nevertheless, don’t waste energy trying to outrun an emotional storm or to push away the clouds of doubt. The current turmoil won’t last, but, thankfully, your faith will.
You are truly amazing to watch once you make up your mind to overcome a particular obstacle. When others feel the pressure of circumstances building, they might collapse under the weight of responsibility. However, you Goats love to strategize how to use the current events as opportunities to improve your situation. Even if there are some minor speed bumps in the road now, this is an advantageous time to apply yourself diligently toward reaching your goals.
There is an uneven progression to your accomplishments today. You might even get yourself all worked up now, only to initiate action and then discover that you wasted precious time running off in the wrong direction. Luckily, you can be very productive if you delay your response in order to avoid making too many false starts. Take a deep breath and visualize crossing the finish line; slow and steady wins the race.
You may intuitively sense that big changes are moving slowly toward you. In the meantime, you have plenty to do to fend off more immediate opposition. The problem is that it’s difficult to find the real source of the blockages you now face. Even if the resistance is a direct manifestation of your own imagination, it can still be discouraging. Don’t give up until you accomplish what you set out to do. Your success depends upon your unwavering belief in yourself.
Prepare yourself for a momentous day across the board. Primary partnerships may see some new wrinkles and nerves can be frayed as Jupiter in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn at 1:17AM. Don’t make any difficult situations more stressful by trying to throw your weight around or taking a partner for granted. Every act of kindness is a step in the right direction. Mercury enters compassionate, empathic and psychic Pisces at 6:30AM — although this Messenger of the Gods planet is also slowing down in motion as it nears a three-week reversal starting on Thursday Feb. 6. The Moon in Aquarius is in void mode starting at 8:46AM and lasting 11 hours until 7:46PM when the lunar orb enters Pisces. In the meantime, Venus — which began a retrograde cycle on December 21, 2013 at 29 degrees of Capricorn — will make a station and turn direct at 12:50PM (activating 14 degrees of Capricorn). [Venus will remain in forward motion until July 25, 2015 when it will go retrograde again at 1 degree of Virgo — a reversal lasting 44 days until September 6, 2015 when it returns to direct motion at 15 degrees of Leo.] Today, all Venus themes — love and romance, business deals and opportunities, social activities, the fine and graphic arts, circles of friendship, your antenna of feelings and sensations, essential values to live by — are accentuated not only at the exact time of the shift, but throughout the entire 24-hour time-period. Be ready for some celestial shenanigans this evening when the Sun makes an off-kilter, 150-degree tie with Jupiter (8:06PM). When the two largest cosmic bodies form one of these alignments, large-scale plans can often go awry or lose their traction. While a Moon-Mercury conjunction in Pisces (8:40PM) gives communications and correspondence a temporary boost, the red planet Mars in parallel with the Moon (11:09PM) reminds you to be extra sensitive to loved ones needing support rather than criticism. [Note to readers: All times are calculated for Pacific Standard Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]
Ash Tree Month
Color: Pale Blue
Elements: Water and air
Altar: On a cloth of pale blue set a great bowl of salt water in which are set many shells and stones, a shell full of salt, incense, and the figures of sea-birds and fishes.
Offerings: Wash something clean, or air it out.
Daily Meal: Either fish or seafood, or poultry.
Nion/Anthesterion Invocation
Call: Now is the time of wind and water.
Response: Now is the time of sea and sky.
Call: Now is the time of the Gods of weather.
Response: Now is the time of the great waves.
Call: Now is the time of terrible flooding.
Response: Now is the time of needed rain.
Call: Now is the time of battering gales.
Response: Now is the time of winds of change.
Call: Now is the time of fear of change.
Response: Now, and always, change will win.
Call: The wild winds disturb our dreams.
Response: The wild winds awake our minds.
Call: The heavy rains flood our hearts.
Response: The heavy rains water our future.
Call: The sea will sweep us away.
Response: The sea will bear us up.
Call: The sea is cold and unending.
Response: The sea is the source of life.
Call: We are ships on the lost expanse of the ocean.
Response: We are winds that call to one another.
Call: We will brave the wind and water.
Response: We will bring together mind and heart.
Call: We will come home safely after wandering.
Response: We will anchor safely after our journeys.
Call: We will come through wind and water!
Response: We will come through wind and water!
(Repeat last two lines twice more.)
Chant:
We will come through wind and water
We will come through sea and sky
4 Solmonath
Amaterasu’s Day
Colors: Red, orange, yellow, gold
Element: Fire
Altar: Set with a handwoven cloth in solar colors into which is woven a great sun, and place upon is fire-colored dragons and a figure of Amaterasu the Sun Goddess, and many candles.
Offerings: Rice crackers, cooked rice dyed with saffron, paper origami figures.
Daily Meal: Japanese food, preferably with at least one dish in bright colors.
Invocation to Amaterasu
Summer’s Joy
Queen of the Sky
Giver of Life
To our entire world
Weaver of sunbeams
Into golden robes of finery
Which you drape over us
Each time we emerge
Into your sacred light.
Laugh, Queen of Day!
Laugh and let your delicate
Fingers play across our eyes
That we may blink, and sting
The tears from them,
And open them again to see
Your golden world break
Over the eastern horizon.
Chant: Omikami Omikami Arigato Omikami
(Each person takes a candle and a procession is led from the room, which divides into several groups. Each group goes to a different room in the building and shines the light of their candle into all dark places, corners, closets, under beds and in drawers, bringing light and the gaze of Amaterasu into all places. Then the candles are returned to Her altar to burn down, and are not snuffed until sunset.)
During this Moon phase, there is a slight slowing down of enthusiasm due to an emerging desire to produce tangible results from the energy being expended. The issue of values enters into the equation and an urge to tie together the data available so that you can utilize current opportunities. There is still plenty of forward motion, and this is a great time to continue initiating and progressing forward. This Moon phase favors gaining more information and the input of others to further your plans.
Many Wiccans and Pagans prefer to perform ceremonies and rituals in special robes. If you’re part of a coven or group, your robe might have to be a certain color or style. In some traditions, the color of the robe indicates the level of training a practitioner has. For many people, donning the ritual robe is a way of separating themselves from the mundane business of everyday life — it’s a way of stepping into the ritual mindset, of walking from the mundane world into the magical world. Most people prefer to wear nothing at all under their ritual robe, but do what is comfortable for you.
It’s not uncommon to have robes for the different seasons, symbolizing the turning Wheel of the Year. You can make one in blue for spring, green for summer, brown for fall, and white for winter — or any other colors that symbolize the seasons for you. Do take the time to put some thought into your color selection — it used to be that most Wiccans wore white robes, but many people prefer to use earth tones, because it’s a way of establishing one’s connection with nature. Some people choose to avoid black, because it sometimes has negative connotations, but use the color that feels right for you.
Anyone can make a robe of their own, and it’s not hard to do. If you can sew a straight line, you can make a robe. First of all, for experienced sewers, there are a number of excellent commercially available patterns out there. You can check catalogs at your local fabric store under “Costumes”, which is where most of the good robes are hiding out, especially in the “historical” and “Renaissance” categories. Here are some that look nice and can be made without too much sewing experience:
* Simplicity 4795: Believe it or not, this is a set of patterns for a passion play. There’s an angel design in here that’s fantastic for a ritual robe. You may want to reduce the drop in the sleeves a bit, though, just to keep from setting yourself on fire while lighting candles.
* Simplicity 3623: This pattern is for a Scottish-themed costume, complete with tam. However, it also includes a pattern for a muslin underdress to be worn beneath the bodice and skirt — this makes a great ritual robe, and can be assembled in just a couple of hours.
* Simplicity 3616: Sure, the wizard costume seems campy, but if you eliminate the trim and the long white beard, it makes a version of the ritual robe that is far more masculine than some of the other patterns.
* McCalls 4490: For more advanced sewers, this lovely Renaissance-style dress can easily be adapted for a ritual robe.
To make a basic robe without buying a pattern, you can follow these simple steps. You’ll need the following:
* A piece of material in the color of your choice — make sure you select something that will be easy to sew and comfortable to wear. On the average, you’ll need about three yards, but if you’re heavyset or extra-tall, add in some more. A flat bedsheet is actually the perfect size for this.
* Scissors, thread, tailor’s chalk, and a measuring tape.
* A sewing machine.
* A length of cord or light rope, approximately 6 feet long.
You’ll need some help for this first step, because you need to measure yourself from wrist to wrist with your arms outstretched. Unless you have a third arm, get a friend to do this for you. This measurement will be Measurement A. Next, figure the distance from the nape of your neck to a point even with your ankle — this will be Measurement B. Fold the fabric in half (if the material has a print on it, fold it with the pattern side in). Using your A and B measurements, cut out along the lines indicated in Figure 1, making a sort-of T-shape. Don’t cut out along the top fold — that’s the part that will go along the top of the arms and shoulders.
Next, cut a hole for your head (X) at the center of Measurement A. Don’t make it too big, or your robe will slide off your shoulders! On each side, sew along the underside of the sleeve, leaving an opening at Y for the arms (Figure 2). Then sew from the armpit down to the bottom of the robe. Turn your robe right-side out, try it on, and adjust it for length if needed.
Finally, add a cord around the waist, as shown in Figure 3. In some traditions the cord may be knotted to indicate degrees of training or education. In others, it acts simply as a belt to keep the robe from flapping around during ritual. You can also add trim, beadwork, or magical symbols to your robe. Personalize it, and make it yours. You may also wish to consecrate your robe before wearing it for the first time.
Many practitioners will not enter or use their sacred space unless they are cloaked in a special garment created by their own hands and consecrated for spiritual use. This robe is unique and special to each person who desires to honor their beliefs in this fashion. A cloak can be consecrated for specific purposes. So you can have more than one cloak, depending on what type of ritual you will be conducting in your sacred space.Self clothing isn’t the only garments you want to consider for your space. An altar cloth is also called for. You can use more than one cloth in varying colors and patterns, depending on the work at hand. But consider the use of the cloth before you cover the altar. If you are going to be mixing herbs, or creating spiritual objects such as handmade candles, smudge sticks or spiritual tools, then you want the cloth to be inexpensive and practical. If however, you are conducting a ritual to celebrate a holiday, then you might use a more formal cloth, anything from crushed velvet to black satin.
The cloth should reflect your personality, your beliefs and one that you feel comfortable with using. A male Witch for instance, may not use Victorian lace when casting spells for compassion, healing or love. Rather he might use something that strikes an essence of romance in his heart such as red silk. Whatever you chose to use, the cloth should be large enough to cover the entire altar and fit the work at hand.
Archangel: Samael
Candle colour: Red
Incenses: Dragon’s blood or cinnamon
Crystals: Jasper or garnet
Use Tuesdays for spells for courage, change, independence in home or business life, for overcoming seemingly impossible odds and for passion.
Where possible, work near a fire or a bonfire or with a huge red beeswax candle as a focus; alternatively work next to a flowerbed or large vase of red, orange and/or yellow flowers.
Magickal Intentions: Courage, Physical Strength, Revenge, Military Honors, Surgery and the Breaking of Negative Spells, Matrimony, War, Enemies, Prison, Vitality and Assertiveness
Incense: Dragon’s Blood, Patchouli
Planet: Mars
Sign: Aries and Scorpio
Angel: Samuel
Colors: Red and Orange
Herbs/Plants:Red Rose, Cock’s Comb, Pine, Daisy, Thyme and Pepper
Stones: Carnelian, Bloodstone, Ruby, Garnet and Pink Tourmaline
Oil: (Mars) Basil, Coriander, Ginger
Mars rules Tuesday. The energies of this day best harmonize with efforts of masculine vibration, such as conflict, physical endurance and strength, lust, hunting, sports, and all types of competition. Use them, too, for rituals involving surgical procedures or political ventures.
Prior to World War I, a fair was held on this day in London to honor the King of Frost. All the townspeople would gather on the Thames River, normally frozen over at this time, and petition the King of Frost to bring forth Spring. The festival died out during the war.
Along the Welsh border people continue to celebrate this day by gathering snowdrops, sometimes called Candlemas Bells. These bright flowers are tied into bundles and used to purify the hearth and home.
Spring House Blessing
To encourage the return of Spring, tie a bunch of snowdrops with green ribbon and hang over the main entrance of your home as you repeat:
Candlemas Bells, snowdrops so white, Cast away shadows, bring forth the light.Tuesday (Mars): Passion, sex, courage, aggression and protection.
Waxing Moon
The Waxing Moon is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Moon Sign: Aries
Aries: Good for starting things, but lacks staying power. Things occur rapidly, but quickly pass. People tend to be argumentative and assertive.
Incense: Bayberry
Color: Red
A Little Public Service Announcement for all our family & friends of the WOTC! I mentioned a few weeks ago about receiving two offers to do TV shows and several radio interviews. I promised that I would let you know when any of these events were going to take place. The first event is a radio interview on February 6th. The station is KCSB FM 91.9 in Santa Barbara. The interview will aired at 12 am I understand. So if any of our friends out in the California area would like to listen in, please do so. It would be nice to know I had friendly ears listening. Also say a prayer or two for me, I am sure I will be a nervous wreck.
Luv & Hugs,
Lady A
‘THINK on THESE THINGS’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler
If everyone were alike, what a dull world it would be. It is the individuality of each person that makes the world so interesting.
The tremendous differences in people give a wide range of personalities, beliefs, and appearances to very group, no matter how small.
If all the flowers in the world were of one color, would we think them so beautiful? It is the variety and wide range of rainbow colors that keeps us fascinated.
Cowper wrote, “Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.” So many have no thought of life except what they will eat, what they will wear, and how they can entertain themselves. And then we come on someone who has the ability to see loveliness in the sunlight and charm in quiet rain. They can say things to encourage, or to make calm and peaceful.
We meet many different kinds of people. Some we love and some we like and love, which is a terrible difference. It is to find a wholeness or a part of our lost self in someone else. It isn’t that they are so much like us or that we believe the way they do, but that they communicate, and it is this rare communication that respects the differences between peoples.
_______________________________
Available online! ‘Cherokee Feast of Days’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler.
Visit her web site to purchase the wonderful books by Joyce as gifts for yourself or for loved ones……and also for those who don’t have access to the Internet: http://www.hifler.com
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Elder’s Meditation of the Day
By White Bison, Inc., an American Indian-owned nonprofit organization. Order their many products from their web site: http://www.whitebison.org
Elder’s Meditation of the Day – February 3
“It’s very hard to do things in the right manner, but as long as we do things right, we are in turn with the Great Spirit.”
–Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE
When we are right with the Great Spirit, we are right with all things. It is impossible to be out of harmony with anything or anybody when we are in harmony with the Great One. So, if during the day a problem crops up and someone makes us mad, the best thing we can do is talk to the Creator first, ask for His help, then continue our conversation with the other person. In this way, our emotional nature will keep aligned with our thoughts, and we will always stay right with the Great Spirit.
Great Spirit, I ask You to guide me on the Red Road today.
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