Valentine’s Day: Another Kind of Love

Valentine’s Day: Another Kind of Love

Spread love to everyone during this Aquarian holiday

Jeff Jawer      Jeff Jawer on the topics of aquarius, love, blogs, astrology

Valentine’s Day is Thursday, February 14. The holiday that celebrates romantic love seems to have nothing to do with the saint for which it was named. Its association with amour began in the 14th century, about 1000 years after the death of St. Valentine. Although it’s a great way to sell chocolate and flowers and, hopefully, to open hearts, the astrological association with the holiday is almost as strange as its connection with a martyred priest.

The Sun is always in Aquarius on February 14. This is the sign of the Water-bearer but it’s not a sentimental Water sign. Aquarius is an Air sign characterized more by the head than the heart. Aquarius is about friendship, community and collective ideals rather than couples. It tends to be chilly, using the intellect to step back from the messy world of feelings to achieve understanding with the mind. Aquarian love is universal rather than personal and usually needs some emotional breathing space and independence to counter the confinement of intimacy.

Valentine’s Day, like Aquarius, is more about an idea than about reality. Its origins in the 14th Century reflect the romanticism of the Middle Ages … which was a model for spiritual rather than erotic love. (Robert Johnson’s book “We” is a good source of information on this subject.) Romantic yearning represented a desire for a divine connection, not personal pleasure. The partner was a symbol for God and the desire to experience sacred union. This model comes closer to Aquarius because it’s an ideal instead of a physical reality.

A higher plane of love

But the myth of romance has permeated culture for so many centuries that we’ve lost sight of its higher meaning. The unspoken expectation of becoming complete within a relationship is bound to produce disappointment. While personal love can be a delicious affirmation of our desirability, and intimacy serves as a bulwark against isolation, human partnerships usually fall short of our highest hopes. The familial, emotional, physical and financial connections we share within them have their divine moments but cannot confer immortality or answer life’s biggest metaphysical questions.

Romantic love comes with strings attached. Desire, jealousy, conflicting values and contrasting tastes are tests for even the most harmonious couples. Chocolate, flowers, champagne, a good dinner and great sex go a long way to erasing the illusion of our separateness but cannot eliminate it entirely. And depending on one person as the source of love is not an Aquarian formula for fulfillment … being part of a community is.

The sign of self-less love

One connection Aquarius has with romantic love is its opposition to Leo. The Lion is the sign of the heart and represents the personal experience of amour. It’s the rising of excitement we feel in the chest when someone arouses our feelings. It is the expression of affection that flatters others and warms ourselves. Yet if Leo is the heart, Aquarius is the circulatory system. The Water Bearer distributes, which is an important message about another kind of love. It is the love of humanity, called “agape” by the Greeks.

Agape aligns with Aquarius’ community consciousness and represents a less personal but equally noble expression of the human heart. Giving to others without expecting anything return is generosity of the highest order. It is a reminder that a truly Aquarian Valentine’s Day gift would be a contribution to a charity or acting as a volunteer for an organization. We can still give our chocolates and flowers for personal romance but contributing to people in other ways will make this day of love even more complete.

Valentine’s Day Horoscopes 2013

Valentine’s Day Horoscopes 2013

Venus and the Moon align in the name of love

Maria DeSimone     Maria DeSimone on the topics of venus, valentines day, love, horoscopes, astrology

Isn’t it nice when the planets cooperate on a special day? When it comes to matters of the heart, there is no greater cosmic connection than to have a happy link between love planet Venus and the Moon, which rules our deep emotional needs and tender feelings. These two planets together spell affection, hugs, kisses and warmth for Valentine’s Day 2013.

Lucky for us, this Valentine’s Day we get to enjoy an extraordinary link between the Moon and Venus! As if that wasn’t enough, the Sun (masculine energy) and the Moon (feminine energy) will also be at a gorgeous angle to one another, allowing your emotions to shine through with ease.

In fact, because the Moon will be in fiery Aries this Valentine’s Day, you can expect to feel a strong amount of courage when it comes to telling the object of your affection exactly how you feel. You might be bold and make the first move to ask someone out on a date if you’re single and someone has captured your attention.

No Valentine this year? Well, don’t expect to have one of those lonely, pathetic Valentine’s Days where you stare at happy couples with bitter resentment. Not with the Moon in independent Aries connected to the Sun and Venus in social Aquarius!

Instead, you and your single friends might decide to throw your own Valentine’s Day friendship bash or attend a party and mingle. Either way, your sexy factor will definitely be in high gear!

Look up your zodiac sign below to get your individual love forecast for Valentine’s Day.

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

You’re hot and you know it! Be sure to wear red, as it’s not only the color of passion, but with the Moon in your sign this Valentine’s Day it will bring you extra attention. You’ll feel a special balance when it comes to getting your emotional needs met by a partner because he or she will easily honor that part of you that needs to be free and independent. Love doesn’t need to equal suffocation, and this year if you’re attached you will certainly feel as if you’ve achieved the best of both worlds. If you’re single, it’s possible for love to blossom between you and a friend.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Love and respect go hand-in-hand, and these days you’ll certainly feel proud to walk beside your sweetheart and call him or her yours. There’s something about your partner that elevates your status, and this makes you especially gratified. If there have been any feelings you’ve kept to yourself, today might be the time you open up and courageously reveal all of you to your special someone. If you’re a Taurus who has been dating someone for a while, with Saturn in your 7th House of Partnership, it’s likely a new level of commitment will develop between you and your love — possibly even leading to engagement or marriage!

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Expect nothing less than breathtaking adventure this Valentine’s Day! The Moon will connect beautifully to the Sun and Venus, now in your 9th House of Expansion. There might be a new love interest on the horizon — someone with a background quite different from yours. If so, this person will grab your attention like no other! At the very least, you and your love will enjoy a romantic dinner at a restaurant with exotic cuisine. With Jupiter in your sign, there’s no limit to your capacity to relate to others with enthusiasm and optimism. Any relationship — whether new or old — will stimulate you intellectually, much to your delight. This is perfect, because for you the mind is the most important erogenous zone.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Whether you’re single or attached, this Valentine’s Day has special romantic potential. Single Cancer may plan a vacation or spiritual retreat, or decide to attend a workshop. If so, don’t be surprised if you meet someone you develop a strong emotional bond with. Thanks to a gorgeous link between Mars and Saturn, now in your 5th House of True Love, you’ll have a strong capacity to meet someone who can teach you how to express the deeper meaning of love. In a relationship? Mars will connect to Pluto, now in your 7th House of Partnership. You, too, will have a chance to forge a deeper intimate connection with your mate, but it’ll require a more physical expression of love.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)

Emotional freedom and healthy boundaries will be important to maintain in a relationship this Valentine’s Day. Lucky for you, it’ll be easy to get exactly what you want out of love. The Moon will embrace both the Sun and Venus, now in your 7th House of Committed Partnership. Relationship harmony will be at an all-time high, and it’s possible that you and your mate will agree on exploring unusual — even nontraditional — parameters that will help strengthen your bond. Don’t worry about what the rest of the world thinks; your love might be off the beaten path, but it’s definitely real. Treasure it!

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

With transformative Pluto slowly making his way through your 5th House of True Love, you don’t need a special day to get your heartstrings pulled. A romantic experience is likely to quickly become intense and all consuming — for better or worse. Happily, this Valentine’s Day there are spectacular links to support love and depth in the most soul-satisfying way. Mars, now in your 7th House of Committed Partnership, will connect beautifully to Pluto, giving you the impetus to go after the level of depth you really want with someone close. Although this aspect will peak the day after Valentine’s Day, you will absolutely feel it pull at your heartstrings now. When it comes to love, it’s all or nothing. Thankfully, you’re in a position to have it all.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)

You have officially won the jackpot of love this Valentine’s Day! The incredible links of the Moon to the Sun and Venus will fall between your 5th House of True Love (Sun and Venus are there) and your 7th House of Partnership (the Moon is there). Your romantic prospects are strong, but so is your potential to forge a deep, lasting emotional bond with whomever you choose to be your Valentine. And with Venus in Aquarius in your 5th House of Dating and Pleasure, you can expect plenty of suitors to choose from! The best part will be that whomever captures your heart will be your friend first, and then your lover. A perfect foundation for true love indeed!

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

Sexy Mars will be in your 5th House of Love and Pleasure on Valentine’s Day. As a result, you’ll have an extraordinary ability to attract the object of your desire and enjoy playing the game of love with someone special. Your first priority this Valentine’s Day will be the pursuit of pleasure, and because Mars is in soul mate-seeking Pisces, you’re not interested in the average one night stand. Nope, you want the fairy tale romance. Lucky you, Mars is moving towards a perfect trine with Saturn in your sign. This aspect will peak two days after Valentine’s Day, but you will certainly feel its effects now.  Your deepest romantic longing will have every chance to materialize. Love potion anyone?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

This Valentine’s Day, quite possibly more than most, you’ll get the distinct feeling that you need love. Not in a needy sort of way (that’s never your style), but rather in an “I want to be squeezed, cuddled and loved for ME” sort of way. Well, here’s the good news: Your wish is the Universe’s command. The Moon will be in your true love sector, making a brilliant link to both the Sun and Venus, now in your 3rd House of Communication. Expressing your feelings to the one you love should be quite natural, and you might feel the urge to write your sweetheart a letter that conveys exactly what your heart feels. Expect a declaration of love in return.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

You’re in a deep process of personal metamorphosis, thanks to Pluto’s tour through your 1st House of Identity. When it comes to relationships, you might have already discarded old, outworn patterns in an effort to pursue the type of partnership that leaves room for personal growth. You’re learning that control isn’t an ingredient in a healthy relationship, and romance might not exactly be your first priority this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re in a relationship or single, you’ll have an opportunity to convey your thoughts about love vs. unhealthy obsession to someone close. He or she is likely to benefit from your wisdom. So will you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)

With the Sun and Venus in your sign, your magnetism is off the charts! This Valentine’s Day, your sweetheart will love you most for everything that sets you apart. Whether it’s the strange color you decide to dye your hair, the latest tattoo you get in the name of love, or just the unusual way you walk, you can expect plenty of verbal compliments from someone close. You might receive a love letter or poem from your Valentine and you can definitely expect to have a conversation with your mate that makes your heart beat a little faster!

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)

Are you pining away on a secret crush? Is there an experience of unrequited love that threatens to ruin your Valentine’s Day happiness? Not to worry, even if this is true you’ll have an ability to focus on a higher love this year. You might choose to spend today doing something charitable to help someone in need. This might have to do with volunteering to spend the day at an elderly care facility celebrating Valentine’s Day with someone who might truly feel lonely now. Your compassion will make a difference. You know better than most that if you spread love, you gain love in return.

Calendar of the Moon for February 14th

Calendar of the Moon

 

14 Nion/Anthesterion

Day of the Gorse Plant

Color: Tan or .
Element: Earth.
Altar: Upon a cloth of tan or dun set a bundle of dried gorse twigs and leaves, a single tan candle, a pot of soil, seeds, a bowl of water, and a bell.
Offerings: . Make an effort to subdue a troublesome habit.
Daily Meal: Vegan.

Invocation to the Green Man of the Gorse Plant

Hail, Green Man of the Spring!
Gorse plant with its prickles,
Furze who waves its indignant head
At our trampling ankles,
Belligerent as the strongest spring gale,
You remind us that nature
Is not always helpless,
And has a right to its territory.
You remind us that there are places
We have no right to walk
Unaware and thoughtless
Treading all that comes into our path
With no thought for smaller lives.
We bless your prickles, guardian
Of small pathways and hedges,
Protector of tiny beasts
And the untrodden ways,
Shrieking cormorant who drives off
All who are disrespectful of her nest.
We hail you, sacred gorse plant,
Green Man of the Spring,
On this your eve of awakening.

Chant:
I guard the paths of sunlight,
I guard the little mysteries,
I guard those joys of daily life
That come not into histories.

(Each comes forward and plants a seed in the pot of soil, saying, “Hail Green Man of the Earth!” Water is poured onto the pot, and then the rest is poured out as a libation. Ring bell and dismiss.)

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Calendar of the Sun for February 14th

Calendar of the Sun

14 Solmonath

Lupercalia

Color: Black and red
Element: Earth
Altar: Drape with black and set with the figures of wolves and a straw goat. There should also be a shallow bowl filled with the blood of a recently slaughtered animal, and a knife in the blood, and a goatskin whip.
Offerings: Cakes baked of “mola salsa”, heavily salted meal from the first ears of  harvested during the last year. An agreement to  the predator and prey within you.
Daily Meal: Goat meat. Bread or cooked grains.

Lupercalia Invocation

Within us is the goat
Who is sacrificed
Who gives up its life
Who is torn apart
That others may live.
Within us is the wolf
That does the tearing,
Who is pitiless,
Who is implacable,
Who is the life for which
The prey lays it own down.
We are both wolf and goat
And to devalue one
Is to shame the other.

Call and Response:
Hail, Creature of Prey, Sacrificed One!
Hail, Predator who accepts the sacrifice!
Hail, Pan, Goat-God who runs on swift hooves!
Hail, Loba, Wolf-Goddess, who pursues him!
May we fear no pain!
May we fear no pain!
May we fear no !

(Two who have been chosen to do the work of the ritual stand naked before the altar. One takes the whip and whips the open presented palms of each person, saying, “Let the spirit of the Goat come into you.” The other takes the bloody knife and carefully wipes it across the foreheads of everyone present, saying, “Let the spirit of the Wolf come into you.” All join in a group howl.)

[Pagan Book of Hours]

The Witches Correspondences for Thursday, February 14th

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The Witches Correspondences for Thursday, February 14th

 

Magickal Intentions: Luck, Happiness, Health, Legal Matters, Male Fertility, Treasure and Wealth, Honor, Riches, Clothing Desires, Leadership, Public Activity, Power and Success Incense: Cinnamon, Must, Nutmeg and Sage
Planet: Jupiter
Sign: Sagittarius and Pisces
Angel: Sachiel
Colors: Purple, Royal Blue and Indigo
Herbs/Plants: Cinnamon, Beech, Buttercup, Coltsfoot, Oak
Stones: Sugilite, Amethyst, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire
Oil: (Jupiter) Clove, Lemon Balm, Oak moss, Star Anise

Jupiter presides over Thursday. The vibrations of this day attune well to all matters involving material gain. Use them for working rituals that entail general success, accomplishment, honors and awards, or legal issues. These energies are also helpful in matters of luck, gambling, and prosperity.

The Witches Almanac for Thursday, February 14th

The Witches Almanac for Thursday, February 14th

*Thursday (Jupiter): Expansion, money, prosperity, and generosity.*

Valentine’s Day

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: Jasmine

Color: Green

 

When we love, it isn’t because the person’s perfect, it’s because we learn to see an imperfect person perfectly.

                                                                                               ——Jessica

Last night I looked up at the stars and matched each one with a reason why I love you. I was doing great until I ran out of stars.

                                                                                              ——-Kelsi

February 14th is Best for…..

Bake, Cut Firewood, Mow to Increase Growth, Dig Holes

Gardening Calendar

February 14th – February 15th

Seeds Planted Now Will Grow Poorly and Yield Little

Fishing Calendar

February 14th    Fishing Is Forecasted Poor In The Evening

Moon’s Astrological Place In The Zodiac & It’s Association With the Body

February 14th       Aries     “Ram”      In the Head and Face

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Lots of Love To All My Favorite Family & Friends of The WOTC!

Love is in the Air!

You can feel it magickally swirling all around us!

That is the joy of being a Witch, we can feel things that others can’t. We can see things others can’t. We can feel the love, we can see its’ gentle glimmer in the rays of sunshine.

Oh, what a lovely day!

Wishing all, A Very Happy & Love Filled Valentine’s Day!

THE WOTC

 

 

 

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A Little Humor for Your Day – Top Thirteen Reasons To Be Pagan

Pentagram_by_artgeza_II

Top Thirteen Reasons To Be Pagan

13. I live for persecution!
12. I’m a night person at heart.
11. We respect our elders…and alders, and willows and oaks.
10. I just love explaining that a pentagram is NOT evil.
9. We do more after midnight than most people do all day!
8. Being burned at the stake is a great way to roast marshmallows.
7. We can talk to Elvis (and he IS dead).
6. You live, you learn, you die, you forget. Then you come back…
5. Double the deities, double the fun!
4. We get more holidays.
3. Brooms get great mileage.
2. We were here first!
1. BELTANE!!!

Power Animals for Your Sun Sign

Power Animals for Your Sun Sign

 

Every sun sign is associated with several power animals that can help, guide,  and teach us throughout our lives. Yours may surprise you! Find out which  horoscope animals are your special allies here:

You may want to honor your sun sign’s animals by bringing small pictures or  figurines of them into your life, and thinking about their special and helpful  qualities.

Aries, March 21-April 19: Ram, tiger, leopard, stallion, vulture, magpie,  robin.

Taurus, April 20-May 21: Bull, cow, dove, sparrow, swan.

Gemini, May 22-June 20: Dog, squirrel, serpent, parrot, linnet, eagle,  finch.

Cancer, June 21-July 22: Crab, otter, seal, stag, heifer, unicorn, seagull,  owl, white peacock.

Leo, July 23- Aug 22: Lion, wolf, griffin, peacock, rooster, eagle.

Virgo, Aug 23-Sept 22: Rooster, squirrel, magpie, parrot.

Libra, Sept 23-Oct 22: Hart, hare, dove, swan, sparrow.

Scorpio, Oct 23-Nov 21: Scorpion, wolf, panther, dog, wild boar, eagle,  vulture, dragon, griffin, phoenix.

Sagittarius, Nov 22-Dec 21: Mare, lion, unicorn, eagle, peacock, bird of  paradise.

Capricorn, Dec 22-Jan 19: Dog, elephant, goat, bear, owl, falcon.

Aquarius, Jan 20-Feb 18: Dog, otter, cuckoo, albatross, phoenix.

Pisces, Feb 19-March 20: Sheep, ox, seal, swan, stork, sandpiper.

 

Your Charm for February 13th is The Food Charm

Your Charm for Today

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Today’s Meaning:

Your health vibration is very high! You are energetic and feel you can accomplish anything. This aspect reflects positive vibrations due to diet. This will continue for a few weeks.

General Description:  

The Lamas of Tibet encourage all sorts of magic. Their religion is a form of Buddhism, introduced into Tibet about 750 A.D. It is corrupted with the worship of demons, and many curious magical beliefs. The Food Charm is used to stamp the form of their god Buddha on their food for protection against the powers of evil, and for happiness, both of the physical and spiritual body. The device shows the god Buddha probably surrounded with the emblematic circle of rice, which in Tibet means the Wheel of Life, or misfortunes roll off, and good fortune rolls on.

Valentine’s Day: Another Kind of Love

Valentine’s Day: Another Kind of Love

Spread love to everyone during this Aquarian holiday

Jeff Jawer   Jeff Jawer on the topics of love, insight, blogs, astrology

Valentine’s Day is Thursday, February 14. The holiday that celebrates romantic love seems to have nothing to do with the saint for which it was named. Its association with amour began in the 14th Century, about 1000 years after the death of St. Valentine. Although it’s a great way to sell chocolate and flowers and, hopefully, to open hearts, the astrological association with the holiday is almost as strange as its connection with a martyred priest.

The Sun is always in Aquarius on February 14. This is the sign of the Water Bearer but it’s not a sentimental Water sign. Aquarius is an Air sign characterized more by the head than the heart. Aquarius is about friendship, community and collective ideals rather than couples. It tends to be chilly, using the intellect to step back from the messy world of feelings to achieve understanding with the mind. Aquarian love is universal rather than personal and usually needs some emotional breathing space and independence to counter the confinement of intimacy.

Valentine’s Day, like Aquarius, is more about an idea than about reality. Its origins in the 14th Century reflect the romanticism of the Middle Ages … which was a model for spiritual rather than erotic love. (Robert Johnson’s book “We” is a good source of information on this subject.) Romantic yearning represented a desire for a divine connection, not personal pleasure. The partner was a symbol for God and the desire to experience sacred union. This model comes closer to Aquarius because it’s an ideal instead of a physical reality.

A higher plane of love

But the myth of romance has permeated culture for so many centuries that we’ve lost sight of its higher meaning. The unspoken expectation of becoming complete within a relationship is bound to produce disappointment. While personal love can be a delicious affirmation of our desirability, and intimacy serves as a bulwark against isolation, human partnerships usually fall short of our highest hopes. The familial, emotional, physical and financial connections we share within them have their divine moments but cannot confer immortality or answer life’s biggest metaphysical questions.

Romantic love comes with strings attached. Desire, jealousy, conflicting values and contrasting tastes are tests for even the most harmonious couples. Chocolate, flowers, champagne, a good dinner and great sex go a long way to erasing the illusion of our separateness but cannot eliminate it entirely. And depending on one person as the source of love is not an Aquarian formula for fulfillment … being part of a community is.

The sign of self-less love

One connection Aquarius has with romantic love is its opposition to Leo. The Lion is the sign of the heart and represents the personal experience of amour. It’s the rising of excitement we feel in the chest when someone arouses our feelings. It is the expression of affection that flatters others and warms ourselves. Yet if Leo is the heart, Aquarius is the circulatory system. The Water Bearer distributes, which is an important message about another kind of love. It is the love of humanity, called “agape” by the Greeks.

Agape aligns with Aquarius’ community consciousness and represents a less personal but equally noble expression of the human heart. Giving to others without expecting anything return is generosity of the highest order. It is a reminder that a truly Aquarian Valentine’s Day gift would be a contribution to a charity or acting as a volunteer for an organization. We can still give our chocolates and flowers for personal romance but contributing to people in other ways will make this day of love even more complete.

Single on Valentine’s Day? No Worries

Single on Valentine’s Day? No Worries

Celebrate yourself on this day of love

Sally Philips   Sally Philips on the topics of valentines day, love, astrology
Have you been dreading Valentine’s Day? Well, get over it! Cupid wants you to celebrate love in all of its manifestations, not just the romantic variety. As a single person, you have energy for loving friendships (which you might not have time for if you were part of a couple), so you have much to be grateful for.

Here are some tips for how each zodiac sign can use Valentine’s Day to affirm that a partner isn’t necessary when it comes to celebrating love — and a few suggestions for attracting a date as well!

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

If you’re single and loving it, more power to you … but if want to find a partner, try making this holiday your Valentine’s New Year. Write resolutions about new ways you can reach out while having fun in the coming year. Get psyched up and create a positive attitude. The world is your romantic oyster!

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

You could use some pampering on this special day, so take yourself to a spa to enjoy a head-to-toe beauty treatment, massage or soak in a hot tub. Be your own best date by treating yourself to whatever sensual delights tickle your fancy. Invite a close friend along and indulge together.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

If you get the urge to call your friends and whine about your single status, go ahead. Get chatty and vent all you want … but whatever you do, resist the temptation to ring up your ex or that hottie you’ve got your eye on. Wait for another day to make those calls, when your emotions aren’t so volatile.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

You’re one of the world’s biggest romantics, so don’t let being single stop you from celebrating love. Arrange a gift or card exchange in your circle of friends and invite them over for a Valentine’s party. Bake cookies and deck out the house in red hearts and candlelight. Declare a toast to the loving friendships that sustain you.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)

Okay, Leo, you may not have a date this year, but you can still spread some cheer. Offer to babysit your friends’ kids. Parents of young children often have trouble finding time for romance in their busy lives, so help them out. You won’t be alone, and you’ll have fun playing with their kiddos.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

This is going to sound crazy, but this might be the perfect day to clean and reorganize your space. De-cluttering improves Feng Shui, which creates chi (vital energy) that can help attract more magic into your life. If you’re looking for a relationship, enhance the southwest sector of your bedroom with gemstones, crystals and candles.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)

Being single isn’t easy for you, Libra. If you’re feeling sorry for yourself, here’s a sure-fire way to cheer up: help someone less fortunate than yourself. Seniors are often lonely, and not just on Valentine’s Day, so see if you can volunteer at a senior center in your neighborhood. Or, look for a church or non-profit group that could use your help.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

You love intrigue and the little white lies behind it, so find an online florist and order a bouquet of flowers to be sent to you at your workplace. Or have a local candy store deliver a big box of chocolates. Sign the card “From Your Secret Admirer.” The water cooler gossip will keep you amused all day.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

Recharge your batteries by taking a short trip. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just getting on a bus and heading to some new part of town can do the trick. Or, try this with a friend: get in your car, start driving, toss a coin at every corner and turn left (for tails) or right (for heads) accordingly. After a few tosses, have dinner wherever you end up.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

You’ve already got a handle on creating attractive energy that draws people to you. Your flair for success is irresistible. Now’s a great time to share some of the fruits of that success by treating your friends to a special event. Look for a movie, concert, comedy club or theater production you know they will enjoy.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)

Okay, so you’ve figured out that Valentine’s Day is a plot by flower shops and greeting card companies to bump up their post-Christmas sales. If you’re part of this “bah humbug” group, gather your like-minded friends and have a Valentine’s Scrooge party. Give a prize to the guest who brings the snarkiest card.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)

Today is the day to amplify the compassionate traits you are known and loved for. Reach out to a friend or family member who needs an open ear. As you listen, offer your support and help them find their way back to a more cosmic perspective. This comes naturally to you, but it isn’t always so easy for others.

Calendar of the Moon for February 13th

Calendar of the Moon

 

 

13 Nion/Anthesterion

Anthesteria Day 3: Khutroi

Color: Purple
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon a purple cloth set a great jug of water, the ship of Dionysos, a wreath of grapevines, nine , and a cauldron in which are many beans.
Offerings: Food. Feed people in the community.
Daily Meal: Beans and lentils and rice. Grains cooked with honey. Only water to drink today. A great meal should be , and many people from outside the community should be invited, especially those who are in need. If there is not room, the meal may be cooked and taken to the appropriate shelter or soup kitchen.

Khutroi Invocation

After the joy of the vine,
We come to water and work.
Water of , which washed away
Our ancestors, may you give us
Only aid, and may we not see
Your terrible aspect, drowning the millions.
Work of the world, the greatest of which
Is the giving of sustenance to those who have none.
As we come to a better understanding
Of what it is to be past childhood,
After the day of joy and mirth
We come to the threshold
Of work and toil for the good of others.
For this is truly the mark
That we have passed youth and innocence:
When we realize the Fate does not
Take care of everyone, including we ourselves,
And that we must stand in for Fate
And alter the order of the world,
Giving of ourselves that others may survive,
And thus become Fate.
On this the Day of Pots
We open our cooking fires
To the rest of the world.

(All depart and proceed to the kitchen, where the meal is prepared in silence, with all meditating upon the effort that it will take to feed all that they can, and what that means to one’s understanding of oneself as a mature being connected to the web of life.)

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Calendar of the Sun for February 13th

Calendar of the Sun

 
13 Solmonath

Parentalia

Color: Blood-red
Element: Fire
Altar: Set with a red cloth, and unlit red candles, and symbols of Mother and Father.
Offerings: Written words of thanks for one’s childhood. Be a parental mentor to someone young.
Daily Meal: Soups or stews, and bread.

Parentalia Invocation

Perhaps you gave us life,
Sowed our seed, gifted us with
Your chromosomes and genes.
Perhaps you birthed us
Or were there to greet us
As we entered the world.
Perhaps you fed us, cleaned us,
Held us when we cried,
Sang us to sleep, taught us
Many skills, or perhaps
You merely led by example.
Perhaps you were tied to us by
Or by marriage, or simply came
Into our lives when it was needed.
Perhaps you were a parent to our bodies,
Or to our minds, or to our hearts,
Or to our souls.
However it was, you were there,
And we are grateful,
For the flame you kindled
Has warmed us ever since,
And we will pass it on.

(Each steps forward,  a candle, and speaks the name of a parent, or one who has parented them, and everyone else calls it back to them, as in “I honor Maria, my stepmother who taught me to read!” “We honor Maria!” The next person lights their candle from the last one, until the ritual is over. At the end, all chant in two-part harmony the names they have spoken.)

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]

The Witches Spell for Wednesday, Feb. 13th – Love Spell number 9

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The Witches Spell for Wednesday, February 13th

Love Spell number 9

“Uniting Ladder” — a love binding spell for a new love, or to have an old love return to you.

Items Needed:

A string or thread from the target’s clothing about 9 (or preferably more) inches long.

A string from your clothing of the same length A Red Candle (any type)

A tall red taper candle

A drop of the person’s scent (this would be their favorite cologne/perfume, after shave, shampoo, whatever they smell like the most)

Dried rose petals

Vanilla extract, about 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce)

A rose quartz (washed in hot soapy water and rinsed well)

1 ounce of rum

2 cups of fresh water (spring water, rainwater, collected dew, and distilled water, whatever you prefer)

Salt (any type)

Incense (any type but musk or vanilla are appropriate)

Glass phial or bottle

Maintain focus on your target coming to you in love during the entire working and as often as you can until the spell is fulfilled.

Potion Preparation: Bring the fresh water to a boil for 5 minutes. Turn down the heat very low so the mixture stays warm but does not boil. Add the rose petals while saying:

‘Dancing on the wind I go,

To aid ________’s love to flow

His/her love will now fully bloom

His/her desire for me will come soon!’

Reconfirm your focus of the target loving you and coming to you. Add the vanilla extract while saying:

‘Sweet charm, not meant to harm,

Evoke his/her desire to take my arm.

Deep within him/her I summon it,

To come to me as I see fit!’

Reconfirm your focus; remove the mixture from the stove. Add a pinch of salt while saying:

‘No one may interfere magickally,

This spell can only be undone by me.’

Reconfirm your focus; add the ounce of rum while saying:

‘Drunk with love he/she will come to me,

No other love will he/she see.

Our love will grow in purity,

And once it is true, this spell is set free.’

Let the mixture cool and put it in a nice glass bottle with the rose quartz. This should be a bottle that has an appealing shape and is worthy of containing such a potion. (Do not use a bottle that used to contain something strong smelling like cologne) Now comes the actual spell casting, so far you have completed the potion, which is an ingredient of the actual spell.

Timing: This part of the working should start about 15 minutes before sunrise on a Friday. It should be concluded by 1 hour after sunrise so make sure you know it from start to finish in your mind. Check the almanac (on the links page) or your local weather station for exact sunrise times.

Begin: Clear an open area that you can work in and are comfortable in, this should be approximately a 6-foot diameter space. You should not feel cramped. Find some sort of table with at least 1-foot of top surface space. Place the table in the center of the area you have cleared and assemble the two candles, the strings, the potion, a bowl of salt, incense, target’s scent (cologne, etc)

Armed with the salt and starting in the north of your working area, cast a circle by making a salt circle. Cast is clockwise (deosil) while saying:

‘I cast this circle to protect me from bane.

I cast this circle to contain my energy until it is open.

The circle is strong and will hold true.’

Light the red candle and facing south say:

‘Burning passion and desire,

Arise in _______ like a burning fire!’

Place the candle on the table, pick up the taper candle and anoint it with the target’s scent. With the cologne or whatever on your index finger, start in the middle of the candle and move down. Go all around the candles bottom half-only rubbing in downward strokes. Now start in the middle again and rub up to the wick all around the candle only in upward strokes. Focus on your target coming to you in love.

Take both strings, hold them together and tie a knot at one end while focusing and saying:

‘I bind this knot and bring _____ ‘s love.’

Tie another knot at the opposite end of the parallel strings while saying:

‘I bind this knot and bring ______’s desire.’

Tie another knot near the first one on the opposite side:

‘I bind this knot and bring ______’s faithfulness.’

Tie another knot next to the second one you tied:

‘I bind ______’s love to me.’

Another next to the third one you tied:

‘Come to me, so mote it be!’

Wrap the cord around the anointed taper at the base and light it while saying:

‘The fire of love burns in his heart!’

Light the incense while saying:

‘This smoke does hereby evoke,

His commitment to me that he cannot revoke!’

Sit and focus on your goal, you may wish to chant the following:

‘________ to me, so mote it be.’

After a few minutes, pick up the red candle and let three drops of wax fall on the bottle of potion (not in it, just on the lid or glass) and say:

‘This spell is sealed!’

Put down the candle, remove the knotted cord, open the potion and dip the cord into it once while saying:

‘I infuse this cord,

The spell is stored.

So long as knots remain,

His/her love for me will never wane.’

Recap the potion and hold it above the incense so that smoke surrounds it. Turn it so the smoke reaches all sides and say:

‘This smoke seals his love for me!’

Repeat the ‘smudging’ with incense for the knotted core and say:

‘His love is bound!’

Place all items back on the table and go around the circle counterclockwise (widdershins) while saying:

‘The circle is open,

The spell is released.

His/her love for me,

Will never cease!’

Take the potion outside so that sunlight will infuse it. Set it in the sun for as long as remains of the hour past sunrise. Take the potion in and store it in a safe space. Each day place a drop of the potion on your forehead, each breast and your groin area (4 drops total) carry the cord with you at all times and keep it near you when you sleep. Do not let anyone else see it. You can optionally store the cord in a safe space. Whenever the opportunity arises, sneak a FEW, 3 is best, drops of the potion is food or drink that your target will consume.

This will work, but when is hard to determine as it depends on many factors, among them, your personal power and confidence, timing, the target’s will, etc.

The Witches Correspondences for Wednesday, February 13th

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The Witches Correspondences for Wednesday, February 13th

 

Magickal Intentions: Communication, Divination, Writing, Knowledge, Business Transactions, Debt, Fear, Loss, Travel and Money Matters
Incense: Jasmine, Lavender, Sweet Pea
Planet: Mercury
Sign: Virgo
Angel: Raphael
Colors: Orange, Light Blue, Grey, Yellow and Violet
Herbs/Plants: Fern, Lavender, Hazel, Cherry, Periwinkle
Stones: Aventurine, Bloodstone, Hematite, Moss Agate and Sodalite
Oil: (Mercury) Benzoin, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Lavender

This day is governed by Mercury. Wednesday’s vibration adds power to rituals involving inspiration, communications, writers, poets, the written and spoken word, and all matters of study, learning, and teaching. This day also provides a good time to begin efforts involving self-improvement or understanding.