March 30 Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Historical Events

240 BC 1st recorded perihelion passage of Halley’s Comet

804 Ludger becomes 1st Bishop of Münster in the Holy Roman Empire

988 Boudouin IV with the Beard becomes earl of Flanders

1282 The people of Sicily rebel against the Angevin king Charles I, in what becomes known as the Sicilian Vespers

1296 Edward I sacks Berwick-upon-Tweed, during armed conflict between Scotland and England

1422 Ketsugan, Zen teacher, performs exorcisms to free aizoji temple

1456 Prince Louis of Bourbon elected Bishop of Liege

1474 Duke Sigismund of Tirol ends contacts with Switzerland

1856 The Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Great Britain, France and the Kingdom of Sardinia sign the Treaty of Paris ending the Crimean War

1867 Alaska Purchase: US buys Alaska from Russia for $7,200,000 ($109 million in 2018), roughly 2 cents an acre

1870 15th Amendment to the US constitution is adopted, guarantees right to vote regardless of race

1959 Dalai Lama flees China and is granted political asylum in India

1972 Northern Ireland’s Government and Parliament dissolved by the British Government and ‘direct rule’ from Westminster is introduced

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1894 George Bernard Shaw‘s comedy play “Candida” premieres at Theatre Royal, South Shields, England

1895 British inventor Birt Acres films Oxford and Cambridge boat race

1946 3rd Golden Globes: “The Lost Weekend” and its star Ray Milland, & Ingrid Bergman win

1955 27th Academy Awards: “On the Waterfront”, Marlon Brando & Grace Kelly win

1959 WNED TV channel 17 in Buffalo, NY (PBS) begins broadcasting

1966 “Color Me Barbra”, Barbra Streisand‘s second TV special and the first in color, premieres on CBS

1970 American television soap opera “Another World in Somerset” premieres on NBC, runs until 1976

1972 Revival of Stephen Sondheim‘s musical-comedy “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, starring Phil Silvers, opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NYC; runs for 156 performances and wins 2 Tony Awards

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1866 Bedřich Smetana’s comic opera”Verkaufte Braut” (The Bartered Bride) premieres at Prague Provisional Theatre

1946 Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer‘s musical “St Louis Woman”, starring Pearl Bailey and featuring the Nicholas Brothers, opens at Martin Beck Theater, NYC; runs for 113 performances

1951 1st performance of Walter Piston‘s 4th Symphony commissioned to mark the University of Minnesota’s centennial, debuts by the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti conducting

1952 6th Tony Awards: “The Fourposter” (play) and “The King & I” (musical) win

1967 Cover picture of Beatles’ “Sgt Pepper’s lonely hearts Club Band” album is photographed by Michael Cooper

1970 Columbia Records releases jazz artist Miles Davis‘s influential double album “Bitches Brew”; it becomes his highest charting title, wins a Grammy, and earns him his 1st gold record

1970 Strouse, Adams, Comden & Green’s musical “Applause”, an adaptation of the 1950 film “All About Eve”, starring Lauren Bacall, opens at the Palace Theatre, NYC; runs for 896 performances, and wins 4 Tony and 3 Drama Desk Awards

1978 “History of the American Film” opens at ANTA Theater NYC for 21 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1883 45th Grand National: Austrian breeder, owner Count Karel Kinsky rides Zoedone to 10 length win; only 10 starters, the smallest GN field in history; first winning jockey from outside Britain and Ireland

1894 56th Grand National: Jockey Arthur Nightingall wins his second GN aboard 5/1 joint favourite Why Not

1900 62nd Grand National: Algy Anthony wins aboard Ambush II; owner is Prince Of Wales (King Edward VII)

1906 68th Grand National: Aubrey Hastings wins aboard 20/1 shot Ascetic’s Silver

1916 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Arena, Westmount, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens (NHA) beat Portland Rosebuds (PCHA), 2-1 for a 3-2 series victory

1918 Stanley Cup, Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, ON: Toronto Arenas (NHL) beat Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA), 2-1 for a 3-2 series victory; first series contested by the new NHL

1925 Stanley Cup Final, Patrick Arena, Victoria, BC: Victoria Cougars (WCHL) beat Montreal Canadiens (NHL), 6-1 for a 3-1 series win; last non-NHL team to win trophy

1928 87th Grand National: Mr. William Dutton aboard 100/1 long-shot Tipperary Tim wins as all of the 41 other starters fall during the race

March 28th Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

364 Roman Emperor Valentinian I appoints his brother Flavius Valens co-emperor

1854 Great Britain and France declare war on Russia, expanding the Crimean War

1939 Spanish Civil War ends, Madrid falls to the Nationalists headed by Francisco Franco

1946 Cold War: The United States State Department releases the Acheson-Lilienthal Report, outlining a plan for the international control of nuclear power.

Today’s Historical Events

37 Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, better known as Caligula (which means “little soldier’s boots”), accepts the titles of the Principate, entitled to him by the Senate

193 Roman Emperor Pertinax is assassinated by Praetorian Guards, who then sell the throne in an auction to Didius Julianus.

364 Roman Emperor Valentinian I appoints his brother Flavius Valens co-emperor

519 Pope Hormisdas reunites the Eastern and Western church, ending the Acacian schism in a ceremony in the cathedral of Constantinople

1535 Bloemkamp Abbey (Oldeklooster) attacked & destroyed in Friesland

1556 Origin of Fasli Era (India)

1556 Philip II of Spain is formally crowned King of Spain

1566 Foundation stone laid for the new city of La Valletta in Malta by Knights Hospitaller Grand Master Jean de Valette

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1935 Influential Nazi Propaganda film “Triumph of the Will” released showing Nuremberg rallies, commissioned by Adolf Hitler and directed by Leni Riefenstahl

1948 2nd Tony Awards: “Mister Roberts” (Play); Henry Fonda (Actor) and Joshua Logan (Director) win

1953 KCAU TV channel 9 in Sioux City, IA (ABC) begins broadcasting

1954 WKAQ TV channel 2 in San Juan, PR (TM) begins broadcasting

1969 Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate Giorgos Seferis makes a famous statement on the BBC World Service opposing the junta in Greece

1971 Last original edition of “The Ed Sullivan Show” broadcasts on CBS-TV

1977 49th Academy Awards: “Rocky”, Peter Finch & Faye Dunaway win

1979 Frank Lazarus & Dick Vosburgh’s stage musical comedy “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in Ukraine” premieres at the Mayfair Theatre, London, England

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1859 1st performance of Johannes Brahms‘ 1st Serenade for orchestra

1896 Umberto Giordano’s opera “Andrea Chenier” premieres at La Scala, Milan with Giuseppe Borgatti singing the title role

1930 1st performance of Walter Piston‘s Suite for orchestra (Boston)

1953 “New Faces (of 1952)” closes at Royale Theater NYC after 365 performances

1953 7th Tony Awards: “The Crucible” (Outstanding Play) & “Wonderful Town” (Outstanding Musical) win

1954 8th Tony Awards: “Teahouse of the August Moon” (Best Play) & “Kismet” (Best Musical) win

1964 Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London unveils figures of The Beatles; they later appear on the Sgt. Pepper album cover

1967 “Sherry!” opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 65 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1879 41st Grand National: Garry Moore aboard 5/1 chance The Liberator wins by 2 lengths from Jackal

1884 46th Grand National: Ted Wilson aboard 10/1 shot Voluptuary wins by 4 lengths from Frigate

1890 52nd Grand National: Arthur Nightingall wins aboard 4/1 favourite Ilex

1891 1st world weightlifting championship won by Edward Lawrence in London, England

1919 78th Grand National: Ernie Piggott wins aboard Poethlyn; shortest price winner in history at 11-4

1922 Stanley Cup Final, Mutual Street Arena, Toronto, ON: Toronto St Patricks (NHL) beat Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA), 5-1 for a 3-2 series win

1924 83rd Grand National: Bob Trudgill wins aboard 25/1 shot Master Robert; last GN from a general riding start, now-familiar ‘tape’ introduced the following year.

1933 1st SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament: Kentucky beats Mississippi State, 46-27

March 27th Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1513 Spaniard Juan Ponce de León and his expedition first sight Florida

1625 Charles I, King of England, Scotland and Ireland ascends the English throne

1914 1st successful non-direct blood transfusion is performed by Dr. Albert Hustin in Brussels

1958 Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet Premier as well as First Secretary of the Communist Party

1977 583 die in aviation’s worst ever disaster when two Boeing 747s collide at Tenerife airport in Spain

Today’s Historical Events

196 BC Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt.

1003 Peace deal signed between Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor and the pagan Wends (Slavs)

1309 Pope Clement V excommunicates Venice and all its population.

1329 Pope John XXII issues his ‘In Agro Dominico’ condemning some writings of Meister Eckhart as heretical.

1351 Battle of the Thirty: 30 English and 30 Breton knights and squires square off using swords, maces, lances and daggers – considered one of the most chivalrous battles in history

1513 Spaniard Juan Ponce de León and his expedition first sight Florida

1599 English nobleman Robert Devereux becomes Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

1613 The first English child born in Canada at Cuper’s Cove, Newfoundland to Nicholas Guy

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1931 Charlie Chaplin receives France’s distinguished Legion of Honor

1943 Blue Ribbon Town (with Groucho Marx) 1st heard on CBS Radio

1950 WHAS TV channel 11 in Louisville, Kentucky (CBS) begins broadcasting

1951 Frank Sinatra records “I’m a Fool to Want You”

1952 “Singin’ in the Rain”, musical comedy directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in NYC

1955 Steve McQueen makes his network TV debut (Goodyear Playhouse, episode “The Chivington Raid”)

1955 WPRI TV channel 12 in Providence, Rhode Island (ABC) begins broadcasting

1957 29th Academy Awards: “Around World in 80 Days”, Ingrid Bergman, Yul Brynner win

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1808 Joseph Haydn’s oratorio “Die Schopfung” premieres in Vienna

1910 Fire during a barn-dance in Ököritófülpös, Hungary, killed 312

1945 Ella Fitzgerald and Delta Rhythm Boys record the Harold Arlen-Yip Harburg-Billy Rose song “It’s Only a Paper Moon”

1948 Just 11 days after being released from prison, Billie Holiday plays in front of a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall

1950 Jazz pianist Erroll Garner‘s solo concert (Cleveland, Ohio)

1955 9th Tony Awards: “The Desperate Hours” (play) & “The Pajama Game” (musical) win

1971 David Heneker and John Taylor’s musical “Charlie Girl” close at the Adelphi Theatre, London, after 2,202 performances

1973 Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) stopped for speeding and LSD possession

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1871 First international rugby union match – Scotland beats England, 1-0 at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh

1873 35th Grand National: J. M. Richardson wins aboard 20/1 shot Disturbance by 6 lengths from Rhyshworth

1885 47th Grand National: Jockey Ted Wilson wins his second consecutive GN aboard 10/3 favourite Roquefort

1896 58th Grand National: Former owner David Campbell wins aboard 40/1 outsider The Soarer

1903 65th Grand National: Percy Woodland aboard 13/2 chance Drumcree wins by 3 lengths from Detail

1908 70th Grand National: Henry Bletsoe wins aboard American 66/1 outsider Rubio

1914 76th Grand National: Bill Smith aboard Sunloch wins by 8 lengths from Trianon III

1925 84th Grand National: Major John Wilson wins aboard 100/9 shot Double Chance; first year a tape, known then as a ‘gate’, used at the start line

Witchcraft Symbols, Terms and Definitions – Seax Wica

Seax Wica

From thoughtcatalog.com

Seax Wica is one tradition of Wicca. The symbol of this tradition, also called the the Seax Wica, refers to the moon, the sun, and the eight Wiccan holidays (like Samhain, winter solstice, autumn equinox).

Represents: the moon, the sun, the seasons, the Seax Wica tradition.

Used in rituals for: the Seax Wica tradition.

Correspondences for Sunday, March 25 c. 2019

 

Correspondences for Sunday

Magickal Intentions: Growth, Advancements, Enlightenment, Rational Thought, Exorcism, Healing, Prosperity, Hope, Exorcism, Money

Incense: Lemon, Frankincense

Planet: Sun

Sign: Leo

Angel: Michael

Colors: Gold, Yellow, Orange and White

Herbs/Plants: Marigold, Heliotrope, Sunflower, Buttercup, Cedar, Beech, Oak

Stones: Carnelian, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Amber, Clear Quartz and Red Agate

Oil: (Sun) Cedar, Frankincense, Neroli, Rosemary

The first day of the week is ruled by the Sun. It is an excellent time to work efforts involving business partnerships, work promotions, business ventures, and professional success.

Spells where friendships, mental or physical health, or bringing joy back into life are an issue work well on this day, too

March 26 Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1027 Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II Holy Roman Emperor, founder of the Salian dynasty

1812 Earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale destroys 90% of Caracas, Venezuela and kills an estimated 15,000–20,000 people

1871 Municipal elections bring revolutionaries to power in Paris to form Commune government

1909 In support of Mohammed Ali Shah’s coup d’etat against the constitutional government in Persia, a Russian military force invades northern Persia to relieve the siege of Tabriz

1942 First “Eichmann transport” to Auschwitz & Birkenau concentration camps

1953 Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has successfully tested a vaccine to prevent Polio, clinical trials began the next year

1966 Large-scale anti-Vietnam War protests take place in the United States, including in New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago

1971 Bangladesh (East Pakistan) under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declares its independence from Pakistan

Today’s Historical Events

127 Greek astronomer and mathematician Ptolemy begins his observations of the heavens (until 141 AD)

685 Cuthbert (later Saint Cuthbert) is consecrated Bishop of Lindisfarne by Archbishop Theodore at York

1027 Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II Holy Roman Emperor, founder of the Salian dynasty

1147 Jewish community in Cologne fasts to commemorate anti-Jewish violence

1484 William Caxton prints his translation of Aesop’s Fables

1526 King Francis I returns from Spanish captivity to France

1534 Lübeck accepts free Dutch ships into East Sea

1552 Guru Amar Das becomes the Third Sikh Guru

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1938 NBC radio performance of Howard Hanson‘s 3rd Symphony

1953 “Ugetsu”, Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi, starring Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyō and Kinuyo Tanaka, is released

1958 30th Academy Awards-“The Bridge on the River Kwai” wins Best Picture, Joanne Woodward & Alec Guinness win Best Actress and Best Actor, respectively

1964 Jule Styne and Bob Merrill‘s musical “Funny Girl”, starring Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice, opens at Winter Garden Theater, New York City; runs for 1,348 performances

1969 “Marcus Welby, M.D.”, starring Robert Young and James Brolin debuts as a TV movie on ABC-TV, prior to becoming a weekly series

1970 Musical “Minnie’s Boys”, starring Shelley Winters as the mother of the Marx Brothers, and Drama Desk Award winner Lewis J. Stadlen as Groucho, opens at the Imperial Theater, New York City; runs for 80 performances

1971 “Cannon” starring William Conrad as a private detective premieres on CBS-TV; airs for 5 seasons

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1967 21st Tony Awards: “The Homecoming” (play) & “Cabaret” (musical) win

1970 Folk singer Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary) pleads guilty to “taking immoral liberties” with a 14 year old girl and serves 3 months in prison; granted a presidential pardon in 1981

1972 “Only Fools Are Sad” closes at Edison Theater NYC after 144 performances

1975 Ken Russell’s film “Tommy”, based on the rock opera by The Who, premieres in London; Roger Daltrey and Ann-Margret star, Tina Turner and Elton John are featured

1976 Wings release “Wings at the Speed of Sound” album

1977 Elvis Costello releases his 1st record “Less Than Zero”

1980 Bombay gets its 1st rock concert in 10 years (The Police)

1982 Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder release the single “Ebony & Ivory” in the UK

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1874 36th Grand National: Mr. J. M. Richardson wins his second consecutive GN aboard French 5/1 favourite Reugny

1886 48th Grand National: Tommy Skelton wins aboard 25/1 chance Old Joe

1897 59th Grand National: Terry Kavanagh aboard 6/1 favourite Manifesto wins by 20 lengths from Filbert

1909 71st Grand National: Georges Parfrement wins aboard French 100/9 hope Lutteur III

1915 77th Grand National: legendary jockey Jack Anthony wins his second of 3 GN’s aboard 100/8 bet Ally Sloper

1915 Stanley Cup Final, Denman Arena, Vancouver, BC: Barney Stanley scores 5 goals as Vancouver Millionaires beat Ottawa Senators, 12-3 for a 3-0 sweep of first non-challenge series; Vancouver first PCHA champions

1917 Stanley Cup Final, Seattle Ice Arena, Seattle, WA: Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA) beat Montreal Canadiens (NHL), 9-1 for a 3-1 series victory; first US team to win SC

1920 79th Grand National: legendary jockey Jack Anthony wins his record 3rd GN aboard 6/1 Troytown

March 25th Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

31 1st Easter, according to calendar-maker Dionysius Exiguus

1436 Florentine Cathedral Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore with then the largest dome in the world by Filippo Brunelleschi with support from Cosimo de’ Medici, consecrated by Pope Eugene IV (begun 1296)

1807 British Parliament abolishes slave trade throughout the British Empire; penalty of £120 per slave introduced for ship captains

1895 Italian troops invade Abyssinia (Ethiopia)

1960 1st guided missile launched from nuclear powered sub (Halibut)

(Side Note from Lady Carla Beltane: 1934 My Dad, Carl, was born)

Today’s Historical Events

1 Origin of Dionysian Incarnation of the Word

31 1st Easter, according to calendar-maker Dionysius Exiguus

421 Friday at 12 PM – city of Venice founded

708 Constantine begins his reign as Catholic Pope

1150 Tichborne family of Hampshire England start tradition of giving gallon of flour to residents to keep deathbed promise

1199 King Richard I (the Lion Heart) of England, is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France, leads to his death on April 6

1305 Consecration of the Scrovegni Chapel (Arena Chapel) in Padua, Italy, with fresco masterpiece by Florentine painter Giotto

1306 Robert the Bruce crowned Robert I, King of Scots, having killed his rival John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1913 Home of vaudeville, Palace Theatre, opens (NYC) starring Ed Wynn

1943 Jimmy Durante & Garry Moore premiere on radio

1954 26th Academy Awards: “From Here to Eternity” best film, William Holden & Audrey Hepburn best actor, actress

1954 RCA manufactures 1st color TV set (12½” screen at $1,000)

1963 KWHY TV channel 22 in Los Angeles, CA (IND) begins broadcasting

1968 KLVX TV channel 10 in Las Vegas, NV (PBS) begins broadcasting

1974 Barbra Streisand records the album “Butterfly”

1975 Linda Ronstadt releases cover of the Everly Brothers’ 1960 song “When Will I Be Loved” as a single; climbs to No. 2 in the charts

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1931 Hal Kemp & his orchestra record Whistles, with Skinnay Ennis

1939 Billboard Magazine introduces hillbilly (country) music chart

1946 1st performance of Igor Stravinsky‘s “Ebony Concerto”, by Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd, at Carnegie Hall, New York City

1951 5th Tony Awards: “Guys & Dolls” (musical) and “The Rose Tattoo” (play) win

1961 “13 Daughters” closes at 54th St Theater, NYC, after 28 performances

1961 “Gypsy” closes at Broadway Theater NYC after 702 performances

1961 Elvis Presley performs live on the USS Arizona

1962 “Family Affair” closes at Billy Rose Theater NYC after 65 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1876 Glasgow 1st soccer match Scotland defeat Wales (4-0)

1881 43rd Grand National: Irish jockey Tommy Beasley wins his second consecutive GN aboard 11/2 co-favourite Woodbrook

1887 49th Grand National: Bill Daniels aboard 20/1 chance Gamecock wins by 3 lengths from Savoyard

1889 1st Test Cricket match played at Newlands, Cape Town v England

1898 60th Grand National: John Gourley wins aboard 25/1 shot Drogheda

1904 66th Grand National: Arthur Birch wins aboard 25/1 New Zealand bred Moifaa; horse survives shipwreck off Ireland a year earlier

1907 Stanley Cup, Winnipeg Auditorium, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Montreal Wanderers lose to Kenora Thistles, 6-5 but win on 2 game aggregate, 12-8

1916 Jess Willard fights Frank Moran to no decision in 10 for heavyweight boxing title in NYC

Important Summertime Time Zone For Our European WOTC Families – SPRING A HEAD

In this part of the world when clocks go forward 1 hour they refer to this time period as Summertime rather than Daylight Savings time as we do in the USA and Canada.

The (Cursed?) Original Book of Witchcraft

This article was co-researched and co-written by digital library specialist Elizabeth Gettins, who also had the brilliant idea for the piece.

An ancient tome delving into the dark arts of witchcraft and magic…a book of doom…yet it lives…at the Library of Congress.

You’re forgiven if you think we’re talking about H.P. Lovecraft’s fictional book of magic, “Necronomicon,” the basis for the plot device in “The Evil Dead” films, or something Harry Potter might have found in the Dark Arts class at Hogwarts.

But, as the darkness of Halloween descends, we’re not kidding. A first edition of “The Discouerie of Witchcraft,” Reginald Scot’s 1584 shocker that outraged King James I, survives at your favorite national library in the Rare Book and Special Collections Reading Room. (The Library has a copy of the original edition, as well as a 1651 edition.)

It is believed to be the first book published on witchcraft in English and extremely influential on the practice of stage magic. Shakespeare likely researched it for the witches scene in “Macbeth.” It was consulted and plagiarized by stage magicians for hundreds of years. Today, you can peruse its dark secrets online. How could your wicked little fingers resist? Scot promises to reveal “lewde dealings of witches and witchmongers”! The “pestilent practices of Pythonists”!  The “vertue and power of natural magike”!

Also, juggling.

It is one of the  foundational examples of grimoire, a textbook on magic, groundbreaking for its time and nearly encyclopedic in its information. Scot’s research included consulting dozens of previous thinkers on various topics such as occult, science and magic, including Agrippa von Nettesheim’s “De Occulta Philosophia,” in 1531 and John Dee’s “Monas Hieroglyphica” in 1564. The result is a most impressive compendium.

But Scot wasn’t lurking about in a hooded cape, looking for eyes of newts and toes of frogs to bewitch mortals. A skeptic, he wrote to make it plain that “witches” were not evil, but instead were resourceful and capable women who practiced the art of folk healing as well as sleight of hand. Their apparently miraculous feats were in no way wicked. He wrote, “At this day it is indifferent to say in the English tongue, ‘she is a witch’ or ‘she is a wise woman.’ ”

Born in 1538 in Kent under the rule of Henry VIII, Scot was landed gentry. He was educated and a member of … Click here to read the rest of this article from blogs.loc.gov/loc

March 24th Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1603 Scottish King James VI son of Mary Queen of Scots, becomes King James I of England in succession to Elizabeth I, thus joining the English and Scottish crowns

1837 Canada gives its black citizens the right to vote

1882 German scientist Robert Koch discovers and describes the tubercle bacillus which causes tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), and establishes germ theory

1976 Argentine President Isabel Martínez de Perón is deposed in a military coup headed by Jorge Rafael Videla

2020 China’s Hubei province, the original center of the COVID-19 outbreak eases restrictions on travel after a nearly two-month lockdown

2020 Indian PM Narendra Modi orders a 21 day lockdown for world’s second most populous country of 1.3 billion people to deal with COVID-19

Today’s Historical Events

1379 End of Gelderse war victory

1401 Timur attacks city of Damascus, second city of the Mameluke Empire. Though scholar and negotiator Ibn Khaldūn‘s life spared, the city is sacked and the Umayyad Mosque destroyed.

1545 German Parliament opens in Worms

1550 France & England sign Peace of Boulogne

1603 Scottish King James VI son of Mary Queen of Scots, becomes King James I of England in succession to Elizabeth I, thus joining the English and Scottish crowns

1603 Tokugawa Ieyasu is granted the title of shogun, officially establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate which would rule Japan until 1867

1629 1st game law passed in American colonies, by Virginia

1664 Roger Williams is granted a charter to colonize Rhode Island

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1932 1st US radio broadcast from a moving train (Belle Baker WABC from MD)

1935 Major Bowes’ Original Amateur Hour goes national on NBC Radio Network

1939 “Wuthering Heights” film based on the Emily Brontë novel, directed by William Wyler and starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier, premieres in Los Angeles

1941 Glenn Miller begins work on his 1st movie “Sun Valley Serenade”, starring Sonja Henie and John Payne, for 20th Century Fox

1949 21st Academy Awards: “Hamlet”, Laurence Olivier & Jane Wyman win, Walter & John Huston become 1st father-and-son team to win awards

1962 Emile Griffith beats Benny ” Kid” Paret by TKO in 12th round in welterweight boxing title fight at MSG, NYC; Paret dies 10 days later; first use of television slow motion replay

1973 Harley Race beats Dory Funk Jr in Kansas City, to become NWA professional wrestling champ

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1721 Johann Sebastian Bach dedicates his Brandenburg Concertos to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt

1824 1st performance of Ludwig van Beethoven‘s “Missa Solemnis” in St. Petersburg

1924 1st performance of Jean Sibelius‘ 7th Symphony in C at the Konsertföreningenin in Stockholm

1934 Dmitri Shostakovich‘s Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 1 premieres in Leningrad, USSR

1955 Tennessee Williams‘ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” opens for 694 performances

1958 Elvis Presley joins the U.S. Army (serial number 53310761)

1962 Mick Jagger & Keith Richards perform as Little Boy Blue & Blue Boys

1975 New Orleans R&B piano player Professor Longhair with the Meters perform at record release party for Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Venus and Mars”, aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1876 38th Grand National: Joe Cannon aboard 25/1 chance Regal wins by a neck from Congress

1877 English FA Cup Final, Kennington Oval, London: Wanderers beat Oxford University, 2–1 (a.e.t.); Wanderers’ 4th title

1882 44th Grand National: Lord Manners aboard 10/1 shot Seaman wins in heavy snow and freezing conditions

1893 55th Grand National: Bill Dollery aboard 9/2 favourite Cloister wins by a massive 40 lengths from Aesop; owner Charles Duff fields 2 more winners 1912-13

1899 61st Grand National: George Williamson aboard 1897 winner Manifesto wins by 4 lengths from Ford Of Fyne

1911 73rd Grand National: legendary jockey Jack Anthony wins his first of 3 GN’s aboard 20/1 Glenside in torrential rain

1913 Dutch soccer forward Huug de Groot scores twice as Netherlands score first ever victory over England; 2-1 at HBS, The Hague

1922 81st Grand National: Lewis Rees aboard 100/9 chance Music Hall wins; only 5 out of 32 starters finish

Witchcraft Symbols, Terms and Definitions – Valknut

The Norse Valknut: True Origins & Meanings of the Triangle Knotfrom nordicperspective.com

The symbol we today call Valknut, or Valknútr, has long captured the fascination of people interested in Norse mythology and Viking culture. With its distinctive interwoven triangles, this symbol has been found on a variety of ancient artifacts, and has been the subject of much speculation and study. But what does the Valknut actually mean? Was it actually called Valknútr? Where did it originally come from? And was it really used by the Vikings? Let’s delve into the mysterious origins and meanings of the Valknútr and explore its place in Norse mythology, as well as its links to other symbols and enduring legacy in our modern world.

As you will learn in this article, the symbol we call Valknut may have had a completely different name during the Viking Age, i.e. when it started appearing on stones, jewelry, and wooden objects in and around Scandinavia. What that name is we do not know, so for the sake of simplicity I will refer to it as the Valknut throughout the article.

Table of contents

The Appearance of the Valknut, Earliest Known Use & Associations

Valknut Etymology: Origins and Alternative Names

What Does the Valknut Actually Mean and Symbolize? Explaining All the Theories

    1. A Symbol of the Power of Odin to Bind and Unbind the Fates of Men (The Most Likely Theory)
    2. A Symbol of The Heart of Hrungnir or Heart of the Slain (The Heart Theory)
    3. A Symbol of the Ideal, Steady Heart of the Brave Slain Hero, Dead Warriors, or That of a Worthy Adversary (The Romantic Theory)
    4. A Symbol of Life, Death, and Eternity (The Universal Theory)
    5. A Germanic Symbol of Prestige & Riches (The Scaetta Theory)
    6. A Symbol of The Nine Worlds (The Neo-Pagan Theory)

Different variations of the Valknut symbol

    1. Unicursal Valknut
    2. Tricursal Valknut

Symbols Connected to the Valknut

    1. The Triquetra of Celtic Mythology
    2. Symbols Related to Valknut in Slavic Mythology

Valknut Tattoo Designs

The Valknut in Modern-day Logotypes

    1. The German Football Association (Deutsche Fußball Bund)
    2. The massive Swedish forestry company SCA

Misappropriation of the Valknut

Common Questions

    1. Can I wear a Valknut or will it be misinterpreted by others?
    2. Why do people get Valknut tattoos?
    3. Is the Valknut authentic?
    4. Did Vikings use the Valknut?

Witchcraft Symbols, Terms and Definitions – Deosil

Today’s Word is 

Deosil 

Pagan & Magickal Terms and Definitions

From moonlitpriestess.com

Some terms listed on this page may seem like common-sense words; however, they’re defined here as most often used in Wicca, Witchcraft, and general Paganism. Some terms have a different meaning in general society, other religions, and other sub-cultures.

Please keep this in mind when learning the terms as they’re listed here.

Did you come across a term on this site or another Wiccan/Pagan source that you’re unfamiliar with or uncertain of and can’t find it on this page? Please send us a message so we can add it to this page for you!

If you already know what term you’re looking for, you can use Ctrl-F (Windows) or Cmd-F (Mac) to search. Likewise, if you’re using a tablet or smartphone, you may use your browser’s “Find” setting to search this page.

Deosil 

(jezz-il): sun-wise movement (clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere); movement associated with positive (in terms of building, increasing, etc.) magick in Wiccan traditions. [Note: A misspelling of the word “deasil”.]

Witch Vocabulary: A List of 60+ Pagan Words and Terms

From Spells8.com

Deosil

The clockwise motion of directing energy during a spell or ritual. This can be done with your hand, a wand, a knife, etc.

Magick Symbols – ITALIAN HORN

ITALIAN HORN

Also called the Cornu, Cornicello, Wiggly Horn, Unicorn horn, Lucifer’s horn, or Leprechaun staff. The ancient magical charm or amulet worn in Italy as protection against “evil eye” has also been linked to Celtic and Druid myths and beliefs. Other traditions link it to sexual power and good luck. It is often worn with a cross for double protection or luck. In pre-Christian Europe, animal horns pointed to the moon goddess and were considered sacred.

c. 2018

March 22 Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1622 First American Indian (Powhatan) massacre of Europeans in Jamestown Virginia, 347 killed

1765 Stamp Act passed; 1st direct British tax on American colonists, organized by Prime Minister George Grenville

1784 The Emerald Buddha is moved with great ceremony to its current place in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand

1832 British Parliament, led by Charles Grey, passes the Reform Act, introducing wide-ranging changes to electoral system of England and Wales, increasing electorate from about 500,000 voters to 813,000

1954 Northland Center, the world’s largest shopping mall at the time, opens in Oakpark, Michigan

1965 US confirms its troops used chemical warfare against the Vietcong

2018 US President Donald Trump imposes $60 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese imports

Today’s Historical Events

238 Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed Roman emperor

752 Stephen II elected Catholic Pope (or 23rd)

871 Battle at Marton: Ethelred van Wessex beats Danish invasion army

1349 Townspeople of Fulda, Germany massacre Jews, blaming them for the Black Death

1421 Battle of Baugé – French defeat English

1556 Cardinal Reginald Pole becomes archbishop of Canterbury

1565 Turkish Armada leaves Constantinople bound for the siege of Malta with about 193 ships

1594 French King Henry IV festival in Paris

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1895 Auguste & Louis Lumiere show their 1st movie to an invited audience

1928 Noël Coward‘s musical “This Year of Grace” premieres in London

1936 “The Great Ziegfeld” directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring William Powell and Luise Rainer premieres in Los Angeles (Best Picture 1937

1941 James Stewart is inducted into the Army, becoming the first major American movie star to wear a military uniform in World War II

1944 American movie star Jimmy Stewart flies his 12th combat mission, leading the 2nd Bomb Wing in an attack on Berlin

1956 Musical “Mr Wonderful” with Sammy Davis, Jr. and father Sammy Davis, Sr. opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 383 performances

1962 Musical “I Can Get It For You Wholesale” starring Barbra Streisand in her Broadway debut, opens at Shubert Theater, NYC; runs for 300 performances

1964 Barbra Streisand appears on the cover of NY Times Magazine section

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1957 “All Shook Up” single released by Elvis Presley

1963 The Beatles release their 1st album, “Please Please Me”

1969 “Come Summer” closes at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC after 7 performances

1971 6th Academy of Country Music Awards: Merle Haggard and Lynn Anderson win

1972 Musical “The Selling of the President” opens at Shubert Theater, NYC; runs for 5 performances

1973 Joffrey Ballet revives Diaghilev’s “Parade” at The City Center, NYC

1975 “Dr Jazz” closes at Winter Garden Theater, NYC, after 5 performances

1975 “Letter for Queen Victoria” opens at ANTA Theater NYC for 18 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1894 Stanley Cup, Victoria Rink, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Hockey Club defeats Ottawa HC, 3-1 to win 3-team challenge tournament

1896 Charilaos Vasilakos of Greece wins 1st modern marathon in 3:18 at the Panhellenic Games

1907 69th Grand National: Alf Newey wins aboard 8/1 chance Eremon

1929 88th Grand National: Robert W. H. Everett wins aboard 100/1 outsider Gregalach

1952 Wales wins Five Nations Rugby Championship, Grand Slam & Triple Crown with a 9-5 win over France at St. Helen’s Ground, Swansea

1958 20th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Kentucky beats Seattle, 84-72; Seattle’s future Hall of Fame small forward Elgin Baylor is named tournament MOP

1964 LPGA Western Open Women’s Golf, Scenic Hills CC: Carol Mann her 1st of 2 major titles by 2 shots from Ruth Jessen and Judy Kimball

1967 Muhammad Ali KOs Zora Folley in 7 for heavyweight boxing title

March 23 Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1490 1st dated edition of Maimonides “Mishneh Torah”, a code of Jewish religious law is published

1775 Patrick Henry proclaims “Give me liberty or give me death” in speech in favour of Virginian troops joining US Revolutionary war

1919 8th Congress of the Russian Communist Party re-establishes a five-member Politburo which becomes the center of political power in the Soviet Union. Original members Vladimir LeninLeon TrotskyJoseph Stalin, Lev Kamenev and Nikolai Krestinsky

1933 Enabling Act: German Reichstag grants Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers

1945 Battle of Okinawa: US Navy ships bomb the Japanese island of Okinawa in preparation for the Allied invasion; it would become the largest battle of the Pacific War in World War II

2019 Syrian Democratic Forces announce that the last Islamic State territory has been retaken raising flags in Baghuz, Syria and ending the five-year Islamic State “caliphate”

Today’s Historical Events

1026 Conrad II crowns himself King of Italy

1066 18th recorded perihelion passage of Halley’s Comet

1153 Treaty of Konstanz between Frederick I “Barbarossa” & Pope Eugene III

1174 Jocelin, abbot of Melrose, is elected bishop of Glasgow

1490 1st dated edition of Maimonides “Mishneh Torah”, a code of Jewish religious law is published

1534 Aragonese legal code formally recognised

1568 Treaty of Longjumeau: French huguenots go on strike

1579 Friesland joins Union of Utrecht

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1940 1st radio broadcast of “Truth or Consequences” on CBS

1950 22nd Academy Awards: “All The King’s Men”, Broderick Crawford and Olivia de Havilland win

1972 Geoge Harrison and Friends’ “The Concert for Bangladesh” concert film, directed by Saul Swimmer released in the US

1986 6th Golden Raspberry Awards: “Rambo: First Blood Part II” wins

1994 Howard Stern formally announces his Libertarian run for NY governor

1997 “Mandy Patinkin in Concert” closes at Lyceum Theater NYC

1997 17th Golden Raspberry Awards: “Striptease” wins

1997 WrestleMania XIII, Rosemont Horizon, IL: Undertaker beats Sycho Sid for WWF Heavyweight title

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1743 George Frideric Handel‘s oratorio “Messiah” premieres at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London

1881 Gas lamp sets fire to Théâtre Municipal” opera house in Nice, France; 70 die, and building completely destroyed

1886 Tchaikovsky‘s “Manfred” symphony premieres in Moscow, Russia, conducted by Max Erdmannsdörfer

1896 Umberto Giordano’s opera “Andrea Chénier” premieres in Milan

1901 Australian opera star Dame Nellie Melba reveals secret of her now famous toast

1923 Frank Silver and Irving Conn publish their hit song “Yes, We Have No Bananas”

1933 Kroll Opera in Berlin opens

1939 1st performance of Béla Bartók’s 2nd Violin Concerto at the Concertgebow, Amsterdam with Zoltán Székely on violin and Willem Mengelberg conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1877 39th Grand National: Fred Hobson aboard 15/1 shot Austerlitz wins by 4 lengths from Congress

1878 English FA Cup Final, Kennington Oval, London: Wanderers beat Royal Engineers, 3–1; Wanderers’ back-to-back and 5th title overall

1888 50th Grand National: George Mawson aboard 40/1 outsider Playfair easily wins by 10 lengths from Frigate

1923 82nd Grand National: Capt. Tuppy Bennett wins aboard 13-year-old 100/6 shot Sergeant Murphy; first US bred horse to win race

1930 US Ladies Figure Skating championship won by Maribel Vinson

1930 US Mens Figure Skating championship won by Roger Turner

1934 93rd Grand National: Gerry Wilson wins aboard 8/1 Golden Miller in race record 9:20.04; becomes only horse to win both UK’s premier steeplechases with Cheltenham Gold Cup victory 1934

1938 MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis frees 74 St Louis Cardinals minor league players from their contracts

Mabon History: The Second Harvest c. 2018

Mabon History: The Second Harvest

By Patti Wigington, ThoughtCo.com

The Science of the Equinox:

Two days a year, the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight. Not only that, each receives the same amount of light as they do dark — this is because the earth is tilted at a right angle to the sun, and the sun is directly over the equator. In Latin, the word equinox translates to “equal night.” The autumn equinox takes place on or near September 21, and its spring counterpart falls around March 21. If you’re in the Northern hemisphere, the days will begin getting shorter after the autumn equinox and the nights will grow longer — in the Southern hemisphere, the reverse is true.

Global Traditions:

The idea of a harvest festival is nothing new. In fact, people have celebrated it for millennia, all around the world. In ancient Greece, Oschophoria was a festival held in the fall to celebrate the harvesting of grapes for wine. In the 1700’s, the Bavarians came up with Oktoberfest, which actually begins in the last week of September, and it was a time of great feasting and merriment, still in existence today. China’s Mid-Autumn festival is celebrated on the night of the Harvest Moon, and is a festival of honoring family unity.

Giving Thanks:

Although the traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving falls in November, many cultures see the second harvest time of the fall equinox as a time of giving thanks. After all, it’s when you figure out how well your crops did, how fat your animals have gotten, and whether or not your family will be able to eat during the coming winter. However, by the end of November, there’s not a whole lot left to harvest. Originally, the American Thanksgiving holiday was celebrated on October 3, which makes a lot more sense agriculturally.

Thanksgiving was originally celebrated on October 3. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued his “Thanksgiving Proclamation”, which changed the date to the last Thursday in November. In 1939, Franklin Delano Roosevelt adjusted it yet again, making it the second-to-last Thursday, in the hopes of boosting post-Depression holiday sales. Unfortunately, all this did was confuse people. Two years later, Congress finalized it, saying that the fourth Thursday of November would be Thanksgiving, each year.

Symbols of the Season:

The harvest is a time of thanks, and also a time of balance — after all, there are equal hours of daylight and darkness. While we celebrate the gifts of the earth, we also accept that the soil is dying. We have food to eat, but the crops are brown and going dormant. Warmth is behind us, cold lies ahead.

Some symbols of Mabon include:

Mid-autumn vegetables, like squashes and gourds
Apples and anything made from them, such as cider or pies
Seeds, nuts and seed pods
Baskets, symbolizing the gathering of crops
Sickles and scythes
Grapes, vines, wine

You can use any of these to decorate your home or your altar at Mabon.

Feasting and Friends:

Early agricultural societies understood the importance of hospitality — it was crucial to develop a relationship with your neighbors, because they might be the ones to help you when your family ran out of food. Many people, particularly in rural villages, celebrated the harvest with great deals of feasting, drinking, and eating. After all, the grain had been made into bread, beer and wine had been made, and the cattle were brought down from the summer pastures for the coming winter. Celebrate Mabon yourself with a feast — and the bigger, the better!

Magic and Mythology:

Nearly all of the myths and legends popular at this time of the year focus on the themes of life, death, and rebirth. Not much of a surprise, when you consider that this is the time at which the earth begins to die before winter sets in!

Demeter and Her Daughter

Perhaps the best known of all the harvest mythologies is the story of Demeter and Persephone. Demeter was a goddess of grain and of the harvest in ancient Greece. Her daughter, Persephone, caught the eye of Hades, god of the underworld. When Hades abducted Persephone and took her back to the underworld, Demeter’s grief caused the crops on earth to die and go dormant. By the time she finally recovered her daughter, Persephone had eaten six pomegranate seeds, and so was doomed to spend six months of the year in the underworld. These six months are the time when the earth dies, beginning at the time of the autumn equinox.

Inanna Takes on the Underworld

The Sumerian goddess Inanna is the incarnation of fertility and abundance. Inanna descended into the underworld where her sister, Ereshkigal, ruled. Erishkigal decreed that Inanna could only enter her world in the traditional ways — stripping herself of her clothing and earthly posessions. By the time Inanna got there, Erishkigal had unleashed a series of plagues upon her sister, killing Inanna. While Inanna was visiting the underworld, the earth ceased to grow and produce. A vizier restored Inanna to life, and sent her back to earth. As she journeyed home, the earth was restored to its former glory.

Modern Celebrations

For contemporary Druids, this is the celebration of Alban Elfed, which is a time of balance between the light and the dark. Many Asatru groups honor the fall equinox as Winter Nights, a festival sacred to Freyr.

For most Wiccans and NeoPagans, this is a time of community and kinship. It’s not uncommon to find a Pagan Pride Day celebration tied in with Mabon. Often, PPD organizers include a food drive as part of the festivities, to celebrate the bounty of the harvest and to share with the less fortunate.

If you choose to celebrate Mabon, give thanks for the things you have, and take time to reflect on the balance within your own life, honoring both the darkness and the light. Invite your friends and family over for a feast, and count the blessings that you have among kin and community.

Magick Symbols – ELEMENTS c. 2018

ELEMENTS

The four basic elements to many pagans are earth, water, air (wind or spirit) and fire. Many consider the first two passive and feminine—and the last two active and masculine. In Wiccan or Native American rituals, the “quartered circle” (similar to the Medicine Wheel) represents a “sacred space” or the sacred earth. The four lines may represent the spirits of the four primary directions or the spirits of the earth, water, wind and fire.

THESE CURATED CRYSTALS WILL HELP YOU BLOOM ALONG WITH THE SEASON c. 2019

THESE CURATED CRYSTALS WILL HELP YOU BLOOM ALONG WITH THE SEASON

Our monthly Crystalscopes pair each zodiac sign with a crystal whose energies can support us through the coming month’s transits. We choose crystals that are accessible and widely available; you may see the same stone pop up from month to month as a medicine for a different sign—consider it an invitation to use your toolkit!

Also consider low-impact methods like using gem essences and elixirs, buying used crystals, or starting a crystal share with friends. Real magic can only be accomplished by acknowledging our impact on the world around us.

Read these for your sun, moon, and rising signs to learn what you should wear, carry, or place on an altar to help boost your specific astrology for the month. These also work as remediations for specific houses in your natal chart. This month’s crystals are specially selected to maximize Venus’ transit of Pisces and the double Libra full moons we get this year.

 

APRIL 2019 CRYSTALSCOPES

 

ARIES

SMOKY QUARTZ

Happy birthday, April Aries! This month is action-packed for Aries, with the sun, Mercury, and Venus all spending time in the sign of the ram—along with Chiron, whose presence we’re still just getting used to. Unfortunately, Aries may feel a little thin-skinned this month, with sensitivities exceptionally high, especially around the full moon. Smoky quartz is a traditional gemstone ally to aid in conditional invisibility, or in sneaking in under the radar, where desired. It is a great month for Aries to adjust energetic boundaries, and smoky quartz makes a great assistant in doing so. Wear a smoky quartz ring or a necklace to help suss out the right social situations and have a fantastic solar return.

 

TAURUS

ROSE QUARTZ

Happy birthday to first decan Tauruses! The sun and Uranus will be conjunct in Taurus on April 23, and this is an ideal month to let the bulls of the zodiac roam free. An underappreciated aspect of Taurus’ famous stubbornness is a wholehearted commitment to personal freedom that can sometimes be quite iconoclastic and unconventional. Uranus in Taurus will certainly amplify this quality, and here in its first degrees and its conjunction with the sun, it opens up all kinds of giddy opportunities for more complete and holistic self-love. Try a birthday bath with a rose quartz companion and an affirmation on your mirror designed to help you embrace radical new concepts of beauty.

 

GEMINI

BLUE LACE AGATE

Mars lights up your corner of the sky this month. Ambition, sex appeal, and vitality can all soar—Gemini is practically hot to the touch this month! While a welcome boost, this energy can also feel like a little much, especially with so much mutable energy abounding in the cosmic sphere. Soothing, beautiful lace agate, especially worn at the throat, aids the twins in keeping things proportional, so you can avoid having your mouth write checks your body can’t cash.

 

CANCER

GARNET

Between the sun squaring your sign and Saturn and Pluto opposing it, Cancer may be feeling a bit, well…crabby. April is rife with potential annoyances, hindrances, and challenges, but they are not without merit. Long-term investment, loyalty, and commitment are needed to clarify plans and desires—luckily Cancer excels at showing up. Garnet was carried into battle by ancient warriors to remind them what they fought for; carried in your pocket or worn as a talisman, it can remind you too!

 

LEO

BLACK ONYX

Trines with the sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter are undeniably exhilarating. April offers Leo prosperous opportunities and a chance to shine. With many different options to choose from, it will be necessary to practice your best diplomacy skills and perhaps even evade a bit of jealous critique. Black Onyx was a go-to for ancient Greek philosophers who wished to keep their interpersonal debates in the forum and prevent drama from spilling into everyday life. Particularly if you’re engaged in casual dating or a competitive professional sphere, Leo may want to call in some backup with regal, potent black onyx.

 

VIRGO

AMETHYST

Virgo is probably feeling a little fried at this point. Ever the workaholic, Virgo may have gone a little hard in March and are now finding themselves in need of respite. Abundant mutable energy continues to swirl around us, and the seemingly never-ending Piscesinfluence drags particularly hard on Virgo. It has been a necessary and transformative gauntlet, but as the Pisces party draws to a close and Mercury and Venus transit to new signs mid-month, Virgo needs to power through and rebalance. An ancient remedy for drunkenness (literally: it was dropped in wine glasses at the end of parties in hopes of mitigating intoxication), amethyst helps Virgos use spiritual reflection to stay in equilibrium. Wear earrings or a barrette to maximize this childhood favorite’s effects on your poor, addled mind.

 

LIBRA

CAT’S EYE

With this second powerhouse full moon, Libra is gifted an opportunity to envision and manifest whatever you most desire. There is no limit to what Libra can envision and dream up this month; opposing Aries energies and squares from the nodes and Saturn and Pluto do create tension, but hopefully, this energy can be harnessed and used to boost Libra’s ability to go big. Indecisiveness is often a factor for the scale-bearers, but gorgeous and enchanting cat’s eye chrysoberyl is traditionally used to cut to the heart of anything that is convoluted or unclear. Libra can particularly benefit from clear vision because this month’s full moon work is almost guaranteed to come to fruition, so we want our requests to ring clear as a bell.

 

SCORPIO

LAPIS LAZULI

This month will likely be filled with some profound intrigues for Scorpio. Mercury, Venus, and Neptune all spend some time in Pisces, and alongside the north node in Cancer, create some powerful depth magic for the fixed water sign. It is more possible than ever for Scorpio to truly dive deep into emotional processing, intimate communication, and the claiming of power. Lapis lazuli was the stone of the priest class in ancient Egypt, ensuring right use of authority and integrity in leadership. Scorpio’s potency is off the charts this month and lapis lazuli is an uncompromising co-ruler.

 

SAGITTARIUS

IOLITE

Riding the waves of mutability this month, Sagittarius is invited to shoot for the stars—but for real this time. Less talk, more walk. A certain amount of tender realism and staunch determination will stabilize the centaur’s most extravagant daydreams in April. Very big things are possible for Sagittarius this month but must arrive in combination with deep faith and profound honesty with the self—dispelling illusion is a must. Enter iolite. This beautiful purple-gray stone of spiritual awareness and truthful awakening is an ideal companion for Sagittarius this month, cementing even very extravagant plans to ensure future success. Try incorporating iolite into a daily prayer practice and watch your wildest dreams come true.

 

CAPRICORN

GOLDEN CALCITE

Capricorn is undergoing such a powerful renovation over the next few years, what with Saturn ensconced at home and Pluto decamped in the sign of the enigmatic sea-goat. April provides a gorgeous opportunity for Capricorn to boost self-regard, especially where it comes to the axis of deserving/undeserving. Stimulating the solar plexus is ideal here, as well as encouraging the notoriously serious sea-goat to lighten up a bit. Golden calcite is pure laughter—recommended use is resting the stone on your solar plexus while meditating on the theme that you deserve abundance and goodness. If you live in a state where it is legal, and you partake, then by all means enhance the giggles with a little herbal support.

 

AQUARIUS

BLOODSTONE

Aquarius has undergone a major healing journey over the last eighteen months, and the road ahead is finally opening. Significant change is afoot, but there may be a few final spasms of discomfort to overcome, especially with tense squares from the sun and Uranus late in the month. Bloodstone has long been associated with overcoming suffering, transcending pain, and learning from our particular tragedies. Wearing or carrying bloodstone this month will help the water-bearers achieve their apex identity: that of one who has triumphed over adversity, one who has survived against all odds.

 

PISCES

SAPPHIRE

Usually, sapphire is associated with Pisces’ sister sign of Virgo, but this time we’re calling it in here. Mercury’s unusually long stay in your sign this year, combined with Venus’ scintillating exalted visit and Neptune’s long and lush home game, greatly amps up the potential for increased self-knowledge. Sapphires come in every color of the rainbow, and the diversity available in this stone should serve as inspiration for Pisces dreamers the world over. Wearing a sapphire provides a boost to self-confidence that can allow you to showcase your very specific self and amplify your 12th house gifts of magic, mystery, and playful mayhem.

 

Published On Astrology.com

Witchcraft Symbols, Terms and Definitions – Rabbit

Rabbits

What Do Rabbits Symbolize? Rabbit Symbolism Meaning from rabbitcaretips.com

Rabbits are one of the most popular pets. However, rabbits have been a part of lives, cultures, and religious practices for much longer than they have been considered pets. Historically speaking, rabbits hold a great deal of symbolic meaning. This can guide dreams, art, and even traditional dress.

Rabbits almost always symbolize prosperity, abundance, good luck, and fertility. Unlike many other animals, which have different meanings in different cultures, rabbit symbolism is consistent. In most European cultures, rabbits are springtime animals, symbolic of fruitfulness and renewal. The connection between rabbits and spring is also found in Japanese culture. In the U.S., rabbits are symbolic of cleverness, devotion to self-improvement, and good luck.

There are some cultures that see rabbits differently, however. While rabbits are the luckiest of the Zodiac animals in China, they are primarily seen as trickster animals by Native American cultures. Furthermore, while many Central American peoples see rabbits as symbols of fertility, Aztec mythology associates rabbits with drunkenness and promiscuity.

Contents

March 20 Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1602 United Dutch East Indian Company (VOC) forms

1800 Alessandro Volta reports his discovery of the electric battery in a letter to Joseph Banks, president of the Royal Society of London

1815 Napoleon enters Paris after escape from Elba, begins 100-day rule

1900 US Secretary of State John Hay announces that all nations to whom he sent notes calling for an ‘open door’ policy in China have essentially accepted his stand

1933 Dachau the first Nazi concentration camp, is completed

2016 Barack Obama becomes the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a 3 day tour

Today’s Historical Events

141 6th recorded perihelion passage of Halley’s Comet

1345 Saturn, Jupiter and Mars-conjunction: thought “cause of plague epidemic”

1525 Paris’ parliament begins pursuit of Protestants

1569 Duke of Alva leads “tenth penning” in Les Ponts de Cé

1598 Governor of Brittany, Philippe Emmanuel the Duke of Mercœur submits to French King Henry IV at Angers

1600 The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden

1602 United Dutch East Indian Company (VOC) forms

1616 Walter Raleigh released from Tower of London to seek gold in Guyana

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1948 1st live televised symphony performances: Eugene Ormandy leads Philadelphia Orchestra on CBS, followed 90 minutes later by Arturo Toscanini leading the NBC Orchestra on NBC

1948 20th Academy Awards: “Gentleman’s Agreement”, Loretta YoungRonald Colman win

1952 24th Academy Awards: “An American in Paris”, Humphrey Bogart & Vivien Leigh win

1955 KXTV TV channel 10 in Sacramento, CA (CBS) begins broadcasting

1967 The Supremes release single “The Happening”

1967 WOET (now WPTD) TV channel 16 in Dayton, OH (PBS) begins broadcasting

1973 NBC TV premiere of pilot episode of “Police Story”, based on Los Angeles Police Dept. Joseph Wambaugh’s writings

1987 Soap opera “Capitol” final episode

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1885 Yiddish theater opens in NY with Goldfaden operetta

1888 The premiere of the very first Romani language operetta staged in Moscow, Russia.

1954 “King & I” closes at St James Theater NYC after 1246 performances

1965 10th Eurovision Song Contest: France Gall of Luxembourg wins singing “Poupee de cire, poupee de son” written by Serge Gainsbourg in Naples

1982 Joan Jett & Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” goes #1 for 7 weeks

1990 Singer Gloria Estefan fractures her spine when a truck hits her tour bus near Scranton, Pennsylvania

1991 Michael Jackson signs $65M deal with Sony Records to produce 6 albums

1994 “Cyrano – The Musical” closes at Neil Simon NYC after 137 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1891 53rd Grand National: Irish jockey, trainer Harry Beasley wins aboard 4/1 Come Away

1892 54th Grand National: Capt. Roddy Owen wins aboard 20/1 chance Father O’Flynn

1911 National Squash Tennis Association forms (NYC)

1914 1st international figure-skating tournament held in US, New Haven

1920 Australasian Championships Men’s Tennis, Adelaide: Pat O’Hara Wood beats fellow Australian Ronald Thomas 6-3, 4-6, 6-8, 6-1, 6-3

1920 US Men’s Figure Skating championship won by Sherwin Badger

1934 American all-round female super athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias pitches a hitless inning for Philadelphia A’s in their exhibition pre-season baseball game against Brooklyn Dodgers

1937 England beats Scotland, 6-3 at Murrayfield, Edinburgh to clinch the Home Nations Rugby Championship and Triple Crown