Different Types of Spellcrafting: Banishing

Banishing

In many traditions of Paganism, banishing is done to get rid of negative or unwanted energy, or even people who may be causing problems in our lives. While some traditions frown upon banishing as manipulative magic, on the theory that it impacts the free will of another, if your tradition has no prohibitions against such things, then there’s no reason you can’t do a banishing spell.

There are a number of different methods to accomplishing a successful banishing. Which one you choose will vary, depending on how comfortable you are with the different techniques, and what you’re trying to achieve.

Disclaimer: The spells contained here are collected from years of personal experience, folk magic traditions, and various occult sources as noted. They are posted with the intention of being helpful to those who are looking for spell resources, and may need to be adjusted to fit your individual need. Please bear in mind that if your particular belief system prohibits you from casting certain types of spells, you should probably not do so—however, it’s important to recognize that not all magical traditions follow the same set of guidelines when it comes to spellwork.

If you’re here, chances are good you’ve already read about the basics of banishing and getting unwanted metaphysical entities out of your life. However, sometimes, we have actual people in our lives that cause problems, and this is where a banishing spell comes in handy. There are a number of different methods you can try – just make sure that the one you use doesn’t violate any of your own personal moral or ethical guidelines.

If you’re trying to get rid of an unwanted spirit, one of the most effective methods is to simply give it its marching orders. Be firm and blunt, and say something along the lines of, “This is not the place for you, and it’s time for you to leave.” You may wish to offer a blessing or well-wishes if it makes you feel better about things, and say, “It is time for you to move on, and we wish you the best in your new place.” Frequently, this will do the trick and eliminate whatever problems you may have been having.

Elemental Banishing
A popular method of banishing is the use of the various elements, such as fire or water. Fire can be used as a method of purification and cleansing, by way of destruction. Water is used in a number of religions for a variety of purposes, including banishing. You can make your own consecrated water for use in rituals.

Salt is also a great tool for banishing. In some magical traditions, it represents earth, and has been used for centuries to get rid of negative energy. In some folk magic traditions, black salt – a blend of sea salt and another item such as charcoal – is used as a protective barrier.

Use fire to burn a symbol of whatever it is you wish to be rid of, or earth to bury it.

Ritual and Spellwork
In some circumstances, banishing may involve more than simply sprinkling some salt and telling someone (or something) to go away. If you have a person, for instance, who is harassing you, it may be time to do a full fledged banishing ritual. A banishing ritual usually includes a combination of the following:

The name of the person you wish to banish from your life
A specific and active description of what you intend to happen. For instance, “Make Susan a better person” is rather vague and passive – instead, try “Susan will stop harassing me at work.”
A magical link, or taglock, connected to the person you wish to banish
A great deal of magic relies on symbolism, so use this to your advantage in a banishing. You can freeze someone’s behavior by magically binding them, or even reflect the negative behavior back at them. A couple of simple methods include:

A basic binding which metaphysically ties the hands of the individual. Try the tongue-binding spell if you’re dealing with someone who is spreading nasty rumors about you.

Use a box with mirrors inside it to reflect negativity back to the individual who is harassing you.

You can create a banishing spell using the basic Spell Creation Template, and perform it as necessary. Feel free to make your banishing ritual or spell as over-the-top and extreme as you wish – getting rid of someone who is causing you pain or heartache is a pretty significant thing, so unleash as much magical mojo as you feel you need!

Banishing Folklore
To Make Someone Leave You Alone

This one comes in handy when you’ve got someone in your life that you can’t avoid—a co-worker or classmate—but you’re tired of being harassed by them. They’ll still be around, but they’ll stop bothering you.

Write the individual’s name on a piece of paper. Burn the paper around the edges using a black candle (black is associated with banishing magic), and as you do so, let them know that you are burning away whatever feelings (animosity, lust, jealousy, whatever) they may have towards you. Burn as much of the paper as you can, until all that’s left is their name.

Take the last bit of paper to the place where you normally see them— work or school or wherever—and dig a hole and bury it. You can also tear the paper into tiny pieces, and blow it away or scatter it to the winds.

Another option? Use the Chill Out spell, to get the person to chill out and move on.

How about some balloon banishing? Write the person’s name on a small piece of paper, and insert it into a balloon. Fill the balloon with helium, and then take it far away and release it into the sky.

The Get Out of My Life Poppet
This is a good one to use when you not only want to be left alone, you want the person completely out of your life. Light two black candles (black for banishment!), one on each side of your workspace.

Create a poppet out of whatever material you prefer to use (cloth, clay, wax, etc). As you assemble the poppet, make sure you tell the poppet how much you dislike it, and how your life would be a heck of a lot better if it would get out. Make sure you use a magical link so the poppet knows who it represents.

If you’re in a hurry to get the person out of your life, you can “light a fire under their butt” with the candles (important safety tip here, make sure you only SINGE the bottom of the poppet rather than actually lighting it on fire). Take it to the edge of your town, and bury it outside the city limits… if you make it out of clay you can smash it instead of burying it. Allow the candles to burn down until they are gone.

Four Thieves Banishing Spell
In some Hoodoo and folk magic tradition, an item known as Four Thieves vinegar is used. You’ll need to brew up a batch before you get started. Use the recipe here: Four Thieves Vinegar

Use this spell to keep someone bothersome away from you.

Write your target’s name on a piece of paper—some traditions recommend you use brown paper, or parchment. Soak the paper in Four Thieves Vinegar. Fold the piece of paper up as small as you can, and bury in the dirt somewhere. One school of thought is that you should bury it in a pot, preferably under a plant like a cactus, so no one will ever disturb it.

Banishing Spellcrafting

Banishing spells are spells designed to send something or someone away or to prevent their return.

To banish something means to send it away or drive it away from a location. In the mundane world banishment implies that whoever is banished can never return or is no longer welcome, but magical banishment is a little different.

Banishing Rituals
A banishing ritual is often performed at the beginning of a ceremony in order to rid the ritual area of negative or unwanted energy or entities that may interfere with magick or unbalance energies that will be raised or summoned during the ceremony. Most magical paths prescribe a banishing ritual of this type prior to any spellwork or magick of any sort.

A banishing may also be performed at the end of a ritual to banish any entities that were evoked or invoked during the procedure or to clear the energy that has been raised from the ritual area to allow it to return to mundane use. For example, you would banish the energy from the love spell that you performed in your living room so that it can return to normal living room use and not affect everyone who comes in there innocently trying to watch the evening news.

A banishing may be performed on the ritual space or on the magic-user(s) or both, however, when you perform a banishing ritual on an area, you do internalize it somewhat automatically. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is a basic banishing ritual that is a primary requirement of initiates into the Golden Dawn. It is used to prepare a ritual area and also to prepare the magic-user by focusing their mind and energy on the task at hand, creating a magical atmosphere and an altered state of consciousness.

One may banish summoned energies and entities as well once their presence is no longer required. Although the word “releasing” is most often used, the Watchtowers that are evoked at the four corners of the Circle in many rituals are, in fact, banished at the ritual’s end.

Introduction to Banishing Rites by Phil Hines

Banishing Spells
Banishing spells are designed to drive away anything the magic-user feels is a threat or a nuisance; a person, an obstacle, a debt, a disease, an addiction, a bad habit, etc.

A banishing may be performed on a home, to drive away unwanted energies, discord, stress, etc. undesirable entities, such as ghosts and troublesome faeries and other spirits.

A banishing spell may be performed on a person to banish an addiction, an affliction or an influence another person has over them.

Banishing spells are also performed on objects to rid them of connections to prior owners or any energies picked up during their use, often in preparation for programming or charging them for a a new purpose.

The term cleansing refers to a banishing done to remove unwanted energies from an person, location or object. The term exorcism is used to describe a banishing for an unwanted entity, especially an uncooperative, unfriendly one.

Performing a Banishing Spell
While banishing spells can be performed at any time, they are most effective if performed during the waning phase of the moon while the moon is in the sign of Capricorn or Scorpio. Saturday is a good day for general banishing spells. (See also Spell Timing as there are better times for the banishing of specific things.) The best time is at the dark of the moon, but before the new moon appears.

Some say that your movements should be widdershins when performing a banishing spell, but some believe that it’s bad luck to move in any direction other than sunwise while performing a spell.

For many banishing spells, an object is chosen to represent the person, idea, thing or energy to be banished. This item is then charged or programed to represent the target using various means and then symbolically sent away. Running water, such as a river, a sewer drain or even a flushing toilet is often utilized in this way. It is important that the item be of safely biodegradable nature so that your spell work does not bring harm to the environment or clog up the pipes.

Banishing of energy or entities may take the form of a more complicated ritual involving fumigating or asperging an area, person or object. If you are banishing energy from your person, a ritual bath may be in order.

These Herbs are Useful for Banishing Spells
• Angelica
• Anise
• Bay Laurel
• Black Cohosh
• Cyclamen
• Devil’s Claw
• Garlic
• Heliotrope
• Hellebore
• Holly
• Mistletoe
• Nettle
• Pine
• Pokeweed
• Rosemary
• Rue
• Solomon’s Seal
• Stinging Nettle
• Thyme
• Vervain

These Minerals are Useful for Banishing Spells
• Black Salt
• Bloodstone
• Jet
• Smoky Quartz
• Tourmaline
These Incense are Useful for Banishing
• Dragon’s Blood
• Pine Incense and Oil

Reference

Patti Wigington, Published on ThoughtCo
Witchipedia

I Love Being A Witch

Famous Witches Throughout History: Scott Cunningham

Scott Cunningham

Scott Douglas Cunningham (June 27, 1956 – March 28, 1993) was a U.S. writer. Cunningham is the author of several books on Wicca and various other alternative religious subjects.

His work Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, is one of the most successful books on Wicca ever published; he was a friend of notable occultists and Wiccans such as Raymond Buckland, and was a member of the Serpent Stone Family, and received his Third Degree Initiation as a member of that coven.

Early life
Scott Cunningham was born at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA, the second son of Chester Grant Cunningham and Rose Marie Wilhoit Cunningham. The family moved to San Diego, California in the fall of 1959 due to Rose Marie’s health problems. The doctors in Royal Oak declared the mild climate in San Diego ideal for her. Outside of many trips to Hawaii, Cunningham lived in San Diego all his life.

Cunningham had one older brother, Greg, and a younger sister, Christine.

He studied creative writing at San Diego State University, where he enrolled in 1978. After two years in the program, however, he had more published works than several of his professors, and dropped out of the university to write full-time. During this period he had as a roommate, magical author Donald Michael Kraig and often socialized with witchcraft author Raymond Buckland, who was also living in San Diego at the time.

Wicca
In 1980 Cunningham began initiate training under Raven Grimassi and remained as a first-degree initiate until 1982 when he left the tradition to pursue a solo practice of witchcraft.

Cunningham practiced a fairly basic interpretation of Wicca, often worshipping alone, though his book series for solitaries describes several instances in which he worshipped with friends and teachers.

He also believed that Wicca, which had been a closed tradition since the 1950s, should become more open to newcomers.

Cunningham was also drawn to Huna and a range of new age movements and concepts that influenced and coloured his spirituality.

Death
In 1983, Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with lymphoma, which he successfully overcame. In 1990, while on a speaking tour in Massachusetts, he suddenly fell ill and was diagnosed with AIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis. He suffered from several infections and died in March 1993. He was 36.

Published works
Books
1980 – Shadow of Love (fiction)
1982 – Magical Herbalism: The Secret Craft of the Wise (ISBN 0-87542-120-2)
1983 – Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic (ISBN 0-87542-121-0)
1985 – Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (ISBN 0-87542-122-9)
1987 – The Magical Household: Spells and Rituals for the Home (with David Harrington) (ISBN 0-87542-124-5)
1987 – Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic (ISBN 0-87542-126-1)
1988 – The Truth About Witchcraft Today (ISBN 0-87542-127-X)
1988 – Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (ISBN 0-87542-118-0)
1989 – The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews (ISBN 0-87542-128-8)
1989 – Magical Aromatherapy: The Power of Scent (ISBN 0-87542-129-6)
1991 – Earth, Air, Fire, and Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic (ISBN 0-87542-131-8)
1991 – The Magic in Food (ISBN 0-87542-130-X)
1993 – Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen (ISBN 0-7387-0226-9)
1993 – Divination For Beginners (ISBN 0-7387-0384-2)
1993 – Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (ISBN 0-87542-184-9)
1993 – Spell Crafts: Creating Magical Objects (with David Harrington) (ISBN 0-87542-185-7)
1993 – The Truth About Herb Magic (ISBN 0-87542-132-6)
1994 – The Truth About Witchcraft (ISBN 0-87542-357-4)
1995 – Hawaiian Magic and Spirituality (ISBN 1-56718-199-6)
1997 – Pocket Guide to Fortune Telling (ISBN 0-89594-875-3)
1999 – Dreaming the Divine: Techniques for Sacred Sleep (ISBN 1-56718-192-9)
2009 – Cunningham’s Book of Shadows: The Path of An American Traditionalist (ISBN 0-73871-914-5) – A rediscovered manuscript written by Cunningham in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

Scott Cunningham

Scott Douglas Cunningham was a popular Wiccan author of more than thirty books on both fiction and non-fiction topics. More than fifteen of his books were written on Wicca and its related subjects, he also wrote scripts for occult videos. Scott was a key player in opening up Wicca to solitary practice, and by making a great deal of information available to the public, he helped influence many newcomers entering the craft.

Scott was born on the 27th June 1956 at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA. His parents Chester Grant Cunningham and Rose Marie Wilhoit Cunningham had two other children, an older brother Greg and a younger sister Christine. In 1959 due to his mothers recurring health problems, the family moved to San Diego, California, were the doctors declared the mild climate would be more beneficial for her. Aside from his many trips to Hawaii, Scott continued to live in San Diego until his death in 1993.

His introduction to the craft came through a book he read in 1971, one purchased by his mother (The Supernatural, by Douglas Hill and Pat Williams). Scott had always shown an interest in plants, minerals and other natural earth products, and this book furthered his interest. It also showed diagrams of Italian hand gestures used to ward of the evil eye, and these particularly fascinated him. Later in high school he used these gestures to attract the attention of a female classmate he knew to be involved with the occult and a working coven. She introduced Scott into Wicca, which further intensified his interest in the powers of nature. Over the next few years he took initiation into several covens of varying traditions gaining experience, but really he preferred to practice as a solitary practitioner.

In 1974 he enrolled at San Diego State University were he studied creative writing, inspired to do so by his father. His father was a professional writer who had authored some 170 non-fiction and fiction books. Scott started writing truck and automobile articles for trade publications, he also wrote advertising copy on a freelance basis. His roommate during this period was the author Donald Michael Kraig, he also made the acquaintance of Raymond Buckland, who was living in San Diego at the time. After only two years of his University course, Scott had collected more published credits than most of his professors, and so decided to drop out from the rest of the course and began to write full-time. The first book he had published was an Egyptian romance novel, Shadow of Love (1980).

Scott’s writing style was easy to understand being simple and direct, his teachings focused on encouraging people to employ whatever works for them in their religious, spiritual, and magickal endeavours. He was a fine herbalist and produced several books dealing with herbs, including Magickal Herbalism (Llewellyn Publications, 1982), and Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magickal Herbs (Llewellyn Publications, 1985). His books on Wicca led to a steady rise in its popularity, and he soon became one of the best-read Wiccan authors of his time. Sales of his most popular book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (Llewellyn, 1988), reached over 400,000 copies by the year 2000.

His prominence was instrumental in influencing the changes that took place in the Wicca movement during the eighties. Due to his influence, the Wiccan religion shifted primarily from the hands of initiates into the public arena, and many eclectic traditions were formed as a result. While essentially a self-styled Wiccan and a solitary practitioner, he was initiated into several established Craft Traditions. In 1980 he entered into the Aridian Tradition, where he undertook a course of study on Witchcraft and Magick from Raven Grimassi. Then in 1981 he entered the Reorganized Traditional Gwyddonic Order of Wicca, and the Ancient Pictish Gaelic Tradition. Additionally, he was an initiate of the American Traditionalist Wicca.

Scott traveled around the country giving lectures and occasionally making media appearances on behalf of the craft. He viewed the craft as a modern religion created in the 20th century, and thought that Wicca, while containing pagan folk magic derived of ancient times, should be stripped of it’s quasi-historical and mythological trappings and represented to the public as a modern religion utilizing ancient concepts. He also believed that Wicca, which had been a closed and secretive tradition since the 1950s, should become more open to newcomers.

A sudden onset of health issues began to affect his public appearances, then later his writing. In 1983 he was diagnosed with Lymphoma, a form of cancer. To make matters worse in 1990, he also contracted Cryptococcal Meningitis. His health continued to decline as he suffered opportunistic infections related to his primary disease. Finally on the 28th March 1993, he succumbed, and Scott passed from this world and into the next. As an ambassador of the pagan way of life, his books today continue to influence us all.

Reference

Wikipedia
Work Complied by George Knowles, Published on Controverscial.com

To Be A Witch

Evocation of the Witch

The Witches Magickal Journal for Friday, April 27th

“The Great Spirit is in all things, he is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our Father, but the earth is our mother. She nourishes us; that which we put into the ground she returns to us…”

– Big Thunder (Bedagi) (Wabanaki Algonquin Tribe)

Friday, April 27th

Friday is the day of Venus. It takes it name from Frigg, the Goddess of love and transformation. She rules the spiritual side of a person that manifests in the physical. Because of this, Friday is often thought of as dangerously unpredictable. This is expressed in an old East Anglian adage:

Friday’s day will have its trick
The fairest or foulest day of the week.

Deity: Frigg

Zodiac Sign: Taurus/Libra

Planet: Venus

Tree: Apple

Herb: Vervain

Stone: Sapphire/Chrsolite

Animal: Bull/Serpent

Element: Earth

Color: Yellow/Violet

Number: 7

Rune: Peorth(P)

The Celtic Tree Month Saille (Willow) (April 14 – May 12)

Runic Half Month of Man(human being) (April 14 – April 28)

Goddess of the Month of Maia (April 18 – May 15th)

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

The Goddess Book of Days for Friday, April 27

Feast of St. George in the Western Church calendar; he is the God Ogun, Ogan or Ogu in African Santeria and Voodoun. (Hephaestus, Eros, Vulcan, Quetzalcoatl, Mars.) The saint was originally derived from Apollo, twin of Diana and a Sun God.

Source

The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Goddesses Associated with Friday

For Freya: Astarte, Aphrodite, Erzulie, Aida Wooo, Eve, Venus, Diana, Isis, the Witch of Gaeta, Chalchiuhtlique

Source

The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Friday: The day of beauty

Frigg was the Norse goddess of beauty, love, household, fertility and motherhood. She was Odin’s wife. She wonderfully balances out the dreadfulness of all the masculine gods sitting around our week table.

Derived from Latin Dies Veneris, Friday is viernes in Spanish, vendredi in French and venerdi in Italian. The day belongs to Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty, love and fertility.

Friday

Friday: Is associated with Venus and the colors of – Green, Pink and White

Friday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Affection, Alliances, Architects, Artistic Ability, Artists, Balance, Beauticians, Beauty, Change, Chiropractors, Cosmetics, Courage, Courtship, Dancers, Dating, Decorating, Designers, Engineers, Entertainers, Fashion, Fertility, Friendship, Gardening, Gifts, Grace, Harmony, Herbal Magick, Household Improvements, Income, Luck, Luxury, Marriage, Material Things, Music, Painting, Partners, Peace, Physical Healing, Planning Parties, Poetry, Prosperity, Relationships, Romantic Love, Shopping, Social Activity, Soul-mates, Success

Source

Practical Magick for the Penny Pinching Witch
Carol Moyer

Ritual Influences for Friday, April 27th

Friday Venus

Perfumes: Stephanotis, Apple Blossom, Musk, Ambergris

Incense: Saffron, Verbena

Wood: Myrtle

Color: Light Blue, Pale Green

Influences: All Love Matters, Friendships, Affection, Partnerships, Money, Sex

Reference

A Book of Pagan Rituals
Herman Slater

Magickal Days of the Week: Friday

Friday falls at the end of the work week for many of us, and that means we get a chance to relax for a little bit! Mark your Fridays with colors like pink and aqua, and metals such as copper. This is a day ruled by the planet Venus, so it should be no surprise that Venus and Aphrodite – goddesses of love and beauty – are associated with Fridays. This is a day named for the Norse goddess Freyja, so be sure to take a moment to honor her as well.

Gemstones associated with Friday include coral, emerald and rose quartz, and plants like strawberries, apple blossoms and feverfew are also related. This is a good day to do spellwork associated with family life and fertility, sexuality, harmony, friendship, growth. Take advantage of Friday’s correspondences and plant a seed, make something grow, and enjoy your blessings

*Note: There are a lot of disputes as to the origins of the word Friday, because there is still a great deal of discussion as to whether it was named for Freyja or Frigga, and whether they were the same deity or two separate ones. Some scholars believe that while they may have eventually become two distinctly different goddesses, they could have had their origins in a single, common Proto-Germanic deity.

Author

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by ThoughtCo

On Friday, April 27th, We Celebrate…

Smell the Breeze Day (Egypt)
NUT

Themes: Air, Health

Symbols: A Pot; Turquoise; Musk; a Star; Wind; Cow Images

About Nut: This great Egyptian sky goddess bears a star-spangled belly that stretches over the earth like a protective atmosphere. Today she breaths on us with a late-March zephyr bearing health and well-being.

Legend tells us that when Ra went to escape the earth, Nut offered her aid by becoming a huge cow who lifted him into heaven. Wen Nut found herself dizzy from the effort, four gods rushed to her aid. They later became the four pillars of creation—the four winds.

To Do Today: If the weather permits, I highly recommend a brish, refreshing walk. Breathe deeply of the air, which has rejuvenating, healthy energies today. As you exhale, repeat the goddess’s name, Nut, and listen as she responds in the breeze.

Any type of wind magick honors Nut, and it is certainly fitting today. If the wind blows from the west, sprinkle water into it for emotional healing. If it blows from the east, toss a feather out so it can return to you with healthy outlooks. If it blows from the north, sift a little soil into the wind to give fruitful foundations to a generating idea, and if it blows from the south, burn musk incense to manifest vital energy and a little passion.

Source

365 Goddess, A Daily Guide to the Magick and Inspiration of the Goddess
Patricia Telesco

Friday–The Day of Freya

In the stories of the gods and goddesses of the Angles and Saxons we find two goddesses, Frigga, the wife of Odin and queen of the gods, and Freya, the Goddess of Love. Some people think that Friday was named after Frigga, and others that it was Freya’s day. Since very similar stories are told of each of them, it is quite probable that they were really the same person. The Roman name for the day was Dies Veneris, the day of Venus, who, it will be remembered, was the Goddess of Love, and so corresponded to Freya. The modern French name is taken from the Latin and is vendredi.

Frigga was the Goddess of the Clouds, and, when she was not with her husband Odin, spent her time in spinning clouds. Her spinning-wheel was studded with jewels, and at night could be seen in the sky as the constellation to which the Romans gave the name of Orion’s Belt, as we have seen in the story of Orion.

Frigga was also the Goddess of Spring, and as such was known as Eastre, whom we have already mentioned as giving us the word Easter.

Freya, the Goddess of Love and Beauty, like the Venus of the Romans, received a great welcome when she came to the home of the gods, and was given a special kingdom called Folk Meadow, where was a vast hall known as the Hall of Many Seats. Here she received half of those slain in battle, the other half being entertained by Odin, as we have seen.

Freya is depicted as having blue eyes and golden hair, and often as wearing a robe of feathers, which enabled her to fly through the air like a bird.

The goddess is said to have married Odur, who was probably Odin under another name. Odur once had occasion to leave Freya and travel over the world, and the goddess was broken-hearted at his departure. Her tears fell among the rocks and were changed to gold, while some which fell into the sea were transformed into amber. All nature mourned with her: the trees shed their leaves, the grass withered, and the flowers drooped their heads. At last Freya in her distress set out to find her husband, and, passing through many lands, where her golden tears were afterwards found, came to the sunny south, and there overtook the wandering Odur. As the lovers returned, the fields and the flowers rejoiced with them. The frost and snow fled before them, and the earth became green again as they passed.

“And Freya next came nigh, with golden tears;
The loveliest Goddess she in Heaven, by all
Most honour’d after Frea, Odin’s wife.
Her long ago the wandering Odur took
To mate, but left her to roam distant lands;
Since then she seeks him, and weeps tears of gold.”

MATTHEW ARNOLD–Balder Dead.

This story, of course, reminds us of Ceres and Persephone, and is only another fanciful explanation of summer and winter.

Freya was the proud possessor of a dazzling necklace of gold, which had been made by the dwarfs, and which she wore night and day. On one occasion only did she lend the necklace, when Thor, disguised as Freya, went to the land of the giants to recover his hammer, which had been stolen by the Giant Thrym. Loki, by borrowing Freya’s robe of feathers and flying over the country of the giants, had discovered the thief, but had also found that Thrym would only return the hammer on condition that Freya would become his wife. When Freya heard of the giant’s presumption, she became greatly enraged, and vowed that she would never leave her beloved Odur and go to live in that dreary and desolate land of cold. Heimdall, the guardian of the bridge Bifrost, then suggested that Thor should go to Thrym disguised as Freya, in company with Loki disguised as Freya’s attendant. The gods at last allowed themselves to be persuaded, and Thor, having borrowed Freya’s clothes and necklace and wearing a thick veil, set out with Loki, who was dressed as a handmaiden. On reaching the giant’s palace, they were welcomed by Thrym, who was delighted at the success of his plan, and who led them to the banqueting hall, where a great feast was held. At the end of the feast, Thrym ordered the famous hammer to be brought in, and he himself laid it in his bride’s lap as a marriage gift. Thor’s hand immediately closed over the hammer, and in a few moments Thrym and all the guests invited to the wedding feast lay dead.

Freya was greatly relieved to have her necklace returned in safety, but the evil Loki, attracted by its wonderful beauty, determined to steal it. One night the god, by changing himself into a fly, succeeded in entering Freya’s palace. He then resumed his own shape, and, creeping stealthily to Freya’s bed, gently removed the necklace from the goddess’s neck. The watchful Heimdall, however, had heard Loki’s footsteps, and, looking in the direction of the Folk Meadow, became a witness of the theft. He at once set off in pursuit of Loki, and, overtaking him, drew his sword and was about to kill the thief, when Loki changed himself into a flame. Heimdall immediately changed himself into a cloud, and sent down a shower of rain to put out the fire. Loki then took the form of a bear, and opened his mouth to catch the water. Heimdall also took the form of a bear and attacked Loki, who, finding that he was being overpowered, changed himself yet again, into a seal. Heimdall followed suit, and fought again with Loki, and at length compelled him to give up the necklace, which was returned to Freya.

On another occasion Freya was sought by one of the giants, and it was only by the cunning of Loki and by an act of bad faith on the part of the gods that she was saved. The gods, ever anxious lest the giants should invade Asgard, decided to build a stronghold which would prove impregnable. They received an offer from a stranger, who was willing to undertake the work in return for the sun, the moon, and the goddess Freya. By Loki’s advice they accepted the offer on condition that he should complete the work in one winter, aided only by his horse. To the surprise of the gods the stranger agreed to these conditions, and with the help of his horse, which could haul the heaviest stone, set to work. The gods, who at first felt sure that their conditions had made the task impossible, were alarmed to find as time went on that the stranger was working so quickly that it seemed certain that he would be able to keep his promise. The gods on their side had no intention whatever of keeping their promise, since they could not possibly part with the sun and the moon and the Goddess of Love, and they angrily pointed out to Loki that since it was he who had got them into this difficulty, he must find some way out of it. Loki replied that the gods need have no fear, for with his usual cunning he had thought of a plan whereby the stranger might be made to forfeit his reward. On the last day, when only one stone remained to be dragged into position, Loki changed himself into a horse, and, trotting out from the forest, neighed loudly to attract the attention of the stranger’s horse. Tired of his continual labour and longing for freedom and rest, the horse broke free from its load and galloped after Loki. The stranger, after pursuing it vainly through the forest, at last made his way to Asgard, and, full of anger at the trick which had been played upon him, took on his real shape, for he was a frost-giant, and was about to attack the gods when Thor hurled his hammer at him and killed him.

Frey, the god mentioned in the story of Loki and Sif’s golden hair, was Freya’s brother. He was the God of the Fields, and sacrifices were made to him for the crops. In the early spring his wooden image was driven in a chariot through the countryside, in order that he might bless the fields and bring a fruitful harvest: Frey, as we have seen, became the possessor of a ship which could travel over land and sea, and though large enough to contain all the gods, yet could be folded up like a cloth, and he also possessed a boar with golden bristles. The god often rode on this boar, which was swifter than a horse, and was no doubt a symbol of the sun, which ripened the crops. We find the same idea of sunshine in Frey’s flashing sword, which fought of its own accord as soon as it was drawn from its sheath.

The month of the Angles and Saxons which begins just before our Christmas was sacred to both Frey and Thor, and it was customary at that time, as we have already mentioned, to bind a huge wooden wheel with straw, and, setting fire to it, to roll it down a hill. The wheel was a symbol of the sun, which at that time began to chase away the winter. At this time, too, was held a great feast to all the gods, and the chief meat eaten was a boar’s head, in honour of Frey. The missionaries who first brought Christianity to the Northmen, finding this feast was of great importance and was celebrated by all the people, did not try to do away with it. Instead, they changed it from a heathen to a Christian festival by putting Christ in the place of the Norse gods, and calling it the Feast or Mass of Christ. A similar change was made, it will be remembered, in the case of the Easter festival, held in honour of Eastre or Frigga, the wife of Odin.

Friday’s Witchery

Love magick is a perennial popular topic. However, there is more to this topic than meets the eye. There are many enchanting layers here for us to explore on this day of the week. What about creating a loving home, or producing a loving and nurturing family? What about keeping your intimate relationships vital and on track? How about promoting happy, healthy, and enduring friendships? See, there is more to be considered than just the “You shall be mine…” type of fictional love spell.

Don’t forget that many of the deities associated with Fridays are also parents. So, yes, while this is the day to work on romance, sex, and love spells, there is additional magick to be considered here, which makes Fridays a more well-rounded and bigger opportunity for witchery than many folks ever truly realize. The truest, strongest magick always comes from the heart.

Source

Book of Witchery – Spells, Charms & Correspondences For Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

The Witches Almanac for Friday, April 27th

Arbor Day

Waxing Moon

Moon phase: Second Quarter

Moon Sign: Libra

Incense: Rose

Color: White

About the Waxing Moon Phase

The period when the Moon is waxing occurs between a New Moon and a Full Moon, which is characterized by many changes in appearance. The first is known as a Waxing crescent, where 1-49% of the Moon is illuminated. Which side appears illuminated will depend on the observer’s location. For those living in the northern hemisphere, the right side will appear illuminated; whereas for those in the southern hemisphere, the reverse is the case.

Next up is the First Quarter, where 50% of the Moon’s face is illuminated – again, the right side for those in the northern hemisphere and the left for those in the south. This is followed by a Waxing Gibbous Moon, where 51 – 99% of the Moon’s surface is illuminated – right side in the northern hemisphere, left side in the southern. The waxing phase concludes with a Full Moon.

Source

Universe Today

The Witches Correspondences for Friday, April 27

The day of Venus, Friday takes its name from Frigga, the Goddess of Love and Transformation. She rules the spiritual aspects of people as they manifest on the physical. because of this, Friday is sometimes thought of as unpredictable.

Element : Water / Earth

Planet: Venus

Zodiac Sign : Taurus / Libra
Angel : Ariel

Metal : Tin

Incense / Perfumes : Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron and Vanilla

Oils : Cardamom, Palmrosa, Rose, Yarrow

Color : Green, Aqua, Rose

Stones : Emerald, Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Pink Tourmaline, Peridot, Jade

Plants/Herbs : Apple, Balm of Gilead, Bergamot, Birch, Catnip, Clematis, Damiana, Dragons Blood, Geranium, Heather, Hibiscus, Ivy, Magnolia, Mugwort, Plumeria, Rose, Rose Geranium, Sage, Strawberry, Vanilla, Vervain, Violet, Water Lilly

Magick to Work: love, friendship, beauty, sensuality, arts, attraction, healing, peace, harmony, artistic ability, creativity generally, reconciliation, beauty, female sexuality, luxury, music, pleasure, scent, sensuality, social affairs

Friday Is Ruled by Venus

Archangel: Anael

Candle colour: Green or pink

Incenses: Rose or geranium

Crystals: Jade or rose quartz

Use Fridays for spells for love, fidelity, healing, for anything to do with beauty, the arts and crafts and for all spells concerning the environment.

Where possible, work in any enclosed beautiful place outdoors, for example a botanical garden, a field, park or your own garden – even in a circle of plants indoors.

The Energy of Venus

Weekday ruled by Venus: Friday

Stones:

Rose quartz
Moonstone
Pink tourmaline
Peridot
Emerald
Jade

Herbs and Plants:

Pink rose
Ivy
Birch
Heather
Clematis
Sage
Violet
Waterlily

Magickal intentions: Love, romance, marriage, sexual matters, physical beauty, friendship and partnerships, strangers and heart matters.

Friday’s Magickal Applications

Fridays are days of loving enchantments and passionate emotions.

See how many ways you could add a little loving enchantment into your life and the lives of your loved ones. If you wish to explore the topic of love and romance witchery even further, then check out my book How to Enchant a Man: Spells to Bewitch, Bedazzle &Beguile. If cat magick has tickled your fancy, then for further study read my book The Enchanted Cat: Feline Fascinations, Spells &Magick.

In the meantime, try sharing red berries with your partner some enchanted evening. Work that meditation, and see what other mysteries Freya has to teach you. Wear a Venus planetary color and call on the Goddess for a little inner sparkle. Burn some floral incense, light up some rosy candles, and set a romantic mood. Try wearing a little copper jewelry, and see how it affects you and your Friday magick. Get those potpourri and philter recipes going, and see what you can conjure up.

Advancing your magickal skills takes drive, ambition, and passion. Work with Eros to discover just how much enthusiasm, inspiration, and drive he can bring into your days, for the imagination is a place where dreams flourish and ideas come to fruition.

Call on these fertile and romantic powers, and create your own unique spells and charms. Just think of all the magickal information that you can now add to your repertoire of witchery. Lastly, remember this: when you combine imagination and a loving heart with magick, you’ll succeed every time.

Source

Book of Witchery – Spells, Charms & Correspondences For Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

The Witches Magick for Friday, April 27th

Spell To Put A Little Adventure Into A Life That Has Turned Sort of Dull

Goal: To bring a spark of adventure into a life that has gotten a little dull

Optional extras: Cut out or draw pictures of a specific kind of activity if you have one in mind (travel, a new hobby or craft, etc.), and place them on the altar if you are using one; red or orange candle; cinnamon oil or a small bowl of powdered cinnamon

Note: Be sure to fix your mind and intent on positive adventures. After all, a hurricane might be an adventure, but it probably isn’t one you want to experience! This spell should be done in a spirit of fun and is a good one to do with a group if so desired.

(ANOINT CANDLE WITH OIL OR SPRINKLE A BIT OF CINNAMON ON IT, THEN LIGHT IT IN A FIRE-SAFE BOWL)

Life is good
And all is well
But now and then
I find it dull

I wish for fire
To add a spark
A flash of light
Inside the dark

Let adventure come
In a positive way
So I might laugh
Have fun and play.

Let doors swing wide
And open my heart
As on life’s journey
I depart.

So Mote It Be.

Source

Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook: Wonderfully Witchy Blessings, Charms & Spells
Deborah Blake

Let’s Talk Witch: Supernatural Entities

Some of your magical workings may involve the help or guidance of supernatural entities. These entities could be Gods or Goddesses. They may be Angels, ancestors or the Fae. There is a belief that witchcraft requires the use of at least one of these beings, however many witches don’t use any of them but that’s entirely up to you.

It is useful and important to know the difference between the various types of supernatural entities. Some have their own rules and etiquettes that it pays to know before engaging in any kind of contact with them. Some may make specific demands on you so it’s best to discover what is required for each and then decide for yourself whether or not it’s a good idea to get them involved. There is always a price and if you expect their help it is advisable to find out what that price is before you start.

When it comes to using any entity in spell working, it means that you are asking them to provide you with what you are trying to achieve; perhaps that they’ll go on an information gathering mission for you, or that they’ll harass an enemy for you. A lot of this depends on your desired outcome. If you are trying to clear or heal a piece of land, getting in touch with the genius loci first and asking what they need is always smart. I personally can’t think of much that I would bother the Fae for, but that’s me and I know that others enlist their help for various workings.

In Vodou and other African Tribal Religions, spirits are used for nearly every piece of magic. It’s the spirits that go and make your purpose become reality and those spirits require offerings and food.

It is my belief that the various entities have different areas of expertise and usefulness. Deities can be included in almost everything but as for the others, I’d recommend learning more before asking for help or guidance from them. Just like you would for mundane matters. If you need to borrow money you have various options; banks, pawn shops or loan sharks etc. You wouldn’t sensibly enter into any kind of relationship without first discovering the ins and outs and any possible risks associated with each. Why would you be any less vigilant in magic?

Source

The Common Sense Spell Book
Debbie Dawson

WOTC Extra: Deities

The first thought with regards to Deities is usually prayer. There are often great discussions about the difference between spell casting and prayer. Many describe spell casting as ‘prayer with props’ and indeed, I have done this in the past. But personally, I have come to the conclusion that there is a difference aside from the addition of tools. Prayer is sometimes pure worship, not the request of favours. Prayer can also include asking the Divine (in whatever form you experience It) to watch over or intercede for you. Casting a spell is taking matters into your own hands and doing what you can to make something happen. I saw it described recently as:

Prayer— Asking Dad for $ 20
Spell— Mowing the neighbour’s lawn to earn $ 20.

In the context of prayer vs spells, this is correct, but in the context of asking Deity to help in your spell, it would be more like asking Dad to help fix the lawn mower so you can mow the neighbour’s lawn for $ 20

If and when you choose to ask for Divine help and intervention in your spell workings, there are a few things that must be considered.

Is this a God or Goddess that you are familiar with? By familiar with I mean one that you have prayed to, researched and come to know well. Or are you going to expect a Deity to perform a task for a complete stranger and have Them leave again afterwards with no thought to payment, return or reward? Frankly, I think that is quite rude and would recommend some serious thought into what happens when you disrespect Gods.

Do you understand any required forms of address? Some Gods are fickle or proud and expect their honorifics when you call on Them. Some have come to us with different names and slightly different functions. Isis is the Greek name for Aset, for example, but over several thousand years, Isis and Aset are no longer the same Goddess. Differences exist between the two. The same can be said for several of the other Egyptian Netjer who have become more commonly known by Greek names. There is also the duplication of Greek Deities with Roman ones. A belief exists, that still holds to this day among some people, that though each Deity is named differently, the functions and analogues can be found in across pantheons. While this is true between the Roman and Greek pantheons, it is not necessarily accurate with relations to other pantheons.

Do you know and understand the dynamics between pantheons and the individual Deities within pantheons? I have a friend who wanted to call on Hecate and Hela in the same ritual. I understand that she was thinking of dark Goddesses, but she hadn’t thought the whole thing through. Scandinavia was never conquered by the Greeks or the Romans which is still a source of pride for modern Asatru or followers of the Norse Gods. Understandably calling on Deities from these pantheons could cause friction between the two which may rebound on the caller.

Within pantheons there are also frictions and problems. Hera cursed many within Her husband’s family tree. Set murdered Osiris. Loki caused problems for most of the Aesir. Yemaya and Oya don’t get on well together. It’s especially important to do some research before mixing and matching

Deities

Is your purpose for casting a spell within the understanding and realm of your chosen Deity? While I don’t believe that the Gods are stuck in a vacuum, existing unchanged eternally and unable to evolve, there are still things that need to be considered. A Goddess of the sea is unlikely to be able to help you to find a job as a secretary and a God of war is not likely to be able or willing to help bring your true love into your life, at least not in a healthy or desirable way.

Are you addressing a specific Deity or an archetype? Archetypal energies refer to certain constants. Many Goddesses may come under the heading of ‘Mother Goddess’ but there is no actual ‘Mother Goddess’. When you call on Her as such, you are calling upon those energies in an archetypal form. I cringe when I see or hear people talking about ‘The Goddess’. Which one specifically? Or are they monolatrous— believing that all are reflections or facets of the same being? In my experience, it’s never a good idea to be that general. There are many trickster entities just waiting for such an opening.

If you do happen to think that way, then why not clarify which aspect of Goddess you are calling on? ‘Great Goddess in the form of Persephone’ or ‘The Goddess who is also known as Brighid’. This keeps it specific to which type of energy or Deity you are calling on, without the risk of having something else turn up.

When you have worked with a Deity for a period of time, there is a relationship that only familiarity grows. I’ve found that I don’t need to worship my Gods, that’s not what they need from me. They need me to work in their name, do the work they set me (which isn’t always obvious) and in return they look out for me. I have left a few things in Their hands, when I’m not certain if this person has crossed me with intent or just carelessness and thoughtlessness. These days I rarely do actual spellworking, I discuss it with my Gods and stuff happens. I have called upon the Patron Goddess of another person who was busily breaking oaths they’d made to Her and to others publicly. I asked if She wanted me to deal with it or did She want to take care of it Herself. She took care of it and did a much better job than I would have. Importantly though, I have taken part in a number of rituals in Her honour, so we did have a passing acquaintance.

Communication with Deity is experiential. It comes under the heading of Unverifiable Personal Gnosis. Your experience is very personal and cannot be verified by anyone else. This means that someone else who has an experience that differs from yours is not wrong or lying about your chosen Deity. Neither are they necessarily being disrespectful, they may have merely had a different experience. Perhaps that Deity chose to show them another side for reasons of their own— they are all quite capricious.

Another point worthy of noting with regards to Deity is that They don’t require your belief. They are there, believing in Them is, to quote Terry Pratchett, like believing in a table. They will answer questions so do not be shy about asking them. You may not get the answer you want to hear, but you will get an answer.

If you are going to do some research into Deities, don’t stick purely to the pagan or Wiccan books. Read mythology from the time period, there are plenty of translations available nowadays. Read history books, read poetry and speculative fiction. The pagan books are often filled with wishful thinking and fantasy. Some authors make the Gods out to be purely noble and nice and that’s just not true. Any mention of anything dark or that they required sacrifice is skipped over or justified as “having been demonised by the Patriarchy”. There will be a bias, there always is whenever thought is turned into words, however, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s wrong. Read more than one translation if possible. There are several famous works being re-translated in recent years with completely different meanings and depictions of events. Whether any of them are actually correct, I don’t know, I can’t read the original languages and don’t have access to the manuscripts either but it’s important to get more than one person’s interpretation of the material.

When you’ve finished with the serious stuff, I recommend Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. You may wonder why a book of spell crafting would suggest reading comic fantasy. Woven within the comic fantasy world is a very clever social commentary that is rather accurate, especially when it comes to his witches.

Source

The Common Sense Spell Book
Debbie Dawson

Celebrating Legends, Folklore & Spirituality 365 Days A Year for April 26 & 27

April 26 & 27

African Fertility Festival

In many African republics, this New Year’s Day celebrates the ancient seed-sowing ceremony performed in honor of the Goddess of fertility, Mawu. Associated with the moon, Mawu is considered to be cool and gentle. She is the creatrix who made people from clay and brings abundance to the land. In some areas, Mawu (moon) is combined with Lisa (sun) to create a dynamic union between the two controlling factors of universe for the protection of crops and people.

Blessed and Free

The Witches Astronomy Journal for Friday, April 27th

Beltane Union

A woman stands, Alone in the woods, Awaiting her fate once more, Returning to her place in the cycle of life.

What is that? A rustling in the forest, Closer and closer the noise creeps, Is this the one to seal her destiny?

Now he stands before her, Clad in nothing but the sky, Grown to full manhood, and awaiting, Her.

Their eyes met, Locked in a familiar gaze, Have they been here before, Shall they dance this dance again?

No words were spoken as they met, Quietly they drew close together, And trembling with anticipation, They were united again once more.

He touched her face carefully, She seemed so familiar to him, As if he had always been a part of her, As if they completed a whole.

Beneath the hallowing moonlights glow, They danced the dance of ages, They met, and loved, and joined as one, Completing the holy union.

As they lay their after, A new cycle had already begun, She lay now holding his child, And he lay foreseeing his death.

They would come apart again, And meet together once more. For it is the cycle of everything, As goes the Beltane Lore…..

Lady Amhranai (2002)
“Is beachd a buitseach. Neoini annsa, Neoini lugha”
Published on Pagan Library

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Friday, April 27th

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 79.39° E
Sun Altitude: 9.19°
Sun Distance: 93.562 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 21, 2018 5:07 am (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 6:04 am↑ 72° East
Sunset Today: 7:40 pm↑ 288° West
Length of Daylight: 13 hours, 35 minutes

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 289.62° WNW
Moon Altitude: -22.74°
Moon Distance: 236575 mi
Next Full Moon: Apr 29, 20187:58 pm
Next New Moon: May 15, 20186:47 am
Next Moonrise: Today5:24 pm
Current Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 92.7%

Source

timeanddate.com

Astrology of Today – Friday, April 27, 2018

The Moon is in Libra.
The Moon is waxing and in its Waxing Gibbous phase.
The First Quarter Moon occurred on the 22nd, and the Full Moon will occur on April 29th.
Mercury is in its post-retrograde shadow until May 3.

Moon in Libra

Creating order is the focus, not necessarily through tidying or organizing as was the case while the Moon was in Virgo, but rather through pleasing interactions with others and aesthetics in our environment. We tend to solve problems through diplomacy, and we are more able to put aside our own emotions in order to achieve the peace we crave. The tendency now is to avoid direct confrontations. Decisions do not come easily. Seeing both sides to any given situation is the main reason for hesitation. Fear of losing others’ approval is another.

The Moon in Libra generally favors the following activities: Relationship and partnership issues, activities involving teamwork and cooperation, activities that involve self-examination, activities related to beauty.

A Look At Your Planets And Stars for Friday, April 27th

The Moon spends the day in Libra, The more sober side of Libra might dominate midday as the Moon forms an inhibitive Moon-Saturn square and opposes Mercury. We may not express ourselves very warmly or clearly now. However, the Libra Moon inclines us to make an extra effort to be inclusive, compromising, and polite. We’re seeking to find balance in our lives today, and relationships can be in high focus. We tend to weigh all perspectives and to consider all possibilities while the Moon is in Libra.

The Sky This Week for April 27 to 29

The return of the Lyrid meteor shower, a slew of bright planets, and a full night of the Full Moon, all in the sky this week.
By Richard Talcott

Friday, April 27

It’s about time to grab your final evening views of Orion the Hunter. This bright constellation now hangs low in the west as darkness falls and starts to set around 9:30 p.m. local daylight time. The three 2nd-magnitude stars that form the Hunter’s Belt now appear parallel to the horizon. A line through these stars and extended to the left points directly to the sky’s brightest star, Sirius.

Saturday, April 28

Dwarf planet 1 Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt, which lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It currently shines at magnitude 8.4 and is an easy object to spot through binoculars or a telescope. Ceres resides in the northern part of the constellation Cancer the Crab, which appears high in the west-southwest after twilight fades to darkness. This evening, Ceres lies 0.7° north of 67 and 70 Cancri, a pair of stars that shine between 6th and 7th magnitude.

Sunday, April 29

Full Moon occurs at 8:58 p.m. EDT, but our satellite will look completely illuminated all night. You can find it rising in the east as the Sun sets and peaking in the south around 1 a.m. local daylight time. The Moon lies among the background stars of Libra, less than 10° from brilliant Jupiter.

Mercury reaches greatest elongation today, when it lies 27° west of the Sun and appears some 4° above the eastern horizon 30 minutes before sunrise. Unfortunately, this is one of the planet’s worst apparitions of the year for Northern Hemisphere observers. Mercury shines at magnitude 0.4 and appears as an inconspicuous dot even through binoculars.

Source

The Astronomy Magazine

In the Sky This Month

The constellations of spring begin to dominate the evening sky this month. Leo, the celestial lion, stands in good view at nightfall and leaps high across the south later on. Virgo follows the lion across the sky, with their brightest stars, Regulus and Spica, respectively, separated by more than 50 degrees — more than five times the width of your fist held at arm’s length.

April 27: Moon and Spica
Two big stars with different futures stand below the Moon at nightfall. Their light blurs together into one point: Spica, the brightest star of Virgo. One of the stars will explode as a supernova, while the other faces a fate similar to the Sun’s.

April 28: Venus and Aldebaran
Two bright lights are passing close to each other in the western evening sky. The brighter light is Venus, the brilliant “evening star.” The other one, to the left or upper left of Venus tonight, is Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the bull.

April 29: Moon and Jupiter
The mighty planet Jupiter looks like a brilliant star. And tonight, it has a close companion: the full Moon. Jupiter is to the lower left of the Moon at nightfall, and follows the Moon across the sky later on.

April 30: Good Night, Orion
Orion, one of the most beautiful constellations, is putting in its final evening appearance of the season over the next few nights. It soon will disappear in the Sun’s glare. The next time we see it, it will be in the morning sky shortly before sunrise.

May 1: May Day
In Britain, today is known as May Day. In ancient times, it marked the beginning of summer, not the middle of spring. It is one of the year’s four cross-quarter days, which come roughly half way between a solstice and an equinox.

May 2: Centaurus
Centaurus, the centaur, hugs the southern horizon this month, and stands due south in late evening. The brightest star of Centaurus that is visible from the United States is Theta Centauri.

May 3: Moon and Planets
The Moon will stand almost due south at first light tomorrow. The bright planet Saturn will be close to its lower left, with the brighter planet Mars a good bit farther along the same line.

Source

StarDate

Your Daily Cosmic Calendar

APRIL 27, 2018

If the recent Mercury, Saturn and Pluto stations, the annual convergence of the sun with eccentric Uranus on April 18, all amplified by yesterday’s double-dose of difficulty, have created a chain reaction composed of nebulous feelings and mental anxiety, then do something pro-active to rid yourself of any tendency to experience excessive worry and self-doubt.

The moon in affable Libra is a monthly reminder to improve the quality of key relationships. Challenges are still likely to ensue since Venus forms a dicey contra-parallel with Pluto (12:51am), the moon squares off with Saturn (10:22am) and then opposes Mercury (1:18pm).

Nevertheless, with peace-loving Juno about to enter fiery Aries early tomorrow and therefore joining up with healer-in-chief Chiron on Sunday when a potent full moon occurs, there is an abundance of good vibrations that every thoughtful, kind-hearted individual can tune into with confidence.

[Note to readers: All times are now calculated for Pacific Daylight Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]

The Witches Current Moon Phase for Friday, April 27th

Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 93%

Tommorow the Moon will be in a Waxing Gibbous phase. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts round 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon. During a Waxing Gibbous the moon will rise in the east in mid-afternoon and will be high in the eastern sky at sunset. The moon is then visible though most of the night sky setting a few hour before sunrise. The word Gibbous first appeared in the 14th century and has its roots in the Latin word “gibbosus” meaning humpbacked.

PHASE DETAILS FOR – FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018

Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 93%
Moon Age: 12.22 days
Moon Angle: 0.53
Moon Distance: 378,752.53 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 150,604,272.81 km

Source

MoonGiant.com

About The Waxing Gibbous Moon

This intermediate Moon phase starts after the First Quarter Moon and lasts until the Full Moon.

50.1% to 99.9% Illuminated

Just after the First Quarter Moon, when we can see exactly half of the face of the Moon illuminated, the intermediate phase called Waxing Gibbous Moon starts.

Waxing means that it is getting bigger. Gibbous refers to the shape, which is less than the full circle of a Full Moon, but larger than the semicircle shape of the Moon at Third Quarter.

With some exceptions, the Waxing Gibbous Moon rises during the day, after noon. It is usually visible in the evening and sets after midnight.

During this period, the lit up portion of the Moon increases from 50.1% to 99.9%.

Technically, this phase lasts until the moment of Full Moon. However, it can be difficult to differentiate the last stage of a Waxing Gibbous Moon from a Full Moon when as much as 98% to 99% of the Moon’s surface is illuminated.

Sun Lights Up the Moon
The Moon does not radiate its own light, but the Moon’s surface reflects the Sun’s rays. Half of the Moon’s surface is always illuminated by direct sunlight, except during lunar eclipses when Earth casts its shadow on the Moon. Just how much of that light we can see from Earth varies every day, and we refer to this as a Moon phase.

Primary and Intermediate Moon Phases
In Western culture, we divide the lunar month into 4 primary and 4 intermediate Moon phases.

The Moon phases start with the invisible New Moon. The first visible Moon phase is the thin sliver of a Waxing Crescent Moon. Around a week later, half of the Moon’s surface is illuminated at First Quarter Moon.

The illuminated part continues to grow into a Waxing Gibbous Moon, until 14 to 15 days into the cycle, we see the entire face of the Moon lit up at Full Moon.

The illuminated part then gradually shrinks into a Waning Gibbous Moon, and when it reaches Third Quarter, the opposite half from the First Quarter is illuminated. From there, it fades into a Waning Crescent Moon. Finally, the Moon disappears completely from view into another New Moon phase, only to reemerge and repeat this cycle over and over.

Same Phase Looks Different
Moon phases are the same all over the world. The same percentage and area of the Moon are illuminated no matter where on Earth you are. However, the Moon is rotated in different ways depending on the time, the date, your location, and the Moon’s position in the sky. Therefore, the illuminated part of a Waxing Gibbous Moon can appear on the left, the right, the top, or the bottom.

The line–or curve–dividing the illuminated and dark parts of the Moon is called the terminator. The terminator of a Waxing Gibbous Moon can be on the right side, the left, the top, or the bottom.

Source

timeanddate.com

AGGRESSION IS IN THE STARS TODAY. HERE’S HOW TO HANDLE IT.

Warrior energy is running high today, thanks to the residual effects of yesterday’s powerful conjunction between Mars and Pluto. When these two planets find themselves in close proximity, sexuality and aggression are amplified, so be mindful of the urge to mow over everyone in your path.

Did you know that Pluto is currently retrograde in Capricorn?

This is a time ripe for charismatic moves, but there’s a risk of coming on too strong with frightening acts of ego and malefic power plays. You may want to continue to avoid the dark and dangerous side today, since this transit is notoriously problematic and destructive. The plus side? The Mars-Pluto conjunction can give a boost to physical performance. So, channel your “fight or flight” energy into pushing yourself to meet that fitness goal.

We’re also at the doorway of a powerful full moon in Scorpio on April 29, amplifying shadow work and further turning up the sensual heat this week. This is an especially transformative moon, signaling deeply emotional endings and beginnings. Clean and recycle within your internal and external world to make room for all the juicy change this full moon may bring.

Source

Christine Aprile, Author
Published on Astrology.com

SEX! DEATH! TRANSFORMATION! WHAT POWER WILL THIS FULL MOON IN SCORPIO GIVE YOU?

FULL MOON IN SCORPIO

The energy has been building, and the seeds we planted at the new moon have been steadily growing. Now, as they come to fruition, we can express gratitude for the new things manifesting in our lives—and just as importantly, identify the old stuff that’s taking up too much space.

What will we need to let go of to make room for new growth?

That’s the question on all of our minds during the full moon in Scorpio—the sign that’s all about natural cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Every month, the moon and sun face off from opposite ends of the zodiac, reflecting the opposing forces that need to be balanced or integrated in our own lives. With this full moon lighting up the Scorpio/Taurus axis, we’re asked to balance our desire for transformation (Scorpio) with our need for stability and security (Taurus).

With the sun in Taurus, we’re not so interested in being “transformed.” (We’re perfectly comfortable as we are, thank you very much!) But deep down, we know all too well that nothing in life is permanent—and the full moon in Scorpio is a powerful reminder.

This awareness can stir up a lot of deep, intense emotions that disrupt the laid-back Taurus vibe. But still waters run deep, and there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than we realize. This full moon brings attention to the subtle undercurrents and energies playing out in all our interactions.

We may even find ourselves in situations where people in our lives confront us with our own “shadow” side. But no reason to fear—look at it as an opportunity to know yourself better and transform your less-desirable qualities into more positive expressions.

Here, how this full moon transit will affect you, based on your sun sign.

FULL MOON IN SCORPIO BY SIGN

SCORPIO
Nothing escapes your watchful eye—but like it or not, you’re the one under the microscope at this full moon. Relationships are mirrors, and the way you see (and treat) the people in your life says much more about you than it does about them. Positive or negative, desirable or undesirable, the qualities you’re picking up on in a significant other are almost certainly part of you, too.

SAGITTARIUS
For all the pride you take in a job well done, you can’t shake the feeling that there’s so much more to you than your current work allows you to express. And yet, you may have no idea how to translate your hidden talents or spiritual gifts into anything “useful” or “productive.” That doesn’t mean you should ignore them—they’re coming up right now for a reason. But it may take some time for the ultimate purpose to reveal itself, so for now be patient and stay the course.

CAPRICORN
Ever the pragmatist, you enjoy socializing most when there’s an objective purpose behind it. But ultimately you (and everyone involved) will gain more from the association if you actually enjoy each other’s company. This full moon inspires you to take a closer look at who’s in your social network, and why. If it’s purely a marriage of convenience, you may want to cut ties and start looking for a new tribe.

AQUARIUS
About 99% of the time, you’re content just to do your thing and be yourself, whether anyone else notices or not—caring what other people think is beneath you anyway! But this full moon is that other 1% of the time, when you could really use a little validation. The question is, how to earn that seal of approval without compromising your principles?

PISCES
With an imagination like yours, you don’t have to leave your neighborhood (or even your house) to go on an adventure. Still, as much as you love the familiar faces and places of home, this full moon could hit you with a serious case of wanderlust. It doesn’t matter whether the journey is to a foreign land, or the outer reaches of your mind—as long as it takes you somewhere new and exciting.

ARIES
When things get rough, you like to think you’re someone who can pull themselves up by their bootstraps. But let’s be honest, we all need a little help sometimes—and this full moon could bring you to the point where you finally swallow your pride and ask. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’ve matured.

TAURUS
This is your season in the sun, and no one’s denying your right to enjoy it. But if all the attention you’re paying yourself has left loved ones out in the cold, this full moon brings their feelings into the open. Just like a garden, relationships need tending in order to thrive—and right now, you’re being asked to weed out any old, selfish habits of yours that are crowding your partner’s space and keeping them small.

GEMINI
A little indulgence now and then can be good for you, but lately you’re wondering if your favorite vice is compromising your health. Don’t brush these feelings aside—pay attention to what your body and your subconscious are trying to tell you at this full moon. Chances are, they’re sending some not-so-subtle hints about what you should cut out to keep living your best life.

CANCER
“Living in the moment” is easier said than done when there’s so much to look forward to and so many plans to make. But this full moon reminds you that the present moment is the only thing you really have. The future is never guaranteed, and even your best-laid plans may not turn out exactly how you envisioned. Might as well learn to ride the wave and see where it takes you!

LEO
All the world’s a stage, and you’ve been cast in the role of a lifetime. So why do you feel so unsatisfied? Maybe it’s because the part you’re playing bears very little resemblance to the person you know yourself to be. This full moon turns up the volume on that little voice insisting on authenticity. How can you bring your public and private selves into a truer alignment?

VIRGO
It’s easy to appreciate people and places you only get to see on special occasions—it’s much harder to see the beauty in your own backyard and the people you interact with every day. But if you approach it with an open mind, this full moon could transform the way you view your little corner of the world.

LIBRA
There’s no doubt about it, you’ve got good people in your life who will always have your back. But this full moon can raise some doubts and insecurities about your ability to stand on your own two feet, should the need arise. Dig deep, take stock of your own resources (material and otherwise), and connect with your own inner strength.

Source

Rachel Celeste Hansen, Author
Published on Astrology.com

Wishing All Our Precious Brothers & Sisters of the Craft a Very Beautiful & Blessed Friday!

Till tomorrow, my sweets…….

Born on a Wednesday

If You Were Born Today, April 25

You are a sensual, intuitive, and emotional person who is sometimes misunderstood, generally because you don’t easily let others in on your deepest thoughts and feelings! However, you are very much respected. You tend to think before you speak or write. A calm exterior can hide some nervousness and worry, as well as an intensely emotional nature. In your work, you are a perfectionist. Famous people born today: Ella Fitzgerald, Renee Zellweger, Al Pacino, Jason Lee.

Your Birthday Year Forecast

With the Sun and Moon in harmony in your Solar Return chart, the year ahead should be satisfying and balanced overall. You are in comfortable demand and personally popular, and you are able to achieve a decent balance between work and play; personal and professional life. For the most part, you are on top of your game this year, and positive connections with others can be made fairly easily. With the ability to handle your emotions successfully, there is less stress on both your mind and body. Your self-confidence and positive attitude will reward you!

Until November, you continue to have a strong, protective, and stabilizing influence with you. It helps you stay on track and meet your responsibilities. Your popularity tends to be strong, and your leadership skills are valued. Work you have done in the past begins to pay off this year–not necessarily in dramatic ways, but in small, measurable ways. You may be recognized or rewarded in some manner for the efforts you put forth. Because you project a more responsible and credible “you”, people in authority are more inclined to appreciate you and recognize your work. This is a year in which you put your life in order in some significant manner. Improved concentration, a more realistic outlook, and a practical awareness of the limits of time all help you to make steady progress, particularly in your career. Your concern for your future this year is stronger than usual, and you may find that projects you start, or investments you make, this year will benefit you for years to come.

Something big is in the works regarding your love or social life. You’ll have a chance to heal old wounds with regards to love this year. You’re also bound to find new ways of making money.

Your ambition is stimulated now, and you are determined to meet or exceed your goals. You can bring great discipline and meaning to your life this year. You might totally revise an important project or area of your life, or you could be bent on getting rid of something in your life so that you can move forward. The tendency to be too willful this year should probably be avoided. You should also watch for overdoing to the point of exhaustion. This can be a compulsive time when power struggles are more likely. On the other hand, it can be a time when you enjoy a strong sense of purposefulness, focus, and determination.

The year ahead can be an ambitious time and a supportive period for reaching your goals. You might solve a long-standing problem, or capitalize upon a resource that was previously hidden.

You might experience some difficulties and delays in communications in the period ahead. It’s a strong year for recognizing flaws and errors. As long as you don’t forget the “big picture”, you could find you are motivated to channel your mental energy into tasks that require structured and organized thought, tackling projects that you may have found too mundane or downright boring in other years. It’s a strong year for polishing your skills and formal learning.

You are determined and focused in the year ahead, and you can move mountains in important areas of your life. As well, this can be a wonderful year for meeting new people or more thoroughly enjoying your current friendships. It’s a powerful year for relationships and excellent for making lifestyle changes.

2018 is a Number Four year for you. Ruled by Uranus. This is a year of work and development. It’s “nose to the grindstone” time. It’s a time to pay special attention to practical matters, and it’s not a time to be lazy or especially gregarious. Sometimes, it can be a year that feels hard, monotonous and routine, and/or lonely. Positive new relationships are often not formed in a Four personal year. However, it can be a wonderful year for building, development, and laying a solid foundation for future successes. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

2019 will be a Number Five year for you. Ruled by Mercury. This is a year of discovery and freedom. It’s a time when exploration and reaching out to others brings opportunities. It’s a good time to advertise, promote, and sell. Surprises are in store, and the routine is broken for the better. This is a year when exciting relationships can be formed; or, if you are already in a partnership, new life is breathed into the relationship. Advice – explore, look for adventure, keep your eyes open for opportunities, diversify, mingle.

Courtesy of Cafe Astrology

Classic Zodiac Chat-up Lines

From The Astrology Room

Ever wondered how to spot a star sign from what they say? Here’s your rough guide to the zodiac chat-up lines based on daily horoscopes .

Here are the chat-up lines each star-sign is most likely to use on you based on their daily horoscopes

ARIES

Shall we go on?

TAURUS

I think you’re great. Let’s go eat.

GEMINI

Why don’t we dump these losers and you and me take off?

CANCER

Let’s go somewhere private.

LEO

I’d love to take you out, do you have anything smart to wear?

Or: Do you want to do your makeup before we leave?

VIRGO

I think I could really improve your life.

LIBRA

I love you for your mind as well as your body.

SCORPIO

Let’s change the world!

SAGITTARIUS

Fancy a bonk?

CAPRICORN

I think we’d work well together. I have a window on Thursday if you’d like to go for dinner.

AQUARIUS

Talk to me.

PISCES

Tell me everything about yourself.

May You

Now I Lay Me Down

The Study of Pagan Gods and Goddesses: Eris

Eris

(Greek)

A goddess of chaos, Eris is often present in times of discord and strife. She loves to start trouble, just for her own sense of amusement, and perhaps one of the best known examples of this was a little dustup called the Trojan War.

It all started with the wedding of Thetis and Pelias, who would eventually have a son named Achilles. All of the gods of Olympus were invited, including Hera, Aphrodite and Athena – but Eris’ name got left off the guest list, because everyone knew how much she enjoyed causing a ruckus. Eris, the original wedding crasher, showed up anyway, and decided to have a little fun. She tossed a golden apple – the Apple of Discord – into the crowd, and said it was for the most beautiful of the goddesses. Naturally, Athena, Aphrodite and Hera had to bicker over who was the rightful owner of the apple.

Zeus, trying to be helpful, chose a young man named Paris, a prince of the city of Troy, to select a winner. Aphrodite offered Paris a bribe he couldn’t resist – Helen, the lovely young wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. Paris selected Aphrodite to receive the apple, and thus guaranteed that his hometown would be demolished by the end of the war.

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Eris

Eris is the Greek goddess of strife and discord. Her name is the equivalent of Latin Discordia, which means “discord”. Eris’ Greek opposite is Harmonia, whose Latin counterpart is Concordia. Homer equated her with the war-goddess Enyo, whose Roman counterpart is Bellona. The dwarf planet Eris is named after the goddess

Eris is of uncertain etymology; connections with the verb ὀρίνειν orinein, “to raise, stir, excite,” and the proper name Ἐρινύες Erinyes have been suggested. R. S. P. Beekes rejects these derivations and suggested a Pre-Greek origin.

Characteristics in Greek mythology

El Juicio de Paris by Enrique Simonet, 1904

Golden apple of discord by Jakob Jordaens, 1633

Das Urteil des Paris by Anton Raphael Mengs, c. 1757

In Hesiod’s Works and Days 11–24, two different goddesses named Eris are distinguished:

So, after all, there was not one kind of Strife alone, but all over the earth there are two. As for the one, a man would praise her when he came to understand her; but the other is blameworthy: and they are wholly different in nature. For one fosters evil war and battle, being cruel: her no man loves; but perforce, through the will of the deathless gods, men pay harsh Strife her honour due.

But the other is the elder daughter of dark Night (Nyx), and the son of Cronus who sits above and dwells in the aether, set her in the roots of the earth: and she is far kinder to men. She stirs up even the shiftless to toil; for a man grows eager to work when he considers his neighbour, a rich man who hastens to plough and plant and put his house in good order; and neighbour vies with his neighbour as he hurries after wealth. This Strife is wholesome for men. And potter is angry with potter, and craftsman with craftsman and beggar is jealous of beggar, and minstrel of minstrel.

In Hesiod’s Theogony (226–232), Strife, the daughter of Night, is less kindly spoken of as she brings forth other personifications as her children:

And hateful Eris bore painful Ponos (“Hardship”),
Lethe (“Forgetfulness”) and Limos (“Starvation”) and the tearful Algea (“Pains”),
Hysminai (“Battles”), Makhai (“Wars”), Phonoi (“Murders”), and Androktasiai (“Manslaughters”);
Neikea (“Quarrels”), Pseudea (“Lies”), Logoi (“Stories”), Amphillogiai (“Disputes”)
Dysnomia (“Anarchy”) and Ate (“Ruin”), near one another,
and Horkos (“Oath”), who most afflicts men on earth,
Then willing swears a false oath.

The other Strife is presumably she who appears in Homer’s Iliad Book IV; equated with Enyo as sister of Ares and so presumably daughter of Zeus and Hera:

Strife whose wrath is relentless, she is the sister and companion of murderous Ares, she who is only a little thing at the first, but thereafter grows until she strides on the earth with her head striking heaven. She then hurled down bitterness equally between both sides as she walked through the onslaught making men’s pain heavier. She also has a son whom she named Strife.

Enyo is mentioned in Book 5, and Zeus sends Strife to rouse the Achaeans in Book 11, of the same work.

The most famous tale of Eris recounts her initiating the Trojan War by causing the Judgement of Paris. The goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite had been invited along with the rest of Olympus to the forced wedding of Peleus and Thetis, who would become the parents of Achilles, but Eris had been snubbed because of her troublemaking inclinations.

She therefore (as mentioned at the Kypria according to Proclus as part of a plan hatched by Zeus and Themis) tossed into the party the Apple of Discord, a golden apple inscribed Ancient Greek: τῇ καλλίστῃ, translit. tē(i) kallistē(i) – “For the most beautiful one”, or “To the Fairest One” – provoking the goddesses to begin quarreling about the appropriate recipient. The hapless Paris, Prince of Troy, was appointed to select the fairest by Zeus. The goddesses stripped naked to try to win Paris’ decision, and also attempted to bribe him. Hera offered political power; Athena promised infinite wisdom; and Aphrodite tempted him with the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta. While Greek culture placed a greater emphasis on prowess and power, Paris chose to award the apple to Aphrodite, thereby dooming his city, which was destroyed in the war that ensued.

In Nonnus’ Dionysiaca, 2.356, when Typhon prepares to battle with Zeus:

Eris (“Strife”) was Typhon’s escort in the melée, Nike (“Victory”) led Zeus to battle.

Another story of Eris includes Hera, and the love of Polytekhnos and Aedon. They claimed to love each other more than Hera and Zeus were in love. This angered Hera, so she sent Eris to rack discord upon them. Polytekhnos was finishing off a chariot board, and Aedon a web she had been weaving. Eris said to them, “Whosoever finishes thine task last shall have to present the other with a female servant!” Aedon won. But Polytekhnos was not happy by his defeat, so he came to Khelidon, Aedon’s sister, and raped her. He then disguised her as a slave, presenting her to Aedon. When Aedon discovered this was indeed her sister, she chopped up Polytekhnos’ son and fed him to Polytekhnos. The gods were not pleased, so they turned them all into birds.

Cultural influences

Discordianism
Eris has been adopted as the patron deity of the modern Discordian religion, which was begun in the late 1950s by Gregory Hill and Kerry Wendell Thornley under the pen names of “Malaclypse the Younger” and “Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst”. The Discordian version of Eris is considerably lighter in comparison to the rather malevolent Graeco-Roman original, wherein she is depicted as a positive (albeit mischievous) force of chaotic creation.

A quote from the Principia Discordia, the first holy book of Discordianism, attempts to clear up the matter:

One day Mal-2 consulted his Pineal Gland and asked Eris if She really created all of those terrible things. She told him that She had always liked the Old Greeks, but that they cannot be trusted with historic matters. “They were,” She added, “victims of indigestion, you know.”

Suffice it to say that Eris is not hateful or malicious. But she is mischievous, and does get a little bitchy at times.

The story of Eris being snubbed and indirectly starting the Trojan War is recorded in the Principia, and is referred to as the Original Snub. The Principia Discordia states that her parents may be as described in Greek legend, or that she may be the daughter of Void. She is the Goddess of Disorder and Being, whereas her sister Aneris (called the equivalent of Harmonia by the Mythics of Harmonia) is the goddess of Order and Non-Being. Their brother is Spirituality.

Discordian Eris is looked upon as a foil to the preoccupation of western philosophy in attempting find order in the chaos of reality, in prescribing order to be synonymous with truth. Discordian Eris teaches us that the only truth is chaos, and that order and disorder are simply temporary filters applied to the lenses we view the chaos through. This is known as the Aneristic Illusion.

In this telling, Eris becomes something of a patron saint of chaotic creation:

I am chaos. I am the substance from which your artists and scientists build rhythms. I am the spirit with which your children and clowns laugh in happy anarchy. I am chaos. I am alive, and I tell you that you are free.

The concept of Eris as developed by the Principia Discordia is used and expanded upon in the science fiction work The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson (in which characters from Principia Discordia appear). In this work, Eris is a major character.

Other
The classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty is partly inspired by Eris’ role in the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. Like Eris, a malevolent fairy curses a princess after not being invited to the princess’ christening.

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Reference

Patti Wigington, Published on ThoughtCo.com
Wikipedia

Make Me Strong In Spirit

The Witches Magickal Digest for Wednesday, April 25th

It is an accurate statement that the followers of Witchcraft do not usually proselytize, which means you aren’t going to find us standing on your local street corner thumping our Books of Shadows. Nor do you have to worry about jumping out of the shower to answer our serene and smiling faces at the door with your clothes stuck to various uncomfortable places on your wet body. But just because we (hopefully) aren’t the forcible type doesn’t mean we don’t exist.

SILVER RAVENWOLF, To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft

Today is Wednesday, April 25th

Wednesday is the day of the Teutonic deity known as Wodin or Odin, an aspect of the Allfather, god of knowledge, wisdom, enlightenment and combat, the parallel of Hermes, the planet Mercury.

Deity: Woden

Zodiac Sign: Gemini & Virgo

Planet: Mercury

Tree: Ash

Herb: Cinquefoil

Stone: Emerald & Sardonyx

Animal: Raven & Cat

Element: Air

Color: Red & Blue

Number: 6

Rune: Odal(O)

The Celtic Tree Month Saille (Willow) (April 14 – May 12)

Runic Half Month of Man(human being) (April 14 – April 28)

Goddess of the Month of Maia (April 18 – May 15th)

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

The Pagan Book of Days for April 25th

St. Mark’s Day is the old Roman Festival of the Robigalia, the observance of which was magickally intended to avert the spirit of mildew, which threatens crops around this time. For many years, the Litania Major of the Catholic church for St. Mark’s Day at Rome followed the earlier festival. Its purpose, like the Robigalia, was to gain the blessing of heaven for the growing crops. In traditionally English lore, this is Cuckoo Day. The cuckoo, “St. Mark’s gowk,” heralds the arrival of migratory birds from the south, indicating the return of summer.

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

The Goddess Book of Days for Wednesday, April 25

Day of the Robigalia of Rome, for Robigo, Goddess of Com and Harvests. (Demeter, Ceres, the Com Mothers, Tonantzin, Chicomecoatl, Spider Woman, Changing Woman.) Also, Passover, Hebrew spring festival originally dedicated to Baal

Source

The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Goddesses Associated with Wednesday

For Woden: Isis, Demeter, Ceres, Spider Woman, Bona Dea, Oya, Devi-Kali, Hella, Rhiannon, Coatlique, Maman Brigette

Source

The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

Today is Wednesday, April 25th, We Celebrate….

Sechselauten (Switzerland)
LADA

Themes: Spring Protection; overcoming; kinship; energy; joy

Symbols: Birch, bells

About Lada: Lada bursts forth from her winter hiding place today in full Slavic costume and dances with joy, grateful for spring’s arrival. As Lada moves, her skirts sweep away sickness and usher in the earth’s blossoming beauty. She bears a birch tree and flowers to honor the earth’s fertility and to begin planting anew.

To Do Today: This spring festival is overflowing with Lada’s vibrancy and begins with the demolition of a snowman, symbolic of winter’s complete overthrow. If you live in a region where there’s no snow, take out an ice cube and put a flowering seed atop it. Let it melt, then plant the seed with “winter’s” water to welcome Lada back to the earth.

Bells ring throughout this day in Switzerland to proclaim spring and ring out any remaining winter maladies and shadows. Adapt this by taking a handheld bell (you can get small ones at craft stores) and ringing it in every room of the house, intoning Lada’s revitalizing energy. Or just ring your doorbell, open the door and bring some flowers as a way of offering Lada’s spirit hospitality.

Finally, wear something with a floral print today or enjoy a glass of birch beer. Better still, make a birch beer float so the ice cream(snow) melts amid Lada’s warmth, bringing that transformative power into you as you sip.

Source

365 Goddess: A Daily Guide To the Magic and Inspiration of the goddess
Patricia Telesco

Ritual Work Associated With Wednesday, The Day of Mercury

Perfumes: Sweetpea, Lavender, Mastic, Frankincense, Cloves

Incense: Cinnamon, Cinquefoil

Color: Yellow or Grey

Influences: Conjurations, Predictions, Knowledge, Writing, Eloquence

Reference:

A Book of Pagan Rituals
Herman Slater

Magickal Days of the Week – Wednesday

Wednesday is named for Woden himself, although the Romans called it dies Mercurii. This is a day associated with the color purple, the planet Mercury, and the metal quicksilver – which is also called mercury. See a pattern here?

When it comes to deities… yes, Mercury! However, there are a few other gods associated with Wednesday, including Odin and Hermes, Athena, and Lugh. Gemstones like adventurine and agate come in handy as well, as do plants such as aspen trees, lilies, lavender and even ferns.

Business and job-related issues, communication, loss and debt, traveling, and journeys are all tied in to Wednesday. This is a good day to do a working to open up lines of communication – especially if your own actions are preventing you from being an effective speaker or listener. Go someplace new or return to an old favorite stomping ground, step up your game, and settle up your accounts.

Reference

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article originally published on & owned by ThoughtCo

Wednesday: On the way to the afterlife

The fourth day of the week is named after Odin (Wodan or Woden). In Anglo-Saxon world, Woden is not necessarily the mirror of the Norse Odin. Up to the seventh century, he was worshipped as the main deity. He was the psychopomp which is a word for someone who helps deliver human souls to the afterlife.

In Romance languages, the name of the day comes from Latin Dies Mercurii (miércoles in Spanish, mercoledi in Italian, mercredi in French), associated with Mercury, the Roman god of trade, profit and commerce.

In German, the word for Wednesday is simply Mittwoch, meaning the middle of the week

Wednesday–The Day of Woden

Woden, or Odin as the Norsemen called him, was the chief of the gods of our ancestors, and corresponds to the Jupiter of the Romans. Also, for reasons which we shall read later, he was similar to Mercury, and his name was given to the Roman Dies Mercurii, day of Mercury, which still survives in the French mercredi.

As in the case of Jupiter and the Titans, Odin led the Northern gods in a gigantic struggle with the giants of ice and frost, and finally overthrew them. With the help of the gods, he then fashioned the world from the body of the chief of the giants. From the flesh he made the earth, known as Midgard (middle garden), and from his blood the sea, while from his bones he made the mountains, from his teeth the cliffs, and from his hair the trees. The giant’s skull was then fixed over the earth to form the vault of the sky, and was held in place at the four corners by four dwarfs, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, and Westri, from whom we have obtained the names North, South, East, and West. Next the gods made the sun and moon, which were placed in golden chariots driven by Sol and Mani, the daughter and son of a giant who had named his children after the newly-created sun and moon. The Northmen thought that they could see on the moon the outline of two children carrying a pail, and the story goes that Mani, while travelling across the sky, one night caught up two children, Hiuki and Bil, who were compelled by their cruel father to carry water all night. Hiuki and Bil are still known to us in the familiar story of Jack and Jill. The sun and moon were said to be pursued continually by two fierce wolves, whose shapes could be seen in the clouds, and who, if they caught them up, would swallow them and plunge the world in darkness. Sometimes they nearly succeeded, and thus caused the eclipses.

Having completed the earth and peopled it with men and women, the gods, led by Odin, built magnificent palaces for themselves in Asgard, their home. The most famous of these was Valhalla, to which the bravest and mightiest of the mortals who fell in battle were summoned at their death. The walls of Valhalla were made of spears, and golden shields formed the roof. In the hall stood long tables, at which the dead heroes feasted.

The Northmen honoured a great fighter above all men, and they even thought it a disgrace for him to die in any other way than sword in hand. The great ambition of every fighting man was to be called to Valhalla after his death, there to spend his time in fighting and feasting. The fortunate ones were chosen from among the slain on the battle-fields by the Valkyries, Odin’s battle-maidens, whose horses carried them through the air and over the sea. They rode among the storm-clouds, and the flash of their spears was seen in the lightning.

Odin was often pictured as sitting on a throne from which he could see the whole world, and wearing a suit of armour, covered with a blue mantle, which represented the sky. In his hand he held a famous spear, Gungnir, which never missed its mark. On his shoulders sat two ravens, Thought and Memory, which he sent out into the world every day to obtain news of all that happened. Like Tiu, the God of War, Odin suffered from a disfigurement, having lost one of his eyes. This loss is explained in the following story.

After the creation of the world, Odin wished to obtain great wisdom which would place him far above the other gods. This he could only procure from Mimir’s spring, in whose clear waters the future was mirrored. Odin, therefore, visited Mimir and begged a draught of the wonderful water, but Mimir would only grant the request in return for one of Odin’s eyes. The god was willing to make even this sacrifice for the great knowledge the water would give him, and accordingly he plucked out one of his eyes and gave it to Mimir, who sank it deep in the spring where it could always be seen shining. Odin then drank deep of the water, and thus gained the wisdom for which he was always famous.

All the life of the world, including even the lives of the gods, was said to depend on an enormous ash tree, Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. This tree was created by Odin, and had three roots, one in the Underworld, another in Midgard, near Mimir’s spring, and the third in Asgard. It grew to such a height that it overtopped the whole world, and in its topmost branches sat an eagle with a falcon between its eyes. The falcon could see all three kingdoms, and reported all that happened in them to the gods. In the Underworld was a dragon, which continually gnawed the roots of Yggdrasil in order to destroy it and so bring about the downfall of the gods. To prevent this disaster, the tree was daily watered from a fountain in Asgard, whose magic waters kept it continually green.

Joining Asgard and the earth was a bridge made of fire, earth, and water, whose colours were those of the rainbow. This bridge was guarded against the giants by a god named Heimdall, whose sight and hearing were so keen that he could see a hundred leagues by night as well as by day, and could hear the grass growing on the earth and the wool on the sheep’s back! He was armed with a flashing sword, and carried a horn with which he was to give warning when the giants should come against Asgard.

Odin was the inventor of Runes, the first alphabet of the Northmen. The letters consisted almost entirely of straight lines placed in different groups and positions, and were thought at first to have a magical meaning. Each god had a special rune or sign, and the use of the sign was supposed to bring help from the god. Thus all fighters carved the rune of Tiu on their swords in order that they might have his aid in battle. Runes were afterwards used in the ordinary way for writing, and very old runes have been found carved on stones in Scandinavia and in England. As the inventor of runes, Odin is like Mercury, who was supposed to have given the Romans their alphabet.

In addition to being the wisest of the gods, the inventor of runes, and the God of Eloquence, Odin was also the God of Poetry. The gift of poetry was guarded very jealously by the gods, and was only granted to mortals in special cases. Odin obtained the gift for himself and the other gods only with great difficulty. Hidden away in a hollow mountain, and carefully watched over by a giantess, were three vessels containing a magic fluid, which gave to anyone who drank of it the gift of poetry and song. Odin, knowing of this magic drink, determined to obtain it. Accordingly he set out for the land of the giants, dressed as a mortal, and wearing a broad-brimmed hat to hide the fact that he had only one eye. He hired himself as a servant to Baugi, the brother of the giant Suttung, to whom the vessels belonged, and asked as payment for his labour one draught of the magic fluid. As soon as his work was finished, Odin demanded payment, but Baugi was afraid to ask his brother for the drink, and suggested they should win it for themselves by trickery. They came to the mountain where the vessels were hidden, and bored a hole right through to the cave inside. Odin then changed himself into a snake and wriggled through the hole, just in time to escape the giant, who tried to kill him as he entered the hole. Having found his way into the cave, Odin again took on the form of a god, and begged the giantess who watched over the vessels to allow him just a sip of the magic drink. The giantess at last consented, but Odin, instead of taking a sip, quickly emptied all the vessels, and then, making his way out of the cave transformed himself into an eagle and flew swiftly towards Asgard. He soon discovered, however, that the giant Suttung was pursuing him, also in the form of an eagle. As he neared Asgard the gods caught sight of him, and, seeing that the giant was gaining on Odin, they gathered together a great quantity of fuel and piled it on the palace walls. Immediately Odin had passed over the wall the gods set fire to the fuel, and the flames rose so high that the wings of the pursuing giant were scorched, and he fell into the fire and was burnt.

Odin seldom used this precious gift of poetry himself, but imparted it to his son Bragi, who became the minstrel of the gods and sang many songs in honour of the gods and the great heroes in Valhalla. All the singers among men, the bards, or scalds, as they were sometimes called, were thought to have received the gift from Odin, and were greatly honoured for that reason.

The Witches Wednesday

Wednesday is the fourth day of the week, in the Judeo-Christian calendar between Tuesday and Thursday. The name comes from the Middle English Wednes dei, which is from Old English WÃ„â€œdnes dÃƒÂ¦g, meaning the day of the Germanic god Woden (Wodan) who was a god of the Anglo-Saxons in England until about the 7th century. WÃ„â€œdnes dÃƒÂ¦g is like the Old Norse OÃƒÂ°insdagr (“Odin’s day”), which is an early translation of the Latin dies Mercurii (“Mercury’s day”). Although Mercury (the messenger of the gods) and Woden (the king of the Germanic gods) are not equivalent in most regards, both gods guided the souls of the dead to the underworld.

When Sunday is taken as the first of the week, the day in the middle of each week is Wednesday. Arising from this, the German name for Wednesday has been Mittwoch (literally: “mid-week”) since the 10th Century, having displaced the former name: Wodanstag (“Wodan’s day”). The Finnish name is similarly practical: Keskiviikko (literally: “middle of the week”) as is the Icelandic name: MiÃƒÂ°vikudagur (“Mid-week day”).

According to the Hebrew Bible, Wednesday is the day when the Sun and Moon were created.

Wednesday is also in the middle of the common Western 5-day working week that starts on Monday and finishes on Friday.

In Romance languages it is derived from the name of the Roman god Mercury: mercredi (French), mercoledÃƒÂ¬ (Italian), miÃƒÂ©rcoles (Spanish), miercuri (Romanian), dimecres (Catalan), dies Mercurii (Latin). Similarly, the Hindi name for Wednesday, Budhvar is derived from the Vedic name for Mercury, Budh. Russian does not use pagan names but instead uses sredÃƒÂ¡, meaning “middle,” similar to the German Mittwoch. Likewise, Portuguese uses the word quarta-feira, meaning “fourth day.”

An English language idiom for Wednesday is “hump day”, a reference to making it through to the middle of the work week as getting “over the hump”. It is also informally referred to as “the peak of the week”.

Quakers traditionally refer to Wednesday as “Fourth Day”, eschewing the pagan origin of the name “Wednesday”. Most eastern languages also use a name with this meaning, for much the same reason.

Extremely faithful Orthodox Christians observe a vegetarian / fish-only fast on Wednesdays (and Fridays) in some countries such as Greece.

According to the Thai solar calendar, the color associated with Wednesday is green.

Wednesday in Popular Culture

* The nursery rhyme states, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe”. This line was the inspiration for the ‘Wednesday’ character, the daughter, in The Addams Family comic and TV Show.

* In the 19th century children’s rhyme Solomon Grundy, Solomon was ‘Married on Wednesday.’

* A song titled “Wednesday’s Song” is on the 2004 album Shadows Collide with People by John Frusciante

* Mr. Wednesday is a main character in Neil Gaiman’s novel American Gods. He is the employer of the protagonist Shadow, and is a variation on the god Odin.

Astrological Sign

The astrological sign of the planet Mercury represents Wednesday — Dies Mercurii to the Romans, with similar names in Latin-derived languages, such as the French Mercredi and the Spanish MiÃƒÂ©rcoles. In English, this became “Woden’s Day”, since the Roman god Mercury was identified with Woden in northern Europe.

Wednesday’s Witchery

Be bold and daring today! Expand your knowledge of the Craft by working with the planetary energies of Mercury on this multifaceted day of the week. Consider the Greco-Roman gods Mercury and Hermes and all of the many lessons they have for you. Embrace change and movement, and work on your communication techniques. Conjure up a little good luck for yourself with that Mercury dime spell. Call on Athena to inspire you to try magickal arts and crafts and to be more creative in your own spellwork and witchery.

Meditate on Odin and see what you can discover about him. I wonder what sort of fabulous and fascinating magickal wisdom you will uncover? Odin is a shaman, after all; he may appear in many guises and faces. I guarantee that he will make you laugh at yourself before he is through with you, but you will learn. It’s up to you what you do with that knowledge. Will you let it shapeshift into wisdom?

Wednesday is the wild and wily day of the week, so try to go with the flow; don’t fight the quirky energies of the day. Most importantly, follow your heart, and always keep a good sense of humor, because of Wednesdays you will really need it.

Source

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

The Witches Almanac for Wednesday, April 25

Robigalia (Roman)

Waxing Moon

Moon phase: Second Quarter

Moon Sign: Virgo

Incense: Lilac

Color: Yellow

The Witches Correspondences for Wednesday, April 25th

Dedicated to the Teutonic god Woden or Odin, an aspect of the “All-Father” god of knowledge wisdom enlightenment and combat, the parallel of Hermes.

Element : Air

Planet: Mercury

Zodiac Sign : Virgo / Gemini

Angel : Raphael

Metal : Mercury

Incense / Perfumes : Jasmine, Lavender, Sweet Pea

Oil: Benzoin, Clary Sage, Eucalytus, Lavender

Color : Red, Orange, Light Blue

Stones : Bloodstone,Garnet, Aventurine, Hematite, Moss Agate and Sodalite

Plants/Herbs : Almond, Anise, Cherry, Clover, Dandelion, Dill, Fern, Hazel, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemongrass, Lilac, Mace, Peppermint, Rosemary, Vervain

Magick to Work: the conscious mind, study, travel, divination, consulting oracles, wisdom, communication ,cleverness, contracts, creativity, information, intellect, memory, erception, science, wisdom, writing

Wednesday Is Ruled By Mercury

Wednesdays are wild and wacky days. They are for communication, change, cunning, and the arts. This is a Mercury day, and just its patron god this day is full of contradictions, change, and excitement. Some suggestions for Wednesday enchantments would include:

Pulling a little Wednesday color magic into your life by wearing purples or orange

Carrying a multipurpose agate with you and tapping into its various charms

Working with magical plants such as the fern for protection. This plant will also boost the power of any other magical plants with which it is arranged.

Incorporating lavender into charms and spells for transformation

Using the charming scent of lily of the valley to improve your memory, or working with the aspen tree for communication

Calling on Athena, patron of arts and crafts, for inspiration for a new project

Fanning out a Tarot spell to increase you creativity

Calling on Hermes on a Wednesday night to bring movement and good luck into your life

Mercury’s Energy

*Notes: perform on a Wednesday and/or during the waxing Moon with the Full Moon being strongest. An orange or violet candle is associated with any magick cast on this day.

Day: Wednesday

Color: Orange, violet, multicolored, pale yellow

Metal: Quicksilver, alloys.

Stones: Carnelian, fire opal, agate

Plants: Anise, caraway , cassia, club mosss, dittany of Crete, lavender, licorice, parsley, sandalwood, storax

Rules: Gemini, Virgo

Oils: Lavender, lemon, lily of valley, nutmeg, sandalwood, styrax, vervain

Rituals Involving: Intellect, memory, science, creativity, business, magickal conjuration, divination, prediction, eloquence, gift of tongues, speed, speech, writing, poetry, inspiration, improvement of mind power, healing of nervous disorders.

Physical Chant for Mercury:

Magick, the Arts, success on my trade,
Business wisdom and divination,
These gifts I would gain for my physical growth
And to help in my conjurations.

Source

Dancing with Dragons, Invoking Their Ageless Wisdom and Power
D. J. Conway, Author

Magickal Applications for Wednesday

To the Romans, this day was called Dies Mercurii, or “Mercury’s day” Mercury was a popular character in the Roman pantheon. A messenger of the gods, he presided over commerce, trade, and anything that required skill or dexterity. The Celts also worshiped Mercury and eventually equated him with the Norse god Odin (some spelling variations on this name include Wotan, Wodin, and Wodan). In Norse mythologies, Odin, like Mercury, is associated with poetry and music. Interestingly enough, both Odin and Mercury were regarded as psychopomps, or the leaders of souls, in their individual mythologies.

Odin, one of the main gods in Norse mythology, was constantly seeking wisdom. He traveled the world in disguise as a one-eyed man with a long gray beard, wearing an old, beat-up hat and carrying a staff or a spear (which brings to my mind images of Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings). In the Old English language, this day of Mercury evolved into Wodnes daeg, “Woden’s day,” or Wednesday.

Wednesday carries all of the planetary and magickal energies and associations of the witty and nimble god Mercury himself. Some of these mercurial traits included good communication skills, cleverness, intelligence, creativity, business sense, writing, artistic talent, trickiness, and thievery. And don’t forget all of those wise and enigmatic qualities associated with the Norse god Odin/Wodin, not to mention the goddess Athena’s contributions of music, the arts, handmade crafts, and writing. Wednesdays afford excellent opportunities for seeking wisdom, changing your circumstances, and improving your skills, be they in trade and commerce, music and art, or in communication and writing.

Source

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Wednesday & The Perfect Corresponding Spell

Wedesday is a good day to focus on getting over any slumps you may have. This day is considered the middle of the work week; and many people find themselves very tired by this point. That is why this day is a great day to do refresh, refrain, return, wake-up, and concentration spells. It is, also, another good day for meditation.

Refrain Spell – Do Not Act Spell

Items you will need:
1 sheet of paper
1 pen or pencil
1 piece of string

On a piece of paper, write down whatever your bad temptation is.

Below that, on the left side write down why you want to do this and on the right side, write down why you should not do it. When you are done, fold the paper in half and then fold it again. Say this chant three times:

“This is not to bind,
But to refrain.
The string I tie
Will help me find
The strength I need.
To keep my desires contained.”

Tie the string around the paper and tie a knot. Place this in a safe place, until the temptation passes and no longer is a threat.

Source

A Witch’s Week of Spells and Activities
Helga C. Loueen

Let’s Talk Witch: Working With the Gods and Goddesses

There are literally thousands of different deities out there in the Universe, and which ones you choose to honor will often depend significantly upon what pantheon your spiritual path follows. However, many modern Pagans and Wiccans describe themselves as eclectic, which means they may honor a god of one tradition beside a goddess of another. In some cases, we may choose to ask a deity for assistance in a magical working or in problem solving.

Regardless, at some point, you’re going to have to sit and sort them all out. If you don’t have a specific, written tradition, then how do you know which gods to call upon?

A good way to look at it is to figure out which deity of your pantheon would be interested in your purpose. In other words, what gods might take the time to look into your situation? This is where the concept of appropriate worship comes in handy — if you can’t take the time to get to know the deities of your path, then you probably shouldn’t be asking them for favors. So first, figure out your goal. Are you doing a working regarding home and domesticity? Then don’t call upon some masculine power deity. What if you’re celebrating the end of the harvest season, and the dying of the earth? Then you shouldn’t be offering milk and flowers to a spring goddess.

Consider your purpose carefully, before you make offerings or prayers to a particular god or goddess.

Although this is certainly not a comprehensive list of all the gods and their domains, it may help you a bit to get an idea of who is out there, and what sorts of things they may be able to help you with:

Artisanship
For assistance relating to skills, crafts, or handiwork, call upon the Celtic smith god, Lugh.

Many other pantheons have forge and craftsmanship gods as well.

Chaos
When it comes to matters of discord and upsetting the balance of things, some people choose to to check in with Loki, the Norse prankster god. However, it’s generally recommended that you don’t do this unless you’re a devotee of Loki in the first place – you may end up getting more than you bargained for.

Destruction
If you’re doing a working related to destruction, the Celtic war goddess the Morrighan may assist you, but don’t trifle with her lightly. A safer bet might be working with Demeter, the Dark Mother of the harvest season.

Fall Harvest
When you celebrate the fall harvest, you may want to take time to honor Herne, the god of the wild hunt, or Osiris, who is often connected with grain and the harvest. Demeter and her daughter, Persephone, are typically connected with the waning part of the year. Pomona is associated with fruit orchards and the bounty of trees in fall. There are also a number of other harvest gods and gods of the vine who may be interested in what you’re doing.

Feminine Energy
For workings related to the moon, lunar energy, or the sacred feminine, consider invoking Artemis or Venus.

Fertility
When it comes to fertility, there are plenty of deities out there to ask for assistance.

Consider Cernunnos, the wild stag of the forest, or Freya, a goddess of sexual power and energy. If you follow a Roman-based path, try honoring Bona Dea. There are a number of other fertility gods out there as well, each with their own specific domain.

Home and Marriage
Brighid is a protector of hearth and home, and Juno and Vesta are both patronesses of marriage.

Love and Lust
Aphrodite has long been associated with love and beauty, and so has her counterpart, Venus. Likewise, Eros and Cupid are considered representative of masculine lust. Priapus is a god of raw sexuality, including sexual violence.

Magic
Isis, the mother goddess of Egypt, is often called upon for magical workings, as is Hecate, a goddess of sorcery.

Masculine Energy
Cernunnos is a strong symbol of masculine energy and power, as is Herne, the god of the hunt.

Odin and Thor, both Norse gods, are known as powerful, masculine gods.

Motherhood
Isis is a mother goddess on a grand scale, and Juno watches over women in labor.

Prophecy and Divination
Brighid is known as a goddess of prophecy, and so is Cerridwen, with her cauldron of knowledge. Janus, the two-faced god, sees both the past and future.

The Underworld
Because of his harvest associations, Osiris is often connected with the underworld. There are a number of other deities of death and dying.

War and Conflict
The Morrighan is not only a goddess of war, but also of sovereignty and loyalty. Athena protects warriors and imparts them with wisdom. Freya and Thor guide fighters in battle.

Wisdom
Thoth was the Egyptian god of wisdom, and Athena and Odin may also be called upon, depending on your purpose.

Seasonal
There are a number of deities associated with the various times of the Wheel of the Year, including the Winter Solstice, Late winter, the Spring Equinox, and the Summer solstice.

Author:

Patti Wigington
Published on ThoughtCo.com

Celebrating Legends, Folklore & Spirituality 365 Days a Year for April 25th

Spring Garden

The Robigalia

“Warding off” was the entire purpose of this festival, celebrated annually on April 25. It focused on the deity Robigus, whose main attribute was the ability to destroy the dreaded rust or red mildew, a scourge that sometimes attacked the corn (the city’s principle food crop). As this deity was associated with the God Mars, all of this day’s activities were overseen by the Flamen Martialis, including the offerings of sheep and a red dog to appease Robigus.

Bless You

The Witches Astronomy Digest for Wednesday, April 25th

Children Of The Earth

We know they feared our Pagan ways,
They tried to wipe us out,
They tortured and they burned us,
If they had the slightest doubt,
They took away our festivals,
Replaced them with their own,
But we stood strong and carried on,
We’ve flourished and we’ve grown.

They said we worshiped Satan,
Stole babies and much worse,
And if by chance someone fell ill,
They said we laid a curse,
They took us in for “questioning”,
Tortured till we confessed,
But anyone would say the words,
Under such duress.

With bodies bruised and broken,
They put us on the stand,
The priests said we’d offended God,
And the devil took our hand,
The villagers believed them,
Our guilt was their desire,
Then everybody turned out to see,
The witch burned in the fire.

They never really understood,
And some to this day still,
Do not understand our craft,
We bear no one ill will,
We live a life of peace and love,
At one with Mother Earth,
So in secrecy the Hedgewitch lives,
Gathering berries, leaves and herbs.

I sometimes think that there are those,
Who live in those dark times still,
They do not wish to understand,
And I guess they never will,
But Pagans all around the world,
Are proud to carry on,
We practice the oldest religion,
In our deeds and in our song.

Be Joyful all ye Pagans,
For the road has been so long,
Remember the innocent martyrs,
That suffered in those days gone,
Give your praise to all the Gods,
And the Goddess of rebirth,
For they can never destroy our faith,
We are the children of the Earth.

—Pagan Ways
Alan Faraway

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Wednesday, April 25th

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 76.05° ENE
Sun Altitude: 3.75°
Sun Distance: 93.513 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 21, 2018 5:07 am (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 6:07 am↑ 73° East
Sunset Today: 7:38 pm↑ 288° West
Length of Daylight: 13 hours, 31 minutes

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 310.65° NW
Moon Altitude: -28.37°
Moon Distance: 233153 mi
Next Full Moon: Apr 29, 20187:58 pm
Next New Moon: May 15, 20186:47 am
Next Moonrise: Today3:16 pm
Current Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Moon’s Illumination: 77.6%

Source

timeanddate.com

Astrology of Today – Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The Moon is in Virgo.
The Moon is waxing and in its First Quarter phase.
The First Quarter Moon occurred on the 22nd, and the Full Moon will occur on April 29th.
Mercury is in its post-retrograde shadow until May 3.
Venus spends its first full day in Gemini (Venus is in Gemini from April 24-May 19).

Moon in Virgo

We instinctively gravitate towards practical activities under the influence of a Virgo Moon. In order to set things right, we might easily find ourselves re-organizing and rethinking plans. Emotional satisfaction comes from solving problems, making order out of confusion, and helping others. Health matters might come into focus. We notice the smaller parts that make up the whole, and instead of letting nagging details bother us, we might work on ironing them out so that we can feel more confident moving ahead.

The Moon in Virgo generally favors the following activities: Mental pursuits, work activities, services, and routines. Activities that would benefit from tending to details.

Daily Overview of Your Stars & Planets for April 25th

Mercury in Aries formed a square Saturn on March 11th before Mercury turned retrograde, and then connected this way again while Mercury was retrograde on April 5th. Now that Mercury is direct, this aspect forms again today. In effect, this aspect has been influencing us in varying degrees since early March, and we may have experienced, more than usual, criticism and pessimism, difficulties getting clear answers, and obstacles to getting our message across. We’re getting over this hump today. Even so, today can be a little tense. Getting from point A to point B can be a challenge. Communications may be blocked or delayed, and negative thinking could dominate. Projects we thought were complete may need revision, and people can be overly critical, insensitive, or sarcastic. It’s difficult to trust our instincts, and we second-guess things automatically under this influence.

The Moon spends the day in the sign of Virgo, and the nervous or picky side of the sign can be more prominent as Virgo’s ruler, Mercury, is challenged. However, once beyond this aspect, we may begin to form a more realistic vision of a project or situation.

The Sky This Week for April 25 to 29

The return of the Lyrid meteor shower, a slew of bright planets, and a full night of the Full Moon, all in the sky this week.
By Richard Talcott

Wednesday, April 25

Jupiter stands out among the background stars of central Libra from the time it rises around 9 p.m. local daylight time until morning twilight is well underway. The giant planet is near its best for the year right now, reaching opposition in two weeks (on May 8). Jupiter shines at magnitude –2.5, which makes it the brightest point of light in the evening sky once Venus sets around 10 p.m. The best time to view the planet through a telescope is when it climbs highest in the south, a position it reaches around 2 a.m. Jupiter’s spectacular disk spans 44″, and its dynamic atmosphere shows at least two parallel dark belts.

Thursday, April 26

Saturn rises before 1 a.m. local daylight time and climbs some 25° high in the south as morning twilight starts to paint the sky. The ringed planet shines at magnitude 0.4 against the backdrop of northern Sagittarius the Archer, some 12° west of Mars. When viewed through a telescope, Saturn shows a 17″-diameter disk surrounded by a stunning ring system that spans 39″ and tilts 25° to our line of sight.

Friday, April 27

Saturday, April 28

Sunday, April 29

Source

The Astronomy Magazine

In the Sky This Month

April 25: Corvus
Corvus, the crow, is low in the southeast at nightfall and arcs across the southern sky during the night. Corvus’s brightest stars form a small but distinct box. In mythology, the crow was a servant of the god Apollo.

April 26: Corona Borealis
Look well up in the east as darkness falls for yellow-orange Arcturus, the brightest star in the evening sky at this time of year. Well to its lower left is Corona Borealis, the northern crown, a semicircle of stars that opens to the upper left.

Source

StarDate.com

COSMIC CALENDAR

APRIL 25, 2018

Just as a grand triangle in water signs aided your keen perception and higher-learning abilities last Saturday, now it is the earth sign trinity that holds the key to making great leaps forward with business and professional goals.

Last night’s lunar trine to the sun, energizing Virgo and Taurus, is now augmented by another lunar trine to Saturn in Capricorn (5:31am). Play your cards right and doors to financial abundance can open — particularly with any proclivity to working in a dedicated manner to reach long-sought aims.

While a trine between Mercury and Ceres in fire signs (11:03pm) is definitely a resource that can be an ace up your sleeve, Mercury forming a challenging square aspect to Saturn retrograde (2:29pm and a repeat from what occurred on April 5 when Saturn was direct) can represent an impediment in your path to success.

However, knowing the time of any potentially difficult aspect gives you an advantage to rise to the occasion and steer clear of creating any unnecessary problems.

[Note to readers: All times are now calculated for Pacific Daylight Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]

The Witches Current Moon Phase for April 25

Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 78%

Tomorow the Moon will be in a Waxing Gibbous phase. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts round 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon. During a Waxing Gibbous the moon will rise in the east in mid-afternoon and will be high in the eastern sky at sunset. The moon is then visible though most of the night sky setting a few hour before sunrise. The word Gibbous first appeared in the 14th century and has its roots in the Latin word “gibbosus” meaning humpbacked.

PHASE DETAILS FOR – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2018

Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 78%
Moon Age: 10.14 days
Moon Angle: 0.54
Moon Distance: 370,283.73 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 150,525,422.91 km

Source

MoonGiant.com

Waxing Gibbous Moon

The Moon does not emit its own light, shining instead by reflecting sunlight. Depending on the relative positions of the Earth, Sun and Moon, varying amounts of the lunar surface appear to be illuminated.

A few days after the First Quarter Moon, the Moon’s disk is nearly completely illuminated as seen from the Earth (position D in the diagram below). The waxing (growing) gibbous Moon rises after noon, transits the meridian after sunset and sets after midnight. The waxing gibbous phase repeats every 29.531 days – one synodic month.

Have you ever thought about Planets having a smell? Take a look….

Uranus Smells Exactly How You Think It Does

By Nathaniel Scharping

Scientists confirm that Uranus’ atmosphere contains hydrogen sulfide, a compound long suspected to be swirling about in the planet’s clouds.

Using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, researchers from the United Kingdom analyzed Uranus using a technique known as spectroscopy to identify the elements contained within. They relied on the Near-Infrared Integral Field Spectrometer (NIFS) at Gemini for the task, which involves breaking down the light reflected from Uranus by wavelength to determine the composition of the planet.

What’s That Smell?

The data allowed them to determine that hydrogen sulfide was indeed present, and at much greater concentrations than ammonia (composed of nitrogen and hydrogen), which sets the green gas giant apart from its planetary companions Jupiter and Saturn. The two largest planets in the solar system have upper clouds made mostly of ammonia ice, and researchers weren’t previously sure whether Uranus looked similar or not.

The presence of hydrogen sulfide hints at some of the conditions of the early solar system when the gas giants were formed from clouds of gases swirling about the sun. That cloud was far from homogenous, a fact today’s research, published in Nature Astronomy reinforces.

Though the researchers were only able to observe chemical signatures from the uppermost layers of Uranus’ clouds, they were able to extrapolate their findings to the inner regions, where they say similarly elevated ratios of sulfur to nitrogen must exist. The clouds themselves are anywhere from .4 to .8 parts per million hydrogen sulfide, and Uranus has a ratio of sulfur to nitrogen potentially more than 5 times that Jupiter and Saturn, the researchers say.

The new information is interesting to researchers, but it also adds a unique bit of sensory information to our understanding of the solar system. Hydrogen sulfide is, after all, the compound that gives rotten eggs, and some more human out-gassings, their noxious odor. Human visitors to the third-largest planet in our solar system would be in for a smelly, though familiar, surprise if they went outside.

This article originally appeared on Discovermagazine.com.

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Banishing

Banishing Spellcrafting

Introduction to Banishing Rites by Phil Hines

Reference

Scott Cunningham

Scott Cunningham

Reference

The Witches Magickal Journal for Friday, April 27th

Friday, April 27th

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The Goddess Book of Days for Friday, April 27

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Goddesses Associated with Friday

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Friday: The day of beauty

Friday

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Ritual Influences for Friday, April 27th

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Magickal Days of the Week: Friday

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On Friday, April 27th, We Celebrate…

Smell the Breeze Day (Egypt) NUT

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Friday–The Day of Freya

Friday’s Witchery

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The Witches Almanac for Friday, April 27th

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About the Waxing Moon Phase

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The Witches Correspondences for Friday, April 27

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The Energy of Venus

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Deities

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The Witches Astronomy Journal for Friday, April 27th

Beltane Union

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Friday, April 27th

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Moon in Libra

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The Sky This Week for April 27 to 29

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In the Sky This Month

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Your Daily Cosmic Calendar

APRIL 27, 2018

The Witches Current Moon Phase for Friday, April 27th

PHASE DETAILS FOR – FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018

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About The Waxing Gibbous Moon

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AGGRESSION IS IN THE STARS TODAY. HERE’S HOW TO HANDLE IT.

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SEX! DEATH! TRANSFORMATION! WHAT POWER WILL THIS FULL MOON IN SCORPIO GIVE YOU?

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If You Were Born Today, April 25

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Eris

(Greek)

Eris

Reference

The Witches Magickal Digest for Wednesday, April 25th

Today is Wednesday, April 25th

The Pagan Book of Days for April 25th

The Goddess Book of Days for Wednesday, April 25

Smell the Breeze Day (Egypt)
NUT

Sechselauten (Switzerland)
LADA