Category: Articles

10th/11th February 2017: Lunar Eclipse in 23rd degree of Leo

10th/11th February 2017: Lunar Eclipse in 23rd degree of Leo

Sarah Varcas
a message from Sarah Varcas
To view more of Sarah’s insight, visit her website, Astro-Awakenings
Then the Change Comes

The Lunar Eclipse occurs at 00:45 GMT on 11th February 2017

If you’ve been wondering what on earth’s going on lately – if life has been too good to be true, too tough to endure or too confusing to warrant taking seriously – this eclipse may just help clarify the cause behind the effect and the part we play in life’s unfolding. Many so far this year, have found themselves facing what they thought was done and dusted: revisiting old thoughts, feelings and memories previously laid to rest, re-engaging with people places and behaviours that meant something ‘way back when’. Others have been propelled into an existence so completely new and unexpected they still can’t quite believe what’s happened. But most are on the middle ground, torn between a seductive past and an unsettlingly unknowable future, wondering whether to simply jump off the cliff of familiarity and see what happens, or retreat from its visceral edge to await clearer guidance on what comes next. Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself right now, take heart. Guidance, encouragement and support is on its way.

There’s a catch though, and one to be embraced without hesitation if we are to reap the plentiful bounty of this eclipse: the guidance, encouragement and support must come from within. There’s no point waiting for someone else to come up with the goods, spout just the words of wisdom we need to hear or present a solution so obvious we can’t understand why we didn’t see it ourselves. The time of looking to others for answers is over. We must each turn within to find them for ourselves. This lunar eclipse reminds us of our inherent power to know the truth, respond from a place of wisdom and act with alchemical intention regardless of all that is happening around us.

The Moon eclipsed in Leo triggers the stark realisation that we simply cannot control all that happens – to ourselves and those we love, to the causes that matter and the things we care about. What seemed like power is exposed as empty striving born of fear and denial: radical avoidance of life’s aching vulnerability. This realisation breaches our defences and shatters of our dreams. It can feel like devastation.

Then the change comes.

Deep within, as we release all we thought we could (and should) be, a spark of truth is ignited. We are not in fact broken, but instead born anew of embodied wisdom. We know the truth and are ripe for the responsibility it bestows upon us. We are on a march, you and I. not outward into battle, but inward into authentic alignment. We have laid siege to our own inner light, our personal source of collective wisdom, our intimate connectedness, for too long. It is time, in fact way overdue, to reclaim our true knowing, even in the midst of the greatest doubt. For we are life living itself and contain all that is needed in each moment.

In the subtley faded light of this eclipse we can see through clear, unblinkered eyes. What we have avoided may rise up before us. The daggers of criticism, hatred and impatience thrust previously at others will return to us, not from without but from within, their drain upon our essence made abundantly clear. This is not an encounter with punishment but with the unavoidable grace of life that ensures energy is always balanced and every action made whole by its consequences. We cannot escape who we are or what we initiate in the world, just as we cannot escape the setting of the sun or night which turns to day. We are what we are, we do what we do, and we are beholden to our creations as they fulfil their own nature. This lunar event reminds us that we are our own destiny, even as life takes us forever by surprise.

It is time to rethink who we are, for there are a million ways to express this infinite spirit. If we’ve become too fixated on a singular expression of our complexity we are in for a rude but timely awakening: we are not who we thought we were, nor is anyone else. It is time to discover aspects of ourselves we never imagined were there. We may have refused to believe we could be so successful, so harsh, so beautiful, so selfish, so true or so false. Whatever has been banished to the periphery of our consciousness returns now for integration.

At this eclipse we can glimpse our true self, brighter than the Sun, deeper than the deepest sea, both light and dark, full and empty, mundane and divine. We have all heard it a thousand times and more: life only happens in the now. Not back then or in some future time but now, in this visceral immediate moment of consciousness, the only place we can ever reside. This lunar eclipse in Leo reminds us that the now is also eternity and history combined: an alchemical blend of past, present and future, distilled into a micro-second of existence in which we have the power to act, choose and become. Choices made when the Sun is eclipsed in Pisces on 26th February will shape our future selves. We can prepare to choose well then by embracing insights arising now, as the flames of ego are doused by the irrepressible waters of life divine.

Predictions 2017

Predictions 2017

Selacia
a message from Selacia
To view more of Selacia’s insight, visit her website, Selacia and the Council of 12
Predictions 2017

In the year 2017, a crisis of trust long in the making will be surfacing across the world. This will have far-reaching consequences for us as individuals and for our entire planet. Continue reading to understand what this means, why we should care, and what we as divine changemakers can do to make a difference. As you read, too, you will learn about the seeds of hope being planted in 2017 and what they mean for you.

Background – Crisis of Trust

First, some background on the crisis of trust we face. This energy of distrust is more primordial than evolutionary, stemming from humanity’s fear-based conditioning. In other words, it’s very old and more tribal than inclusive. Tribalism has been with us throughout the ages, but in recent decades since the 1990s, the tribalistic “us-and-them” mentality is having a big resurgence.

Examples: Brexit, the 2016 US elections, Middle East violence driven by ancient tribal structures, extremist Islam reflecting a tribal-mindset involving warrior pride and hate-fueled jihadism, corrupt business practices including bribes, and a general tendency of superpowers to believe that it’s their role to facilitate regime change in other countries.

Regardless of how tribalism manifests, it poses a threat to a peaceful and loving world. A tribal-mindset is black-and-white, with a narrow sense of belonging. Anyone outside the group is suspect, not to be trusted, and a threat. Building trust and cooperation between tribal-based groups is painstakingly difficult. Meanwhile distrust fuels division and causes people to feel even more separate from one another.

Distrust and Division

Distrust is a learned fear-based response. People learn to distrust others who don’t look like them, don’t think like them, or don’t practice the same religion. Many times, this distrust is in ancestral DNA, coming from centuries-old experiences of the generations.

Example: When I do personal DNA intuitive healing sessions for someone trying to cope with discrimination, I often intuitively see DNA-level patterns show up in the energetic field around the DNA. We then can trace things back to times when the person’s ancestors were impacted by religious intolerance, class discrimination, or racism. Being able to see where this comes from and to heal it at the genetic level for ancestors is a powerful antidote for present personal struggles with discrimination.

Shift in What and Who We Trust

As our society has become more polarized and everyday life more uncertain, there has been a shift in what and who we trust. Last century, for example, it was more common to put our trust in institutions like governments, banks, the health system, and international forums.

Today with that trust waning and new technologies available, we are more likely to rely on others outside the system – even strangers.

Examples: many now use technologies like Lyft and Uber for rides, Airbnb for hotels, WebMD and Mayo Clinic apps and websites for health assessments, and mobile apps for blood pressure and heart-rate readings.

Having a growing array of life tools outside the norm has boundless benefits and can help us to take charge of things that we used to delegate to others.

A bonus: as educated consumers, we take back our power and become more actively engaged in managing our lives.

A red flag: if we label the established systems as inherently bad in a black-and-white way, our linear thinking can backfire. No traditional system is all bad or all good. There are shades of gray. Sometimes we really need to see a doctor and use services of a bank. Governmental bodies and police forces carry out essential services needed for a stable and workable society.

In summary, if you realize that you distrust institutions, be open to seeing both the good and the bad. Reforms of unworkable systems and institutions can occur when problems are brought to light and conscious citizens use their voices and actions to affect change. When we don’t do this, the crisis of distrust escalates.

Distrust and Division

Distrust and division go hand in hand. We see it every day in society. Distrust shows up in countless ways – as racism, gender bias, bigotry, national extremism, and religious intolerance. Division follows – people feeling separated by race, gender, class, religion, or political views.

Contributing Factors

When people are afraid enough and misinformed or lied to with propaganda, they are vulnerable to control and manipulation by those in power. In such circumstances, people can be convinced to accept unimaginable atrocities and loss of freedoms.

People can be influenced by fake news and a twisting of the facts, feeling divided against their neighbors and even their own families. In extreme situations, people will even kill one another. There are countless examples of this throughout humanity’s history – including in the next phase of history that humanity is now creating moment-by-moment in present time.

Response to Distrust

When the societal tide turns towards distrust on a big enough scale, people may respond with anger or apathy. If people feel that their voice isn’t heard by political decision makers, they may withdraw from active engagement in typical channels like voting or peaceful protests. This is usually an emotional response, and is self-sabotage because personal power is unconsciously given away.

A disempowered group of people is even more susceptible to control and abuse by those in power.

Tyrants and power-hungry leaders seeking to make their mark on the world can take advantage of the void created by a disempowered and silent populace. The unsuspecting people may even see the unscrupulous leaders as “saviors” – as though they are the only ones who can fix things.

In a distrustful society, people can be convinced of falsehoods by politicians, media, or special interest groups that know how to craft a disinformation campaign. This has happened throughout history.

However, today the potential negative impact is substantially greater than ever before. People often get their news online through infotainment disguised as facts. A lie told repeatedly over weeks or months can be accepted as truth. It’s like the public becomes numb to the information, unconsciously reacting to it without question.

Cycles of Distrust

Throughout history, we’ve had cycles of distrust followed by times of building trust and collaboration.

Examples: Italy’s notorious dictator Mussolini in the 1920s capitalized on distrust and used propaganda to fuel his rise to power – founding fascism, dismantling constitutional limits on his power, and creating a police state. From 1941-45, the Nazis under Hitler systematically carried out a mass genocide of Jews. The UN in 1948 adopted a universal set of human rights, sending a signal to oppressive leaders that disregard for human rights is intolerable. The International Space Station, first launched in 1998 to study the Earth and space, was made possible through a trusted partnership between several countries. The tide turned abruptly on September 11, 2001 with terror attacks on US soil – leaving a marker of distrust still witnessed today.

Distrust of crisis proportions doesn’t appear overnight, but develops in a gradual process as people lose trust in each other and in the very institutions that keep things working.

In an atmosphere of distrust, society does not function well. Without trust and cooperation, basic things like markets and long-term planning are compromised. Chaos reigns, slowing progress in addressing key issues impacting not only quality of life but continued sustainability of life on Earth. Examples: climate, peace, and global resources.

The Personal Level

What’s unfolding in society is not just something outside of you. There is a very personal level involved. It is about you and everyone you love. Here are a few examples to help you understand the big picture.

As you are reading this portion, too, keep in mind that this personal level applies to countless people across the world. Some may be in your family or other circles. Some may be strangers. All represent some piece of the whole – now being played out across the world as a crisis of distrust. Every single one, including you, needs your love and compassion.

First, it’s not easy as an individual to live in a society that doesn’t function well due to division and distrust. Daily life routines can be disrupted because of ongoing intensity, uncertainty, and dramas that often are of a startling nature. Not knowing what’s going to happen next can keep you on edge. The unknowns now are greater than most of us have experienced in this lifetime. If you are an empath – sensing the chaotic and nervous pulse of society – these times can be even more challenging.

Second, you likely are processing your own pieces of distrust. Some are influenced not only by recent events, but by past life influences recorded in your DNA. You may distrust certain individuals, categories of people, or those who serve society in key roles. Examples of people: politicians, wealthy people, lobbyists, journalists, police, and other authority figures. Examples of institutions and business: government, media, multinationals, big retailers, and things representing the status quo.

Third, living in a climate of distrust may catalyze self-doubts and a deeper soul searching about your life purpose and how you fulfill it. Any tendency you previously had to distrust yourself and your decisions may be amplified in this cycle. One way this could play out is an increased worry about the future. You may not trust that things will get better, or that things will get better for you personally. When faced with a deadline to make a life-changing decision, you might distrust yourself to choose the correct option.

Fourth, a world filled with distrust and division can feel unsafe. There are countless reasons you might feel insecure. A big one many people fear is a possible terror attack. It’s also common to feel unsafe about potentials for identity theft or cyber bullying. In places with recent regime change bringing dictatorial-type leaders to power, people are insecure about preserving their freedoms. And, of course, in the background for people everywhere is the concern about world peace and the tenuous nature of preserving it given the number of power-hungry leaders.

Fifth, a climate of distrust between countries can negatively impact the economy and your standard of living. Example: a tribal-mindset to trade has historically backfired. In 1930 after the US stock market crash, the US enacted the Smoot-Hawley Tariff to raise taxes on imports. The idea was to keep out cheap imports and create jobs. This backfired. US consumers had to pay more for imported products, so they were not better off, and the economy took longer to recover from the Depression.

Sixth, resurgence in tribalism is likely to bring to the surface humanity’s ancient unresolved patterns of discrimination in all of its forms. This supreme distrust of the “other” could involve things like race, religion, gender, national identification, and sexual orientation. You may not personally experience discrimination. However, you likely know of someone impacted. As long as discrimination exists, the loving world all of us want cannot fully manifest.

Seventh, countries having tribal squabbles can delay or even reverse progress to address climate change. What this means on an everyday personal level is more extreme weather, increased air pollution, adverse health effects, rising sea levels impacting heavily populated coastal areas, species die-off, and an increasingly less sustainable planet for future generations.

What’s Needed Next

With a crisis of distrust coloring everyday life, it is imperative that we divine changemakers take an active role in transforming our world and our way of life. This is not the time to take a back seat and silently watch as leaders govern through lawmaking and executive orders. We must have a voice.

Elements of a Democracy

A democracy functions and upholds freedoms when citizens are actively engaged. This means that people become educated on issues and candidates ahead of elections, vote, observe how leaders conduct the business of government, and feel free to criticize leaders without retribution. Criticism can take the form of peaceful protests. Citizens are allowed to assemble freely to discuss views. Elections are free and fair for all. A workable democracy has a free press with regular access to governmental workings and leaders. The government in power does not censor information, news sources, or specific journalists.

Divine Changemakers – Making a Difference

Here are suggestions for making a difference in 2017 and beyond. As a divine changemaker, you are alive now to make changes for a more loving world. You stand at the forefront of the massive shift happening now. This role is actually encoded within your very DNA.

Having this role means that you are on the leading edge of change, experiencing many things before others do, and helping to lead the way forward. Indeed, you are at your best when you are actively engaged in your divine changemaker role.

What You Can Do in 2017

Stay conscious and aware of yourself – including your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Extend that conscious awareness outside of you, to other people and world events. Remind yourself daily that your energy matters, and use that energy for good.

No matter how crazy things seem, remember daily that you are not a victim. You are a conscious being at cause in life, co-creating your own reality and your world. Use your thoughts and actions constructively to make a difference in big and small things. Be the one in your circles who smiles, finds humor in the bizarre, and applies kindness.

Do not give up on yourself or on humanity as a whole. Strive to see the good in yourself and others. Do this even when focusing on someone you dislike. Do this for yourself after you have had a bad day and feel discouraged. Remembering the basic goodness in all people helps you to go on during difficult times.

Cope better with unknowns and fears about the future by coming back to yourself in the present. No one knows for sure exactly what will happen next, on a personal level or in the outer world. On a quantum level, there are endless possibilities for what tomorrow might look like. Rest your overthinking mind, then, and put your focus on the present moment. Treat it as the precious time that it truly is.

Upset about what you see in the outer world? Get in touch with your feelings and why you have them. Once you are conscious to your feelings, turn your criticism into benevolent action. Rather than simply complain to others, find your positive voice of change and act on it as a citizen of the world. Voice your thoughts within your community, on a grassroots level in your country, and to the political leaders who represent you at all levels of government. As you voice your opinions, visualize your words being received and acted upon.

Become one who helps repair division through consciousness and peaceful actions. Invite a knowing of the causes and places that most need you in this role. Add power to your role with daily visualizing and intentions – seeing yourself as a bridge builder and peacemaker.

Become vigilant about your intake of information and apply a healthy skepticism. Avoid becoming duped by fake news and political propaganda by becoming astute in digesting news. Slow down, be present, and question what you hear. Avoid getting your news by scanning headlines. Get your news from multiple sources. Insist that it be reliable, with several credible named sources that you can validate. If something seems too outlandish to be true, that should be a big red flag to check out the information. Fair news won’t report only one side. A fair story will be current – watch for stories that recycle information or photos to create bias.

Most likely, we’ll be witnessing a number of unprecedented events in 2017. Some may be shocking, some simply surprising. A big underlying theme throughout the year will be unpredictability. Continue reading to find out about the silver linings and the seeds of hope that indeed exist side-by-side with the disarray. Discover what these mean for you.

Future Seeds of Hope

Regardless of how crazy things become in 2017, life will go on. Your plans and projects can be re-energized within the new energies. Spiritual transformation potentials can be amplified by leaps and bounds. Relationships – new and current – can manifest in ways more supportive of you and your path.

One silver lining in 2017 is the potential for new beginnings. The energies will support this. On a personal level, think of this as a blessing for your life and what you want to manifest. Even your established projects having success could benefit from adding something to the mix – like an additional collaborative partner or a new specialty that adds to what you already have. Revive a current relationship by finding an additional shared focus or introducing new ways of being with each other.

A second silver lining in 2017 involves change and your response to that change. The acceleration of change is not slowing down. Change is like a palpable force stimulating transformation of all things that need to evolve. Interestingly, while we humans are wired to dislike change, when the momentum of change becomes super-charged and we realize we’re better off going with it, we find ourselves at a beneficial tipping point. At that stage, the sheer force of this momentum ironically can make it easier to adapt and evolve.

Think of this year as a crucial time to build a new infrastructure for your life – inner and outer. The energies support this! As you focus on the specifics of what you want to create, you will be planting seeds of hope for your near and longer-term future.

This kind of seed planting is happening already during these unique moments on Earth. Humanity as a collective is regularly planting the seeds of the next creations. The key for you now is to become conscious of your personal role in the planting. It’s you taking charge of you and your new directions. It’s you accepting your quantum power to create, change creations, and invent new ones. This is big! Doing this is what your soul wants for you. You are not a cog in a machine, or a hub on humanity’s wheel of evolution. You are an eternal and timeless divine being who can create in boundless ways.

Trust this. Trust in your ability to make a difference. Trust in the power of your love to fuel the perfect next steps for your life. Trust in the divine voice within you that knows truth. Know beyond a doubt that you are meant to be on Earth now for a grand purpose that only your soul fully understands. Trust that this is valid, and let it guide you step-by-step throughout the year.

Current Moon Phase for February 9th is Waxing Gibbous

WinterWaxing Gibbous
Illumination: 97%

The Moon today is 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 it’s roots in the Latin word “gibbous” meaning humpbacked.

PHASE DETAILS FOR – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 97%
Moon Age: 13.15 days
Moon Angle: 0.53
Moon Distance: 373,544.08 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,621,427.72 km

Source

On Thursday, February 9th, We Celebrate….

WinterOn Thursday, February 9th, We Celebrate….

Lemanja Festival (Brazil)
IEMANJA

Themes: Foresight; Divination; Psychic Abilities

Symbols: Water

About Iemanja: In Brazil, Iemanja is considered the ocean’s spirit. Every drop of saltwater bears her imprint and calls us back to Iemanja, our ancient mother and home. As a water elemental, Iemanja gives her followers vision, inspiration, and the ability to flow smoothly through life’s torrential times.

To Do Today: At daybreak on this day, mediums in Brazil begin singing and dancing to summon the spirit of Iemanja, who provides glimpses of the year ahead. Worshipers take offerings carved with wishes to rivers or to the ocean. Here, Iemanja’s spirit accepts the gifts, and the magic of the wish begins. To follow this custom, take any small natural token and toss it in moving water with your wish; the water should be flowing toward you if you wish to bring energy and flowing away from you if you want it to carry away problems.

In keeping with today’s theme, soak in a mild saltwater bath to cleanse away any unwanted energy and heighten your senses. Then try your favorite divination tool. Pray to Iemanja beforehand to bless your efforts. See what messages she has for you, especially on emotionally charged matters (water equates with emotions in metaphysical traditions).

Finally, to honor Iemanja, wear ocean-blue clothing today, carry a blue-toned stone (like lace agate or lapis), put a seashell or coral in your pocket, dance in the rain (if the weather cooperates), or play in your sprinkler. Rediscover the element of water.

 

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

Today is Thursday, February 9th

WinterToday is Thursday, February 9th

Thursday is the day of the planet Jupiter, dedicated to Thunor(Thor), God of thunder and agricultural work. His parallels in various European traditions are Zeus, Taranis, Perun, Perkunas and St. Olaf. The faith of the Northern Tradition holds Thursday sacred, just as Islam reveres Friday, Judaism the Sabbath(calculated from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday), and Christianity, Sunday. This is why almost all adages about Thursday are positive, such as “Thursday’s child has far to go,” “Sneeze on Thursday, something better,” or “Cut nails on Thursday for wealth.” Thursday rules controlled optimism, energetic growth, physical well-being and material success.

Deity: Thor

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn/Pisces/Sagittarius

Planet: Mercury

Tree: Oak

Herb: Henbane

Stone: Turquoise/Bloodstone/Topaz

Animal: Fish/Goat/Aurochs

Element: Fire

Color: Brown/White/Orange

Number: 3

Rune: Thorn

 

Celtic Tree Month of Luis (Rowan) – (January 21 – February 17)

The Runic Half Month of Elhaz (January 28 – February 11)

Goddess of the Month of Bridhe – (January 22 – February 19th)

 

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

The Sky This Week for February 9 to 12

WinterThe Sky This Week for February 9 to 12

A black eye on Jupiter, a meteor shower, and other awesome things to look for in the sky this week.

By Richard Talcott

 

Thursday, February 9

Jupiter rises around 10:30 p.m. local time and climbs highest in the south nearly 90 minutes before morning twilight commences. The giant world shines at magnitude –2.2 against the backdrop of central Virgo, some 4° north of that constellation’s brightest star, 1st-magnitude Spica. Even a small telescope reveals the planet’s 40″-diameter disk and four bright moons. But this morning, viewers in western North America get a bonus because the gas giant appears to have a “black eye.” It is actually the dark shadow of Ganymede, the solar system’s largest moon, which crosses Jupiter’s north polar region from 2:49 to 5:22 a.m. PST.

Friday, February 10

Full Moon arrives officially at 7:33 p.m. EST, but it looks completely illuminated all night. You can find it rising in the east at sunset and peaking in the south shortly after midnight local time. It dips low in the west by the time morning twilight begins. The Moon spends the night in western Leo, not far from the Lion’s brightest star, 1st-magnitude Regulus. Look carefully this evening and you should notice the distinct dusky shading of a penumbral lunar eclipse over Luna’s northern half. The eclipse peaks at 7:44 p.m. EST, when 99 percent of the Moon lies within our planet’s light outer shadow.

Saturday, February 11

Although asteroid 4 Vesta reached opposition and peak visibility in mid-January, the brightest minor planet of 2017 still shines at magnitude 6.8 and shows up quite easily through binoculars. To find the minor planet, start at magnitude 1.2 Pollux in northern Gemini and then drop 2.4° southwest to magnitude 4.1 Upsilon (u) Geminorum. Vesta lies 0.5° south-southeast of Upsilon this evening.

Sunday, February 12

Mars continues to put on a nice show these February evenings. It appears nearly 30° high in the west-southwest once twilight fades to darkness, though it’s easier to find by looking 6° (about one binocular field) to the upper left of brilliant Venus. The magnitude 1.2 Red Planet currently lies among the background stars of Pisces the Fish. A telescope shows the world’s 5″-diameter disk, but you likely won’t see any surface detail.

 

Source

Astronomy Magazine

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Thursday, February 9th

winter

Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Thursday, February 9th

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 147.79° SSE
Sun Altitude: 32.23°
Sun Distance: 91.720 million mi
Next Equinox: Mar 20, 2017 5:28 am (Vernal)
Sunrise Today: 6:49 am↑ 108° East
Sunset Today: 5:28 pm↑ 253° West

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 348.85° N
Moon Altitude: -36.22°
Moon Distance: 231728 mi
Next Full Moon: Feb 10, 20176:32 pm
Next New Moon: Feb 26, 20178:58 am
Next Moonrise: Today4:20 pm
Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous
Illumination: 97.7%

Source

timeanddate

Hello & Merry Meet! May The Goddess Bless You & Yours On This Snowy Thursday Morning!

winter As we make ready for the Full Moon
You can feel the Goddess within you
As you light your candle, you can feel her drawn to you
The magick surrounds you and your work begins.
For those who voices have been silenced, be theirs.
Find comfort that your prayers are sent on the wind
Find hope that you have changed a life
Turn to the moon, raise your voice in love to the Goddess
Pray for those who voices can not be heard.

For the birds in our skies
For the fish in the sea
For the animals that roam our forest, plains and deserts
For the animals that live in fear and pain
For our pets who devotion is never ending
For the children who cry themselves to sleep
For the elderly who live in distress
For those who hunger is not a stranger
For those who live in fear
For those whose days are filled with darkness
For those who do not love or peace

We are her children and the voice of those who are unheard
Raise your voice loud and strong
For your power is one with all

 

—-A Witch’s Prayerbook
JoAnne Spiese

The Witches Magick for Wednesday, February 8 – Cleansing the aura by means of incense

52947_letter_w_lgCleansing the aura by means of incense

This is an easy and effective way of cleansing the aura, and it is used mainly after administering a treatment, after a quarrel, argument, or a long, busy day, and when there you feel that non-positive energies have adhered to your aura. The cleansing is done with the help of a partner, who holds the stick of incense. After you do this cleansing with the help of a partner often, you may be able to do it by yourself. For the cleansing, you can use any stick of natural and high-quality incense. (There are incense sticks that are scented with low-quality artificial perfumes that are used for purifying the air in toilets, walk-in closets, and so on – it is not advisable to use them.) The types of incense that are most highly recommended are sage, which is very strong and effective for purification, frankincense, and jasmine. However, any stick of high-quality, pleasant-smelling incense will do.

Stand erect, feet slightly apart, and close your eyes. Make sure to take deep, slow, and comfortable abdominal breaths. Your partner holds the lit and smoking stick of incense and begins to walk around your body. There are many different ways of moving the incense around, but it should go in a right-to-left direction – clockwise. It is possible to start at the top, and move the incense stick clockwise around the head, at a distance of 20 to 60 centimeters from the body, and gradually descend, in a kind of spiral, to the feet, and then ascend again.

Another way is to start on the right side of the body and descend very slowly to the feet, and then go up the left side of the body, go down the right side again, and go up the left side once more. In this technique, intuition and emotion are very important, and if your partner feels that another slightly different method of moving the incense stick around is appropriate, it is worth trying. This technique is simple, quick, and extremely effective. After the cleansing, you frequently experience a feeling of relief and purification, a feeling of a burden being lifted off your shoulders, greater vitality, and a feeling of significant tranquillity.

Avoid Manipulation
Magic Manipulation should be avoided for two reasons. First, manipulating people with magic interferes with their free will. If the desired action isn’t something she would do without being under the influence of magic, making her do it through the use of magic is akin to rape. Second, there is an element of “do unto others as you would have done to you” in magic. If you wouldn’t want someone to use a certain spell on you, don’t use it on another person.

It might be tempting to use magic to halt a friend’s self-destructive activities, but unfortunately, it’s not a good idea. Even though you see it as beneficial to him, it’s still manipulation. And it’s possible that he’s in the middle of an important life lesson. Interfering might halt the lesson, which means he’ll have to lear some other way later, and the second lesson could be worse.

Unintended manipulation should also be avoided. For example, if you are trying to buy a house, you could visualize yourself finding the house of your dreams, but you shouldn’t visualize the owner of a specific house putting a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn. The best way to avoid unintended manipulation is to say “I do this for the good of all” at the end of every spell. That way, if you made an error in your spell, the effect of it will be mitigated.

Get Permission
First It is generally unwise to do spells for the benefit of others, but sometimes it’s necessary. Whenever possible, get permission to do the spell first. For example, if your friend has cancer, ask if you can send him healing energy or do a healing spell. If he says no, don’t do it. He has his reasons. If he’s unconscious, you can send the energy or do the spell, but include a statement that allows his higher spirit to reject the energy or spell if he doesn’t need or want it.

Permission gets complicated when children are involved. If they’re your children and they’re under the age of twelve, then the choice is up to you. If they’re someone else’s children, then you should ask their parents for permission. Child abuse is the exception. In this case, you probably won’t be able to get permission from the child to act on her behalf. You also won’t be able to get permission from the abuser. Even without permission, you should cast a protection spell on the child, and then call the authorities.

Personal Benefit
Contrary to what you might have seen on TV, it is perfectly acceptable to use magic for personal gain. Magic for personal gain is usually called “low magic,” as opposed to “high magic,” which is a spell for something on a greater scale, like world peace. Both types of magic have places in your life.

 


Day-by-Day Wicca: A complete guide to Wicca from Beliefs and Rituals to Magic and Witchcraft (Astrolog Complete Guides)
Tabatha Jennings

Celebrating Legends, Folklore & Spirituality 365 Days a Year for Feb.8th – Mass for Broken Needles

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Feb.8th

Mass for Broken Needles

 

In Japan, the art of needlecraft is held in such high regard that all broken needles are brought to the Buddhist temples on this day and honored along with a variety of sewing objects. In rural areas, the Goddess Wakahiru, who oversees weaving, is honored. It is believed that she will provide and make prosperous ous those she favors.

Let’s Talk Witch – Magical Ethics

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Magical Ethics

Magic itself is neither negative nor positive; it is simply energy. People often refer to negative or positive magic, but what they actually mean is that the intention of the person doing the magic is negative or positive— the terms positive and negative magic are a shorthand way of speaking. Black magic is another term for magic performed with a negative intent, and white magic is often used to describe magic performed with a beneficial intent. Both forms of magic have ethical considerations that can shift a seemingly positive spell into the realm of negative magic. Manipulation, permission, and personal benefit are all elements of magical ethics.

 

 

The Everything Paganism Book: Discover the Rituals, Traditions, and Festivals of This Ancient Religion
Selene Silverwind

Wednesday Is Ruled By Mercury

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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

The Witches Correspondences for February 8th

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The Witches Correspondences for February 8th

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

Your Magickal Guide to Wednesday

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Your Magickal Guide to 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 WÄ“dnes dæg, meaning the day of the Germanic god Woden (Wodan) who was a god of the Anglo-Saxons in England until about the 7th century. WÄ“dnes dæg is like the Old Norse Oðinsdagr (“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: Miðvikudagur (“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), mercoledì (Italian), miércoles (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 sredá, 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 Miércoles. In English, this became “Woden’s Day”, since the Roman god Mercury was identified with Woden in northern Europe.

 

 

Pagan Calendar

Astronomy Picture of the Day – The Butterfly Nebula from Hubble

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2017 February 8

The Butterfly Nebula from Hubble
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, HLA; Reprocessing & Copyright: Jesús M.Vargas & Maritxu Poyal Explanation: The bright clusters and nebulae of planet Earth’s night sky are often named for flowers or insects. Though its wingspan covers over 3 light-years, NGC 6302 is no exception. With an estimated surface temperature of about 250,000 degrees C, the dying central star of this particular planetary nebula has become exceptionally hot, shining brightly in ultraviolet light but hidden from direct view by a dense torus of dust. This sharp close-up of the dying star’s nebula was recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope and is presented here in reprocessed colors. Cutting across a bright cavity of ionized gas, the dust torus surrounding the central star is near the center of this view, almost edge-on to the line-of-sight. Molecular hydrogen has been detected in the hot star’s dusty cosmic shroud. NGC 6302 lies about 4,000 light-years away in the arachnologically correct constellation of the Scorpion (Scorpius).

Earth Sky News for Feb. 8th: Moon, Gemini stars, Procyon February 8

Moon, Gemini stars, Procyon February 8

By

Tonight’s waxing gibbous moon – February 8, 2017 – will be bright enough to erase many stars from the blackboard of night. Even so, many stars will be brilliant enough to withstand tonight’s moonlit glare. Tonight, look for the Gemini stars, Castor and Pollux, plus Procyon the Little Dog Star. The moon passes south of Castor and Pollux, and north of Procyon, the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor the Lesser Dog.

Look for the moon and these stars to reach their high point for the night somewhere around 10 to 11 p.m. local time (that’s the time on your clock, no matter where you live around the globe).

Eclipse coming! Penumbral lunar eclipse February 10-11, 2017

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, please keep in mind that you’ll see the sky scene upside-down in your northern sky. In other words, you’ll see Procyon at top and the Gemini stars beneath the moon.

No matter where you live worldwide, however, each month the moon routinely passes to the south of the Gemini stars, Castor and Pollux, and to the north of Procyon, during the months these stars are visible in Earth’s sky. As the moon travels eastward in front of the constellations of the zodiac, it goes through this stellar passageway once every four weeks.

Bottom line: On the night of February 8, 2017, watch the moon pass to the south of the Gemini stars and to the north of Procyon.

 

Bruce McClure

Bruce McClure has served as lead writer for EarthSky’s popular Tonight pages since 2004. He’s a sundial aficionado, whose love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and sailing in the North Atlantic, where he earned his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. He also writes and hosts public astronomy programs and planetarium programs in and around his home in upstate New York.

Originally published on EarthSky