Weekly Astrology: July 25 – 31, 2016

Flashes of brilliance

By Maria DeSimone

Weekly, Astrology

Part of the Daily Insight Group

Weekly Forecast: July 24 – 30, 2016

a message from Kelly M. Beard

To view more of Kelly’s insight, please visit her website, KarmicTools.com

The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity.  Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto).  And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tuning in to the energy and rhythm of the planets can serve as a useful *guide* as you move along your Individual Path.  It also helps to understand your place within the context of the larger Social & Collective Story. Below, you will find out how these energies tend to manifest, as well as guidance and direction.

*NOTE* There are some days when there are NO CONTACTS (besides the Moon), please note that there are no missing entries, we just list the actual Activations of each week + the day they happen.  

Weekly Forecast: July 24 – 30, 2016

7/27 ~ Mercury (voice) ~trine~ Uranus (individuality):

This activation gives you access to your Higher Mind and opens the way for new, deeper insights that can guide & direct you at this time. Business as usual will not work, it’s time to open up to the unusual, do something different, look at things from another angle and watch the ah-ha’s start pouring in. Your intuition will be firing on all cylinders, giving you access to unprecedented clarity. While your thinking may lack discipline, your ability to access solutions to any recent (or long-standing) challenges will be off the charts. This energy will not be contained, even though it is generally all mental, you really will have a hard time keeping up with the ideas, thoughts, concepts & intuitions that come to you under this influence so try to take notes that you can refer to later when the grounding will be necessary. Pay attention to the messages that come through/from others as well since you never know how the Universe will show up. This alone is an indication that whatever your consciousness may not have been previously ready to assimilate or process is awakening now to that which is just for you!

7/29 ~ Mercury (ideas, thoughts & concepts) ~square~ Mars (desire & actions):

This activation can be a tough one for some. If your beliefs are out of alignment with your actions, if you are not self-aware or act-out unconsciously, being selfish or childish, than watch out, because squares test you to grow and change in some way. Often, this also means that you are suppressing your nature in some way, which is never really a good idea. When you suppress your Soul, it can make your human more sensitive or defensive, taking things personally as a threat or challenge. If you catch your Self feeling irritable for no apparent reason, try to step back and gain some perspective before responding to your own thoughts or another’s words. Mercury & Mars getting together, in this challenging way, can provoke debates and, in some people, actual fights, so be careful. The deeper aspect of this activation is that some part of you wants to express, perhaps in a new way, and your monkey-mind has got you all off track. Mars demands that you know who you are and what you want, and is the Divine Masculine part of you, which is supposed to hold good boundaries, protect you and negotiate on your behalf in the world. If you know something that you are not acting on, this can be frustrating. If you are acting in ways that are not allowing you to think things through, this too can cause accidents, problems and delays. It is best to pull in until you are clear. And also keep in mind, you may not be out of alignment in the above ways, but those around you may be and will likely have no context for what they are feeling and therefore, become indiscriminate with their choices & actions.

Astrology of Today – July 25, 2016

• The Moon is in Aries all day (until Tuesday, July 26th, at 11:37 AM).
• The Moon is waning and in its Waning Gibbous phase.
• A Full Moon occurred on the 19th, and a Last Quarter Moon will occur tomorrow.
• Mars is direct and in its post-retrograde shadow until August 22nd.

Magickal Activity for July 24th, the Tenjin Festival

Simple Healing Spell

Items needed:

one sheet of green construction paper

a black pen or marker

string

one green votive candle.

Draw a human shape on the sheet of paper using the black pen or marker. Cut the figure out as you would a paper doll, and write your name on one side of it. Rub the doll over your body and visualize your health problems being transferred to the doll. Bind the doll with the string as you chant:

As I bind my illness into thee,

Let good health return to me.

Light the green candle and place the doll next to it. When the green candle has completely burned out, take your doll to the nearest river and toss it upon the water. As your doll is consumed by the water, so your illness is washed away.

July 25th

Tenjin Festival

Dating back to 949 A.D. the Tenjin Festival held in Osaka, Japan, enables the people to purge themselves of sickness and ill health. Traditionally, each participant brings a sheet of paper into the shrine, where he or she will then make a paper doll. The doll is then rubbed over the body and then taken to the Dojima River and dropped in. It is believed that all sickness and ill health are transferred to the doll and dispelled with the discarding of the paper.

DAILY MAGICKAL APPLICATIONS FOR MONDAY

Monday is named after the moon. The Latin term for Monday is Dies Lunae (“moon’s day”); in the Old English language, this day was Monandaeg; in Greek, it was Hermera Selenes. All of these different names and languages translate to the same thing: the “day of the moon.”

Working with the different phases of the moon is an important skill that takes a bit of time for Witches to learn. So why not cut to the chase and experiment with the day of the week that is dedicated to the moon in all of its magickal energies and aspects?

Magickally, Monday encourages the lunar energies of inspiration, illusion, prophetic dreams, emotions, psychic abilities, travel, women’s mysteries, and fertility.

Source

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

Harnessing Elemental Magic

(A Witch’s Guide to Elemental Magic)

Viivi James

So here’s what you need:
A mirror that can beangled downwards.
A photo of the target.
A white candle and a black candle.

You  can charge your mirror, if you’d like. You can charge it with the Sun to make the experience more positive for the target, so that it dawns on them that they’re hurting you without causing them any mental anguish. Charge it with the Moon to make them feel guilty, embarrassed, or otherwise negative emotions about how they have treated you.
Once it’s charged, take the mirror and place the photo in front of it. Angle the mirror down so that the photo is in its frame.specifically focused on the person’s face. Light your candles, and then focus your attention on your target.
Say this chant at least ten times:
You’ve hurt me dearly But soon
you’ll see How you cause pain and strife for me

Once you feel you’ve put enough energy into this chant, place the mirror on top of the photo. Blow out your candles, the white candle first, and then the black candle. Leave the mirror on top of the photo for at least 48 hours.

Harnessing Elemental Magic (A Witch’s Guide to Elemental Magic)
Viivi James

Let’s Talk Witch – The Horror of Knowing Yourself

Okay, so are you ready to try out a curse?

I believe that curses are a completely normal part of magic crafting, and that utilizing your dark energy is important for spiritual and mental health. If you are against curses, the answer to this is simple: don’t use any of my curses!

I know, curses can be scary. People have been telling you about curses coming back to you three times as strong for decades now. But guess what! It doesn’t really work that way.

The Threefold Law, as it’s commonly known within Wicca and a few other magical traditions, states that any energy you put out into the world, be it positive or negative, will come back to you three times as powerful. Obviously, if that’s true, curses are a bad idea.

But energy doesn’t multiply on its own like that. Maybe if the target catches onto the curse and purposefully sends it back more powerful, then it might come back to you. Otherwise, there is no reason to believe that the energy will do anything but degrade as at reaches its target, and if they simply deflect it, it will degrade even more before it comes back to you.

Still, there is some virtue in refusing to cultivate and use that dark garden of magic within you. If you simply want to grow positivity and light, then that is your choice. It just isn’t a very balanced one.

Okay, okay, enough of that. Let’s get to the curse! Let’s say you know someone who has a nasty habit or personality trait. Maybe this person gives backhanded compliments without even knowing it.
How can you get a person to reflect on their flaw? The answer is right there! In the word ‘reflect’!

Harnessing Elemental Magic (A Witch’s Guide to Elemental Magic)
Viivi James

Monday Is Ruled By the Moon

This day of the week is dedicated to the moon and all of her magic and mystery. Mondays are for women’s mysteries, illusion, prophetic dreaming, emotions, travel, and fertility.

Some suggestions for Monday enchantments would include:

*Getting outside and looking for the moon in the heavens. Sit under her light and absorb a little glamour. Call on the moon goddess Selene for practical help in magical issues.

*Invoking the god Thoth for wisdom and insight

*Empowering your silver jewelry under the light of the moon. Wear moonstone or pearl jewelry today to add a lunar and magical shimmer to your outfit. Be mysterious and subtle and wear moon-associated colors such as white, silver, and blue.

*Working spells for safe travel with a simple moonstone

*Gathering bluebells, jasmine, gardenias, or white roses to create a little garden witchery with the flowers that are associated with the moon

*Setting up a lunar Tarot spell today to increase your psychic powers

*Eating a lunar fruit such as a melon to be healthy, serene, and at peace

*Brewing up a cup of chamomile or mint tea and enchanting it for sweet dreams and restful sleep

The Witches Correspondences for Monday, July 25

Day: Monday ( Moon-day)

Planet: Moon

Colors: Silver and White and Grey

Crystals: Moonstone, Pearl, Aquamarine, Silver, Selenite

Aroma: Jasmine, Lemon, Sandalwood, Moon Oil, African violet, Honeysuckle, Myrtle, Willow, and Wormwood

Herb: Moonwort

The sacred day of the Moon, personified by such goddesses as Selene, Luna, Diana, and Artemis. The Moon is ruler of flow affecting the changeable aspects of people. If a full moon falls on a Monday, its powers are at their most potent.

Magical aspects: peace, sleep, healing, compassion, friendships, psychic awareness, purification, and fertility

Monday is ruled by the moon – an ancient symbol of mystery and peace. Monday is a special day for mothers as the cycle of the moon has long been associated with the female menstrual cycle. Those wishing to conceive a baby would be wise to try on a Monday as the magic of motherhood is strong and pregnancy is in the air.

This is the proper day of the week to perform spells and rituals involving agriculture, animals, female fertility, messages, reconciliation’s, theft, voyages, dreams, emotions, clairvoyance, home, family, medicine, cooking, personality, merchandising, psychic work, Faerie magic, and Goddess rituals.

The Witches Almanac for Monday, July 25th

Monday (Moon): Peace, sleep, healing, compassion, friends, psychic awareness, purification, and fertility.

St. James’ Day

Waning Moon
The Waning Moon (from the Full Moon to the New) is a time for study, meditation, and little magical work (except magic designed to banish harmful energies).

Moon Phase: Third Quarter

Moon Sign: Aries
Aries: Good for starting things, but lacks staying power. Things occur rapidly, but quickly pass. People tend to be argumentative and assertive.

Incense: Rosemary

Color: Lavender

Magical Days Of the Week – Monday

Monday is the day of the moon itself, and it’s a day that’s connected to lunar colors like silver, white, or even a pale blue. Metals and gemstones like silver, pearl, opal and moonstone all come into play today.

There are plenty of deities associated with the moon – Thoth and Diana for instance – and herbal correspondences include many members of the mint family. Utilize wintergreen or peppermint, as well as catnip, comfrey, sage and chamomile in your workings.

When it comes to Monday magic, because of that lunar connection, it’s a good time to focus on workings related to childbearing and family life, purity and virginity, healing, wisdom, and intuition. Do a little bit of self exploration and work on developing your intuition – learn to trust your gut. Celebrate birth and life, and make some magic to fix what is broken.

Author

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com

Monday’s Witchery

Think for a moment on all of the witchery, magick and enchantments that you have discovered. Don’t be afraid to adjust spells to suit your own specific needs. Any gentle, illusory, and dreamy charms and spells can be enhanced when you work on the day of the week that is dedicated to the moon. Mondays are a fantastic day to boost your psychic abilities and to tune in to your intuition and empathy. It also gives you the opportunity to work with a different lunar phase each and every Monday, which means in one month you could work four different types of moon magicks on Mondays. How’s that for adding to your repertoire? You are going to have mad skills in no time at all.

So light up those lunar scented candles and add a little mystique to your outfit by wearing an enchanting lunar color. Wear your sparkling silver jewelry and maybe add a pair of dangling silver earrings or a pendant shaped like a crescent moon. Create lunar potions and philters; make a dream catcher and give it as a gift to someone you love. Burn some sandalwood or jasmine-scented incense today to inspire the glamour and magick of the moon. Slice up a favorite variety of fruit that is in season for a snack or share it with your love and enjoy his or her lunar and romantic qualities. Brew up a cup of chamomile tea, enchant it with a little moon magick, and relax and get a good night’s sleep.

Most importantly, get outside tonight and watch the moon for a while. What phase is she in? What color was the moon as she rose? Why not start a journal and write down at what location the moon rises and sets for a few seasons? This is a great way to teach you to tune in and to become more aware of the moon and the influence that she pulls into our lives. Try calling on Selene for her magickal assistance, and call Thoth for wisdom and strength. Get to know the Norse Mani and the Latvian Meness. These gods of the moon have plenty to teach, and if you allow their influence to cycle through your life, you’ll receive many blessings. Be imaginative, and create your own personal lunar magick and witchery. Go on….the moonlight becomes you.

Source

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

Monday, Monday…..

Monday is ruled by the moon. Magical work planned for a Monday should involve aspects of the Goddess and any rites to honor her. In Wicca, the phases of the moon are revered as natural symbols of the different phases of womanhood. Spells and rituals invoking change are appropriate for a Monday. The moon rules the tides, so spells involving water are also appropriate for this time. Think of purification and cleansing work that you may need to do. Even consecrating your chalice would be an appropriate work for a Monday. Meditate on the aspects of the Greek maiden huntress, Artemis, twin sister of Apollo, or on her Roman counterpart, Diana of the silver bow. The lunar energy will bless your work if you acknowledge it correctly.

Source

A Witch’s Grimoire: Create Your Own Book of Shadows
Judy Ann Olsen

On Monday, July 25th, We Celebrate….

Tenjin (Japan)

TAMAYORIHIME

Themes: Cleansing; Health; Children; Water

Symbol: Water (especially moving water or saltwater)
About Tamayorihime:
An ancient Japanese sea goddess, Tamayorihime rules not only moving water sources but also all matters of health. She also watches over birth waters to ensure a speedy, safe delivery for pregnant women.
To Do Today: This festival began in 949 C.E. as a way to get rid of summer maladies. If you’ve had a cold, the flu, or some other ailment, try an adaptation of Japanese custom. Take a piece of paper that you’ve left on your altar for a while and rub it on the area of your body that’s afflicted. Drop the paper into moving water (like the toilet) to carry away sickness in Tamayorihime’s power. Alternatively, burn the paper to purge the problem. Mingle the ashes with a few drops saltwater and carry them in a sealed container as a Tamayorihime amulet for health.

For personal cleansing and healing, soak in an Epsom-salt bath today. As you lie in the tub, stir the water clockwise with your hand to draw Tamayorihime’s health to you, or counterclockwise so she can banish a malady. If time doesn’t allow for this, add a very small pinch of salt to your beverages and stir them similarly throughout the day, while mentally or verbally reciting this invocation:

Health be quick, health be kind,
within this cup the magic bind!
Drink the beverage to internalize Tamayorihime’s energy.

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

The Goddess Book of Days for Monday, July 25th

The 25th In Haiti, the day of the Papa Ogou or St. James, who is also Ogu or Ogun. (Hephaestus, Eros, Vulcan.) In India Naga Panchami, day of the Serpent God who is Damballah, Ganesha, or Serpent Goddesses Tiamat, Atargatis, Nina, Nammu, Kwannon, Nu Kwa, Kwan Yin, Sedna, Coatlique, Cretan Snake Goddess, Rainbow Serpent, and Aida Wedo.

 
The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

The Pagan Book of Days for Monday, July 25th

Furrina was an ancient Italian goddess of springs. This festival is related closely to that of 23 July. Now is the time when a drought may begin to “bite,” and the value of springs is appreciated. A good day to remember our vital reliance on sources of water.

Reference

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

Today is Monday, July 25th

Monday is the sacred day of the moon, personified as the goddesses Selene, Luna, and Mani. The moon is ruler of flow, affecting the changeable and impressionable aspects of people. If a full moon falls on a Monday, then the powers of the moon are at their most potent.

Deity: Mani

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Planet: Moon

Tree: Willow

Herb: Chickweed

Stone: Agate

Animal: Crab

Element: Water

Color: Green

Rune: Lagu (L)

Celtic Tree Month of Tinne(Holly) – July 8 – August 4. Holly, an evergreen plant reminds us all year long about the immortality of nature. The Holly moon was called Tinne, pronounced chihnn-uh, by the Celts, who knew the potent Holly was a symbol of masculine energy and firmness. The ancients used the wood of the Holly in the construction of weapons, but also in protective magic.

Runic Half-Month of Ur (primal strength) – July 14 – July 28

Goddess of the Month of Kerea – July 11 – August 8

Source
The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick