Category: Book of Spells

Celestial Power Spell (Hare Moon)

Celestial Power Spell

(Hare Moon)

Use this spell to gain rapport with the powers of the Moon, Stars, and Planets.

Spread a white altar cloth on your altar after dark. Use a white candle and meditative music. Light the candle and turn on the music. Take several drops complete breaths, in and out. Merge with the Divine with Oneness and say:

“Moon, stars, planets and celestial powers

Please open your spirits to me

Moon, stars, planets, and celestial powers

Please open your hearts to me

Moon, star, planets, and celestial powers

Please open your arms to me

Moon, stars, planets and celestial powers

Please lend your wisdom to me

Thank you for your celestial energy, blessed be!

Now gaze at the candle and meditate on the powers of the moon, stars, planets, nebulas, and other celestial formations, lending their wisdom to you and filling you with celestial light. Do this for at least 15 minutes. Allow the candle to safely burn down when you are finished.

Lessons In Tarot – Lesson 8(b): The Question Tarot Reading

Lesson 8(b)

The Question Tarot Reading

A Step-By-Step Procedure

Here are the steps for a tarot reading you do for yourself based on a written question. (See lesson 8.)

  1. To begin, have ready:
    1. your written question
    2. your tarot cards
    3. the layout for the spread you have chosen
    4. the card and spread information pages, if desired
  2. Setting the mood
    1. Prepare the environment according to personal preference.
    2. Sit down with some empty space in front of you.
    3. Relax and still your mind. Breathe deeply several times.
  3. Asking your question
    1. Remove cards from container.
    2. Hold cards cupped in one hand. Place other hand on top.
    3. Close your eyes.
    4. Say on opening statement out loud, if you wish.
    5. Read your question out loud, or say it from memory exactly as written.
  4. Shuffling the cards
    1. Shuffle the cards until you feel ready to stop.
    2. Concentrate on your question while shuffling, but without strain.
  5. Cutting the cards
    1. Place cards face down in front of you with short edge toward you.
    2. Cut the deck in one unplanned action as follows:
      1. Grab some number of cards from the complete pile.
      2. Drop this smaller pile to the left.
      3. Grab part of this second pile. Drop this third pile to the left.
      4. Regroup cards into one pile in any fashion.
  6. Laying out the cards
    1. Hold cards in your hand with short edge toward you.
    2. Turn over the top card as you would turn the page of a book.
    3. Lay out cards according to the spread you have chosen.
    4. Turn reversed cards around if you are not using them.
  7. Responding to the cards
    1. Note your responses to individual cards.
    2. Note your response to the whole pattern of cards.
  8. Analyzing the cards
    1. Analyze individual cards:
      1. Find the information page for the card.
      2. Read over keywords and actions.
      3. Look for actions that hit home.
      4. Write down thoughts and feelings, if you wish.
      5. Consider card orientation – upright or reversed?
    2. Analyze card relationships.
    3. Use principles of interpretation.
    4. Note additional insights.
  9. Creating the story
    1. Tell your story spontaneously out loud.
    2. Tape your story, if you wish.
  10. Writing the summary statement
    1. Think about the theme or message in your reading.
    2. Answer your question in a written summary statement (1-2 sentences).
  11. Finishing up
    1. Write down the cards and their positions.
    2. Clear the deck.
    3. Gather the cards together.
    4. Hold cards cupped in one hand. Place other hand on top.
    5. Close your eyes.
    6. Say out loud what you have learned from this reading.
    7. Express gratitude to your Inner Guide.
    8. Put cards back into container.
    9. Restore environment if necessary.
  12. Using what you have learned
    1. Decide on one or two actions to take based on the reading.
    2. Write down intended actions.
    3. Relate developments in situation to the reading.

Lessons In Tarot – Lesson 8(a): Shuffling Methods

Lesson 8(a)

Shuffling Methods

  1. Card Player’s Method
    The Card Player’s Method is commonly used to shuffle everyday playing cards. Hold about half the cards face down in each hand and intermingle them as they drop to the surface of the table. This technique mixes the cards thoroughly, but it can be awkward because most tarot cards are bigger than normal. This method is also hard on your cards. They tend to form a bend in the middle. The Card Player’s Method is effective, but somewhat mechanical in spirit. 
  2. Insertion Method
    Hold about half the deck in each hand, and insert one half in a scattered fashion down through the other half. You can hold the cards on their long or short side. This method is fast, efficient and composed with a lot of hand-to-card contact. Be careful with the edges as they can fray over time. 
  3. Cowie Push/Put Method
    In Tarot for Successful Living, Norma Cowie describes her push/put shuffling method. Her technique thoroughly mixes the cards with maximum hand contact and little or no damage. Hold the deck face down in your dominant hand. Push some cards from the top with your thumb into the other hand. Then, push again, but this time to the bottom of the new pile. Continue alternating a push to the top, then one to the bottom until all the cards have been transferred. At this point, put the entire deck back into your dominant hand and start over. This method can be difficult at first. You may push too many or drop some, but your technique will improve with practice. 
  4. Scrambling Method
    The Scrambling Method is about as basic as you can get. Spread all the cards face down on the floor or table, and start scrambling. This technique creates a good mix with few ill effects on the cards. The main drawback is that you need room. This shuffle also has a rather uncomposed feel which some find undesirable.
To Avoid Reversed Cards: To Encourage Reversed Cards:
Start with your cards all facing the same direction.
Every time you divide the deck before shuffling,
make sure the two piles stay facing the same way.		 Every time you divide the deck before shuffling,
rotate one of the piles 180 degrees.

Summer Vacation? Think Again

by Ashley Lauren

On my whiteboard in my classroom, there was a countdown until the end of the school year. I would joke with my students every day that teachers look forward to summer vacation as much as students do. Of course, I didn’t go into the fact that this is not necessarily because we’re looking forward to kicking back with a good book by the pool, but because summers off afford us more time to work our second, and sometimes third, jobs that we’ve been struggling to keep during the school year.

When the recession started, teaching was seen as a relatively stable job. That’s because it takes time for the economy to trickle down into schools — years, at least. It also means that schools are years behind any improvement in the economy, as well. Furthermore, once the financial strain hits school districts and contract negotiations start, these contracts are generally signed for three- or four-year periods during which time salary and benefits are not negotiable, even if the financial situation of the district improves.

The problem with teacher pay goes back well before that, though, according to the recent documentary “American Teacher.” In the mid-19th Century, there was a huge push to get women into the teaching field. Essentially, this was to save money, because at the time, women could be paid less. To this day, teaching is seen as “women’s work,” and, therefore, as second income for a family already making a decent living.

The truth of the matter is that many people choose teaching as a career because it is a wonderful one. You get to make a real and tangible difference in the lives of young people while making money and earning benefits. However, teachers’ salaries don’t always add up to what it takes to make ends meet in today’s society, and many teachers are either forced into second or third jobs, or decide to leave the profession entirely in favor of making more money.

Although I’ve tried to take summers off, I have never had a summer during which I was not doing some kind of work for extra money. When I first started teaching, I had moved away from my family and was living completely on my own. While I could make ends meet during the school year, I wasn’t saving anything at all, so if I had lost my job, I would have been in serious financial trouble. During those summers, since my school didn’t offer summer school, I decided to pack up my stuff and move back in with my mom so I could teach summer school closer to home. Since I moved back to the area for good, I have held many summer school jobs and, more recently, I’ve started writing during the summer to make extra money. My husband and mother are teachers, too, and both have also taken extra jobs every summer.

It’s not that we can’t make ends meet with our salary. We all teach in an area of the country where we are well compensated for our time. However, when there are always extra things that come up that cost us, if we don’t have those extra jobs, we cannot afford the extras. Furthermore, when you are as active as we are during the school year, it is a bit of a shock to your system to go from being so busy to having nothing at all to do. Part of the reason I take summer jobs is to keep myself occupied and keep my brain working during the summer.

Many people argue that teacher pay is so low because we only work nine months out of the year. This may be true, but, according to “American Teacher” and my personal experience, teachers do not work 40-hour work weeks. We’re in school that long, and then we bring home papers to grade and we plan lessons outside of that work week, making our work weeks easily 60-80 hours long. Since we’re not paid hourly, we make what we make no matter how much work we do outside of school. Also, there are plenty of teachers who would love year-round schooling — myself included — but it would cost already cash-strapped districts too much money to support being in school for the entire year.

The bottom line is that teaching is a profession and a career choice for many people, and there is nothing more important than teaching the youth of our country. It is sad that so many teachers have to take on extra work to make ends meet, and sad that, as a country, we cannot monetarily show teachers how important their work is.

Chant For Unlocking The Astral Gates

Syn, good Goddess of Locks and Doors,
Open the gates, I now implore,
Allow me to pass through the astral veil
With speed; grant fair winds to my sail.
And when I’ve gained what I can learn
Grant a hasty, safe return.
 
Everyday Magic
Spells & Rituals For Modern Living
Dorothy Morrison
ISBN 1-56718-469-3
 
 
Brought to you by Heathens Underground a Yahoo group.

Mojo Rising Medicine Bundle

Adapted from Plant Spirit Shamanism, by Ross Heaven and Howard G. Charing (Inner Traditions, 2006).

Focusing our intention can help us to get what we need. This ancient shamanic technique uses the spirit power of plants aligned with your own desire to make a simple bundle that you carry with you. It’s like a spiritual radio, transmitting its energy and your requests to the universe and receiving the blessings that the spirits send back. Here is how to make a mojo bag to attract what you need.

Before you create a mojo bag, be clear on your intention, what you want the charm to do. Holding this intention in mind, take a walk in nature and allow yourself to be drawn to the plants that reflect your purpose. Spend a little time with them and speak to them of your needs. Request that they offer a little of themselves to help you.

The creator has given us clues to the healing and spiritual power of plants by ensuring that their outward appearances reflect their uses and intentions. Thus, the seed pods of the honesty plant, dried and relieved of their outer skins, are shining, translucent, and silver, round like coins and round like haloes. They can therefore be used to attract spiritual blessings and truth (honesty) or to draw in wealth, according to your intent.

When you take your plant materials home, dry them and then gently crush them. Mix them with a little rum, Florida Water, or essential oil and allow them to dry again.

Choose a piece of fabric in a color that corresponds to the qualities you wish to draw into your life. Colors are have traditional associations with certain energies: red with power and energy, pink with love, green for abundance, blue for peace, white for purity, and so on.

Place your plant material in the center of the fabric. You may add other objects to help: for more money, for example, add a few small coins on the homeopathic principle of like attracting like; a magnet to pull in success; a rose quartz for love, and so on. You can also write out your intention on a piece of paper and include it if you wish.

Sew up the bag or tie the bundle with a ribbon to keep the materials in place. Then smudge it with sage smoke and sprinkle it with a little Florida Water or essential oil. Carry your mojo bag with you.

Car Protection/Blessing

Car Protection/Blessing　

Before leaving on a trip, create a protective sachet for your car. Add the following to an orange pouch or cloth – one Tiger’s Eye, a pinch of Sage, a Silver Coin and three pieces of Galangal Root. Empower your pouch with protective energy, and tie it with a red ribbon. You can also anoint it with Protection Oil.

Place in your car for protection against thieves, accidents and danger.

Stop Malicious Gossip

Stop Malicious Gossip　

An easy way to stop malicious gossip is as follows:

Write the name of the person who is gossiping on a piece of white paper. Now think positive thoughts and send loving energy to them (I know it sounds crazy, but…). Place the paper in a glass of water and put it in the freezer. This will freeze the problem.

If you also wish for people to not be so nosy or involved in your business, you can add black ink to the water. This will cloak you from their prying eyes.

Remember to add positive thought. You are not trying to control the person, you are protecting yourself from harmful thoughts, and sending positive energy to deflect negative intent. Harm none!

To Know The Truth

To Know The Truth　

Take a fresh banana, red ribbon and a piece of parchment, and reflect upon that which you seek the truth about.

Light a white candle, and clear your mind. Then, on the parchment, write that which you want to know. Fold the paper towards you three times. Then, slice the banana open near the middle, and push the paper into it. Tie the ribbon around the banana to seal it up, and make sure to have a longer strand attached, so you can hang the banana. Say out loud:

“The truth will be shown to me, as I will – So mote it be!”

Hang the banana outside, on a tree – or on a nail outside your front door. When the banana has spoiled, you will know the truth in any matter.

Ward Off Evil

Ward Off Evil 

To ward off evil spirits or energy:

In a small jar, place sage, sandalwood, galangal and brimstone herbs. Mix well and sprinkle sea salt on top. Cute a three inch piece of red string, and tie one knot into it, and place it in the jar. Next, place three pins or nails in the jar and close it shut. Light a black candle and say:

“Pins that price, herbs and string, to protect me now, my angels do sing!”

Hide the jar in a dark place to ward off evil.

Daily Feng Shui Tip for May 26th – ‘Sally Ride Day’

She lived her dreams of becoming one of the first female explorers in space. The energies of this day honor Dr. Sally Ride, mission specialist aboard the second flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger. On ‘Sally Ride Day’ we celebrate the fact that Sally rode off into the sunset and the sunrise on June 18, 1983. In fact, Ride’s breaking of the proverbial glass ceiling has given millions of inventive women inspiration and motivation. But Sally had a lot of help along the way towards achieving her goals. If you have a dream and are looking to enlist the assistance of beneficial people, then place an empty glass or crystal bowl in the Helpful People area of your main floor. This effort symbolizes your receptivity to any sort of helpful connections while also promising to bring invisible assistance from the cosmos. It’s even better if you can identify the people who can help make your dreams come true. Put their business cards or their names written on a piece of paper (one separate piece for each benefactor) inside the empty bowl and watch how the universe manifests a meeting. Just be sure to clean out the bowl and the names periodically so that new and better connections can help you to soar to new heights! And by shining a bright light on this same area you can hasten all efforts at taking off! Now you’re ready for one sweet ride of your own!

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

Lessons In Tarot – Lesson 8: The Question Reading

LESSON 8

The Question Reading

In this lesson, you will finally learn how to do a full tarot reading for yourself. I describe a simple procedure you can use to explore a personal question. Having a procedure to follow is important in tarot work. When you follow the same steps over and over in a certain way, they help you center yourself in the moment. The details of the steps are not that important; in fact, you can change any of them if you wish. The goal is to maintain a spirit of mindfulness. Doing a reading with loving concentration will make your tarot practice very powerful.

Here is the procedure for a Question Tarot Reading.

Setting the Mood

Your first step is to create a conducive mood. Lesson 6 offers some suggestions on how to set up a pleasing environment. You can try these ideas, if you like. Focus on what will make you feel comfortable and secure.

When you are ready, sit down on the floor or at a table leaving some empty space in front of you. You should have your tarot cards and your question written on a piece of paper. At first, a full reading will probably take at least thirty to forty minutes. Try to arrange your affairs so you won’t be interrupted. With experience, you will be able to shorten this time, if you wish, but it is always better to feel unhurried.

Begin to relax and still your mind. Put aside your worries and concerns for now. (You can always get them back later!) Settle fully into the present moment. Take a few deep breaths, relax all your muscles and feel the quiet as you turn away from the outside world. Take as much time as you need for this calming process.

Asking Your Question

When you feel centered, take your cards out of their container. Hold them cupped in one hand while you place the other hand on top. Close your eyes and bring the cards into the circle of your energy.

Now, make an opening statement, if you wish. Some possibilities are:

  • a prayer
  • an affirmation
  • a description of how you are feeling
  • a simple hello to your Inner Guide

You can write a phrase to say every time, or you can speak spontaneously. It is more important to speak from your heart than to mouth an empty formula. Say your statement out loud, as sound adds energy and conviction.

Next, ask your question, either from memory or by reading it. Be sure to say your question exactly as you wrote it. One of the mysteries of the unconscious is that it is very literal; the cards you choose will often reflect the precise wording of your question.

Shuffling the Cards

Open your eyes and begin shuffling. It is important to shuffle the cards because this is how you sort through all the forms your reading could take and arrange at a subtle level the one you will receive.

There are a number of ways to shuffle the cards. Each method has its pros and cons. Choose one that is most comfortable for you. Certain methods mix the cards so some are right side up (upright) and some, upside-down (reversed). If this is your first reading, do not worry about reversed cards.

Concentrate on your question while you shuffle. Focus on the overall intent rather than the details. Don’t strain to stay fixed, but do keep the question in mind as much as you can.

Cutting the Cards

When you feel you have shuffled long enough, stop and place the cards face down in front of you with the short edge closest to you. Cut the deck as follows:

  1. Grab some number of cards from the pile.
  2. Drop this smaller pile to the left.
  3. Grab some part of this second pile and drop it further to the left.
  4. Regroup the cards into one pile in any fashion.

It’s best to regroup the cards in one quick motion. Don’t try to figure out which pile should go where. Just let your hand move where it will. The cut is an important finishing step that marks the end of the card-arranging stage. Once you have regrouped the cards, the pattern of the reading is fixed, and all that remains is to lay out the cards and see what they reveal.

Laying Out the Cards

Follow the steps for the spread you have chosen. If this is your first reading, use the Celtic Cross.

  1. Pick up the deck and hold it in one hand with the short edge closest to you.
  2. With your other hand, turn over the first card as you would the page of a book.
  3. Place this card in Position 1.
    (The position number corresponds to the placement order.)
  4. Turn over the second card, and place it in Position 2.
  5. Continue in this way until you have placed all the cards.
  6. Turn any reversed cards around if you are not using them.

Responding to the Cards

Pay attention to your reactions to each card as you lay it out. At first, you will not know or remember the usual meaning of a card. Your thoughts and feelings will be based mainly on the images. As you practice, your reactions will become more informed, but also more predictable. Try to keep some of your original openness as much as possible. Pay attention to any responses that seem unusual or out-of-place.

When all the cards are laid out, take a moment to respond to them as a whole. Do you get an overall impression? Do you have any new reactions? Jot down some of your thoughts, if you wish. Don’t worry if you can’t remember all of them. Just as with dreams, you will recall the most important. Try not to get too involved in your notes as that can break the flow of the reading. You simply want to capture a few ideas quickly.

Analyzing the Cards

In the beginning, use the section about individual cards in your Tarot Book till we get to covering individual cards here. Later, you can examine the cards on your own, but you may still find this section useful. (I use it myself from time to time!)

Begin your review with Position 1 and proceed in position order. Here are the suggested steps:

  1. Look up the card in the Card Section of the Tarot Book that came with your cards.
  2. Read through all the keywords and actions.
  3. Look for actions that make you say “Yes, that one really fits!” I experience a kind of jolt of recognition when I see one. Don’t shy away from actions that seem less pleasant. Trust your reactions, and reserve judgment until you’ve seen all the cards. Note any stray thoughts or “irrelevant” feelings that come to mind.

When you’ve considered each card, look for relationships between them. Apply the principles of interpretation.

You could ponder a reading for hours without running out of insights, but, of course, this isn’t practical or desirable. Do try to spend some time, however. Your reward will be equal to your effort.

Creating the Story

At some point, you need to pull everything together. I call this creating the story. Your story will help you understand your situation and give you guidance for the future – what you have been seeking all along.

I recommend that you create your story spontaneously. Once you have finished your card review, let that analytical approach go. It’s no longer appropriate. Your story will be more authentic if it arises freely from within. When you feel ready, simply begin speaking your story, saying whatever comes to mind. Use any notes you have to help, but don’t focus on them too much.

I encourage you to tell your story out loud. Writing is too slow, and just thinking your ideas is too vague. Your story will gather strength and power as it is spoken. If you begin to ramble or lose your train of thought, don’t be concerned. Simply pause, regroup and start again. As you practice, you will get better at speaking on the fly. You may want to tape your story. When you play back the tape, you will be amazed at what you hear. You will truly feel you are your own best tarot reader.

Writing the Summary Statement

Your story is done when your words slow down and stop naturally. Your next step is to distill the main theme of your story. What is the essence of your guidance? Ask yourself these questions:

  • What is the problem or conflict?
  • What is my role?
  • What does my Inner Guide want me to understand?
  • What is the projected outcome?
  • How do you feel about that?
  • Do I sense any recommendations for action?

What you are doing is forming the answer to your question. Before the reading, you posed a question that had meaning for you. Your Inner Guide has responded, and now you want to capture that wisdom in a form you can remember. Try to summarize your story in one or two sentences. Concentrate on the message in the cards and not the mechanics of your interpretation.

Finishing Up

The main event is over, but, as with any ceremony, there are a few final steps to take to end your reading and leave your cards ready for next time.

If you have not already done so, write down the cards you selected and their positions. It is easy to forget them. Then, clear the deck to remove all traces of the energy patterns of this reading. I clear a deck by scrambling the cards together gently. It reminds me of erasing letters in the sand with a sweep of my hand. You may enjoy this technique as well, but any shuffling method will do. Take a few moments now to clear your deck. Make sure the cards are face down or turned away from you. Stop when you feel you’ve shuffled long enough, and gather the cards together. Your deck is now ready for your next reading.

Before putting the cards away, hold them again for just a moment. Place your deck in one hand with the other hand on top, and close your eyes. Say what you feel you have learned from this reading. Express your gratitude to your Inner Guide for helping you via the tarot cards. Gratitude is a wonderful sentiment. It provides the ideal frame of mind in which to end your reading.

When you began, you initiated a cycle. You created meaning in the form of a reading, and now you have completed that cycle by returning the cards to their resting state.

Using What You Have Learned

The reading proper is over, but the inner work is just beginning. Your goal is to integrate what you have learned into your life in some way. If you don’t, your tarot practice will remain a beautiful pastime with no power to help you.

Decide on one or more actions you can take to put your guidance to work. You can reinforce what you’re doing now or make some changes, either radical or minor. Specific actions are usually more helpful than vague plans.

If you are keeping a journal, write down what you intend to do. Commit only to what you know you will actually carry out. I know how easy it is to lay out some cards, look at them briefly and then never think about that reading again, especially when your reaction is less than positive!

As the days go by, think about your reading and how it meshes with your life. Ask yourself these questions:

  • How meaningful was my story?
  • How well did the guidance fit?
  • Did I miss any clues?
  • Did I carry out an action, and, if so, what happened?
  • Did something unexpected occur?
  • Do my Daily Readings add anything?

You may be tempted to do another reading, but it’s probably best to wait until there are important changes in your situation. Assume that your first reading covers all you need to know. If you are puzzled about certain elements, mine your first reading for more insights. By going deeper, you will get closer to the heart of the matter.

Using what you have learned in a reading is probably the most important step – and the most difficult. It involves moving beyond playing with the cards. When you actually commit to integrating your tarot insights into your life, you have realized the true and lasting benefit to be gained from the cards.

This is my ideal tarot session, but, to be truthful, I don’t always follow it. Sometimes I linger over these steps, sometimes I neglect quite a few of them. I encourage you to adopt whatever procedure suits your interests and needs. If you don’t enjoy the cards, they’ll just gather dust on the shelf. The details aren’t that important; it’s the intention that counts!

Exercise – Lesson 8

The Question Reading

Exercise 8.1 – Doing a Question Reading

You are going to do a Celtic Cross Question Reading from start to finish. Follow the procedure outlined in lesson 8. You will need a question to be answered. You can use the question you wrote in Exercise 7.1 or write a new one. Interpret the cards as best you can using your intuition and the Card section of your Tarot Book and Celtic Cross Sections.

You may feel a little at sea this first time – not sure whether or not you’re doing everything right. Remember there is no one correct interpretation. What you see in the cards is right for you by definition, and, no matter what, you will come away with something of value. In future lessons, you will learn some principles of interpretation that will help you feel more confident. At that point, we’ll revisit this reading to see what else you can learn from it.

Your Daily Horoscopes for Monday, May 21st

Your Daily Horoscopes for Monday, May 21st

 
 
It’s challenging to know what to do with all the new information we receive today. However, yesterday’s Solar Eclipse was a turning point, and the flighty Gemini Moon reminds us that we don’t have our feet back on the ground yet. But even if we perceive our world differently now, mental Mercury’s run-in with naysayer Saturn prevents us from flying with an untested idea. It will take time to integrate our clever thoughts into the real world.
Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

Everything seems to be moving too quickly — even though you speedy Rams are the Champions of Fast. You’re also the Champions of First, but being in front of everyone else isn’t what’s most important now. Slow down your words so your heart can catch up to your thoughts, or otherwise you’ll be the cleverest lonely person around. Even if you think too much today, saying less helps to maintain the peace.

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

Although your thinking picks up a bit of speed from the agile Gemini Moon, the urgency of your message is diminished by communicator Mercury’s presence in steady Taurus. It’s easier now to let go of those things that quietly bother you because you recognize that you won’t find resolution today. Nevertheless, your natural persistence enables you to restore balance between your current need for immediate gratification and your willingness to wait until the timing is right.

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

Your world is changing faster than you realize. Even if you have a well thought-out plan, rational Mercury’s anxious quincunx with sobering Saturn just might send you back to the drawing board to tighten your logic. Meanwhile, the Moon dances along in your sign, but it’s not a simple tune that’s playing, especially if you are trying to hold on to a feeling from the past. Nevertheless, share what’s in your heart before it’s too late.

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

Fear is creeping into your subconscious mind today and turning your imagination two shades darker. Just remember that dark doesn’t necessarily imply evil; it simply means an absence of light. What you think and feel can seem more real now than reality itself. Enjoy the magic of the Hall of Mirrors without needing to know what’s going to happen next. Fortunately, your active imagination holds the keys to your future.

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

There’s an important shift brewing in your social world now that the Sun, Moon and Venus are all occupying your 11th House of Friends. Something out of the ordinary may occur, ultimately making you feel as if your friends or co-workers aren’t even on your side. However, these feelings could be just an illusion playing a trick on you. Let things develop naturally and don’t try to read too much into the current situation.

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

If everything at work appears to be too good to be true today, then something is about to change. However, if progress has been bumpy, it may be smart to examine what changes you could initiate. But don’t get too impatient or your frustration can put a negative spin on your professional relationships. It is to your advantage to allow the tensions to resolve gradually, without applying too much pressure to have things go your way.

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

You tend to be rather philosophical about your day, even if it doesn’t turn out as you envisioned it. Instead of getting all stressed out over a necessary change of plans, you might just quietly adapt as required. Nevertheless, there’s still a price to be paid for missing your mark. Instead of wasting energy worrying about a setback, process your disappointment quickly so you can set new goals and try again.

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

The current cluster of planets in your 8th House of Shared Resources might affect your material possessions and income status. However, this emphasis is just as often about non-material things that others bring into your life, including love and sexuality. You may secretly wish that you could withdraw for a bit to re-evaluate the complexity of a relationship. Instead, stay connected to those around you and save the contemplation for another day.

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

No matter how much you apply your analytical thinking today, you might not be able to figure out what’s going on in the mind of your partner. Whatever is usually transparent has now gone dark, making it impossible to accurately read the situation. Stop trying so hard to solve a temporarily unsolvable mystery. Instead, focus on the beauty in those you love and support them the best way you can.

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

Concentrating on the details of your work is extremely helpful today. If you do your job right, your efforts will bring you the rewards and recognition that you seek. In the meantime, there are probably more tasks to do than you expected. Even if you would rather celebrate your impending success now, don’t go popping any corks until you are absolutely positive that your tasks are truly done.

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Your romantic world may be in for a change, yet you cannot see what’s around the next corner. However, prior to your pursuit of happiness, you first need to finish the business that’s still on your plate. Don’t try to rush the process since it will happen on its own timetable. Instead, focus on the possibilities of your creativity, without worrying about concrete production for now.

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

It’s difficult to move forward today, even if you’re enthusiastic about your next project. You might prefer hiding out in your office or at home, sharing your plans online or over the phone, as the Sun and the Moon visit your 4th House of Emotional Security. Nevertheless, it’s wise now to push beyond your comfort zone. Nothing ventured; nothing gained.

Daily Chinese Horoscopes for Monday, May 21

Daily Chinese Horoscopes for May 21

Rabbit

A family vacation or get-together could be interrupted or rescheduled at the last minute. There are likely to be a lot of phone calls from frantic but somewhat unfocused loved ones who are begging for your help to sort out some problem that is much less of a drama than they make it out to be.

Dragon

You have some feelings of insecurity or anxiety today and you don’t know where they are coming from. Listen to your instincts, but don’t act on them without checking the facts and background, especially if your pocketbook is involved. You are likely to over-spend today.

Snake

The battle of the sexes is on big-time today as power struggles light up your house of committed partnerships. If you are married it may be one of those days you can do nothing right. If you are single, you could find yourself dealing with someone who is impossible to please.

Horse

Someone is going to sit you down today and say that if you don’t make some serious changes you are looking at some health risks. You likely are trying to help out a loved one or family member while you neglect your own well-being. They may decide to turn the tables on you.

Sheep

You need more “playtime” than you are getting. Even something simple, like a movie, or a new game for your television game station or your computer would help you break up the monotony right now, and give you a way to work off some of the stress of your daily life.

Monkey

This is not an auspicious time to start a new home-based business. You will find that zoning or other regulations could prove to be a hassle if not a nightmare. You have other financial opportunities, related to your work, most likely, that are much better in the short run.

Rooster

You may have to cancel a trip at the last minute today due to circumstances beyond your control. You may be able to work out a new schedule with the help of an older woman who is a lot more knowledgeable and experienced in the area of travel, research or education.

Dog

You may be considering ending a friendship because there is a sudden and dramatic difference between financial resources. This is not about snobbery, it is about more practical matters. One or the other party simply cannot afford the treats and recreation the other now takes for granted.

Pig

Don’t let a family member make your mind for you on an important decision about your work or career choices. If you are not clear on what you really want, you will only end up facing the same issues all over again. Talk it over – but make up your own mind in the end.

Rat

You may have some confusing experiences while meditating or during prayer today. Your spiritual energies are still at a peak, but the psychic insight you count on may not be totally reliable. You could get confusing and conflicting impressions.

Ox

You may have to make an adjustment in an important friendship soon because of a misunderstanding, because of a friend’s health concerns, or concerns about children could come between you and a friend or coworker. Use your creativity to come to a solution.

Tiger

You will have an opportunity in disguise that forces you to confront some issues involving your work, career, business or social future. You may be able to turn a sudden setback onto an opportunity for career or social advancement. You need to stick up for yourself.

Spellcrafting, Spellcasting and the Spellcaster

The majority of the spellbooks on the market today give you pages of spells for all sorts of purposes. Lists of ingredients, directions, and words to say, these aren’t your words, they are more like a recipe book you would find in your kitchen. A spell is more than a list of ingredients, directions, how to mix them, and a sure outcome. It isn’t that simple, believe me. What makes the difference from the spells you find in a store bought book and your own, is you, your will and your intention. All of these things have an important influence over spellcrafting and spellcasting. You have an enormous amount of control throughout the process that the books don’t mention.

There are random and unknown factors in spellcasting, just as if you were cooking your favorite recipe, you affect the outcome. The personal factor of spellcasting is unique, and this fact is what classifies spellcraft as an art.

In order for your situation to change, the common element over which you have the most control is yourself. Magick transforms the caster instead of the environment around the caster. Spellcraft isn’t just about bringing home a bigger paycheck or finding the love of your life; it’s about growth and evolution, making the career choices that lead to that bigger paycheck, accepting that the love of your life will have a few flaws and accept your flaws, too. Spellcrafting is about reassessing your life, searching deep within your soul, striking a balance. Then the spellcrafter within you will emerge.

Spellcrafting is the process of creating a spell. Spellcasting is the act of putting it into motion. Casting is, in fact, one of the final steps of spellcrafting, for the moment you begin to craft your spell is the moment you begin an active process.

Make no mistake: as a spellcaster, you are a part of the active process of change. You cannot interact with the energy of the world on a daily basis, at the depth required by spellcrafting, and not be changed. You will be transformed, learn to understand and accept the benefits of spellcasting, you will see your life beginning to reflect inner change. You will understand the power you have comes from within you, then finally the true spellcaster within you will emerge.

Witches’ Spell Of The Day For May 18 – Blessing A Book

To Bless A Book

The intent of this spell is to bless any book of your choosing.

You Will Need:

  • Any book of your choosing

The Spell:

 Hold your book(or put in on a table) in your hands and chant this spell:

”Hearken as the witches’ word
calls to All, a gulf to ford.
Bridge the vast realities,
An it harm none, do as ye please.

Elements protect and guard this book,
From wandering eyes and prying looks.
Fill it with thine ancient power,
In this right and ready hour.

Powers of North, the East below,
Help me to live, to learn, to grow.
Lend your strength and stability,
To practice the Craft and with love be free.

Powers of East, the Wind, the Sky,
Watch over these pages with thine eye.
Your wisdom and knowledge, for these I do ask,
That this book be worthy of the Craft and its task.

Powers of South, Fire, and the Hearth,
Help these Shadows to prove their worth.
Infuse them with all your Healing and Passion,
So only good comes from the Work that is fashioned.

Powers of West, the Water and Sea,
Change and growth are granted by thee.
Bless these pages with all that you know,
That righteous readers may learn and grow.

And to the unschooled eye that see
Confusing words and sophistry,
Lead them from these sacred pages,
And bless their passage through the ages.

For free will of all,
And harm of none,
As I have willed it,
It is now done.

So mote it be!”

Lesson 7 – Writing A Question

LESSON 7

Writing a Question

Most of the time you will want to consult the tarot because you are facing a problem or challenge. Something about your life is troubling you, and you want to understand why it is happening and what you can do about it. The best kind of tarot reading for this situation is the Question Reading. You write a question about your problem, and you receive your answer by interpreting the cards. The question helps you relate the guidance you receive to your situation in a way that makes sense. In this lesson, I describe how to create a question for a reading you do for yourself.

The first step is to review your situation thoroughly. Think about all the people involved, directly or indirectly. Go over your options for the future. Let your mind wander freely. You want to look at your problem without judging or censoring any part. Jot down the ideas that occur to you, but try not to be too systematic. You want to use your intuition, not logical analysis.

Once you have finished your review, you can write your question. Here are some suggestions:

Accept Responsibility

Write your tarot question to show that you accept responsibility for your situation. Consider these two questions:

  1. Should I put my father in a nursing home, or take care of him in my house?
  2. What do I need to know to decide on the best living arrangements for my father?

In the first question, the writer gives up her responsibility for making a decision. She wants the cards to tell her what to do. In the second question, she is simply asking the cards to give her more information. She knows the decision lies with her.

It’s tempting to write the first kind of question. We all seek the certainty that we’re making good choices, but the tarot can’t make our decisions for us. Avoid questions that deflect responsibility, such as:

  • Questions to be answered “Yes” or “No”Will I get the job at the ad agency?
    Can I stick to my diet this month?
    Am I ready to retire? 
  • Questions beginning with “Should…”Should I let my daughter live at home?
    Should I go out with Jose?
    Should I apply to more than one university? 
  • Questions asking only about timeWhen will George ask me to marry him?
    How long will it take to find a new car?
    When will I get my promotion? 

Instead, begin your questions with phrases such as these:

  • Can you give me insight into …
  • What do I need to understand about …
  • What is the meaning of …
  • What is the lesson or purpose of …
  • What are the circumstances underlying …
  • How can I improve my chances of …
  • How might I …

Keep Your Options Open

Write your question to show that you are keeping your options open. Consider these:

  1. How might I encourage my mother-in-law to move out?
  2. What do I need to know to get along better with my mother-in-law?

In the first question, the writer is not keeping his options open. He has decided on one solution – having his mother-in-law move out. The second question is more open-ended. It’s OK to narrow the scope of a question as long as you don’t decide on the answer ahead of time. Both of the following are open questions, but the second is more specific:

  • How would a switch to sales impact my career?
  • How would a switch to a sales position at Purdue Insurance impact my career?

Find the Best Level of Detail

Seek the fine line between wording that is too vague and too detailed. Here are three questions on the same topic:

  1. How can I improve my work situation?
  2. How can I reorganize my desk so that Tom can find my files?
  3. How can I improve the flow of work between Tom and me?

The first question is unfocused. It doesn’t specify which work area is of interest. The second question is too detailed. It looks at one minor aspect of the problem. The third question is best because it finds the balance between the two. Include only the details necessary to make clear what you want to know.

Focus On Yourself

When you do a reading for yourself, you are always the central character. Your question should focus on you. There are times when questions about others are fine, but not when you are concentrating on your own concerns.

Sometimes you may not realize you are orienting your question around someone else. Consider these:

  1. What is behind Arthur’s drinking problem?
  2. How can I assist Arthur with his drinking problem?
  3. What role do I play in Arthur’s drinking problem?

The first question focuses totally on Arthur and his problem. In the second question, the writer is included, but his attention is still on Arthur. The third question is best because it is grounded solidly in the writer’s own experience.

Stay Neutral

You want to stay as neutral as possible when writing your questions. It is easy to begin a reading convinced that your position is the right one, but if you truly want to receive guidance, you need to be open to other points of view. Consider these sets of questions:

  1. Why am I the only one doing chores?
  2. How can I foster a spirit of cooperation concerning the chores?
  1. How can I make people listen when I’m talking?
  2. What is going on when I try to communicate, but feel others aren’t listening?
  1. How can I make my boss stop asking me to do overtime?
  2. Why have I had to do so much overtime recently?

In the first questions, the writer feels his position is the correct one – others are not getting with the program! The second questions are more neutral and open-ended.

Be Positive

Be positive when writing your questions. Consider these:

  1. How come I can never get my research published?
  2. How can I locate the ideal forum in which to publish my research?
  1. Why can’t I overcome my fear of public speaking?
  2. How can I improve my ability to speak to groups effectively?
  1. Can you help me understand why I always blow a tournament in the last round?
  2. Can you help me find a way to push on to victory in a tournament?

The first questions have an air of defeat. The second questions are more confident. The writer knows she will be successful given useful advice.

You may be wondering why I have gone into so much detail about writing a question. This process is a focusing exercise that prepares you for the reading that follows. Writing a question usually takes no more than three or four minutes, but, for that small investment in time, you reap big rewards. You understand your situation better and can interpret your reading with more insight.

Exercises – Lesson 7

Writing a Question

Exercise 7.1 – Writing a Tarot Question

You are going to write a question for your first tarot reading. Think about your life for a moment, and choose an area in which you are having some difficulty. (We all have one of these!) Avoid general concerns such as finding a life partner. Pick a specific everyday problem that is troubling you right now in your home or workplace. Choose something that involves you directly and that you care about personally. Follow the recommendations in lesson 7 for writing an effective question. Take notes as you go. We will be using these notes and your question in the next lesson.

Exercise 7.2 – Practicing Question Writing

Life will offer you many opportunities to practice writing questions. Any time you face a problem, take a moment to create a question about it. Work on it while you’re doing routine activities, such as riding in a car or doing housework.

Writing practice questions helps you learn to analyze a personal problem quickly and recognize what you want in various situations. Also, if you decide to do a reading about the problem, you have your question ready.

BANISHMENT SPELL {Use With Extreme Caution}

 

BANISHMENT SPELL

 

 

This is a spell for love gone wrong, for ending a personal, family or business relationship that you no longer wish to be in. It is a fire spell. To work it, gather herbs of protection and an image of the person (photograph, poppet, etc.) Something written in their own hand, a lock of hair, a piece of clothing or a personal object will also do. Put everything into a fireproof container – iron cauldron, marble mortar, whatever – and set fire to it as you perform the spell. Add the photograph or a piece of paper with the person’s name on it if you have trouble getting the fire going. It should make a very satisfactory blaze that reduces to ashes. The ashes can be buried or washed down a drain. Flush them down a toilet if you are very angry. Dispose of all the objects that connect you to the person: gifts, letters, photographs, etc. It is especially important to get rid of jewelry. Move house if you have to. Be careful with this spell. It’s permanent, so don’t use it unless you really mean forever. It’s also powerful.  

By the crimson and the gold

By basilisk and bloodstone

By the garlic in the fields

By the poppies and what they yield

Invisibly I make my shield

To detect thee and deflect thee

And keep thy harm from me.

By dragon’s blood and salamanders

By horses when their hooves strike sparks

By the dragon breathing flames

From the Book of Life I erase thy names

I cut the cords and unlock the chains

I sever all the ties by which we were bound

And with impenetrable walls myself I surround

Against thy power and its source

Against thy evil and its source

Vesta, Pele, Lilith

Kali Kali Kali

I banish thee forever from me

And any harm from thee to me

Doubles back and tables turned

Thou shalt by thyself be burned

Lilith, Vesta, Pele

Kali Ma Kali Ma

By the power of three times three

I banish thee, I banish thee, and I banish thee

I am set free

So mote it be!

To Banish Illness

 

To Banish Illness

 

 

 

Burn a black candle anointed with banishing and burn banishing incense.

 

Concentrate on removing whatever the health problem may be by saying:

 

” As this candle burns,

So the illness turns,

Melted like this wax,

Cut like with an ax,

Remove and banished,

All disabilities vanished,

As my word you see,

Radiant health blessed be.”

 

Let the candle burn until done.

Then bury ashes from incense and leftover wax.