NASA Image of the Day for Jan. 1

 Festival of Lights

Festival of Lights

WISE, NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, has a new view of Barnard 3, or IRAS Ring G159.6-18.5, that is awash in bright green and red dust clouds. Interstellar clouds like these are stellar nurseries, where baby stars are being born.

The green ring is made of tiny particles of warm dust whose composition is very similar to smog found here on Earth. The red cloud in the center is most likely made of dust that is more metallic and cooler than the surrounding regions. HD 278942, the bright star in the middle of the red cloud, is so luminous that it is the likely cause of the surrounding ring’s glow. The bright greenish-yellow region left of center is similar to the ring, though more dense. The bluish-white stars scattered throughout are stars located both in front of, and behind, the nebula.

Regions similar to this nebula are found near the band of the Milky Way galaxy in the night sky. This nebulas is slightly off this band, near the boundary between the constellations of Perseus and Taurus, but at a relatively close distance of only about 1,000 light-years, the cloud is a still part of our Milky Way.

The colors used in this image represent specific wavelengths of infrared light. Blue and cyan (blue-green) represent light emitted at wavelengths of 3.4 and 4.6 microns, which is predominantly from stars. Green and red represent light from 12 and 22 microns, respectively, which is mostly emitted by dust.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA

Hubble Image Gallery for December 27th

Spiral Galaxy M100

An image of the grand design spiral galaxy M100 obtained with the second generation Wide Field and Planetary Camera (WFPC-2), newly installed in the Hubble Space Telescope. Though the galaxy lies several tens of millions of light-years away, modified optics incorporated within the WFPC-2 allow Hubble to view M100 with a level of clarity and sensitivity previously possible only for the very few nearby galaxies that compose our “Local Group.” Just as one does not learn about the diversity of mankind by conversing only with your next door neighbor, astronomers must study many galaxies in a host of different environments if they are to come to understand how our own galaxy, out star, and our earth came to be. By expanding the region of the universe that can be studied in such detail a thousand fold, the WFPC-2 will help the Hubble Space Telescope to fulfill this mission.

Lunar Love Horoscopes for December 23 -25

Weekend Love: Lunar Love

by Jeff Jawer

Through the Roof

December 23 – 25

The hustle and bustle of the holiday weekend usually crowds out the time for romance while most people are busy with their families. But this year it’s not all about obligations, as there are times when breaking away from regular routine and ritual provides room for hearts to roam more freely. The outgoing and fun-loving Sagittarius Moon gives Friday an adventurous spirit. Taking chances in self-expression and exploring unfamiliar places and faces can expand horizons and offer fresh perspectives.

Saturday, on the other hand, is supercharged with a New Moon in disciplined Capricorn that arouses feelings of guilt. Yet the order generally associated with this sign may be hard to come by, frustrating those who prefer to follow the rules and stick to their plans. Volatility is spiked by a lunar square with anti-authoritarian Uranus. This planetary alignment brings out the rebellious side of personalities, making cooperation even more difficult. Yet even if a playful approach and flexible attitude allows for experimentation, the Moon’s conjunction with controlling Pluto has the last word of the day. This intense aspect could either squeeze out the fun with a sense of resentment or cause us to examine our expectations. However, the point isn’t about trying to change others, but to find the maturity and commitment to start changing ourselves.

New Moon Report for December 20th – Venus in Aquarius

New Moon Report

By Jeff Jawer

 

Venus in Aquarius

Tuesday, December 20, 10:26 am PST, 1:26 pm EST

The love planet’s entry into cool but friendly Aquarius is ideal for those who need freedom and are easily bored with social convention. Venus’ presence in this independent air sign indicates that relationships will blossom when there is more room for individual expression and romantic experimentation. Cooperation within groups, especially those with idealistic intentions, should be enhanced by this transit. Fresh approaches to appearance, pleasure and partnerships will make life more enjoyable than sticking to outmoded traditions.

 

Spell Of The Month

Thin Veil Spell

Best Day To Cast:  December 21st – Yule – Winter Solstice

Color of the Day:  White

Incense of the Day:  Vanilla

The Spell:

The Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the returning light of the Sun. It is the shortest day and longest night. In pre-Celtic Ireland, a wonderful ancient tomb and fairy mound called Brug na Boinne, located near modern Newgrange, contained a passageway which was aligned with the Sun on the Winter Solstice. On this day, sunlight streamed into the back of the sacred site. Like other sacred days, the Winter Solstice is a time when the veil between the worlds is thin, and contact with the Gods may be auspicious. A ritual sleep or vision quest prior to the solstice morning ceremony may bring you visions of what is to grow in your life. Before bed, recite these words inspired by the Scottish “Lullaby of the Snow” until you fall asleep:

Cold, cold this night,
Lasting this night my
sleep.
My eye is closed,
My sleep is heavy,
Bring visions of my soul
to me.

 

– Sharynne NicMhacha

Llewellyn’s Witches’ Spell-A-Day Almanac

ROSE QUARTZ GARNET AND CARNELIAN LOVE SPELL

ROSE QUARTZ GARNET AND CARNELIAN LOVE SPELL


Moon phase: Waxing to full
You will need:
Jasmine Incense or Jasmine Essential Oil
Three stones: Rose Quartz, Garnet. Carnelian
Candles: 1 red candle, a few beeswax candles (or whatever you have about your home)
In you bedroom, open your curtains.
If it’s warm enough, open your windows and let the moonshine and breezes in.
Light some candles around your bedroom and make yourself comfortable on your bed,
placing the unlit red candle on your bedside table.
Hold the stones in your power hand (the one you write with).
Visualize yourself in love; your life enhanced with love, both given and received.
What type of partner do you want to share your days with?
Don’t focus on who you want, rather what you want.
Honesty, trust, respect, love. Visualizing yourself with love in your life is a wonderful thing.
Charge the three stones with the emotions you generate and your wish to attract love into your life.
Set the stones around your red candle. Light your candle and let it burn all the way down.
As the candle slowly burns, the energy you charged the stones with is slowly released.
Give thanks and close the Circle.

A SPELL TO FALL OUT OF LOVE WITH ONE’S EX

A SPELL TO FALL OUT OF LOVE WITH ONE’S EX


Be sure you want to break the link_completely.
This is folk-magic, and it works. It can only be worked in Fall, when the black walnuts are
ready to harvest. Because it is performed naked, in the dark, it is not suitable for everyone.
You will need:
* a piece of paper from a brown paper bag, freshly torn on all four sides
* a small pencil with no eraser on it * matches
* a black candle — it can be a plain offertory candle, a taper, or a figural candle of a human or a devil.
* black powder incense to which you should add Valerian
Root, Red Pepper, and Mullein Leaves. (If you cannot find
plain black powder incense and those herbs, use an
herb-based mixture containing them, such as Black Arts Incense.)
* nine black walnuts still in their green husks. You will probably have to go into the country
for these — they are not sold in stores.
* a silver-colored metal bowl.
Place the walnuts in the bowl. Undress at midnight on a night when the moon is dark.
Take all the supplies into your bathroom.
In the dark, with no light, write your ex-lover’s name on the piece of paper, and say
[Name of Person],
this is the last time I will write your name!
Light the candle, use the candle to light the incense, look at the name paper and say
[Name of Person],
this is the last time I will see your name!
Fold the paper in half so the name can no longer be seen.
Draw a hot bath and throw the nine black walnuts into it. The water may turn brownish.
Get into the bath with the walnuts. Pour the dark water over your head nine times and each
time you pour it, say:
[Name of Person], I wash you out of my life.
Arise from the bath and pull the plug.
As the water runs out, pick up the candle and hold it over the bath water.
Take the person’s name-paper in your other hand and set it on fire with the candle.
As it burns, say:
[Name of Person], I burn you out of my life.
Drop the burning paper into the bath water, wait a brief moment, then plunge the candle
upside down into the bath water to extinguish it while you say:
[Name of Person], I extinguish you.
Do not dry yourself with a towel, only let the air dry you.
When the water has all run out, collect the nine walnuts (and the husk fragments) and
place them back in the bowl. Now, still entirely naked, walk outside carrying the bowl of
walnuts and throw them away at a crossroads or street intersection or, if that is impossible,
throw them against a tree — but be careful to not drop any pieces of them in
your own yard. As you throw away the walnuts, say:
[Name of Person], you are dead to me
And dead to me you’ll always be
Wander the world both near and far
But touch me not, for dead you are!
Carry the empty bowl home without looking back, wash it out, and put it away.
As long as you never write or speak the person’s full name again, he or she will remain
out of your life and your former love will be broken.
VARIANT:
Get 9 Walnuts and boil them in 3 quarts of water until the water evaporates down to
1 quart in volume and turns brown. Then place the walnuts and their water in the bowl,
as described above, and proceed as described except that when it_comes time to throw
the Black Walnuts into the bath with their husks, throw in the
boiled walnuts with their quart of brown water.

SPELL TO LET GO OF ANOTHER

SPELL TO LET GO OF ANOTHER


Take a photo of you and your ex-lover depicting a time or event in the past when
the relationship was still good for the both of you. Then cut out the ex-lover’s image.
Cast a circle and burn the image while envisioning a hopeful, joyful life without this person.
Do not blame yourself or your ex-lover, nor hold any thoughts of recrimination or revenge while engaged in this meditation. Continue the projection of your future life for a few minutes.
Bury the ashes in an appropriate place.

TO SOOTHE A BROKEN HEART

TO SOOTHE A BROKEN HEART
You will need:
–one egg one pink candle rose petals lemon balm honey rose oil (optional)
Take the egg in one hand.
Sit quietly and think about the relationship you have just ended, and your feelings about splitting up.
Allow all your negative feelings, grief, frustration and loneliness to_come to the surface.
Cry, howl and bawl if you need to – the end of a relationship is like a death and you should
allow yourself to grieve and not feel ashamed about it.
While thinking about the relationship, take the egg and roll it gently over your face and forehead.
Imagine that the egg is like a sponge which can soak up your grief, your need, and
all the negative emotions which are holding you back and dampening your spirits.
Project all your unhappiness over the relationship into the egg and let it soak up all your negative feelings.
When you feel that the egg has sucked up all your unhappiness and negative feelings over
this broken relationship, take it to a plot of earth – preferably not your own garden – and bury it.
If it must be on your property, bury it as far as possible from your house.
Know that the negative feelings and depression you projected onto the egg are being
absorbed and neutralized by the earth.
Return to your house, preferably to your own bedroom or some place where you spend a lot of time.
Make yourself some lemon balm tea with some of the rose petals, and sweeten it to taste with honey.
Sprinkle the rest of the rose petals around the candle and yourself, if you have enough.
Light the candle. Imagine the warmth of the candle and the scent of the rose petals
_combining and filling the room with warmth, sweet rose scent and soft pink light.
Let the pink light and scent fill you with loving warmth and_comfortable feelings.
If you have some, anoint your chest just over the heart with a little rose oil.
Sip the lemon balm tea. Say quietly and with conviction:
‘Gentle balm, soothe my heart
Bring to me your healing art’.
Imagine yourself surrounded by love and peace, sheltered from discomfort and loneliness.
Know that you deserve love and that you are now free of your previous relationship and
open to a new one. Gaze into the candle flame and imagine yourself happy and healed,
living a joyful and fulfilling life without the person you have just broken up with.

SIMPLE BLACK CANDLE ANTI-LOVE SPELL

SIMPLE BLACK CANDLE ANTI-LOVE SPELL


Carve the taker’s name and the words “GOOD BYE” on a black candle.
Dress it with Uncrossing oil. At its base place a broken or unlinked length of fine chain.
Light the candle and as it burns, have a good cry and say “good bye.”
When the candle has burned about half-way, use its flame to set afire a photo or
name-paper of the taker, then extinguish the candle in the ashes of the paper and
throw the whole mess, broken chain and all, away at a crossroads in the dark of the
night or bury it in a graveyard.
Go home and bathe in astringent and pungent protective and mind-clearing herbs such
as eucalyptus, walnut, bay, and the like (e.g. Herb Bath) and get on with your life.

THE LAW OF THE POWER

Witchy Comments

THE LAW OF THE POWER

          
1.  The Power shall not be used to bring harm, to injure or control others.  But
if the need  rises, the Power shall be used to protect your life or the life of others.
2.  The Power is used only as need dictates.
3.  The Power can be used for your own gain, as long as by doing so you harm none.
4.  It is unwise to accept money for the use of the Power, for it quickly controls
its taker.  Be not as those of other religions.
5.  Use not the Power for prideful gain, for such cheapens the mysteries of the
Craft and magick.
6.  Ever remember that the Power is a sacred gift of the Goddess and God, and
should never be misused or abused.
And this is the Law of the Power.  

 

 ~Magickal Graphics~

Health and Vitality Spell

Health and Vitality Spell

Cut a circle from a white or yellow piece of paper. Write on the paper the words Health and Vitality. Add any specific health issues you wish to deal with, and in the center of the paper place a bay leaf, a small amount of cinnamon, and three grains of rice. Fold the paper into a packet to hold the ingredients. Take the packet in hand for a moment and concentrate on your healing intentions, sending that energy into the package. Place the paper in a fireproof container and light it on fire. As it burns, say;
“Sacred fire,
I pray to thee,
Release all bonds
And set this free-
That health and vitality
might come to me.”

Prosperity and Luck Spell

Prosperity and Luck Spell

Tools:
A Gold Candle
A piece of Jade (or other lucky stone)

Light the Gold Candle. Focus on the changes you would like to happen. Hold the stone in your hand and focus those changes “into” the stone. Visualize your energy combining with the stone and say these words:

“Changing energies,
Universal luck,
Weighted my way~
Fortunate door opening,
Beginning this day.”

Visualize the release of energy to the universe. Extinguish the candle. Keep the stone with you as a reminder to be alert for new opportunity or as in the words of Lucille Ball:
“Luck? I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it, and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work — and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t.”

Purification Ritual for New Magical Tools

Purification Ritual for New Magical Tools
by Jame Kambos

Whenever you buy a new tool for magical workings it is important that the tool is purified. This is a simple purification ritual that I use to cleanse my new magical tools:

Ingredients:
caldron or any heat-proof dish
dandelion leaf
wormwood
sage

Ignite the herbs and let them smolder awhile. As the smoke curls about you pass your tool through the smoke and say:

“Smoke rise,
Let me be wise.
This (name of tool) is cleansed.
I will use it only for good.”

The item is now ready to use!

Prosperity and Success Spell

Prosperity and Success Spell
Original Author D.J. Conway

Ingredients:
1 small cauldron
1 small green or brown charm bag
3 silver coins
Cinnamom
Cedar oil
A small table to use as an altar

Spell:
Place a little dish or cup inside the cauldron with a small amount of cinnamon and cedar in it. Lay the three coins next to it on your altar. Tap each coin with the forefinger of the hand you write with (your power hand) and chant:

“Glistening silver coin of the Moon,
Shiny and round, bring me a boon.
Draw to my hands many more of your kind.
Multiply, grow, like the image in my mind.

Place the coins in the cauldron with the herbs and three drops of oil. Using your power hand, stir the air clockwise seven times over the cauldron and chant:

“Earth elements, cunning and bright,
Share you treasures here on this night.
Share with me riches of silver and gold,
Success, prosperity, all I can hold.”

Place the herbs and the coins in the talisman bag. Carry this with you until the Full Moon goes through her phases and returns to Full.

Home or Business Protection Spell

Home or Business Protection Spell

To bless your home or business, place a bowl of candy, herbs or stones by your front entrance. Bless then bowl’s contents by speaking aloud the following verse:

“As all who enter here are Children of the Great Mother,
May those who pass always walk safely in her steps.
May they feel the guidance of her hand,
And know she is always with us,
From the time we meet till we meet again.”

Invite visitors to take an offering as they enter the premises.

WISH RITUAL

WISH RITUAL


A large bowl A wooden spoon A sifter or colander
As many of the following herbs as you can find: Cinnamon, basil, clover, ginger, marjoram,
tea, catnip, jasmine, ginseng, lavender, pine, sage, cloves.
This is inherently a simple spell but you can make it into an all-out ritual.
Best if done when the moon is waxing, unless you are wishing to get rid of a problem.
Place all the ingredients into the bowl. Stir and grind them with the spoon.
Continue to grind and blend until everything is mixed into a coarse substance –
there should be no large pieces. It should be grainy and almost powder-like.
Dump the substance into the colander or sifter and gently shake it back and forth over another bowl.
The finest powder will get through the sifter but the large pieces will not.
What you should have when you are finished is at least a handful of herbal wish powder.
Make sure you go out on a nice day to perform the spell.
Find a nice clearing and take your wish powder with you in a pouch.
Take a handful and say a chant – it’s best that you write your own so you can state the specific
need of the wish. Make sure you are very clear about what you wish for and how you want to get it.
Throw your powder to the wind and let it carry your wish away to come true!

Dark Goddess Invocation

Dark Goddess Invocation

I am the Darkness behind and beneath the shadows.
I am the absence of air that awaits at the bottom of every breath.
I am the Ending before Life begins again,
the Decay that fertilizes the Living.
I am the Bottomless Pit,
the never-ending struggle to reclaim that which is denied.
I am the Key that unlocks every Door.
I am the Glory of Discovery,
for I am that which is hidden, secluded and forbidden.
Come to me at the Dark Moon and see that which can not be seen,
face the terror that is yours alone.
Swim to me through the blackest oceans
to the center of your greatest fears–
the Dark God and I will keep you safe.
Scream to us in terror, and yours will be the Power to Forbear.
Think of me when you feel pleasure, and I will intensify it,
until the time when I may have the greatest pleasure
of meeting you at the Crossroads Between the Worlds.

STAY AWAY SPELL

STAY AWAY SPELL

In a small pot, crush items that the person you are wishing away hates (say, if they hate
china berries, then crush those!) While you crush, visualize that person staying away from
a certain place. When everything is crushed, then add the four representations of the elements.
these are: 1 pinch of salt (earth,) 1 sprinkle of water (water),
something flaming, (fire) (dip in, then pull out three times),
and incense (air) (do the same as the fire)
Crush again. Before putting in elements, ask the lord and lady to bless them for you,
so that they may work their purpose faster, longer, and stronger.
Visualize the person staying away, while you chant :
“Berries of the trees, make true the wish to me.
Keep (name of person) away from here,
so that I may rejoice and cheer”
Then, smear a bit of the mixture over whatever you want the person to stay away from.

DESTRUCTIVE KNOT SPELL

DESTRUCTIVE KNOT SPELL
If there is a situation, problem, possible menace you are facing, there is a knot spell for this.
Take the cord and firmly visualize the problem in all its agonizing detail.
Become emotional about it; seethe with anger, crumble into tears, whatever works.
Then firmly tie the knot. Walk away from it, out of the room if possible.
Take a shower, eat, do whatever will get your mind off the spell and allow you to relax.
When your emotions are stabilized return to the knot. With calm and peace untie the knot.
See the problem vanishing; dissolving into a dust that is swept away by the cleansing,
refreshing North wind. It is done.