The Witches Almanac for Thursday, February 15th

Susan B. Anthony Day

Waning Moon

New Moon 4: 05 pm

Moon Sign: Aquarius

Moon enters Pisces 9: 42 pm

Incense: Mulberry

Color: Crimson

Thursday–The Day of Thor

Thor, the Thunderer, is perhaps the most famous of the gods of the Northmen, and was considered by some to be greater even than Odin. He was the God of the Peasants–the poor people, while Odin was thought more of by the rich people and the great fighters. Thor usually rode in a chariot of brass, drawn by two goats, Tooth-cracker and Tooth-gnasher, and it was this chariot which was supposed to make the thunder; hence Thor’s name. Thor, alone of all the gods, was never allowed to cross the bridge joining Asgard and the earth, lest this chariot should break it down.

As the Thunderer, Thor corresponded to Jupiter, who, as we have read, hurled thunderbolts when enraged, and for this reason Thor’s name was given to the Roman Dies Jovis, the day of Jupiter, the modern French jeudi.

Thor was of very great strength, like Hercules among the Greeks and Romans, and possessed a wonderful hammer called Miolnir, the Crusher, which always returned to his hand when he had thrown it at an enemy. He also wore a magic belt which increased his strength the more he pulled it in. The way in which Miolnir came to be made is told in a story of Thor’s wife Sif, who was very proud of her golden hair, which reached down to her feet. One morning Thor woke to find that Sif’s hair had been cruelly cut off during the night. Filled with anger, he set out to find the culprit, whom he rightly guessed to be Loki, the God of Fire. Loki was the spirit of evil and mischief, and was always playing cruel tricks on the gods, who frequently punished him. Thor soon caught Loki, and would have strangled him had he not promised to bring Sif a new head of hair as beautiful as the first. Thor then released Loki, who quickly went to the home of the dwarfs, who lived underground. There he found a dwarf who agreed to make the hair for Loki, and also presents for Odin and Frey, the God of the Fields, whom Loki was afraid would be angry with him. The dwarf made a head of hair of the finest gold thread, which he said would grow on Sif’s head as soon as it touched it. Then he made the spear Gungnir which, as we have seen, Odin always carried with him; while for Frey he made a ship which could sail through the air as well as on the water, and could be folded up like a cloth. Loki was of course delighted with the skill of this clever little smith, and declared that no other dwarf could be as clever. This led to a challenge from another dwarf, who claimed that he could make three still more wonderful things. This dwarf in his turn made a wild boar with golden bristles, which travelled through the air, and gave out a bright light as it passed; a magic ring, out of which came eight more rings exactly like it every ninth night; and lastly an iron hammer, Miolnir, which no one could resist. Loki and the dwarf then gave their presents to the gods: the spear and the ring to Odin, the ship and the golden boar to Frey, and the hair and the hammer to Thor. The gods decided that the contest had been won by the second dwarf, because Miolnir would be of such great use against the frost-giants, with whom the gods were continually fighting.

Thor often journeyed to the land of the giants, and on one occasion, having set out with Loki, he reached the desolate giant-country at nightfall. A thick mist covered the ground, and, after struggling on with some difficulty, the gods came to what seemed to be a house with an open doorway which took up all one side of the building. The gods entered the house, which was cold and dark, and, tired with their journey, lay down to sleep. Their rest, however, was soon disturbed by a loud noise and the trembling of the ground, and, fearing the roof of the house might fall on them, Thor and his companion moved into a smaller room which led out of the main building, and there slept till dawn. On going out into the open the next morning, Thor saw lying near an enormous giant, whose snores shook the ground, and was thus able to account for the noise and the trembling of the earth which had disturbed his sleep. But imagine the astonishment of the gods when the giant woke and picked up the house they had slept in–they had passed the night in the thumb of his glove! Thor and his companion then continued their journey, accompanied now by the giant, whose name was Skrymir. When evening came, they rested beneath a tree, and the giant, before going to sleep, offered them the food which he carried in his wallet. Thor, however, was unable to undo the straps of the huge wallet, so the gods had to go hungry. Angry at this, Thor dealt the giant, who was now asleep, three terrible blows on the head with his hammer Miolnir. But the only effect this had on the giant was to cause him to wake up and complain that three times a leaf or a twig had fallen on his head. The next morning Skrymir showed the gods the way to the castle of Utgard-loki, the giant king, and then left them. Arriving at the palace, the gods entered and presented themselves to the king, who recognized them and asked them to show him their powers of which he had heard so much. Loki, who was very hungry, offered to eat more than anyone, and the king’s cook was matched against him. They each stood at the end of a wooden trough full of meat, and though Loki soon reached the middle of the trough, leaving nothing but bones behind, he found that the giant had eaten the bones and the trough as well. Loki’s defeat made Thor even more anxious to show his powers, and he offered to empty the largest drinking-horn in the palace. A huge drinking-horn was at once brought in, and Thor drank so deep and so long that it seemed as if he would never stop, only to find, however, when he could drink no more, that the horn was still almost full. Nothing daunted by his failure, Thor now offered to show his strength, but when he tried to lift Utgard-loki’s cat, he only succeeded in raising one paw from the ground. Thor tried yet again to show his skill, this time in wrestling, but he was easily beaten by Utgard-loki’s old nurse. The gods were then entertained by the giants till the following day, when they returned. Before they left, however, Utgard-loki explained that he was the giant Skrymir, and that he had used magic against the gods in all their contests. By magic he had placed a mountain between his head and Thor’s hammer and thus saved his life, for the blows had made three huge clefts in the mountain. The cook who had beaten Loki was really Wild Fire; the end of the drinking-horn which Thor had failed to empty had been placed in the sea, which had sunk lower after Thor’s enormous draughts; the cat was really the huge snake Iormungandr, which encircled the earth, and which Thor had nearly lifted out of the sea; the nurse was really Old Age, whom, of course, no one could possibly overcome.

Thor seldom lost an opportunity of making war on the giants, and on a famous occasion challenged to single combat the giant Hrungnir, whose head and heart were of stone. Hrungnir one day matched his horse Golden Mane against Odin’s steed, Sleipnir, and, in the excitement of the race, followed Odin right to the gates of Valhalla. Though, of course, the presence of a giant in Asgard could not be allowed, the gods had no wish to take advantage of Hrungnir’s mistake, and offered him meat and drink in their banqueting hall. Hrungnir, however, drank too freely of the mead of the gods, and began to speak proud words and boast one day that he would overthrow Asgard and kill all the gods. This so enraged Thor that he raised his hammer to kill Hrungnir, but the gods would not allow him to shed blood within their home. He then challenged the giant to a duel, which was arranged to take place three days later on the boundary of Hrungnir’s kingdom. At the appointed time the giant was on the chosen spot awaiting his enemy, and, feeling the earth shaking beneath him, he stood on his shield of stone, lest Thor should come up from the ground. But no sooner had he done this than Thor suddenly came in sight and hurled his hammer straight at the giant’s head. Hrungnir, having no shield, tried to ward off the hammer with his stone club, which was shattered to pieces, thus scattering flint stones over the whole earth, where they may still be found. One piece entered Thor’s forehead, and he dropped fainting to the ground, but as lie fell his hammer struck Hrungnir on the head and killed him. Thor was pinned to the ground by one of the giant’s legs, and, after each of the gods had tried in vain to free him, he was at last rescued by Magni, his little son of three, who easily raised the giant’s leg and released his father, receiving as a reward Hrungnir’s horse, Golden Mane. Magni was one of the few gods destined to survive the terrible Ragnarok, the day of destruction, when, as we shall see, Thor, the Thunderer, fell in mortal combat with the sea-monster Iormungandr.

The Challenge of Thor

I am the God Thor,
I am the War God,
I am the Thunderer!
Here in my Northland,
My fastness and fortress,
Reign I for ever!
Here amid ice-bergs
Rule I the nations;
This is my hammer,
Miolner the mighty;
Giants and sorcerers
Cannot withstand it!
These are the gauntlets
Wherewith I wield it,
And hurl it afar off;
This is my girdle;
Whenever I brace it,
Strength is redoubled!
The light thou beholdest
Stream through the heavens,
In flashes of crimson,
Is but my red beard
Blown by the night-wind,
Affrighting the nations.
Jove is my brother;
Mine eyes are the lightning;
The wheels of my chariot
Roll in the thunder,
The blows of my hammer
Ring in the earthquake!
Force rules the world still,
Has ruled it, shall rule it;
Meekness is weakness,
Strength is triumphant,
Over the whole earth,
Still is it Thor’s-day!

LONGFELLOW–The Saga of King Olaf.

February–The Month of Purification

This month did not always hold its present position, but was originally the last month in the year. The name is taken from a Latin word, februare, meaning “to make pure”.

In the Palatine Hill, another of the seven hills of Rome, was a cave dug in the rock, and in it stood an image of the god Lupercus covered with a goat’s skin. Lupercus was the God of Fertility or springing into life, and on the 15th of February a great festival was held in his honour. Sacrifices of goats and dogs were made; then the priests cut up the skins of the goats, twisted the pieces into thongs, and ran through the city striking all who came in their way. As in the very earliest times it was the shepherds who held this festival, it is thought that this running about with thongs meant the purifying of the land. The idea of the whole festival seems to have been one of purifying, of a new life, so the name chosen for the month in which it was held was one formed from a word meaning “to make pure”.

There are some who think that Lupercus was the same as Pan, the God of the Shepherds. Pan was said to have been a son of Mercury, but he was not like the other gods; his body was covered with goat’s hair, and his feet and ears were also like those of a goat. He was very fond of music and dancing, and spent most of his time in the forests playing with the wood nymphs–beautiful girls who lived among the trees. One day he saw a wood nymph, named Syrinx, with whom he fell in love, but she was frightened and ran away from him, and when Pan pursued her she prayed to the gods for help. She was at once changed into a clump of reeds, and Pan, in his disappointment, broke off seven pieces of the reed, bound them together, and so made an instrument of music, which was called the Syrinx after the beautiful wood nymph.

The invention of the Syrinx by Pan has been wonderfully described by Elizabeth Barrett Browning in a poem which begins:

“What was he doing, the great god Pan,
Down in the reeds by the river?
Spreading ruin and scattering ban,
Splashing and paddling with hoofs of a goat
And breaking the golden lilies afloat
With the dragon-fly on the river.”

This story of Pan and Syrinx reminds us that the Greeks and the Romans imagined the mountains, the valleys, the woods, and the rivers to be peopled with lesser gods and goddesses, whose task of caring for the trees, the flowers, and the grass was appointed them by Jupiter. The woodland gods were known as Satyrs, and like their leader, Pan, were half man and half goat. Another famous satyr was Silenus, who was put in charge of Bacchus, one of Jupiter’s sons, and the God of Wine. Silenus taught Bacchus, and accompanied him on his travels on the earth. The God of Wine rode in a chariot drawn by wild beasts, Silenus following him on an ass, and with them a merry company of nymphs and satyrs crowned with ivy leaves, who danced and sang and made music in praise of Bacchus.

“And as I sat, over the light blue hills
There came a noise of revellers; the rills
Into the wide stream came of purple hue–
‘T was Bacchus and his crew!
The earnest trumpet spake, and silver thrills
From kissing cymbals made a merry din–
‘T was Bacchus and his kin!
Within his car, aloft, young Bacchus stood
Trifling his ivy-dart, in dancing mood,
With sidelong laughing.”
KEATS–Endymion.

Many stories are told of the wood nymphs, as the Goddesses of the Woods were called. One of the most famous is that of the nymph Echo, who fell deeply in love with the beautiful Narcissus, whom she met hunting in the forest. Narcissus, however, took but little notice of her, and Echo’s love soon turned to hatred and anger. She prayed to Venus, the Goddess of Love, that Narcissus might be punished for his hard-heartedness, and then sorrowfully hiding herself among the mountains, pined away until only her voice remained, and in lonely places the voice of Echo still answers those who call.

Meanwhile Venus sought an opportunity for punishing Narcissus by making him suffer in the same way as Echo had done. One day Narcissus, hot and thirsty with hunting, came to a shaded pool, and, as he stooped to drink, saw in the clear water the face, as he thought, of a water nymph. So beautiful was she that Narcissus was filled with love for her, and eagerly stretched out his arms; but no sooner did his hands touch the water than she vanished. He drew back in surprise and waited anxiously till the ruffled water became smooth, when again he saw the beautiful nymph. He spoke to her, and her lips answered him, though he heard no sound; he slowly put out his hands towards her, and her hands came to meet his. Sure now of her love, he tried a second time to clasp her in his arms, but, as before, she vanished. Again and again he strove to seize the nymph, but, each time she escaped his grasp. Amazed, Narcissus sank down by the pool and gazed upon that lovely face, which seemed to mock him, and yet held him there. Apollo and his chariot sank into the Western sea, but the Goddess of the Moon shone on the water and showed the nymph still answering his words and holding out her arms to him. The days passed, and Narcissus, unable to tear himself away, grew pale and weak, watching the face, which also grew pale with despairing love. Thus was Echo avenged, for Narcissus slowly starved himself to death through love for his own image! The gods, however, took pity on him and changed his body into a cluster of flowers, which have ever since borne his name.

We have associated Pan, the God of the Shepherds, with this month, and his name is found in a very familiar word in our language. He took a great delight in frightening travellers by creeping up behind them in the dark, and the fear with which he filled them was called “Panic”.

It is interesting to note that just as the Romans held a ceremony of purification during the month of February, so the Christian Church holds the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary on the second day of the month. The feast is called by Roman Catholics, Candlemas, because it is the custom to have a procession in which candles are carried, and it is on this occasion that the candles to be used in the church during the year are consecrated.

The weather at Candlemas is said to show what the weather will be like during the year, and an old proverb says:

“If Candlemas is fair and clear,
There’ll be twa winters in the year”.

The Old English name for February was Sprout-Kale, since the cabbage begins to sprout at this time of the year. It was later changed to Solmonath–sun month–because it is the time when the sun rises higher in the sky and begins to drive away the chill of winter with its glowing rays.

The Magickal Day of Thursday

Thursday is a day of royal blues and greens, associated with the planet Jupiter and metals like tin. When it comes to deities, look at leader type gods like Thor, Zeus, and Jupiter. Gemstone correspondences for Thursday include turquoise, amethyst and lapis lazuli, and plant associations can be found in honeysuckle, cinquefoil, and even oak trees.

This is a day for honor, fealty and family loyalty, as well as harvesting, success, and prosperity.

Take advantage of Thursday’s different aspects and do spellwork that brings abundance to you, declares your allegiance, and embraces prosperity.

Author

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

Spellcrafting for Thursday, February 15th

ñ Prosperity
ñ Wealth
ñ Growth
ñ Luck
ñ Male energy
ñ Debts
ñ Finances
ñ Development
ñ Legal issues

Source

A Spell Crafter’s Compendium
Terri Paajanen

The Pagan Book of Days for Thursday, February 15th

Faunus/Lupercalia/Sigfrid/St. Oswy

Lupercalia is an ancient festival of Roman Paganism. Ovid ascribes this festival to the rustic god Faunus, protector of agriculture and flocks, giver of oracles, and an aspect of the great god Pan. This is a day when animals help humans. It also celebrates the she-wolf who suckled the infants Romulus and Remus. In that Odinist calendar this day is sacred to the hero Sigfrid.

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

Thursday, February 15th

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

Deity: Thor

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn/Pisces/Sagittarius

Planet: Mercury

Tree: Oak

Herb: Henbane

Stone: Turquoise/Bloodstone/Topaz

Animal: Fish/Goat/Aurochs

Element: Fire

Color: Brown/White/Orange

Number: 3

Rune: Thorn

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

Runic Half Month of Sigel (sun) (February 12 – February 26)

Goddess of the Month of Bridhe (January 23 – February 19)

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

 That one thing would be that you pray for the victims of the school shooting in Florida and our country.

It has only been a little over three weeks since the shootings here. To hear of another one only rips my heart open along with everyone else who has suffered through school violence. I am actually numb and confused. I don’t understand why someone would go into a school and kill our children. I wonder does something snap inside their brain or do they even have a brain. I know they have no respect for life. They have never been taught life is the most precious gift we are given. For some mindless individual to go into a school and gun down our innocent children is unthinkable to me.

I don’t want to understand the mind of a killer. Then again, perhaps I am wrong in thinking that way. Maybe if we knew what these animals were thinking, we could prevent these senseless killings. Maybe its not their brains at all that is the problem. Perhaps it is in their heart, a very black and hardened heart toward society and mankind alike. It hasn’t come out in the News yet, but the animal who did the shootings at Marshall County wanted to commit suicide. So instead of killing himself, he goes to a school and kills two innocent kids and wounds 14 more. He was hoping for death by cop. Maybe the one in Florida was hoping for the same thing. We will never know and when we do, we won’t understand because these are very sick individuals, very sick.

I have family in Florida also. I received a phone call last night from one of them I hadn’t heard from in a while. I thought the worse when I was told my family was on the phone. They have four teenage boys that are in high school down there. Two of them go to that high school were the shootings occurred. I feared the worse. Thankfully, they were calling to tell me the boys were fine. What a relief. But unfortunately, they are scarred for life. They witnessed their classmates getting shot and barely escaped themselves. What those boys witnessed will haunt them the rest of their lives. One of the girls up here involved in the Heath shootings lost her sister that day. She saw her sister get killed and she said to this day, that haunts her. How do you erase those imagines from a young person’s mind? You don’t and you can’t.  My family member cried and cried, I know for the safety of her own children and those who lost their lives yesterday. She apologized for crying and I told not too because I had cried a many a tear myself.

These senseless killings of our young people have to stop. Not only the killing of our young people but all killing has to stop. It has to start with us. We have to teach the value of life. Somebody has too because somewhere along the line the mainstream has failed. It is up to us to pick up the slack and remind our country of the sanctity of life. How precious it is and how fragile it is. We always hear the preachers saying we have to turn our country back to God. Let’s turn our country back to the Goddess. Let us show our country and the world, our Divine Mother’s love. Let us teach them our ways. For our ways are the Ways of the Old. During that time, we lived in harmony with each other, no killings, no blood shed, just harmony. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could live like that again. Never having to be afraid to send our children to school, never having to wonder if our loved ones would be coming home again. The Ways of the Old sound pretty good.

Personally, my heart breaks and bleeds every time I think of a parent having to bury their own child. I am left numb. I have family and friends who want me to take away their pain and offer them words of comfort. But I am about out of words. There is no comfort in death. There is no words to take away the pain they feel. Temporary relief is all I can give them. The pain comes back, it lessens over time but it is always there. If I had one wish, it would be I never had to console another parent or friend on this planet and all the killing would stop. Pray with me, brothers and sisters, that the killing stops and no parent ever has to bury their child again. Pray that our world comes to know our Goddess and she will guide us into a better tomorrow. Without Her Divine Guidance, I hate to think what our world will become.

When loved ones, mothers, fathers, children
are taken from us,
We cry, our heart breaks and we look for answers.
We look for some reason as to why,
Yet we find no reason,
We are always left wondering,
Why, oh why and the answer never comes.

The only comfort that we can find is knowing
our Divine Mother spoke softly to our loved ones
as they were taken from this world….

“My beloved children give me your hand and follow me,” She said.
“Close your eyes and become one with the Wind.”
“Be one with the Rain. Be one with the Earth.”
“Be one with the power of Fire.”
“Join your loved ones who have gone before you.”
“Be of comfort, no more pain, no more hurt,”
“Just love, joy and happiness for you have come home,”
“My sweet, precious children.”

–Lady of the Abyss

The Witch

Blessed be! the witch inside,
Look into your minds eye.
Friend of nature, elements and animals.
Down to earth they truly see,
the evil of the tricksters and wannabes.
Should not be punished for their craft,
There is beauty in a witches sacred art.
Witches change with the seasons,
They breath the air of liberation.
Witch is child of light and shadow,
Natures spirit flows within.
A witches roots run deep, their will is strong,
They will stand up for what is right.
Searching and finding, needing and minding,
Wondering when the quest will end.
A witch cannot hide who they are, a pagan child.
All who follow the faith must heed the call.

—-Kelly O’hara, Author
Written 18th June 2014
Published on Hello Poetry

The Words of Confucius

There are three methods to gaining wisdom. The first is reflection, which is the highest. The second is limitation, which is the easiest. The third is experience, which is the bitterest.

Your MahJong Tile for the Month of February

February

Bamboo 6
Symbol: Water

The Water tile denotes a need for communication. A trip may be necessary to communicate properly. You may be called upon to present proof of ownership or that an event actually took place.

Psychic Tip of the Day

JUST ASK THEM

Have you been feeling like someone close to you has been keeping something from you? Instead of getting paranoid, can you simply confront this person?

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

The Hierophant

The Hierophant represents the protector of a culture’s heritage and traditions. His purpose is to defend and teach the established ways and beliefs a group embraces. He is inherently conventional and a true believer in the power of the group. He loves the structure of the group and its values. It is the task of The Hierophant to bring new members into the group—to prepare the uninitiated to take their rightful place in his culture. In this sense he is very much like a teacher or a priest. He also acts as the repository of his group’s history. The Hierophant is certainly not one to buck proper authority. However, he is staunch and worthy defender of the tried and true. He represents the positive aspects of tradition and conformity.

Get A Jump On Tomorrow…..

Your Daily Horoscopes for Thursday, February 15th

Aries

A Solar Eclipse occurring today places a strong focus on making contacts and reaching out to others, dear Aries, in both a social and professional sense, over the coming weeks and even months. Events and circumstances are such that they serve to clear the path for new beginnings, particularly related to how you fit in with friends and the community. You become more acutely aware of your position in life within the context of the group, rather than through self-centered focus. Goals that involve networking, making connections with others, joining or strengthening ties in a group project or activity, and nurturing goodwill are the focus during this cycle that begins today. Some level of drama may be present now, as it serves to shake up your social life in order to pave the way for important changes. In some cases, friends enter or leave your life during this period. This is a good time to reflect on how you’d like to steer your life in the coming weeks, particularly in terms of your “place” in the social side of your life. This period favors formulating goals that have to do with future, long-term happiness and those that give you a stronger sense of mission or purpose, aligning yourself with important causes. Occurring today and connected with eclipse energy are two supportive aspects. You can experience an increased love of order, organization, and clarity, and you could find it’s a fine time to take care of business and connect with others in practical ways. You may be attending to a responsibility towards an important person in your life and finding it quite easy and even pleasurable to make a personal sacrifice in order to help someone out. Today and the weeks ahead favor steady progress and efforts to secure future endeavors. Your judgment on a business level is in great form now.

Taurus

The Solar Eclipse occurring today brings heightened awareness and sensitivity to your standing in society and your professional goals, dear Taurus, as it happens in the professional or public sector of your solar chart. There can be feelings of excitement or uneasiness, depending on how you handle change, surrounding career, reputation, and life path matters now. Going forward, it will be a good time for developing new business plans and goals. A sense of renewal and reinvigoration regarding your career goals is on the horizon. Changes in work, focus, life direction, bosses, authority figures, reputation, or your own authority and influence can occur now and in the coming few months. It’s a time to focus on the elements of your personality that you are projecting in your career or to society, with an eye on improvement. Significant shifts in how others see you can occur now. You are more actively aware of the need to bring added structure or rules into your life, or you might decide you need to improve your performance and general practices so that you can better follow certain rules. This is a phase in which you are exceptionally busy with career or public responsibilities. However, it’s also a time for balancing home and career. Drama or commotion stirred now paves the way for new approaches and new beginnings. A fresh approach is encouraged now, but it’s important to be very mindful of what worked for you in the past. Today is strong for productivity. You have not only the necessary energy, but the foresight and patience, to make significant headway in your projects, work, or ventures. Relationships with friends can settle down, and you may feel that others are more reliable than they have been lately. Your vision is practical, and you are primarily concerned with what has the most long-term value.

Gemini

A Solar Eclipse occurring today falls in the sector of your solar chart that rules your spirit to grow, explore, and expand beyond the “regular” experiences in your life, dear Gemini. This can bring invigorating events into your life that serve to nudge you out of your usual routine. You are making a break from the past in some manner, which will help clear the path for future growth and development. There may be opportunities to broaden your horizons through travel, education, life experience, or adventure. There can be emerging opportunities to publish or promote your work, share your ideas, and enjoy mind-expanding experiences. Meeting important people through these endeavors is possible. Transportation issues can also be in focus, with new avenues opening up for getting out and about. This eclipse might also bring some of you into contact with lawyers, professors, or publicists. It’s a good time for exploring the world, or new perspectives, with friends. Also today and imprinted into the energies of the eclipse is a Venus-Saturn connection that favors the discussion of practical matters and future plans. Your judgment of worthwhile projects or investments is sound. This can be a time to look for help or support if you need it. It can be a good period for handling or managing tricky financial or relationship matters and taking care of business.

Cancer

With a Solar Eclipse bringing powerful energy to your intimacy sector today, this is a period of empowerment and discovery, dear Cancer. This is a time for working on yourself from the inside out, for addressing dependencies and issues of support, and for improving an intimate relationship. If you’ve been too dependent on others, or the opposite, too proud to ask for help, then you’ll see and feel it acutely at this time, and you’ll want to make changes. The period ahead is outstanding for focusing on issues of intimacy and sharing, as well as for developing self-mastery skills. Goals to reduce debt, to get support, to quit a bad habit, and to understand your psychological workings better are favored now. If you’ve been holding on too tightly to a relationship or a financial arrangement, then this is a time for coming to terms with the dependency. It can also be a time when you’re wanting/asking for more depth from a project, relationship, or endeavor. Use this eclipse’s positive blast of energy to sort out financial support issues or emotional entanglements as you go forward. If you’ve been going it alone, this can also be an essential cycle for reaching out and finding the support you need. On the other side of the coin, if dependencies have become burdensome or are limiting your growth, now is a great time to work on putting them behind you. Taking small, progressive steps makes the most sense. Today’s Venus-Saturn aspect occurs at the same time as the eclipse, acting as an imprint and effectively extending its influence for weeks and even months ahead. While there may be some reserve in your relationships and connections, there can be an excellent feeling of constancy. Attention to strengthening projects and relationships can have long-term benefits. It’s a good time for dedicating yourself to a project or activity that requires your full attention.

Leo

With a Solar Eclipse bringing powerful energy to your partnership sector, dear Leo, you’re in a strong position for new beginnings regarding your close relationships. Negotiations and one-to-one relationships are highlighted now and in the coming weeks. It can be a time for beginning new relationships or re-defining existing ones in significant ways. A stronger awareness of the role someone plays in your life or the need for support and companionship may be in focus now. This is a sound period for making contacts and for making something public. If you’ve been holding on too tightly to a problematic relationship, then circumstances now might push the matter. When a Solar Eclipse happens, we are still symbolically in the dark, so that today and the next few are suitable for paying attention to news coming in and feelings emerging, but taking new action should wait at least a few days. A Venus-Saturn aspect occurring right now imprints its energies on the eclipse and is thus longer-lasting than usual. It’s a good time for realistic assessments related to work, financial, and health matters. You have the ability to take a look at what needs to be improved or changed and to make adjustments with few if any regrets. Meeting responsibilities feels satisfying. Old wisdom, or simply good advice from someone you trust, can be applied with success now. It’s also a beautiful time for making relationship “repairs” in simple but effective ways.

Virgo

The Solar Eclipse occurring today prompts a refresh or new chapter in your life related to work, health, habits, and routines, dear Virgo. It heralds a period when new diet regimes, healthy routines, and satisfying work schedules can be successfully initiated, and current ones improved or revamped. You’re in a strong position to take care of business, handle details, and increase your efficiency. Circumstances around you can force these matters or simply motivate and prompt you to want to make big changes. It’s a good time to recognize and honor your limits regarding how much you can give and do. It’s time to structure your life. This period is marked by a desire to sort things out and to be useful. Over the coming weeks, it’s time to take charge of your health, self-care initiatives, and work. If you’ve been holding on too tightly to a difficult work situation or job, then this is a time for letting go. Today is good for making solid progress on a pet project, for help and support between friends, and for making realistic judgments of quality and worth. The weeks ahead can be good for purchases, plans, and designs. You are interested in the practical elements of a creative project and could be considering how to monetize (or better monetize) a hobby or talent. You meet your obligations gracefully and good feedback from others motivates you further. You’re showing your affection in practical ways and appreciate people who are steady and reliable.

Libra 

Today’s Solar Eclipse occurs in your sector of romance, creative self-expression, recreation, children, and hobbies, dear Libra. Events happening now and in the coming weeks set you up for new beginnings in one or more of these areas of life. Romantic inclinations are highlighted, as are any kind of celebratory, playful, and just-for-fun endeavors. You will be especially aware of your need for approval and feedback from others during this period, deriving pleasure from the ways your creativity impact the world around you. This can be a passionate time for you and a time when you might feel bolder about sharing yourself or your creations than usual. If you’ve been holding on too tightly to people or projects that have been keeping you from expressing your true self, this is a time for making necessary changes. You are likely to attract positive attention from others, especially romantically or creatively speaking. You may be starting a new hobby or stepping up a current one. You are making big decisions about recreation, hobbies, love, and children now and in the coming months. Today, a Venus-Saturn sextile supports practical improvements around the home, in the family dynamic, in your work, or with your health. You might pick up a new skill or make progress on a home or work project. You see the value of traditions and routine more than usual, but you’re also open to new ideas — a perfect combination!

Scorpio

The Solar Eclipse that occurs today clears the way for new beginnings, dear Scorpio, as you make way for new beginnings. It’s time to assess what may have been holding you back from thriving, mainly related to your career and home life. The coming weeks are powerful for taking charge of your home life, attention to matters of security and safety, connecting with family and your own emotions. This eclipse can serve as a cosmic nudge to find your roots, learn your worth, build your sense of security, and focus on building your support system or base of operations. The coming weeks are ideal for making long-range plans for the future, for any type of re-organizing or even re-modeling of the home or home environment, and for family-related activities. There can be the need or desire to put your personal life first now, and changes may be afoot. You’re in an excellent position to start fresh and take charge. Improvements on the home front can be notable now, particularly with better daily routines and improved health. This can sometimes conflict with your personal plans and sense of independence, but making things right in your private world can have positive effects across the board and deserves your strong attention now. Today’s Venus-Saturn sextile is conservative but supportive. Constructive and possibly instructive conversations can be had with or about children, lovers, or creative projects with your communications sector linking up positively with your sector of romance, fun, children, and artistic expression. Alternatively, you may be attending to practical details that help improve or secure relationships and projects along these lines. Getting on track now and in the coming weeks can do wonders for your mood.

Sagittarius

The Solar Eclipse that occurs today launches a favorable cycle in which to turn over a new leaf with your studies, communications, and connections, dear Sagittarius. It’s a great time to learn something new, make contacts, and use the power of communications to move your goals forward. In the coming weeks and even months, you are likely to find new opportunities for learning and communicating or avenues for self-expression. In some cases, this is about transportation and could be prompted by an event that forces the issue. Developing mental rapport with others, sharing ideas, and reaching out or pouring energies into your interests and studies can be in current focus and favorable. There may be new ways of getting around or connecting that open doors for you. The weeks ahead are excellent for taking care of daily tasks with increased and renewed energy, although you could experience an initial feeling of being overwhelmed since eclipses can wipe us out before restoring energy. News can come that steers you in a new direction. You might suddenly want to take a course or begin a new project. Also today, a Venus-Saturn connection favors a slower, steadier, and simpler approach to life, particularly on financial levels.

Capricorn

The Solar Eclipse occurring today happens in your resources sector, dear Capricorn, and you may be making important decisions in the coming weeks related to personal finances, business, and practical affairs. On an emotional level, this is a time for establishing yourself and discovering and developing your natural talents and personal resources. Your financial status, income, or arrangements related to security and comfort are subject to new beginnings or improvements and changes. Setting realistic money goals, as well as formulating such things as budgets and other sensible financial planning projects, are especially favored during this time. You might also be discovering ways to increase your income or your earning potential. It’s a beautiful time for earthy, tactile, and comforting activities that help you to feel more grounded and connected. If you’ve been holding on too tightly to a lifestyle or financial habits that haven’t been serving you well, this is a time when changes become necessary. New beginnings are in order! This eclipse gives you a fantastic push towards taking better care of your money and resources. It’s undoubtedly a robust period for resolving problems with income, spending, and saving. Today’s Venus-Saturn connection is excellent for your frame of mind. Filling responsibilities or putting in some hard work can be satisfying. Friends, siblings, neighbors, or classmates can come through for you.

Aquarius

The Solar Eclipse occurring today is in your sign, dear Aquarius, and it helps pave the way towards significant personal changes in the coming weeks and even months. This is a time for reinventing yourself in some personal way, such as with a new look or manner of expressing and presenting yourself. Think about how you present yourself to others, focus on changing personal habits in such a way as to improve your confidence, and concentrate on putting your best foot forward, as this is a time when you will get noticed and make a powerful impression on others. Circumstances can prompt a rethinking of your general attitude towards new beginnings, bravery, your role as a leader, your independence, and the ways you instinctively defend yourself. This is a time when you can be braver and enjoy new experiences. There can be a tendency to dig in your heels and display your independence now, which may be necessary for personal growth, but care should be taken to stay true to yourself in the process. Get in touch with what you genuinely want, envision it, and go for it, but wait for the dust to settle before going all in. Keep in mind that you can feel a little wiped out around the time of the eclipse before energy rebuilds. This is a critical time for personal goals, revisions, new beginnings, and makeovers (physical and otherwise). A Venus-Saturn aspect occurring today also ties into the energies of the eclipse. Fortunately, it’s a strengthening aspect that favors taking care of duties and responsibilities. In fact, you may take pleasure in so doing. Getting your financial affairs in order can have a positive impact across the board.

Pisces

The Solar Eclipse that occurs today launches a period of review, letting go, and recharging your spiritual or emotional batteries, dear Pisces. This is a time for releasing, purging, and healing. This eclipse encourages you to put certain outdated ventures or situations behind you. It may be a time of withdrawal and retreat in a social sense, of soul-searching, and the seeking out of emotional peace of mind. You’re due for extra time to yourself, or with yourself! If you’ve been neglecting your psychic, spiritual, or emotional needs, then circumstances can push you to pay attention to your inner world now. There can be flooding of energies now which can be a little disorienting, but going forward, you’ll get a stronger sense of what changes need to be made. If you require solitude, then you’ll find ways to get it. If there have been toxic connections to your past, then you’ll be figuring out how to break ties. Occurring today and tied into the energies of the eclipse is a Venus-Saturn aspect that finds you radiating appealing, quiet magnetism, even if you are keeping your emotional distance. Clarity and a sense of purpose are driving forces now. Advice can be useful, whether you’re giving or receiving it. Bonds with others can be strengthened through gestures, actions, and practical support.