*Saturday(Saturn): Longevity, exorcism, endings, homes and houses.
Moon Sign: *Aries
*Aries: Good for starting things, but lacks staying power. Things occur rapidly, but quickly pass. People tend to be argumentative and assertive.
*Waxing Moon
* The Waxing Moon (from the New Moon to the Full): is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.
Incense: Magnolia
Moon Phase: Second Quarter
Color: Blue
What has traditionally been known as the World card points to the presiding intelligence, called “Sophia,” or Wisdom, which upholds life on this and all worlds. A more precise title for this card might be “the Soul of the World,” also applicable as a symbol of personal empowerment and freedom. In most Tarot decks it is a female figure that has become our standard World image. She originates in Hebrew, Gnostic and Alchemical lore, and stands between heaven and earth as the Cosmic Mother of Souls, the Wife of God and our protector from the karmic forces we have set loose upon the Earth in our immaturity and ignorance.
Where the Empress energy secures and fertilizes our terrestrial lives, the goddess of The World invites us into cosmic citizenship — once we come to realize our soul’s potential for it. Just as the Chariot stands for success in achieving a separate Self, and Temperance represents achievement of mental and moral health, the World card announces the awakening of the soul’s Immortal Being, accomplished without the necessity of dying.
This card, like the Sun, is reputed to have no negative meaning no matter where or how it appears. If the Hermetic axiom is “Know Thyself”, this image represents what becomes known when the true nature of Self is followed to creative freedom and its ultimate realization.
Distractions from the outside begin pressing into your world. Analysis is favored, reevaluating all the various factors you are dealing with. It’s a time to process information and effectively integrate your aims with the people in your immediate environment. This is a good time for organizing things. This Moon phase is suited for synthesis: coming up with a practical plan for getting from point A to point B. Adjustment is required.
TO RID A ROOM OF EVIL
Light a cinnamon incense stick in the center of the room and walk to the
north east corner or wall. Say:
“Earth and air, purify to good, blow away evil.”
Draw a pentagram of smoke and use the incense stick to stab through the
center. Walk to the Southeast corner of the room and say:
“Air and fire, blow away evil, burn away pain.”
Repeat the pentagram and stab the center, then walk to the Southwest part of
the room. Say:
“Fire and water, burn away pain, wash away fear.”
Repeat pentagram and stab. Walk to the Northwest part of the room and say:
“Water and earth, wash away fear,
bury all negativity, purify to good.”
Repeat pentagram and stab. Walk to the center of the room. Point incense
stick to the sky and say:
“As Above…” Now drop an ash from the incense and say: “So Below”
*Friday (Venus): Love, friendship, reconciliation and beauty.
Moon Sign: *Pisces
*Pisces: The focus is on dreaming, nostalgia, intuition and psychic impressions. A good time for spiritual or philanthropic activities.
*Waxing Moon
*Waxing Moon (From the New Moon to the Full): is the ideal time for magic to draw things toward you.)
Moon enters *Aries 3:31 p.m.
*Aries: Good for starting things, but lacks staying power. Things occur rapidly, but quickly pass. People tend to be argumentative and assertive.
Moon phase: Second Quarter
Incense: Orchid
Color: Pink
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An altar is, customarily, an area set aside for meditation or worship, or for working magick. A shrine is ordinarily an altar, specifically dedicated to a particular energy or deity. What is the purpose of an altar or shrine, besides creating a special place for your ritual or worship to take place? There are many answers, and I offer this as a guide for beginners and more experienced people as well.
When you transform a physical area or location to focus on a divine spirit, it is then possible for that spirit to manifest in the material world. Whether it is a god or goddess, an elemental or one of the fey, it has a space and energy to create from. The idea is to cause this to be a special and sacred place of honor and adoration of the deity or spirit, so put plenty of desire and effort into your creation.
To build an altar or shrine, begin on the correct day and hour for your chosen purpose. You may determine the day and hour by looking it up in a table of correspondences, in one of Scott Cunningham’s books or in The Spiral Dance. Start fashioning a place by contemplating how much space you have to devote, where you might like it, how accessible the area is to you and how secluded it is. Importantly, if you do not wish people to ask a bazillion questions, situate your shrines where they will be private. When you think about the purpose of the altar or shrine, the deity will help guide you where best to build it; just follow your feeling or instinct.
Next, clean the space, both physically and energetically. Do a clearing or banishing with water, incense or whatever you usually use, and at the same time clean the area well. Wipe it down and take away anything that was there before. (If you wish to replace an item on the altar, cleanse and bless it first.) Once you have accomplished this, purify and bless each item for the altar and place it in its correct position. Each piece is like an ingredient in a dish; it adds to the final product. There is a distinctive energy that is produced by an altar once it is blessed, and you will come to enjoy sharing the energy there.
If what you want to create is a shrine, say a prayer of dedication to the specific deity, and with your intention and desire affect the space to be sacred to that deity. Also, as you bring in each item you may anoint and dedicate them one by one, for more power, or you may wait until the whole shrine is set up and dedicate it at the end, as a whole. Chant, sing, play appropriate background music, burn incense, do whatever helps you be in the energy of the deity you wish to venerate. Put as much energy into anointing, placing and praying over the items as you can to make the shrine very powerful indeed.
Once you have accomplished this, it’s time to invoke the deity and ask that deity to lend his or her presence and power to your shrine. Be respectful, be sincere, be reverent, but do not forget that the gods do have a sense of humor. So do not be totally surprised if something unusual happens. When you are finished, spend some time communing with your chosen deity, and hearken to the small (or not so small) voice that will speak to you.
You might try creating small altars or shrines around your house and yard. Even the workplace can become an area of worship if you are discreet and use your symbology wisely.
I have a main altar that contains my ritual working tools, a couple statues of the god and goddess I traditionally work with, offerings and some other magickal items that are special to me. I create other shrines depending on what energies I am currently working with. I have had in the past and know several people who have a shrine blessed to each god or goddess they work with. A shrine can be a nice focus for bringing in more of the energy of a specific deity.
It’s a valuable idea to keep a journal of your communications with the gods, so that over time you can look back and see how you have grown and changed in your approach. Be conscientious; keep your altars and shrines clean and well-organized (unless they’re to Eris!). Spend time engaged at your shrines every day, and you will come to have a very close relationship with the gods. Raise energy for them, and offer gifts…. remember the gods and they will remember you!
Items that you might want to place on your altar or shrine
For a working altar, you will want a number of magickal tools including, but not limited to:
For a shrine, you will want:
The suggestions following, regarding shrines to specific deities, will aid you in starting shrines, but use your personal preferences and the colors and items associated with your particular deities.
For Aphrodite, I recommend a rose-colored altar cloth, rose quartz, a statue or picture of a beautiful woman or sexually explicit photos, some Aphrodite incense, red candles, shells, pink or red flowers, water and a condom or two. Her colors are rose, red, orange, white and pink.
For Pan, think green! Provide a green or brown altar cloth. Pinecones, greenery, wildflowers, phallic-shaped stones, statues or pictures of the god, goats or a beautiful man are good, as well as animal skins (especially goatskins), Pan incense, green or brown candles, earth, mushrooms and phalluses (dildos). His colors are brown, tan, forest green, leaf green and teal blue.
For Hecate, remember she is the goddess of magick and witches as well as the goddess of death and transformation (destruction). For her, I have a black altar cloth, a crystal ball, Tarot cards, crystals, dead and living flowers, animal skulls and bones, Hecate oil and incense, black candles, an oil lamp and a threefold statue of Hecate. She likes her devotees to write poetry and songs to her, and she is somewhat jealous. Her color is black.
It feels as if nothing can hold us back now that the Moon is in adventurous Sagittarius. We derive additional power from the Sun’s magical quintile to unrelenting Pluto. Additionally, the Moon joins fiery Mars, enticing us to express our emotions in the spur of the moment. The Moon’s opposition to boundless Jupiter is a confirmation of our current optimism. However, obstacles won’t go away on their own, so ignoring them is not a viable strategy.
Aries Horoscope
(Mar 21 – Apr 19)
Waves of certainty wash over you today, confirming what you already know. But then, reality bites back and you must contend with a situation that you didn’t expect. Take a chance to bring something that was hidden into the open because it’s better when secrets are out of the closet. Be kind in your approach, loving in your actions, and eager to embrace the changes that come from being emotionally aware.
Taurus Horoscope
(Apr 20 – May 20)
An element of unconsciousness on your part may allow you to tuck an unpleasant feeling deep out of sight, even if you believe that you are fully aware of what’s going on today. But this isn’t a great day to keep a secret, for others will probably know that you are withholding something even before you realize it. You’re coming into an exciting creative phase now, so don’t waste energy trying to avoid the truth. Lighten your baggage so you can create space for your future.
Gemini Horoscope
(May 21 – Jun 20)
A mild jolt of awareness runs through your system today as emotions give way to a more detached outlook on your current circumstances. Even if you are engaging in discussions with others, you won’t likely feel restricted by them in any way. To the contrary, relationships can now be the source of newly found freedom if you’re willing to jump into an intense conversation to clear the air of lingering negativity.
Cancer Horoscope
(Jun 21 – Jul 22)
An overly assertive person at work may offend your sensitive nature today, giving you good reason to retreat behind your protective walls. But it won’t be that simple, for every little motion you make to withdraw is matched by an event that pulls you further outside of your shell. This process might not be very comfortable, but it’s an effective way to keep you involved in what’s happening around you. Don’t hide your light; you have something special to offer if you let others in.
Leo Horoscope
(Jul 23 – Aug 22)
You have been dealing with your fair share of emotional stress lately, possibly stemming from your desire to do one thing while being required to do something else. However, this tension begins to settle down today as you become more at peace with your emotional needs. It pays to be less demanding, even if you want something that you believe is yours. It may be difficult to share with others now, but being part of a supportive group can be just what you need.
Virgo Horoscope
(Aug 23 – Sep 22)
You might be concerned that you’re attracting the wrong kind of people into your life if someone is acting inappropriately today. Fortunately, you may end up having a fine time anyhow if you can find a way to go along with the flow — even if doing so takes you places that make you feel uncomfortable. However, if you’re resistant to new experiences, then today could be quite a challenge. The choice is in your hands.
Libra Horoscope
(Sep 23 – Oct 22)
You are apt to be busier now as your life fills up with mental distractions and many things to do. However, all this activity isn’t necessarily a problem because it can lift you up out of the doldrums and bring much needed inspiration. Even if you don’t have too much on your plate, your restlessness still probably prevents you from getting the relaxation that you need. Don’t court frustration by trying to escape; instead, jump in with both feet and attempt to accomplish as much as possible.
Scorpio Horoscope
(Oct 23 – Nov 21)
Your personal values are brought into the light today as sparks fly and light up the shadows within your subconscious mind. Although the shock of awakening may only last a moment, you cannot go back to sleep once you know what’s going on. Consciously use your enlightened perspective to fuel a new cycle of growth. Whatever you do, don’t let your awareness scare you back into the apparent safety of your denial.
Sagittarius Horoscope
(Nov 22 – Dec 21)
The Moon is back in your sign for its monthly visit, bringing a feeling of instability as your moods intensify. But your emotions are being distorted by the high frequency of your nervous system today, so rather than just liking something, you love it or hate it. Move from the extremes toward the center and don’t make any final decisions for a few days. There’s no room for middle ground if you force issues into black or white
Capricorn Horoscope
(Dec 22 – Jan 19)
You are ready to break free of the responsibilities that weigh upon you, but you can’t just walk away from your commitments today. You probably wouldn’t bail even if you could since it’s not your style to escape your duties. You may, however, get a bit of time off for good behavior. Put your imagination to work because in your mind you are free. You can travel anywhere you wish and still fulfill your mundane obligations at the same time.
Aquarius Horoscope
(Jan 20 – Feb 18)
Your dreams seem so close today that you feel as if you can actually reach out and touch them. Your friends may encourage you now and tell you to go for it. However, you could snap out of your reverie and crash back to Earth, realizing that your head was in the clouds. Either let your idle wanderings remain fantasies or start making them real. Ultimately, your answer must come from within.
Pisces Horoscope
(Feb 19 – Mar 20)
Events at work could be making demands on you now that require you to become more accountable to others. But you can’t hide beneath the veneer of your outer appearance today because you must respond to a pressing situation. This isn’t the right time to be working on your own internal conflicts. Just be honest and deal with the circumstances as they unfold. You can return to your more personal issues once your work is done.
Aequinoctium Autumnale
Colors: Brown and Orange
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of brown and orange, patterned with autumn leaves, place a basket of fallen leaves, barrels of straw, shovels, spades, a bowl of rainwater, and seeds for cover crops.
Offerings: Turn under and mulch the used land.
Daily Meal: Vegetarian.
Aequinoctium Autumnale Invocation
Earth, we have eaten of your bounty!
You have fed us, and we are content.
We have worked you hard, and you have responded
With generosity and fruitfulness.
Now, as the year draws on, and the Sun
Shortens its days and counts the moons
Until its chilly death and incandescent rebirth,
We gift you as you have gifted us,
We care for you as you have cared for us,
We give back that we may continue to take,
Year after year, cycle after cycle.
Do not think, O Mother, that we are merely selfish,
And would only rape you of your bounty.
Our hands shall toil that you may have,
If only in this one small place,
Richness to take back for yourself.
For we know the hard secrets of the cycle,
And we will someday give ourselves
Back to your quiet embrace.
Chant:
Leaves falling
To our hands
Autumn calling
Cover all the land
(All take up the buckets of leaves and straw, and the spades, and go out to the garden. Some will turn over the soil, and others shall follow with cover crop seeds and rainwater, or with mulch to cover the ground. This shall be done throughout the Aequinoctium Autumnale days until all the ground from this year’s crops are covered.)
During this Moon phase, there is a slight slowing down of enthusiasm due to an emerging desire to produce tangible results from the energy being expended. The issue of values enters into the equation and an urge to tie together the data available so that you can utilize current opportunities. There is still plenty of forward motion, and this is a great time to continue initiating and progressing forward. This Moon phase favors gaining more information and the input of others to further your plans.
*Thursday (Jupiter): Expansion, money, prosperity, and generosity.
Moon Sign: *Sagittarius
*Sagittarius: Encourages flights of imagination and confidence. This is an adventurous, philosophical, and athletic Moon sign. Favors expansion and growth.
*Waxing Moon
*Waxing Moon (from the New Moon to the Full): is the ideal time for magic to draw things toward you.
Incense: Apricot
Moon phase: First Quarter
Color: Turquoise
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Aequinoctium Autumnale
Colors:
Brown and Orange
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of brown and orange, patterned with autumn leaves, place a basket of fallen leaves, barrels of straw, shovels, spades, a bowl of rainwater, and seeds for cover crops.
Offerings: Turn under and mulch the used land.
Daily Meal: Vegetarian.
Aequinoctium Autumnale Invocation
Earth, we have eaten of your bounty!
You have fed us, and we are content.
We have worked you hard, and you have responded
With generosity and fruitfulness.
Now, as the year draws on, and the Sun
Shortens its days and counts the moons
Until its chilly death and incandescent rebirth,
We gift you as you have gifted us,
We care for you as you have cared for us,
We give back that we may continue to take,
Year after year, cycle after cycle.
Do not think, O Mother, that we are merely selfish,
And would only rape you of your bounty.
Our hands shall toil that you may have,
If only in this one small place,
Richness to take back for yourself.
For we know the hard secrets of the cycle,
And we will someday give ourselves
Back to your quiet embrace.
Chant:
Leaves falling
To our hands
Autumn calling
Cover all the land
(All take up the buckets of leaves and straw, and the spades, and go out to the garden. Some will turn over the soil, and others shall follow with cover crop seeds and rainwater, or with mulch to cover the ground. This shall be done throughout the Aequinoctium Autumnale days until all the ground from this year’s crops are covered.)
Emotions begin to stir coupled with recognizing that the new beginnings you are making must also increase personal security to be worthwhile over the long haul. This is a time when it’s appropriate to get in touch with your gut instincts and begin to guide your life more deliberately, with an awareness of using your “sixth sense” as well as your enthusiasm. Obstacles may emerge that require you to reevaluate how to better integrate yourself into your immediate environment.
*Wednesday (Mercury): The conscious mind, study, travel, divination and wisdom.
Moon Sign: *Scorpio
*Scorpio: Increases awareness of psychic power. Precipitates psychic crises and ends connections thoroughly. People tend to brood and become secretive.
*Waxing Moon
*The Waxing Moon is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.
Moon enters *Sagittarius 8:26 pm
*Sagittarius: Encourages flights of imagination and confidence. This is an adventurous, philosophical, and athletic Moon sign> Favors expansion and growth.
Moon Phase: First Quarter
Incense: Bay laurel
Color: Topaz
The New Moon is a time best suited for new beginnings! For the first 48 hours following the exact time of the New Moon each month, a window of opportunity opens for making wishes that, if noted, come true in the days and months ahead. There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm in the atmosphere, making it a great time to go forward and begin projects that you feel instinctively attracted to initiating. Follow your impulses and let yourself make new starts in areas that are important to you.
You Have All the Answers Within You
When you realize that you always have the answers within yourself, you can stop searching outside of yourself.
Many of us seek the answers to life’s questions by looking outside of ourselves and trying to glean advice from the people around us. But as each of us is unique, with our own personal histories, our own sense of right and wrong, and our own way of experiencing the world that defines our realities, looking to others for our answers is only partially helpful. The answers to our personal questions can be most often found by looking within. When you realize that you always have access to the part of you that always knows what you need and is meant to act as your inner compass, you can stop searching outside of yourself. If you can learn to hear, trust, and embrace the wisdom that lives within you, you will be able to confidently navigate your life.
Trusting your inner wisdom may be awkward at first, particularly if you grew up around people who taught you to look to others for answers. We each have exclusive access to our inner knowing. All we have to do is remember how to listen. Remember to be patient as you relearn how to hear, receive, and follow your own guidance. If you are unsure about whether following your inner wisdom will prove reliable, you may want to think of a time when you did trust your own knowing and everything worked out. Recall how the answers came to you, how they felt in your body as you considered them, and what happened when you acted upon this guidance. Now, recall a time when you didn’t trust yourself and the results didn’t work out as you had hoped. Trusting your own guidance can help you avoid going against what you instinctively know is right for you.
When you second guess yourself and go against what you know to be your truth, you can easily go off course because you are no longer following your inner compass. By looking inside yourself for the answers to your life’s questions, you are consulting your best guide. Only you can know the how’s and why’s of your life. The answers that you seek can be found when you start answering your own questions.
The New Moon is a time best suited for new beginnings! For the first 48 hours following the exact time of the New Moon each month, a window of opportunity opens for making wishes that, if noted, come true in the days and months ahead. There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm in the atmosphere, making it a great time to go forward and begin projects that you feel instinctively attracted to initiating. Follow your impulses and let yourself make new starts in areas that are important to you.
14 Muin/Boedromion
Day of Hades
Color: Black
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon a black cloth set several black candles; incense of vervain, agrimony, and rue; a chalice of red wine, a jewel, and a life-size skull.
Offerings: Drops of blood. Tend to the dead in some way.
Daily Meal: Red meat.
Invocation to Hades
Dark Lord of the Underworld,
We stand trembling at your approach.
King of the uncounted legions of the dead,
Ruler of the hidden wealth
That bejewels the caverns beneath
The Earth our Mother’s skin,
Darkened by the ashes
Of a thousand cremations,
Invisible One, passing through
The chaos of humanity unseen
In your helm of obscurity,
You see us from a more distant place,
A world of ephemeral life.
We come and go, but you, Lord,
Are eternal in your watching.
Help us to see the darkness
Of endings as part of the cycle,
And to mourn our losses
In a way that does them honor.
And should we journey to your dark realm,
In life or after it,
Do not keep us past our endurance
But give us gracious passage
Out into our new lives.
Chant: Pluto Dominum Pluto Dominum
(Pour out the wine as a libation. Let all come forth and sit around the altar and meditate on Death, and let the candles be put out one by one until the room is in darkness, and one candle only be carried to light the way to the door.)
This is a time to rest, reevaluate and reflect, pulling back into yourself to reconnect with inner sources of strength. Now is not a time to initiate anything new. It’s a phase suited to spending time with friends and getting in touch with the “big picture.” A window of opportunity exists for seeing your life objectively and becoming aware of what is important to you. At this point, what are your dreams and aspirations? What larger goals can you aspire to that will bring vitality and excitement into your life? This is a time for resting and gaining inner strength to prepare for a new cycle.
*Sunday (Sun): Healing, spirituality, success, strength and protection.
Moon Sign: *Libra
*Libra: Favors cooperation, social activities, beautification of surroundings, balance and partnership.
*Waning Moon
*The Waning Moon is a time for study, meditation, and little magickal work (except magick designed to banish harmful energies).
Incense: Almond
Moon Phase: Fourth Quarter
Color: Orange
The time of reaping is at hand. There is a feeling of completion infused into the atmosphere during the Last Quarter Moon. The opportunity opens to recognize how far you’ve come in various parts of your life. This is not a good time for new beginnings, but rather a reflective period suited to evaluating how you have been using your time and what has been accomplished. Issues of authority may arise. This Moon phase supports taking responsibility for actively tying up the loose ends of projects that are already underway.
Witches Of The Craft® 
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