Tag: Earth

Dragon Fire

Dragon Fire

 
 
Almost all dragons breathe out a type of energy we humans call fire. This fire-breathing from the nose and mouth was and is usually employed as a warning or a protective measure. However, there are a number of stories of dragons who, after being hunted and/or provoked to extremes, burned up all the houses and crops of a town as punishment and a warning to leave them alone.
 
A great many dragons are attracted by physical fire, which produces a form of energy. Burning candles in a ritual way is certain to attract dragons. If the magician does not have the time, opportunity or energy to perform a complete dragon ritual, candle burning is a quick, effective form of magick. It is the quickest ritual to learn and to do.
 
Do not become lazy, however, and substitute candle burning for every magickal occasion. If you are new to the field of magick, begin with candle burning and work up to the other, more involved rituals. A good magician constantly seeks to expand his/her field of knowledge and expertise.
 
This is a candle burning ritual using dragon magick. To increase the potency of the candle, time the burning to the correct lunar and/or solar phases. For increasing and obtaining desires, burn during daylight or the waxing Moon (from after the New Moon until the Full Moon), with the Full Moon being strongest. For banishing or cursing, burn during evening hours of the waning Moon (from after the Fulll Moon until the New Moon), with the New Moon being strongest.
 
A cast circle is not imperative with this ritual. Choose appropriately colored stones to draw the attention of the dragons with which you desire to work: arrange them about the altar. With your ritual dagger, carve your exact wishes on the candle. Dragon script is very good for this, but if it proves too difficult to carve into the wax, use your ordinary language. Then anoint the candle with an appropriate oil. For moving something away from you, anoint from the end up to the wick. For obtaining something, anoint from the wick down to the end. To further strengthen the spell, roll the candle in crushed herbs chosen to further correspond to the spellworking. Either tapers or votive candles can be used.
 
To further concentrate the appropriate power into a candle burning, make a wide circle of your robe-cord around the candle on the altar. For safety, choose a metal or non-flammable holder and set it in a safe place.
 
With your wand, circle the candle three times clockwise for increasing magick (three times counterclockwise for decreasing magick). Hold the dragon pentacle facing the candle and say:
 
Draconis! Draconis!Draconis! Hear my call.
Three times I hail You, Listen, All!
This candle’s flame is like Your fire.
Dragons, bring my heart’s desire.
Dragon Power, come to me!
Hear my words. So Mote It Be.
Draconis! Draconis!Draconis!
 
If you have been given a dragon’s name and particularly want to call upon him/her, use this name instead of the word “Draconis” at the end of the Call in this ritual.
 
Visualize the dragon power and fire streaming from the dragon pentacle and entering the candle. After several moments, light the candle. For the fullest benefit, the candle should be allowed to burn completely out after the ritual is ended.

Calendar of the Sun for Wednesday, Feb. 22

Calendar of the Sun

Carista – Day of Peace in the Family

Color: Lavender
Element: Water
Altar: Upon a lavender cloth set a tray of cakes shaped like clasping hands, and many cups full of hot tea.
Offerings: Promise to attempt to be more considerate of those you live with.
Daily Meal: Any food, but it must be served from one great plate for every table, and it should not be in separate portions.

Carista Invocation

May there be Peace in this house.
(Response: “May there be peace in this house!”)
Peace can be a hard mistress.
The daily round of the ordinary,
The simple turn of day and night and day
The presence of the same souls
Can come to be like a shadow on the sun,
And yet Peace still demands
That we find a way to move past
That ordinariness
And all the thousand thorns and briars
And bring Peace into the house.
(Response: “May there be peace in this house!”)
Take the hand of your sister, your brother,
The one who shares your roof, your table,
The ground you walk on,
Whose feet know the boards as well as your own,
And swear to find a way
To bring peace into the space between you.
(Response: “May there be peace in this house!”)

Chant:
My brother, my heart, my sister, my soul;
My family, my life, come in from the cold;
My sister, my heart, my brother, my soul;
My family, my life, that makes this life whole.

(Instead of a ritual, this period of time should be used to mediate and address problems between members of the community, with emphasis on peacemaking and compromise and useful solutions. At the end of the meeting, all share cakes and tea.)

Water Magick – Floor Washes

Floor Washes

 

A floor wash is made by adding specific herbs, oils, crystals and other ingredients to water and then using the solution to wash a surface. The reasoning behind this practice is to infuse the surface with the vibrations of the wash, so that it will then attract or dispel the corresponding energies. For example, if you were owed payment for services and the check was late, you might want to wash your mailbox with a money-drawing wash.

Traditional methods call for you to scrub the floor on your hands and knees. The repetitive motion and low concentration level needed allow for a shift in consciousness to take place. Incorporating a chant as you wash will boost the powers of the wash and help your goal to manifest even faster. Remember to be as specific as possible in the wording of your chant.

Water Magick – Peaceful Night’s Rest Brew

Peaceful Night’s Rest Brew

5 tablespoons lavender flowers

A saucepan of clear water

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and boil gently for two minutes. Strain the lavender buds from the water. Add the scented water to your laundry when you wash your bed linens.

New Moon Report for February 21 – New Moon in Pisces

New Moon Report for February 21

by Jeff Jawer

 

New Moon in Pisces

Tuesday, February 21, 2:35 pm PST, 5:35 pm EST

Every New Moon in Pisces is an invitation to dive into an ocean of emotion. This boundless sea of feelings can inspire our dreams or flood us with confusion. Idealistic Neptune’s conjunction to this spiritual lunation brings us even closer to a cosmic sense of unity that stirs religious fervor and enhances imagination. Boundaries melt away to deepen our connections with one another and with nature, spurring compassion, hope, faith and charity.

The Pisces New Moon is like a warm bath that drains our worries away. It soothes the pains of isolation and disappointment by floating us above the complexities of daily life. Taking breaks from routine activities to nourish the soul with sweet music, tender touches and spiritual reflection restores hope and rewards us with a greater awareness of our divinity.

Calendar of the Sun for Tuesday, February 21

Calendar of the Sun

Feralia: Day of Purification

Color: White
Element: Air
Altar: On a white cloth put a lit candle, incense, a cup of water, and a bowl of salt.
Offering: Although this day is not a day of total silence, it is a solemn day and talking should be done only when necessary and in quiet tones. Bodies should be thoroughly cleaned during the bathing hour, and then the altar area should be cleaned and purified with all four elements. Each person, upon entering the altar space at the beginning of Sponde should remove their clothing and be naked, and each body should be purified with the four elements and marked with water and salt, at which point they may enrobe again. Chores of the day should concentrate on cleaning and repair.
Daily Meal: Vegan and extremely simple and plain.

Feralia Invocation

Breathe the air into your body
And breathe out again,
And as you breathe out,
Let all grime and corruption
Depart on that breath
(All breathe together for twelve breaths.)
Feel the blood coursing through your body
And imagine it clean
Of anything but what should be there.
Feel the energy coursing through your body
And wash it clean
Of anything that does not belong.
Feel the Earth beneath you,
Remember that She can absorb all
Remember that all rot is her provenance
Draw her energy up into you
And give it back again.

(After this grounding, all breathe together again in a yogic breathing pattern for the next half an hour, after which all will go with water and salt and incense and fire to all rooms in the house and cleanse them. Great care should be taken for the rest of the day not to disturb the energy of the freshly cleaned house.)

On Becoming a Crone

On Becoming a Crone

Author: Belladonna SilverRayne

Why is it so hard to admit we’re growing older? Why do we fight it tooth and nail? Society and the media as a whole, wants to show aging as something to be fought against, to be put off as long as possible. Why? Look at any sit-com, news broadcast, music video…. it’s all about being young and “beautiful”. Youth is made out to be the epitome of what we all want to be. Who wants to get old, right? Wrong!

I will be 45 on my next birthday. A fact that, when said out loud at first, made me mentally cringe. “Me? 45?? That means only 5 more years till I’m 50!!” After I said it aloud several times, and really thought about it, I could say it with confidence. Yes. Me. 45 going onto 50.

And I love it! I am moving into the Crone stage of my life, and enjoying every minute of it!

I loved the Maiden stage, when I was young, supple, carefree, and self-indulgent. Who among us didn’t? Life seemed so simple, so easy to handle. And it was. My biggest worry was what outfit I’d wear out to the club to dance and make merry with friends.

I sowed my oats, looked out for number one (me, of course) and just basically did my own thing. I moved at the speed of light, never really stopping to appreciate the things around me, never really taking anything in. Just “doing”. As I got a little older, I met the person that would become my husband and the father of my kids and we began our life together.

And I grew.

Then came Mother-hood. My body showed great evidence of the birthing of my children, as did my energy levels, emotional (in) stability, and newfound patience. I now had three other human beings, put on this Earth by me, all looking TO me to provide, nourish, teach, and love. Wow! As they grew, learned, made mistakes, and matured, I did as well. I managed to learn along the way to slow down a bit, to really notice things as they happened around me. I watched and listened a little more carefully now. I loved every moment, good and not so good, watching these amazing people who were once actual, living parts of my own body, turn into individuals, all truly unique within themselves, seeing them overcome hurdle after hurdle. Such a reward in life I will never receive again. Or will I?

I divorced my husband, and watched my kids growing older, going out on their own, and beginning their lives as young adults.

And I grew.

When I first began my Pagan path, I was still in what is considered the Mother stage, my kids were still relatively young and “needed” me in a mommy way. I was still very fertile, and the idea of having another baby sometime was not out of the question. Time passed and that idea faded, along with my monthly menses. (Can’t say I miss them much!)

It took me quite awhile to realize that I was no longer in that stage once the Croning period began. I wanted to fight it, to deny it, all for vain reasons, I’m sorry to say. I wanted to cling to that youth, or at least the image of it. Or so I thought. Now, after having met, gotten to know, and come to love, many admirable women, all in the Crone cycle of life, I am fully aware that I too am at that stage. And come to find out, it’s not so bad after all!

As I move into my Croning time, I don’t look at it as an ending, but a beginning, very akin to giving birth (only this time, I don’t think I’ll need all the medications!) . I will be giving birth to my Self. I can allow my Self to now grow, learn, and experience life, as I once allowed my children to do these things.

I am eager to gain more wisdom as time goes by, as the Great Wheel turns, and as season drifts into season.

I am learning to cherish the lines on my face, as each one stands for some lesson learned, some path walked down, perhaps a hardship suffered and come through stronger because of it.

I have begun to admire my stretch marks as battle scars, won not on the field of some war, but fighting to bring life into this world, one wonderful child at a time.

I now embrace the fullness of my softened body, knowing that even though it may not bring life into this world any longer, or be as taut and supple as it was two decades ago, it can still allow for pleasures, for physical support, and for living life in a healthy, Goddess-filled way!

I am now allowing my mature mind to expand and create in ways that it could not in the past.

I enjoy the younger ones coming to me, asking for my opinion, needing a particular sort of comfort that only someone my age can offer.

I am now ready to walk towards the end of my path in this particular life, knowing that even though it comes towards me quicker than ever, there is still much to gather, much to pass on, but still much MORE to learn and take in.

In Pagan societies (as well as many others) Elders are looked to for advice, comfort, wisdom, and as examples. Who better to follow than a grand Crone or Sage, not past their prime, but fully embracing it, fully aware of themselves as human beings? I so hope to be such an example, to my children, my Pagan brothers and sisters, and non-Pagan friends, alike. I want to show what it is to age gracefully, to accept that life is a never-ending cycle of birth, growth, death, and re-birth, in so many ways. I want everyone to see that while youth has it’s merits and perks, so does growing older and wiser.

Whatever stage of life you may be in as a woman. Maiden, Mother, or Crone, realize the absolute beauty of the moment, embrace it for all it is worth, and live each cycle to the fullest. Know that you have earned all that you are made up of, inside and out. And fear not, for Crone is not the end of the line, it is the goal we, as women, all strive to attain.

Calendar of the Moon for February 20th

Calendar of the Moon

Ash Tree Month

Color: Pale Blue
Elements: Water and air
Altar: On a cloth of pale blue set a great bowl of salt water in which are set many shells and stones, a shell full of salt, incense, and the figures of sea-birds and fishes.
Offerings: Wash something clean, or air it out.
Daily Meal: Either fish or seafood, or poultry.

Nion/Anthesterion Invocation

Call: Now is the time of wind and water.
Response: Now is the time of sea and sky.
Call: Now is the time of the Gods of weather.
Response: Now is the time of the great waves.
Call: Now is the time of terrible flooding.
Response: Now is the time of needed rain.
Call: Now is the time of battering gales.
Response: Now is the time of winds of change.
Call: Now is the time of fear of change.
Response: Now, and always, change will win.
Call: The wild winds disturb our dreams.
Response: The wild winds awake our minds.
Call: The heavy rains flood our hearts.
Response: The heavy rains water our future.
Call: The sea will sweep us away.
Response: The sea will bear us up.
Call: The sea is cold and unending.
Response: The sea is the source of life.
Call: We are ships on the lost expanse of the ocean.
Response: We are winds that call to one another.
Call: We will brave the wind and water.
Response: We will bring together mind and heart.
Call: We will come home safely after wandering.
Response: We will anchor safely after our journeys.
Call: We will come through wind and water!
Response: We will come through wind and water!
(Repeat last two lines twice more.)

Chant:
We will come through wind and water
We will come through sea and sky

Calendar of the Sun for February 20th

Calendar of the Sun
20 Solmonath

Day of Tacita

Color: White
Element: Earth
Altar: On a white cloth lay a single lit white candle and a bell.
Offering: From the moment of Auge until Hesperis, there is to be a rule of silence in the building. The sole exception is the reading of the invocation. After the Hesperis ritual, silence resumes until the following morning.
Daily Meal: Soft food that does not make crunching noise, such as soups or cooked grains.

Tacita Invocation

Goddess of Silence,
You whose stop the tongue
Before it can speak harm,
Before it can speak lies,
Before it can gossip,
And finally
Before it can say anything
That is not necessary,
Teach us about the still spaces
Between ourselves and each other
Between ourselves and our path
Between ourselves and the Gods.

(The person doing the invocation then rings the bell, and from that moment on, silence reigns again. All sit in meditation about the altar for a time, and each may leave quietly when it seems right.)

Calendar of the Moon for February 19th

Calendar of the Moon

Ash Tree Month

Color: Pale Blue
Elements: Water and air
Altar: On a cloth of pale blue set a great bowl of salt water in which are set many shells and stones, a shell full of salt, incense, and the figures of sea-birds and fishes.
Offerings: Wash something clean, or air it out.
Daily Meal: Either fish or seafood, or poultry.

Nion/Anthesterion Invocation

Call: Now is the time of wind and water.
Response: Now is the time of sea and sky.
Call: Now is the time of the Gods of weather.
Response: Now is the time of the great waves.
Call: Now is the time of terrible flooding.
Response: Now is the time of needed rain.
Call: Now is the time of battering gales.
Response: Now is the time of winds of change.
Call: Now is the time of fear of change.
Response: Now, and always, change will win.
Call: The wild winds disturb our dreams.
Response: The wild winds awake our minds.
Call: The heavy rains flood our hearts.
Response: The heavy rains water our future.
Call: The sea will sweep us away.
Response: The sea will bear us up.
Call: The sea is cold and unending.
Response: The sea is the source of life.
Call: We are ships on the lost expanse of the ocean.
Response: We are winds that call to one another.
Call: We will brave the wind and water.
Response: We will bring together mind and heart.
Call: We will come home safely after wandering.
Response: We will anchor safely after our journeys.
Call: We will come through wind and water!
Response: We will come through wind and water!
(Repeat last two lines twice more.)

Chant:
We will come through wind and water
We will come through sea and sky

The Element of Earth: Grael (Dragon of Mountains, Land, Minerals, Gems)

The element of Earth rules the northern quarter of the circle. Its ruler is Grael (grail), who over sees the dragons of mountains, land, minerals, gems and moonbeams. Its color is clear, dark green; it is cold and dry. Positive association of Earth are: midnight, winter, the wine chalice, ritual salt, dragon bowl, gem bowl, dragon mirror, gemstones, mountains, caves, soil, respect, endurance, responsibility, stability, prosperity, thoroughness, purpose in life. Negative associations are: rigidity, unwillingness to change or see another side of a problem, stubbornness, lack of conscience, vacillation, earthquakes, slides.

Earth-element dragons are the most placid, unless they are required to stir up great disruptive energies such as earthquakes. The subspecies belonging to this element are the dragons of the mountains and forests and those of desert and arid regions. As might be easily guessed, the element of Earth often work closely with the dragons of fire and volcanoes and those of chaos and destruction.

Element Meditation (Dragon Magick)

Element Meditation

(Dragon Magick)

 

 

You are standing on a hilltop next to your co-magician dragon. A crisp breeze blows around you, sweeping down into the small valley just beyond. You slowly become aware that the breeze is blowing through you as well as around you. You hear soft voices and sounds, many of them carried from the other side of the Earth. Any noise made anywhere around the globe remains in the jet stream until it finally fades away. You see the individual air molecules bump together as they speed past. You can taste the sharp ozone of an approaching storm as those molecules rasp against your skin. Your dragon leaps into the breeze, riding the currents leisurely.

You release the idea that you can’t fly and let the breeze carry you far above the hilltop. You swoop down toward the valley with your dragon, moving just above the trees, savoring the freedom this event gives you. Your minds opens to the freshness of ideas, letting the cobwebs blow away.

You look down to find you have quickly moved out over the ocean. Foam-capped waves roll toward the sandy beach, leaving behind driftwood and shells as they withdraw. Your dragon reassures you that being underwater will not harm you, as she or he dives deep into the ocean below. You follow and find the dragon spoke the truth. You allow yourself to spread out through the water, tasting the salt, smelling the fish that swirl around you as your pass, feeling the delicate but rough touch of a fin against your arm. As when in the air, you discover that sounds carry a long way through the water. The chatter of dolphins gets closer until several of them are swimming alongside., their funny smiles drawing your smile in return. Your emotional realm feels calm and washed clean. As the dolphins leap above the ocean surface in their lively dance, you too surface and see the red of hot lava and the wall of steam just ahead, where an active volcano joins the ocean.

“Don’t be afraid,” your dragon says. “You can’t be harmed.” The dragon soars straight toward the volcano and lands close beside the glowing lava stream.

As soon as your feet touch the ground beside your dragon, you become aware of many sensations you haven’t experienced before. You see small firedrakes moving freely in and out of the lava. You reach in and one climbs into your hand. The two of you look at each other for a few moment before the small dragon leaps back into the hot lava. You realize you felt only a slight warmth and the prickle of tiny claws when you held the firedrake. The lava hisses and crackles where it meets the cold of the water, sending a burning smell into the air. The energy of Fire begins to course through your astral body, filling you to overflowing with a desire to move, to be active.

As you and your dragon fly away from the volcano toward a lush tropical forest, you realize you need the grounding of the element of Earth. Your astral body has absorbed an imbalance of Air, Fire, and Water. You dive straight down at the ground, entering the Earth without a sound and without a sign left behind of your entrance. You flip over to lie on your back, your arms spread wide in the soft soil. You hear small noises made by creatures who inhabit the ground, but none come near you. Each intake of breath fills your senses with a rich odor of dirt and the scent of flowers. You relax and take in needed Earth energy to balance you. You hear your dragon sigh with pleasure as she or he also soaks up Earth power. Your astral body comes back into balance.

You pop out of the ground to stand beside your co-magician dragon. You see a small double vortex hanging in the air above the tropical forest. Your dragon explains that you are seeing an example of the Storm element, an energy field that moves both clockwise and counterclockwise as the same time and the element used to create massive changes in all things. At any future time, when you feel this type of change is necessary, you can enter the Storm element.

(End of meditation)

I didn’t take you into the Storm element because entering that is a very personal decision and really does create transformation. Only each Dragon Shaman can decide when she or he is ready for that experience. If you delay this decision, knowing that it is important, the Chaos dragons will introduce you to the Storm element. I’ve discovered that their insight into my experiencing Storm is better than mine, so I wait. It will come, more than once in your life.

 

“Mystical Dragon Magick”

Teaching of the Five Inner Rings

D. J. Conway

Experience the Elements Meditation

Experience the Elements Meditation

(Dragon Magick)

Most magicians are aware of the usual four elements that are required to perform magick and make it work properly. Traditionally, these are Earth, Air, Fire and Water. In dragon magick, these elements correspond and are under the direction of, specific dragons.

The Air element is ruled by the dragon Sairys, is pure yellow and is associated with the eastern direction. It works with any type of air movement as well as any project dealing with the mental realm.

Fire is ruled by Fafnir, is pure red, and is associated with the south. Besides physical fire, this element affects all physical action, changes, and willpower. It also can be used when working on spiritual action, such as self-changes within.

Water is ruled by the dragon Naelyon, is blue, and is associated with the west. It works with the emotional realm as well as all water from tiny ponds to the oceans.

Earth is solid element ruled by Grael. It is dark green, represents the north, and is the realm of physical matter, including the body.

The planet Earth has an electromagnetic energy field (an aura), just as humans do. The field is composed of various strengths of elemental energy in both positive and negative flows. When all four elements are empowered at one time and balanced with each other, this energy transforms into a dynamic balancing force called Storm.

The Storm element, guarded by the Storm-Bringers clan, is far stronger than the four elements plus Spirit. If you work with stones associated with Storm, they create massive transformations and cleansing, radical shifts in life. Use these stones for only short periods of time and only when you are ready for such massive changes in your internal and external worlds.

However, this is an element it is best not to form artificially, but rather to allow to coalesce by itself. Storm element is a link or bridge to the Void of the Chaos dragons. The Chaos dragons both destroy and create or, in this case, re-create part of an energy pattern.

Storm comes into action when a being’s life-path or the direction of a planet or galaxy’s future goes off course. With humans, this usually happens when the person goes through what is called a Dark Night of the Soul. She or he knows drastic changes are vital, but sees no solutions. The Storm-Bringers step in, taking decisions out of the person’s hands and control. But when the clouds lift and the lightning stops, those who go through a Dark Night of the Soul find themselves and their directions in life changed in a manner they never expected. Changed only if they accept the cleansing. The Storm element works on one rule: be changed and work with the change, or be destroyed by it. Accept the transformation and become stronger.

The entire Multiverse works on the principle that no being, world, or situation can become static and still continue to exist. We see tis in nature all the time. If a species of any kind can’t adapt to changes in the environment, it becomes extinct and something else takes its place. Only adaptable with strong wills survive. The Supreme Creative Force is unemotional when it becomes necessary to remove unproductive existences. But it projection of the Goddess as its female half reveals a love for all creation. All things are therefore given an opportunity to choose to change before stronger measures are enforced.

The only way to grasp the essentials of the working of elements is to experience each one through a deep visual meditation This type of meditation engages all the senses, which you still have and use when traveling in the Otherworld. Your senses on this level will be stronger, brighter, and sharper than those of this physical plane.

 

“Mystical Dragon Magick”

Teachings of the Five Inner Rings

D. J. Conway

Dragons of the Elements

Dragons of the Elements

 

In all forms of magick, the universe and everything in it are said to be made up of four elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth. The element of Spirit rules the center as a balance. In dragon magick, specific dragons rule these elements and help to create through their powers.

 

Fire and Air are traditionally positive (male) energies; Water and Earth are traditionally negative (female) energies. Male and female dragons may appear in the elemental direction in the traditional places, or may at times appear female in male direction and vice versa. This leads one to surmise that dragons may be androgynous creatures. These four elements correspond to the four directions, the four quarters of the universe, the four winds, and the four quarters of the magickal circle.

 

Each element has assigned traditional rules and boundaries to their kingdom. They possess form and force, and can influence our personalities as well as magickal procedures. Each element and it dragons has certain qualities, natures, moods and magickal purpose; each has positive and negative traits. Because the magician calls upon each element and its ruler to protect a certain quarter of the circle, it is very important to understand them, what they are and what they do.

The traditional Pagan colors of the elements are: east, yellow; south, red; west, blue; north, dark green. However, there are other colors given to the elements. To the Celts this list was: east, white; south, red; west, gray; north, black. The Hindus listed east, blue; south, red; west, silver; north, yellow. In China and Japan these colors were: east, blue; south, red; west, white; north, black. To the Zunis of North American, east was white; south, red; west, blue; north, yellow. The following definitions of the elements lists the traditional Pagan colors. If you feel that one of the other color lists better suits you, adopt it.

 

The name of the dragons of the elements and the spelling and pronunciation of those name came through in trance several years ago. They proved compatible with dragon magick. Knowing dragons, they may or may not be the actual names of the element dragons. They work as a focal point, and that is all that is necessary.

 

“Dancing With Dragons”

D. J. Conway

Dragons of the Zodiac: Cancer

Dragons of the Zodiac: Cancer

 
Note: Perform during bright noon or the hour of the Moon, and during the waxing Moon, with the Full Moon being strongest.

Color: Silver, pastels
 
Ruling Planet: Moon

Stone: Pearl

 
Flower: Larkspur
 
Description: Caring nurturing, moody, clinging, dependent, lazy, retentive memory, receptive, changeable, sensitive, pack rat, emotional, overprotective, messy, money-oriented.
 
Chant:
 
Make me caring with nuturing ways.
Receptive with good memory.
Teach me control of emotions and life.
Thank you. So mote it be.
 
Dancing with Dragon
D. J. Conway

Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 18th

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2012 February 18
See Explanation.Moving the cursor over the image will bring up an annotated version.Clicking on the image will bring up the highest resolution versionavailable.

On the Road to Carina
Image Credit & Copyright: Babak Tafreshi (TWAN)

 

Explanation: This rugged road through the dark Atacama Desert seems to lead skyward toward the bright stars and glowing nebulae of the southern Milky Way. If you follow the road you will get to Cerro Armazones peak in Chile, future construction site for the 40-meter class European Extremely Large Telescope. For now though, sliding your cursor across the image will identify wonders of the southern skies in view. The scene is dominated by the reddish glow of the Great Carina Nebula, one of our galaxy’s largest star forming regions. In fact, the remarkable skyscape is not a composite of varying exposures or a photomontage. Far from sources of light pollution, the landscape illuminated by starlight and the Milky Way above were recorded by a modified digital camera and fast lens. The sensitive system captured both planet Earth and deep sky in a relatively short exposure.

Calendar of the Sun for February 18th

Calendar of the Sun
18 Solmonath

Ishtar’s Day

Color: Pottery red, terra cotta
Element: Earth
Altar: Set with a cloth of earthy red, and on it place a pitcher of milk and another of wine, bowls of wood and clay filled with grains, olives, figs, and dates, a star, and the figure of a lioness.
Offerings: Grains. Stars. Give food to those who need it.
Daily Meal: Wholegrain bread. Cooked grains. Milk and dairy products.

Ishtar Invocation

I beseech thee, Lady of Ladies,
Goddess of Goddesses,
Ishtar, queen of all cities,
Leader of all men.
Thou art the light of the world,
Thou art the light of heaven.
At thy name the earth and the heavens shake,
And the gods they tremble;
The spirits of heaven tremble at thy name
And the men hold it in awe.
Where thou glancest the dead come to life,
And the sick rise and walk;
And the mind that is distressed is healed
When it looks upon thy face.

Call and response:
For lo, I am the Keeper of the Storehouse
And I am generous to all men!
From my breasts nourishment spills
From my hands nourishment flows
From my heart nourishment streams
I am the Morning Star
I am the Evening Star
I am the Star of Heaven
And I give unto all humanity.

(After this, all should being the work of inventorying all the resources of the house, in Ishtar’s name, so that they may be used more efficiently and that it can be known what can be given to others out of generosity.)

Calendar of the Moon for Friday, February 17th

Calendar of the Moon

Rowan Tree Moon

Color: Orange-red
Element: Fire
Altar: Upon a cloth of orange-red set a row of red candles, Brigid’s cross, and a bell.
Offerings: Votive candles. Quicken a newborn idea into birth.
Daily Meal: Hot drinks with every meal. Keep food warm.

Luis/Gamelion Invocation

Call: Now is the quickening of the year.
Response: Now is the time of the first movement.
Call: Now the child stirs in the womb.
Response: Now the seed stirs in the earth.
Call: Now the plains flood and our fire is threatened.
Response: Now the cold water drowns our spark.
Call: Now is the time of the hard struggle.
Response: Now is the month of desperation.
Call: Now is the time of desperation to live.
Response: Now is the time of desperation to be born.
Call: We turn in our sleep as the earth turns.
Response: We dream with the sleeping earth.
Call: Each of our dreams is a lit candle in the dark.
Response: Each of our dreams is a single point of hope.
Call: They shine faint and alone in the night of struggle.
Response: They are alone as we are alone.
Call: Yet we are not alone in our dreams.
Response: We are not alone!
Call: We will keep our fires burning.
Response: We will burn against the night!
Call: We will warm our dreams with the force of life.
Response: We will not die alone in the cold!
Call: We will ward off all evil.
Response: Only good shall pass our gates.
Call: We will care for each other.
Response: We will never cease to care!
Call: We will survive the winter.
Response: We will survive!
(Repeat last two lines twice more.)

Chant:
Protect the flame that warms your dreams
And dreams shall never die.

Today’s Affirmation, Thought & Meditation For February 17th

Friendship Pictures, Images, Comments, Graphics
Today’s Affirmation

“The energy of the universe flows through me, maintaining my well-bein I release energy in ways that are healing for myself and the Earth.”

 

Today’s Thought

“Be really whole and all things will come to you.”

Lao-Tz (c. 604 – 531 bce.)

 

Today’s Meditation

Rainbow Meditation

Colours are waves of light energy that have direct physiological and psychological effects. We can use them in meditation to influence our feelings and perceptions. To perform this meditation, choose a hue that represents the qualities, you would like to cultivate in that particular moment. Then cut a square or circle from a piece of paper or fabric in that shade and use the shape as a fous for your meditation.

Alternative, focus on a coloured object allowing the color rather than the form to dominate your consciousness, or visualize a colour, allowing it to fill your mind.

Dragons of Jupiter

Dragons of Jupiter

 

Notes: Perform on a Thursday and/or during the waxing Moon, with the Full Moon being strongest. A purple or blue candle.

 

Day: Thursday

Color: Blue, purple.

Metal: Tin.

Stones: Lapis lazuli, amethyst, turquoise, sapphire.

Plants: Anise, betony, cinquefoil, jasmine, lavender, oak, sage, yerba santa.

Rules: Sagittarius, Pisces.

Oils: Anise, bergamot, cedar, fir, honeysuckle, jasmine, lavender, nutmeg, orris strawberry.

Rituals Involving: Honor, riches, health, friendship, the heart’s desire, luck accomplishment, religion, trade ad employment, treasure, legal matters.

Physical Chant:

Grant me honor and success

Change my luck and make me bold

Give me riches and happiness

All yo give my life can hold.

Mental-Emotional Chant:

Goals in life and needed

To bring peace to the mind

Goals for hand and intellect

Send, O Dragon Kind

Spiritual Chant:

Any task I can accomplish

With your aid, Jupiter Dragon,

Spiritual paths open before me

Set my feet on the right path.