Astronomy Picture of the Day

Dark Matter in a Simulated Universe

Illustration Credit & Copyright: Tom Abel & Ralf Kaehler (KIPAC, SLAC), AMNHExplanation: Is our universe haunted? It might look that way on this dark matter map. The gravity of unseen dark matter is the leading explanation for why galaxies rotate so fast, why galaxies orbit clusters so fast, why gravitational lenses so strongly deflect light, and why visible matter is distributed as it is both in the local universe and on the cosmic microwave background. The featured image from the American Museum of Natural History‘s Hayden Planetarium Space Show Dark Universe highlights one example of how pervasive dark matter might haunt our universe. In this frame from a detailed computer simulation, complex filaments of dark matter, shown in black, are strewn about the universe like spider webs, while the relatively rare clumps of familiar baryonic matter are colored orange. These simulations are good statistical matches to astronomical observations. In what is perhaps a scarier turn of events, dark matter — although quite strange and in an unknown form — is no longer thought to be the strangest source of gravity in the universe. That honor now falls to dark energy, a more uniform source of repulsive gravity that seems to now dominate the expansion of the entire universe.

Not only Halloween: Today is Dark Matter Day.

October 31 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Northern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

From Moongiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waning Crescent phase. In this phase the Moon’s illumination is growing smaller each day until the New Moon. During this part of the Moon cycle, the Moon is getting closer to the Sun as viewed from Earth and the night side of the Moon is facing the Earth with only a small edge of the Moon being illuminated. This phase is best viewed an hour or 2 before the sunrise and can be quite beautiful if you’re willing to get up early. It can also be a great time to see the features of the Moon’s surface. Along the edge where the illuminated portion meets the dark side, the craters and mountains cast long shadows making them easier to observe with a telescope or binoculars.

Visit the October 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waning Crescent Phase

The Waning Crescent on October 31 has an illumination of 24%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On October 31 the Moon is 24.73 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Crescent
Illumination: 24%
Moon Age: 24.73 days
Moon Angle: 0.52
Moon Distance: 383,592.20 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 148,480,047.96 km

Useful Moon Resources

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date

Northeastern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

31 October 2021
01:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM CET
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:08 Scorpio 19
Moon:10 Virgo 25
Mercury:21 Libra 43
Venus:25 Sagittarius 15
Mars:00 Scorpio 38
Jupiter:22 Aquarius 38
Saturn:07 Aquarius 14
Uranus:12 Taurus 58 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 40 Rx
Pluto:24 Capricorn 28
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 56 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:02 Gemini 47 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):11 Gemini 39
Chiron:09 Aries 28 Rx
Ceres:10 Gemini 30 Rx
Pallas:09 Pisces 15 Rx
Juno:25 Sagittarius 16
Vesta:21 Scorpio 23
Eris:24 Aries 06 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:3
Air:7
Water:5
Cardinal:4
Fixed:6
Mutable:9

See the source image

Northwestern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Denver, Colorado, USA

October 31, 2021
11:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM MT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:08 Scorpio 44
Moon:16 Virgo 03
Mercury:22 Libra 20
Venus:25 Sagittarius 39
Mars:00 Scorpio 55
Jupiter:22 Aquarius 39
Saturn:07 Aquarius 15
Uranus:12 Taurus 57 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 40 Rx
Pluto:24 Capricorn 28
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 55 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:02 Gemini 46 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):11 Gemini 42
Chiron:09 Aries 27 Rx
Ceres:10 Gemini 26 Rx
Pallas:09 Pisces 14 Rx
Juno:25 Sagittarius 24
Vesta:21 Scorpio 36
Eris:24 Aries 05 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:3
Air:7
Water:5
Cardinal:4
Fixed:6
Mutable:9
See the source image

Weekly Horoscope Sunday, October 31 to Saturday, November 6, 2021

Click here for Georgia Nicols’ Daily Horoscopes

All Signs

Every month, we have a New Moon, which is when the Sun and the Moon are lined up exactly in the same sign. It’s good to know about the New Moon because it’s the perfect time for beginnings and planting new seeds. This week, the New Moon peaks on Thursday, and is immediately followed by an electrifying zap from Uranus. Pow! (It will most strongly affect those born in the first week of May, Aug., Nov and Feb.) But for all of us, this is an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to set new goals and make resolutions. So, heads up! Are you ready? I know I am. (Just today my partner and I were laughing about how competitive we are. I laughed more than he did, though.)

Aries (March 21-April 19)

For Aries, the New Moon this week takes place in the part of your chart that concerns how you share your wealth with others. This includes shared property, jointly-held items, shared debt (with banks and credit card companies), inheritances; plus, it includes shared responsibilities for others as well. A pretty big umbrella! The New Moon on Thursday is a great chance for you to think about how to reduce your debt and how to best handle your financial agreements with others, particularly partners. Something unusual might suddenly occur for you. Hopefully, a solution? Perhaps a better approach to something? Maybe something needs your attention? This is an unusual opportunity. Each New Moon is your chance to make new resolutions.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

The New Moon this week is the only New Moon all year that is directly opposite your sign. This polarized position will give you an opportunity to see how you can improve your closest partnerships and relationships. (It will be strongest for those born April 27 – May 8.) Even though the New Moon that is opposite your sign occurs only once a year, this one is unusual because it will be energized by unpredictable Uranus. This means you might have a sudden idea about how you can improve your relationship? Or something sudden and unexpected might prompt you to see how to make a change? Be open and receptive to whatever might occur because it can benefit you. Where and how can you make a new beginning?

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Something interesting and unexpected might jiggle your world this week, especially midweek when the New Moon occurs. As a result of whatever this is, you might suddenly decide you have to take a serious look at taking care of your health. You might get on self-help kick and want to turn over a new leaf. You want to do whatever will benefit you. Perhaps this same influence will cause you to look at your job, and the way you do your work? You might decide to work in a better way that is more efficient and productive? For some, this could be something unexpected that impacts a pet? Whatever happens, you will be resolved to make improvements in one of these areas this week. “Scout’s honour.”

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Unexpected challenges and surprises from unpredictable Uranus will occur midweek. (Parents take note: This is an accident-prone influence for your kids. Be extra vigilant and make sure your kids are safe. Be aware of potential hazards for toddlers.) Social plans might suddenly change this week. Something might be cancelled or alternatively, something new might blossom? Sports will hold surprises and potential accidents. On the upside, you might get a fun invitation or an opportunity in the entertainment world or the arts? Something unexpected might please you! Romance might surprise. This could mean love at first sight, an exciting new relationship, or instead it could be a sudden breakup. Who knows? It’s a crapshoot.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Expect a few curveballs to impact home and family this week. Something unexpected will surprise you or upset your home routine. This could relate to a parent or a family member. Someone might suddenly move out or move in. A domestic squabble might upset the family harmony. Increased chaos and activity are taking place at home now. Nevertheless, this week something unexpected will occur. It could also relate to real-estate deals suddenly changing, or surprise news about a family member. The upshot is that this week, you have a chance to make new beginnings and resolutions about your home and family. Ideas?

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Heads up, dear Virgo because this week will hold some surprises for you. For starters, there’s a strong accident-prone influence present. Therefore, pay attention to everything you say and do. Slow down and take it easy. Be vigilant; be mindful. You can definitely expect to meet new faces and see new places because almost certainly, your daily routine will change. In fact, your everyday world will have surprising challenges, opportunities and detours. However, you have some clever, original ideas! You might have an unexpected chance to take a course or get further training. You might also have surprising news from a relative or neighbour. “He did whaat? They both did?”

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Everyone is encountering some surprises this week. For your sign, the surprise could impact your salary, cash flow, earnings or something that you own. Therefore, be vigilant. For example, you might find money; you might lose money. Be smart and protect your belongings against theft, damage or loss. On the upside, you might get a financial windfall? (Admittedly, it could be the reverse.) This surprising influence might be mild — perhaps you will make an unusual purchase that delights you? You might get a different job or figure out a new way to make money. This is a fortunate time for you so whatever happens is nothing you can’t handle. Fingers crossed!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Expect a surprise this week because the Sun, the New Moon and fiery Mars are all in your sign, and midweek, this bundle of energy receives a powerful electric charge from Uranus. Something surprising or unusual will almost certainly happen. This could relate to a close relationship. Or instead, it might relate to you personally. It might mean a sudden change in your environment. One possibility is an unexpected accident. Therefore, be careful. Pay attention to everything you say and do. Guard against rash actions and knee-jerk reactions. On the upside, this could be when you finally have the courage to make a break for your own personal freedom. “I’m outta here!”

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

It’s fortunate Venus is in your sign now because it makes you charming and diplomatic. (This is a wonderful cover in case you are personally bewildered about something. You’re the only one who will know.) Venus also promotes good times with friends; and it ranks pleasure above work. Meanwhile, a hidden, unexpected surprise will catch you off guard this week. Because it will take place in a hidden part of your chart, others might not know but you will. Caution against accident-prone behaviour. Think twice before you react to surprising news. Stay cool. (You always do.)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Stay on your toes this week because you will encounter a surprise from a friend or a member of a group. You might be asked to leave a group. You might be asked to join a group. Whatever happens, it will introduce a change in your life and possibly, a change to your future goals. This could be major. On the other hand (you have different rings), it could be a minor tiff with a friend. People are a bit hotheaded now; and you might be in competition with someone? This could lead to an argument. Remember – you value your public reputation. Therefore, don’t do anything that you will regret later. Possibly, this relates to secret love affair? (Hmmm.)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This is not a typical week. Not by a longshot. At the very top of your chart, sits the Sun, the New Moon and fiery Mars. Then midweek, this handful of energy is challenged by your ruler wild, wacky Uranus. For some of you, this could mean that you will take a sudden stand and fight for your own independence. You might rebel against bosses, parents and authority figures. You might decide to strike out on your own? It could be as minor as an argument with a parent or a boss. It could be as major as changing your life direction? Fortunately, Venus will help you to be diplomatic with friends, who in turn, will be supportive to you. No one, more than you, values their friends.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Big changes are occurring; and the upshot of it all is that you have a thrilling sense of freedom. Oh yes, you’re out there flying your colours! This might bring a sudden opportunity to travel for some of you. It might also mean a chance to explore avenues in publishing, the media, the law, medicine or anything to do with higher education. This could also indicate a sudden split or quarrel about philosophical, political, racial or religious ideas. You might have the leading role in Gunfight at the OK Corral! (Wyatt Earp or Doc Holliday?) The good news is that Venus, at the top of your chart, guarantees warm support from authority figures in your life. Big changes are taking place – but you are protected.

October 31 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Southern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

From Moongiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waning Crescent phase. In this phase the Moon’s illumination is growing smaller each day until the New Moon. During this part of the Moon cycle, the Moon is getting closer to the Sun as viewed from Earth and the night side of the Moon is facing the Earth with only a small edge of the Moon being illuminated. This phase is best viewed an hour or 2 before the sunrise and can be quite beautiful if you’re willing to get up early. It can also be a great time to see the features of the Moon’s surface. Along the edge where the illuminated portion meets the dark side, the craters and mountains cast long shadows making them easier to observe with a telescope or binoculars.

Visit the October 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waning Crescent Phase

The Waning Crescent on October 31 has an illumination of 24%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On October 31 the Moon is 24.73 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Crescent
Illumination: 24%
Moon Age: 24.73 days
Moon Angle: 0.52
Moon Distance: 383,592.20 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 148,480,047.96 km

Useful Moon Resources

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date

Southeastern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 

31 October 2021
06:00 am GMT 5:00 PM AEDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:08 Scorpio 02
Moon:06 Virgo 31
Mercury:21 Libra 18
Venus:24 Sagittarius 57
Mars:00 Scorpio 26
Jupiter:22 Aquarius 37
Saturn:07 Aquarius 13
Uranus:12 Taurus 59 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 40 Rx
Pluto:24 Capricorn 28

True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 57 Rx

Mean Lunar Node:02 Gemini 48 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):11 Gemini 37
Chiron:09 Aries 28 Rx
Ceres:10 Gemini 32 Rx
Pallas:09 Pisces 16 Rx
Juno:25 Sagittarius 10
Vesta:21 Scorpio 14
Eris:24 Aries 06 Rx

Fire:4
Earth:3
Air:7
Water:5
Cardinal:4
Fixed:6
Mutable:9

Southwestern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America

31 October 2021
08:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM BRT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:08 Scorpio 37
Moon:14 Virgo 21
Mercury:22 Libra 09
Venus:25 Sagittarius 32
Mars:00 Scorpio 50
Jupiter:22 Aquarius 38
Saturn:07 Aquarius 14
Uranus:12 Taurus 57 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 40 Rx
Pluto:24 Capricorn 28
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 55 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:02 Gemini 46 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):11 Gemini 41
Chiron:09 Aries 27 Rx
Ceres:10 Gemini 27 Rx
Pallas:09 Pisces 14 Rx
Juno:25 Sagittarius 21
Vesta:21 Scorpio 32
Eris:24 Aries 05 Rx
Fire:4
Earth:3
Air:7
Water:5
Cardinal:4
Fixed:6
Mutable:9

Tales from the Unwavering Witchlett – Part 1

This will be an on going series of a true life story being written a novice in Witches of The Craft School of Witchcraft. Despite her Multiple Sclerosis getting very bad at times she has persevered not only in her studies but by startting to tell her story of her time as a Novice to share with all of you. Fawn health is very bad right now she can use healing energy, and/or candles being lit for her health improve, and/or just you thinking of her being up and around and feeling better.

Now without further ado here in Fawn’s own words, with no editing done by me, is her first part of her on going story:

 

By : Forrest Devi ✨

Merry meet kindred souls, and welcome! If you have tripped across this blog , know that it is not by chance. I believe and innately know nothing happens by chance. Everything has a divine purpose . There are no coincidences in life, only synchronicity‘s guiding us down our path. Here on this blog I will share my story! With it, I hope to inspire your mind, warm your hesrt, and enlighten your spirit.

First let me introduce myself, I am Forest Devi. As long as I can remember i have been drawn out into the woods almost as if enchanted by. I have spent my life rescuing & sometimes raising different orphaned woodland creatures. And I have always had a great fondness for all things furry! Nature is my church where I’ve always found serenity. It has taking me many years and peeling back many layers to discover who I really am.

Which brings us to today, here on Witches of the Craft. It was several years ago and I somehow tripped across WOTC . Intrigued, I signed up to receive their daily posts . Following Lady Abyss who was very passionate about witches of the craft . It wasn’t until after she passed, & Lady Beltane took over that I developed the courage to study here as a novice . This clearly was my path!  Now I am currently knee-deep into my novice course on witchcraft. I feel blessed to be studying under Lady Beltane, whom I hold in very high regard. And filled with gratitude to be handed down her knowledge & tricks of the trade! She’s been by my side every step of the way. And thank goodness! Because If it wasn’t for that WHO would fix my magickal mishaps? let’s face it… The “Oops now what?”😳 is going to happen

Yes! I am still a work in progress. Not only as a witchlett, but also on healing my body! I have multiple sclerosis and that’s what brought me here! It was definitely a catalyst for my awakening . Six years ago my doctor told me bluntly, “you will eventually be bedridden and die from this.” At that point I decided to heal myself. There was no other option …and I wasn’t READY to lay down and die. And so began my spiritual quest! THATS when the magick started to really take place!

So join me , sisters and brothers as I perform what doctors say is the Impossible & reclaim vibrant health! While behind the scenes studying here as a novice on WOTC! I know NOTHING is impossible , the word itself says I’m possible! Plus I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

Moral to the story here never give up! So buckle up, & fly with me!
It’s gonna be a bumpy ride… but the destination is WELL WORTH iT! We will talk soon my lovelies.
Blessed be ,
Forest Devi🐈‍⬛✨

Calling Your Ancestors

I am blessed to work with to Archangel Suriel (a.k.a. Sariel), who helps people and other
living things that are stuck on this plain, for whatever reason, to accept their death and get
ready to cross to the Spirit Plane. I also work with Archangel Zlar, who crosses the Spirits from this plain to the
next The Spirit Plain is known by the name The Summerlands to many Witches and Wiccans.

In simpler terms, I am a medium an ability I was honored enough to be born with.I have to keep permanent protection shields up all the time so I can eat, sleep and live life without constantly hearing the voices of Spirits wanting to pass a message on to someone. While I am very grateful for the honor of the Archangels using me for this task; if I leave myself open all the time it can become unbearable to live with.

Many people are born with or are given this “gift” but do not know they have it or choose to ignore it. If someone ignores it just like any other talent not used it will wither and become dormant. If you may think you have this gift it can come to you in many ways. Some of which are: hearing voices, seeing someone/something out of the corner of your eye and when you turn your head no one is there, having consistent dreams of people who have crossed over (died) are the most common signs of this ability. One thing to always remember is if you have this ability that it is the Archangels mentioned above using you to help with their work and it is an honor to have this gift and yes, it can feel like a curse at times also..

This is spell can be used anytime you would like an Ancestor to visit or just on Samhain. I have written it two
different ways, one to invite them anytime you would like them near, and the other for on
Samhain (Pronounced Sow-en. Falls on October 31st when the veil between ours and the
Spirit plain is at its thinnest.).

Many covens set aside a portion of time during their Samhain celebration for members to call their ancestors into the circle to feast and celebrate with them. How this part of the Samhain celebration and ritual is done varies from coven to coven based on how the leader chooses to do it.

I found that I preferred even when I was with a coven that I liked talking and visiting with my ancestors alone. No special reason just personal preference.

What you need:

1 Birthday or short Candle for each Ancestor

A container with sand in it (I use an old metal pie plate)

Hot pad (to set container on to protect surface of what you set pie plate on)

Spell for any time use:

I invite _____ (fill in name of person you wish to contact) to come visit when I light this
candle one.

To visit and return to whence you came when your candle is done.

So mote it be.

Spell for Samhain:

I invite the Spirits I call upon to come to me one by one. (Light 1 candle each time you say
a name and place it in the sand)

Visit and return from whence you came when your candle is done.

So mote it be

After doing the spell spend some time just sitting quietly and thinking of the people you have summoned. They may just want to spend some time with you also and/or have a message for you or someone in your life. Ancestors are not just blood relatives that have crossed over they include anyone in your life that has had some type of impact on it. One of my favorite people to spend time with is an oil painting teacher I had when I was twelve years old. She was a very patient and sweet woman who help me through painting deal with my father’s crossing.

Copyright 2013 Lady Beltane

October 30 Today In History

Important Events

1340 Battle of Rio Salado (or Tarifa): King Afonso IV of Portugal and King Alfonso XI of Castile defeat Sultan Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali of Morocco and Yusuf I of Granada, last Marīnids invasion of Iberian Peninsula

1899 Battle of Ladysmith, Natal: Boers defeat the British, leading to the Siege of Ladysmith

1905 “October Manifesto” Russian Tsar Nicholas II grants civil liberties and accepts the first Duma (Parliament)

1917 British government gives final approval to Balfour Declaration

1973 The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey is completed, connecting the continents of Europe and Asia over the Bosporus for the first time

Today’s Historical Events

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

Today’s Events in Music History

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

 

October 30 Astronomy Picture of the Day

A Rorschach Aurora

Image Credit & Copyright: Göran Strand

Explanation: If you see this as a monster’s face, don’t panic. It’s only pareidolia, often experienced as the tendency to see faces in patterns of light and shadow. In fact, the startling visual scene is actually a 180 degree panorama of Northern Lights, digitally mirrored like inkblots on a folded piece of paper. Frames used to construct it were captured on a September night from the middle of a waterfall-crossing suspension bridge in Jamtland, Sweden. With geomagnetic storms triggered by recent solar activity, auroral displays could be very active at planet Earth’s high latitudes in the coming days. But if you see a monster’s face in your own neighborhood tomorrow night, it might just be Halloween.

October 30 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Northern Hemisphere’s Moon Phase and Planetary Positions

 

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born.

From Moongiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waning Crescent phase. In this phase the Moon’s illumination is growing smaller each day until the New Moon. During this part of the Moon cycle, the Moon is getting closer to the Sun as viewed from Earth and the night side of the Moon is facing the Earth with only a small edge of the Moon being illuminated. This phase is best viewed an hour or 2 before the sunrise and can be quite beautiful if you’re willing to get up early. It can also be a great time to see the features of the Moon’s surface. Along the edge where the illuminated portion meets the dark side, the craters and mountains cast long shadows making them easier to observe with a telescope or binoculars.

Visit the October 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waning Crescent Phase

The Waning Crescent on October 30 has an illumination of 33%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On October 30 the Moon is 23.74 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

The 8 Lunar Phases

There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Crescent
Illumination: 33%
Moon Age: 23.74 days
Moon Angle: 0.51
Moon Distance: 388,477.06 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 148,518,980.78 km

Useful Moon Resources

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link

Currentplanetarypositions.com

To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link

For Your Local Time and Date

Northeastern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

30 October 2021
03:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM CET
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:07 Scorpio 24
Moon:28 Leo 17
Mercury:20 Libra 24
Venus:24 Sagittarius 20
Mars:00 Scorpio 01
Jupiter:22 Aquarius 35
Saturn:07 Aquarius 12
Uranus:13 Taurus 00 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 41 Rx
Pluto:24 Capricorn 27
True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 59 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:02 Gemini 50 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):11 Gemini 33
Chiron:09 Aries 30 Rx
Ceres:10 Gemini 38 Rx
Pallas:09 Pisces 18 Rx
Juno:24 Sagittarius 58
Vesta:20 Scorpio 54
Eris:24 Aries 06 Rx

Fire:5
Earth:2
Air:7
Water:5
Cardinal:4
Fixed:7
Mutable:8

Northwestern Hemisphere

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Denver, Colorado, USA

October 30, 2021
11:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM MT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:07 Scorpio 44
Moon:02 Virgo 39
Mercury:20 Libra 53
Venus:24 Sagittarius 40
Mars:00 Scorpio 15
Jupiter:22 Aquarius 36
Saturn:07 Aquarius 13
Uranus:13 Taurus 00 Rx
Neptune:20 Pisces 41 Rx
Pluto:24 Capricorn 28

True Lunar Node:01 Gemini 58 Rx

Mean Lunar Node:02 Gemini 49 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):11 Gemini 35

Chiron:09 Aries 29 Rx

Ceres:10 Gemini 35 Rx
Pallas:09 Pisces 17 Rx
Juno:25 Sagittarius 05
Vesta:21 Scorpio 04
Eris:24 Aries 06 Rx

Fire:4
Earth:3
Air:7
Water:5
Cardinal:4
Fixed:6
Mutable:9

Thoth Tarot Introduction And Spread – Crowley Tarot

From Tarotx.net: Click here or on hyperlinks for more information about the Thoth Tarot – Crowley Tarot

I. Overview of Thoth Tarot Deck

Thoth Tarot deck is one of the most famous Tarot decks in the world, which painted by artist Frieda Harris under the guidance of the legendary researcher who is a member of the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley. This deck is influenced by the Book of Thoth and Judaism. Although still being one of the classic decks, it contains the Kabbalah mystical symbol systems and astrology from the Book of Thoth, which requires users to do a lot of research to understand the hidden meaning in each card and have a certain knowledge base to capture the deck in the best way.

Thoth Tarot deck is accompanied by a guide book to help users are equipped with knowledge of reading cards and the connection between image system of cards and many fields such as astrology, arts, music, myths, Tree of Life, Runes, elements, and other prototypes.

The Thoth Tarot is considered one of the classic decks but it requires a lot of knowledge to be able to be contemplated. However, this is a controversial tarot deck, …

A Thought for Today from Lady Abyss

With much gratitude to Lady Abyss for writing today’s post originally published in March of 2017.

A thought from Lady A:

Stand proud Witches,

wherever you may be,

You are a magickal being

who walks in love and integrity.

Stand tall and proud Witches,

For there is a bond twixt you and me.

We stand side by side,

For we are family, brothers and sisters,

all of The Craft.

 

A Sunday Flashback from Lady of the Abyss

Today our beloved Lady Abyss was in my thoughts when I woke up and so I thought it might be nice to repost something from her. This is from Sunday, February 17, 2019. When you read this post keep in mind I am not asking for money for WOTC or anyone else but this posts reminds us of what a caring and loving person our Lady was.

“Good Sunday Morning To All Our Brothers & Sisters of The Craft! May The Goddess Fill Your Life With Blessings Today & Always!

Well had you thought we had run off and left the country? No, you ain’t that lucky, lol! It has been a wild couple of days, I can say that. There were suppose to be posted on here daily so you would know the site was still alive but…..oh, well, here I go back to the old saying, “when the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Since I saw there hadn’t been any posts on the site in the last few days, I decided to take a break from building our new store and come and aggravate y’all for a bit, lucky, lucky, lucky! Your luck has never been so good has it.

As I stated the last few days have been rather wild and that is putting it mildly. I am sure I have mentioned it before but for those of you who are new here, I will mention it again. The WOTC is not only active on-line it is active off-line as well. We help out local food banks, help the Elderly with some of their expenses throughout the money(since they are on limited incomes) and we still take in a stray or wild animals on occasions. I am an animal lover, can’t help myself when we get one of those calls. A call that an animal is in distress or going to be shot if something isn’t don’t with it, I am Johnny-on-the-spot. But that is just a few of the things we do off-line.

I have my reasons for bringing up some of the things we do off-line because of a phone call I received Thursday. It was a phone call from two local elderly sisters who are witches themselves. We have helped them out off and on when they needed it. They called Friday because they needed our help. Even though our funds are gone and I mean, gone, gone. I couldn’t refuse them and I told them I would see what I could do for them. Neither one of the sisters have ever married, they only have each other, no family left. They feel like I am their family because when my mother was alive I remember us stopping by to visit them on our way to town. They were quite a bit younger than my mother but they were witches so she made a point of visiting them when she could. The live on the other side of county from where we are now. I can still remember going to their house. On both sides of the gravel road leading to their house was nothing put trees. Thick trees, in fact, it looked like a forest with a path cut through it. Then the house was a house built out of wood. Honestly it looked like the house from Hansel and Gretel, seriously. The only difference the house from the fairy tale was in much better shape. I took them some groceries recently and it still looks the same except it had a few boards that had come loose. I had Lord M with me and he fixed the boards for the sisters. You get the idea, these sisters do not have much money coming in at all and are basically just surviving day to day,

Now back to the phone call, one of the sister (Mildred) called and asked if we could talk for a minute. I told her sure anytime, she knew that. She was upset and I could tell that. I was afraid something had happened to her sister but thankfully that wasn’t the case. She was upset because she had received a $538.00 electricity bill, I told her I didn’t doubt it because our bill had been outrageous this month. She told me that they didn’t have the money to pay it. I asked her if she had talked to the light company and she said no. I told her to give me a minute and I would call them and see what I could do. I called the electric company, which by the way is a Co-Op. A Co-Op is suppose to be owned by its members and the members are suppose to have some rights and say so in how it is run. I talked to one of the ladies there and she was just down right rude. She told me that the sisters would have to pay the full amount of the bill or have their power cut off. It is in the low 20’s and they are going to cut off two elderly ladies’ power. Really? I asked to talk to a supervisor. The supervisor was a little nicer. She asked me how much could they pay that day and then call back and make payment arrangements before the next disconnect notice came due. Well I told her I could pay $50.00 on it. That was all I had and I gladly did it. The supervisor made a note on their account that payment arrangements would follow. I called the sisters back and told them what I had done. They were delighted. I told them to be sure to call back before the disconnect notice was due to make payment arrangements or else they would be out to cut them off. Well they called back to make the arrangements and I got another phone call. Mildred was upset to no end. She told me the lady told her that she had to pay $180.00 that day and then the remaining balance would be stretched out to the 28th of this month. Of course, the poor sisters did not have the money nor did I.

After I talked to Mildred, I called the power company. By this time, I was mad as an old wet hen. I had already pulled up the law in regards to utilities company disconnecting people in the Winter months. The law states that no one can be disconnected between the Winter months of November through February of each year. It also went on to state that if a person in the household was disabled, elderly or needed the electricity for live saving equipment then the power could not be cut off either. I informed the supervisor of this and she said since they were a Co-Op they could do as they pleased. The law didn’t apply to them. Which, of course, we had a hardy disagreement over that. I asked them when the next Co-Op meeting was and I would be there with bells on. I also wrote the County representative over this matter but I have not heard back from him yet. It didn’t matter what I had to say to this woman, she told me they either pay the bill or else they would be disconnected.

Now can you imagine that? Two elderly sisters, one 82 and the 84, fragile and thin, living in a 100 year old house(which has cracks everywhere you look) getting their power shut off? I could not believe the cruelty or inhumane treatment coming from this supervisor or the electric company. What it all boils down too, is that if these ladies do not come up with the money to pay their power bill, they will be disconnected probably either Monday or Tuesday. We are flat broke or else I wouldn’t have been beating my brains out trying to rebuild the store. I need your help, these sisters need your help. It would absolutely kill me to think that they got their power cut off. They wouldn’t leave their home to save them. They would stay there and try to survive. Survive they wouldn’t, they would freeze to death. I can’t let that happen. I am asking that you help me by assisting them in trying to pay their power bill, Later on, when we get back on our feet, we plan on insulating the house for them but right now we have to worry about the power being cut off. I am not asking for myself but I am asking for these dear, sweet old ladies. If you could meet them you would fall in love with them. Just listening to their stories, then learning witchcraft from them and just basically stories about the old days. They are wonderful, beautiful human beings and for the power company to do this is just wrong. I plan on going to the Co-Op meeting and I also plan on pursuing this at every level of government in this town. This treatment of the elderly is oh, so wrong and I plan on making a huge stink about it. But right now, we have no choice but to try to pay the bill.

I said I would never beg you for money. I am not begging for myself, I am begging for these two wonderful ladies. Will you please help me raise the money to keep their power from being shut-off. It is the middle of Winter, they need their heat to survive. They still have many years ahead of them and to think of them freezing to death is killing me. I am asking for your help in assisting them to keep their power on. I know it is a hard time for everyone but we can’t let our Elderly be treated like this. Hell, they will take a dog in off the streets but they won’t keep our elderly warm by just leaving their heat on. It is pathetic. These sisters desperately need your help. If they knew I was telling their story, they would be mad as heck at me. They are proud women and they don’t like asking for a hand out. I told them it wouldn’t be a hand out but a hand up. They had did so much for the Pagan community around here, I feel that it is only right that we try to help them. No matter what you can give, it all adds up and hopefully we will be able to keep their power on during these cold days ahead.

Thank you so very much,

Lady of the Abyss”

 

For Your Listening Pleasure and a Request for the WOTC and CL Community

YouTube.com has surprisingly some very good pagan songs and other videos. This is one channel I have brought you song from in the past and wanted to share the entire channel with you in the hopes you will find a favorite and email me the name and link for it along with whatever name you want to use for me to give credit to you for finding it. Also a short or long story of why the song called to you. Even if it is a song I have previously posted it does not matter because the reason it calls to me will be different then why it calls to you.

If you have written a poem or pagan song and would like to share it with us I will make sure to put your copyright date up with the name it is copyrighted under.

So recap: Link and Title of the Song

A short or long story of why the Song touched or called to you. Your story can be one line up to however long you want to make it.

Name for me to give credit to for sharing the Song with our community.

I want to start including posts from our brothers and sisters who usually just read whatever we put up. We are a community that showed love, compassion, and togetherness when we saved this website and domain name. Now let us be more than me and the council of elders posting and all of you just reading.

cropped-pentagram-flame_kindlephoto-4890561.jpg

Let’s show Lady Abyss how she was loved and honored for making this website possible in the first place in the 1990’s when to be a witch or pagan we had to keep it to ourselves or within our family and/or coven. Witches of The Craft with Lady Abyss at the helm was one of the few pioneers on the world wide web that was brave enough to speak up and out about real witchcraft not the type you see in movies or on TV or read fictional stories about. She got death threats weekly in the beginning which did taper off as other metaphysical and witchcraft websites started showing up on the world wide web but even a week before she crossed to the Summerlands she called to warn me that she had gotten an email threatening everyone who was part of WOTC. A couple of years ago ISIS, the radical group not the Goddess, threaten to cut off her head and display it for all the world to see what would happen to infidels. Did she run and hide NO instead she kept right on bring us new and interesting information from many different traditions of witchcraft. Then she found out that in the spring or summer of 2018 that members of ISIS were literally in the next county over from her. Did she run and hide then? NO she kept on keeping on with her website that she had put so many years and tears into. I will let you in on a secret that since she is not hear to tell me off for saying this, the real reason Lady Abyss sold WOTC was because every day after she was back in her cabin after it had been burnt to the ground by an arsonist all she felt was negativity come from the readers of WOTC and she felt most of you wanted her gone from here. I took WOTC over because I was grateful usually that Lady Abyss talked me into starting my own website COven Life it took her a while and a joke between us was that she twisted so hard it almost broke. I didn’t want to come out of my Solitary practice to take up the mantel of High Priestess to a coven and a mentor to new witches by opening a witchcraft school even though they were both online. I was perfectly happy posting on WOTC and I remember fighting tooth and nail until I just  gave up and gave in to Lady A’s vision for me. NOw I’m the owner of 2 websites, a witchcraft school, online coven, and love it. SO yes, A you were right to push me years ago. So again I ask you to please email me any type of contribution you want to make as part of the WOTC and CL community, not with money but with words, songs, a joke, whatever you feel like submitting as long as it is not erotica which could get this site thrown off of WordPress and believe me that’s the last thing I want to see happen after we all worked so hard to save this legacy of a wonderful, kind, beautiful, and giving woman. Take a minute to think where you might be on your own path if not for these websites and Lady Abyss than raise your cup or glass high and thank her. Blessed be my sisters and brothers of the WOTC and CL community.

Email whatever to me at WitchesCovenHearts@yahoo.com Please put For Posting in the email Subject Line. Thank you

This Lifetime has Ended for Our Beloved Lady Abyss

The reason I have not heard for Lady Abyss is because she crossed into the Summerlands on June 13, 2019. I do not know what happened to her as she sounded fine when I talk to her on the 12th. How I found out her body died was by coming across her obituary while trying to find a current phone number for her.

I have just chatted  with WordPress on how I can keep this domain name. I just have to try to get a copy of a document about Lady A and have one noterized about myself. I will be working on both this week.

Instead of a regular open chat this coming Saturday I’m going to have a Memorial for Lady Abyss

I will approve people entering the chat room before Saturday/Sunday and check for new people through out the day except for when we are doing the remembrance ceremony.

Everyone is welcome to attend to share stories and/or memories of our wonderful, loving sister and mentor Lady Abyss. I will be in and out of the chat room. For the Northern Hemisphere the Chat room will be open starting on Saturday, November 9th at approximately 4:00 PM CST until everyone is done. For the Southern Hemisphere it will start on Sunday, November 10th at 9:00 AM AEDT. There will be a remembrance ceremony celebrating Lady Abyss’ life, death, and her rebirth in the future at 6:00 PM CT/11:00 AM AEDT. Please have a 4 inch candle with Lady Abyss inscribed into it. If you want to use a larger candle that is fine too. Have a safe place to leave the candle burn when you are awake. Keep relightening until it burns all the way down. If you want to write a note of any kind to her please do that beforehand. After the candle is lit start to burn the piece of paper place it into a fire proof container to finish burning it safely. Take the candle stub any leftover wax from it and put them in the container with the ashes. When everything is completely cooled  down, wrap it all in either gauze or a paper towel and bring to a crossroads. If you can bury in the center of where the roads cross great, if you can not bury it leave the little bundle in the middle of the crossroads.

I will not be doing regular posts or answering mails today/tomorrow or tomorrow/Thursday I need sometime to start coming to terms with my mentor, best friend and sister no longer being in this plane. I only found out yesterday by stumbling over her obituary while looking for something else.On

Celtic Tree Month – Coll – Hazel Moon August 5 – September 1

 

About the Celtic Tree Month – Coll (Hazel Moon): August 5 – September 1

“The lunar tree calendar of the Celts has long been a source of controversy among Celtic scholars. Some even claim it was never a part of the old Celtic world, but was an invention of author/researcher Robert Graves. The Druids are generally given credit by other researchers for creating this system. There seems to be no scholarly evidence to prove otherwise, yet many Celtic Pagans feel that the system pre-dates the time of Druidic influence over Celtic religious matters. It is probably reasonable to believe that the truth lies somewhere in between these three extremes. It is most likely that the tree system was in place, with minor regional variations before the time of the Druids who experimented with it, discovered the magical properties of each tree, and codified all the information into the system we have today.”

—-Joelles Sacred Grove

The Hazel Moon was known to the Celts as Coll, which translates to “the life force inside you.” This is the time of year when Hazelnuts are appearing on the trees, and are an early part of the harvest. Hazelnuts are also associated with wisdom and protection. Hazel is often associated in Celtic lore with sacred wells and magical springs containing the salmon of knowledge. This is a good month to do workings related to wisdom and knowledge, dowsing and divination, and dream journeys. If you’re a creative type, such as an artist, writer, or musician, this is a good month to get your muse back, and find inspiration for your talents. Even if you normally don’t do so, write a poem or song this month.

Source

Patti Wigington, Author
Published on ThoughtCo

Understanding Spells……….Printable

Gods – OgmaCeltic God c.2015

 

Ogma

Celtic God

 

In Irish-Celtic myth, Ogma is the god of eloquence and learning. He is the son of the goddess Danu and the god Dagda, and one of the foremost members of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He is the reputed inventor of the ancient Ogham alphabet which is used in the earliest Irish writings.

In the final battle at Mag Tuireadh he managed to take away the sword of the king of the Fomorians, but had to pay with his life for this feat. His Celtic equivalent is Ogmios.

Ogma or Oghma is a character from Irish mythology. A member of the Tuatha Dé Danann, he is often considered a deity and may be related to the Gaulish god Ogmios.

He fights in the first battle of Mag Tuired, when the Tuatha Dé take Ireland from the Fir Bolg. Under the reign of Bres, when the Tuatha Dé are reduced to servitude, Ogma is forced to carry firewood, but nonetheless is the only one of the Tuatha Dé who proves his athletic and martial prowess in contests before the king. When Bres is overthrown and Nuadu restored, Ogma is his champion. His position is threatened by the arrival of Lugh at the court, so Ogma challenges him by lifting and hurling a great flagstone, which normally required eighty oxen to move it, out of Tara, but Lugh answers the challenge by hurling it back. When Nuadu hands command of the Battle of Mag Tuired to Lugh, Ogma becomes Lugh’s champion, and promises to repel the Fomorian king, Indech, and his bodyguard, and to defeat a third of the enemy. During the battle he finds Orna, the sword of the Fomorian king Tethra, which recounts the deeds done with it when unsheathed. During the battle Ogma and Indech fall in single combat, although there is some confusion in the texts as in Cath Maige Tuired Ogma, Lugh and the Dagda pursue the Fomorians after the battle to recover the harp of Uaitne, the Dagda’s harper.

He often appears as a triad with Lugh and the Dagda, who are sometimes collectively known as the trí dée dána or three gods of skill, although that designation is elsewhere applied to other groups of characters. His father is Elatha and his mother is usually given as Ethliu, sometimes as Étaín. His sons include Delbaeth and Tuireann. He is said to have invented the Ogham alphabet, which is named after him.

Scholars of Celtic mythology have proposed that Ogma represents the vestiges of an ancient Celtic god. By virtue of his battle prowess and invention of Ogham, he is compared with Ogmios, a Gaulish deity associated with eloquence and equated with Herakles. J. A. MacCulloch compares Ogma’s epithet grianainech (sun-face) with Lucian’s description of the “smiling face” of Ogmios, and suggests Ogma’s position as champion of the Tuatha Dé Danann may derive “from the primitive custom of rousing the warriors’ emotions by eloquent speeches before a battle”, although this is hardly supported by the texts. Scholars such Rudolf Thurneysen and Anton van Hamel dispute any link between Ogma and Ogmios.

*
A Proto-Indo-European root *og-mo– ‘furrow, track, incised line’ may be the origin of the stem of the name. In addition, Proto-Celtic had a causative verbal suffix *-ej– ~ *-īj-. A hypothetical Proto-Celtic *Ogm-īj-o-sogm-. This agent noun would therefore mean ‘furrow-maker, incisor’ and may have had a metaphorical sense of ‘impresser.’ therefore looks very much like an agent noun derived from a verb formed by the addition of this causative suffix to the stem *

The Irish god of writing, eloquence and poetry. Ogma was credited of being inventor of the Celtic writing systems that the Druids used for their magic. These scripts were known as Ogham.

Ogma was the son of Dagda and the goddess Danu. Some other writers say that Ogma and Dagda were brothers; in this version they were the sons of Eithne. Ogma had also being called the son of Elatha, the king of the Fomorians.

Ogma was one the seven champions in the First Battle of Moytura (Mag Tuired), but when Bres became the king of Tuatha dé Danann, Ogma was degraded into working on humiliating manual job of gathering firewood.
When Lugh went to Nuada, asking for a place to serve the king, Ogma seemed to be Nuada’s foremost fighter. During the second battle of Moytura, Ogma had killed one of the Fomorian leaders, named Indech, the son of Domnu.

Ogma had married Etain, the daughter of Dian Cécht. Ogma had a son named Caipre. Some say that he was the father of MacCuill, MacCecht and MacGrené (MacGrene), the three Danann kings who ruled Ireland, during the Milesian invasion, though other say that Neit was their father.
To the Celtic Gauls he was called Ogmios. According to both Gallic and Irish myths Ogma was a warrior god, depicted as a wrinkled old man, wearing lion’s skin cloak, carrying a bow and club. The Romans considered Ogmios as the Celtic equivalent of Hercules (Greek Heracles). They also depicting Ogimos as holding people chained to his tongue by their ears, to indicate he was the god of eloquence and poetry.

Author: Agaliha

Today Is Your Day, Lady Abyss! Happy Birthday! We Love You!

Happy Birthday Images

We are celebrating this day as one of the best days of the year.

It is the birthday of a very special person who has been

a friend, philosopher, role model, guide and much more

importantly, one of the most caring individuals in our lives.

It’s you, Lady Abyss!

Wishing you a birthday full of much happiness, joy & love!

Happy Birthday, we love you,

Susan Randis
Shari Lenway
Kari Vela
Tabitha Rust
Alice Dilts
Dym Shiu
Leslie Same
Abe Parker
James Andrews
Andy Forrester
SpiritWolf
Barbara Fox
Brenda Martin
Becky Heflin
Don da Wan
Alexander Krueger
Petri Glasnovy
Peter Glassner
The Green Witch
Jerry Marshall
Frank Nance
Katlin Mercer
John Morris
Mistress of the Myst
Lord of the Myst
and
The Entire WOTC
 
Happy Birthday, Lady A!

Gardnerian Traditional Witchcraft –B.14. Skyclad (1953) c.2013

Gardnerian Traditional Witchcraft –B.14. Skyclad (1953)

B.14. Skyclad (1953)
It is important to work naked from the start, so it becometh as second nature, and no thought of “I have no clothes” shall ever intrude and take your attention from the work.  Also, your skin being so accustomed to unconfinement, when power is given off the flow is more easy and regular.  Also, when dancing you are free and unconfined. . . .
And the greatest of all, the touch of the body of your beloved thrills your inmost soul, and so your body gives out its utmost power; and then it is most important of all that there is not the slightest thing to divert the attention, for then the mind must seize and mold the power generated, and redirect it to the desired end with all the force and frenzy of the imagination.
It has been said that no real knowledge may be gained our way, that our practices are such that they can only lead to lust; but this is not really so.  Our aim is to gain the inner sight, and we do it the most natural and easy way.  Our opponents’ aim is ever to prevent man and woman from loving, thinking that everything that helps or even permits them to love is wicked and vile.  To us it is natural, and if it aids the Great Work it is good.
‘Tis true that a couple burning with a frenzy for knowledge may go straight to their goal, but the average couple have not this fire.  We show them the way, our system of props and aids (i.e., magic ritual).  A couple working with nothing but lust will never attain in any case; but a couple who love each other dearly should already be sleeping together, and the first frenzy of love will have passed, and their souls will already be in sympathy.  If the first time or two they do stay a while to worship Aphrodite, ’tis only a day or two lost, and the intense pleasure they obtain only leads them again to the mysteries of Hermes, their souls more attuned to the great search.  Once they have pierced the veil they will not look back.
This rite may be used as the greatest of magics if it be done with both partners firmly fixing their minds on the object and not thinking of sex at all.  That is, you must so firmly fix your mind on your object that sex and all else are naught.  You inflame your will to such an extent that you may create a strain on the astral such that events happen.

 

The Effects the Full Moon Has On Us