Calendar of the Moon for Wednesday, Feb. 8th

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.

Cosmic Calendar for Wednesday, Feb. 8th

After a day like yesterday, it is important to avoid a severe let-down. This is also a good point in the cosmic calendar to remind you that solar and planetary alignments from one day don’t necessarily disappear the next day. Therefore, many of Tuesday’s cosmic interactions are still reverberating in the ethers and affecting everyone. However, whatever happens right now is more in the ascendancy of importance. The Moon parallel Mars (8:35AM PST) suggests avoiding displays of arrogance, rash behavior and egocentricity. During the fairly short void lunar uncertainty zone in Leo – from 8:43AM PST to 9:33AM PST – complete old business with a flourish, but leave new and bold enterprises until the Moon is comfortably settled into meticulous, versatile Virgo (9:33AM PST). The Moon in this sixth sign of the zodiac should accentuate clean-up campaigns, scholarly research and nutritional changes to strengthen your immune system, but the Moon opposing Neptune (9:52AM PST) followed closely by a potentially emotionally-disruptive Venus-Uranus contra-parallel (10:20AM PST) have the capacity to send you down a blind alley. Know where you are going and what you are doing. The Moon making a flowing trine to Jupiter (3:46PM PST) would seem to carry the necessary oomph and charge to give you a renewed optimistic mind-set, but lurking in the shadows is an off-kilter, 150-degree entanglement from Mercury to Mars (11:10PM PST). Why be belligerent to dear ones under pressure when you can be a fighter for human rights around the globe? Think before you act.

New Moon Report for Feb. 7th – Venus in Aries

New Moon Report

By Jeff Jawer

 

Venus in Aries

Tuesday, February 7, 10:01 pm PST, Wednesday, February 8, 1:01 am EST

Spontaneous attractions and restless relationships are likely with the love planet in impatient Aries until March 5. The urge for immediate gratification could be downright reckless when Venus joins rebellious Uranus on February 9. However, experiencing breakthroughs in alliances, appearance and self-worth make experimentation desirable during this revelatory period.

New Moon Report for Feb. 7th – Full Moon in Leo

New Moon Report

By Jeff Jawer

 

Full Moon in Leo

Tuesday, February 7, 1:54 pm PST, 4:54 pm EST

The fiery and fiercely personal Leo Full Moon opposes the chilly Sun in objective Aquarius as egos need attention and hearts are eager for dramatic expression. Allow some room for childlike behavior; some of it may be overbearing, but the freedom to show feelings without restraint may be worth the trouble. Exaggeration can encourage creativity and also bring buried emotions to the surface where they can be addressed openly.

Calendar of the Moon for Tuesday, February 7th

Calendar of the Moon
7 Luis/Gamelion

Hearth Blessing

Color: Red
Element: Fire
Altar: On this day the altar is built in the kitchen, spread before the hearth with a red cloth and a single red candle on which is carved the Rune of Fire.
Offerings: Ashes smeared on the forehead. Kitchen cleaning and duty.
Daily Meal: Cooked all together as a group.

Invocation to the Hearth Goddess

Hertha of the warm hearthstone
Hestia of the naked flame
Vesta of the rising smoke
Lady who warms us
As you warmed our ancestors,
Lady whose touch cooks our food,
Lady around whom we gather
On the coldest nights,
Fire that draws us in,
Fire tamed, fire who is our friend,
Never let us forget your care
Lest you become wild and strike back.
Stay here in your hearth
And protect our home from your anger.
Speak truth to us
And let us bear your truth on our tongues.
Never leave us for long
Lest we forget to whom we owe
The next winter’s comfort
And salvation.

Chant: Ken Ken Ken

(As everyone chants, each steps forward and draws the rune of Fire, Ken, on the hearth with their finger. Then the hearth is ceremonially relit with the candle and dinner-making commences.)

Cosmic Calendar for Tuesday, February 7th

Here’s a humdinger of epic proportions. Take a look at the following dizzying list of aspects – the Sun unites with Mercury in Aquarius (1:04AM PST), Saturn stations at 30 degrees of Libra (6:04AM PST) and very slowly begins to move retrograde, the Moon parallels Jupiter (9:36AM PST), Mars opposes Vesta (10:47AM PST), Venus makes an off-kilter, 150-degree tie to Saturn (12:01PM PST), the Full Moon occurs at 1:55PM PST (activating 19 degrees of Aquarius and Leo), Venus ends its cycle through the zodiac by entering Aries (10:02PM PST), and Juno trines Uranus in fire signs (10:54PM PST). That list represents 8 major heavenly happenings that are all interweaving their myriad qualities into one vast singularity in the psychic atmosphere. Keep in mind that the Sun-Mercury conjunction is actually an Earth-Sun-Mercury line-up in the solar system in which celestial seed-ideas are seeking entrance into receptive human minds. The Saturn shift into reverse motion will last until June 25, and this key planet doing backstrokes in Libra places an emphasis on what is more practical, sensible, logical and reliable in the material realm. In addition, you want to make a thorough re-evaluation of career aims, professional work and business plans – not to mention improve the quality of primary partnerships. Meanwhile, the Full Moon reminds you to send out healing thoughts and prayers to humanity on the edge of a pessimistic fall into the abyss. Your job is to rally the flying squadrons of enlightenment via individual and group meditations. While the Mars-Vesta opposition and Venus-Saturn 150-degree skirmish are clearly unsettling vibrations that can interfere with your best efforts to spread goodwill, the illuminating presence of the Full Moon – along with Venus starting a new cycle in the zodiac and Juno teaching Uranus a few things about style and beauty – can give you the positive boost necessary to have an award-winning day. May the Force be with you!

Calendar of the Moon for February 4th

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.

Calendar of the Moon for Thursday, Feb. 2nd

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.

Calendar of the Moon for February 1st

Calendar of the Moon
1 Luis/Gamelion

Day of the Rowan Tree

Color: Light grey
Element: Earth
Altar: On a cloth of light grey set a vase of rowan twigs, gathered ahead of time and forced into budding, dried rowan berries from the preceding year, a single red candle, a pot of soil, seeds, a bowl of water, and a bell.
Offering: Plant seeds. Keep your dreams alive.
Daily Meal: Vegan. Red food.

Invocation to the Green Man of the Rowan Tree

Hail, Green Man of the Winter!
Rowan tree of the mountains,
Slender of stalk and many of leaf,
Sacred berries that break any spell
And ward any home,
Red as the ochre of our ancestors,
Red as the food of the gods,
Brigid’s pride, magical branch,
Protector of doorways,
Protector of children,
Expunger of evil,
Fire of the forge,
Floods across the plain,
Duck who rides the flood,
We hail you, sacred rowan tree,
Green Man of the Winter,
On this the time of your dreaming.

Chant:
I rise with the sap,
I feel the deep spark,
I find joy in the cold,
I bend with the winds.

(Each comes forward and plants a seed in the pot of soil, saying, “Hail Green Man of the Earth!” Water is poured onto the pot, and then the rest is poured out as a libation. Ring bell and dismiss.)

Cosmic Calendar for Tuesday, Jan. 31

One of the calmest days of January 2012 arrives on the scene. Even last night’s fairly intense First Quarter Sun-Moon Phase is pretty much a done deal. In its place, the cosmos only gives you one slight hurdle to jump over – a Moon-Uranus 45-degree skirmish (8:33AM PST). By anticipating some surprises, shocking news or jack-in-the-box type situations, you will be on top of your game and ready to accomplish everything on your pragmatic, to-do list under hardworking Taurus Moon. Handle financial management and budgets like a pro. Get back on track with favorite exercise routines. Check to make sure your garden equipment is spruced up and ready for the growing season. Love vibrations increase in wavelength this evening – thanks to a supportive, 60-degree liaison from the Moon in Taurus to Venus in Pisces (6:09PM PST) supplemented by a flowing trine from the Moon to Mars retrograding in Virgo (8:29PM PST). There is no reason why you cannot combine loving kindness (Venus) with just the right measure of passion (Mars) to guide a primary partnership on to a higher plane of thoughtful interaction. Let the good times roll!

Cosmic Calendar for Monday, January 30

For the most part – after several days of exhausting celestial shenanigans – you can now breathe a sigh of relief during the last two days of January. The first piece of good news comes in the form of the monthly Moon-Jupiter union in Taurus (3:30AM PST). Although this occurs officially early in the day, its influence can last for many hours. The power of positive thinking, good luck and auspicious vibrations are your bridge to worldly achievements. Some challenging situations may pop up to test your faith and resolve since the Moon squares Mercury (8:16AM PST), Mercury then makes a frictional, 45-degree tie to Venus (8:48AM PST) while the tension-creating First Quarter Sun-Moon Phase (energizing 11 degrees of Aquarius and Taurus) clocks in at 8:11PM PST. Moving too far too fast – particularly with an air of superiority (a la Jupiter on steroids) – will foil your higher plans. It is always wise to be humble instead of succumbing to the sin (hubris or pride) of mythological Icarus – whose wings melted because he flew to close to the Sun. Helping you stay more creative and artistic – in a deep and powerful manner – is an enlightening, 72-degree link from Venus to Pluto (6:50PM PST). Try to tweak the Taurus Moon tendency to be stubborn into the more admirable trait to be a Rock of Gibraltar when friends and loved ones need someone to lean on.

Lunar Almanac for Monday, January 30th

Moon & Witch Comments & Graphics

Lunar Almanac for Monday, January 30th
First Quarter Moon, at 11h. 11m. evening.
Ascending Node is at 11° Sagittarius.
Moon in 10th degree of the Sign Taurus, the Bull;
also in 12th deg. of the Constellation Aries, the Ram.
Moonset: 12:06 morn. Moonrise: 10:39 morn. Midheaven: 5:46 eve.

 

GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

~Magickal Graphics~

Calendar of the Moon for January 29th

Calendar of the Moon

Dark Moon Night

Color: Black
Element: Air
Altar: Upon a black cloth set a single black candle, incense, an iron sickle laid to mimic the direction of the waning moon, a cup of water, a lock of silver hair, and a white bone.
Offerings: Bones. Stones. Menstrual blood. Give something up.
Daily Meal: Soup of some sort, cooked in a cauldron, eaten in silence.

Dark Moon Invocation

At this time, in the dark of the moon,
When the Silver Lady ages
To an old woman in the dark,
Haunting crossroads, working magic,
Stirring her cauldron
Of poison that heals,
Grandmother Moon of sorcery
And wisdom, who sees all
And reveals little to our searching eyes.
Moon of Death, Moon of mystery,
Moon of silence who hides her face,
Let us learn silence from your averted gaze
Let us learn patience from your aging face
Let us feel for the dark places within us
And find our way down your path in the darkness
Which is utter and complete
But not impenetrable.
As darkness wraps us,
So silence heals us.
As darkness finds us,
So silence guides us.
As darkness speaks,
So silence falls.

(The candle is blown out, and all leave in silence. From the beginning of this rite at Hesperis until the dawn, silence will rule in the house. Talking must be done only in whispers, and between no more than two people, and only for that which is necessary. Long meditation is encouraged, and all work must be done quietly if possible. The evening meal should be eaten by candlelight, and only candles may light the house, except for the sake of certain important work.)

Cosmic Calendar for Sunday, January 29th

As mentioned at the end of yesterday’s calendar entry, after two days of up-in-the-air, wacky and wild cosmic behavior, the lunar orb provides a simple and straight-forward inspirational Moon-Jupiter parallel (12:23AM PST). Good fortune and optimism are back in your corner. A major shift concerns the asteroid Juno which is moving from the intense waters of Scorpio into fiery and enthusiastic Sagittarius (6:14AM PST). This is a boost for most primary partnerships as a vibration of goodwill enters the picture – particularly until Juno stops and begins a retrograde cycle in this same sign on March 24. You may also feel the urge to purchase new wardrobe items that are athletic and sporty in nature. Be more adventurous in your fashion and style interests. Reach out to nurture friends and relatives on the rocks as Mercury makes a supportive, 60-degree liaison with Ceres (9:13AM PST). Learn more about massage, shiatsu, acupuncture, acupressure, foot reflexology, herbal medicine and other, alternative healing techniques as Mercury forms a 30-degree tie with Chiron (1:18PM PST) while Venus ups the ante by making a parallel with Chiron (7:59PM PST). This latter aspect may also provide love birds with extra contentment and romantic interludes. Be aware that a short void lunar cycle arrives at 10:10PM PST and ends at 10:29PM PST when the Moon enters earthy, practical Taurus for the next 2+ days.

Calendar of the Moon for Jan. 28th

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.

Cosmic Calendar for Saturday, Jan. 28th

If you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. This is another one of those old proverbs that connects to today’s Moon in fiery Aries – along with tempestuous energy-fields associated with the Sun moving into a frictional, 135-degree connection to Mars (4:06AM PST) just prior to Venus forming an abrasive, 45-degree link to giant Jupiter (4:38AM PST) and Mercury squaring sometimes hazy and chaotic Neptune (7:01AM PST). While golden opportunities outweighed nebulous situations yesterday, today is kind of the reverse. In addition to the fuzz balls mentioned just above, we also have to contend with the likes of Mars in contra-parallel formation with Ceres (11:22AM PST), Mercury making a caustic, 45-degree tie to Vesta (7:55PM PST) and squaring Jupiter (8:09PM PST) while Jupiter is also in a perturbing, 45-degree tie to Vesta (8:56PM PST). Signing papers, making long-term commitments, and dealing with legal matters are completely taboo right now. The key to moving through today relatively unscathed is to be fast on your feet and to tap into intuitive flashes guiding you upward and onward – courtesy of a supportive, 60-degree rapport from Mercury in Aquarius to Uranus in Aries (10:27AM PST). New ideas in science, metaphysics and kindred fields can help you leapfrog over erstwhile competitors. Get back on target with high-tech and computer-oriented enterprises. Overnight inspirations have a good feel to them as the Moon parallels Jupiter (exactly at 12:23AM PST tomorrow). Energize the power of positive thinking as Saturday night morphs into Sunday morning.

Calendar of the Moon for Friday, Jan. 27th

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.

Cosmic Calendar For Friday, Jan. 27th

It was the great Al Jolson – of vaudeville, stage and early screen fame – who used to say: You ain’t seen nothing yet. That is a very good summation for the cosmic challenge going on during the next 48 hours as a deluge of aspects – many of which are on the discordant side of the astro-tracks – arrives in our neck of the universe. Here’s the short list of what is on tap today. The Moon remains void in Pisces until the lunar orb enters fiery, independent and forceful Aries at 10:29AM PST. Mercury squares time-keeper Saturn (1:22AM PST) and makes a supportive, 60-degree alliance with emotionally-empowering Juno (2:51AM PST). Mercury then enters the universal air sign of Aquarius at 10:13AM PST where it will stay until February 13. Meanwhile, Venus is parallel to nurturing Ceres (11:15AM PST), the Moon in Aries unites with revolutionary Uranus (1:40PM PST) and productivity-enhancer Ceres (3:41PM PST) while the Moon moves on to a parallel with recently reversed Mars (7:42PM PST) followed by a potentially fireworks-generating Venus-Mars contra-parallel (8:42PM PST), and the celestial seasonings conclude with a splendid, inspiring Venus-Vesta union in Pisces (9:07PM PST) that can be good for love and money matters. The discord today is coming from challenging aspects such as Mercury square Saturn, the Moon uniting with Uranus and forming a parallel to Mars. Venus-Mars in contra-parallel formation may be another hard-to-handle alignment. Emotions are somewhat frayed and you may need to earn your stripes when it comes to being crystal clear in financial discussions (due to Mercury at odds with Saturn). On the favorable front are pretty much the rest of the aspects and that can manifest as success and achievements across the board.

The Wicca Book of Days for Jan. 27th – Lady Of Heaven

Fantasy Images, Pictures, Comments
January 27th

Lady of Heaven

January 27 is sacred to Ishtar, the Babylonian Goddess of feminine sexuality, fertility and ferocity, who as equated with the Sumerian Inanna, and whose lover was Dumuzi. So beautiful was Ishtar that she was addressed as “Shining One” and equated with the planet Venus (one of her symbols was the eight-pointed star); so wanton was she that she was termed “Great Harlot”; and so blood-thirsty was she that she was called “Queen of Attack,” depicted astride a lion. Wiccans invoke Ishtar when a libido needs livening up; when her powers over fertility are desired; or when there re enemies to be vanquished.

“Divine Cupcakes”

Commune with Ishtar today in the same way that her devotees did in Mesopotamian times, namely by baking cakes in her honor. After you have taken a batch of cupcakes, perhaps, out of the oven and left them to cool, you could decorate them by frosting them with Ishtar’s symbols: eight-pointed stars and crescent moons.