Tag: Word of the Day

April 15th Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1755 Samuel Johnson‘s “A Dictionary of the English Language” published in London

1861 Federal army (75,000 volunteers) mobilized by US President Abraham Lincoln (US Civil War)

1874 First ‘Impressionist’ exhibition opens in Paris, features Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro and Berthe Morisot

1877 Boston-Somerville installs the world’s 1st telephone in Massachusetts

1912 RMS Titanic sinks at 2:27 AM off Newfoundland as the band plays on, with the loss of between 1,490 and 1,635 people

Today’s Historical Events

69 Battle at Bedriacum, North-Italy

1205 Battle at Adrianople: Bulgaria beats Emp Boudouin of Constantinople

1250 Kublai is acclaimed the Great Khan by a Mongol Great Council

1250 Pope Innocent IV refuses Jews of Cordova, Spain their request to build a synagogue

1385 At war with Castile, John I of Portugal instructs his ambassadors to negotiate an alliance with Richard II of England and to raise loans to pay his troops

1450 Battle of Formigny: French defeat the English decisively in the Hundred Years’ War, paving the way for the capture of English strongholds in Normandy

1493 -20/4] Columbus meets with the Spanish monarchs Isabella I and Ferdinand II in Barcelona

1528 Pánfilo the Narváez, Spanish conquistador arrives in Florida with 350 men to a hostile reception from native indians

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1948 KCPX (now KTVX) TV channel 4 in Salt Lake City, UT (ABC) 1st broadcast

1953 WHP TV channel 21 in Harrisburg, PA (CBS) begins broadcasting

1954 KARK TV channel 4 in Little Rock, AR (NBC) begins broadcasting

1954 WHO TV channel 13 in Des Moines, IA (NBC) begins broadcasting

1957 KTVI TV channel 2 in Saint Louis, MO (ABC) begins broadcasting

1958 10th Emmy Awards: Gunsmoke, Robert Young & Jane Wyatt win

1961 Meredith Willson’s musical “The Music Man”, starring Robert Preston and Barbara Cook, closes at Majestic Theater, NYC. after 1375 performances, 5 Tony Awards, and a Grammy

1963 Steve Allen‘s musical “Sophie”, based on the life of American singer, and comic actress Sophie Tucker, opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 8 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1729 Johann Sebastian Bach‘s “St Matthew Passion” premieres in Leipzig

1738 Premiere in London of “Serse”, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel

1960 Guy Carawan sings “We Shall Overcome” to a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Raleigh – popularising the song as a protest anthem

1965 James Baldwin‘s 1954 stage drama “The Amen Corner” opens at Ethel Barrymore Theater, NYC; runs for 84 performances

1966 The Rolling Stones release “Aftermath”, their fourth studio album in UK (6th in US)

1967 “Wait A Minim!” closes at John Golden Theater NYC after 457 performances

1970 “Cry for Us All” closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 8 performances

1971 “70, Girls, 70” opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 35 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1896 1st modern Summer Olympic Games close in Athens, Greece; USA wins gold medal count, 11; Greece wins total medal count, 46; IOC has retroactively assigned gold, silver & bronze medals to 3 best placed athletes in each event

1901 5th Boston Marathon won for second straight year by Canadian Jim Caffrey in race record 2:29:23.6

1907 11th Boston Marathon won by Canadian Tom Longboat in race record 2:24:24

1910 William Howard Taft is first US President to throw out the 1st ball at a baseball game

1911 Walter Johnson pitches a record tying 4 strike outs in an inning

1912 16th Boston Marathon won by Mike Ryan in race record 2:21:18.2

1915 NY Giant Rube Marquard no-hits Bkln, 2-0

1918 22nd Boston Marathon won by Camp Devens relay team; race run as relay for 10-man military teams

A Thought for Today – An Idea I Use to Help Stop an Anxiety/Panic Attack

I have had people suggest that I start posting some original things instead of copying and pasting from other website so much. So, I decided to give it a try by sharing something that helps to calm me down sometimes when I am going into an anxiety attack.

Photo by Lady Carla Beltane

I am not sure if you will see the Fairy wing in this picture that I do. This is along some unused, old railroad tracks about 1/4 of a block away from my home. I walk these tracks often looking, listening, and immersing myself in all nature has to offer me on any given day.

Yesterday as I walked along I kept being drawn back to this spot and until I quietly sat on the railroad tracks and opened myself up for any message a spirit guide, ancestor, animal spirit guide, gods, goddesses, archangels, Wee Folk or other beings had for me I was not able to hear them. It is a home for woodland Spirits, Fairies, Pixies, and Nymphs. I cannot adequately describe the feelings going through me and the gratitude I felt that Fae Folk decided to let me know where their home base was here.

When I lived in Lisle Fairies and beings that work with Funa and Flora had a home right next to the vegetable garden I planted by myself for fifteen years. Unfortunately, one of the ways I allowed this abuser (a different one than the one I just got the fantastic divorce, I foolishly allowed myself to remain in this relationship for 19 years but more on this another day) to get to me was by putting Miracle Grow in the my starter seeds without telling me and then spraying the garden in 2017, whereas I had always kept it as a pure organic garden from 2002 until that fateful summer. I even made a corner near the garage and garden into a compost pile which I would spread over the garden after Samhain and cover that with leaves from a beautiful Red Maple he had cut down. Neighbors would always try to figure out how without using unnatural fertilizer in my garden that I got a larger harvest than they did. I could not and would not tell them about the Wee Folk that helped my garden to flourish. No need to tell all of you the Wee Folk left because the chemicals stepped into their home and the garden never did well again.

To thank the Wee Folk, I would make them tiny fairy cakes served with warm milk and butter I made from heavy cream. I would place it about 12 inches from their home hidden under a small raspberry bush. They also got all put 2 of the raspberries every season and all the Mulberries they wanted, before he cut down the largest, most convenient for them to get to Mulberry tree.

Why did he keep cutting down healthy tree? Mainly because he knew I could feel the spirits living in each of them and loved having a beautiful backyard to sit in under shade if I wanted to or in the Sun. Cleo and Star enjoyed that backyard as it was fenced in, and they could go wherever they wanted to in it. He stopped this too by fertilizing the lawn with weed and feed.

Sorry got off on a tangent. If I can catch an anxiety attack I start walking along the tracks until I feel this is where I should stop for now. Then I just breath in the scents of the woods around me. Listen to all the different birds chatting with each other. Take time to notice what is starting to bud or lose its leaves depending on the season. For me this is a place of quite and a safety net of sorts. I would like to suggest to other that get anxiety or panic attacks to find someone to walk and/or sit and just enjoy the feast for all our senses that Gaia/Mother Earth gives us so freely. I almost always have something to drink with me as I never know if I’m going to be gone from our home for 5 minutes or maybe an hour, as I lose all track of time when I am in a wooded area and enjoying it. Before I leave where I choose to sit and feast I pour some or most of the non-acholic beverage out in the wood area to thank Gaia/Mother Earth for once again soothing my nerves.

 

A Little Humor for Your Day

One of my favorite easy, corny jokes for children of all ages…

How to get catch a unique bird?

wait for it…

 

almost to the answer…

 

just scroll down a little more…

 

 

You neak up on it? 😂

Have a beautiful day!

April 14, 2023 Daily Horoscopes

Click here to read Georgia Nicols Daily Horoscopes

Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Aquarius.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

It’s the end of the week and it’s totally appropriate to take it easy. Nevertheless, keep an eye on your money and possessions because something unexpected could impact them. You might have a quarrel related to money or your assets. You might find money; you might lose money.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

People notice you today; however, this might not be a good thing. You might attract confrontations, quarrels and challenges. Do your best to keep a low profile and not attract people to you. Keep your head down and your powder dry.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

This is a dicey day for travel because there’s a strong chance that travel plans will change, be delayed or cancelled. You might find it challenging dealing with people from other cultures or different countries because actually, communications are a bit challenging today with everyone!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Keep an eye on your bank account and anything to do with inheritances, debt and shared property because something out of the blue might change things. If so, you will want to know right away. Discussions with friends or members of groups might be challenging.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Tread carefully when talking to parents, bosses, VIPs and the police today because misunderstandings are rampant. Assume nothing. Do not underestimate the power of courtesy. Zip thy lip if you can see that there’s no point in talking. It is what it is.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Don’t go looking for trouble at work because it will be easy for trouble to find you. Do not criticize customers or coworkers. Expect interruptions to your day – late deliveries, computer problems, staff shortages, power outages, anything. It’s an unpredictable day.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Social plans might suddenly change or be cancelled. Or perhaps you will receive a surprise invitation to go somewhere? Stay tuned. Meanwhile, parents should be extra vigilant and keep an eye on your kids today because this is an accident-prone day for your kids.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

In one way, you want to hunker down safely at home and feel safe in familiar surroundings. Nevertheless, your home routine will change today. Small appliances might break down. Someone unexpected might appear at your door. Prepare for the unexpected.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Pay attention to everything you say and do because this is a mildly accident-prone day for your sign. This includes verbal accidents or gaffes that make you wince. (“Did I just say that?”) Travel plans will change today. Stay light on your feet so that you can move in any direction at any time.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Something related to social plans, your kids, your money, your possessions or your assets is up for grabs today. (That covers a pretty wide swath.) For starters, protect your money and your possessions. Be aware of your kids and sudden changes in social situations.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This is a restless day for you. In one way, it feels like there’s more electricity in the air. You’re charged and ready for action. But in another way, things are unstable and unpredictable. Don’t head into any situation without checking things out first. Assume nothing. A surprise at home might await you.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Even if you disagree with people today, avoid arguments because things could go south in a New York minute. This is a very unpredictable day. Issues might be hidden from you. Accidents are possible. Make sure your Spidey sense is working so that you can check out people and situations in order to avoid regrets. (You have this talent.)

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Abigail Breslin (1996) shares your birthday today. You have excellent communication skills and a talent for dealing with people. You love variety and change and yet, you crave stability. This year is a time of teaching, learning and reflection. Explore philosophies, life beliefs business systems and anything that helps you get closer to the true meaning of your life.

April 14, 2023 Northern Hemisphere’s Planetary Positions

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 

Northwestern Hemisphere

This local time is in Los Angeles, California, USA

April 14, 2023
11:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM PDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:24 Aries 44
Moon:15 Aquarius 40
Mercury:13 Taurus 32
Venus:04 Gemini 22
Mars:10 Cancer 22
Jupiter:22 Aries 29
Saturn:04 Pisces 05
Uranus:17 Taurus 31
Neptune:26 Pisces 13
Pluto:00 Aquarius 18

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 04 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:04 Taurus 42 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Leo 48

Chiron:16 Aries 24
Ceres:25 Virgo 28 Rx
Pallas:23 Cancer 09
Juno:19 Taurus 50
Vesta:29 Aries 40

Eris:24 Aries 34

Fire:6
Earth:6
Air:3
Water:4
Cardinal:7
Fixed:8
Mutable:4

Northern Hemisphere

This local time is in Chicago, Illinois, USA

April 14, 2023
09:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM CDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:24 Aries 39
Moon:14 Aquarius 28
Mercury:13 Taurus 29
Venus:04 Gemini 16
Mars:10 Cancer 19
Jupiter:22 Aries 28
Saturn:04 Pisces 05
Uranus:17 Taurus 31
Neptune:26 Pisces 13
Pluto:00 Aquarius 18

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 04 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:04 Taurus 42 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Leo 47

Chiron:16 Aries 23
Ceres:25 Virgo 28 Rx
Pallas:23 Cancer 08
Juno:19 Taurus 47
Vesta:29 Aries 37

Eris:24 Aries 34

Fire:6
Earth:6
Air:3
Water:4
Cardinal:7
Fixed:8
Mutable:4

Northeastern Hemisphere

This local time is in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

14 April 2023
03:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM CEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:24 Aries 24
Moon:10 Aquarius 53
Mercury:13 Taurus 19
Venus:03 Gemini 59
Mars:10 Cancer 11
Jupiter:22 Aries 24
Saturn:04 Pisces 03
Uranus:17 Taurus 30
Neptune:26 Pisces 12
Pluto:00 Aquarius 18

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 04 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:04 Taurus 43 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Leo 46

Chiron:16 Aries 23
Ceres:25 Virgo 31 Rx
Pallas:23 Cancer 02
Juno:19 Taurus 38
Vesta:29 Aries 31

Eris:24 Aries 34

Fire:6
Earth:6
Air:3
Water:4
Cardinal:7
Fixed:8
Mutable:4

April 14, 2023 Moon Goddess Current Phase

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 was born.

From MoonGiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waning Crescent phase. This phase is best viewed just before the sunrise in the western sky. 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. 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 April 2023 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Waning Crescent Phase

The Waning Crescent on April 14 has an illumination of 37%. 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 April 14 the Moon is 23.36 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.

Phase Details

Phase: Waning Crescent
Illumination: 37%
Moon Age: 23.36 days
Moon Angle: 0.55
Moon Distance: 363,306.20 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 150,065,222.69 km

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.

Useful Moon Resources

Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com

For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society

Spell – Invocation to The Dagda

Color: Brown
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon a brown cloth lay a wand made of an oak branch, a great cup of ale, a bowl of porridge, and four brown candles.
Offerings: Feed the hungry.
Daily Meal: Soup, stew, or porridge, enough to feed more than just the House. Let the rest be given to those who need it.

Invocation to the Dagda

Hail Eochaid Ollathair, Father of All!
Hail Ruad Ro-fhessa, Lord of Perfect Knowledge!
Lord of the Oak Tree,
Phallus of the summer saplings,
Rough as tree bark is your wisdom,
Yet deep as sunken roots.
You who can call the seasons with your harp,
You are called upon by the common people
For your gift of fair weather.
You whose club is so great
That nine men are required to carry it
And even then it plows a great ditch;
Whose terrible end slays hundreds at a blow
And whose other end can restore them to life;
You stake your life on the fertility of the land
That others may survive the cold winters.
You who build great fortresses,
You know what it is to be the sole protection
Of those you love, and to go forth
In battle to save their lives.
You are a king, yet you go among the people
In the rough clothing of a peasant,
Rejecting the trappings of the wealthy.
Your great cauldron is never empty,
Nourisher of your people, and of all people.

(The ale is passed, and then poured out as a libation. The stew is ceremonially carried into the kitchen, and the day’s chant sung over the kitchen table.)

Chant: May you never hunger, may you never thirst.

 

Spell – Invocation to The Morrigan

Invocation to The Morrigan

Morrigan Morrigan three times three,
Hear the words I ask of thee.
Grant me vision, Grant me power,
Cheer me in my darkest hour.
As the night overtakes the day,
Morrigan Morrigan light my way.
Morrigan Morrigan Raven Queen,
Round & round the Hawthorn green.
Queen of beauty, Queen of Art,
Yours my body, Yours my heart.
All my trust I place in thee,
Morrigan Morrigan Be with me.

Some of the Witchcraft/Magickal Correspondence for Friday

FRIDAY

Friday is the day of  love, beauty, friendship, fertility, and sex.

Planet: Venus

Spells/Magic: love, friendship, socialising, affection, harmony, relationships, reconciliation, beauty, romance.

Magical aspects: love, friendship, reconciliation, beauty

Essential Oils: Violet, Cherry, Lilac, Rose, Poppy, Patchouli

Plants and Trees: Adler tree,daisy, Apple tree, Aster, Birch tree, Blackberry, Catnip, Cherry tree, Crocus, Elderberry, Feverfew, Foxglove, Strawberry, Thyme, Vanilla, Sage, Cardamom.

Stones: Emerald, Jade, Malachite, Rose Quartz, Turquoise

Colors: green, pink, white, rose, coral.

Metal: Copper

Energy Type: Female

Dieties: Frigga, Venus

Spellwork: Love, Friendship, Romance, Fertility, Pleasure, Luxury, Beauty

Goddesses – The Morrigan

The Morrigan – Celtic Goddess of War, Fertility and Sovereignty

The Morrigan goddess is usually thought of as the Celtic goddess of war and sometimes the Celtic goddess of death, but she has strong association with fertility and sovereignty as well. Gifted with the ability to shapeshift, she has the capacity to take many forms, but commonly takes the form of a crow.

She is a complex deity known as the Phantom Queen, who is both a single goddess and also a triple goddess. The triple goddess is composed of the goddesses Badb, Macha and Nemain.

The crow symbol is thought to connect with Badb (meaning crow in Irish). As a crow, she would fly over the battlefield and either encourage or instill fear in the warriors below. She is also said to have the ability to foretell the outcome of battles and predict violent deaths.

Macha is more usually connected with the land and its fertility and is seen as a protector. There is a strong link between Macha and horses, as well as other livestock. It has been suggested that the origin of her name possibly stems from an area used to graze cattle.

The frenzy of battle is connected with the aspect of Nemian. She is said to be responsible for the rage and fury of a battle and her terrifying scream can kill or paralyze a man.

Badb and Nemain were the wives of Neit, the Irish god of war.

According to some versions, the war goddess Morrigan is the wife of the Dagda and they have a special coupling around the feast of Samhain.

She also set her sights on Cú Chulainn and tried unsuccessfully to seduce him. After a series of failed attempts to seek revenge on him, she ultimately correctly prophesied his death in battle.

April 14th Today in Worldwide History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1865 US President Abraham Lincoln is shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington; he dies a day later

1912 RMS Titanic, the world’s largest ocean liner, hits an iceberg at 11.40pm off Newfoundland, sinks in the early hours of 15 April

1914 Dr. Harry Plotz isolates the bacteria that causes Typhus Fever (Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York City)

1935 Black Sunday: Severe dust storm ravages the US Midwest, led to the region being named “the Dust Bowl”

1981 1st Space Shuttle, Columbia 1, returns to Earth

2003 The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%

Today’s Historical Events

43 BC Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar‘s assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Mutina, defeats the forces of the consul Pansa, who is killed.

193 Lucius Septimius Severus crowned Emperor of Rome

754 Pact of Quierzy: between Pope Stephen II, [III] & Pippin the Korte

966 Christianisation of Poland – Polish ruler Mieszko I and his court baptized

972 Notger becomes bishop of Liege

979 Challenge to throne of King Aethelred II of England

1028 German emperor Conrad II the Sailor crowns his son Henry III, king

1191 85-year old Giacinto Bobo becomes Pope Coelestinus III

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1894 1st public showing of Thomas Edison‘s kinetoscope (moving pictures)

1926 George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin‘s 1st collaborative musical “Lady, Be Good!”, featuring siblings Fred Astaire and Adelle Astaire as a brother and sister dance team, opens at Empire Theatre, London’s West End; runs for 326 performances

1953 WHYN (now WGGB) TV channel 40 in Springfield-Holyoke, MA (ABC) begins

1955 WBRZ TV channel 2 in Baton Rouge, LA (ABC/NBC) begins broadcasting

1956 Ampex Corp demonstrates 1st commercial videotape recorder

1959 KDIN TV channel 11 in Des Moines, IA (PBS) begins broadcasting

1960 Lee Adams and Charles Strouse’s musical “Bye Bye Birdie”, starring Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, and Dick Gautier, opens at Martin Beck Theater NYC; runs for 607 performances

1961 1st live television broadcast from Soviet Union

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1883 Leo Delibes’ opera “Lakmé” premieres with the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart in Paris

1932 Bizet, Massine & Mira’s “Jeux d’Enfants” premieres in Monte Carlo

1936 French singer Édith Piaf questioned after nightclub owner and her patron Louis Leplée murdered in Paris

1946 “Day Before Spring” closes at National Theater NYC after 167 performances

1956 “Plain & Fancy” closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 476 performances

1956 Cole Porter‘s final Broadway musical “Silk Stockings”, loosely based on the Melchior Lengyel’s “Ninotchka”, closes at the Imperial Theatre, NYC, after 478 performances

1960 American record company Motown, founded by Berry Gordy Jr, is incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit. Michigan

1963 Quiet Beatle George Harrison is impressed by unsigned British blues band “Rolling Stones”

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1904 NY Highlanders’ future Baseball HOF pitcher Jack Chesbro‘s first of 41 wins this season; pitches complete game and beats Boston Americans, 8-2 at Hilltop Park, NYC

1910 US President William Howard Taft begins tradition of throwing ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day of baseball season

1925 First regular-season Chicago Cubs game broadcast on radio (WGN) by caller Quin Ryan; Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-2

1928 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: In only their 2nd season in the NHL, New York Rangers beat Montreal Maroons, 2-1 for a 3-2 series win

1931 Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens beat Chicago Blackhawks, 2-0 for a 3-2 series win; Canadiens’ back-to-back Championships

1941 45th Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:30:38; his third victory in the event

1948 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Toronto Maple Leafs go back-to-back with a 7-2 win over Detroit Red Wings for a 4-0 series sweep

A Thought from A Eclectic Witch

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Gods – The Dagda

The Dagda – Celtic God of Agriculture, Fertility, Seasons and Weather from letsgoireland.com

Who is the king of the gods in Celtic mythology?

The Dagda Celtic god is believed to be the father of the gods and is thought of as a strong, manly figure with the knowledge and wisdom of the druids.

As a god he had immense power and influence. The Dagda is the Celtic god of agriculture, fertility of the land and animals, weather, time and seasons.

He is also connected with life and death. Donn, the Irish god of death may have been an aspect of the Dagda.

Good, fruitful harvests were critical for the survival of Celtic people and animals, so it is easy to see how central a role this god played in the Celtic pantheon.

The fertility and health of cattle was also of primary importance as a person’s wealth was often counted in terms of cattle. Retribution payments for certain crimes were also paid in cattle according to the old Irish Brehon laws.

One ritual to ensure a fruitful harvest in the coming year was the annual coupling of the Dagda with his wife, the Morrigan goddess at the feast of the Samhain (on 1 November).

Some of the Dagda’s most prized possessions included an enchanted harp and a magical staff, with which he could kill 9 men at once with or restore their lives at will. He also had a bottomless cauldron to ensure that no man left his table feeling hungry.

The Dagda was the supposed father of several other important figures in Irish mythology including the goddess Brigid and Bodb Derg who featured a key role in the tale of the Children of Lir.

The river goddess Boann was his lover and mother of his child, and fellow god, Aengus.

April 13, 2023 Daily Horoscopes

Click here to read Georgia Nicols Daily Horoscopes

Moon Alert

Caution! Avoid shopping or important decisions from 10 AM to 5 PM EDT today (7 AM to 2 PM PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Capricorn into Aquarius.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Most of today is a Moon Alert (see above.) Postpone important decisions until tomorrow. Likewise, during the Moon Alert today, restrict spending money to food and gas. Don’t volunteer for anything and don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today you might go overboard with plans to travel or dealing with authority figures. You might feel intensely about something. Meanwhile, most of this day is a Moon Alert, which means tread carefully! Avoid important decisions and shopping (except for food and gas.)

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You might be tempted to give away the farm today. If you’re focused on how to divide something, or discussing shared property or an inheritance – be careful! Most of this day is a Moon Alert. (See above.) A poor time for important decisions, especially about wealth.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

You continue to make an excellent impression on others; however, be careful when dealing with partners and close friends today because you might promise more than you can deliver. Because most of this day is a Moon Alert (see above) it’s a poor day for important decisions or shopping.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Be careful about what you agree to today, especially with work colleagues. It’s easy to go out on a limb. The fact is that much of today is a Moon Alert (see above). Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Don’t volunteer for anything. Easy does it.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You might have strong feelings about something today, which is why you will be tempted to go overboard. Instead, check yourself. Don’t do it. Most of this day is a Moon Alert (see above). Bad time for important decisions. Don’t waste time trying to get others to agree with you. Chill out.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Discussions with family members or about issues related to your home might be intense today. You might feel strongly about making a decision or taking something in a new direction. Bad idea. Most of this day is a Moon Alert. Be smart and wait until the alert is over.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Today you might be raring to go! However, because most of today is a Moon Alert, it will be wise to check yourself and pull in your reins. Avoid important decisions during the Moon Alert. Don’t jump into anything.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Today you have a strong focus on money, cash flow, earnings or something to do with a possession. However, because it’s a Moon Alert for most of this day, it’s a poor day for financial matters. Restrict spending to food and gas during the Moon Alert. (See above.)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Today begins with the Moon in your sign, which can heighten your feelings about issues. Later in the day, you might have strong feelings related to matters about money or anything that’s important to you. However, most of today is a Moon Alert. Avoid making decisions then. Ditto for shopping.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This is a tricky day. In one way, you want to stand back and watch it all happen. Nevertheless, you won’t be able to do this because you’ll get sucked in. Furthermore, you might feel intensely about something. (Who knew?) Check the times of the Moon Alert. (See above)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Stay mellow when dealing with friends and groups today. Don’t volunteer for anything. Ideally, watch from the sidelines. For most of this day, there’s a Moon Alert, which means it’s bad time for decisions or spending money.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Allison Williams (1988) shares your birthday today. You are confident and goal oriented. You keep your wits about you in the midst of chaos. Trust in your success. Service to others, especially family will be a theme this year. Therefore, take care of yourself so that you can be of support to others. Time for all makeover?

April 13, 2023 Northern Hemisphere’s Planetary Positions

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 

Northwestern Hemisphere

This local time is in Los Angeles, California, USA

April 13, 2023
11:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM PDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:23 Aries 45
Moon:01 Aquarius 22
Mercury:12 Taurus 49
Venus:03 Gemini 13
Mars:09 Cancer 50
Jupiter:22 Aries 15
Saturn:04 Pisces 00
Uranus:17 Taurus 28
Neptune:26 Pisces 11
Pluto:00 Aquarius 17

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 04 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:04 Taurus 45 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Leo 41

Chiron:16 Aries 20
Ceres:25 Virgo 37 Rx
Pallas:22 Cancer 48
Juno:19 Taurus 15
Vesta:29 Aries 12

Eris:24 Aries 34

Fire:6
Earth:6
Air:3
Water:4
Cardinal:7
Fixed:8
Mutable:4

Northern Hemisphere

This local time is in Chicago, Illinois, USA

April 13, 2023
09:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM CST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:23 Aries 40
Moon:00 Aquarius 11
Mercury:12 Taurus 46
Venus:03 Gemini 07
Mars:09 Cancer 48
Jupiter:22 Aries 14
Saturn:03 Pisces 59
Uranus:17 Taurus 28
Neptune:26 Pisces 11
Pluto:00 Aquarius 17

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 04 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:04 Taurus 45 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Leo 41

Chiron:16 Aries 20
Ceres:25 Virgo 37 Rx
Pallas:22 Cancer 46
Juno:19 Taurus 12
Vesta:29 Aries 10

Eris:24 Aries 34

Fire:6
Earth:6
Air:3
Water:4
Cardinal:7
Fixed:8
Mutable:4

Northeastern Hemisphere

This local time is in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

(Side Note: I am sorry, but I did not calculate the right time for this time zone when it changed to Summertime and have been an hour off until today.)

13 April 2023
03:00 pm GMT 5:00 PM CEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:23 Aries 25
Moon:26 Capricorn 37
Mercury:12 Taurus 34
Venus:02 Gemini 49
Mars:09 Cancer 40
Jupiter:22 Aries 10
Saturn:03 Pisces 58
Uranus:17 Taurus 27
Neptune:26 Pisces 10
Pluto:00 Aquarius 17

True Lunar Node:04 Taurus 04 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:04 Taurus 46 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):10 Leo 39

Chiron:16 Aries 19
Ceres:25 Virgo 40 Rx
Pallas:22 Cancer 41
Juno:19 Taurus 03
Vesta:29 Aries 03

Eris:24 Aries 34

Fire:6
Earth:7
Air:2
Water:4
Cardinal:8
Fixed:7
Mutable:4

April 13, 2023 Moon Goddess Current Phase

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 was born.

From MoonGiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Last Quarter phase. This phase occurs roughly 3 weeks after the New Moon when the Moon is three quarter of the way through it’s orbit around the earth. If you live in the northern hemisphere the Moons left side will be illuminated and the right side will be dark. For those of you in the southern hemisphere it will be the opposite with the right side illuminated. Also called a Third Quarter phase, it will rise around midnight on the eastern horizon and set in the west around noon the next day. In the days following the Third Quarter Phase the Moon’s illumination will decrees each day until the New Moon.

Visit the April 2023 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

Today’s Last Quarter Phase

The Last Quarter on April 13 has an illumination of 49%. 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 April 13 the Moon is 22.28 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.

Phase Details

Phase: Last Quarter
Illumination: 49%
Moon Age: 22.28 days
Moon Angle: 0.55
Moon Distance: 364,029.91 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 150,023,013.47 km

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.

Useful Moon Resources

Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com

For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society

Spell – 1 Way to Bless and Indoor Container or Outdoor Garden

I wrote and used this spell for my growing house plants Aloe, Apotheose, and 7 different herbal seeds I put into a mini greenhouse to germinate on April 6th and already started seeing tiny seedlings on April 9th. Today I saw my house plants starting to take root in their bigger containers.

(YOU CAN COPY AND PASTE ANY SPELLS POSTED TO A DOCUMENT TO PRINT AND/OR SAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER. Please feel free to tweak this spell so it will work best for you and whatever you are growing.)

Any Type of Garden Blessing Chant

What You Need:

Your voice

Possibly your wand or staff if the garden covers a lot of ground.

Chanting Spell

Chat in multiples of 3 as many as you feel the need to repeat it.

Flora, I dedicate these seeds or plants to you,

Fauna, I dedicate these seeds or plants to you,

Help me bring them to life

To use them in ways that will not cause anyone strife,

I will give them Air to breathe,

I will give them Water to grow,

I will give them Earth to take root in,

I will ask Ra to use his Fire to give them warmth and light,

As my plants grow,

I will tend them well,

In return I will ask them for pieces to help my health and magick grow,

I promise you I will always tend them well.

Can I Be A Christian Wiccan or Witch? (1 Person Opinion)

Many people in the Pagan community were raised in a religion that wasn’t Paganism, and sometimes, it can be a challenge to set aside the beliefs with which you were raised. Occasionally, however, you’ll encounter people who didn’t set their beliefs aside at all, but have found a way to blend their Christian upbringing with Wicca or some other Pagan path that they’ve discovered later in life. So, that begs the question, what about that whole “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” thing that appears in the Bible? There’s an argument in some circles that the word witch was a mistranslation, and that it’s actually supposed to be poisoner. If this is the case, does that mean it’s possible to be a Christian Wiccan?

Christian Wicca

Unfortunately, this is one of those questions that has to get broken down into a bunch of really small bits, because there’s no simple answer, and no matter how it gets answered, somebody is going to be upset with the response. Let’s try to break this down a bit, without turning it into a debate on Christian theology.

First, let’s clarify one thing right off the bat. Wicca and witchcraft are not synonymous. One can be a witch without being Wiccan. Wicca itself is a specific religion. Those who follow it—Wiccans—honor the deities of their particular tradition of Wicca. They don’t honor the Christian god, at least not in the way that Christianity mandates that he be honored. In addition, Christianity has some pretty strict rules about what gods you get to worship—pretty much none other than theirs. You know, there’s that “thou shall have no other gods before me” bit. By the rules of Christianity, it’s a monotheistic religion, while Wicca is polytheistic. These make them two very distinct and very different religious belief systems.

So, if you go strictly by the very definition of the words, one could not be a Christian Wiccan any more than one could be a Hindu Muslim or a Jewish Mormon. There are Christians who practice witchcraft within a Christian framework, but this is not Wicca. Do keep in mind that there are people who declare themselves to be Christian Wiccans, or even ChristoPagans, honoring Jesus and Mary as god and goddess together. It’s generally rude to argue with how people self-identify, but if you go by actual semantics, it seems that one would rule out the other.

There are some practitioners who follow what they call Trinitarian Wicca, which “is a tradition based on American Wicca, boasting no direct lineage. Trinitarians work exclusively with the Goddess-inclusive Christian Pantheon. This tradition is not eclectic nor is it ChristoPagan because our devotion lies exclusively with the Christian pantheon.”

Witch, or Poisoner?

Let’s move on. Let’s assume that you’re interested in becoming a witch, but you plan on remaining Christian. In general, the witch community isn’t going to care—after all, what you do is your business, not ours. However, your local pastor might have quite a bit to say about it. After all, the Bible does say “thou shall not suffer a witch to live.” There’s been a great deal of discussion in the Pagan community about that line, with many people arguing that it’s a mistranslation, and that originally it had nothing to do with witchcraft or sorcery, but that the original text was “thou shall not suffer a poisoner to live.”

In general, the notion of the line in the Book of Exodus applying to poisoners and not witches is one that is popular in Pagan circles but has been repeatedly dismissed by Jewish scholars. This theory of mistranslation of the word “poisoner” as “witch” is acknowledged as being patently false, and based upon ancient Greek texts.

In the original Hebrew, the text is very clear. In the Targum Onkelos, which is an ancient translation of the Torah into Aramaic, the verse in question reads M’khashephah lo tichayyah, which loosely translates into “A M’khashephah you shall not let live.” For the early Jews, a M’khashephah was a witch who used herbal magic as a form of sorcery. While herbalism could have involved herbal poisons, if the Torah had meant to say poisoner, it would have used a different word, rather than one that meant, specifically, witch.

While this doesn’t need to turn into a discussion on Biblical theory, many Jewish scholars have asserted that the passage in question does in fact refer to witchcraft, which seems fairly sensible, since they’re the ones who speak the language best. Keeping that in mind, if you choose to practice witchcraft under the umbrella of Christianity, don’t be surprised if you run into some opposition from other Christians.

The Bottom Line

So can you be a Christian Wiccan? In theory, no, because they’re two separate religions, one of which forbids you from honoring the gods of the other. Can you be a Christian witch? Well, maybe, but that’s a matter for you to decide for yourself. Again, the witches probably don’t care what you do, but your pastor may be less than thrilled.

If you’re interested in practicing witchcraft and magic within a Christian framework, you may want to look into some of the writings of Christian mystics, or perhaps the Gnostic Gospels, for further ideas.

SOURCE: Wigington, Patti. “Can I Be A Christian Wiccan or Witch?” Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/can-i-be-a-christian-wiccan-or-witch-2562901.

A Laugh for Your Day

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I told you I wasn’t a very nice witch.

April 11, 2023 Daily Horoscopes

Click here to read Georgia Nicols Daily Horoscopes

Moon Alert

Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 6:30 AM to 2 PM EDT today (3:30 AM to 11 AM PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Sagittarius into Capricorn.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

This is a marvelous day for your sign because you feel upbeat, warm hearted and ready to include everyone in your plans. Your confidence is strong and you feel happy. Indeed, others will admire your positive energy and want to be in your presence.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today you’re be in touch with your spiritual feelings or your inner world in a positive, uplifting way. Something might inspire you. Because Mercury is in your sign, you will want to tell someone else how you feel, which might be hard to do.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Be open to involvement with groups, clubs and organizations today because you will be happy to integrate with something that is bigger than yourself. You’re enthusiastic about ideas and want to share them with others. Oh yes, you feel the hype!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

“You look mahvelous darling, mahvelous!” Today you make a fabulous impression on everyone, especially authority figures – bosses, parents, teachers and even the police. This is because you look like a success! And success is sexy!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Do whatever you can to expand your horizons today because this is what will make you feel fulfilled. Ideally, you want to travel – see new places, meet new faces. But you will also be inspired to learn something fascinating that is uplifting and edifying.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You couldn’t pick a better day to do financial negotiations, especially to discuss how to divide or share something like an inheritance. It’s also a great day to deal with shared property or to get money from the government or receive a loan or a mortgage or your fair share of something.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Yesterday was a lovely day to schmooze; and today is even better! Do get out and meet people because you will have a wonderful time. Enjoy being with partners and close friends. However, you will also enjoy interacting with members of the general public. Everyone wants to see your face!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

This is a fabulous day for any kind of success that is work-related. To begin with, work-related travel will be inspiring and mind expanding. Work with groups if you can because you’ll get better results. Even your health feels vigourous and improved today. Pets might be a source of joy.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Accept all invitations to party and enjoy the company of others today because this will give you great pleasure. Sports events, fun activities with kids, the entertainment world, movies, plays, picnics, barbecues – you name it – you want to have fun! It’s a lovely day for a date.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Despite your desire for privacy today, this is a wonderful day to entertain at home. Any kind of group gathering related to your family or your home will please you enormously. Not only that, it might benefit you in a practical way. (There’s always that.)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Today you feel exuberant, upbeat and eager to schmooze with others. Enjoy time spent with siblings and relatives. Short trips, errands and appointments will be enjoyable because you have something to say to everyone. Oh yes, you’re full of positive ideas! Strong day for sales, marketing, teaching, writing and acting.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

“There’s gold in them thar hills!” In some way, you can boost your income today or begin to do something that will lead to increased wealth for you either now or in the future. Trust your moneymaking ideas. Listen to the advice of others. Some kind of group effort might benefit you financially. Ka-ching!

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Trisha Helfer (1974)) shares your birthday today. You care passionately about justice and causes that are important to you. You are optimistic, energetic and always helpful. This year it’s time to focus on creating solid foundations for yourself. Keep things simple. It’s time to be grounded and levelheaded.