Tag: WOTC’s School of Witchcraft

How To Choose Your Tarot Deck?

This might be old news to some of you but new news to others.

How To Choose Your Tarot Deck? from tarotx.net

Buying your first Tarot deck will be a great experience. It will be exciting to discover the unknown, to find the answers to those question that you have been simmering for so long, and to learn new knowledge. Currently, there is an advantage of the diversity of decks to choose from (Celtic, Wicca, Fairy, Zen, Culture, Pagan, Myth, and Tradition).

For a beginner, it may be a bit overwhelming to select from a range of options. The following article will mention a few small tutorials to help you find out the deck that best suits you.

Menu of Contents

1. The location

2. The rarity of the Tarot deck

3. Images on the Tarot deck

4. Support for dreams

5. The origin of the Tarot deck

6. Guidebooks

7. The type of Tarot deck

8. Find a size that fits

Good Day WOTC Family and Friends Here’s a Thought for Today

Let Mother Earth/Gaia’s sights of beautiful things, sounds of harmony in nature, touch of a friend or loved one, smells of good things to eat and nature’s bounty, hearing all the beautiful things we share this planet with bring you joy, happiness, and a feeling of contentment to you this lovely day.

I have the privilege of having a Cardinal’s nest in a tree right next to our home! A few years ago, I had the honor of having a similar experience with a Robin’s nest. So, I am trying to do with mama and papa Cardinal the same thing I was able to accomplish with the Robin family which is to sit outside inching closer to the nest every couple of days until I can take a close-up photograph, like from about 6 inches away, of the babies being fed. I did this by letting the parents know I was not a predator but a friend by bring them something they enjoy eating, sitting and talking quietly to the momma on her nest so they trust me and are use to my scent. It worked with the Robins so I am hopeful it will work with the Cardinals also. I will post pictures of the nest and parents as I can take pictures of them with my cellphone.

 The only problem is that I had to leave tree limbs across the only window in the house that gets sunlight for most of the day for my indoor plants and peppermint seedling, but it is so worth it to hopefully get friendly enough with the Cardinals that I get to see the babies fed.

Here is the picture I was able to get yesterday and a cropped close up of the nest.

Gods – Greek 2nd Generation Titan – Atlas, God of Endurance and Astronomy

Greek Titan – Atlas

Atlas (the heaven-bearer) was a Titan god of endurance. He was also identified as a god of astronomy because he was the first who instructed mankind in astronomical science which was basically used for navigation and measuring the seasons. It is said, in Library of History by Diodorus Siculus, that he surpassed all others by mastering astrology and was the first to discover spherical nature and therefore being touted as the heaven-bearer. According to Hesiod and Hyginus, Atlas was one of the four sons of Iapetus and oceanid called Clymene but in another source, according to Apollodorus, Iapetus and Asia were his parents. During the war of the gods, unlike his brothers Prometheus and Epimetheus, Atlas sided with the titans along with his other brother Menoetius. After the war he was punished by Zeus who decided not to send him to Tartarus together with his relatives but instead he was sent him to the western edge of the known world, to hold axis between heavens and earth apart and therefore prevent the recurrence of primeval union of Gaea and Uranus and probably a birth of new powerful descendants.

Condemned to a special punishment

During the war against Olympians, Cronusmade Atlas their leader, mostly because of his war skills, extreme orientation and durability. As it turned out, he was quite a leader and it looked like for a long time that they were going to win the war. However, they were outnumbered in the end because Cronus made too many enemies during his ruleage. Atlas was, unlike his relatives, condemned to a special punishment by Zeus himself. He made him as an eternal caretaker of the axis between heavens and earth which were controlled by his predecessors in the past. Because of his endurance, Zeus believed that he was just going to be able to hold them and do nothing else in the meantime. He was right, Atlas was, according to Aeschylus and Ovid, barely supporting the enormous weight of heavens on his shoulders. However, there is an alternative description of the titan by Valerius Flaccus and Virgil who are describing him as an enormous giant standing in the ocean with his feet and his head reaching above the clouds while with ease holding heavens apart from earth.

Descendants of Atlas

But before the punishment, Atlas was in love with Pleione, one of the oceanids, the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys, who gave birth to Pleiades, seven in numbers, that were mentioned by most authors. Their names were Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Maia, Merope and Teygate.

There is a further explanation presented by Hyginus who mentiones in his Fabulae that Atlas and Pleione actually had twelve daughters and a son Hyas. Five of them were Hyades and were named after their brother who was killed by a lion and they had grieved for him so much that they died because of it and were placed among stars. Their names were Ambrosia, Coronis, Eudora, Phaesyla and Polyxo. And when Hyades died, the rest of the sisters also brought death upon themselves by further grief and were placed among stars known as Pleiades. According to Diodorus Siculus, Atlas also had a brother Hesperus and eventually married one of his daughters by the name of Hesperis. She bore him seven daughters that were named Atlantides, after their father, and Hesperides, after their mother. They were very beautiful and pure and therefore they caught the eye of Egyptian king who dispatched pirates to kidnap them. They were later saved by Heracles.

The account with Heracles

As mentioned above, the daughters of Atlas were kidnapped by pirates while they were playing in their garden and when the pirates stopped to have a meal on their route back to Egypt, Heracles, in one of his last labours, came along. When he found out by the maidens what had happened, he slew the pirates on site and brought ladies back to Atlas. In his gratitude, Atlas helped Heracles in his labour, presumably giving him the apples from his daughter’s garden, and also gave him lessons in astrology.

However, the mainstream belief is that Atlas was encountered by Heracles who came to the titan on the advice of Prometheus in his eleventh labour, when he had to retrieve apples of Hesperides. In need of his services, Heracles offered himself as temporary caretaker. In return he asked the titan to help him with the Golden Apples quest. The garden, controlled by Hera, was tended by Hesperides, the titan’s daughters. Upon return, Atlas tried to convince Heracles to hold the heavens for a bit longer while he was going to deliver the Apples himself which was definitely not the case. Heracles thought of this trickery and asked him to hold the heavens for just a few moments so he could reposition his cloak to serve him as support. The titan fell for the trick and when he reclaimed his position, Heracles took the apples and ran away, and opportunity to escape was gone.

“Released” from his burden

According to Fulgentis’ Mythologies and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Atlas, with the heavens on his back, was at some point encountered by Perseus who was on his way back to Seriphos Island. Perseus kindly asked the titan for a shelter over night, telling him that he was a son of Zeus. The titan replied by stating that he was a liar which angered the hero and Perseus then in revenge turned Atlas into stone by showing him the head of Medusa and released him from his burden. From that point on he was known as Mount Atlas. Now, this contradicts the story of Atlas meeting Heracles becuase Perseus lived in the times before Heracles and therefore Heracles could not meet Atlas and ask him for help, if he was already turned into a mountain.

Some Humor for Your Day

A judge tells the defendant, “You’re charged with attacking your boss with a hammer.”

“You jerk!” yells a voice in the back of the courtroom.

“You’re also charged with attacking a bartender with a hammer”, the judge continues.

“Jerrkkk!” bellows the same man.

The judge bangs his gavel. “Sir,” he says, “one more outburst and I’ll charge you with contempt.”

“I’m sorry, Your Honor”, says the man. “But I’ve been his neighbor for 10 years, and every time I ask to borrow a hammer; he said he didn’t have one.”

From February 2023 issue of Reader’s Digest.

 

An Herbal Grimoire Myrrh and Frankincense

Disclaimer: No herb should be used for medicinal use until you have checked with your health
care professional to ask if it is safe for you to use it for any reason. WitchesofTheCraft.com, any
staff member of WitchesofTheCraft.com, and Lady Carla Beltane are not responsible for any
type of a negative reaction when using this herb for any reason.
The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE and is not intended to be a
substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions
or concerns you may have regarding your health. WitchesofTheCraft.com, any staff member of
WitchesofTheCraft.com, Lady Rhiannon, and Lady Carla Beltane are not responsible for any
type of a negative reaction when using this herb for any reason.

Blessed Be Pagans! Back again for another round of the Herbal Grimoire! As I stated last article, we are
going to continue to jump around a bit and not continue in that Alphabetical order (that’s just boring).
This week we will explore two herbs that have been used not only in Pagan practice, but in Christian
practice for Centuries!

Goddess Herb – Myrrh

Myrrh has a feminine aspect. It is closely connected to the Moon and Jupiter while associating with the
element of Water. This herb is used for cleansing purposes. The Magickal qualities for rituals is
protection and consecration. The Christians or Catholic Church use this in combination with other herbs
to perform exorcisms. This is because of the cleansing and healing qualities of it. The energies that
come from this herb can lend itself to the Universe for Spirituality, Transformation and Healing.
Myrrh has been widely used in Pagan practices for centuries before the Christian movement for many of
the same purposes. Uses for consecration of tools to help with prosperity for forging and harvesting as

well as protections for the home and hearth. Myrrh has many medicinal uses as well, but I would
suggest contacting a Nutritionist or an Herbalist or even a Naturopath to understand that aspect of this
herb.
When using Myrrh in spellcasting, understand that this herb will not just graze those it passes when sent
out into the Universe, but will embrace and protect those it touches. So, when in Spellcasting or
Magickal working, remember your intentions must be pure, as you can affect millions. If your intentions
are not pure, what you send, with that deceit, will come back to you threefold.

God Herb – Frankincense

Frankincense has a masculine aspect. It is closely connected with the Sun and the element of Fire.
Frankincense is actually referenced in the Bible as a key ingredient in the holy incense. This is the
incense that God asked Moses to make in Exodus for the Ark of the Covenant. This is also, as was
Myrrh, presented to Jesus by the Three Wise Men as they acknowledged the Child of the Divine.
In Christianity, it is actually said to be forbidden to use as a personal incense. Which is why the Churches
used it, as then it signified the gift to Christ. However, in Pagan times, for Centuries before Christianity,
and during and till now it is widely used for its powerful energies that help guide meditation, for its
purity in cleansing sacred spaces and to aid in reaching a spiritual mindset. Frankincense is also used
consecration for tools for Magickal Altars.

Understanding the power of these two herbs and the historical significance is huge. More research by
you should be paid to these two highly popular and very usefull herbs. These two herbs, used in
combination together during Spellcasting or Magickal working can have an enormous impact on the
energies you are raising.
One used of these two in combination would be Drawing Down the Moon. These two herbs can allow
that connection with Lady Luna to amplify. But remember, when Drawing Down the Moon, one MUST
ground after the ritual. This will bring you back to the Earth and will also help to direct he energy that

you will gain from that process to the Earth and to all of its creatures, may they be plant, animal or
human.
Blessed Be Brothers & Sisters!
Happy Spellcasting!

Divination Journal

Tarot Card

From labyrinthos.co

The Magician – Major Arcana

Upright Keywords Reversed Keywords
willpower, desire, being resourceful,, skill, ability, concentration, manifestation manipulation, cunning, trickery, wasted talent, illusion, deception
Skip to Upright Meaning Skip to Reversed Meaning

Animal Spirit Guide or Helper

from thesecretofthetarot.com

Image result for starfish

Starfish

The starfish spirit guide wants you to know where you need to give, and where you should take. This totem guides you to compromise where you need to.

When the starfish spirit guide comes into your life, it means that you have a need to create emotional stability by controlling people.

The starfish can spell good luck in your life. This works very well especially when you to create lasting partnerships.

The starfish spirit guide wants you to make amends. Reach out to people that you have wronged. Seek to change people’s lives for the better.

The starfish has a close link to the happiness, courage, and confidence you experience in life. When you allow this totem into your life, you’ll enjoy great things that Mother Nature has in store for you.

Rune

From psychicguild.com

Ansuz

Pronounced: ‘Anne – suhz’

Literal Meaning: Woden

Esoteric Meaning: Ancestral Sovereign God, or Breath

The rune meaning for ansuz is all about the breath of God, divine inspiration the voice of the universe, intelligence, communication, song, spells, ancestry, etymology, it’s base is in how we listen and communicate, not just to each other but also to our selves.

Witches Rune

From psychic-revelation.com

The Ear Of Corn

Keywords: Good luck, success.

Meanings: This rune represents abundance, success and happiness. This is considered a lucky rune and if leading it is very positive about your query, whether the query is about finance, business, friendship, partnership or spirituality. In conjunction with the Rings it indicates a happy and prosperous marriage. With the Sun it means success in your career, and with Waves, success abroad.

Ogham

From druidogham.wordpress.com

Phagos

Teaching, education, mastery, virtuosity, legacy

Tree: Beech (Fagus spp.)

Letter: Ph or F

Phagos is a reminder of the mental discipline it takes in the process of acquiring knowledge. When you get to the point of knowing a subject so well, you can teach it effortlessly, then you have mastered the subject on the mental plane, which reverberates through the other planes. Saturated knowledge is knowing a thing inside and out. Those who believe in reincarnation believe this is the kind of knowledge that does not go away when you shed one mortal body for the next one: for instance, a skilled midwife will stand a good chance of coming back as a competent ob/gyn who stumbles upon their talent in a seemingly random way. Or a lute player may be reborn and pick up the guitar at age twelve and learn it faster than any other kid in their class because of knowledge picked up in past lifetimes.

Teaching and inspiring others to master a subject is the physical manifestation of knowledge, or in old terminology, the Word made flesh. Beech tree bark makes a primitive form of paper. Phagos implies the written word and the transmission of knowledge through our uniquely human invention: writing.

Teachers and teaching are often undervalued in the modern West, with denigrations such as “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach,” being thrown about by the arrogant who have never been able to translate their mental skill in a way that consistently inspires others to learn. Bad teachers abound, and they can be bad for any number or reasons: some choose teaching when they have no passion for it, some want the glory of being labeled a teacher. Everybody knows that a good teacher is worth their weight in gold when it comes to the transmission of knowledge, and that a bad teacher is hardly worth the powder to blow them to hell, and often what a teacher is paid has nothing to do with what they’re worth. If you have a good teacher, let them know. Learn all you can while you are able to do so with the best teachers you can find (we live in the age of the internet, and a huge number of great teachers “live” there). Concentrate on a small number of subjects until you gain complete mastery, because you will take that knowledge with you long after your current flesh body dies. If you know a subject well enough to teach it, this Ogham is encouraging you to spread the wealth of your knowledge with other humans in a direct and potentially physical way such as writing.

I Ching

From psychic-revelation.com

Hexagram Twenty-Seven/27

Name: I.

Keyphrase: Nourishment.

Formed By The Trigrams: Mountain over Thunder.

General: Spiritual discrimination is as important as physical discrimination.

Love: Choose your thoughts and words wisely in your relationship and remember to be tolerant.

Business: Use the right words and you will help sustain and nourish your business.

Personal: Now is a good time to clear out all that is not worthy from your life.

Overview: I relates to nourishment. In the same way that food is used to nourish your body, I suggests that words and ideas be used in the same way. It cautions that as with food your words should be chosen carefully. Just as bad food can upset you or those around you, bad words can do the same. When the body and spirit are both well provided for then you will be at your most powerful and effective.

Numerology

From worldnumerology.com

Twenty-Seven

It is a counselor, a volunteer, and an artist, and is often successful. This number represents inheritance or other “unearned” and sometimes unexpected income. While the 9 is the least prejudiced or judgmental number, the 27 can be rigid and narrow-minded.

Goddesses and Gods – The 21 Main Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

The Egyptian pantheon includes all the gods created by the falcon-headed Sun god Ra. Egyptian gods include many gods with animal heads (Horus, Set, Anubis, Thoth, Bastet, Sekhmet, Ra) and others with human heads (Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, Amun).

We will see together in this article:

  • The gods Ra, Apep, Aten, and Sekhmet involved in the creation of the Universe
  • The gods Set, Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, and Horus involved in the tragedy called “myth of Osiris”
  • The gods Anubis, Thoth, and Ammit involved in the judgment of the Egyptian dead
  • The other important gods: Khepri, Amun, Ptah, Taweret, and Sobek

Let’s begin without further ado by discovering the first of these gods and the creator of the Egyptian world: Ra, the falcon Sun god.

 Ra –

The creation of all the other gods by Ra

The primordial function of Ra in the Egyptian Universe

Apep

Aten

Osiris

Isis

Horus

Set

Nephthys

Sekhmet

Bastet

Hathor

Anubis

Ammit

Thoth

Khepri

Ptah

Amun

Taweret

Sobek

click here to read information presented about the 21 main Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Some Humor for Your Day

5 Very Literal Translations from March/April 2023 issue of Reader’s Digest

Papier vampier (Afrikaans)

Translation” “paper vampire”

What we call it: Stapler

Bergmal (Icelandic)

Translation: “rock language”

What we call it: Echo

Schagzeug (German)

Translation: “Hit Stuff’

What we call it: drums

Gavisti (Sanskrit)

Translation: “desire for cattle”

What we call it: War

Nui zai ku (Mandarin)

Translation: “cowboy pants”

What we call it: Jeans

Goddesses and Gods – A List of Sun Deities

I will use this list to do a more in-depth post on these deities in the future.

Name Nationality/Religion God or Goddess? Notes
Amaterasu Japan Sun Goddess Major deity of the Shinto religion.
Arinna (Hebat) Hittite (Syrian) Sun Goddess The most important of three Hittite major solar deities
Apollo Roman Sun God
Freyr Norse Sun God A fertility god associated with the sun.
Helios Greek Sun God Before Apollo was the Greek sun god, Helios held that position. Helios road a chariot.
Huitzilopochtli (Uitzilopochtli) Aztec Sun God
Hvar Khshaita Iranian/Persian Sun God
Inti Inca Sun God The national patron of the Inca state.
Liza West African Sun God
Lugh Celtic Sun God
Mithras Iranian/Persian Sun God
Ra Egypt Mid-day Sun God An Egyptian god shown with a solar disk. Center of worship was Heliopolis. Later associated with Horus as Re-Horakhty. Also combined with Amun as Amun-Ra, a solar creator god.
Shemesh/Shepesh Ugarit Sun goddess
Sol (Sunna) Norse Sun Goddess She rides in a horse-drawn solar chariot.
Sol Invictus Roman Sun God The unconquered sun. The title was also used of Mithras.
Surya Hindu Sun God Rides the sky in a horse-drawn chariot.
Tonatiuh Aztec Sun God
Utu (Shamash) Mesopotamia Sun God

Good Day WOTC Family and Friends Here is a Thought for Today

It is such a beautiful day here that my inner child wants to run in a field of wildflowers but the grown-up me knows it will bring on an allergy attack. So, instead I will walk by the unused railroad tracks a few feet from my home and see what is blooming there. I woke up knowing I had a to-do list but part of it can wait until later in the day so I can enjoy this morning walking and taking in what Mother Earth/Gaia has to offer for all my senses including what some call the sixth sense.

I hope it is nice wherever you live, and you can take some time, no make some time, for taking in Mother Earth/Gaia’s gifts that tantalize your sense of smell, taste, touch, seeing, and hearing the beauty left on this planet. Do not for get your sixth sense to open up to what is offered metaphysically!.

Crystal, Gems, and Stones Meanings and Magickal Usage – Petrified Wood

Disclaimer: No crystal, or gem or stone should be used for medicinal purposes in place of what your health care professional has prescribed for you for any reason. The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. WitchesofTheCraft.com, any staff member of WitchesofTheCraft.com and/or Lady Carla Beltane are not responsible for any type of a negative reaction when using a crystal or gem or stone for any reason.

Spiritual and Healing Properties of Petrified Wood

Petrified wood can assist anyone who is feeling stuck or experiencing being frozen in time. It helps to create balance and offers a foundation from which to launch new goals or undertake a different path. Petrified wood is also a wonderful grounding stone. It helps to calm scattered energies.

Benefits of Petrified Wood

  • Grounds energy
  • Offers mental stability
  • Promotes concentration
  • Encourages goal setting

Ways to Use Petrified Wood for Healing

Petrified Wood Calms Fears: Petrified wood can be used to calm down survival-based fears. It helps to make one feel safe and secure and helps one feel ageless.

Timeless Energy: Petrified wood helps you to set a pace and stay with that pace all day long because you are not hurried or moving too slowly, but moving forward in a good, steady way. It helps you to feel all will be all right. It connects one to their spirit in such a way that they know that time is not really what it appears for there is no such thing, there is only forever.

Source

Stein, Diane. GEM Stones A to Z: A Handy Reference to Healing Crystals. Crossing Press, 2008.

Sacrificial altar among 13,000 relics unearthed at Sanxingdui archaeological site in China

A turtleshell-shaped box and a sacrificial altar are among a treasure trove of 13,000 relics dating back over 3,000 years discovered by archaeologists in southwest China.

The relics – many made of gold, bronze and jade – were unearthed in six sacrificial pits at the Sanxingdui archaeological site, near Chengdu, Chinese state media reported Monday, June 14, 2022.

Historians know relatively little about the Sanxingdui culture, which left behind no written records or human remains, though many believe it to be part of the ancient kingdom of Shu. It’s hoped the latest finds will shed light on the kingdom, which ruled in the western Sichuan basin along the upper stream of the Yangtze River until it was conquered in 316 BC.

A joint team of archaeologists from Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, Peking University, Sichuan University and other research institutions have been excavating the six pits at the site since 2020.

In the most recent excavation, archeologists found 3,155 relatively intact relics, including more than 2,000 bronze wares and statues, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.

New finds from the past

Researchers described a turtleshell-shaped box made of bronze and jade as among their more intriguing finds, saying it was the first time they had uncovered such an item.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that the vessel is one of a kind, given its distinctive shape, fine craftsmanship and ingenious design. Although we do not know what this vessel was used for, we can assume that ancient people treasured it,” Li Haichao, a professor at Sichuan University, told Xinhua.

A bronze altar nearly 3-feet tall (0.9 meters) was also found in one of the pits, where people of the click here to read the rest of this article

Some Humor for Your Day

Good Day WOTC Family and Friends Here is a Thought for Today

Happy whimsical Wednesday everyone! I am sorry today’s posts are going up later than usual, but I was taking advantage of the cool morning temperatures to mow my backyard with a regular mower. We live on almost a 1/4 acer of land with a very small 4 room house that sits towards the front of it so needless to say it took me 2 days to get it all finish being the first cut I did this year. The very first cut we have someone come and do it because I would collapse if I tried mowing foot high grass with a regular lawn mower, but it is done now. A little bit more spring clean-up tomorrow morning and the yard is set for upkeep this summer. I cannot find the pictures I took to share of our beautiful yard, oh well lol. Anyway the posts are up now and the tomorrow posts will be done after I take a much-needed shower.

Remember to try to leave a patch of blooming clovers or something that flowers to grow wild in your yard for our Bee friends to have a place to eat and rest as they spread the pollen from almost every plant and flower that grows near you. Without bees we would not have the delicious vegetables and fruit we put on our tables.

May 24, 2023 Moon’s Current Phase and Northern Hemisphere’s 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 was born.

From MoonGiant.com

The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waxing Crescent Phase. Best seen in the west after the sun dips below the horizon at sunset. This is the first Phase after the New Moon and is a great time to see the features of the moon’s surface. The moon is close to the sun in the sky and mostly dark except for the right edge of the moon which becomes brighter as the days get closer to the next phase which is a First Quarter with a 50% illumination.

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

Today’s Waxing Crescent Phase

The Waxing Crescent on May 24 has an illumination of 22%. 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 May 24 the Moon is 4.58 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: Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 22%
Moon Age: 4.58 days
Moon Angle: 0.49
Moon Distance: 404,469.59 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 151,510,369.26 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

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

May 24, 2023
11:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM PDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:03 Gemini 31
Moon:04 Leo 12
Mercury:09 Taurus 25
Venus:18 Cancer 30
Mars:02 Leo 28
Jupiter:01 Taurus 51
Saturn:06 Pisces 45
Uranus:19 Taurus 48
Neptune:27 Pisces 19
Pluto:00 Aquarius 14 Rx

True Lunar Node:03 Taurus 37 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:02 Taurus 35 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):15 Leo 17

Chiron:18 Aries 31
Ceres:24 Virgo 54
Pallas:09 Leo 20
Juno:13 Gemini 25
Vesta:17 Taurus 35

Eris:24 Aries 59

Fire:6
Earth:7
Air:3
Water:3
Cardinal:3
Fixed:11
Mutable:5

Northern Hemisphere

This local time is in Chicago, Illinois, USA

May 24, 2023
09:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM CDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:03 Gemini 26
Moon:03 Leo 12
Mercury:09 Taurus 22
Venus:18 Cancer 25
Mars:02 Leo 25
Jupiter:01 Taurus 50
Saturn:06 Pisces 45
Uranus:19 Taurus 48
Neptune:27 Pisces 19
Pluto:00 Aquarius 14 Rx

True Lunar Node:03 Taurus 37 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:02 Taurus 35 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):15 Leo 16

Chiron:18 Aries 31
Ceres:24 Virgo 53
Pallas:09 Leo 18
Juno:13 Gemini 22
Vesta:17 Taurus 33

Eris:24 Aries 59

Fire:6
Earth:7
Air:3
Water:3
Cardinal:3
Fixed:11
Mutable:5

Northeastern Hemisphere

This local time is in Frankfurt, Germany, Europe

24 May 2023
02:00 pm GMT 4:00 PM CEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:03 Gemini 10
Moon:29 Cancer 43
Mercury:09 Taurus 10
Venus:18 Cancer 07
Mars:02 Leo 15
Jupiter:01 Taurus 46
Saturn:06 Pisces 44
Uranus:19 Taurus 47
Neptune:27 Pisces 19
Pluto:00 Aquarius 15 Rx

True Lunar Node:03 Taurus 38 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:02 Taurus 36 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):15 Leo 14

Chiron:18 Aries 30
Ceres:24 Virgo 51
Pallas:09 Leo 10
Juno:13 Gemini 12
Vesta:17 Taurus 25

Eris:24 Aries 59

Fire:5
Earth:7
Air:3
Water:4
Cardinal:4
Fixed:10
Mutable:5

Divination Journal

Tarot Card

From tarotx.net

Page of Swords – Minor Arcana Court Card

Menu of Contents

I. Meaning of the Page of Swords Gilded Tarot

II. Message of the Page of Swords Gilded Tarot

III. Interpretation of the Page of Swords Gilded Tarot in a spread

Animal Spirit Guide or Helper

From spiritanimaldreams.com

Magpie

Creativity and Imagination

Magpies are attracted to unique objects, particularly if these objects are shiny. This resonates very well with your creative brain.

If you are an artist or a lover of literature, you will realize that you look at things from a different perspective from most people.

Witchcraft and Magic

In the olden days in Western cultures, witches wore long collared black dresses that somewhat resembles the magpie’s pied plumage.

It is also believed that witches used magpies to communicate with the dark creatures of the forest. This association makes people relate this bird to magic and the dark arts of wizardry.

Treachery…

Intelligence and Knowledge…

Opportunism and Cunning…

Symbolic Meaning of Magpie Spirit Animal in Various Cultures…


Rune

From white-magic-help.net

ODIN

The Unknowable, The God Odin

Empty is the end, empty is the beginning. Like the phoenix from the ashes it rises – from what we call fate. The surrender of control is the supreme challenge for a spiritual warrior. If you drag the blank rune, take courage. Trust that the universe will make self change in your ongoing life progress.

Witch’s Rune

From wizardforest.com

RING

This rune is also called Marriage, Relationship. But it doesn’t mean that this rune predicts wedding (although in some cases it is possible). More often the fallen rune Ring means an agreement, relation between people, friends or partners. It may concern work, contractual obligations, and concluded agreements.

Key words: marriage, agreement, exchange, universe, partnership, teamwork, agreement of the parties.

Sabbat: Wheel of the Year

Element: Aether (spirit)

Ogham

From symbolsage.com

Amancholl

Amancholl has the phonetic value of Ae, and corresponds to the witch hazel—sometimes pine. However, it doesn’t refer to the common witch hazel in North America, but to the witch elm, whose British name is witch hazel. It’s also given various names such as Xi, Mor, and Peine. In Celtic lore, the elm is associated with the underworld, though modern interpretation links it to cleansing and purification.

I Ching

From ichingonline.net

Hexagram Twenty – Three/23

Po / Splitting Apart

The weight of the Mountain presses down upon a weak foundation of Earth:
The Superior Person will use this time of oppression to attend to the needs of those less fortunate.

Any action would be ill-timed.
Stand fast.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

This is a situation easily mistaken for Stagnation (Hexagram 12) or Revolution (Hexagram 49).
It just depends on which side you’re on.
During a time of Stagnation, human worms invade to feed on the decay.
During a time of Revolution, oppression is being overthrown.
But in this situation, oppressors are violently seizing power.
Pay special heed when you receive this hexagram, because the oracle is often warning you of a situation of which you are totally unaware.
You are about to be blindsided.

Numerology

From numeroscop.net

Two

Two, as one of the Core Numbers, is an Axis of Symmetry, a point of equilibrium which provides peace to your inner world. Any disturbance of this condition you perceive as a direct threat to life and well-being. It provokes you to action with the main goal of the restoration of order and harmony in the world.Intuitive confidence in the rationality and justice of the world order makes you stick to the view that all the troubles come from the people’s inability to hear and understand each other. Therefore you voluntarily assume the responsibility of a peacemaker.

Positive qualities

 

The list of positive qualities of the Two fully matches the list of canonical human virtues. They are good nature, peacefulness, generosity, ethic and tact based on intuition, insight and understanding of the human soul.

Add romantic, artistic nature and an exceptional sense of beauty here, and you get a genuine Masterpiece. One can only regret that it is almost impossible to have this figure in all numbers of the numerological core, and that people whose positive qualities completely supersede all the negative ones simply don’t exist.

One should clearly see the borderline between diplomacy and commitment to the peaceful coexistence, and compliance and timidity.

Color Chart for Witches

Color Associations and Symbolism

Color energies are useful in many ways. One of the most basic ways to use color symbolism in magick is to select candles of the color appropriate to your purpose. The power of color may be added at any point in rituals and spells to enhance the symbolism, and thus the power of the spell.Examples include:

Candles

Altar Cloth & Flowers

Fabric and components for Amulets, Talismans, Dream Pillows, etc.

Food coloring choices in Bath Salts.

Label/Container choices for brews, teas, essential oils etc.

Meditations on colors for reaching specific chakras, or areas for psychic development.

Garments for ceremonies or simply on days when you wish to attract (or deflect) certain energies.

Colored papers and inks for written spell work.

Awareness of colors you select in your decor and environment.

As with most things magickal, how you feel about the color and your aims is the most important guide. If a color feels right to use for a purpose, even if it is not listed here, use it! As shown in the varying and sometimes overlapping associations above, the power and meaning of colors varies somewhat form person to person.

COLOR ASSOCIATIONS AND SYMBOLS

RED Signifies: Strength, health, vigor, lust, danger. Holiday: Yule;
Planet: Mars;
Day: Tuesday;
Astrological Sign: Scorpio
ORANGE Signifies: Encouragement, adaptability, stimulation, attraction, plenty, kindness.
Holiday: Candlemas;
Deities: Brigid;
Planets: Sun, Mars, Mercury;
Days: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday;
Astrological Sign: Leo, Sagittarius
YELLOW Signifies: Knowledge, learning, concentration, persuasion, charm, confidence, jealousy, joy, comfort.
Planet: Mercury
Day: Wednesday
Astrological Sign: Gemini, Leo
GREEN Signifies: Finances, fertility, luck, success energy, charity, growth rejuvenation, ambition, counteract greed and jealousy, plants kingdom including herbal healing.
Planets: Venus, Mercury
Days: Friday, Wednesday
Holidays: Spring Equinox, Beltane
Astrological Sign: Taurus
BLUE Signifies: Tranquility, understanding, patience, health, truth, devotion, sincerity, honor, loyalty, peace, wisdom, protection during sleep, astral projection.
Planets: Moon, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter
Days: Monday, Friday, Saturday, Thursday
Astrological Sign: Libra, Sagittarius
VIOLET/PURPLE Signifies: Power, piety, sanctity, sentimentality, tension, sadness amplification of other energies, wisdom, high ideals, spiritual protection and healing, psychic ability, protective energy.
Planet: Jupiter
Day: Thursday
Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
BLACK Signifies: Negation without reflecting, unlocking when stuck, banishing evil or negativity.
Holiday- Samhain
Planet- Saturn
Day – Saturday
Deities- The Crone
Astrological Sign: Scorpio & Capricorn
WHITE Signifies: Purity, consecration, meditation, divination, exorcism, the full moon, healing, peace, spiritual strength.
(May be substituted for any other color.)
Planet: Moon
Day: Monday
Astrological Sign: Cancer
GRAY Signifies: Balance, neutrality, used in erasing, canceling, neutralizing, and return to the universe without repercussion destructive energies.
Planet: Moon
Day: Monday
Deity: Athena
Astrological Sign: Virgo
PINK Signifies: Healing, familial or emotional love (rather than sexual), friendship, affections, unselfish emotions, spiritual healing, banishing hatred.
Gem: Rose quartz
Planet: Venus
Day: Friday
BROWN Signifies: The Earth, grounding, trees, concentration, telepathy, spells to locate lost objects, protection of the familiars, pets, and animals.
Planets: Moon (tan browns), Venus (all), Saturn (dark browns)
Days: Monday, Friday, Saturday
Deity: Gaia
Astrological Sign: Capricorn
Holiday: Mabon
SILVER Signifies: Purity, the moon, treasure, values, female energy, the unconscious mind.
Day: Monday
Astrological Sign: Gemini
Deity: Artemis and other Moon Goddesses
GOLD Signifies: The sun, male energy, wealth, financial wisdom, conscious mind, attracting happiness, activity, intelligence.
Planet: Sun Day: Monday
Astrological Sign: Gemini
Deity: Artemis and other Moon Goddesses
Day: Sunday
Astrological Sign: Leo
Deity: Apollo and other Sun Gods

Divination Journal

Tarot Card

The card is drawn today from Green Witch Tarot Companion by Ann Moura pages 216-217

10 of Chalices

Meaning: Love, joy, happiness in the homelife, enjoying family and friends, security, contentment, recognition, social standing, reaping the rewards of efforts, satisfying emotional commitments, well-earned self-esteem

Prompt Words: Happiness , family contentment, security.

Animal Spirit Guide or Helper

Today’s animal is from Messages From Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Deck by Steven D. Farmer pages 75-76

Mountain Goat

There is something out of balance in your life, so do whatever you need to do to correct it.

Associations: Sturdiness; Sure-footed; Resiliency; Determination; Quickness; Confidence; Aspiration; Ambition; Independence; Strength; Practicality; Stability, Dignity; Perserverance.

Rune

Eihwaz

E

Yew, Yggdrasil, endurance, ability to achieve goals with resilience.

Witches Rune

Drawn by Lady Carla Beltane reading from OtherwordlyOracle.com

Crossroads

Decisions, blocked paths, opportunities, the space between, spirits

The crossroads as a symbol and as an actual place are powerful. When we reach a crossroads in our lives, we have to make a decision. There may be a new path presented to us or our paths might be blocked. This could also indicate a spirit of the crossroads calling us.

Numerology

From astrogle.com

Seventeen

It is spiritual growth, faith, and balance. It is also wealth or bankruptcy. It is an inner struggle to remain true to spiritual and moral values.

Ogham

Ailm

Pine

A

Awe, certainty of direction, objectivity, sanctity of purpose, cleansing. A conifer evergreen tree.

I Ching

Number drawn by Lady Carla Beltane reading by psychic-revelation.com

 

Hexagram Seventeen/17

Name: Sui.

Keyphrase: Following.

Formed By The Trigrams: Lake over Thunder.

 

General: Balancing the heart and mind of leadership will help assure steady progress.

Love: Show your partner what you require by example rather than words. be gentle with them.

Business: Hard work needs to be balanced by rest.

Personal: Plan for gradual progress and make sure that hard work is balanced by rest.

 

Overview: Sui indicates that you should lead by example rather than just telling everyone what to do. It indicates a time where gradual progress should be the plan and that work should be balanced with periods of rest. Effective leadership is about serving, not about power and ego. A leader has obligations to all those that work for him and this should not be overlooked. Learn the needs of those that follow you and if some of these needs need correcting then do so by gentle persuasion not by harsh words.

Goddesses and Gods – Greek Titans Theia, Goddess of Shining and

Greek Titans – Theia, goddess of shining

Theia (Thia, Thea, Euryphaessa) was a Titan goddess of shining, associated with shining light, shining metals or jewels. Her other name Euryphaessa means “wide-shining” and therefore she was connected with all that is shining. In Pindar’s Isthmian Odes, Theia is described as the goddess of shining after whom men honored gold as the most powerful shining object. She was also a goddess of sight, because ancient Greeks believed that eyes emitted beams of light which allowed them to see what they looked upon. She was one of the twelve titans and one of the six daughters of Uranus and Gaea. Theia was also, like her sisters Phoebe and Themis, associated with prophecies. She had a shrine in Thessaly.

The mother of the Sun, the Moon and the Dawn

Theia married her brother Hyperion (Titan god of light) and together they gave birth to Helios (the sun), Selene (the moon) and Eos (the dawn).

 

Helios – Titan god of sun dwelled in a golden palace, located at the far east of the earth. He was traveling from the east to the west during daytime with his golden chariot, drawn by four winged horses, and was wearing a radiant circle or aureole of the sun. During night-time he descended into a golden cup which carried him back to his golden palace.

Selene – Titan goddess of moon was depicted as a woman in chariot, drawn by a pair of winged steeds, and wearing a golden cloak. Her great love was a mortal man called Endymion who was granted immortality and eternal youth by Zeus and was placed in a state of eternal slumber near Mount Latmos where his bride came every night to consort with him.

Eos – Titan goddess of dawn who rose each day in the morning from the edge of Oceanus to overcome mists and shadows of the night with her golden rays. She was married to her cousin Astraeus(Titan god of dusk). However, she had fallen under a curse from Aphrodite and became, like her sister Selene, obsessed with young mortal men. Finally, she had chosen Tithonus, prince of Troy, to be her lover. She also asked Zeus for his immortality but forgot to ask for eternal youth and one day he shrivelled up by old age and babbled for eternity

Greek Titans – Iapetus, god of mortal life span

Iapetus (Japetus, the Piercer) was a Titan god of mortal life span or god of death. He presided over the timeline of all mortals. His nickname, “the piercer”, actually meant that he came for a life of mortals in terms of violence. In other words, when Iapetus decided that one’s time had passed, he brought violent death upon him. He was also known as a Pillar of west. Together with his other three brothers Coeus, Hyperion and Crius they presided as the Pillars of holding Heaven and Earth apart. He was one of six sons of Uranus and Gaea and is mentioned by Apollodorus as one of the five brothers, all but Oceanus, who participated in rebellion against Uranus and later attacked him. When they overcame him, the four brothers probably held him down while Cronus castrated him.

Titanomachy

After decapitating and dethroning their father Uranus, Iapetus stood by his brother Cronus who became a new ruler of the Cosmos. During golden age of the Titans he married his niece Clymene, a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. Together they had four sons who overshadowed their father in a time of war and in later times of Olympians. There are, however, few statements by different authors which indicate that the role of Iapetus was very important and equate him with the role of Cronus. Homer himself states that Cronus and Iapetus were equal in power, while Nonnus and Valerius Flaccus state that in Titanomachy, at some point, Zeus fought with Iapetus and according to Valerius, who goes even further, it is said that Zeus became a ruler of Cosmos after winning the fierce battle with Iapetus.

 

When the war between Titans and Olympian gods had started, his sons were also mentioned to had played their part. Atlas and Menoetius sided with the Titans, while Prometheus and Epimetheus chose Olympians. Atlas is said to have become a leader of Titans in this war and caused Olympians more than few setbacks and his other brother Menoetius was said to be very vicious, brutally slaying allies of the Olympians until Zeus himself struck him down with his thunderbolt and sent him to Tartarus because of his mad presumption and exceeding pride. Prometheus and Epimetheus, although they had also played important part in the war, are also like their father very rarely or almost never mentioned in sources that are preserved. Instead they played important role after the war, with creation of men and animals.

Released from prison

When the war was over, Iapetus was sent to Tartarus where he was re-united with his brothers and many relatives. He was described by Homer as one of the more destructive titans who was seated beside Cronus in the depths of Tartarus. However, according to Aeschylus’ lost play , he was later released by Zeus from Tartarus with the rest of the titans.

If You Have a dream About… Pulling Up Plants

(I have had a reoccurring dream about this topic for the last 4 days and wanted to know what it could mean. Please remember the post only represents one person’s view on what the dream could mean.)

Dream about Pulling Up Plants

Dream about pulling up plants symbolizes your ability to balance your goals and your family life. You are seeking acclaim and recognition. You need to take a rest. This dream is a metaphor for happiness and harmony. You are feeling good about something you said or did.

Pulling up plants signifies nurturance, protection and unconditional love. You are open-minded about the new journey or phase in your life. There is a message that you need to absorb and incorporate in your daily life. This dream refers to a rising level of understanding, awareness or success. You are willing to part with something near and dear to you in the hopes of material advancement. Pulling up plants in dream indicates festivities, pleasure and joy. You have a lot of things to consider. It is time to move on and look toward the future. This dream represents your confidence and self-esteem. You will be unexpected call on to defend your honor. Dream about pulling up plants stands for sensuality and harmony, especially in some relationship You need help to clean up your act. You want to stray from your significant other. This dream points to your desires to want things to be neat and clean. You are on the right track. Pulling up plants points at excitement, lust, or sensuality. You care about how you present yourself to others. You have a wandering mind. This dream is a portent for poise and balance in your life or the need to regain balance. You are expressing some connection to someone.