While I was busy freaking out about Scorpio's sting, Starweaver had some lovely things to say about the Full Moon Magic of the Second Scorpio Moon.

The theme of April’s Full Moon in Scorpio was “drawing from your well of power”. Having drawn from those depths, we are ready to use our emotional energy to create transformation. The other planets are in a very positive, benevolent placement at this time. Venus is near the Sun in Taurus (the sign of her rulership) during this Full Moon, teaching us how to manifest our desires and live richly in our emotions. She is trine with Jupiter now too, adding even greater energy to this Moon. This Moon can amplify our emotions, our sensuality, and our depth of feeling. There is a real possibility of manifesting your desires now, with help from Venus and Jupiter in earth signs.

Thank you, Starweaver, for a positive spin on the Scorpio Full Moon. This will affect my working tonight. Blessed be!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:49 PM | Comments (0)

I've been feeling very odd and moody lately. I've been having strange dreams and bizarre sleep patterns. Out of the blue, someone I haven't heard from in ages started sending me stupid and offensive text messages - WTF? After watching a silly movie on television I went on a twenty-minute crying jag. Just yesterday I had this impulse to sell everything I own and move away to some foreign country where no one knows me and no one who does could ever find me. What is up with that? That does not seem like something a sane and happy person would do. And then I figured it out. Today is a Full Moon in Scorpio. More precisely, it will be Full at 10:11 pm EDT. Apparently, this is the second Full Moon in Scorpio this year. Oh lucky me!

This Taurus had not been paying attention to her ephemeris or I would have braced myself. We all know how a Full Moon can make things feel a little wonky. For a Taurus, having Scorpio as my opposite, its effects can sometimes feel complementary but often feel scary or even threatening. No wonder I'm feeling a bit undone.

Scorpio is ruled by Mars and Pluto. These influences bring out strong desires and passions. People tend to get moody, with heightened sensitivity to everything, especially to personal offenses and insults. It's easy to get aggressive, critical and impatient. Scorpio has a suspicious and secretive nature, which can lead to feelings of jealousy, making social interactions, especially with the opposite sex, extremely tricky. Watch out for the Scorpion's sting!

According to Cafe Astrology:

The Taurus-Scorpio polarity deals with the balance between all that is mine (Taurus) and all that is yours (Scorpio). It also emphasizes the concept of form (Taurus) versus transformation (Scorpio). While Taurus deals with matter, personal values, material goods, possessions, and security, Scorpio rules the destruction of form, shared possessions, change, and transformation. The Sun in Taurus wants us to be happy with the simple, tangible things in life, while the Scorpio Moon draws our attention to complexities, intangibles, and mysteries. Neglecting either end of the axis will surely backfire on us. Ideally, a balance should be found between the two energies, and this is what the Full Moon invites us to do. This Full Moon is about emotional declarations. Something has been building inside of us, likely of an intimate nature, and now is the time when the energy of the cosmos fairly demands that we let it out. Over the next two weeks, we will discover what this declaration means for us. For now, we can't sit on our feelings. We need to express them. The Full Moon illuminates this conflict between collecting and sharing.

With the Moon full and bright in the sky, symbolic "illumination" occurs in our own lives. However, these new feelings and revelations are emotional ones, as emotions burst forth into our consciousness. It's time to express ourselves, and to let things out of our systems. Of course, we might want to exercise some care while doing so, knowing that what is coming out of us is new and not particularly rational as yet. Full Moons are about exposing or illuminating issues that are already there, but that have not yet been dealt with.

This explains so much about the agitation I've been feeling lately over having to make a decision about my living situation and trying to make heads and tails about what's going on with a romantic relationship. Being a Taurus, the thought of uprooting my life is stressful enough as it is. Part of what I've been thinking through is exactly how to make things simple and happy and whether my current living situation will support me in that. And there are plenty of complexities, intangibles and mysteries involved since I'm trying to factor a relationship and whether it has any bearing on my decision about where to live. Thanks Moon, for popping into Scorpio today to add a monkey wrench into the already mixed up soup that is my emotional state at the moment. You couldn't have settled nicely into Libra? I would have taken Virgo!

When given an astrological wallop, what's a witch to do?

In this particular case, given that it's Scorpio we're talking about, I'd say I need a little astrological anti-venum. Not enough to kill the critter, just enough to take the sting out of his, well, sting so that he can't incapacitate me. I want to benefit from the Scorpio energy that can serve me at this time, but I need to feel that the kinder, gentler Taurus energy has half a chance. Instinct tells me that in addition to taking general protective action, I should try to boost the energy that will offset the one I'm trying to overcome. In this case that means Taurus, my own Sun sign, which is Scorpio's opposite on the wheel of the zodiac. Taurus is ruled by Venus, so it might be a good idea to appeal to her for help.

Since I am not one of those witches with a cupboard fully stocked with herbs and oils and other magickal ingredients (although I always wish I could become one of those witches), I rarely have ingredients on hand to whip up a specific potion or spell. So, in a pinch, I tend to turn to candle magick. You just need to find a candle in an appropriate color, inscribe it with something to represent your desired outcome, light the sucker, et voila! (Intention goes without saying.) For today, I'm going to use a black candle for protection and to absorb negative energy and a green candle to represent Taurus, Venus, Earth, healing and balance. When inscribing candles for magickal purposes, remember to carve images and words from the wick downward for things you want to bring to you; for things you want to banish or remove, carve from the bottom of the candle upward.

While there are many, many references for color correspondences for candle magick, I used details on the properties of black and green candles from a website on candle colors and magickal properties:

BLACK: Burned for positive purposes, this colour opens up the deeper levels of the unconscious. Black is used in rituals to induce a deep meditational state and is good for banishing evil or negativity. Connects to self control, quiet power, and resilience, as it absorbs negativity and destroys it; offers strength and support in spells; protects from retribution and is also an aid during loss.

GREEN:
The colour that connects to nature, fertility, and rejuvenation. Stimulates work involving financial issues and money; aids good fortune, prosperity, luck; ambition and success. Bringer of love and renewal, it is an emotional soother and balancer, used to counteract greed and jealousy. A good colour for treating headaches, colds and nervousness. Green is the colour of the Earth element and is a Goddess Symbol.

I will spend some time today considering the best things for me to inscribe on my black and green candles, given my particular situation and how I need some help to deal with the upset caused by this Full Moon in Scorpio. Once I've settled on what I want to use, I'll carve my candles and get my altar ready. Around 10 pm I'll sit at my altar, create a sacred space, fill my candles with intent, and, at the moment the Moon is completely Full - 10:11 - I will light my candles. I'll keep them burning until I go to bed and then I'll blow them out. It would certainly be one hell of a Scorpion sting if I let my house burn down!

Sweet Venus, please come to hold my hand and help me hold my tongue. No venom here! Let sweet Taurus rule the day. I'd like some change and transformation, just as long as it's toward happiness and security in my new love. Blessed be!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 1:46 PM | Comments (2)

This morning at 6:25 am EDT, the Full Moon occurred, with the Sun in Taurus opposing the Moon in Scorpio. Cafe Astrology says:

The Full Moon is a time of culmination and the promise of fulfillment of that which was started at the New Moon. It is an emotional time - a time of romance, fertilization, and relationships.

The Taurus-Scorpio polarity deals with the balance between all that is mine (Taurus) and all that is yours (Scorpio). It also emphasizes the concept of form (Taurus) versus transformation (Scorpio). While Taurus deals with matter, personal values, material goods, possessions, and security, Scorpio rules the destruction of form, shared possessions, change, and transformation. The Sun in Taurus wants us to be happy with the simple, tangible things in life, while the Scorpio Moon draws our attention to complexities, intangibles, and mysteries. Neglecting either end of the axis will surely backfire on us. Ideally, a balance should be found between the two energies, and this is what the Full Moon invites us to do. This Full Moon is about emotional declarations. Something has been building inside of us, likely of an intimate nature, and now is the time when the energy of the cosmos fairly demands that we let it out. Over the next two weeks, we will discover what this declaration means for us. For now, we can't sit on our feelings. We need to express them. The Full Moon illuminates this conflict between collecting and sharing.

This Full Moon is supported by both Saturn and Pluto, adding practicality and logic to an otherwise irrational state. The epiphanies we have now can be turned into something solid and real.

What has been building inside of you that feels like it's about to burst? What work have you been doing that feels like it is reaching fulfillment and can benefit from this energy that both encourages change and gives us a foundation to support us through it? What epiphanies have you experienced lately?

I particularly like the Taurus/Scorpio polarity. As a Taurus, of course I am comfortable when the influence of my sign is affecting what's going on in my life. It's a safe and cozy place. The energy of Scorpio, however, is thrilling and speaks to my shadow self - in a good way. When you've come to terms with your shadow self and welcomed it back into the fold (as I did during my shamanic training) turning to the shadow can be empowering. Sometimes it gives us more information than our sunny self is willing to see. And at this particular time, using Scorpio's energy to illuminate those complexities, intangibles and mysteries will be very useful.

As the eighth sign in the zodiac, Scorpio is associated with the Eighth House, which has to do with birth, death, transformation, sexual relationships, deeply committed relationships of all kinds, and magick and psychic abilities. With the Full Moon in Scorpio, there is powerful energy to support work in these areas of your life. Traditionally seen as being ruled by Mars - a planet with masculine energy that leads us toward desire and action - more modern astrologers consider Scorpio to be ruled by Pluto - which represents the urge to transform and regenerate. The tarot's Death card makes the perfect metaphor for a Full Moon in Scorpio, because it really is more about the emerging of the butterfly into its new state of being than it is about loss that made transformation possible.

Continue reading "Full Moon in Scorpio"

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:36 AM | Comments (1)

Today at 12:14 pm EST we will have a New Moon in Pisces. As usual when it comes to a Moon cycle, I turn to Cafe Astrology, whose insight and analysis I find, well, insightful:

The New Moon in Pisces is a good time to commit to personal goals that express the positive energies of the sign of the Fish. These include taking a leap of faith, accepting imperfections in ourselves and in others as a different kind of "perfection", starting a project that requires imagination and visualization skills, consciously putting time aside for peaceful and rejuvenating activities, and sharing a dream with another. With this potent Pisces energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives.

This month's New Moon is conjunct electric Uranus and sextile Jupiter. New commitments and resolutions made now need to be unusual, nontraditional, and certainly not monotonous. It's time to make some solid yet realistic plans, and to set the stage for reaping the rewards from our new beginnings, as little or big as they may be, in approximately two weeks' time after the Full Moon occurs.

Lots of useful information here. The energy of this New Moon, as with all New Moons, gives us tremendous support for making positive change and new starts. There is something that feels especially gentle, creative and loving about this Pisces Moon. In particular, I like this idea of seeing imperfections as "a different kind of perfection."

I have a ring made with a Peruvian opal, a stone that is usually seen as a smooth, milky blue. In my ring, the stone has a number of occlusions that appear as a line of black and orange spots of color. The artist who made the ring liked the way the occlusions added visual interest and actually set the stone using the occlusions as an intentional design element. Rather than choose another stone or have the occlusions cut out, she thought this imperfect stone was all the more beautiful because of the things that make it imperfect. I couldn't agree more.

In us, the quirky imperfections are the things that make us human, individual, and yes, even beautiful. Most of us are so critical of ourselves, so quick to find fault and pass judgment. And yes, sometimes we are critical of others, too. This New Moon offers us a wonderful opportunity to shift our perspective to allow us not only to accept imperfection but to celebrate it, to find a way to appreciate how the things that are not perfect make us, and life, more interesting.

Someone I used to work with always used the phrase "It's a feature, not a bug." It comes from the high tech world of software development but we can apply it to the low tech world of spiritual and personal development as a way to embrace this new perspective. If someone, including yourself, focuses on a perceived imperfection, just say, "It's a feature, not a bug."

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:49 AM | Comments (0)

There will be a New Moon Solar Eclipse tonight at 10:45 pm EST. I couldn't possibly say anything better on this subject than Cafe Astrology. This is just too spot on:

On Wednesday night, an especially potent New Moon occurs in Aquarius--potent because it's a Solar Eclipse. In the sign of Aquarius, friendship, brotherhood, group activities, social pursuits, group projects, trying something new, humanitarian efforts, or joining a group will be a strong focus on a personal level. This eclipse is about new beginnings regarding all of these matters.

This eclipse conjuncts Neptune, Chiron, and retrograde Mercury and loosely trines Mars. This is a time when we should solve problems that require thinking "outside of the box"; look to the future with a brand new, positive, and hopeful vision; brainstorm and socialize; focus on extending a friendly hand, receiving support, and expressing platonic love for those around us; give our emotions and passions a "break", as we develop more objectivity and some detachment from past haunts; learn how something (or someone) works; revitalize ourselves through experiences that are new or simply different; reach out to people in our social circle and in our community, and recognize the value of our friendships and social networks; recognize that some level of detachment and distancing ourselves from our habits and attachment to the past will help us break away from destructive behaviors that are holding us back. With this potent Aquarius energy, we have the chance to make progressive changes in our lives. For some of us, circumstances are such that we need to pay more attention to these matters.

Flaws in an important system in our lives are revealed around the time of the eclipse, prompting us to redo or to start fresh. Something ends in order for something else to start anew. Major developments in the personal areas ruled by Aquarius are likely to occur over the course of the next 3-6 months. However, not everyone will feel the effect of the eclipse with the same intensity. Those whose personal planets are activated by the degree of the eclipse will feel its effects on a personal level.

This confirms for me that I've been spending way too much time looking within; it's time for me to focus my energy outward. One of my "three big rocks" for this new year was to get out more, spend time with friends, cultivate new ones, explore more social outlets. Those circumstances mentioned above? Yes, I do need to pay more attention to making progressive change in my life in a positive way. I could sit at home tonight, working a spell carefully planned and timed to coincide with the arrival of the New Moon, but I think going out to spend some time with friends would do more to move me toward realizing these goals. Some wise witches I've come to know through reading their works online have taught me that sometimes there is more magick in the simple act of doing something than in all of the incense, herbs and candles you could collect on an altar.

Ordinarily, I might talk about using the last remaining Waning energy of this Moon cycle, the Dark Moon, for banishing work. Frankly, I feel I've been expending way too much energy thinking about what needs to be banished and not enough thought and energy on what I need to manifest. I've been thinking, writing and talking a lot about new beginnings but I haven't put my magick where my mouth is, so to speak.

The astrological energy at work right now offers us powerful clues about what we can do in an active way to manifest new and wonderful things in our lives. Call a friend today. Socialize. Feel the blessing of having these people in our lives. Do what we girls do best - chat - and brainstorm about new things to do that will energize and fulfill us.

The Women Friends, Gustav Klimt, 1917

To quote Veronique Vienne, author of The Art of Being a Woman: A Simple Guide to Everyday Love and Laughter:

Let's be here for each other; it is in our self-interest to contribute to the cheerfulness of all our women friends.

With love and blessings to friends everywhere. Blessed be.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:39 AM | Comments (1)

Tomorrow, Tuesday is the first New Moon of this new calendar year: a New Moon in Capricorn.

One of the reasons we focus on the astrological sign in which a New Moon occurs is because this is the most opportune time for working to incorporate into our lives the constructive qualities that sign embodies and the areas of life it rules. Capricorn, the tenacious Goat, is resourceful, disciplined, wise, ambitious, prudent, and constant. These Capricorn qualities are ideal to help anyone who has made a new year's resolution, or something of the sort, realize those goals.

According to Cafe Astrology:

One of Capricorn's "lessons" is acceptance of the concept that reasonable boundaries and rules actually do offer us freedom--freedom from worry and chaos, for example. Setting goals for ourselves allows us to focus on what really matters. With this potent Capricorn energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives.

What did I say about that Three Big Rocks spell? I've figured out what my three big rocks are for this year. Have you?

There are many signs around us that indicate that 2008 will be a tremendous year of positive change. Numerologically, we are entering a new cycle - this is a #1 year (2+0+0+8=10, this reduces to 1). It is a time of potential, of new beginnings and for some, the recognition of what has been missing.

In her January email update, my friend Carolyn of In the Lap of the Goddess Productions says:

I also think of a 1 year as a time to bring our attention back home to ourselves. Many of us have become so externally focused that we may experience burn-out or depression and may find ourselves feeling disconnected from our true nature. This year contains an energy that calls us home to our hearts, reconnecting us to our Magick and the highest expression of all that is waiting to be birthed within us.

For me, this couldn't be more true! One of my "big rocks" is reclaiming and nurturing my true Self.

It seems to be true for many sensitives, who by nature or training are conditioned to focus on the needs of others. Lucid, at Lucid Amphibology, a new blog I recently discovered, writes in her post To the Compassion Fatigued:

I realized that I’d relegated myself to an unconscious and psychologically young paradigm that limited my ability to simultaneously hold compassion for others and myself. In this paradigm, there was an unspoken rule, which is this: Only one person gets to have their needs met. From which I derived a related belief: Taking care of myself comes at the cost of someone else, which I cannot bear.

By setting reasonable boundaries and creating rules for how we choose to give of ourselves, we make it possible to meet our own needs as well as exhibit compassion for those around us, to be true to our nature as sensitive, nurturing souls as well as honoring and keeping whole our internal, essential selves - functioning in the world as I, Not As We.

Spellcasting

One thing to remember is that the Dark of the Moon, that moment right before the New Moon occurs, is the very best time for doing any banishing work. Banishing or releasing the old is the best way to make space for new things to enter our lives. This may be a very important and powerful component to all of the New Moon work we hope to do. Make note of the time of the New Moon - January 8th, 2008, at 6:37 AM EDT - and plan your workings accordingly. Banishing spells should be complete before then, and any work around manifesting new things should happen after that time, when the Moon has moved into its Waxing phase.

Another important thing to note is that the Moon goes Void of Course at 6:37 AM, and will be there until it moves into Aquarius on Wednesday, January 9, at 6:13 AM EDT. Many people believe that you shouldn't perform any magick while the Moon is Void of Course - I'll leave that up to your discretion. But I do think if you wait until Wednesday to do your work, even though the Moon will be in Aquarius by then, you can still tap into the power of the Capricorn New Moon if that is the energy you wish to use. Just put items on your altar that correspond to Capricorn to boost that energy. Your intention is always the most important element to any spell.

Capricorn correspondences:

Ruler: Saturn

Colors: black, brown

Stones: garnet, jet, onyx

Herbs: aconite (monkshood), belladonna, bindweed, bistort, bluebell, boneset, buckthorn, comfrey, cornflower, cramp bark, elder, elm, fern, fleabane, garlic, heart's-ease, horsetail, Irish moss, ivy, knotweed, laurel, lobelia, mandrake, mastic, myrrh, nightshade, patchouli, poke, rowan, shepherd's purse, Solomon's seal, vetch, witch hazel, yew

These correspondences came from Christopher Penczak's Outer Temple Of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals.

Other magickal correspondences for Capricorn can be found at Spelwerx and Phoenix Rising.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 3:24 PM | Comments (1)

This is what Cafe Astrology says is in the stars for us today:

The Moon is in soulful Cancer all day, and mysterious Neptune is stationary as it turns direct after many months of retrogradation--perhaps fittingly uncanny for Halloween! Neptune rules unreality, dreams, mystery, and illusions. It casts a veil over our eyes. Neptune energy is extremely powerful today at its station, although it is strong throughout the week as well. Now and in the coming two or three weeks, many of the illusions we have been holding onto reveal themselves, confusing situations become clearer, and our creativity soars. Instead of thinking of this period as a time of disillusionment, however, we can see it as a time of illumination--when we increasingly see the light and become clearer, sharper, and more effective in the real world.

Very interesting!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:35 AM | Comments (0)

This morning there is a New Moon in Virgo and a Solar Eclipse. As usual, I turn to my favorite source on the subject for an evaluation, Cafe Astrology:

A New Moon Solar Eclipse occurs in the sign of Virgo this morning at 8:45 AM EDT. Its effects can be felt up to six months after the actual date of the eclipse. In the sign of Virgo, work and health matters will be a major focus on a personal level. This eclipse is about new beginnings regarding work, attention to details, fitness, health regimes, and daily routines. The eclipse squares Mars and opposes Uranus, suggesting dynamic change and unexpected events. This is a time when we should build our powers of healthy, constructive discrimination; learn to be more pro-active; start a new health and fitness routine; set up specific routines that will help us manage our lives in positive, mindful ways; and learn the "power of now" and of mindfulness. We can learn to master the "little" details of our day-to-day lives in a more organized manner so that we can free our minds of clutter. For some of us, circumstances are such that we need to pay more attention to our work and health routines. Flaws in an important system in our lives are revealed around the time of the eclipse, prompting us to redo or to start fresh. We may find ourselves completely re-working this area of life. Read more about this Solar Eclipse.

Image: Phases oppositions. Copyright © Kmye Chan, 2006.

Change - the "redo" and the "fresh start" - is a funny thing. Most of the time it's good for us, but early this morning, lying on an air mattress as I woke to unfamiliar morning noises in my new apartment, I started thinking about the nature of change that we do not choose but that is forced upon us. My mind went to The Wheel of Fortune. It's an interesting card because for all that it's about luck it's really more about the idea that change is an unending part of life, whether we like it or not, plan it or not, see it coming or not. Does the "fortune" in The Wheel of Fortune mean that this change is for our own good, our destiny if you will?

In the excellent discussion about eclipses, Cafe Astrology has this to say about change:

Eclipses are tied to changing circumstances. However, we are usually the ones to precipitate or to attract changes because our "inner guides" know that we need it. Human beings are progressive by nature, and although we might stay in situations that are making us miserable for longer than we should, deep down inside we know that change is necessary for growth.

It occurs to me that if you, like me, are feeling a bit discombobulated by the effects of the turning of the Wheel, with things turned upside down and personal belongings (material or spiritual) spilled all over the place (literally or metaphorically), then perhaps this New Moon in Virgo with a Solar Eclipse is just the influence we need to bring some order to the chaos. Virgo's power to make us mindful of details will be helpful in putting things to rights and with the eclipse giving us six months to feel its effects, we can take the time we need to make this fresh start work for us.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 7:12 AM | Comments (0)

The Moon is in Leo all day, and a New Moon occurs this evening at 7:03 PM EDT.

Cafe Astrology tells us:

The New Moon in Leo cycle is an excellent time for formulating some goals regarding "all things Leo". Concentrate on new ways to enhance your romantic life, creative endeavors and hobbies, and relationship with children. Think about the keywords for this self-expressive fire sign -- such things as proud, magnanimous, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open -- and consider ways to incorporate these traits into your personality. With this potent Leo energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives that will benefit us well beyond this Moon cycle. It's time to make some plans and to set the stage for reaping the rewards from our new beginnings, as little or big as they may be, in approximately two weeks' time after the Full Moon occurs. Concentrate on new ways to enhance romance and creativity, and to build up your feelings of confidence and pride.

"Setting the stage" is an apt description, given how Leo loves the limelight. And the sunlight, ruled as he is by the Sun. Leo has tremendous solar energy and working with it can be a great relief for anyone who tends to work in the dark, focusing on the Moon. Leo is symbolized by the lion, but his archetype is both performer and king. Leo is the sign of attention and ego, so using Leo energy in magick can develop a healthy sense of ego, including the qualities of leadership, confidence, charisma and creativity.

If we extend the metaphor of stage and performing to imagine that we are set designers tasked with creating the stage design for a new play - which happens to be the story of our personal new beginning - then consider what your stage looks like and what materials you might use as decorations and props.

The Stage by sofree at deviantART

Is your stage a literal one? Perhaps some new red sheets in the bedroom will add some fire to your romance. Do you work at home? Pick up a book on some basic feng shui and see if some simple furniture rearrangement could boost your creativity, confidence and pride in your work. You may surprise yourself at the difference that moving your desk to the power position in your office can make.

If your stage is more symbolic or magickal, then there are any number of ways you can bring Leo's energy to the areas you wish to enhance. Bring items that correspond to Leo into spells and other work to bring that energy into what you are doing. Leo says "I CREATE, I WILL" and is associated with amber, citrine, diamonds and topaz, the colors yellow and gold, and a number of flowers, herbs and essences: almond, angelica, bay, buttercup, calendula, celandine, copal, daisy, eyebright, frankincense, ginseng, goldenrod, hawthorne, heliotrope, hops, marigold, mullien, oats, orange, peony, pimpernel, rosemary, rue, saffron, sage, St. John's wort, sunflower, tansy. The Strength card in tarot is associated with Leo as well.

We are, of course, the Stars of our own play, in addition to being playwright and creator of the stage on which our play is to be performed. Unless you prefer to perform a one-woman show, you might consider choosing someone to stand on stage beside you, to bring the action to life. Imagine the power and chemistry one of the great Goddesses can bring to the performance of your play, the story of your new beginning. As suggestions, I've chosen a few Goddesses who rule the areas that the energy of this New Moon calls upon us to address. They are the ones to call upon to help you with this work.

Shakti

Shakti is the energy that forms the basis of the universe in Hindu cosmology. The term Shakti literally means "energy" in the sense that she is the forma of all energy and all matter. She is the personified form of cosmic energy from which the universe was formed and by which it is still made and destroyed every second of every day. It is the energy of life, death, and beyond all else, change. Shakti is identified with all aspects of the Goddess in Tantrika and Hinduism. She is the Goddess unveiled , the pure expression of power and life. It is therefore fitting that her form is in every woman. Call upon her when needing to tap that cosmic energy, start something new, or to simply do it! What better Goddess to ask for help with new beginnings?

Shakti's symbol is a rising serpent. She is associated with the element of Fire, rubies, sandalwood, and the color scarlet.

Venus

Venus is romance personified. She is the great Goddess to invoke if you want to bring real love into your life. No love spell is complete without her, and she is known to grant love to those who feel they have missed out before. Venus is the famous Roman Goddess of love, passion, and beauty. Her beauty is from within as well as outside. Generosity, kindness, and a loving nature are what she is all about. Venus oozes seduction and passionate lust, and all of her images show a voluptuous, naked Goddess glowing with love. Her true self is romantic, or true love, that which unites body and spirit. Venus is love and the art of loving yourself as well as others. Call on her for love, or to find true love, or to love yourself more.

Venus' symbol the Venus symbol (the female symbol). She is associated with the element of Water, emeralds or turquoise, copper, gold coins, roses, and the colors green, pink and red.

Brigid

Brigid is the Celtic Goddess of creativity and inspiration. One of the oldest and most worshipped of the Celtic Goddesses, Brigid is the patroness of poetry, arts, crafts, weaving and inspiration. She is often divided into a triad with her two sisters, who govern smithcraft and medicine. The name Brigid appears to mean "bright one" or "bright arrow" and at her temple in Kildare in Ireland an eternal flame was guarded by a group of nineteen priestesses. Because of her many creative aspects and skills we call upon her for the spark of inspiration and creativity in all the arts. Brigid is the go-to Goddess when you need to call upon someone for help with anything creative.

Brigid's symbol is the sun wheel (four-spoked wheel or cross). She is associated with the element of Fire, garnets, blackberries, and the colors white, red and black.

Morrighan

If you need to build confidence and pride, Morrighan is the Goddess for you. She is the tough warrior goddess who helps you kick ass on the playing field, in the corporate world, and in your personal life. Morrighan is the greatest Goddess figure of old Irish mythology, and her name means "great queen." Although is known by many names and appears in many forms, she frequently appears as a triad, the triple goddess incarnate, or even as a group in ninefold form. This makes her appear stronger to those she must compete against. Her nature, however, is most often dual, as a figure of both war and bold sexuality, a taker and a giver of life, and both dark and bright in one form. Although best known as a warrior Goddess, destruction and killing are only part of her power. She is also the Goddess of focused power, protecting the weak, defending those who need it, and defeating oppression, especially against women. We call upon her proud and noble energies to make us stronger, tougher and more self-confident.

Morrighan's symbol is the sword or the crow. She is associated with the element of Fire, iron or steel, tobacco or burning wood, and the color of blood red.

Reference texts for information in this post are The Outer Temple Of Witchcraft: Circles, Spells and Rituals by Christopher Penczak and The Ultimate Guide to Goddess Empowerment by Sophia

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 5:29 PM | Comments (0)

Saturday's New Moon in Cancer signals a fresh cycle of peace and transformation. Cancer is an emotional, sensitive, and caring water sign and a Moon in Cancer brings much healing potential. Emotional security, a sense of belonging and nurturing are all issues we experience now, and domestic activities - things that involve awareness of personal needs, home decor, and family get-togethers - are of particular interest. Feelings run deep and our intuition is strong, making this an ideal time to get in touch with what motivates us.

The New Moon in Cancer is a good time to commit to personal goals that express Cancer's positive energies. These include honoring our deepest, most irrational, and intimate feelings; recognizing the sense of security and safety we derive from whatever it is we call home; allowing ourselves to accept support and offering support to others; and starting projects aimed at improving our domestic lives. With this potent Cancer energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives that will benefit us well beyond this Moon cycle.

The sign of Cancer rules the fourth house in Astrology, which concerns family and the home. On this New Moon, and in the coming month when the Moon is Waxing, we should concentrate on new ways to enhance family life and domestic affairs, and to build feelings of security and safety. This might include home improvements and other physical transformations like organizing, painting, and redecorating. It could represent a golden opportunity to enhance family life in other ways, like finally taking the step to move in together or improving relationships with family members by taking a risk to reveal feelings. Security and safety mean different things to different people, but whatever is important to you, this lunar energy has the power to support you.

This entire upcoming lunar cycle is excellent for healing baths, purification, a trip to the sea, and appreciation of family and loved ones. Even simple things like cleaning up, putting a vase of fresh flowers in your home or office, or lighting a white candle can yield significant results. It's a wonderful time for blessing home and loved ones.

Once again I find myself in the position of having a perfect lunation for magick that is oh-so-relative to what is going on in my life but experiencing circumstances that are not quite so perfect. The question is, can I lasso the power of tomorrow's New Moon in Cancer? Of course I can!

I want to work magick that will support healing and success for a relationship and a new living situation. Shall I charge a vial of salt water? Make a charm of a piece of moonstone and herbs in a silver bag? Create a sigil? Any of these options would work. The keys to success are in choosing which option will best serve my purposes in terms of later use and in working the magick at the optimal time. The New Moon occurs at 8:04 am EDT on July 14. Once I decide the form that will best hold it's energy, I will assemble my materials and create a sacred circle within which I will call down the New Moon and work my magick to save its power for later. Since I want to manifest something, I'll start at 8:04 and work into the Waxing part of the New Moon cycle.

This magick doesn't have to be complex but to make it most effective it is important to choose items whose correspondences are most closely aligned with the intent and with the energy to be captured. So, what are Cancer's correspondences? What things are associated with new beginnings? With manifesting? Relationships? Home? You see where I'm going? The trick is to decide what is most important to you and to choose what best represents the aspects of the New Moon in Cancer that you hope to use for your magick.

There are any number of websites that offer lists of magickal correspondences. Spelwerx is one of my favorites. Of course there are many books on the subject of correspondences as well. On my wish list? The Complete Magician's Tables by Stephen Skinner.

May you lasso a New Moon full of the Crabbiest peace, love and blessings. (And I mean that in the best way possible!)

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:59 PM | Comments (0)

Tonight at 11:13 pm EDT we will have a New Moon in the sign of Gemini. The versatility Gemini brings us, with its dual nature, and its excellent energy for communication and intellectual pursuits, ruled as it is by Mercury, would ordinarily make this an ideal time to explore and expand our views and to consider new possibilities. New Moons are THE time for starting new endeavors. However, Mercury turns Retrograde the following day, which makes figuring how best to navigate through all the celestial energy a bit tricky.

Cafe Astrology offers some tips:

The New Moon in Gemini cycle is a good time to commit to personal goals that express the positive energies of the sign of the Twins. It's time to improve our communication skills by listening to others and enjoying others' points of view, rather than doggedly seeking to find that one elusive "answer". This is a good cycle under which to re-evaluate our communication and social skills by questioning just how much we actually take in information, and communicate in a friendly, non-threatening manner. With this potent Gemini energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives. This New Moon is supported by Mars, Saturn, and Neptune, offering us the wherewithal to stick with our plans, and the realism to formulate achievable and practical goals. The New Moon is also challenged by Uranus and Pluto, suggesting we should avoid jumping the gun and jumping to conclusions. This is especially important considering that Mercury is approaching a station and turning retrograde tomorrow.

One of the key words here is re-evaluate. When Mercury is Retrograde, as bad as that can be for creating communication issues, travel snafus, and electronic malfunctions, a more positive effect of this energy is that it allows us to retrace our steps and take another look at things in our lives. Often we see something we missed the first time around. Sometimes, a Mercury Retrograde can bring something back that you thought you'd lost (a business deal, a friend, a job opportunity). The key is to keeping yourself open to possibilities so that you will recognize them when they appear.

This particular New Moon may not be the time to jump gung-ho into something new but to re-evaluate what we've been doing over the past few months to find the areas that could use some attention. What's working? What isn't? Spend some time meditating and thinking about what changes would serve you best. Now is the time to make plans rather than hasty decisions.

Is there something new you've been struggling to implement in your life? This might be a good time to return to that previously set goal and focus on really making it work. For me it's a daily spiritual practice. Part of a Wiccan practice is, after all, regular communication with the divine. Perhaps the Mercury Retrograde will help me return to a place I passed on my path that I need to go back to and sit a while.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Mercury will be Retrograde in the emotional sign of Cancer. Our feelings may not be the steadiest during this time and the energy of the Gemini New Moon will contribute to the tendency toward fickleness. We're likely to feel one way this minute and another the next. Take caution to protect your own feelings but also remember to be sensitive and compassionate toward those around you. The possibility toward misunderstandings will be very high in all areas of our lives where feelings and communication are concerned.

Although Mercury will turn Direct again on July 9th, there are some schools of thought that tell us the effects of a Mercury Retrograde don't dissipate completely until the next New Moon, which will be in Cancer on July 14. In between we'll have a Full Moon in Capricorn to provide a grounding influence in the midst of this unsteady time. As we work through this New Moon in Gemini, the Mercury Retrograde and the coming Full Moon in Capricorn, we can plan for how best to approach the New Moon in Cancer, the zodiac's most fertile sign. The boost to our intuition and emotions that the Cancer Moon will bring will be a welcome change after the uncertainty we're going to start experiencing today. Imagine the opportunity then for beginning new things!

Coming up next: some thoughts on magickal workings to help us get through the next month.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:20 AM | Comments (2)

Taking a cue from the Stone Roses, the theme for today is "I wanna be adored."

(So I'm mixing my bands like metaphors. But I've got Slade's song lyric theory on the brain - I can't help myself.)

Cafe Astrology tells us:

Venus enters Leo today and stays in the sign until July 14th.We take pride in love, and we are generous with our money as well during this cycle. This is a warmhearted, teasing, expressive, proud, and extravagant placement for Venus. Love is a bit of a game--a game that is perpetual, as Venus in Leo is forever stuck in the romance stage of a relationship. We feed on attention, acknowledgement, validation, and adoration. Venus in Leo loves to be adored, pampered, and admired. Pride and passion are hallmarks of this cycle. We have a strong ego investment in our love lives during this period. The negative expression of this placement is overstating our feelings simply for the effect, as well as extravagance. Today, both Venus and the Sun form hard angles to Jupiter. With these energies, we might take great strides to get noticed. We need to avoid hasty, or haughty, decision making, as well as overindulgence and impulsive buying sprees. We might overstate our feelings or promise more than we can deliver. Conflicting urges with regards to what we think we should do and what we want to do can be frustrating now. Watch for overestimating your capabilities now.

It's going to be a wild and crazy ride, people. Grab onto someone and hang on tight!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)

I'm curious to know how people use Quarter Moons. Being a New Moon/Full Moon kinda gal myself, I've never paid much attention to Quarter Moons. Today we have one. According to Cafe Astrology:

There is a crisis theme surrounding any quarter Moon phase, as we feel compelled to take action. Shortly after, we are made aware of how our actions affect those close to us, perhaps through trial and error. Whatever project or initiative we began at the New Moon last week is now off the ground, and it may face its first obstacles.

Spiritually and psychologically, does anyone feel affected by the influence of Quarter Moons? Is there a particular use for them in the timing of spell work and other magick?

Inquiring mind wants to know!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:01 AM | Comments (1)

Eau bémte de cour.

Rain Lover ©2006-2007 LinAt on deviantART

It's raining today in Boston, as it has been for a few days now. With the Moon in Cancer it is a watery day indeed. Many of us feel the effects of the weather, but with all of this watery energy swirling around, there's a bit more going on than simple rainy day ennui. Cafe Astrology tells us:

The Moon is in Cancer all day. The current sign of the Moon often shows how we deal with changes or stress. In Cancer, we tend to withdraw. We are more sensitive to the psychic and emotional currents around us. We look for security, comfort, and familiarity. Today, the Sun quincunxes Pluto--a subtle yet awkward energy. Adjustments are necessary now in order for our lives to move forward. The need to make changes in our life that will further our psychological development arise now. Some of this tension is likely to ease tonight, when the Moon and Venus align. This is an affectionate and friendly influence--not wild or exciting, but pleasing and perhaps a little self-indulgent. Being pampered and pampering are desires, and anything that brings more beauty and harmony to our lives appeal most.

Indulge yourselves today. Snuggle in bed with a cup of tea - and preferably company! Gently consider what changes you need to make in your life. Put a moonstone under your pillow while you nap and let it bring dreams full of messages to you. Moonstones are associated with Cancer and are particularly useful for dream work and encouraging psychic abilities. Plus, they look like little raindrops! Pamper yourself with a lavender pillow - this not only will calm and relax you but lavender promotes happiness, peace and love.

Court the holy water and let it change your life and make you happy.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 1:10 PM | Comments (1)

On Wednesday, May 16th, we will have a New Moon in Taurus beginning at 3:27 pm EDT.

Cafe Astrology tells us:

The New Moon in Taurus is a good time to commit to personal goals that express the positive energies of the sign of the Bull. It's time to enjoy life's simple and physical pleasures--savor good food, and enjoy activities that bring us in touch with nature and with our bodies. It's time to stop and smell the roses, and to become more aware of what makes us feel comfortable and secure. This is a good cycle under which to re-evaluate our relationship to money and possessions, and to discover what truly makes us happy and fulfilled. With this potent Taurus energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives.

This month's New Moon is quintile Jupiter and square Saturn and Neptune. New beginnings now may be the result of disillusionment or the need to face the reality of a situation. It's time to make some solid yet realistic plans, and to set the stage for reaping the rewards from our new beginnings, as little or big as they may be, in approximately two weeks' time after the Full Moon occurs.

Spring is in full bloom and we can literally smell flowers now, if not yet actual roses. Get out, take a walk, close your eyes and let your senses go. Ride a bike, go for a hike - after being cooped up all winter we can finally get outside to exercise and enjoy the warm weather. Now is the perfect time to revel in nature's abundance as you think about your own.

Need some help to change your relationship with money? Try a little Financial Alchemy. Slade at Shift Your Spirits has some great articles on Manifesting. Starting to feel like your possessions are taking over your life? Use the remaining Waning Moon energy to do some literal house cleaning and you'll be amazed at how much spiritual energy will be available to you come the New Moon.

And speaking of roses, now is the time of year when rosé becomes available. Generally only available during the summer and produced specifically to be drunk now, nothing captures the cheer and exuberance of summer like a yummy bottle of French rosé. Rosé really goes with everything and is the perfect warm-weather wine. Let it transport you to a sunny terrace with a view of the sea, even if your sunny terrace happens to be a fire escape with a view of the alley. Try it; you'll like it!

Take it from a Taurus - this New Moon feels full of promise and opportunity to create the things that will make us happy and fulfilled. You could use the New Moon energy for major spell work if that is what you need right now, but honestly, my gut instinct is telling me that simple acts - cleaning house, moving the furniture, painting your bedroom, planting some flowers, inviting friends over for dinner, balancing your checkbook, opening a savings account, redoing your resume, starting a daily affirmation, lighting a candle and inviting the Goddess in, getting out and doing something - are the things that have the power to create the most powerful magick in our lives at this time.

A Wiccan Blessing

May the East fling open your windows,
and fill your rooms with air;
May the South send you strong sunshine,
and give you the strength to dare;
May the West wash rivers into your heart,
and oceans into your soul;
May the North share the secrets and gifts of the earth,
to heal and make you whole.

M. Flanders

Continue reading "New Moon in Taurus"

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:55 AM | Comments (4)

Aries ©2006-2007 bleedingmirror at deviantART

I'm having a relapse of whatever microbial ickiness took me out a week or so ago and am just not up to writing a proper article about tomorrow's New Moon in Aries. As usual, I turn to Cafe Astrology for the best analysis of the importance of this particular lunation:

On Tuesday morning, a new cycle begins. The Pisces New Moon cycle ends and the Aries New Moon cycle begins. The New Moon in Aries is a good time to commit to personal goals that express the positive energies of the sign of the Ram. It's time to take action—try something new and innovative, and go at it with gusto and confidence; be assertive without being abrasive; take charge of our lives; start a brand new project; and discover our own personal courage. This is a good cycle under which to re-evaluate our relationship to ourselves. With this potent Aries energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives.

This month's New Moon is supported by a trine from Pluto, adding purposefulness to our new beginnings. Starting a new fitness routine, kicking a bad habit, or anything that requires willpower is more likely to enjoy success. Our attitude now is that the old must now make way for the new. This is a time to engage in some sort of transformation in which we weed out the bad in order to more effectively use the good. It's time to make some solid yet realistic plans, and to set the stage for reaping the rewards from our new beginnings, as little or big as they may be, in approximately two weeks' time after the Full Moon occurs.

In fact, the Moon, Sun, and four planets - Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto - are all in fire signs. There is so much energy to support us right now, why not take a risk and try something new?

Spell Work

If you have any banishing spells you want to do, use the power of the witching hour to do them tonight, using the last of the Moon's Waning energy before the New Moon begins at 7:36 am EDT Tuesday. After that the Moon will move into its Waxing phase. One thing to keep in mind is that the Moon goes void of course at 10:26 am and then moves into Taurus at 12:11 pm. Many witches believe one shouldn't perform magickal work while the Moon is void of course, so choose whether the energy of Aries or Taurus best serves your purpose and time your spells accordingly.

When the Moon is Waxing it is the best time to perform all types of magick for healing, attracting good luck and increasing things such as money, love, etc. A Waxing Moon in Taurus would be particularly perfect for these types of spells!

I'll be back to my normal pithy self as soon as I can get my head off this pillow! New Moon blessings to everyone!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:29 PM | Comments (0)

Tonight there is a New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Pisces. As usual, Cafe Astrology tells us what this event has in store for us much better than I ever could:

On Sunday evening, an especially potent New Moon occurs in late Pisces--potent because it's a Solar Eclipse. Because this solar eclipse occurs in the sign of Pisces, imagination, service, dreams, ideals, and compassion will be in focus. In the sign of Pisces, this eclipse is about new beginnings when it comes to taking a leap of faith, our beliefs, the acceptance of imperfections, imagination and intuition, selfless service, and dreams.

This eclipse squares Pluto, suggesting that deep, transformational change is required of us now. This is a time when we should build our powers of acceptance, belief, and compassion; take a leap of faith--believe in something higher; start a creative, imaginative project; practice putting ourselves in others' shoes, and let some things go (such as judgments, annoyances, and the like); revitalize ourselves through experiences that require imagination, compassion, or that simply represent a "break" from the routine; give ourselves selflessly through compassionate service; and to share a dream with others. For some of us, circumstances are such that we need to pay more attention to our spirituality.

We may find ourselves completely re-working the area of life ruled by Pisces in our charts. It's a time to take special note of our dreams, as well as insights or thoughts/emotions that seem to come from "out of the blue". These could be creatively inspiring. The range of emotions that Pisces registers is extraordinary, and this could be a time when we feel that enormous range. We've been focusing on what works in the real world since the Full Moon on Lunar Eclipse on March 3rd. With Virgo, we are acutely aware of imperfections. We see the flaws around us and perhaps become very tense and irritable, or we work hard at fixing them. To Pisces, however, imperfection is beautiful. With the health and service axis (Pisces-Virgo) involved, health or work issues may come to the fore. As well, the ability to set boundaries to the amount of service we render can become a major issue. Situations that test our faith, or magnify our fears and doubts, may be part of the picture. For some, a new "calling" will surface in the coming six months. A new line of work that better matches our inner nature, desire to serve, or emotional make-up may unfold in the months following this eclipse. We may discover that we need more rest and relaxation or attention to our spiritual nature than we are currently allowing ourselves. Compassion, and finding beauty in imperfection, is our path to balancing this energy, symbolized in the North Node's position in Pisces.

That's some pretty powerful stuff, especially coming mere days before Ostara and its promise for the reawakening of the Earth, and by extension, ourselves. The promise of Spring speaks to our soul of hope, growth and new possibilities.

Since the actual moment of the New Moon is later tonight, 10:43 pm EST, we have all day to use the last of the Waning Moon to energetically and literally clean out the old to make room for the new. Clean your house today. The proverbial Spring Cleaning is a great way to prepare for Ostara and, to follow Chinese belief, to wait to clean house after the auspicious event occurs means you may be hoovering up the good chi that the New Moon brought in with it.

With the profound potential for transformation that the Eclipse adds to this New Moon, today is an ideal time to use the Dark of the Moon to perform a spell to banish something that you just haven't been able to shake. Call upon one of the dark mothers, light a black candle. I like to use petition spells for banishing because there is something very satisfying about seeing the words (and thus the issue) literally go up in flame.

Personally, I'm just one of those people who needs "more rest and relaxation or attention to our spiritual nature than we are currently allowing ourselves." The compassion I owe is to myself and while this Eclipse illuminates that which is hidden, I'm going to recognize the beauty in my own imperfection. I can't wait to turn my face toward the radiance of the new Sun and let it warm me to the core.

Petition spell and correspondences follow.

Continue reading "A Powerful New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Pisces"

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:48 AM | Comments (1)

Last night at 11:45 pm EST Mercury returned to its Direct station. For anyone who has been feeling the often unsettling effects of the Mercury Retrograde, things should start to smooth out a bit.

It's been so long since I've been tuning into Mercury's effects on my personal life that I sometimes overlook the fact that others may have no idea what I'm talking about when I mention Mercury's Retrograde and breathe a sigh of relief when it's gone Direct again.

When Mercury went Retrograde on February 13, Sojourner commented in this post about the "rise of posts about astrology, specifically those referencing Mercury in retrograde." She asked the question, "What are they talking about"

A few knowledgeable commenters chimed in. There was this more scientific apporach:

Is your question simply, "What does "Mercury retrograde" mean?"

Answer: The planets appear to move east-to-west through the sky most of the time (relative to the background stars). Sometimes, however, they slow down, stop, move west-to-east for a while, slow and stop again, and then continue their forward motion. This is called going "retrograde" (from Latin, "retro" backward, "gradi" to step). All planets go retrograde at least once a year. The apparant backwards motion is caused by the motion of the Earth in its orbit as it catches up and passes the other planets (to simplify things a little).

Astrologically, the effect of retrograde is to reverse or inhibit the usual influence of the planet. Thus, when Mercury goes retrograde, communications go haywire. In theory, when Venus goes retrograde, relationships and motherly influences are inhibited or reversed; when Mars goes retrograde, energy and power either fizzle out or are misdirected; etc.

And this nice summary of how Mercury affects us:

Mercury is the planetary muse and mentor of our mental and communicative lives. As [another commenter] explains...it reverses it course, which Mercury does three or four times a year.

While these times of retrograde can be stressful, we can reduce such stress by seeing these retrograde periods as a symbolic "sleep cycle." This is a good time to take pause, and use this period to go back over familiar territory, reflecting on different situations and thinking about possible miscommunications, dropped projects that we need to pick up again, and so forth. It's a good time for revisiting the past and looking at how lessons of old can be applied to issues of the present; a time to pay attention to underlying issues. On the other hand, leave matters that focus on future commitments for later, when Mercury comes out of retrograde.

Mercury will go retrograde three times this year, and we are currently in the midst of the first one, which began on February 13th and will continue until March 7th. It began in the Air sign of Aquarius...signaling our mental energies being at a real peak, and then those energies will seem to go into a real flux starting this Sunday when the Sun goes into Pisces, a water sign. Don't be too surprised or concerned if starting next week and continuing for two weeks your mind feels like its playing tricks on you - moments of deja vu competing with times when it seems you can't remember shit.

This particular retrograde is attitude adjustment time, so use common sense to find common ground, and share your visions. This is a good time for exploring how your attitudes might be influencing your perception of things and how you deal with certain issues. It might be worthwhile to look at finding the commonalities, instead of focusing on the differences.

Mercury retrogrades are a good time to reflect, regroup, and rejuvenate. Once it goes straight again, you can then knuckle down and get to work on the issues that you identified during such "RE" periods. After March 7th we will have three months or so until June 15th, when Mercury will go into retrograde for the second of three times this year.

I agree, Mercury Retrograde often can be a time to reflect and revisit. A friend of mine got a piece of business she thought she had lost during a Mercury Retrograde. The backwards motion sometimes can bring things back to you. In fact, after feeling rather negative effects when Mercury began it's Retrograde cycle last month, a few things returned to me as well. You just never can tell.

Part of what makes Mercury Retrograde feel differently for different people is where Mercury is in your astrological chart and whether or not Mercury was Retrograde at the time of your birth. People for whom that is the case usually experience Mercury Retrograde as a time of very good energy because it's kind of like returning home.??Mercury is in my 8th house, which is the house of passion, death, rebirth and soul. That is why a Mercury Retrograde has the ability to affect me so profoundly. When things are good, they're great, but when they're not, well, you get the picture. My Mercury is also in the house of Aries, which can present some communication problems on its own - Aries communicators are often misunderstood.

A great source of information about Mercury Retrograde is Cafe Astrology. There are numerous books on the subject but the one that had been recommended to me as a good one to read if you are just learning astrology is Isabel Hickey's Astrology: A Cosmic Science.

Sojourner also asked the question, "what's up with this astrology stuff?"

Well, I've grown more interested in astrology as I've started getting into more advanced spell craft. Working with the energy of the planets and how they are moving through the signs can bring powerful energy to spell work. I see astrology as a way to explore these energies and how they affect us. Following a nature-based spiritual path, it feels, well, natural, to turn to astrology for information. I also believe that more advanced astrology can lend a great deal of insight into our personalities and help us to work through issues that we face.

People have been interested in astrology for thousands of years. Here is an interesting overview of the history of astrology and Wikipedia's entry on the subject covers the different types of astrology as well as the general history (note that the Wikipedia article is of disputed neutrality - I still found it interesting).

A post for another time!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:05 AM | Comments (0)

Despite what the weatherman has to say about tonight, this morning in Boston is sunny, bright and mild. March has come in like a lamb. Being born in the Year of the Sheep, I tend to be fond of lamb associations, but I realized I had no idea where March's lamb and lion folkore began.

The phrase apparently has its origins with the constellations Leo, the Lion, and Aries, the Ram (or lamb), and the relative positions of these constellations in the sky at the beginning and end of the month.

This great illustrative cartoon comes from Jack Horkheimer: Stargazer.

Of course, in most places the weather at the end of March is warmer than at the beginning, so common sense led people to use the phrase to describe weather conditions. A little creative license (and the whims of Mother Nature) and suddenly you've got Aries coming before Leo!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:45 AM | Comments (1)

Tomorrow, Mercury goes Retrograde in the sign of Pisces and will travel through Aquarius before it goes Direct on March 7. Lately I've been seeing Mercury Retrogrades as opportunities to revisit old potential and to return to things that deserved another look. But this time, I'm inclined to see Mercury Retrograde as the force that tends to fuck everything up. We're expecting a big snowstorm tomorrow night and that's just the vehicle Mercury could use to put a monkey wrench into air travel. I've been experiencing programming problems lately, so it seems that Mercury is just getting in a warm-up for the effects that it tends to have on computers and any other technology. Things just don't work the way they're supposed to during a Mercury Retrograde. Boyfriend stuck on the other side of the country for Valentine's day? Yep, Mercury is in Retrofuck. Time to hide under the covers and not come out until the New Moon on March 18th when Mercury will have itself sorted out again.

As the planet of communication, Mercury retrograde tends to breed a certain level of confusion.�Mercury rules our "lower" mind - how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. Mercury has rulership over such things as speaking, negotiating, buying and selling, listening, formal contracts, documents, travel, the mail and shipping, etc. All of these areas of life are affected when Mercury is functioning in a sluggish state. Decision-making is challenged during Mercury retrograde. Needless to say, it is not advised to sign contracts, engage in important decision-making, or launch a new business. Delays and challenges are more probable with Mercury retrograde. This period is best used for re-organizing and reflecting.

During this upcoming Mercury Retrograde, Pisces' influence may make it difficult to distinguish between fantasy and reality. It's important to stay level headed and avoid following whims or impractical ideas. Keep an eye on your wallet, keys, or important papers. Be prepared to experience travel snafus. Communication may be challenging. Your friends may want to communicate their chaotic feelings, so be prepared to be the proverbial shoulder to cry on. Patience is the way to make it through the next few weeks. A good bottle of Scotch, perhaps?

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:20 PM | Comments (3)

Steph at The Witch Within always manages to find pagany online quizzes. When I need a little bit of a brain break, I like to take these just for fun and sometimes they even yield surprisingly interesting answers.

What Celtic Tree am I? Well, according to Quizfarm, it seems I'm tied between Willow and Reed:

My Celtic sign actually is The Willow.

The Willow, by Margaret Walty, from The Celtic Lunar Zodiac by Helena Patterson

In Celtic astrology, essentially a Druid Zodiac, the symbols to represent each "sign" are all "trees," some actually being tree-related plants or plants that grow where trees do not and take the place of trees in the sacred Celtic landscape. Like the more recognized form of Western astrology, and Chinese astrology, what Celtic tree you are is determined by your birthday.

I have a wonderful oracle deck called Ogham: The Celtic Oracle that depicts the Celtic trees in association with Ogham, the ancient Celtic alphabet used for magick, divination, secret communication and on memorial and other stones found throughout the Celtic world. I don't have an image of the Willow card from this deck, but here is Rowan, a tree particularly important in Scotland, the land of my ancestors:

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 10:44 AM | Comments (1)

I hadn't been paying attention but a major astrological event occurred today: Jupiter entered Sagittarius. Jupiter only moves its station once a year, so this significantly affects the influences we will feel into December 2007.

Jupiter's effects are to expand our experiences, our knowledge, and our understanding. Jupiter represents optimism, growth, generosity, joy, and abundance. In Scorpio, Jupiter expanded our awareness of our intimate relationships, personal power, and coping skills. Sagittarius' focus is, of course, different than Scorpio's area of expertise.

Jupiter's transit through the sign that it rules, fiery Sagittarius, urges us to increase our cultural and spiritual awareness, to expand our higher minds, to broaden our experiences, and to have faith in the universe. As Jupiter moves through Sagittarius, we deepen our interest in philosophical, and perhaps religious, thought, and determine what it is that gives us joy--what truly is important in our lives in the long run. We trust in something higher than us, and this gives us a sense that we are doing the right thing and that we are spiritually protected--"things will work out" is the overall attitude now.

Cafe Astrology has more, including how Jupiter in Sagittarius affects each particular sign.

With everything lately seeming to be moving into Sagittarius the mood feels lighter and I, for one, couldn't be happier. I do well with Fire and for me the energy that Sagittarius brings is a welcome change. I could use a little joy and abundance; this past year has been intense and difficult. It's nice to think of looking outwardly to expand into the world after so much time spent looking inward.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 11:40 PM | Comments (1)

Once again, Scorpio has a role to play as we get a New Moon today. From Cafe Astrology:

At 5:18 PM EST, a New Moon late in the sign of Scorpio occurs. This lunation emphasizes a new beginning in the fixed water sign of Scorpio. It's a time when we can focus on some of the constructive traits of the sign of the Scorpion--passionate, resourceful, focused, probing, deep, and perceptive--and consider how to positively incorporate these qualities into our lives. Scorpio New Moons are generally good for working on our self-mastery skills. We may want to pinpoint the things in our lives that make us feel out of control, such as addictions and debts, and work on freeing ourselves of these emotional burdens. This New Moon cycle is also an opportune one in which to explore what is missing in our lives that leads us to engage in these self-destructive behaviors. This New Moon aligns with good luck Jupiter, but also squares Saturn. This cycle represents an opportunity to rid ourselves of "junk" in our lives--material and spiritual. With this potent Scorpio energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives. The Moon aligns with Jupiter late in the sign of Scorpio at 6:54 PM, giving us a nice lift. Some sort of emotional relief is likely, particularly with regards to our personal lives. Domestic changes and legal affairs are favored, particularly dealings with property and renovations. It's a good time to write, teach, learn, publish, promote, and take tests. Disagreements with others are rare during this period, generally because we are more likely to take the high road than to resort to pettiness.

Spell Work

For any of you who plan to use the Dark of the Moon to perform banishment spells or rituals, you'll want have things wrapped up before 5:18 pm EST this afternoon. One of the symbols for Scorpio is the phoenix, the mythical bird who is consumed in fire and rises again from his own ashes. As I've been talking about Scorpio energy being good for exploring our shadow selves and using our heightened intuition to uncover hidden motivations, what better time to do some spiritual cleansing, to banish some of the psychic gunk that has come up, than at this Dark Moon in Scorpio. Then at the New Moon we can rise like a Phoenix, transformed.

Starsigns: Scorpio � 2006 BloodyBabyBlue at deviantART

There is a small window of opportunity to work New Moon spells using Scorpio's influence. Strictly speaking New Moon magick should be timed to coincide with the exact moment that the Moon is New - 5:18 pm EST. After that time, the Moon will move into its Waxing phase, which is the best time to perform all types of magick for healing, attracting good luck and increasing or advancing things. Some people believe that you shouldn't work any magick while the Moon is void-of-course. The Moon will be void of course from 6:54 pm until 8:15 pm EST, when it makes its move into Sagittarius.

The New Moon in Scorpio, is ruled by Mars and Pluto. Mars' influence brings out strong passions and Pluto shows very strong desires. While we usually think of Venus as the ruler of love, Scorpio makes it possible for us to have an intense merging with another on a deep emotional level. This New Moon could be a good time for working magick to bring truest, deepest love to you, to begin something new. It's also the perfect time to work any magick relating to psychic abilities. Scorpio rules the generative system, the reproduction organs, and the lower spine - our base selves, our root chakra. This is a good time to do healing work for these parts of the body.

After 8:15 pm tonight, the Moon will be Waxing in Sagittarius. Here the Moon stimulates our aspirations for self-improvement and brings a philosophical influence. We're likely to feel intuitive and filled with ideas. Ruled by expansive Jupiter, Sagittarius makes us idealistic and optimistic, animates a need for spontaneous adventure, and fills us with enthusiasm. After all of the dark introspection brought about in Scorpio, the change in tone will feel exhilarating. This is a good time for travel, intellectual affairs, and learning. Sagittarius magick is good for business, prosperity, exploration, physical competitions and good luck. Once the Moon moves into its Waxing phase, it will be an excellent time to perform spells to increase any of these qualities in your life.

Sagittarius rules the hips and thighs. A Waxing Moon is a good time to do healing work for those parts of the body, but I'm thinking that, as Jupiter has expanding qualities and holiday parties are going to be revving up in earnest, I'm going going to concentrate on increasing my will power so that my hips and thighs are not the things expanding!

Correspondences for spell crafting are listed below:

Continue reading "New Moon in Scorpio"

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 10:17 AM | Comments (3)

Mercury went Retrograde yesterday. Anyone who really cares already knows what the implications of that particular astrological happening are. If you need a gentle reminder, Hecate and Cafe Astrology offer two great articles on the subject. (And if you need any proof, just look at the flights from JFK that were cancelled yesterday - but I digress.) I thought that, rather than repeat or regurgitate other sources of information on Mercury Retrograde, I'd have a little bit of fun with it.

A basic explanation of what it means when Mercury is in a Retrograde phase is that for a few times during the year an optical illusion based on the relative speeds and orbits of the Earth and Mercury around the Sun makes it appear that Mercury turns around and goes backwards. Let's think about this for a minute. What would happen if Mercury really did go backwards?

Remember that scene from the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie when he found Lois Lane's lifeless body after the earthquake and he was so agonized and enraged that he flew around the Earth to turn its rotation backwards, causing time to reverse and allowing him an opportunity to save his lady love? Well, knowing that Mercury rules areas of communication, what communications that have happened lately would you be happy to see erased by winding back time to before they happened? If Mercury Retrograde meant that you could turn back the clock to take something back, or change something you said or wrote or emailed or text messaged, what would that something be? One of the concepts we learned in my beginning witchcraft class was neutralization, the practice of taking back a thought or utterance that you really didn't mean. There is some energy that we just don't want to put out there but sometimes a slip of the Id gets through our normally functioning editing process. Could we look at Mercury Retrograde as a three-week opportunity to neutralize on a grander scale?

We all know from studying mythology in, what, the 7th grade, that Mercury/Hermes is the messenger. What if the messenger stopped mid-way through his route and decided to retrace his steps? What do you think he would find? The aftermath of messages delivered perhaps? In this case, although much like the scenario painted above wherein we might be given an opportunity to make amends for messages that did some harm, we also might have opportunities to revisit happy deliveries, or to discover the outcomes of messages we were too much in a hurry to see through to their conclusion the first time around. A business proposal delivered that didn't come to fruition? Maybe knocking on the door on the way back through you might just get the deal. An indecisive sweetheart more ready to commit after some time to think about it? There are any number of ways we can imagine communications that came to naught, that given another chance, may produce a different result. Could it be that Mercury on his backwards route could help us to realize some missed opportunities?

A dear friend of mine used to refer to these times of the year as "Mercury Retrofuck" and believe me there have been moments when that couldn't have been more accurate for what I experienced. Yes, computers and other electronics go haywire (I moved into a new apartment during a Mercury Retrograde and the cable guy had to come three times to get my system working). Travel can be a mess - leave yourself plenty of time to get through insane security lines. But isn't it more productive to imagine Mercury Retrograde as a time of reclaiming than one when we should just hide in bed until it's over?

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 6:18 PM | Comments (1)

Lately it seems that every Esbat has taken on a deeper, more symbolic meaning than the obvious moon-phase effect we expect. The Full Moon on September 7th, coinciding as it did with a Lunar Eclipse, provided some powerful lunar energy indeed, pressing us to look more closely at the needs, lacks, and wants in our lives. The effects from that event are dovetailing into tomorrow's Solar Eclipse and New Moon. Add to the mix Saturday's Autumnal Equinox - our celebration of the Sabbat Mabon - and we get a magickal trifecta.

floral eclipse, � 2004-2006 ~ introversive at deviantART

There have been many forces at work to suggest that this is no ordinary September. Things are vibrating with a powerful energy that either is different from years past or simply coming to my attention for the first time. The confluence of these events is more interesting to me right now than a simple discussion of how to use this New Moon energy for spellwork (for those of you who like my timing and correspondence information, I have included them after the fold). Maybe it's just me, but it feels like something significant is about to break.

The New Moon on Friday, September 22nd arrives in the sign of Libra. A Libra New Moon brings up relationship issues, activities involving teamwork and cooperation, activities that involve self-examination, and activities related to beauty. We use New Moon energy to begin a new project or life phase, or to try to break out of old patterns. This is the time of the month when we should attempt to start or do these kinds of things. The New Moon is a time of looking within to locate the resources we need to affect the change we want for ourselves.

An Eclipse is a far more potent astrological event. Many people tend to fear eclipses, simply because they tend to bring about crises that lead to significant events or change. As we know from working with New Moon energy, this change can be very beneficial. Eclipses usually ask us to see that we are the ones to precipitate or attract change because our inner selves know that we need it. Human beings are progressive by nature, and although we might stay in situations that are making us miserable for longer than we should, deep down inside we know that change is necessary for growth.

Cafe Astrology has a terrific, detailed article on this Solar Eclipse, including how to interpret the affects of the Eclipse depending on where it falls in your personal astrological chart.

A Moon in Libra passing over the Sun seems like the perfect example of the balance between yin and yang, feminine and masculine, night and day. A moment of balance and harmony, but also of duality. The energies of this Moon and this Eclipse come together to highlight major themes of introspection, growth, change, letting go, and rebirth. Mabon, a stop on our journey around the Wheel of the Year, marks one of our celebrations of a bountiful harvest, of putting away food so that we can survive the winter to come, so that we - and the year - may live to see a new beginning in the Spring. So too, this New Moon gives us an opportunity to examine what we have experienced in the past year so that we can let go of what needs to be released in order to make room for new things. It's what the Wheel of the Year is all about. Life moves on in an ever-renewing circle. The Sun and the Moon are the beacons that show us the way.

Continue reading "The Solar Eclipse and A New Moon"

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 11:23 PM | Comments (3)

It's beautiful and sunny here in Boston - the perfect September day. And Cafe Astrology says that this is what the stars have in store for us today:

The Moon moves from introspective Cancer to outgoing Leo at 8:15 AM EDT. In Leo, the Moon is "sunny", dramatic, and generous. This is a self-expressive position of the Moon. We want to have fun, play, entertain, and get noticed. This is a time when we seek attention--when we want to stand out for our special qualities. It's a strong time for romance and any creative activity. The Moon connects to Mars tonight, heightening our feelings, awakening our impulses, and stirring our passions. Passionate liaisons occasionally begin under this transit. We are more in tune with our natural impulses, and less inclined to think things through before taking action. It's an excellent period for taking the initiative. Expressing our feelings comes naturally now, and we make no apologies for doing so! This transit gives us self-confidence and backbone without backlash from others. We are more resourceful and independent, and less demanding of people around us, which tends to earn us respect.

Works for me!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 1:14 PM | Comments (0)

For the past couple of days I have been getting the distinct impression that tomorrow's Full Moon in Pisces and Lunar Eclipse have serious things in store for all of us. Today, everyone I talked to had a really difficult day, mostly work-wise, and I have to believe that it has something to do with the Moon's power and position. What is going on?

Cafe Astrology puts it best:

This month's Full Moon is a Lunar Eclipse, with the Sun in Virgo opposing the Moon in Pisces. Lunar Eclipses are about relationships and polarities. With the Virgo-Pisces service axis involved, and as part of the Virgo New Moon cycle that began on August 23rd, this Lunar Eclipse presses us to look more closely at our needs, lacks, and wants in our lives. We are pushed to find a balance between day-to-day functions and routines, physical health, and the need for order (Virgo) and vision, spiritual health, disorder, and the infinite (Pisces). Virgo rules the tools and techniques that we use to deal with day-to-day life, while Pisces rules the tools that we use to deal with our spiritual selves. Some sort of crisis (which can be a crisis of consciousness) or sudden awareness of a lack in our lives provides us with a golden opportunity to explore our emotional needs within the context of the house polarity where the eclipse occurs in our natal charts. Relationships may be challenged, broken, or strengthened dramatically at this time. Our discovery is emotionally charged and dramatic. Epiphanies are likely at this time as we become acutely aware of our lack. This understanding can propel us into positive action.

Although the Full Moon can be an opportune time for casting fertility spells, I think that this month's Full Moon, under the power of the Eclipse and Pisces' tendency to bring us psychic impressions, we really should be concentrating on the Full Moon's power to support us in problem-solving magick and divination.

Little Birds � 2006 BlueBlack at deviantArt

A Moon in Pisces is the best time to work magick involving dream work, clairvoyance, and telepathy. Some people experience stirrings of vague memories (often identified as past lives) or insights into the spiritual meaning of current situations.

The Full Moon is the culmination of the Moon�s cycle, and the beginning of the waning phase. The two weeks following the Full Moon are a good period for working on ourselves, finalizing things, processing information, wrapping up, and letting go of the things we don�t need any more. This Piscean Moon will give us the psychic power to know what these things are.

A Lunar Eclipse is a very special Full Moon that brings particular import to the decisions we make, things we let go of, and things we finish during the waning cycle that follows the Full Moon. Many people fear eclipses because they tend to bring about a crisis that leads to a significant event or change. Right now, with the influences that are at work, this change is most likely to be for our benefit. We are likely to intuit the steps necessary to precipitate or to attract changes because our inner guides know that we need it. Human beings are progressive by nature, and although we might stay in situations that are making us miserable for longer than we should, deep down inside we know that change is necessary for growth.

Full Moons in general, and Lunar Eclipses in particular, are times of high emotion, and they bring awareness. The Sun and the Moon, our animus and our emotions, are on opposite sides of the sky, as if the other were a mirror. This is a time of mirroring, we can see ourselves in others if only we are willing to look.

The Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse occur Thursday, September 7th at 2:42 pm EDT.

Some common correspondences with the September Full Moon are listed below.

Continue reading "Full Moon in Pisces and Lunar Eclipse"

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:25 PM | Comments (3)

Wednesday brings us a New Moon in Virgo. Virgo is ruled by Mercury. Since Mercury influences the power of the mind, this is a good time for intellectual pursuits, but more for those requiring critical detail rather than innovative creativity. It's also a good time to work on assimilating new information. The Moon in Virgo helps us effectively manage anything requiring painstaking attention. It's tim