GrannyMoons Weekly Feast: 19 Mar 2023

Spring Chant
By Ivo Dominguez, Jr

Joy In The Gold Buds Of Spring. Passion In The Greening Leaf
Joy In The Rising Day. Passion Neath The Glowing Moon
Come Swelling Tides Of Spring. Fill Me With The Promise Of Green

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again

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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: WANING MOON

Time: From Full Moon To Dark Moon (approx.14 days)

Goddess Aspect: Crone

Associated Goddesses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Kali, Morrigan

Magickal Attributes: Banishing, Releasing the old, removing unwanted negative energies, wisdom, psychic ability, scrying, reversing circumstances. Workings on this day are for banishing magick, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity, physical and psychic cleansings.

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What’s Happening?
Herb of the Year for 2023: Ginger ( (Zingiber officinale). Named by the International Herb Association

Flower of the Month for March: Daffodil

March is National Women’s History Month

MARCH

MAR. 18: To APRIL 14 – CELTIC MONTH of ALDER

MAR. 20: To April 17 – GODDESS MONTH OF COLUMBINA

MAR. 20: – Ala Festival (Nigerian)
– Iduna’s Day (Norse)
– Alban Eilir (Celtic, Druid holiday)
– Spring Harvest Festival (Egyptian)

MAR. 20: Iroquois Maple Ceremony

MAR. 20-21: Sumerian Festival – celebrating the return of Dumuzi (God of Life and Death) from the Underworld to be with Inanna (Goddess of Life) for the verdant part of the year.

MAR. 20 or 21: OSTARA SABBAT: Spring Equinox; The Goddess of Spring.Spring Equinox aka Vernal Equinox aka Ostara. Marks the beginning of Spring. Days and nights are exactly equal, the sun rises and sets in the exact east and west. This holiday represents the first creation, but also the annual creation (planting so crops grow each year) and most symbolic, the perpetual creation. Fertility symbols abound such as eggs and rabbits. Spring or Vernal Equinox begins a forty day period which culminates with May Day, another fertility Spring festival of ancient origin. The other three forty day periods are: Fall Equinox (Sept 22 or 23) to Halloween/AllSaints Day (Oct. 31, Nov.1), Dec. 25 to Imbolc/Candlemas (Feb 1 or 2) and of course, Lent. Lent is the forty day period beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Sunday every year.

MAR. 21: New Moon in Aries

MAR. 21: Quetzalcoatl – Aztec celebration of the feathered snake god, Quetzalcoatl at Vernal Equinox.

MAR. 24: Feast Day of Archangel Gabriel whose name means, “The High One’s Hero,” or “Hero of God,” or “Power of God,” or “Might of God.” Note this day comes one day before Annunciation Day when Gabriel performed his most famous task. Since 1970, the Catholic Church no longer recognizes this day for Gabriel, ending a thousand year plus tradition by opting to lump him in with Raphael and Michael for a Feast of the Holy Archangels Day on Sept 29. Originally the Church had an angel for each of the four “corners” of the year, the solstices and equinoxes. It was the Church’s only recognition of these “pagan” holy days.

MAR. 25: Lady Day – honoring the Crone as Grandmother; Mother of the Mother.

MAR. 31st -Apr 2nd: Dark Side of the Con at Dark Force Fest
A dark alternative convention happening at The Sheraton in Parsippany, NJ.

MAY
Virginia Psychic Fair 2023
Sun, May 7, 2023, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Elks Lodge, 8421 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22031
Special Metaphysical Event.

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Mar 19
WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Apr 2
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Apr 9
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Apr 16

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!

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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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This Week’s Astrology Forecast
March 20 – March 26, 2023

This week, we usher in the change of the seasons as we say goodbye to winter and hello to spring because the Sun moves out of Pisces and into fiery Aries. We also have the planets (Sun, Pluto, and Mars) changing signs and a New Moon in Aries.

Recommended Candles: Reversing (Aunt Jacki’s Ultimate), IDGAF (Mars – Astro Magic), Emotional Balance (Blessed Herbal)

Astrology Forecast brought to you by Storm Cestavani

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The Equinox Is Tomorrow

The 2023 March equinox will arrive at 21:24 UTC (4:24 p.m. CDT) on Monday. Also called the vernal equinox, it’ll mark the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. No matter where you are on Earth, the equinox brings us a number of seasonal effects, noticeable to nature lovers around the globe.

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SPRING EQUINOX/OSTARA MARCH 20, 2023

In the Northern Hemisphere, we mark the Spring Equinox also known as Ostara on March 20.

“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!” — Sitting Bull

Spring has finally arrived! March has roared in like a lion, and if we’re really lucky, it will roll out like a lamb. It’s the time of the vernal equinox if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s a true marker that Spring has come.

The Wheel of the Year – Occurs on or near the Spring Equinox, when day and night are equal. It is a time of balance where unnecessary things, thoughts and habits are thrown away to make room for the new.

Other names for the Spring Equinox are Alban Eilir, Gwyl Canol Gwenwynol, Lady Day, and Ostara.The feel-good factor about this day, however, is that the first official astrological day of spring hints that high temperatures are not far off.

As the winter ends traditionally Native American people celebrate their thanks with prayers for surviving the bitter, cold days and the struggles they had to overcome. With spring everyone begins to enjoy the bounties of the earth once more, as plants and animals show new life again. The land turns green, wildlife flourishes and people are filled with anticipation for the coming of summer, the time of harvest.

It’s important to remember that the dawning of spring has been observed for a long time in many other cultures as well. Traditions vary widely from one country to the next. March 20 also welcomes Ostara which is celebrated in spring season as a way to honor the richness and wealth that Mother Nature has brought to humans and creatures. Spring is considered as the period of growth, happiness and love. In this time of a year, everything is woken up from winter and they are full of vitality.

Springtime is a wonderful season to celebrate with much merriment and shared feasts, as families gather together, dancing and enjoying the gifts of the land. Just as those in ancient times find a reason to give thanks for being here another day. Do something special to honor the fact that you are still here. Celebrations and rituals are important in our spiritual walk.

It is a time to offer thanks in prayers, celebrations and gratitude to the Great Creator who is watching and filling those who care with blessings.

Spring is almost here! Ostara, otherwise known as the Spring Equinox is coming soon! Are you ready? What are you planting in your garden this spring? Find out in a Springtime Reading.

Spring Blessings,
Cherokee Billie

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NEW MOON MARCH 21, 2023 IN ARIES
March 11, 2023

The March New Moon is the most powerful of the year and brings a lot of change – whether you’re ready or not. So Get ready for a fresh start!

This change cannot come quickly enough!

Let’s face it – 2023 has been full of false starts and confusion for many people. But this fiery New Moon in Aries is about to propel you headfirst into a Brave New World and bright new future. So if you have had a slow start to your new year, prepare yourself for action-packed excitements and complete vibe shifts.

This new Moon occurs the day after the Spring Equinox, March 20, 2023. Because of its timing the spring equinox is going to bring in more energy than normal for this new Moon.

This New Moon comes barreling forward at exactly 0 degrees in the sign of the Ram – as Pisces season 2023 shudders to an end. Say hello to the Spring Equinox 2023 and new beginnings.

If the stars wanted to signal to us that this is major initiating energy, they could not have been less subtle. This New Moon is making a bold and fiery entrance that will be noticed because remember, this is the start of an entirely new chapter in our personal lives as well as across the collective.

This is a time when there can be a great society-shifting, culture-defining, headline-grabbing news kind of changes and transformations. You cannot ignore this New Moon.

New moons are fresh energetic slates, when we get to put our mind’s eye to what we want to grow as the moon’s light thrives. This month, what is it that you need to nurture emotionally, spiritually, and intuitively? The moon rules over our emotional and energetic bodies, and our intuition.

To celebrate this New Moon, think of ways to exhibit creative self-expression, to tap into your spirit, journaling around themes of feelings and making art that connects with your highest self.

All this energy is like a huge cosmic green light to start something you’ve always wanted to get off the ground but didn’t have the willpower, energy, or courage to get started. It’s begging all of us to cast our fears and doubts aside, to know we have the stars supporting us as we face new ventures and adventures.

Now is the time to plant seeds of intention. This is because the actions we take and even the thoughts we have and believe during New Moons take on extra weight and significance.

March is an extremely busy month with a lot going on and a lot of cosmic energies to play with. The best way to navigate through the month is to join the flow and trust that the Universe will guide you to wherever you need to be.

Life may take some unexpected twists and turns this month, but keep remembering your deeper truth, and work hard to clear any beliefs or thought patterns that are rooted in outdated thinking.

Use the energy of this month to elevate your heart, to elevate your mind, and to elevate your soul. Stay in balance by meditating, checking in with yourself, and remember to recharge whenever you get the chance.

To help you receive some guidance for the month of March, check out any of my various intuitive services to give you that guidance that you may feel lacking at this time.

This is going to be a wonderful month and take advantage of all that is coming to you and embrace it with love and light.

If you’ve ever wondered how to manifest or when – the New Moon is a perfect time.

How will you meet this new chapter? For the most Accurate Reading Contact Me. I have a special reading for this New Moon.

New Moon blessings,
Cherokee Billie
https://cherokeebilliespiritualadvisor.com/pages/contact-me

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Pain Relief with Airmid
MARCH 19, 2023 BY EMYME

The females in my family are prone to headaches, migraines, and backaches. Several years ago I had surgery to correct one cause of pain, which in turn threw my spine out of alignment and brought on other pain. I explored all healing options, consulted with numerous medical practitioners, and sought relief from Reiki, acupuncture, spinal manipulation, essential oils, crystals, yoga, and meditation. All of that brought only temporary relief.

A permanent reprieve from the aches and pain finally came after I retired from my full-time employment. When I fully realized the extent of my discontent and set my retirement date, I was freed from the constant, chronic discomfort.

You can call upon Airmid, a Celtic goddess of healing, when you need relief from pain:

Airmid, open my mind to
alternative methods of relieving
pain and discomfort. Bless me with
creative strength at all times.
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Spirit Spring Cleaning
MARCH 18, 2023 BY TUDORBETH

The circle shape is a magical symbol we can call upon. The magic circle is the protective circle we draw when performing a ritual, casting a spell, or sending healing, because a circle represents both spirit and matter.

Our ancestors built houses that were not square but round, because this provided more protection from the elements. A circular design is both flexible and strong, and is safer in severe weather conditions. The circle is also found in nature, from stones and the ovoid shape of eggs to the earth itself. Places like Stonehenge, Avebury, and Newgrange are some of the oldest monuments in the world and have stood the test of time. To the ancients, magic was a part of their lives, and the magic of a circle was a powerful force.

Cleanse your home now and free the spirit of winter or summer (depending on which hemisphere you live in), allowing for the next season’s energy to enter. Cleanse and create your own protective space by spraying magic holy water made by adding one tablespoon of salt and two drops of spikenard essential oil to a spray bottle of water.

Go from room to room spraying the water, creating a circle in each room. Imagine you have a golden white light around you as you say these words:

Cleansed and cleaned within this space,
Seasons passing at a pace.
I cast the circle round and round,
Forever protected, safe and sound.
No harm, no negativity, shall pass to me,
For I am safe within my circle round.
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Sweeping in the Luck
MARCH 17, 2023 BY MAT AURYN

Saint Patrick’s Day is often associated with the concept of luck (the luck of the Irish). Jupiter, the planet that governs luck, is in fiery Mars-ruled Aries now, so we’re going to tap into those aspects.

For this spell we will be using two common household spices that have associations with luck: nutmeg (ruled by Jupiter and associated with the element of fire) and allspice (ruled by Mars and corresponding with fire). You will also need either your besom or your household broom.

Sweep all the dust and dirt outward from your front door, with the intention to sweep away misfortune. Sprinkle the nutmeg and allspice in front of your door and then sweep it into a tidy line as close to your front door as possible, drawing near you good luck and fortune while chanting this verse:

By the Spirit and the elements four,
Blessings come knocking on my door.

My fortune has now become unstuck.
My life is abundant with my good luck.
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Tea for Prophetic Dreams
MARCH 16, 2023 BY JASON MANKEY

For this spell you will need the following ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon mugwort
  • 1/2 teaspoon rose petals
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint
  • 1/2 teaspoon lavender
  • 1/2 teaspoon chamomile
  • Honey to taste

Mix the ingredients well and steep them in boiled water for ten to fifteen minutes. As they steep, stand over the teacup and recite the following chant:

Tea of dreams, tea of wonder,
Bring me visions while I slumber.
Aid me in my sacred rest.
Guide me on my psychic quest.
Provide the answers I must know.
As above, so below.

Drink the tea at least thirty minutes before you go to bed or take a nap. When you wake up, write down any interesting or pertinent visions from your dreams in your journal.
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A Daffodil Love Spell
MARCH 15, 2023 BY JAMES KAMBOS

Ruled by Venus, daffodils are spring’s flowers of love. During the days of the old-time herbalists, daffodils were sometimes used in love spells. They were frequently placed on the altar during the casting of a love spell.

For this spell you’ll need two daffodils with their stems intact. You’ll also need one pink and one light blue ribbon. As you think of your spell’s intent, but without thinking of anyone specific, tie the daffodil stems together using both ribbons. As you tie them, say:

With a ribbon of pink
and a ribbon of blue,
I bind these flowers of love together,
To bring me a love special and true.

Place the daffodils in a small vase of water and set it on your altar. Wait for love to come to you. After the daffodils fade, respectfully place them in a compost pile or lay them on the ground in a wooded area.
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Saturnian Cycle Oracle Working
MARCH 14, 2023 BY DEVIN HUNTER

Something major is happening right now. Saturn has just crossed the threshold into Pisces, ushering in a new era of collective soul-searching and reflection that will last roughly thirty years. During this period we are going to break down spiritual walls and redefine what spirituality means to us as a collective. Find out what this cycle means for you specifically by performing this easy reading, which can be done with tarot, runes, or any draw system of divination. Draw five lots and place them in a pentagram pattern, starting at the top:

Position 1: What you are bringing with you from the last Saturnian cycle
Position 2: What your personal challenge will be during this cycle
Position 3: Unseen influences to be aware of
Position 4: Overall personal theme for this cycle
Position 5: Message from Spirit to you about this cycle
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Four Seasons of Magic
MARCH 13, 2023 BY BLAKE OCTAVIAN BLAIR

Today, begin a new magical tradition for celebrating the seasons. Pick a spot in nature that you find especially sacred, striking, and spiritually significant. Choose a place that you can access easily within an hour radius of home. Visit it today in the current season. Soak in its energy and the feelings you perceive as well as what you can visually see, smell, touch, and hear. Make note of all the sensory experiences of this place in this season. Remember to make an eco-friendly offering to the land.

Then make a commitment to revisit this exact same location in all four seasons. Each time, take note of the changes at this place as you progress through the Wheel of the Year. You might like to journal about each visit. You will build a relationship to the spirits of place and with the land in which you live as you become familiar with your sacred place throughout the year, through all seasons and weather.
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Heartwings Love Notes 1076 Learning by Doing

Heartwings says, “Experience is a grand teacher we can learn from by paying attention.”

Oddly, I can still remember learning to tie my shoes. I was living with my grandmother at the time, along with my caretaker, Emily. She was with my parents until I was eight, at which time she left to get married and raise her own family. I was fortunate to have her as my first teacher. She was a special and loving person, a kind of second mother.

That same year I had another lesson I remember all too well. Because I really preferred being home to going to school, I managed to fall into the Boston Esplanade lagoon where we youngsters were being taken for a walk. The thinking of my four-year-old mind was that I would be able to go home to stay. To my dismay, I was taken back for a change of clothes and returned to school for the rest of the day.

My life, like that of most people, is filled with incidences of learning by experience. Like the time I was helping my friend’s mother get ready for a dinner party: I pulled out the silverware drawer in their big sideboard too hard. Alas, the drawer turned over and deposited the entire contents on the rug. I was quite embarrassed. Our drawer at home usually stuck. I learned not all drawers do the same.

Had someone warned me of the consequences of those actions, I would have missed two valuable lessons. As I thought about that, I began to understand the necessity of allowing people to make their own mistakes. Of course, if someone would incur severe hurt or injury or cause real harm by an action, it is important to warn her or him. However, if the situation is not dire, ofttimes it may be better to keep silent. How are we to learn if not by experience? No amount of doing things without error will teach what happens if we make a mistake.

I was reminded of this recently when my husband was about to do something I considered unwise. I thought to speak up, and then instead let him go ahead, and he learned something. On the other hand, sometimes it is a good idea to speak up. Recently when we were shoveling the snow off the car, I neglected to tell him I was opening the trunk. Just then he pushed the snow off the roof and directly into the opening I had so thoughtfully provided! Naturally, the trunk filled with snow we had to remove, together with the items stored there waiting to be elsewhere.

We laughed at our miscalculation as we cleared off the unexpected deluge of snow. My philosophy is that things can always be worse, therefore rejoice for what is and be grateful, regardless. Life presents many teachable moments. For instance, when I am working on a job together with someone else, it may be wise either to speak up or to be mindful of what the other person is doing.

May your experiences prove helpful and cause you to learn to do better.

Blessings and best regards, Tasha Halpert

PS Have you got a story to share about an experience that was helpful? I do so love it when readers write to me. Thanks for doing so at tashahal@gmail.com. You can read more Love notes at http://www.heartwingsandfriends.com .

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S. J. Tucker REMINDER: ONLINE SHOW MONDAY NIGHT MARCH 20!

Hi, yall! ONLINE SHOW REMINDER for this coming MONDAY NIGHT! Join me if you can, just $5 to get your virtual seat: https://onlineconcertthing.com/product/s-j-tucker-2023-03-20-0630-pm-cst/

GRAB A SHAKER if you’ve got one and can watch the show while I’m live-I’m planning to be fully live for this one, and my librarian co-conspirators have asked me to lead a shake-a-long for at least one song during the concert. The kiddos watching along in Dubuque at the county library will be MAKING shaker eggs and maracas during the show! Can you guess which song I’m planning for this?

More info on my two shows this month, online March 20th & Tampa/Thonotosassa, FL March 31 with Muses on the Road: https://sjtucker.com/tour

Support the Red Album fundraiser here if you like: https://gofund.me/aec4feee (It’s going strong, approaching 11k now!)

In addition to our Red Album production fundraiser there, each musician contributing a song to the Red Album release gets to invite TWO PEOPLE to sponsor their track especially, for $75 or more. If you’re interested in being one of my two “Devil at the Door” sponsors, send me an email at sjtuckermusic@gmail.com. The opportunity is first come, first served and will remain open through April 30th.

I have a new interview this week, courtesy of Colleen DuVall & her podcast, Women Who Howl at the Moon! This was my first time on the show, and we had a great time chatting about music & magic. Enjoy it here: https://on.soundcloud.com/354cj

Love, and hope to have you in the chat Monday evening,

Sooj

PS, come support the music & hear my newest, unreleased song, the first one I’ve written for 2023: https://www.patreon.com/sjtuckermusic

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Bad Days
We all have bad days and within these days is usually a gem of a gift waiting to be opened.

We all have days from time to time when it feels like the world is against us or that the chaos we are experiencing will never end. One negative circumstance seems to lead to another. You may wonder, on a bad day, whether anything in your life will ever go right again. But a bad day, like any other day, can be a gift. Having a bad day can show you that it is time to slow down, change course, or lighten up. A bad day can help you glean wisdom you might otherwise have overlooked or discounted. Bad days can certainly cause you to experience uncomfortable feelings you would prefer to avoid, yet a bad day may also give you a potent means to learn about yourself.

You may consider a bad day to be one where you’ve missing an important meeting because your car stalled, the dryer broke, and you received a piece of very bad news earlier in the morning. Multiple misfortunes that take place one after the other can leave us feeling vulnerable and intensely cognizant of our fragility. But bad days can only have a long-term negative effect on us if we let them. It is better to ask yourself what you can learn from these kinds of days. The state of your bad day may be an indicator that you need to stay in and hibernate or let go of your growing negativity.

Bad days contribute to the people we become. Though we may feel discouraged and distressed on our bad days, a bad day can teach us patience and perseverance. It is important to remember that your attitude drives your destiny and that one negative experience does not have to be the beginning of an ongoing stroke of bad luck. A bad day is memorable because it is one day among many good days – otherwise, we wouldn’t even bother to acknowledge it as a bad day. Know too, that everybody has bad days, you are not alone, the world is not against you. Tomorrow is guaranteed to be a brighter day.

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4 Ways to Interpret Tarot Cards That Turn Up Repeatedly
BY ANNA

Hands Shuffling Tarot Cards
Ru-Lee StoryIt happens to every tarot reader sooner or later: no matter how thoroughly you shuffle, you find yourself pulling the same card again and again. You’ve read the entry in your guidebook of choice, but you still can’t figure out why it’s turning up so often! More often than not, this is a sign that there’s some aspect of the card’s message that you aren’t taking on board. So how can you make sense of whatever it’s trying to tell you? Here are four straightforward ways to open up to your clingy card’s message!

  1. Research
    If you have other guidebooks on hand, read the appropriate entry from a few of them. Google the card and read descriptions from different sites. I even find it helpful to see how different decks portray the same card. It can be enlightening to get multiple viewpoints on a card’s message, because every artist and author brings their own flavor to the interpretation. And don’t ignore the card’s reversed meaning. Even if you don’t usually read reversals, you may find an angle you hadn’t considered.
  2. Reflect
    Set aside some time to clear your mind and focus on your card. You can meditate, journal, or even doodle. The important thing is to still your mind and body as much as possible, and to let any connections or associations occur to you spontaneously. Don’t dismiss anything that floats through your mind. It might not seem to make sense in the moment, but it may suddenly click into place later!
  3. Enact
    For my new book Your Tarot Toolkit, I created activities for every single card in the deck. I find that doing something helps me get the message in my bones, even doing something relatively simple. If your card is a Wand, dedicate some time to creativity or physical activity. If it’s a Pentacle, do something practical like budgeting or housework. For Cups, spend time with a loved one. For Swords, choose something intellectual like writing a letter or reading a book. And for the Major Arcana, do something difficult or unusual for you, like calling a friend you haven’t spoken to in ages or attending an event that isn’t your typical scene.
  4. If all else fails…let it go
    At the end of the day, if you’re still drawing a blank on what the heck the card is trying to tell you…give yourself permission to let it be for now. You may be so mired in the situation that you can’t see it clearly yet, and that’s okay! Odds are good that you’ll look back later and realize, “Oh, that’s what the Eight of Pentacles was saying over and over!” And in the meantime, you can just roll your eyes and smile knowingly every time it turns up in your readings.

For further activities, reflection questions, and affirmations for your tarot practice, check out Your Tarot Toolkit!

Our thanks to Ru-Lee for their guest post! For more from Ru-Lee Story, read their article, “4 Steps to Turning Your Daily Tarot Draw into a Powerful Affirmation.”

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Experiences With Multiple Meanings

The refined impression you glean from your experiences after contemplating their significance, can add a new richness and texture to your life.

Though we humans are self-aware, we nonetheless cannot distance ourselves from the world around us and have a natural tendency to ascribe meaning to all that we experience. The significance we perceive in our experiences is rooted in our observation of patterns as they relate to ourselves. One situation has the power to teach us about life because it exposes us to something unfamiliar. Another touches our emotions deeply by enabling us to see how fortunate we are. Yet our initial impressions of an experience may not wholly reveal the true significance of that occurrence because our full response to an experience is like an onion with many layers that all have disparate meanings. Consider that a sunrise may stun us visually while simultaneously evoking memories of childhood and reminding us that each new day is a rebirth.

If you take the time to examine your experiences closely, you will discover that your original impressions may only be a part of a larger story of significance. Peeling away the layers of an event or incident can be a fun and interesting process if you allow it. To begin, relive your experience in your mind’s eye and from multiple perspectives if possible. Your interpretation of any situation is based not only on facts but also on feelings, beliefs, and your values. As you ruminate upon your experience, spend a few moments contemplating how you felt when it began and how your feelings had changed by its end. Ask yourself what abstractions, if any, it awakened in your mind. If an experience stirs up questions within your soul, it may be that in striving to answer them a new layer of meaning may reveal itself to you.

The significance of an experience may remain hidden to you for some time. The meaning of an event can change when viewed from another context or may only become apparent after intense meditation. An incident that seemed superficial may unexpectedly touch us deeply later in our lives. If you take a truly open-minded approach to your examination of each new level and do not shy away from revelations that could prove painful, you will learn much about your relationship to the world around you. And the refined impression you glean from your experiences after contemplating their significance can add a new richness and texture to your life.

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HAND SYMBOLISM ON GRAVESTONES
Cathy Wallace, 1847

Hand symbolism on gravestones can reveal how our ancestors lived and what they believed.

One of the most common gravestone symbols on tombstones is the hand. There are clasped hands, pointing fingers, hands holding objects, and more.

Finger Pointing Up
Fingers pointing upward indicate that the departed has gone to heaven and beckons grieving loved ones to look up.

This finger is pointing to the stars, which represent heaven.

Simple sleeve cuffs evolved into elaborately carved cuffs.

Finger Pointing Down
A hand with a finger pointing down represents the hand of God. The swirls at the top are symbolic of clouds or heaven.

The chain represents the family. Notice that it has a broken link. That separate link is symbolic of the deceased.

God is reaching out with one finger to bring them to heaven to join their departed family members.

Handshake
Handshakes on gravestones from the early 1800s showed just the hands themselves – no sleeves – so they appeared almost like severed limbs. Later gravestone styles added cuffs to the wrists.

The origin of the handshake dates back to at least the 9th century BC in Assyria. It signified a token of peace, as the hand was extended without weapons. The shaking up and down may even have been a means of verifying that there was not a dagger or knife up the other person’s sleeve.

In ancient Rome, handshakes were a symbol of loyalty and friendship. Clasped hands were even stamped on Roman coins.

Handshakes also denote that a person’s word is their bond, a giving of a sacred trust.

In the case of gravestone symbolism, handshakes can mean a final farewell or an eternal bond between the living and the dead.

Clasped hands were sometimes meant to portray the link between a married couple.

Notice the details on this hand symbolism. The fingernails are well-defined, as is the clothing.

Cuffs with lace, buttons, and trim show the departed came from a family that was well-to-do.

Sometimes one hand in a handshake is very stiff, showing that the person is dead, while the other hand has bent joints, indicating that the person is alive. The hand on the left is usually the one belonging to the deceased.

This is a symbol of farewell between the living and the dead. It is often accompanied by the words “Gone but not forgotten”, “Rest in Peace”, or “Good-bye”.

If you see one stiff hand in a handshake on a family gravestone – and there are male/female cuffs – it can be a clue as to which spouse died first.

Finger in a Book
The finger pointing upward is sometimes combined with an open book, representing a Bible.

This symbol suggests that the Word of God is the pathway to heaven.

Finger and Flowers
Again, the finger pointing up means the soul has gone to heaven. Open flowers symbolize that the deceased was in the full bloom of life.

This gravestone features a broken stem with a drooping blossom in the hand. This means that the person’s life was cut short.

Looking at the age of death at the bottom, we can see that this young lady died at the age of 17 years, 5 months, and 10 days (17Y, 5M, 10D).

The finger on this hand is pointing slightly upward toward a wilting flower and a bird. The drooping flower and bud show that this woman’s life was cut short and her body has died. But the bird is a symbol of her soul, which has taken flight to heaven.

Double Hand Pillar
This pillar grave marker in Hamilton, Indiana has a hand pointing upward for both the husband and the wife.

Both the height of the pillar and the pointing fingers remind cemetery visitors to look upward to heaven.

Hand from Heaven’s Veil
A handshake beneath a veil symbolizes someone in heaven reaching out to the deceased to bring them into God’s presence.

On this little girl’s gravestone, the hand of God reaches from behind heaven’s veil to lift a banner with her name on it up to Himself.

The Final Act

Looking at this gravestone, one might think of the final act of a play. Or taking it even more literally, the hand on the stage could be a “stagehand”. But alas, this is not what our ancestors were thinking of!

The hand is a symbol of action or a person’s deeds. It shows that the deceased is ready to leave the stage of life and move beyond the veil into the afterlife.

It is a reminder that there is more to life after one dies. This life is just one act in a much longer play.

One person leaves the stage and the curtain goes down. But the play must go on! It must go on for those on both sides of the veil.

Hands of Priesthood Blessings
Hands that are held in this position are a symbol on Jewish gravestones for those who have inherited a priestly heritage.

The majority of those who have this priestly heritage have had the last name of Cohen – a name that literally means “priest” in Hebrew. They are those who have descended from Aaron, the brother of the ancient prophet Moses.

Aaron’s priesthood rights have been passed down from generation to generation. Those who inherit this right or power use it to perform priestly duties.

One of their priestly duties is to hold their hands as pictured on these gravestones when offering an Aaronic benediction or blessing over the Jewish people.

To learn more about Jewish gravestone symbols, click HERE.

Holding Back the Hands of Time
This gravestone from Zydowski Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland is symbolic of “turning back the hands of time”, “turning back the clock”, and “turning to the past”. The mask and harp represent the deceased’s accomplishments in theater and music.

Hands Holding an Anchor
This hand is holding an anchor. Sometimes an anchor was carved on the gravestones of seamen since it was their last resort in a storm. But more often, an anchor on a gravestone was a symbol of hope.

The Bible references an anchor in connection with hope in Hebrews 6: 18-19, saying, “. . . lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast”

Those without hope may be like a ship tossed on the sea with their emotions being carried in every direction. The anchor would remind family members visiting the grave to hold on to the hope of seeing their loved one again.

To members of Freemasonry, the anchor represented well-grounded hope, a life well-spent, and eternal tranquility.

Handshake Beneath a Crown
The crown typically symbolizes Christ, who is also known as “The King of Kings”.

A handshake beneath a crown indicates the deceased is being welcomed to heaven through the power of Christ’s resurrection.

Hand Holding a Cross
A hand holding tight to a cross is also a symbol of one who follows Jesus Christ. It indicates hope for resurrection.

Hand and Heart
The heart on a hand symbol implies a loving welcome to heaven to one who has lived a life of love and service.

A heart on a hand is also a symbol of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization derived from English Oddfellows orders of the mid-18th century.

The Independent Order of the Odd Fellows is sometimes referred to as The Triple Link Fraternity. This is a reference to the Odd Fellow symbol of a chain with three links with the letters “F”, “L”, and “T” in them.

The letters in the three links represent the fraternity’s guiding principles of Friendship, Love, and Truth.

Praying Hands
Hand symbolism was much more common in the 1800s than it is now. Praying hands are the most common hand symbol on gravestones today.

Holding Hands
In 19th-century Dutch society, it was taboo for those of differing faiths to be buried together. So a wall was built in Netherland’s Roermond graveyard to divide those who were Protestant from those who were Catholic.

In defiance of this cultural custom, Colonel J.W.C. van Gorkum, a Protestant man who served with the Dutch Cavalry, and his noblewoman Catholic wife, Lady Josephina Carlina Petronela Hubertina van Aefferden, were buried in their assigned cemetery sections but the hands on their gravestones reach across the barrier.

The couple had been married for forty years and will now hold hands throughout eternity.

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Master Points
by Stephen Halpert

Harry Silver opened the carefully wrapped package he had just received from the auction house in England. He smiled, feeling pleased as he opened the leather-bound edition of the Collected Essays of Sir Isaac Newton. He looked at it and stroked the cover.
His wife Bessie came into the kitchen. She peered at the old volume. Newton? Didn’t he discover a lot?”
“More than that,” Harry said. “He virtually reinvented mathematics.”
She frowned. “Harry how can there ever be more than a lot? Sometimes I don’t understand where you’re coming from or even for that matter what you’re getting at.”
He smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Back when I was in school, I read Newton’s essay about the world coming to an end sometime between 2050 and 2070.”
She sighed. “Now that’s not a happy thought.” She wrinkled her brow. “But maybe by now it all got fixed.”
Harry frowned, “I’m afraid he came to that determination hundreds of years ago using pure mathematics.”
Bessie looked pensive. “Things can change, Harry. Besides people make predictions like that all the time.”
Harry shook his head, reached into the cabinet and took a can of sardines., He carefully pealed back the lid and forked them onto a plate. “And nothing has changed since his calculations. If anything, global warming could speed up the process and make things a whole lot worse.”
Bessie wrinkled her nose, “And when is this all supposed to happen?”
Harry rolled his eyes and chewed, concentrating on the taste of his sardines. “Who knows, give or take fifty, seventy years from now?”
Bessie’s expression changed. “That’s terrible. But you are absolutely sure he was accurate?”
Harry nodded. “Bessie, mathematics doesn’t lie. “
He got the pitcher of ice tea and took two glasses from the cabinet. “Bessie, it’s just one of those things we can’t do anything about.”
“Oh no.” She shook her head. “Maybe that’s how you feel Harry. But before I do anything, I’ll have to consult Sarah, my astrologer. She knows about things like this.” She poured them both tea.
He slid a slither of sardine onto a cracker. “And?”
“Well if she goes along with it I think we better sell the cottage at the Cape, and I’ll cash in my master points.”
“Why bother? Besides, maybe you can take them with you wherever we end up.”
Lips firm, she shook her head. “Oh no Harry I don’t think they’d transfer. Ever since Charles Goren, The Master Point Association became very strict about things like that. Otherwise, people could start throwing their master points around like confetti.”
He nodded and patted her hand tenderly. “lf I were you, I’d keep all this under your hat. There’s no need to cause panic. After all it’s not for fifty to seventy years from now. But whatever you do please don’t bring it up when you go to the beauty parlor or by breakfast the whole world will know.”
Her eyes widened and she said firmly, “Harry you don’t have to worry about confidentially. Believe me, whatever’s said at Madam Swank’s Salon stays at Madam Swank’s Salon. That’s one of the unwritten rules of cosmetology.”
He smiled and carefully swallowed another slither of sardines. “Besides Bessie it’s not like this is happening tomorrow.”
She looked at him intently. “Harry how long have we been together?”
“Forty some odd years.”
She nodded. “Yes, and do you remember on our anniversary you said those forty years went by faster than a speeding bullet. Those were your exact words.”
He looked quizzical. “I remember that line from Superman on the radio. What are you getting at?”
“Well if what Newton said proves to be true then we’d better start making plans; sell off what isn’t useful. Maybe put our money into gold. “She lowered her voice. “You could sell your baseball card collection and I’d send my mother’s China to auction.”
His voice rose. “Sell my baseball cards, why?”
She touched his hand. “Harry you can’t take them with you. Even if we were to survive, they’d probably get all soggy and ruined. That I’m sure about.”
His voice was even more emphatic. “I don’t want to sell my baseball cards. I’ve had them as long as I can remember.”
“Harry it’s a known fact that when there are floods, things get wet. Think about it. And I’m sure that when the world ends it won’t be a pretty picture.”
He seemed momentarily stymied. “Maybe we should just forget this whole conversation. Forget I even mentioned it.”
Her eye widened. “How can I? You’ve told me something terrible and awful. I can’t just shove it aside. It’s dominating my mind.”
“I’m sorry Bessie. But when we got married, we agreed not to keep secrets from each other.”
She sighed. “Oh, go ahead and keep your baseball cards but don’t blame me if they get all wet and mildewed.”
“Thank you.” He finished the last of his sardines.
“But because you’re known as the Mattress Czar of Pawtucket maybe you should think about having an end of the world sale. Get ahead of your competition.”
He looked quizzical. “Why? If the world’s going to end then why would anyone even think about buying a new mattress or box spring?”
“Harry if this is true; if the world’s really going to explode like Newton said, then the only place I’d want to be is with you in our bed holding hands. And when you think about it, a new box spring and mattress would make our final hours a little more comfortable.”
He looked surprised. “You really think that?”
Now she sounded emphatic. “Of course I do! And when she read my astrology chart, Sarah said that beyond anything else, I’m practical.”
He sighed and shook his head. “Bessie this is all a little premature.”
She shook her head. “Remember that speeding bullet remark Harry. After all, time flies.”
He took her hand. “Bessie let’s just forget all about this for now. You hang onto your mother’s china, and I’ll keep my baseball cards. And just to make you feel better let’s go away for the weekend. Didn’t you say there was a bridge tournament in Portland you wanted to sign up for.”
She shook her head and lowered her voice. “Oh, Harry none of that seems important to me anymore. What good are more master points when I won’t have anyone to play bridge with, assuming we even survive? And if we do, I probably wouldn’t be able to find a dry deck of cards amidst the rubble.”
Harry put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her. “Tell you what, let’s go to supper, and afterwards just to be on the safe side, I’ll get you a few dozen decks to put all around the house. That way you’re bound to come up with at least one that’s dry.”

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8 Weird Cat Behaviors That Stump Kitty Parents

By Rita Reimers

Is your cat’s bizarre behavior normal — or a reason to call the vet? From head butting to putting toys in the food dish and beyond, we talk about some weird cat behaviors and why they happen.

Cats are known for their mysterious ways and off-the-wall behaviors in general. There are some cats, however, where those weird cat behaviors are just so quirky and bizarre that you don’t know if you should laugh or call your vet.

Here are eight weird cat behaviors that I’ve come across, and I will attempt to explain just why some happen. Does your cat do any of these?

  1. Staring at the wall
    A gray cat staring.
    Does your cat just stare at the wall?
    Have you ever seen your cat sitting perfectly still, just staring at the wall? My cats do that quite a lot. So then of course I start looking around, trying to figure out what they see that I don’t.

While it’s a common and harmless habit most cats have, it does tend to make me wonder if my cats are a bit like Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense!

  1. Knocking things over
    It’s common for cats to play with their prey, but considered a weird cat behavior when they ‘re knocking things to the floor.
    It’s common for cats to play with their prey, but considered a weird cat behavior when they ‘re knocking things to the floor.
    Particularly when I am busy working in my office, my cat, Sonny, will come along and randomly knock objects to the floor. It seems the more I ignore him, the more things end up on my floor.

While it’s common for cats to play with their prey — and this behavior has been likened to that — I’m not so sure that’s always the case. Personally, I think Sonny is trying to annoy me just enough so I’ll get up and open the bag of treats for him.

  1. Stealing things
    An excited cat playing with a toy, about to pounce.
    Does your cat steal things from you? Photography ©sjallenphotography | Thinkstock.
    We’ve all seen those videos of cats stealing things from the neighbors and bringing them home. The reason it’s so funny is that cats really do take things that don’t belong to them, and quite regularly.

When cats steal and then hide things, they’re mimicking the hunt they would be doing in the wild, burying their catch to eat later. My friend Linda laments, “My cat, Karma, is smart enough to open the jar where I keep my hair ties, take one, then put the lid back on. I am running out of hair ties, and I am bitter!”

  1. Head butting
    Head butting is just one weird cat behavior you might notice with your cat. .
    Head butting is just one weird cat behavior you might notice with your cat.
    Bonk, bonk, bonk! That’s the sound of a cat hitting a person with his head, trying to get some attention. Head butting, or bunting, as is the proper term, is a very high honor a cat bestows upon those accepted as members of his tribe. As he bunts, he’s also marking them with his scent, declaring his ownership.

This weird cat behavior is used solely for social bonding, showing friendliness and acceptance. I also think this is how cats poke us to get our attention; my Punkin does this if I take too long to pet him when he sits next to me on the sofa.

  1. Putting toys in the food dish
    Kitten playing with a toy mouse on the floor.
    Do your cat’s toys end up in the food dish?
    My friend Linda sent me a photo the other day. Her cat, Kizzy, had put a toy in his empty food bowl after he had eaten his dinner. “Why does he do this?” This is another throwback to the wild when, as a wildcat, Kizzy would have been outside hunting and gathering food.

Some cats will put their toys in their food dish as a safe place to keep them for later, just like a cat in the wild would bury his catch to hide it from predators. “Oh that makes sense,” Linda says. “He never did that until we brought Karma home.” Sounds to me like someone doesn’t want to share his toys!

  1. Teeth chattering and chirping
    Cat looking out a window at birds and birdseed.
    Does your cat chatter and chirp?
    Did you ever hear a cat chirp? Usually it’s accompanied by the gnashing of teeth, which sounds like someone’s teeth chattering in the cold, and whiskers that stand on end. I saw my cat, Simon, doing the chirp n’ chatter the other day when he was staring at the wall. Turns out, he was watching a tiny little bug who was just out of reach, so he couldn’t swat it down.

Frustration and excitement often cause the chattering behavior, especially when they see birds outside that they cannot hunt. I’ve seen my spoiled house cats staring out the window at birds, frustrated they can’t get to their prey. Believe me, they’re happier with the prey-in-cans anyway; no work required!

  1. Zooming from room to room
    A hyper or excited cat with his mouth open and arms stretched wide.
    Why do cats get the zoomies?
    Wait, what was that orange streak? Why its Colby suddenly deciding he MUST run RIGHT NOW with all his might from the living room into my office and back. “Zoomies” are how cats burn off their pent-up energy, left over from their hard day of hanging around the house waiting for supper.

Um OK, but why right then? And why at top speed in the middle of the night when the house is very, very quiet? Maybe your cat has a vendetta against you, and payback is, well you know, a zooming cat keeping you up at night!

  1. Playing/sleeping in boxes
    A cat hanging around in a box is another weird cat behavior that raises some questions.
    A cat hanging around in a box is another weird cat behavior that raises some questions.
    We’ve all heard “If I fits, I sits” when explaining the cat-in-box syndrome. Even large cats in the wild will sit in a box given the opportunity (Google it and see!). But just why do cats love boxes so much?

A deep box is a cozy place to curl up for a nap, hidden away safely from predators while they take a comfortable snooze. Add a blanket to the box, or not — either way, cats love to cozy up inside. When our Chewy.com order comes, the cats can’t wait for the brand new boxes to be emptied, so they can claim new napping spots.

And let’s not forget the great fun they have tearing the cardboard into tiny bits, all over my carpet. Yeah, thanks fellas!

The bottom line on weird cat behaviors
These are just a few of the weird cat behaviors that are oh-so-common in the feline world. We can play into some of them and have a wonderful time bonding with our kitties in their zany little moments, now that we understand what drives them.

Rita Reimers’ Cat Behavior Coaching has helped many cat owners better understand their feline friends. Visit RitaReimers.com to read her cat behavior blog or to book a cat behavior coaching session. Rita is also the CEO/owner of JustForCatsPetsitting.com. Connect with her on Facebook and on Twitter.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Catster magazine. Have you seen the new Catster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting area of your vet’s office? Click here to subscribe to Catster and get the bimonthly magazine delivered to your home.

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Weekly Horoscope: Sunday, March 19, 2023
All Signs

Three planetary changes occur this week. The first is the Spring equinox when the Sun crosses the equator creating equal day and night. This means the Sun will be in Aries for four weeks. The second change is that Pluto will move into Aquarius for 3 months. (The last time Pluto was in Aquarius was 1778-1798. Power to the people! “Off with their heads!”) Pluto returns to Aquarius in 2024 to stay until 2044. And finally, after being in Gemini for seven months, this week Mars moves into Cancer. (Normally, Mars is in one sign for only six weeks, once every two years.) We will feel this! Of course, change is always happening, but some things are more noticeable than others. Like when someone answers the door naked.

Aries (March 21-April 19)
You’re looking at a powerful four weeks ahead. The Sun, Mercury and lucky Jupiter will all be in your sign, which is empowering. You’ll have more energy, more drive and more focus! This is your chance to rejuvenate yourself. And as the Sun starts to dance with Jupiter, you will feel physically and psychologically pumped. You will attract money to you; and will buy beautiful things for yourself and loved ones. Get ready for increased chaos and activity on the home front due to renovations, visiting guests or home repairs. Whatever it is – you can handle it. “I’ve got this.”

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Your personal year is coming to an end; but your new year won’t begin until your birthday. This means the next four weeks are like a time of limbo. Nevertheless, with Venus in your sign, you’ll be charming and diplomatic. You will certainly feel the shift of Mars because this will make your communications more direct and forceful. In the next six weeks, you will say what you mean and mean what you say! You might also sense that a change in your career or life direction is taking place. It’s starting now but will magnify by next year. Meanwhile, lucky Jupiter enters your sign in mid-May, to stay for a whole year, which brings great good fortune! (After that, you’ll get richer.) Oh boy.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Big change this week! For the last seven months, fiery Mars was in your sign. (This is unusual because usually Mars is in your sign for only six weeks every two years.) So, for over half a year, you’ve been strutting your stuff and giving everyone orders. You have learned what it’s like to have the upper hand and use it. Naturally, you might have come on too strong for some. Now you will enter a friendly, four-week window where you might hang out with younger people more than usual, and be involved with groups. You will start to work hard for money because you’re certainly going to spend it. It’s all good.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
You’re entering a powerful window this week because fiery Mars moves into your sign to stay for six weeks. This will pump you with energy, enthusiasm and aggression! Meanwhile, for the next four weeks, the Sun will be at the top of your chart casting you in a flattering spotlight, which makes everyone admire you and think that you’re the cat’s meow. (Oh yes, you’ll be impressive.) Meanwhile, expect fun times with friends, especially creative, artistic types. In fact, for some of you, a friend could become a lover. You might start to see the beginning of change in how you share property with someone. Even your values are starting to change. It’s major.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Your urge to travel, seek adventure and have a change of scenery will be strong in the next four weeks. Do whatever you can to satisfy this desire for new stimulation. Whatever you do will be pleasant because Venus is at the top of your chart making you look attractive to others. This means that wherever you go, you will schmooze successfully and be popular. However, closer to home, you might start to feel some rumblings and change that affect your partnerships and closest relationships. You’ll feel the need to flex your muscles and demand more independence and freedom. Not surprising considering your theme song is, “Whatever Lola wants – Lola gets.”

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Like Leo, you want to travel for pleasure and see the world! You will also enjoy learning and studying, especially deep truths that make you think. In the next four weeks, you will feel more passionate and more intense about everything, including physical intimacy. But you will feel just as passionate about financial matters, inheritances and how to divide and share things. Your worldview is changing now because you’re beginning to think more about your external goals and how you want to achieve them. Teamwork will be important. In fact, some of you might be involved competitively with a group or an individual. You’ve decided to throw your hat in the ring and go after what you want!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
For the next four weeks, you will need more sleep than usual because the Sun will be opposite your sign, which means it is as far away as it can get (in your chart) – and the Sun represents energy. This also means your focus on close friends, partners and spouses will be strong. Ironically, you will have more objectivity to view these relationships, which is an opportunity for you to see how to improve how your role in the relationship. Meanwhile, back at the starting gate, fiery Mars will be at the top of your chart, (something that hasn’t happened for two years.) This will arouse your ambition as never before! In addition, Venus will also arouse your romantic passion! It might even attract money to you. Fascinating times ahead!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You might be surprised at how much energy you have in the next four weeks to work and be productive. Suddenly, you will set the bar high because you want to get a lot done and do it as efficiently as possible. These high standards will likely extend to your health as well, which is why you will do whatever you can to boost your health. With Venus opposite your sign now, relations with others are warm and mutually supportive. Meanwhile, Mars will stir your desire to travel, explore, discover adventure and meet people from other cultures so that you can learn and enrich your world. In a subtle way, you might start to see that your home scene is changing in a direction that will give you more freedom. So many changes….

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Lucky you! The next four weeks are play city for your sign. Slip away on a vacation if you can. As the world traveller of the zodiac, you hardly need an excuse. Meanwhile, you want to work hard and party hard! Romance will flourish. Accept invitations to social outings, sports events, the theatre and fun get-togethers with others, especially younger people. Relations with coworkers are warm and mutually supportive. The only fly in the ointment is that you might encounter disputes about shared property, debt, inheritances or insurance issues. Something is a bit testy here. (Privately, your sex drive is amped!)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Home, family and your private life will be your primary focus for the next four weeks. Expect to have family discussions, especially about home repairs or ways to expand your home. You might even be thinking about a change of residence. Warm relations with children as well as romantic rendezvous’s will delight. Accept invitations to social occasions because they will please you. Admittedly, Mars is opposite your sign now for the next six weeks, which can provoke conflict with others, especially partners, spouses and close friends. Consider this an opportunity to practice patience, a precious virtue. Cocoon at home as much as you can, interspersed with exciting opportunities to socialize. Sweet!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
The pace of your days is accelerating! Short trips, appointments and errands plus increased discussions with siblings, relatives and neighbours will be one reason you’ll be busier than a one-armed paper hanger. Ironically, you want to entertain at home and redecorate your digs; and at the same time, you’ll be busting your buns at work for the next six weeks to show the world what you can do. (Gasp!) You want to get things done, which is why you’re ready to defer tomorrow’s pleasure for today’s work. Naturally, you want the credit. (And why not?) Meanwhile, Pluto moves into your sign for the first time since more than two centuries ago! Many of you will dramatically change your appearance now or next year.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Money, cash flow, earnings plus issues with possessions are your strong focus in the next four weeks. Look for ways to boost your income because you can do this. Trust your moneymaking ideas. Meanwhile, you want to play and have fun! Many will spend money on vacations, social outings, the theatre or sports events and fun activities with children. It’s a great time to socialize because Venus is in your House of Communications, sweetening your words and smoothing your relations with siblings, relatives and neighbours. One lovely detail is that your positive frame of mind will plant the seeds of appreciation within you, making you notice the beauty of your daily surroundings. Gosh.

2023 Annual Forecasts are now available.
Order Now http://go.sparkpostmail.com/f/a/SsBwBqVCZRJxcd4OD5_WOQ~~/AABzeAA~/RgRlm9DUP0QnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ2VvcmdpYW5pY29scy5jb20vZm9yZWNhc3QvVwNzcGNCCmO1VJ26Y-tB5HlSEHltamhAdmVyaXpvbi5uZXRYBAAAAAA~

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
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High Priestess Certification and Ancient Mystery Teachings

Herbalism 101
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Earth Signs and Omens
Natural Witchcraft
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The Magic of Crystals
Introduction to Energy Healing
Introduction to Paganism
Introduction to Meditation
Introduction to The Goddess Tradition and The Feminine Divine
Kuan Yins Gentle Embrace Reiki Certification
A Year and a Day of Contemplation with Kuan Yin
Tarot, Numerology, Natal Charts and Dream Readings
Reiki Training and Certification

Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healingLearn with GrannyMoon!
The Healing Arts Certificate Program Four great courses! Buy three get one free!
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Teach a witch a spell and she can do that spell. Teach a witch the craft and she can do magick!

GrannyMoon, Teaching the Craft for over 20 years!

“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

http://GoddessSchool.com
https://twitter.com/GrannyMooninVA
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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons Weekly Feast: 12 Mar 23

Don’t compromise yourself.
You are all you’ve got.

  • Janis Joplin

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again

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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: WANING MOON

Time: From Full Moon To Dark Moon (approx.14 days)

Goddess Aspect: Crone

Associated Goddesses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Kali, Morrigan

Magickal Attributes: Banishing, Releasing the old, removing unwanted negative energies, wisdom, psychic ability, scrying, reversing circumstances. Workings on this day are for banishing magick, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity, physical and psychic cleansings.

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What’s Happening?!?
Herb of the Year for 2023: Ginger ( (Zingiber officinale). Named by the International Herb Association

Flower of the Month for March: Daffodil

March is National Women’s History Month

MARCH

MAR. 14: Egyptian Festival of Au Set: Snake Goddess who wards off poverty

MAR. 14: National Potato Chip Day.

MAR. 15: Ides of March (beware!)

MAR. 16: On this day in 1915, absinthe (a liqueur made from the herb wormwood) was banned in France

MAR. 17: St. Patrick’s Day. The luck o’ the Irish to you!

MAR. 17: Roman Liberalia: Maenad Festival of Bacchus (Dionysus)– honoring the God of the Vine and Rebirth.

MAR. 17: Canaanite of Festival of Astarte: Goddess of Love

MAR. 15: SIGRBLOT/SUMARSDAG -Celebrate the first day of Summer in Scandinavian countries

MAR. 18: To APRIL 14 – CELTIC MONTH of ALDER

MAR. 20: OSTARA/ALBAN EILIR/SPRING EQUINOX

MAR. 20: Iroquois Maple Ceremony

MAR. 31st-April 2nd: Dark Side of the Con at Dark Force Fest
A dark alternative convention happening at The Sheraton in Parsippany, NJ.

MAY
Virginia Psychic Fair 2023
Sun, May 7, 2023, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Elks Lodge, 8421 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22031
Special Metaphysical Event.

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Mar 19
WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Apr 2
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Apr 9
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Apr 16

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!

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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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This Week’s Astrology Forecast
March 13 – March 19, 2023

The third week of March is the busiest and one of the toughest astrological weeks I’ve ever seen – and I mean EVER. This week features (brace yourself) nine major aspects and two sign changes. So, yes, it’s going to be one busy week.

Recommended Candles: Uncrossing (Aunt Jacki’s Ultimate), Curse Breaker (The Sun – Astro Magic), Tornado Alley (Wicked Witch Mojo)

Astrology Forecast brought to you by Storm Cestavani

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Spring Forward Spell
MARCH 12, 2023 BY ASTREA TAYLOR

Today, many people will “spring forward,” as we adjust our clocks and our schedules for one hour in the future. While we aren’t physically moving ahead, we can use this change to reframe our mindsets and help us roll with the changes. For this spell you’ll need a pinch of dried mint and a bit of soil, either in a potted plant or outside.

Hold the mint in your hand and get close to the soil by sitting or crouching near it. Take a few deep breaths. Focus on your future self—envision yourself springing forward with more power, mindfulness, fun, wisdom, clarity, or whatever you wish to bring about. Hold that vision of yourself as you crush the mint between your fingers and release it to the soil. Say:

I offer this mint to my
future empowered self.
As I spring forward, may I find
the paths that lead to you.
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Ancestor Tray
MARCH 11, 2023 BY CERRIDWEN IRIS SHEA

Today is National Genealogy Day, a time to commit to a regular pattern of honor and communication with a specific ancestor until Samhain.

Choose a deceased grandparent or older relative with whom you either feel or would like to build a strong connection. Put a photograph of them in a beautiful frame. (If you don’t have a photograph, create a sketch or write and decorate the individual’s name, and frame it.)

Prepare a tray with the photograph (or framed sketch or name), a candle in a firesafe dish, a crystal, a feather, a small mirror, and a token that is specific to that person (such as a horseshoe charm if they rode horses, a pen if they liked to write, etc.).

Light the candle and meditate on what you know about this ancestor and the relationship you would like to form with them. Once a week until Samhain, make time to have a conversation with this ancestor in different spaces or outside. Extinguish the candle when done. Keep your ancestor tray visible for daily communication.
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Wash Away the Day
MARCH 10, 2023 BY EMBER GRANT

Use this cleansing bath to relax and unwind, especially if you’ve had a challenging day. Prepare as you normally would for a relaxing bath or shower. For example, light some candles and play some music. If you’re using a tub, add some Epsom salts, bubble bath, essential oils, or a bath bomb. Create the most relaxing atmosphere you can imagine. If you don’t have a bathtub, prepare the room with the candles and use an infuser for essential oils.

Visualize the water literally washing away stress and tension. As you bathe or shower, chant these words over and over until you’re completely relaxed.

Water, wash the day away,
Help me keep the stress at bay.

If you need a quick fix, splash water over your face while you chant.
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Incantation for Peace
MARCH 09, 2023 BY DALLAS JENNIFER COBB

An incantation is a series of words used as a magical spell, to “change consciousness at will,” as defined by Dion Fortune. Whether spoken, chanted, or sung, words have power. The power of their meaning and the effect of their sound vibration can uplift, inspire, and manifest.

The Sanskrit words Om shanti shanti shanti have been popularized by yoga and yogis. Shanti translates to peace. Chanting it three times is said to bring peace from the three disturbances: the disturbance of the world around us, the disturbance from within, and the disturbance from the sacred. Literally, this chant evokes peace of body, mind, and spirit, and when repeated three times, it can represent the past, present, and future.

Today, chant Om shanti shanti shanti and hold the intention of purifying your body, mind, and spirit to relieve you of all suffering. You can alternately chant Oh peace peace peace for a similar effect.
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Eggzactly Unstoppable
MARCH 08, 2023 BY ESTHA MCNEVIN

Ancient Europeans worshiped the first eggs of spring, to honor with gratitude the return of the regenerative fertility and life-sustaining cycles of Earth. This Ukrainian parlor game is a lively way to learn to maintain your compassion and tenderness under pressure. It teaches us that every egg is a treasure and our own endurance and patience are redeeming survival skills, because with time and practice we can all steadily develop any ability.

Nestle an egg between two teaspoons, holding one spoon in each hand. Cross your arms to make it more of a challenge. The trick is to apply enough pressure to grip the egg but not so much that the spoons will crack the shell. How long can you hold it? Can you dance with it, climb with it? Can you sit, stand, or roll around on the ground while still gripping the egg safely? Challenge your abilities today. Chant:

May joy and laughter abound,
should no egg befall the ground.
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A Time to Charge Tools
MARCH 07, 2023 BY EMYME

Take this opportunity at the full moon to charge your tools, candles, crystals, and other magical items. Find a spot in your home where the moon will shine in for at least one hour. If no window ledge is wide enough, set up a table. If an item is flat, like your athame, let it bathe in the moonlight for a while and then flip it over. You may also want to charge some organic matter for use in spells, such as spices, herbs, or a jar of water.

Ground and center, then call upon the elements and the directions. As you charge your items, chant:

Lady of the moon, look down
upon these items. Cleanse them
of past spells and infuse them
with clean energy for use in future
incantations. In your honor.
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Cleansing Spell
MARCH 06, 2023 BY SAPPHIRE MOONBEAM
Color of the Day

Since the full moon is tomorrow, it’s a great day to get your altar and sacred space cleansed and prepared. Gather up any supplies that you plan to use during your full moon practice. Place the items (candles, crystals, athame, etc.) in a bowl of salt. White salt is known for its purification and protection energies. Submerge your tools/crystals in the salt in a glass or wooden bowl. Do whatever feels right to you, but do some research and make sure your crystals and supplies won’t be damaged by the salt. Use these words to assist the energetic cleanse:

On this day and in this hour,
As the moon is nearly in full power,
I purify and cleanse these
magickal things
To increase the effect that
each item brings.

Leave the items in the salt overnight. Rinse them with water, then allow them to dry so they are ready for your magickal workings.

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Good Earthkeeping
By Tasha Halpert
A Report on a Special Book

When I was in school I always enjoyed writing book reports. Ever since I learned to do it, reading has always been especially enjoyable for me. Book reports were never a chore because I liked to share stories or information that pleased me. To this day I often recommend what I am reading to a friend who I think might also enjoy it.

Recently, I joined a library book club and the chosen book for the past month was one called Wintering, by Katherine May. Once I began to read it, I was hooked. Now, having finished it, I feel so enthusiastic about this book I am recommending it not just to my friends and family but also to my readers. Perhaps my book report will encourage some of them to at least get Wintering from the library, if not buy a copy.

Because the amount of time I have to read has for several reasons diminished, I normally read for entertainment only. My genre of choice is urban fantasy fiction. Wintering is neither fantasy nor fiction, it is a thoughtful, beautifully written book about the times in one’s life that resemble winter: dark, difficult cold, difficult, even painful.

Writing from her own ordinary experiences, May has brought to light what we all have to live through at times. The periods she terms winter are those bleak weeks or months or more, times when nothing seems to be working, when we feel sad, lonely, incompetent, perhaps even depressed, and more.

That may not sound like an enticing theme. However, it might surprise you. May shares the way she has learned to move through these times with grit and grace. She speaks with frank truthfulness about her feelings and how she deals with her ups and downs, her triumphs, and tragedies. The reader is carried along with May in this compelling book about how she copes and also even how she can’t.

The author is British, and the places she speaks of have unfamiliar names, but the circumstances she has to deal with are not. Illness, dismay, disappointment, and failure fill these pages, and then they are overcome by fortitude, energetic coping, and the author’s special, ultimate courage whether she succeeds or fails in whatever life has handed her. Sometimes overcoming one’s feelings of inadequacy after a failure, provides a different kind of success.

Along the way she also shares stories of others, and there is interesting information as well, tucked in here and there. Most importantly, this book is not preachy or “New Age” in its philosophy. May is a serious professional whose writing has been widely published. She doesn’t offer anything trite or shallow by way of solutions to difficulties. Instead, she shows us by example how she dealt with her issues, and what that was like for her. This is an inspiring book that was written from the heart, presented in beautiful, clear, sometimes poetic prose.

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Doing the Best You Can

Try not to expect perfection when starting out on a spiritual path or attaining inner peace.

It isn’t always easy to meet the expectations we hold ourselves to. We may find ourselves in a situation such as just finishing a relaxing yoga class or meditation retreat, a serene session of deep breathing, or listening to some calming, soul-stirring music, yet we have difficulty retaining our sense of peace. A long line at the store, slow-moving traffic, or another stressful situation can unnerve you and leave you wondering why the tranquility and spiritual equilibrium you cultivate is so quick to dissipate in the face of certain stressors. You may feel guilty and angry at yourself or even feel like a hypocrite for not being able to maintain control after practicing being centered. However, being patient with yourself will help you more in your soul’s journey than frustration at your perceived lack of progress. Doing the best you can in your quest for spiritual growth is vastly more important than striving for perfection.

Just because you are devoted to following a spiritual path, attaining inner peace, or living a specific ideology doesn’t mean you should expect to achieve perfection. When you approach your personal evolution mindfully, you can experience intense emotions such as anger without feeling that you have somehow failed. Simply by being aware of what you are experiencing and recognizing that your feelings are temporary, you have begun taking the necessary steps to regaining your internal balance. Accepting that difficult situations will arise from time to time and treating your reaction to them as if they are passing events rather than a part of who you are can help you move past them. Practicing this form of acceptance and paying attention to your reactions in order to learn from them will make it easier for you to return to your center more quickly in the future.

Since your experiences won’t be similar to others’ and your behavior will be shaped by those experiences, you may never stop reacting strongly to the challenging situations you encounter. Even if you are able to do nothing more than acknowledge what you are feeling and that there is little you can do to affect your current circumstances, in time you’ll alter your reaction to such circumstances. You can learn gradually to let negative thoughts come into your mind, recognize them, and then let them go. You may never reach a place of perfect peace, but you’ll find serenity in having done your best.

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Mysteries of the Aura: A Timeless Practice Can Change Your Life
MARCH 09, 2023 BY JEAN-LOUIS DE BIASI

I belong to a family of teachers, farmers, clergymen, and nuns; spiritual and educational pursuits have always been central in my life. I know that I didn’t descend into this physical body randomly, and I have always felt this safe balance between the physical and spiritual worlds. I was lucky to be initiated into respectable traditions and to receive full authority in famous traditions. Today, I am using this unique heritage to reveal hidden realities and help everyone improve their hidden abilities.

The aura has fascinated me for a very long time. I was raised in a Catholic family, and I can recall countless representations of the Holy Family and saints surrounded by golden halos. The clergy teaching us these stories stated that it was a mark of holiness—nothing more, nothing less. That explanation was enough for me at that time. Strangely, I didn’t challenge this assertion.

When I was about ten years old, I started to hear stories about this strange light. I discovered some magazines about the existence of these bodies of light. And I began to find meaning in the colors I saw from time to time when I watched people through squinted eyes. I remember even seeing a strange pulsating light surrounding one of my cats while he was sleeping. I always felt it was a natural perception.

My knowledge of auras began with these spontaneous experiences and continued as an adolescent when I created a parapsychology group; the purpose of this group was to explore our inner abilities and these hidden realities. I started to explore the different levels of the aura (which I present in Mysteries of the Aura). A few years later, I discovered the work of famous theosophists and Eastern traditions. They confirmed what I was exploring, even if some details were explained differently.

Mysteries of the Aura is based on my experiences and my explorations. Instead of being a compilation, it is a progressive method that you can use to unlock this wonderful ability that everyone possesses. I strongly believe that teaching must be based on techniques. It is quite easy and important to give you a theoretical and cultural presentation of the aura, which you will find in the book. However, I consider it essential to also give you the keys to see for yourself and use this ability. What could be the point to simply explain how the world is to a blind person if I know how to give him the sight? Of course, it takes time and persistence, but it works. Mastering this ability goes well beyond the simple aura reading and can change your life and afterlife.

All over the world, various representations reveal some aspects of these bodies of light. For this article, I chose a few examples from different spiritual traditions. Once you’ve read it, I invite you to start your practice with an exercise accessible to all levels.

As I already mentioned, in the Christian tradition, a halo of light surrounds the heads of the Holy Family and the saints. Sometimes Mary or Jesus is placed in the center of a radiant mandorla. With this representation (below), eight angels with musical instruments surround the aura to symbolically represent the high level of spirituality. Music also indicates the presence of vibrations that are not visible to the naked eye. Additionally, the number eight is one of the highest spiritual planes of the hermetic tradition. It is interesting to know that this original sculpture was painted with bright colors.

Another representation comes from the Italian Renaissance (below), which shows various strata of light around the head of the angel. Anyone who explores these zones of the aura can validate the accuracy of this painting. It is important to remember that they are not just an expression of art. This part of the body is often represented as it is the location of one of the brightest chakras (wheel of energy) of our spiritual body.

Another instance from the Christian Gospel is the Pentecost, the artwork depicting which show the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in an assembly with the apostles. The symbolic depiction uses the image of a flame placed above the head. Putting the theological interpretation aside, this symbolic representation is very well illustrated on this 16th century tapestry.

It is fascinating to compare the latter with images of the Eastern tradition. In the Buddhist tradition, statues of the Master Buddha are often represented with a halo surrounding his head, the third eye visible, and a flame above the head. This statue from the 16th century is indicative of these representations. In several other examples, his hair is twisted into a bun. This artistic convention is more than that, as it symbolizes this flame of energy.

When I was 18, I travelled to Egypt for the first time, and had the experience of seeing the amazing artifacts found in Tutankhamun’s tomb. Several chapels surround the sarcophagus that holds the mummy of the king. The reliefs that are the most important for this topic can be found on the outer panels of the second funeral chapel, with several scenes coming from the Book of the Dead. On one of them, we can see three rays coming from the sun and entering the forehead of the first figure. There are four other figures which represent mummies. Each one has a star at the top of the head. Each star is linked by these three rays of light.

Farther on the same panel, the three rays of light are vertical, going from the top of a five-pointed star and the sun, down to the feet. Following the scenes, we find goddesses inhaling the three rays of light and spreading the same light from their hands onto the head of a snake. The five-pointed star and the sun are represented here in their low bellies.

The last representation on the wall of this chapel that I want to mention is the oldest representation of the ouroboros. One is wrapped around the legs of the mummy and the other around the head. A circle in the middle of the mummy contains the image of a bird, representing the “ba” (the “soul”). As for the serpent, it is linked to the cosmic energy of life.

The Hindu and Eastern yoga traditions have similar representations of the aura, of the channels of energy called nadis, and the chakras. (An extensive explanation of these bodies of energy can be found in Mysteries of the Aura.) However, I want to bring your attention to the chakra of the head, the one at the base of the spine, and the three main nadis connecting them while crossing the five other chakras. The main pathway following the vertical axis of the spine is called Sushumna Nadi. Two others important nadis are intertwined with Sushumna, called Ida and Pingala. One starts from the left nostril (Ida) and the other one from the right nostril (Pingala). Some descriptions show these two nadis spiraling around the center axis and crossing each other on the chakras. Others show the three channels as vertical and parallel. This is the one we will use in today’s practice. Being able to see the aura will give you the opportunity to observe these channels of energy and the circulation of the latter. Working with this energy is important and uses various techniques. Among them are breathing techniques called pranayama, which are associated with visualizations and movements (Asanas).

As you can see, all these representations depict the same reality, even if the artistic style is different, and in all these spiritual traditions (whether from the East or the West), they are more than simple images. They are symbols that also describe a specific spiritual process. Wise men and priests were able to directly see the bodies of light and their connection to the cosmic energy. Using symbolic representations was a way to give us essential keys to activate our own energy.

Following the gradual exercises provided in Mysteries of the Aura will help you in this exploration and the energy work you will perform. However, I want to invite you to experiment right now with a simple way to feel your aura and activate energy centers. You can extend and deepen this exercise with a recording I prepared for you .

This practice is structured in three parts: relaxation and breathing, perception of your aura, and activation of your energy centers.

Part One
For this first practice, I recommend that you be seated. Your back should be straight and your spine vertical. Your hips and shoulders should be well balanced. Your feet must be flat on the floor, legs parallel.

Close your eyes and breathe normally. Observe your breathing, the movement of your chest, the air flowing in and out. Be aware of your physical body. While observing your breathing, scan each part of your body. This simple process should start a state of relaxation and peace.

Continue this observation for a few minutes, but don’t exceed 5 minutes. From time to time, come back to the awareness of your physical body and your breathing before moving to the next step.

Part Two
You’ll begin to feel a light vibration around the surface of your skin. When you get this feeling, extend your breath, keeping the same rhythm.

You may perceive that a subtle part of you is expanding, changing size and shape. Follow this perception without exceeding 5 minutes.

Then, imagine you are at the center of an ovoid made of light. Let the color manifest to you in a spontaneous way. As you will see, a single color, sometimes two, will appear in your mind. This is not an astral vision per se, as you haven’t yet followed the gradual training. Nevertheless, this is a true manifestation of the current main color of your aura. Focus on this color for a few seconds as a simple pleasure, avoiding any interpretation. Use your breath to make this color brighter and slightly larger.

Part Three
Move your awareness to your lower belly and to a center located four or five inches below the surface of your skin.

Imagine a golden sphere pulsating and a five-pointed star at the center of it. Take the time to see and feel the presence of this sphere of energy. If you already practice creative visualization, you can add the presence of the ouroboros at the surface of the sphere.

After a few minutes of focusing on these perceptions, inhale, and exhale. During the exhalation visualize three parallel channels of energy rising from this center up to the center of your head. Inhale moving again your focus on your low belly. Repeat this sequence three times. The second and the third times will help you to draw more energy in the channels you created the first time.

Place your focus at the center of your head, more precisely the pineal gland. Think about this center for a few minutes. Feel the energy flowing. Then build a sphere of bright golden light around your head. After a few breaths, keep the light and dissolve the edges of the sphere, revealing the light shining as a bright halo.

Just above the surface of your head, visualize the manifestation of a flame, similar to the flame of an altar candle, burning without any movement or sound. This is a pure concentrated flame of energy shining on a different level of vibration.

Progressively open your consciousness to encompass a larger zone around your body. As you continue to breathe regularly and deeply while staying in your state of relaxation, feel the shining rays of light. You may progressively combine this brightness with the first main color you previously felt intensifying its brightness.

Without exceeding five minutes, keep this perception while continuing to breath. Then come back to the movement of your chest and the movement of the air entering and leaving your lungs. Progressively, come back to your physical body and open your eyes. Remember to take some notes about your experience.

This practice gives you a glimpse of several exercises you can find in my book. You should know that seeing aura is an art, but it can also be deceiving. Fortunately, there are simple ways to avoid delusions (various methods for that are explained in the book). Seeing the aura opens to a fascinating exploration of who you are, even unveiling hidden parts of yourself. Moving forward in your apprenticeship, you will become an actor and able to work on your bodies of energy. You will even be ready to help others who asked for your support. Eventually, this gradual process increases your state of consciousness and opens to you a spiritual path of freedom!

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Ants and Bees, a Metaphor

We can learn a lot from watching ants and bees, living in community and working for the greater good.

When we see ants and bees out in the world, we often see just one, but this belies the reality of their situation. More than any other species, ants and bees function as parts of a whole. They cannot and do not survive as individuals; they survive as members of a group, and the group’s survival is the implicit goal of each individual’s life. There is no concept of life outside the group, so even to use the word individual is somewhat misleading. Often, humans, on the other hand, strongly value individuality and often negatively associate ants and bees with a lack of independence. And yet, if we look closer at these amazing creatures, we can learn valuable lessons about how much we can achieve when we band together with others to work for a higher purpose.

Most ants and bees have highly specified roles within their communities, some of which are biologically dictated, and they work within the confines of their roles without complaint, never wishing to be something other than what they are. In this way, they symbolize self-knowledge and humility. They also display selfless service as they work for the common good. In many ways, they are like the individual cells of one body, living and dying as necessary to preserve the integrity of the whole body, not to protect themselves as individuals. In this way, ants personify the ability to see beyond one’s small self to one’s place within the greater whole, and the ability to serve this whole selflessly.

Ants and bees can inspire us to fully own what we have to offer and to put it to use in the pursuit of a goal that will benefit all of humanity, whether it be raising consciousness about the environment, feeding the hungry, or raising a happy child. Each one of us has certain talents we were born with, as well as skills we have acquired. When we apply these gifts, knowing that we are one part of a greater organism working to better the whole world, we honor and implement the wisdom of ants and bees.

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Murder in Grafton Center, Part 6, Conclusion
by Stephen Halpert

It was Saturday afternoon and the historic Unitarian church on Grafton Common was filled for Bob’s Memorial Service. By the end there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. After it was over, sad people in dressy topcoats and sedate scarves congregated briefly outside.
A small, shriveled man with chalk white cheeks walked out slowly, holding onto Dr. Cora Lynch. His eyes were glazed. He walked with a stoop, his shoulders slumped. I assumed he was the celebrated Dr. Lamar Worthington.
As Sonny and I returned to my car on South Street, I saw the same maroon SUV parked across the Common.
“You got anything to solve here?” Sonny asked.
“Come again?”
She patted my shoulder. “You have that determined look you get when something’s out of whack.”
“Something is. I’m puzzled as to why someone would want to murder Patience Worthington.” On my way to the reception, I followed a small line of cars past the Common down the hill turning left onto Route 122. Then I turned left again onto Brigham Hill Road.
“An act of passion, maybe!” Sonny said. “You did say she acted promiscuous.”
I nodded. “But her husband was away and he’s the only suspect who seems to make any sense. West said his alibi holds water.”
We parked and started inside.
“Spencer!” Tony Stiletto appeared and clapped his arm around my shoulder. “When I didn’t hear from you, I assumed everything’s on the up and up.”
“You the new Honey Acorn Cordial king?”
He smirked. “Dickens makes it. I distribute it. Bob’s estate gets reimbursed good for his investment.” He leered at Sonny, winked and wandered off to converse with some political big wigs from Beacon Hill. Ty stood silently by his shoulder.
Sonny frowned. “Some of Bob’s friends are despicable.”
We went inside. Memorial Services make people hungry. The open bar and catered buffet lined the dining room. While the guests clustered around the food we went in search of Juno.
We found her on the patio at a secluded wicker table shielded by an elaborate rose trellis that overlooked the pond and garden. Sitting with her were Doctors’ Lamar Worthington and Cora Lynch.
Juno was speaking. “Oh, Lamar this is so dreadful, first Bob and now Patience.” She motioned for us to join them.
Dr. Lamar held out a trembling hand. “She was certainly fond of you, Juno. I’ve never seen two women take to one another so quickly.” He smiled sadly. “Why it was as though you two could read each other’s minds.” He paused as we sat down.
Juno seemed confused. “I’m not sure what you’re saying.”
“Before you and Bob came to Grafton Center, it was always just the three of us; Patience, Cora and I.” Tears filled his eyes. “We’d always enjoyed dinner, planned social functions at School. Patience and Cora were like sisters, even attending their day spa together in Worcester.” Cora Lynch frowned, clutched her purse and looked grimly at Juno.
Tears formed in Lamar’s eyes. “And I’d dare say that eventually Patience became even more devoted to you and Bob than to us.” His eyes widened. “Why whenever you were away she practically lived here taking care of Bob.”
Juno reached to console Lamar. “Oh my dear. I am so sorry for your grief.”
Cora Lynch frowned and rose from her seat. “Keep your hands off him,” she hissed.
Everything started to made sense to me. “That was you in Bob’s office the night I stumbled in. You were in there with Patience. It was you who messed up his computer.”
But Cora Lynch ignored me. Abruptly she pushed Juno’s arm off Lamar’s shoulder.
“No! “Her eyes wide, she glared at Juno. “Don’t touch him! You have no idea the misery you’ve brought upon us.” She reached into her purse, and brought out a small pearl-handled pistol.
“Put that down before you cause an accident,” Sonny’s voice shrilled.
“Yes, another accident,” Cora bared her teeth in a strange sort of laugh. “That’s right! Accidents happen all the time.” She aimed directly at Juno’s forehead. “But this time it’s no accident.”
Juno cringed back, her face a mask of terror. “Spencer! What’s she talking about?”
“As if you didn’t know.” Cora’s eyes narrowed to viperish slits. “Patience gloated that you two were going to Europe. She would comfort and help you get over Bob. Visit health spas in Switzerland. Comfort you my foot,” she sneered. “Even at the pond she couldn’t stop talking about you. It was sickening.” Her face crumpled. “And I knew we’d never be close to each other again.”
Lamar’s eyes widened.” Cora, what are you saying?”
Suddenly I understood. “You pushed her, didn’t you? Deliberately. It was no accident.” I watched Cora as I spoke. She was trembling.
“No,” Lamar cried. “She adored you, Cora. She always adored you.”
Cora’s face tightened. Instead of responding, she leveled her pistol at Juno. She was too close to miss. I got ready to rush her.
A shot rang out from behind the rose trellis. Cora whirled and fell. Blood gushed from her hand; the pistol clattered to the floor. I ran to see who was behind the rose vines, but no one was there.
“I’ll get help,” Sonny said. Moments later she reappeared with Jenkins and West. Jenkins phoned for an ambulance. Cora Lynch lay inert on the floor. Lamar Worthington knelt by her side wringing his hands.
As we were driving back on the Pike, the maroon SUV passed us. Ty Wire turned and grinned at me. Beside him, Vince nodded and gave me the high sign.

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Lime Lemongrass & Ginger Infused Water with Whole Herbs And Fruit

Prep Time: 5
Infusing Time: 2 hours
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

1 lime, sliced
2-inch piece of ginger, sliced
1 stalk lemongrass, chopped
1 liter or 1 quart water

instructions
Chop all your fruit and herbs and add them to a pitcher or other container.
Pour the water over and allow the mixture to infuse for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Strain and store in a sealed bottle or jar.
Drink within two days.

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=^..^=
6 Places Your Cat Will Love to Sleep
By Susan Logan McCracken

A cat cycles through this general routine several times each day: hunt (play), eat, eliminate, groom, sleep. Create this cycle for cats two to three times each day for healthy eating and sleeping habits. Cats relax quickly after an energy outburst, so play with them before a meal. After a satisfying hunt and chase, let them feel like they caught their prey by feeding them. Afterward, cats will typically use the litter box, groom themselves and find a place to snooze.

Cats like to feel warm and comfortable. Here are some places cats like to sleep:

Your lap. Some cats will climb onto your lap while you’re on the couch watching TV or reading a book. For lap cats, your warm lap may be a favorite napping spot.

High perches. Most cats like to be up high, like on a cat tree, bookshelf, back of the couch, window perch or some other spot where they can watch what goes on in their world. These perches help cats feel safe enough to sleep as they should, so provide these vertical spaces where possible in your home.

Under a blanket. Some cats like to burrow under a soft blanket or comforter, so a comfy throw over a sofa or loveseat may be just the thing for your home.

Enclosed spaces. Some cats like to squeeze into baskets, paper bags and boxes to snooze, because it helps them feel secure. Provide these or a pet tunnel, soft carrier or enclosed cat bed.

Warm spots. Most cats are drawn to warm spots. During the day, some cats find the sunniest spots in the house to take their catnaps. Some cat beds contain fillers you can warm up in the microwave for cats with arthritis or those felines who just want to be warm.

Your bed or theirs. Some cats will snuggle up with you in your bed, while others lounge on a cat bed or cat tree nearby.

Learning your cats’ sleeping preferences and providing plenty of playtime will help your cats get the rest they need.

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Weekly Horoscope:2023 March 12, 2023

All Signs
Tread carefully this week because many people will send out mixed messages and create confusion. Not only will there be a mix-up in energies and intentions, in some cases, there will be out right manipulation. Therefore, if possible, postpone important decisions until the last week of the month, which is quite fabulous – it’s a high-energy time and full of positive vibes. Fortunately, Wednesday is more pleasant; and by the weekend, everyone’s ready to relax and celebrate. Meanwhile, don’t let anyone talk you into anything if you don’t want to do it. If it doesn’t feel right, listen to your inner voice. My inner voice generally says, “Go to the fridge.”

Aries (March 21-April 19)
Be careful this week. By nature, you are forthright, direct and up for anything. You’re keen to discover new information, explore new vistas, see new people, discover new places and because of this, you sometimes jump in headfirst without thinking. This week much of your intentions might be misunderstood. In fact, you yourself might even feel as if you’re sinking in quick sand or things are wishy-washy because it will be difficult to express yourself and be understood. Likewise, it will be difficult to grasp what others expect from you. Furthermore, you yourself might not know what you want. Obviously, when things are like this, it’s wise to postpone important decisions. Therefore, tread lightly! Fortunately, you are charming and diplomatic with everyone, and by the end of the week, you can relax and enjoy life.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This week is full of confusion, misunderstandings and even deception. You will have to be careful because this confusion could impact your wealth, your assets, what you own and what you earn. (This is serious stuff.) For starters, if you can postpone important financial negotiations until the last week of the month that would be ideal. If not, go slowly and double check everything. Make sure you’re getting the right information from others. Make sure you are not deceived or that you’re overlooking something. Remember: what the large print giveth, the small print taketh away. You might also experience confusion and misunderstandings with a group, especially with younger people. Clarify all important communications with others.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Everyone will feel varying elements of confusion, misunderstandings and deception this week. For your sign, the confusion and possible deception will relate to dealing with authority figures – parents, bosses, teachers, even the police. They might misunderstand your intentions or what you’re trying to do. Or the reverse might happen. You might make the wrong assumptions about what they expect from you? Know this ahead of time as you enter this week. Be careful when talking to authority types because things could go off the rails very quickly due to incorrect assumptions. If you try to hide something, others will sense it. On the upside, socializing with friends and groups will be fun and rewarding.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
The scary thing this week is you might send out mixed messages to others and not even realize it. The area where you will likely experience confusion is with publishing matters, social media and anything to do with medicine and the law. This can be tricky! You might be evasive talking to doctors or lawyers because you want to look good or hide bad habits. (“I only have a few drinks a week.”) Similarly, issues related to foreign countries, people from other cultures or travel are also subject to confusion, even deception. And this confusion or deception can go both ways. Therefore, don’t believe everything you think. Don’t believe everything you hear. All is well by the end of the week.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
You are a natural leader. You’re also very creative, especially in the arts. Nevertheless, you can be naive. Be careful this week because something related to shared property, wills, inheritances, insurance issues and the wealth of others as well as your responsibilities to others are subject to some kind of confusion. Someone might deceive you. You might inadvertently confuse someone or withhold information. It’s tricky. The main thing is to be aware that this is your Achilles’ heel this week. Ideally, wait until the last week of this month to initiate important financial changes or decisions. Meanwhile, travel for pleasure appeals. By the end of this week, you want to relax and have a good time!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
For your own best interests, and certainly the interests of others, be as clear as possible in all your communications with others, especially partners, spouses and close friends. This is because there will be confusion with those who are closest to you. And this confusion might involve parents, bosses, the police and VIPs as well. You might even be an innocent bystander watching this confusion (or deception) take place. But very likely, you will be drawn into it. Don’t believe everything you hear. Don’t react without thinking. Make no assumptions this week. Listen carefully to others but scrutinize them and consider the source. Obviously, if you think something fishy is going on – it is. By the weekend, this is over.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This week three areas in your life are subject to confusion: Primarily, it might relate to your job. This means that misunderstandings and false assumptions related to your work will easily occur. Someone might even mislead you. They might do this on purpose or innocently. Likewise, you might fall into the same trap. Be aware. Secondly, another area of confusion will relate to your health. If you’re dealing with health officials, make sure everything is double checked. The third area will relate to your pet, if you have one. Some kind of misunderstanding could create a problem. This is resolved by the end of the week.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Emma Bombeck said, “Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth.” This week misunderstandings with your kids are likely. They might be genuine misunderstandings or perhaps someone is hiding the truth. Remember if you back someone into a corner and lying is their only way out – what else can they do? We have to know how to negotiate skilfully with our kids. However, the deception can go both ways. You might withhold the honest truth from them? This same area of confusion and deception can also apply to romantic involvements. Misunderstandings about sports, social occasions, the entertainment world and vacations are also likely. Assume nothing. Double check everything.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This week is classic for confused family communications. This confusion might take place between you and a spouse or partner. Or it could involve a parent or an older family member. It might even involve younger relatives. Possibly, you are trying to hide the real truth about something from others or they are deflecting the truth or misdirecting things. Obviously, the source of this confusion might simply be a misunderstanding or an incorrect assumption. Nevertheless, it means it’s a poor time to make important family decisions because you might not have all the facts. Meanwhile, by the end of the week, it’s a delightful time to socialize, explore romance or have a vacation. Forewarned is forearmed.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
You are generally straightforward, direct and honest. Nevertheless, you value your good reputation and you need to be respected. Quite possibly, your need for respect will prompt you to hide something from someone this week. You might leave out some salient facts. Or not. Instead, you might have confused communications, especially with someone at work because you didn’t know something or you were misinformed. There can be many reasons that communications with others are unreliable this week. It’s important that you know you can’t fully trust what is going back and forth. You will have to double check everything. Fortunately, issues with home and family are affectionate and supportive. It’s a lovely time to entertain, especially at the end of the week.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
More than any other sign, you have to be careful about potential confusion, misdirection and possible deception that could occur this week because it will totally affect your wealth, your assets, your possessions and your earnings. (Yes, yikes!) Be direct and forthright in your dealings with others. In turn, assume that others might not be well-informed or misinformed or even a tad shady. Double check all business and financial arrangements. Even banking details. The more you are on top of your scene, the less likely it is that you will lose money or pay an unnecessary cost for something. Meanwhile, everyday relations with others are warm and friendly. Go figure.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
If things go south this week, you will be the one caught holding the bag. It’s important to know this. That’s because the Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Neptune are all in your sign, while Neptune confuses Mars at the bottom of your chart. “I didn’t do it. I wasn’t even there.” Be very clear with issues related to home and family. Don’t beat around the bush. In turn, if you think someone else is hiding something, ask them nicely about it. Give them the space to tell the truth. What you don’t want is deception and confusion happening because this will benefit no one – not in the long run. Ironically, your finances look great this week. By the weekend, everything’s cool.

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Weekly Horoscopes Beginning Sunday, 12 March 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this week:

You’re in a cycle of discussion – actually, beyond what you actually enjoy. Still, what you learn in the process of talking things over with others is proving unexpectedly informative; but, even more, what currently seem minor details could be pivotal when you’re making decisions over the weeks and, in some cases, the months to come. The secret? The more questions you ask, the better.

Sometimes it is not speaking out and sharing your own views that matters. Sometimes what matters is the willingness you show to listen to others. Someone in your life needs to feel their needs are important to you. Have you been paying attention? Are you single? More options will be opening up for you soon to spend time with different people. These may or may not involve your love life but what’s for certain is you are going to have a lot of fun.

Saturn has only just changed signs and before the end of the month, Pluto too will have moved on into a new area of the zodiac. This is most definitely a period of adjustment and transition. It will affect all signs obviously, but at different levels. What’s been interesting for Aries is that since 2008, Pluto has been moving over the apex of your solar chart. Power issues within your career have no doubt surfaced. At times that pressure may have been unbearable. Now, as Pluto prepares to leave that area, you can see these for what they’ve really been. Those people that you thought were monsters are probably not, and those that you thought were good colleagues, may now be turning out to not have your best interests at heart. Before moving your career to its next stage, it’s time to assess. This week is all about that reassessment and ensuring that your networking (and your c.v.) is up-to-date.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this week:

During this week’s first half, go with the flow. Accept the fact that, mostly, you’ve little control; but be patient. On Thursday, your ruler Venus’ move into Taurus, indicates both your thinking and the actual arrangements you’re dealing with will be clearer. Better yet, finally, you’ll be in charge. Soon you’ll be making plans more thrilling than, only days before, you’d have dared imagine possible.

Life has come to a pause. This will be temporary. Use this time to try observing the big picture. Consider your situation from all different perspectives. Don’t fall too easily into wishful thinking as a rational approach is needed for the next step of your journey. You might feel inspired to work with healing energies such as Reiki, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy or other forms of alternative healings. You might also feel drawn to working with the land, for instance, tending your garden or growing vegetables.

It would be unsurprising if a group didn’t reach out to you and ask you to take on a position of some responsibility. Saturn has arrived in a key area that for Taurus, is all about professional connections. Pleased as some people may be to have you on board, you would do well to be a little reticent before joining in whole heartedly with their plans. This is a period of transition for all signs. Saturn has only recently made ingress and Pluto will make its ingress on March 23. This should be a period of assessment for all signs. A strong possibility is that you’ll find your expertise is challenged in the second half of the week. This should not be seen as a bad thing but yes, you could feel tested and momentarily insecure. It could be that your boss, an older relative or colleague born under Capricorn, who asks searching questions about your aims and objectives. They are perhaps right that it’s time to give this careful thought. Perhaps they sense opportunity on the horizon and want you to see the possibilities.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this week:

As a Gemini, you’re not only inquisitive, your mind explores, then dismisses, a wide range of ideas each day. Currently, however, others are relying on you, not just for your usual clever thinking, but plans that are lasting. While challenging, the time you invest in creating those stable arrangements now, gives you an opportunity to explore the current, and coming weeks’, stunning ideas and offers, as well.

A friend or colleague will share some great thoughts with you. You are reluctant to act on these for fear of being accused of stealing their ideas. One of the hardest things to know is what is right for you and what isn’t. That’s because you always take other people’s needs and feelings into consideration. It is time to find your own truth. Listen to your inner voice and you will know what is sincere within and you will sense too, when others are being honest with you.

You may recall that Saturn recently arrived at the apex of your solar chart. On March 23, it is Pluto’s turn to move into a new area of the zodiac. This period between the two events, is a time of adjustment for all signs. That this week contains a Last Quarter Moon in your opposite sign suggests you becoming to a partnership decision. You are leaving behind much that’s transpired in the last couple of years. In a sense, perhaps you have to say ‘it’s over’. True, obviously much depends on your personal chart, and for a few Geminis, returning to a familiar but now much changed role, could be discussed. At this juncture, it might be wise to think about all you’d like to achieve over the next 20 years. Contacts made are set to increase in value. In particular, those that have an international or cross-cultural nature should be empowering. Before entering into anything however, it would be wise to obtain advice and yes, that might need to be of the legal kind.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Sidestepping battles triggered by last week’s minor differences won’t have been easy. However, you’re now free to explore sudden, and amazing, ideas and offers. While some are clear cut, others are confusing yet, unarguably, worthwhile. The secret? Ignore those who insist plans be made swiftly, and invest time in asking questions. What you learn now will be profitable over the weeks and, often, months, to come.

Your thoughts are all over the place when there are a number of options you are considering for the future. You are being reminded that life is an adventure and it is time to have a little more fun. You have been giving a project a lot of your attention and you have reached a stage now where you can look back on what you have achieved so far. Notice how all your hard work is starting to pay off.

This coming week contains a Last Quarter Moon: usually an indicator of something drawing to a close. In this instance, one working relationship looks as though it’s coming to its natural conclusion, although it might, in fact, be transformed in just a few weeks’ time. It may be that one project is ending as another is about to start. Whatever, Cancers tend to cling on. Embracing the new isn’t always something you want to do without having first processed all that’s been. We are now between two major ingresses. Saturn moved into another of the Water signs just a week ago, and Pluto has yet to move into its new area of the zodiac on March 23. All signs would benefit from taking a deep breath and not rushing too quickly into decisions. In your case, it may be that by the weekend, someone you’ve worked with over the last couple of years is super anxious to know about your next plans. It may be that they feel they can’t sign on a dotted line until they know precisely how flexible or committed, you’re going to be.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Nobody enjoys watching carefully organised plans come undone. Yet not only is that possible, the resulting changes are likely to lead to breakthroughs as unexpected as, ultimately, they’ll be worthwhile. The problem? You’re short of facts and feeling impatient. Despite that, invest time in gathering insights from knowledgeable individuals or those in charge. This will slow your pace now, but enable you to sidestep problems later.

Be responsive to what is going on around you. Be in the moment. Being present in your approach to life will give you new insights and offer new perspectives as you make important decisions. Getting involved in a new social circle will bring some much-needed drama and excitement into your life. You won’t begrudge having to make a few changes later in the week in order to spend time with a friend you don’t see very often.

It could feel as though others are questioning your every move and yes, echoes of the last couple of years and the limitations you’ve experienced may be heard. Yet this week should see a breakthrough. True, that will likely come after considerable discussion. Lively debate is to be expected and there may be moments when you feel that the ground has been pulled from underneath you by Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces colleagues. It might seem that they are determined to dampen your enthusiasm. They likely won’t succeed. In fact, by the time Venus arrives in another of the Fixed signs next weekend, you should be back to being your most determined and charming self. Charming is the key here. You know what it is that you want to attract. Don’t underestimate your ability to get to where you need to be. You’re right that the rules of the game have changed. Others are taking up new positions. What should now be clear is that inflexibility won’t get you to where you need to be.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Usually, you’re the one, others come to for help untangling mystifying dilemmas. Yet now you’re not only puzzled by several situations, you’ve no idea who to ask for guidance. Actually, it’s about overcoming your own fear of getting things wrong. The secret? Take chances. Plunge in, knowing mistakes are inevitable. Once that’s clear, you’ll learn a lot and better yet, have fun doing it.

You’re curious to learn more about subjects you have recently been introduced to. It makes sense to join forces with someone who shares your interests and curiosity. A new friend or partner will have a big influence on your life as they drag you out on adventures you would never have chosen to do on your own. Despite your initial reluctance you will find yourself thoroughly enjoying these experiences and having more fun than you have had in a very long time.

Keeping busy keeps Virgo young. Yet there is a strong possibility that you’ve now taken on too much. Recall that Mars is moving over the apex of your solar chart. As it forms right angle to the Sun in your opposite sign, it’s entirely possible that once again you will get super excited about a project and want to throw yourself completely into it; but do you really have the time needed? It’s all too easy for others to assume that you will pick up pieces. You are good at that. In fact, you could probably get a degree in clearing up. That doesn’t mean to say that you’re not quite capable of making a mess. It just that you can see what needs to be done and generally can find a strategy to get on with it. Finding that strategy is the key to handling this week’s tumultuous events. Expect others to be full of ideas, but that few of these will be actually practical. They need you and that gift of yours to cast a critical eye and prioritise.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this week:

If asked, most would say you’re easy-going, even when facing tricky obstacles. While it’s true, you seem calmer than others, when you’re short of facts, you often struggle. The current cycle is about backing off and allowing events to guide you, and others. Initially this may seem risky; but within days you’ll realise how much broader your horizon is, and how much you’ve learnt.

It isn’t much fun when someone else commits you to something you aren’t keen on. Refuse to allow them to manipulate you in this way. You’ve been working hard to keep others’ happy while trying to keep on top of your own responsibilities. It can be exhausting trying to balance it all. You’ve taken on too many burdens. Don’t feel guilty about wanting to take a break. Let your inner child out. Start looking at life in a more relaxed and spontaneous way.

You know that balance is vital. Yet mid-week, at the Last Quarter Moon, it should be obvious that you’ve taken on too much. Your system may not be able to cope with all the things to think about. The key word is ‘think’. Remember, yours is one of the Air signs of the zodiac and there are times when you overdo and overwork your brain cells. It’s perhaps time for grounding. The good news that is that on Friday, (Venus’ day), that planet enters Taurus, one of the Earth signs – which should be a helpful energy as you take responsibility for your well-being and learn the fine art of saying no. It’s likely that others’ expectations are just too great. The answer is to pace yourself. In this you might need assistance. A Sagittarius’ observation could hit the mark exactly. It may be that they can help you prioritise and ensure that what you need to have in place before next week is precisely where it needs to be.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this week:

Ordinarily, you’d find a discreet way to sidestep tricky discussions or a potentially troublesome situation, yet ensure things go the way you’ve carefully planned. Yet now, those plans are coming undone. As you’ll soon discover, that’s for the best. Certain developments in the background are forcing everybody to rethink even longstanding arrangements. While irritating now, within days you’ll be grateful things are going in this direction.

Stay open to new creative projects and possibilities. This will be a way to keep learning and expanding your mental and physical horizons. Things may be moving rapidly soon but trust you will have plenty of energy and vitality to cope. Listen to what is being said by those who are closest to you. Being able to hear and sense what is important to others will enhance your own power of making wise decisions.

These are early days as Saturn has only recently arrived in another of the Water signs, Pisces. Saturn shouldn’t be thought of as bringing bags of woe, but it’s certainly true that it does demand focus and concentration. Having entered the ‘research and development’ area of your solar chart, it’s time to think about what you have to offer and how your creative talents could be put to good use. It would be understandable if you embarked on a DIY project – and perhaps you’re right that you have to tackle some tasks yourself to curtail costs. It’s probable too that you will have contact with those whom you feel have greater power over your financial state than you do. Disorientated and unsettling as this would be, note that Venus arrives in your opposite sign on Friday and that deals could yet be struck. The art as always, is not to panic. It might be as well to do what you can to support your nervous system which may be under strain as you adjust to new conditions.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this week:

You may be at ease with changes in both ongoing arrangements and future plans. Yet the daily twists and turns you’re facing aren’t just unsettling, you worry they’re distracting you from what needs to be done. Actually, what and who these are introducing into your life will, ultimately, be of benefit, often as unexpected as it is delightful, and for a very long time.

Worries are keeping you awake at night and although you can’t stop your mind from returning to the same problems, as the week progresses you will discover that nothing is or will be as bad as you had imagined. You might hesitate before acting on a piece of information passed on to you via an e-mail or text message. If you suspect someone has got their facts wrong, research further into this matter. What you discover will make you laugh.

You’re likely right to conclude that you have to set boundaries. Wednesday’s Last Quarter Moon is in your sign. For the last couple of years, perhaps you feel that too much has been negotiated on your behalf. Now you may need to make clear your aims and objectives and what you anticipate needs to be concluded before your birthday. That gives people plenty of advance warning. Recall that we are between two key ingresses. Saturn arrived at the base of your solar chart just last week, and on March 23, Pluto enters Aquarius. These factors together could be viewed as two big waves for the whole world to negotiate. In your case, learning how new systems operate should be an exhilarating challenge. It’s the fact that this has to be done speed that may be disorientating. With the Sun moving to right angle with Mars – now moving through your opposite sign, this is unlikely to be an easy time. You may find that Gemini, Libra and Aquarius colleagues are particularly demanding. They likely need your advice to prioritise now that they have adjusted goals.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this week:

The secret to dealing with this week of twists and turns is to acknowledge exactly that. No matter how much you learn or how carefully you plan, unexpected developments are inevitable. The good news is that most of those sudden events will reveal themselves as breakthroughs, if not breath-taking opportunities. The challenge? Being patient. It could take a while before you’re able to spot their promise.

Repetition gives you a sense of security and familiarity but it also stops you from challenging yourself and stepping outside your creative, career or family boundaries. An addiction to the familiar is holding you back and yet no matter how many times you repeat the same routine, there is also going to be a sense that there is something or someone else out there’ waiting for you. Donating some time to a humanitarian cause will seem like a great idea.

A war of words may be brewing. You’ll perhaps recognise this even from the start of the week. Of course, this could be productive as lively debate often is. What seems to be the issue is whether or not a project should be shelved or given even more energy. To your mind, time has probably been wasted. It may be that a team didn’t have the required expertise to move things along. There might also be a language barrier; and then there’s the issue of technology and whether or not someone really is up to speed. You too could be accused of not keeping abreast with information. In short, this could be a highly tense week. On the other hand, and most promisingly, renewed contact with someone who clearly does know their stuff (even though they might not have the paper qualifications to back this up), should give you the verbal ammunition to ensure that a meeting is not all just hot air but constructive and leads to plans that can be pushed forward soon after next Tuesday’s New Moon.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this week:

As much as you enjoy debating the pros and cons of various plans, the time has come to shift from discussion to decision-making, and soon to taking action. Wait too long, in fact, and destiny will take over. Understandably, you’re wary of plunging in, then regretting your actions. However, with so much in transition, you’ll have plenty of time to rethink things and, equally, intriguing options.

You will have a feeling you can’t trust someone you have just been introduced to. Are you being too quick to form impressions? Once you have had a chance to get to know them and to think about it, you will realise that your judgement in some areas has been wrong. Whatever you happen to be doing later in the week, a touch of originality and using your imagination will make the job, your environment and your relationships more exciting.

The financial brakes could be applied. Costs have certainly risen and it may be that the shock absorbers you initially introduced are no longer working. Remember though, that this is a period of adjustment. On 23rd, in just over a week’s time, Pluto will enter your sign. That should bring with it a degree of empowerment. For now, the focus has to be on plugging energy leaks. These are not primarily financial. It may be that you could use your time more wisely. You could also think about blowing your own trumpet and the expertise and experience you’ve acquired since the pandemic. It may be time for lively debate as you fight your corner. What could come as a tremendous surprise to some, is that what you’ve been working on in your research and development department has real value. A second revenue stream from activities begun since last August could be considered and prove attractive to a Gemini whose backing you would likely need to progress.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this week:

The Pisces New Moon, may have been on 20 February, but you’re still inspired by events then, and certain ongoing discussions. The problem? Certain dull but important practicalities. While you’re dealing with these, things haven’t come together. They will, midweek, when the Sun and clever Mercury meet your ruler Neptune. After that, you’ll know exactly what you want to achieve, and how to make it happen.

You know someone isn’t being genuine or honest with you. They are using your friendship while waiting for something definite to occur in their life elsewhere. This is a temporary phase in their life and because you don’t have a place in their future, consider whether you really want to give this relationship any more of your time and energy. You might surprise yourself by getting something you take on right, on the very first try.

Cosmic activity accents the backbone of your solar chart and implies developments on both the home and career front. At home, alterations to the environment (presumably repairs or home improvements), should reach a turning point. Careerwise, you might also arrive at the conclusion that you’re in the last phase of a project and need now to be focused on something new. True, the transition could prove heavy going. It might be wise to take time out and consider long-term prospects with a career adviser. There is also the possibility of discovering that you’re at loggerheads with someone who has always shown themselves to be headstrong – and perhaps even rebellious – and who is learning the hard way that they need to adapt. They though, maybe the under the impression that it’s you who’s been holding them back and being inflexible. What seems clear, is that you need to know by the end of this working week, exactly what can constructively be put in place for next.

https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
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High Priestess Certification and Ancient Mystery Teachings

Herbalism 101
Herbalism 202
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Earth Signs and Omens
Natural Witchcraft
Practical Magick: Spell Casting for Every Day Use
The Magic of Crystals
Introduction to Energy Healing
Introduction to Paganism
Introduction to Meditation
Introduction to The Goddess Tradition and The Feminine Divine
Kuan Yins Gentle Embrace Reiki Certification
A Year and a Day of Contemplation with Kuan Yin
Tarot, Numerology, Natal Charts and Dream Readings
Reiki Training and Certification

Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healingLearn with GrannyMoon!
The Healing Arts Certificate Program Four great courses! Buy three get one free!
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Teach a witch a spell and she can do that spell. Teach a witch the craft and she can do magick!

GrannyMoon, Teaching the Craft for over 20 years!

“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

http://GoddessSchool.com
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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons Weekly Feast : 5 Mar 2023

Thanks for reading my weekly blog!

We can never obtain peace in the outer world
until we make peace with ourselves.

  • Dalai Lama

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again

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Light A Candle Today!

In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: FULL MOON

Time: From New Moon To Full (Approx. 14 Days)

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona

Magickal Attributes: Invoking Beginnings, New Projects, Ideas, Inspiration, Energy, Vitality, Freedom.

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What’s Happening?
MARCH

MAR. 1: MATRONALIA
The original Mother’s Day. This is the Festival of Women which is observed to honor Juno Luciana.

MAR. 4: Celtic Feast of Rhiannon: Moon Goddess, Underworld Goddess

MAR. 5: Navigium Isidis – Egyptian festival honoring Goddess Isis as Lady of the Moon and Ruler of the Sea; celebrated with the launching of a boat of offerings.

MAR. 5: National Absinthe Day – A holiday celebrating the alluring and often misunderstood spirit. Read my interview with absinthe connoisseur Adrienne LaVey to get the facts on this libation.

MAR. 11 -12: Skyway Cat Club Clearwater, FL https://www.eventbrite.com/e/allbreed-cat-show-march-11-12-2023-open-to-the-public-tickets-509326197367

MAR. 31st-April 2nd: Dark Side of the Con at Dark Force Fest
A dark alternative convention happening at The Sheraton in Parsippany, NJ.

MAY
Virginia Psychic Fair 2023
Sun, May 7, 2023, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Elks Lodge, 8421 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22031
Special Metaphysical Event.

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Mar 12
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Mar 19
WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Apr 2

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!

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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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FULL WORM MOON MARCH 7, 2023 IN VIRGO
February 24, 2023

Celebrate Winter Retreating -Rejoice at the Beginning of Springtime!

The full moon on March 7, 2023, in Virgo, has many different names due to its signifying changing from winter to spring. Winter is retreating and spring time is on its way! It’s Time to Set Yourself Free from the Restraints of Winter and Swim to the Moon!

As March is often associated with the lion, in like a lion, the Archangel for this moon is Ariel known as the Lion of God. Ariel is the angel of earth and water. Ariel will help you clean up your act, your home and your neighborhood and increasing the flow of good into your life. Ariel is very magical and a wonderful teacher in the skills of manifestation. Ariel works closely with Archangel Raphael in healing the environment and animals. Whatever you would like to manifest this Full Moon call upon Ariel for assistance and know that this powerful angel will work with you.

As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworms appear, heralding the return of the robins. This is why this full Moon is also known as the Worm Moon. As the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworm casts appear, heralding the return of the robins.

This full moon is also known as the Crow Moon or Magpie Moon. The Native American full moon names for March are largely based on these being considered the last full moons of winter; the crow caws its farewell to the season. In Native American Medicine the Crow represents: Justice, shape shifting, change, creativity, spiritual strength, energy, community sharing, and balance.

The orm Moon in practical Virgo coincides with the sun, Mercury, and Neptune all in romantic water sign Pisces. This is a time when we’re more sensitive to emotional undercurrents and the allure of fantasies and magic. However, This Moon speaks to us of service and the role we play in helping others in our local and global communities.

Use this extra Full Moon energy to make the necessary changes in your life. The full moon in Virgo is an ideal time for ceremonies and rituals to promote friendship and working with others. You can use healing rituals if you have had problems with family and friends.

The spiritual message of the worm moon is “That whatever happens now is nonnegotiable,” so be prepared to take a big leap of faith, and look toward your path forward with excitement and clarity.

The Virgo Full Moon comes at the beginning of an incredibly busy energetic month, giving us a dose of whatever medicine is needed. It carries a healing vibration, guiding us to seek out the elixir that will be most beneficial to us right now.

This is a time when self-care is paramount. The more we can show up for ourselves and take care of our own needs, the more we will move in harmony with this Full Moon. We may also feel the desire to clear away the clutter, tidy up our spaces, and make them a stronger reflection of the person we are becoming. Creating a safe space that fuels your creativity and productivity is a powerful way to use this Full Moon energy.

So let’s remember the gifts that this period brings and trust that this is a good time of reflection and revising your journey in life. In the grand flow of life, these inward moving energies are conducive for fine tuning and helping to bring greater clarity, awareness, and focus

Spring is the Best Time to Clean Out Your Life – Start With:

Cleansing Your Spirit. This can be done using smudge, God’s White Light, or crystals. For a thorough cleansing use all three.
Clean out closets and drawers. Let go of what you no longer need. Clutter is a sign of negative energy and you want to remove any negative energies from your home.
Clean off the clutter around your sleeping area. This is really important as when you sleep your subconscious mind is still active and you want it to have freedom to move in positive directions.
Clean out old papers and receipts. Why hang onto a receipt from three years ago. Unless it’s for taxation purposes let it go.
You can take your time and do this cleaning over the next few weeks. It will benefit you enormously on your spiritual path.

The Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of the Year – The Spring Equinox March 20, 2023. This is when day and night are equal. It is a time of balance where unnecessary things, thoughts and habits are thrown away to make room for the new. The feel-good factor about this day, however, is that the first official astrological day of spring hints that high temperatures are not far off.

With spring everyone begins to enjoy the bounties of the earth once more, as plants and animals show new life again. The land turns green, wildlife flourishes and people are filled with anticipation for the coming of summer, the time of harvest.

A lovely quotation from Chief Sitting Bull on spring. “Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!”

I feel that all full moons are a special time for us to connect to the Great Spirit as well as the moon. Do something special in honor of this full moon.

The full Moon is a perfect time to find out what direction your path is leading you to. I do a special full Moon reading that is designed to give you answers from spirit about your life path during the next month and the rest of the year. Don’t miss out on this unique spiritual reading designed especially for you.

Rituals and manifestations to try during the Worm Moon

Many ancient cultures and religions celebrate celestial cycles, including finding ways to honor and harness the power of the full moon.

To make best use of this intense energy, visualize your dreams and write them down in a journal. On the night of the full Moon ask your angels to be with you and read your dreams/intentions out loud.

Virgo is a hardworking, practical, and health-focused zodiac sign, rituals focused around employment, physical health, diet and fitness would be especially strong.

Potential intentions, mantras or journal prompts:

I am filled with strength, health and vitality at all times.
I achieve a healthy work and life balance now.
I manifest healthy habits and routines.
I attract new professional opportunities now.
I thank you for taking the time to read my full Moon message for March 2023.

Find Out Your Life Path Through This Full Moon

Full Moon Blessings,
Cherokee Billie

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Energetic Vehicle Protection
MARCH 05, 2023 BY MICHAEL FURIE

To magically protect your vehicle in a completely inconspicuous way, a bit of energy magic is very useful. Using the index and middle fingers of your dominant hand, trace a pentagram over the middle of the teering wheel while visualizing an electric-purple energy forming the symbol. Beginning at the top, move down to the lower left, then up to the right, then across to the left, then down to the lower right, and finally back to the top to complete the pentagram. As you form the symbol, say:

Witch’s star of magical power,
protect this vehicle from all harm.
Draw force from the universe
hour by hour, to keep the
spell and seal the charm.
Shielded from accidents, from danger
you’re free. As I will, so mote it be.
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Love Spell Mist
MARCH 04, 2023 BY KATE FREULER

When we’re searching for love, we often have a fixed notion of what that should look like, an expectation that can end up standing in our way. This spell is designed to welcome all forms of love into your life, including the unexpected!

Materials:

  • A misting bottle
  • 1/2 cup rose water
  • 3 fresh rose petals
  • 1 cleansed rose quartz
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Combine the rose water, rose petals, and rose quartz in the misting bottle. Place it in direct sunlight and sprinkle the sugar around it in the shape of a heart. Leave the bottle for three days to absorb the loving rays of the sun. On the third day, hold the bottle in your hands and visualize a vaporous pink glow surrounding it. This glow is filled with many kinds of love, without judgment or labels.

Each day, open your door or windows and spray the mist into the openings, imagining them glowing bright pink.

Recite:
Open door, open mind,
The love I seek will soon be mine.
Wait and see who walks through
your door.
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Birdseed Blessing
MARCH 03, 2023 BY BLAKE OCTAVIAN BLAIR

Today is World Wildlife Day. It is important to remember to contribute to efforts to save exotic animals in far-off lands, as we are all connected; however, don’t forget the importance of your local wildlife, whether you live in an urban area or someplace more rural.

At this time of year in late winter, it is still appropriate for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere to keep our bird feeders well stocked. Today, top off your bird feeder or hang one if you do not yet have one, and enter into a symbiotic relationship with your wild siblings in the animal kingdom. After you fill your feeder but before you hang it, hold your hands with palms over the birdseed and say a blessing. Here is an example for inspiration:

Hand to wing we join together,
Even in chilly winter weather.
In this season I offer seed to you,
So we may sustain a relationship
all year through.

Health and happiness to
both you and me.
We are but fellow animals
on this earth, blessed be.
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A Green Man Garden Blessing
MARCH 02, 2023 BY JAMES KAMBOS

For this garden blessing, you’ll need to fashion a Green Man from grasses or other plant materials. You can do something simple, like fold a few stems of grass over to form a humanlike shape and tie in the middle with jute twine to form a waist. Or you could get fancier and make a corn doll. It’s up to you. When finished, the Green Man form should be about the size of a child’s doll. When it’s done, place the Green Man on your altar and say:

Green Man, protect my garden
during spring rain,
Protect my garden during
summer’s heat,
Protect my garden during
autumn’s frost,
Protect my garden during
winter’s ice and snow.

Now take your Green Man out to your garden. Place it where it won’t be disturbed, such as a far corner. Leave it alone. Let it return naturally to the earth.
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The Magick of Compliments
MARCH 01, 2023 BY JASON MANKEY

When we think of magick, we of ten think of the full moon, candles, and burning incense, but magick can also be incredibly simple. There is a great deal of power and energy that comes from our voices and what we say to one another. This is not a spell you actively cast for yourself. Instead, it’s a series of gifts for those you interact with.

Spend your day actively and sincerely complimenting others. Tell people they have made good decisions or are great at their job. Praise a lover or partner in a way that maybe you have not before. Let a customer know they are brilliant for buying a certain item. As you compliment and say nice things to others, you’ll notice a shift in them as they receive your positive energy. In most instances, that energy will be returned to you too!
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Honoring the Spirit of Place
FEBRUARY 28, 2023 BY KATE FREULER

Everywhere you go, whether a building, field, or forest, there is a spirit of place. Honoring this spirit is important, especially if you intend to do magic there. This ritual is a way to connect to the spirit of a place by showing respect, which in turn will create a better atmosphere for your workings.

To honor the spirit of place, you can offer a gift. It must be something of personal value to show that you’re authentic in your wish to connect. Only you know what this might be: a special crystal, a meaningful herb, a pretty feather, or something completely personal.

Sit in the space you wish to connect to and close your eyes. Listen to the sounds, feel the air on your skin, breathe in the smells. You might sense a presence. When you reach this state, say:

With this gift I offer respect to
the spirit of this place. May we
exist together in harmony.

If you’re outdoors, place the gift on the ground. Inside, find a corner or shelf space that feels right. Now when you do your magical workings, you’ll have the spirit of place on your side.
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The Blessing Word
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 BY MICHAEL FURIE

Ordinary words can be empowered with magical ability for power and blessings. Many people have sayings or phrases they say from time to time, but if focused upon, giving them specific intention, these words can become words of power. For this spell you’ll need a piece of paper, a pen, a white candle, and a heatproof cauldron or bowl.

To begin, choose a word or small phrase you already use and would like to empower. It could be something said in mild frustration (like dang, darn, crap, etc.) or even a nonsense word (like gerflooffen). Write your choice on the paper and light the candle. Hold the paper and fix in your mind that whenever you speak the word, it shall carry a blessing energy. Then say:

(Word), from this point you shall
be filled with blessing energy;
whenever spoken aloud by me,
a shift of power then set free.

Burn the paper in the cauldron to seal the spell.

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Heartwings Love Notes 1074 A Little Rain is Good for the Garden

Heartwings says, “The acronym for fear spells false evidence appearing real.”

Recently I had a small series of bumps in the road of life. Taken individually, none was particularly serious. Taken as a whole they were a reminder to me to be grateful for what I ordinarily might take for granted. For instance, when I run the water in the sink I expect it to go down the drain, don’t you? Yet when it is reluctant to do so, something must be done. And I did all the things I could think of to do: plunging, pipe clearing liquid, more plunging, hot water, waiting patiently, more pipe clearing liquid, etc. When nothing did any good I opted for the plumber. He took care of it nicely and that was that–until the refrigerator refused to be cold.

A series of attempts to make it run properly failed and another repairperson was summoned. Now I have a guarantee I have paid for that lasts a full year, and although I hope the refrigerator will continue to provide cold, at least I feel secure about further repairs should they be needed. It is so easy to take things like the refrigerator for granted. Naturally I expect the washing machine, the dryer, and the vacuum to function efficiently and when needed. However, these little glitches in my everyday life have alerted me to the fact that I do need to remember to be thankful for what I might otherwise take for granted.

Then there was the little popup that kept appearing on my computer screen. It reminded me that I needed to renew my virus protection. “Your computer may be at risk,” it proclaimed. Ought I to tremble in my shoes? I reminded myself to be careful not to download anything potentially hazardous and waited patiently until my computer friend was able to remedy that difficulty. The popup too reminded me to be grateful for my remarkable computer and its gifts to me.

When I was growing up, I would read stories about robots and the marvels they could perform. Somehow, they always walked on two legs and had arms and fingers. Mostly made of metal, like the tin man they had a kind of brain and could speak. Unlike the tin man they performed a multitude of tasks and cared for their owners. Today I am surrounded by “robots.” They don’t walk around or have conversations with me yet they can be programmed to do what I want them to do when I want them to do it and indeed, they do take are of me. They may not physically resemble the robots of the science fiction I once read, yet they fulfill many of the same functions.

I am grateful for my mechanical servants. I appreciate the stove, the washer, the dryer and the vacuum. Having read once in an article on the Feng Shui of India that suggested it, I have even given them all names. I praise them when they do my laundry and cook my food. Most of all I am grateful to them for the hard work they save me from. Truly I am grateful for the little bit of “rain” that fell on the garden of my daily life, it has been good for the garden and even better for the gardener.

May you handle your rain with grace and strength.

Blessings and best regards, Tasha halpert

How do you handle your rain? Can you avoid getting wet or find good ways to stay dry? I do love it when readers share their stories. Write to me at Tashahal@gmail.com and make my day.

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Centered Silliness

When we laugh, we give ourselves over to the immediacy of the present moment.

Many people might be surprised to think of laughter as a form of meditation. Yet not only is laughing meditation one of the simplest forms of meditation, but also it is a very powerful one. The physical act of laughing is one of the few actions involving the body, emotions, and the soul. When we laugh, we give ourselves over to the immediacy of the present moment. We also are able to momentarily transcend minor physical and mental stresses. Practiced in the morning, laughing meditation can lend a joyful quality to the entire day. Practiced in the evening, laughing meditation is a potent relaxant that has been known to inspire pleasant dreams. Laughter also can help open our eyes to previously unnoticed absurdities that can make life seem less serious.

There are three stages to mindful laughter. Each stage can last anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. The first stage involves stretching your body like a cat and breathing deeply. Your stretch should start at the hands and feet before you move through the rest of your body. Stretch out the muscles in your face by yawning and making silly faces. The second stage of the meditation is pure laughter. Imagine a humorous situation, remember funny jokes, or think about how odd it is to be laughing by yourself. When the giggles start to rise, let them. Let the laughter ripple through your belly and down into the soles of your feet. Let the laughter lead to physical movement. Roll on the floor, if you have to, and keep on laughing until you stop. The final stage of the meditation is one of silence. Sit with your eyes closed and focus on your breath.

Laughter brings with it a host of positive effects that operate on both the physical and mental levels. It is also fun, expressive, and a way to release tension. Learn to laugh in the present moment, and you’ll find that joy is always there.

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Avoiding the Center

Quiet time each day is so important, but many are so out of practice that it’s almost unnerving to be in stillness.

It’s funny to imagine our lives as something we spend a lot of time avoiding, because it seems like that would be impossible to do. Our lives consist of everything we engage in, from showering to sleeping, but also a lot of busy work that distracts us and keeps us from looking at our lives. Experiencing our life from the inside means taking time each day to simply be alone and quiet in the presence of our soul. Many of us are so out of practice that it’s almost unnerving to have a moment to ourselves. As a result, we may have stopped trying to carve out that time to take a seat at the center of our lives.

One of the reasons it can be uncomfortable to sit with ourselves is because when we do, we tend to open ourselves to an inner voice, which might question the way we’re living or some of the choices we’re making. Sometimes the voice reminds us of our secret, inner yearnings, dreams we thought we had forgotten. When we already feel overwhelmed by our busy schedules, the idea of hearing this voice can be exhausting. However, its reflections are the chords that connect us to our authentic selves, and they are the very things that make our lives worth living. When we continually avoid connecting with our life, we risk losing out on the very purpose of our existence.

To begin the process of being more present and less absent in your life, you might want to set aside just a few minutes each day to simply sit with yourself. This doesn’t mean watching a movie or reading a book, but taking time each day for self-examination to avoid the avoidance, to be with yourself in an open way. After a while, you may start to enjoy this part of the day so much that you make less busy work for yourself, so that you can spend more time at the center of your own life, rather than hovering like a planet around the sun.

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How To Live A Life Of Gratitude
ANDREW WEIL, M.D.

I know that experiencing and expressing gratitude is supposed to be good for my mental health, but does it actually have benefits for my physical health as well? And how do I learn this new approach to living?

I have long been a proponent of living more consciously, being mindful of the many gifts we receive with every new day. I myself feel gratitude for our natural world, for the joy and companionship I get from family and friends (and my dogs), and for every day of life and health. If gratitude brought me no more benefit than that, I would be satisfied indeed. But the truth is that the answer to your first question is yes – not only does gratitude benefit the mind, it’s good for the body as well.

Many studies have found that gratitude’s benefits include improved sleep quality, better blood pressure control, and enhanced immune function. One 2016 study found that keeping a gratitude journal even reduced inflammation and improved biomarkers in cardiac patients at high risk for heart failure.

Your second question may require a shift in your mind set. Many people get into the habit of focusing on daily irritants, which is certainly easy to do. We all experience negatives – they are a part of life – but they will drag you down if you spend too much mental energy on them. Instead, spend a deliberate amount of time each day thinking just about the positives. What are you grateful for in life? The beauty of a sunrise, the love of your children, the longevity of a friendship – these are all things to be thankful for. Even the simplest parts of our day may bring us joy and gratitude, from the friendliness of a store clerk to the new buds on a young tree. It’s a good practice to keep a gratitude journal, taking just a few moments each day to note what inspired you to feel grateful.

Knowing firsthand the benefits of a life filled with gratitude, I was especially moved by the new film by my good friend Louie Schwartzberg, called “Gratitude Revealed.” I don’t think even a hardened cynic could come away from the film without a feeling of joy, having seen people around the world celebrating the many glories of life. Louie is a talented filmmaker (anyone who’s had the “Soarin’ Around the World” experience at a Disney theme park knows his technical prowess, and his “Fantastic Fungi” film is one of my favorites); with “Gratitude Revealed” he demonstrates that he’s an insightful one as well. Louie describes this film as a pathway back from the sense of disconnection many people feel these days, and I strongly recommend it.

By the way, gratitude is available to everyone, and it’s entirely possible to take this step even if you’re not sure where to direct your feelings. It’s not necessary to feel grateful to anyone in particular to be grateful for something. You may be grateful to your spouse, a friend, or a divine being, or you may just be grateful for the good things in your life. A new study looked at those who reported feelings of gratitude both with and without a benefactor and found that both groups benefited. So don’t worry about whom you’re thanking – simply focus on the feeling and appreciate the gifts life brings you.

~Andrew Weil, M.D.

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Murder In Grafton Center, Part 5
~Stephen Halpert

Sonny and I left Ernest Dickens quietly rocking on his porch. We placed the two jugs of Honey Acorn Cordial on the back seat of Sonny’s Volvo and carefully navigated our way down Wild Elk Road a onto Route 122. As we past the supermarket complex Sonny saw the maroon SUV idling at the exit to the parking lot.
She shrugged. “Whoever’s on our tail doesn’t seem to mind our knowing.”
“Could be coincidental. Lots of maroon SUV’s on the road these days.”
She turned right onto Providence Highway and into the entrance of Grafton Police Headquarters. Officer Sippi Bopp was at the desk behind the darkened glass wall. She announced our arrival over the intercom and directed us to Inspector Mallory’s office. Jenkins and West had already arrived and were drinking coffee with Mallory.
Unceremoniously Mallory waved us toward two folding chairs.
“Autopsy?” Jenkins asked. As usual the Boston Homicide Commander was all business.
“More drugs inside her than you’d find in an apothecary.” Mallory said dryly. “It’s a wonder she was still on her feet when she made it out the front door.” He perused the Medical Examiner’s Report and handed it to Jenkins.
“Doesn’t it seem strange to you her wandering alone into a pond at 2:30 in the morning.” West asked. “It’s cold out now.”
Mallory eyes were red and he looked tired. “Nothing seems strange to me anymore. Look at it this way. She was a good friend of the deceased. By the time she left their house everyone was long gone. She probably needed some fresh air before driving home; wandered across the garden down to the pond; and slipped and fell in.”
But Jenkins was right on it. “Got an exact time of death?”
Mallory shook his head and looked up at them. “Anywhere between one and 2am.” He sighed. “I know you suspect there’s something going on here–two close acquaintances dead within days of each other.”
“But no indication of foul play?” West asked.
Mallory ruffled copies of the Medical Report. “Who can say for sure? Yes, she drowned. But don’t forget the alcohol and pills.”
“Any chance we could talk to her husband?”
“Once he’s back. His office at the Vet School said he was returning from a week-long conference in Chicago.”
“Is that verified?” I asked
“He’s registered at the Sheraton there.”
“Mind if Ms Burke and I visit the Vet School?”
Is that necessary?”
“Curbs curiosity,” I said. “May as well ascertain everything’s on the up and up.”
He looked at me and frowned, then spoke into his intercom. “Bopp. Chief Inspector’s Office.”
Moments later Sippi Bopp came in.
Mallory stared at her. “This is Spencer and Sonny Burke. Accompany them to the Vet School. Report back to me everything that occurs.”
“Yes sir.” She looked at us nervously.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she had planned on spending any time with Juice.
“Let’s take my Volvo,” Sonny said, “seems less official that way than pulling up in a cruiser.” She nodded at Sippi. “You and I can sit up front and Spencer can have the back.”
Dr. Lamar Worthington’s office took up the entire third floor of the Wesson Building at the Vet School. Wearing a starched white blouse and a gray suit his associate, Dr. Cora Lynch greeted us. She was tall and slender, her eyes hidden behind goggle framed glasses. Her steely gray hair lay flat against her skull.
“Just a few questions about Dr Worthington,” Sonny said. “We’re trying to be of help. But don’t I recognize you from last night during visiting hours?”
Her smile, never quite reached her lips. It came and went in a flash. She rubbed her hands together. Then she nodded. “Yes, yes I was at their home. Terrible loss.” She sighed and shook her head.
“And Dr. Worthington is returning from his Conference?” I asked.
“Yes.” Her eyelids fluttered nervously.
“When did he leave?”
“This morning, the 7:05 flight, Southwest Air. No sooner had he arrived than the police notified him about Mrs. Worthington’s accident. He’s on his way back to Grafton.”
Sippi Bopp wrote something down in her notebook.
“You’ve been with Dr Worthington for long?” Sonny asked.
She nodded. “Yes. Back when he was awarded his grants, I helped him assemble his staff.”
“My dad could have used a woman like you,” Sonny said. “All his secretaries were forgetful and couldn’t type.”
“I’m his Director of Research,” she said smugly. “I hold two degrees in Veterinary Medicine.” Her voice appeared indignant. “I’m not a secretary. The Department has two secretaries.”
Sonny nodded. “In that you seem to handle his schedule, I thought…”
An older balding man in a white lab coat came into her office. He smiled at Dr. Cora Lynch. “Lamar about? Could you get him on the horn for me and tell him we need him at the lab?”
“No, but I can help you,” she said quickly. Abruptly she nodded, turned, and opened her office door. “I’m sorry but I must attend to this.” As we left, I overheard her say, “From the beginning I’ve had my doubts about that new vaccine.”
(To be continued)

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What to Know About the Risks of Essential Oils for Cats
Written by Cyrus Wahome

Essential oils are relaxing for humans but can pose risks for cats.

Essential oils have a lot of uses for humans. They smell great, help us relax, and generally promote wellness. For cats, however, essential oils can be dangerous. This is especially true for oils that are undiluted.

Some experts say that the effect of essential oils varies depending on your cat’s breed, age, size, and health condition. To be on the safe side, it is best to avoid using essential oils around your cat or in areas where your cat frequents.

While the essential oils used in toiletries, cosmetics, and diffusers are usually diluted, the carrier oil that is used to dilute the essential oil is not entirely safe for your cat.

What Are Essential Oils?
These are oils that are extracted from plants, then concentrated and purified. They come from specific plants and have a rich essence or fragrance.

To use them, you can either make them in a pure form or buy them in beauty and cleaning products. These oils and the products that contain them should all be handled with care, though, whether you have pets or not.

Despite vets warning against using essential oils for cats, some pet owners claim that there are benefits involved. For example:

Repelling cat fleas. Some pet owners use essential oils such as rosemary and cedarwood to help keep fleas away from their cats.

Improving mood. While essential oils are definitely calming and relaxing to the humans who use them, there are pet owners who say that their cats benefit in the same way. It is possible that some essential oils can have a positive effect on your cat’s mood by reducing anxiety and depression.

Anti-inflammatory effects. If your cat has an inflammatory condition like arthritis, they could benefit from essential oils as they possess anti-inflammatory properties. The same goes for simple inflammatory conditions like bruising. While you may be tempted to put some essential oil in your cat’s bathwater, know that things can go wrong at any time.

Digestion. Some cat owners have used essential oils to relieve their cats from digestive issues like diarrhea and vomiting. You, however, should never put essential oil in your cat’s food. The risk outweighs any perceived benefit.

Instead of risking your cat’s health and life, it’s best not to allow your cat to touch essential oils unless you have spoken to your vet about doing so and received their blessing.

Essential Oil Toxicity in Cats
The reason why these oils are risky is that they contain compounds such as terpenes, ketones, and phenols. Your cat’s liver cannot metabolize these chemicals, as it doesn’t have the enzymes necessary for processing and excreting them. As a result, there is always a possibility of their accumulation in the liver building to toxic levels.

A lot of essential oils have these compounds and are, therefore, considered dangerous to cats. They include:

Potpourri
Clove
Bitter almond
Cinnamon
Lavender
Eucalyptus oil
Citrus
Sweet birch oil
Thyme
Ylang-ylang
Juniper
Bergamot
Mint
Wormwood
Tarragon
Sassafras
Rose
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Myrrh
Geranium
Tea tree
Pine
Eucalyptus

Your cat could come into contact with these oils through:

Direct skin contact. Avoid applying essential oils to your cat’s fur or skin. The oil can easily get absorbed through the skin.

Ingestion/swallowing. It is possible that your cat could lick the oil off their fur as they groom and swallow it. A diffuser could tip over, spilling the oil and endangering a cat that later licks it off.

Inhalation. Although this rarely occurs, your cat can inhale essential oils from a reed diffuser or plugin. Although the oils used may be diluted, a cat with a condition like asthma could be at risk.

Are Oil Diffusers Safe for Cats?
A diffuser converts essential oil into a mist and spreads the mist into the surrounding environment. It is recommended to use a slow diffuser, as it disperses oil at a slower rate, reducing the likelihood of poisoning your cat.

An example of such a device is a reed diffuser. It functions by dipping a simple reed into the container with essential oil. The oil travels up the reed to be released in small amounts continually.

Since very little oil is released and none of it falls on any surface, using a reed diffuser is not as risky as a heat diffuser. The latter is considered riskier, as it heats the oil and changes its composition into more toxic compounds.

Other models like nebulizers, ultrasonic, and evaporative diffusers are also common. Whichever you choose to use, remember to take safety precautions, as cats are playful and can easily knock over and tamper with a diffuser’s contents.

Signs of Essential Oil Poisoning in Cats
When dealing with poisoning, immediate attention is crucial to survival and recovery. Some of the signs to look out for include the following:

Vomiting
Too much drooling
Shaking and muscle tremors
Walking as if drunk
Lethargy, depression, or dullness
Difficulty breathing or breathing with an open mouth
Collapsing or seizures.

Sometimes, your cat may not show these signs. In such a case, you may want to sniff to confirm the smell of the oil on your cat’s fur or breath.

What to Do If Your Cat Shows Signs of Essential Oil Poisoning
If you use essential oils at home and your cat shows symptoms of poisoning, call your vet right away.

The faster you seek treatment, the better your cat’s chances of recovery. It helps to have as much information with you as possible.

On your visit to the vet, you’ll need to provide vital information to help with treatment, including the packaging and a sample of the product if possible:

The oil that caused the poisoning. To get the right treatment for your cat, it is important to know the specific oil that’s involved. If you have the product, bring it or its packaging to the vet.

The amount of oil ingested by the cat. If your cat actively ingested the oil, it will need specialized care.

Your cat’s weight. Smaller cats are at more risk than heavier ones, so this bit of information can be life-saving.

Age of the cat. Older cats and kittens are likely to be more affected and should be given more attention.

Once you are at the vet’s office, the vet may run a blood test or perform a physical exam to tell how bad your cat’s poisoning is. Their main focus will be to see whether the cat’s liver or kidneys are damaged. Your cat should be out of danger after the vet provides care.

Minimizing the Risk of Your Cat Coming into Contact with Toxic Oils
Just because essential oils are extracted from plants doesn’t mean they’re healthy or safe for your cat (many plants are poisonous to cats). It also doesn’t mean, though, that you shouldn’t use these oils for your own benefit.

To be safe, ask your vet about the products you shouldn’t use around the house. In addition to that, you should also:

Store essential oils in places where your cat won’t reach. Remember how good of a climber your cat is. It is not enough to store essential oils on high shelves. Lock them away in a place that only you can access.

Wash your hands after handling essential oils. It’s almost impossible not to touch your cat, so make sure you wash your hands after coming into contact with any essential oil. This will help you avoid getting it on your cat’s fur or skin.

Avoid cleaning using products that have essential oils. Since your cat can’t help rubbing against items around the house, avoid using products that have essential oils when you are cleaning. Also, thoroughly clean surfaces where essential oils have spilled.

Avoid using undiluted essential oils. If you must use essential oils around your house, ensure they are diluted first to minimize the risk to your cat.

Keep your cat away from diffusers. Reed diffusers, plugin diffusers, and nebulizers that use essential oils should be kept in rooms where your cat won’t go. If you must let your cat in, ensure the room is well ventilated.

Check your pet products for essential oils. Sometimes, a product you bought will have an essential oil meant for specific purposes, such as repelling parasites. Avoid buying such a product to keep your cat safe. Buy your pet products from accredited vets or pharmacists.

Conclusion
The best way to ensure the maximum safety of your pet when using essential oils is to consult your vet before starting. Since all cats are different, your cat’s vet will know what is best for them.

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, Weekly Horoscope: Sunday, March 05, 2023

All Signs
Saturn takes about 30 years to travel through all 12 signs. Saturn is so powerful that when it changes signs, we feel its shift – like an external force. Since March 2020, Saturn has been in Aquarius. The pandemic. This week it moves into Pisces to stay until 2026. Saturn is called the Great Teacher because it teaches us about who we really are. (Looked in the mirror lately?) The last time Saturn was in Pisces was 1994 to early 1996. If you harken back to that time, you might get a hint of how Saturn helps you or cramps your style. Count on Saturn testing you, and making you think about how you use your time. Thoreau said, “It’s not enough to be busy. So are the ants.”

Aries (March 21-April 19)
As Saturn changes signs this week, it means you are entering a period of several years when you will start to downsize and streamline your life. Consciously or unconsciously (and you will become more consciously aware of this as months go by) you are getting rid of what is no longer relevant in your life. This is why you will go through cupboards, garages, storage lockers and closets to get rid of stuff. You might also end some friendships. Some of you might quit your job or even leave your country. Fortunately, lucky Jupiter is in your sign now boosting your spirits and bringing you good fortune. Later in the year, it will make you richer!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
In the early 90s, you achieved certain things that were important to you, which meant that by 1994, 1995 you had to learn how to deal with those who wanted to make demands on your time, and at the same time deal with the repercussions of the successes and failures that you had recently experienced. Once again, you are back in this same cycle. However, this time (because nothing in life is ever truly “the same”) while you learn to juggle people, success and respect your own needs, lucky Jupiter will move into your sign in May, which will bring a boost of good fortune your way, including joy and optimism. Auspicious timing!

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Although you might not be aware of it, you have been waiting for this year for about 15 years. You are now entering your time of harvest, which will last for the next few years and will show you clearly what is working in your life and what is not. For many, it will be a time when your cherished dreams come true. A time of graduation, marriage, a first child, a big promotion, self-employment, a book published – could be many things that make you feel proud. At the same time, there will be some things that fall flat. (C’est la vie.) Don’t waste your time focusing on those. Move on because this is a powerful time for you! When you’ve got it baby, flaunt it!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Cast your mind back to 1994-96. Did you travel? You certainly learned and studied and became more knowledgeable. Beginning this week, for the next two years, Saturn will be in your fellow Water Sign, making the same journey through your chart. This is super supportive. Take advantage of this time ahead to accomplish as much as possible. Basically, it’s a time of preparation because you are building to a career peak several years from now when you will be admired by others. This will be a time when you achieve something that makes you proud. It will be easy to work. In fact, you can build up your physical strength in the next few years. Lucky you!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
In the next two years, you will take life more seriously, especially responsibilities to and for others. You will strive to get out of debt. You will tie up loose ends with wills, estates, insurance issues and shared property. Meanwhile, you’ll be in a serious frame of mind and give more thought to your own mortality. (Very wise of course, because nobody is getting out of this alive.) You will learn to live with the values of others, even if you don’t agree with them. But you will also enjoy accolades, a promotion at work, success in the eyes of others and increased confidence! It’s all good.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Once every 30 years, Saturn sits opposite your sign. That time has arrived. This is why your energy might be lower than usual. If you feel tired – get more rest. This is a natural cycle and nothing is gained by fighting it. In the next two years, you might experience endings. A close relationship might end. Your ambitions might be thwarted. Accept what is happening and pamper yourself. Fresh flowers, chocolates and your favourite drink. Outdoor picnics. (Virgos often live in the city but are restored by pristine nature.) Get your rest. Take care of yourself because by summer, and for the rest of the year, you want to travel and explore the world!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
You’re going to be busy in the next few years. Whether you have a slave-wage job or not – you’ll be working to the point that you might think, “Can I do this?” Yes, you can. Do not feel overwhelmed. Your effectiveness as a human being is being tested, and you will pass this test. Make a To Do list. Put everything in order. The key to your success will be to work steadily and efficiently (with time off for good behaviour, of course!) All the work that you do will benefit you. Likewise, treat your body as a tool that has to be well cared for. (After all, it carries your head around.) Expect wealth and gifts from others this year.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Good news! Saturn moves into your fellow Water Sign this week, which means it will act like the third leg on a three-legged stool. Oh yes – invaluable support! This is good because you might have increased responsibilities with children in the next two years. Saturn will help you to accomplish as much as you can. The more you accomplish, the better prepared you will be for your future. In this respect, it’s a time of preparation for what comes later. Many of you will win recognition for your achievements. People will be impressed with your diligence. Meanwhile, lucky Jupiter will bless your closest relationships and make it the best year in over a decade to get married!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Ironically, it’s a playful time for you now until the early summer. After that, you have fantastic opportunities to improve your job or get a better job – the best in over a decade. Not only that, this year you can improve your health, which is good news for you because you like to be outdoors and active! And at a deeper, basic level, you might be asking yourself “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Regardless of how old you are. Keep in mind that the important things that you will achieve this year will be through hard work. (Your mom paid me to say that.)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
The winds of change are blowing, which means in the next two years, you will have a job change or a residential move – or both. Think back to what happened around 1994-1996 because this same influence has returned. After giving up a lot between 2015 and 2018, you started to redefine who you were in the world. In the next two years, you will be putting the final touches on the “new you.” Even if you think this is not going to happen, keep an open mind because the odds are high that you will have a change in one of these areas if not both. It’s wise to think ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Glory hallelujah! It’s been tough since March 2020, and this week marks the end of that tension, world weariness and mountain of challenges. Now that you have survived this, you will use the next two years to give serious thought to your values. Saturn doesn’t put you through the ringer for nothing. You have matured. You’re a better version of yourself. You have more patience with yourself and others and a deeper understanding of what life is all about. After your trial by fire, it’s time for you to figure out what is really important so that you aren’t looking in the mirror when you 90 years old saying “Kid, you blew it.”

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
This is a benchmark year for you because Saturn is entering your sign this week to stay for two years. The last time this happened was from 1994-96. This means you are starting out on a new 30-year cycle of internal growth. It will begin by you shearing away the aspects of your life that no longer have a valid role. Yes, your responsibilities will continue to be heavy but you’re setting off on a new journey! In fact, it’s so different and so exciting you might even change your daily wardrobe. In the bigger picture, you are going to reinvent yourself or situations around you will force you to redefine who you are. The future is yours! (Expect to get richer.)

Weekly Horoscope:2023 Annual Forecasts are now available.
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Weekly Horoscopes Beginning Sunday, 05 March 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this week:

Life would be much easier if you could make pivotal decisions, act on them, then move on to other, equally pressing, matters. However, as you’re probably beginning to realise, you’re short of facts. Yes, this means slowing your pace. Once you do, however, you’ll soon realise you’ve ignored certain options you regarded as dull. They are; but they’re also exactly what’s needed to handle the matters in question.

It might feel as if you have lost your focus. One way or another you have become distracted from your original goals. A decision needs to be made about something you want. This may be hard to achieve but if you really want it and focus your attention on it, know that it can be yours. In a family discussion you will be tempted to say the first thoughts that come into your mind. It would be better to consider what other people’s reactions might be, before you speak.

Expect a short sharp knock-on Tuesday when the Full Moon accents the need for detail and exactitude. Have you been careless? This lunation coincides with Saturn’s move into neighbouring Pisces when the need to get your financial act together should be apparent. Do you have savings? How can you fill the gap between what you have and what you need? You don’t need to have answers immediately but you probably do need to do preparatory work. Expect to see a shift in attitudes. You may find that there’s more help out there than you thought. With your efficiency questioned, you could gain credit by showing just how careful you can be. Yes, you need to balance that whilst also showing that you’re prepared to take risk where necessary: a fine line but surely an Aries can walk it.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Recent developments were as unexpected as they were promising. The problem? They’d mean rethinking certain longstanding arrangements. Actually, that’s wise. It may be time for these to go. Plus, the events triggered by the coming week’s stunning planetary activity accents exploration, if not bold changes. By midmonth, your activities and plans will be so exciting, you’ll wonder why you hesitated making those changes for even a moment.

Someone with a powerful personality is starting to play too controlling a role in your life. Their energy is intense and you will begin to feel intimidated by them. Don’t feel you can’t break away from this situation. There is always a way. Look for it now. It is time to consider how you can rearrange your commitments so the important stuff does get taken care of while still creating some time in your life for having some fun.

It seems you are about to take many by surprise. It appears that you are ready to step up and take on a responsibility that a year ago would have been unthinkable. Perhaps because other people feel they can’t or won’t cope, or because their attention is taken elsewhere, a gap or opportunity should appear. Yes, this could be temporary through until May, but there is much you can achieve between now and then as you show others that you’re ready to move into new career areas. In just a few weeks’ time, it’s Pluto’s turn to arrive at the apex of your solar chart and career developments are probable. Clues as to what the openings will be should be apparent this week.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this week:

While usually the Full Moon brings feelings to a peak, Tuesday’s turns ideas you’ve discussed into fast action, if not commitments. This seems overwhelming, but forces you and others to focus on the practical side of arrangements. Dull as certain matters may be, they’re also cornering you into concentrating on details that, otherwise, you’d put off or, ideally, ignore. Within days you’ll recognise how crucial these are.

You aren’t certain you can trust someone. At least be honest with yourself about your feelings, your hopes and your goals. If someone who is close to you wants answers, be honest with them. Speak your truth for only then will there be no confusion and no misunderstandings. A part of your life has come to an end. Something new and big is about to begin. The Universe will support you in this.

Tuesday’s Full Moon falls across the backbone of your solar chart. That it coincides with Saturn’s arrival at the apex of that same chart suggests a potential hiatus – if not crisis – in your career. Of course, it may be that you’re now ready to step up and accept responsibility that even a year ago would have been unthinkable. 2022 was a year of considerable challenge as both Saturn and Uranus formed their right angle to one another. Yes, you may have slipped down in the pecking order – presumably from September, – but resurface showing that you’ve learnt from that earlier time. It’s likely imperative that you work with a new team that moves into operational mode within weeks. First step is to accept that a shift in priorities is taking place. With that might come the need to make further improvement to your home base. Whereas once you might have been considered footloose and fancy free, you perhaps now need to know that you can be relied upon.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this week:

As an intuitive Cancerian, you’re probably already aware of the exciting ideas or offers coming your way. Or, alternatively, you’ve been devising your own thrilling plans. While you may not be feeling patient, aim to wait until the 25th, when Mars, planet of action and courage, moves into Cancer. From that point onward you’ll be in a position, and confident enough, to turn promising ideas into action.

To step forward you may need to let go of certain aspects of the past. You have had this chance before but you decided to stay put. It’s hard and it can be painful to cut ties but this is what is keeping you from potential future happiness. If you are single and still trying to get over a recent break-up, don’t rush into another relationship too soon. You haven’t healed enough to make good decisions.

Tuesday’s Full Moon (often an emotional time for Cancers coincides with Saturn’s arrival in another of the Water signs. This isn’t something that happens every year, and reasonable to expect that you will feel the vibration. In fact, it may be that it is this that unconsciously unsettles you on Monday. Perhaps you are aware of increased responsibility headed your way. There is strong likelihood that your expertise will be challenged – at least initially: perhaps challenged produce certificates or a CV to show what you’ve worked at in the past. Over the next couple of years, you will up your game considerably – probably through gaining more qualifications. There is also the likelihood involvement either with those who work in other countries, or who are in some way distinguished. Recall that Jupiter is going over the apex of your solar chart, and that this really is your time to shine.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this week:

In order to discuss what’s next, we need to go back to February 16th, when your ruler the Sun clashed with stern Saturn. At that time, events or your own insights forced you to rethink certain arrangements, some longstanding, others more recent. It worked. Since then, you’ve felt less burdened and freer. You’re now ready, and well informed enough, to plunge into the coming weeks’ thrilling developments.

You can’t be expected to respond to an unexpected proposition immediately. Anyone with an ounce of common sense will know you will need to think it over. If someone is pushing you for an instant answer, this is a sign of how they are going to behave with you in the future. Walk away from pushy people. Routine work and jobs that require no thought or imagination will leave you feeling tense, irritable and in need of a challenge.

It’s not simply that there’s a Full Moon on Tuesday, but the fact that Saturn leaves your opposite sign and moves into making this week stand out as special. On top of that, the Sun makes fabulous aspect to Uranus – still travelling through another of the Fixed signs. The first half of this week should be especially lively. Expect to hear that certain individuals have simply had enough, and want to move on. Of course, that includes you! The art, as always, is to have something to move on to. Tempting as it may be to move away from a situation that is simply too burdensome, you need to know where you’re headed. Be aware that there are now certain individuals who recognise that the efforts you’ve put in since the pandemic have been considerable. Your strength has been tested in so many ways. This week marks the beginning of moving forward in a partnership that might not be ‘perfect’ but is necessary.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this week:

After a cycle of intense decluttering, probably of both your possessions and plans, you’re feeling amazingly free. Tempting as it is to plunge into something new, take it slowly. Pause, both to review what worked but, also, what you need to explore or learn about. While much of this is exciting, it’s also about tackling issues you’ve been avoiding. The sooner you confront them, the better.

A partner or friend who charged into a situation with you, with high hopes and lots of enthusiasm seems to have suddenly lost interest. Now the hard work has begun, they’re finding excuses to leave it all to you. This is a person who gets bored very easily and they tend to leave confusion and drama in their wake. Now you are recognising them for who they really are, is it time to let them go?

Tuesday’s Full Moon is in your sign and yes, this is the annual one where is not at all uncommon for Virgos to lose their rag in the heat of the moment. This year though could be so very different. This event coincides with Saturn’s arrival in your opposite sign. Expect others to put up some kind of boundary or resistance. True, a few could experience commitment and agreement. Either way though, you should feel anchored and yes, perhaps even excited about a proposed adventure. Contact with those who live and work overseas is probable with your expertise acknowledged. You may be recognised as having absolutely the right experience for a role to be created before the end of the month. All this said, you may find that a Cancer (or a hoarder), requires your assistance. You may be asked to take part in an archiving project.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this week:

True, of the twelve signs, you’re most adept at dealing with even very tricky individuals. That’s been especially important recently. Some of the situations were minor, others more complex but, happily, you’ve dealt with most. However, this leaves you with decisions about what’s next. Mostly, you’re confident about these; but, in a few, others’ reactions are worrying. Be uncharacteristically bold. Put you, and your interests, first.

A partner or close friend will be surprised when you insist on making some decisions. There is a reason for this and you may have to remind them that they have got into the habit recently of expecting you to go along with their suggestions. They need to realise you do have a mind of your own. If you are single and you have developed a crush on someone in your workplace or neighbourhood, it is time to reveal your feelings.

Give careful thought to your well-being at this Tuesday’s Full Moon. Is it possible that you’ve been neglectful? You may need extra vitamins and minerals. This Full Moon coincides with Saturn changing sign. With that alteration of vibration, anticipate that more work will come your way. True, in the last couple of years, leisure time has been limited and restrained. You now need to move forward with creative ideas that have developed since the pandemic. What you arguably don’t need is to take on unnecessary burdens. Your health could suffer. It would be wise to have health checks and to ensure that you are in optimum condition. In particular, the needs of those of another generation appear demanding. Whilst all this might sound heavy and burdensome, note that this is also the beginning of a period when you can streamline, minimalise, and choose carefully how much responsibility you’re willing to carry.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this week:

Recent changes aren’t sudden. On the contrary, you’ve invested lots of thought and, in certain situations, heart in these, so are ready to go. The problem? The foundation on which they’re based is shifting. While you sense this is for the best, you’re still anxious. The solution? Think of times in the past when you felt the same, and things worked out. They will now, too.

You’ve always been perceptive. People can sense this. The reason why someone close isn’t giving you honest answers is because they are fearful, either consciously or unconsciously, that you can see into their soul. They’re afraid you can see their emotional wounds because they just aren’t yet ready to deal with them. In a way, you do understand. A youngster is having to make a difficult decision regarding their education. You may be able to give some helpful suggestions.

It’s not simply Tuesday’s Full Moon that could leave everyone in emotional state, but the arrival of Saturn into another of the Water signs, Pisces. Several individuals may feel that they’ve gone too far on Monday and clam up on Tuesday – including you. Yet most disagreements end with discussion and negotiation. True, you could be wrongfooted by a surprise announcement. Yet this might work in your favour. A co-worker’s excitement about a project could temporarily unsettle. Yours is a sign that shows resistance to change, yet once you’ve had time to analyse and research, you may find that what’s proposed would suit you well. Something that’s been in your research and development area for at least the last year, might now be ready for further investment. In the coming weeks you could yet discover another revenue stream or way to ease pressure.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this week:

As an inquisitive Sagittarius, you’re easily bored, so thrive on shifting circumstances and, even more, on being around people who are, themselves, always in transition. That is, they’ve lots to talk about and, better yet, they challenge you to broaden your horizons, often in ways as unexpected as they are exciting. That’s this week’s focus. Be aware, however, some of their ideas may seem overwhelming, even for you.

There’s a situation you aren’t happy about. An older relative is telling you that now you have made your bed, you should lie in it. You can see where they are coming from but you disagree because you can also see a way out of an arrangement that is causing you nothing but bother and sleepless nights. Check the details of a legal contract. Take professional advice then go away and think over what they have told you.

Tuesday’s Full Moon coincides with the arrival of Saturn at the very base of your solar chart. (It was last there between 1994 and 1996). Obviously much depends on your age but even if you weren’t alive then, you might like to think back to what your family was going through. Saturn is all about putting down foundations and boundaries; and yes, for many Sagittarians, thinking about where and how they live and work will be a major issue. There is also the questions of assets and asset management. Expect finances to be discussed and in depth. Jupiter thankfully is moving through the all-important affairs of the heart and pleasure zone of your solar chart. Investing in fun is vital and part of this week’s discussions seems likely to involve an adventure to take place later in the year. Whatever, work -wise, it’s probable you will be called to account and asked to think about your long-term goals. Before you do that, think of expertise you’ve gained – particularly in the last two and half years – and how it could best be marketed.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this week:

Your ruling planet, Saturn, moves at a stately pace, remaining in a sign for a period of two to three years. So, its move into the part of your chart that accents your past experiences and, equally, perspective on life, and into the idealistic Pisces, on Tuesday the 7th, is a turning point. Knowing that, explore everything that comes your way. You won’t regret it.

If things have gone wrong for you and you feel a little lost, it’s never too late to start a new way of life. Let go of the work, responsibilities and relationships that are exhausting you mentally and emotionally. It may take time to make such a big change but it is possible. What is holding you back from taking a leap of faith? You might be scared of what you are risking to make this change but it will not be as much as you are thinking.

Capricorns are generally sensitive to the aspects made by Saturn and particularly, the vibrational changes as Saturn moves from one area of the zodiac to another (as it does this Tuesday). That that event coincides with the Virgo Full moon and as the Sun makes fabulous aspect to Uranus (also travelling through an Earth sign), suggests that you might feel the need to put your foot down. Perhaps you need to make others aware of exactly where responsibilities and duties lie? For the last couple of years, it may have felt as though you were herding cats. Now though the formation of a team should be clear. Next is to identify a goal and work towards it. With Pluto leaving your sign at the end of this month, power issues should not need to be addressed quite as much as they have been. Indeed, before Friday it may be that you can take your foot off the responsibility pedal, and turn attention to research and development – including organising a blue skies thinking day.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this week:

Not everybody spots it, but you have a stubborn streak; and judging by ongoing planetary activity, which accents dynamic but often sudden changes, the odds are good you’re struggling. You just can’t see how they’ll work, still less be of benefit to you. It may seem a compromise, but go with the flow. Within days, if not hours, you’ll realise how wise it was.

Everything in the past has brought you to this point in time. Whether you are happy or sad, looking back on the past can be a healing experience as you realise exactly what you have got through, how much you have achieved and how you do have the strength to cope with current challenges. Insist on sitting on the fence when some friends try to drag you into an argument. Leave them to get on with it without any involvement from you.

When any slow-moving planet moves from one area of the zodiac to another, the vibrational changes are usually noticed. That Saturn’s Pisces ingress coincides with Monday’s Full moon is important. Remember, Saturn is one of your ruling planets. You ‘hear’ its sounds and respond to them. Saturn’s arrival in Pisces suggests you might need to put the financial brakes on. Yes, you could argue that you’ve been doing that for the last couple of years. This time is a little different. It may be that global pressures add to anxiety. Yet it’s not all bad news. Saturn is also the planet of construction. Though true, you could experience a hiatus on Tuesday when a bill is larger than you thought, don’t underestimate your ability to find ways around the challenge. Yours is a sign skilled at juggling. Having determined exactly what you want – and this is perhaps why Fixed signs are so very good at showing determination and achieving success, – you could yet negotiate a deal.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Certain individuals, some acquaintances, others dear to you, frequently expect you to deal with their dramas. Often, you enjoy lending a hand, but at the moment you must be firm. This may seem uncaring and, inevitably, there’ll be complaints. Still, it’s time others took full responsibility for the matters in question. They know it, but are still hoping you’ll give in and rescue them. Don’t.

A confusing incident will not be easily resolved even though people will be looking to you for answers. You aren’t sure you are the right person to take the lead in which case admit this immediately. You’re starting to feel a new partner is not as interested in you as you are in them. They don’t seem to want to get too serious and you are suspicious about them possibly seeing others behind your back. You are being used until something better comes along. Take the initiative and break away.

This could yet prove one of the most important weeks of your year. Saturn arrives in your sign – coinciding with the Full Moon in Virgo. True, this could bring with it a short, sharp shock. You may find that you’re asked to take sides. With two people clearly quite unable to negotiate, you may be asked to act as referee. You might also be made acutely aware of your age and experience – or inexperience. So yes, this could prove a challenging few days. At a physical level, your bones might ache. If they do, consider: is it possible you’re just carrying too much responsibility? It may be time to share the burden. At work, you may be asked to steer a project. Again, think carefully about what this really means. Would it be too much for you or does it excite you? Obviously much depends on your personal chart. It might be as well to be wary of discussing too much with a Virgo who inadvertently, adds to your concerns. Strength could come from Taurus whose practical approach eases pressures.

https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
High Priestess Training
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Healing Arts and Pagan Studies
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The GoddessSchool ~ http://GoddessSchool.com
High Priestess Certification and Ancient Mystery Teachings

Herbalism 101
Herbalism 202
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Earth Signs and Omens
Natural Witchcraft
Practical Magick: Spell Casting for Every Day Use
The Magic of Crystals
Introduction to Energy Healing
Introduction to Paganism
Introduction to Meditation
Introduction to The Goddess Tradition and The Feminine Divine
Kuan Yins Gentle Embrace Reiki Certification
A Year and a Day of Contemplation with Kuan Yin
Tarot, Numerology, Natal Charts and Dream Readings
Reiki Training and Certification

Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healingLearn with GrannyMoon!
The Healing Arts Certificate Program Four great courses! Buy three get one free!
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GrannyMoon, Teaching the Craft for over 20 years!

“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

http://GoddessSchool.com
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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons Weekly Feast: 26 Feb 2023

Always be a first-rate version of yourself,
instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

  • Judy Garland

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again

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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: WAXING MOON

Time: From New Moon To Full (Approx. 14 Days)

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona

Magickal Attributes: Invoking Beginnings, New Projects, Ideas, Inspiration, Energy, Vitality, Freedom.

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What’s Happening?
FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 20 – MARCH 19 – GODDESS MONTH OF MOURA

FEBRUARY 18 – MARCH 17 – CELTIC MONTH – ASH MOON
The ash is strength and power.

FEB. 28: Cake Day – Offering little cakes to the God and the Goddess; Remembering the ancestors with cakes and flowers.

MARCH

MAR. 1: MATRONALIA
The original Mother’s Day. This is the Festival of Women which is observed to honor Juno Luciana.

MAR. 4: Celtic Feast of Rhiannon: Moon Goddess, Underworld Goddess

MAR. 5: Navigium Isidis – Egyptian festival honoring Goddess Isis as Lady of the Moon and Ruler of the Sea; celebrated with the launching of a boat of offerings.

MAY
Virginia Psychic Fair 2023
Sun, May 7, 2023, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Elks Lodge, 8421 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22031
Special Metaphysical Event.

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Mar 5
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Mar 12
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Mar 19

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!

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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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The Moon and the Elements
DECEMBER 06, 2022 BY BERNADETTE EVANS

Have you ever wondered why you feel a certain way on some days? All of a sudden you throw all your plans out the window and do something completely different from what you’d arranged! Suddenly you’re going on an unexpected road trip. Or a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while pops into your mind and you pick up the phone to see how they’re doing. Maybe you woke up and feel like cooking or tidying up your home, or you jump out of bed, inspired and ready to put some plans into action! Your subconscious is tapping into the energy of the Moon.

There are four elements in astrology: fire, earth, air, and water. Every planet in the chart is in a particular sign, which is ruled by an element. The Moon represents our emotions as well as what nurtures us and makes us feel safe and secure. The Moon moves quickly through the sky and the zodiac, completing its journey approximately every 28–29 days. Then she begins her voyage all over again. The astrological signs are paired with one of the four elements. The Moon acts differently in each element and each one has a distinctive feel and wants to express itself in its own way. By paying attention to what sign the Moon is in on a particular day, you can tap into the sign and its element and work with it in a conscious manner.

The Moon in a Fire Sign
When the Moon travels through a fire sign, you can expect to feel more energized. Fire is hot, energetic, impulsive, passionate, and determined. You can be excited, ready to take a leap and just go for it. You may also feel more generous and want to share your joy and bounty with others. When the Moon is in a fire sign, you’re more apt to take a chance on something. You feel brave and courageous and a part of you wants to be seen, to be noticed. It can also be dramatic and burn you if you’re not careful. Let’s look at the signs that are ruled by fire.

When the Moon flies through the sign of Aries, you could use this energy to start a new venture! You feel inspired and enthusiastic about your ideas and are eager to get started. Your passion for a project or even the spark of an idea can help you begin, but if you don’t keep adding fuel to the fire, you could run out of steam. When the Moon is in Aries, you could be quick at initiating things but have a hard time finishing what you began. Try and persevere if you’re able, or delegate the rest of the job to someone who can run with it. Exercise is a great way to move fiery energy through your body. Any exercise that makes you feel alive and excited would feel fantastic.

When the Moon is in the sign of Leo, you could feel more playful. You may feel like you’re in a buddy movie and all you need is a supporting player, aka an admirer, to accompany you on the ride for some fun and adventure. You’re living in the moment and want to be noticed and celebrated. There’s a need to express yourself and say, “Here I am, world!” Getting the attention of others feels like a balm. You want to express yourself by creating something, whether it’s poetry, pottery, or telling a good joke. You need to say, “Look at me; see what I can do.” When the Moon is in Leo, you can feel more generous and supportive, wanting to give your friends a helping hand.

When the Moon rides through the sign of Sagittarius, you feel like you’re fired up and want to travel and explore. It could be the exploration of a new subject. You want to immerse yourself in learning something spiritual or mystical, or anything with a psychological framework. If you do decide to delve into a subject, it will be something that fascinates and inspires you. Maybe you feel the open road is calling your name. When the Moon is in Sagittarius, you could feel pulled in a few directions, as there are so many things to do, learn, and soak up. You feel like you’re on a quest to discover something big! Optimism and enthusiasm stoke your fire while you endlessly move and search for more.

The Moon in an Earth Sign
You can feel the shift when the Moon meanders through an earth sign. There’s a desire to build something substantial. It’s a good day to get things done. It’s really all about planning, making lists, organizing, doing chores, and working on projects. The adage “slow and steady wins the race” is fitting when speaking about earth energy. You want to get your hands dirty, to build something. It’s about perseverance and doggedness, wanting a tangible result after all the effort. It’s a great time to deal with the practicalities of life. Organizing parties, closets, and checkbooks can be easier when the Moon is in an earth sign. Getting in touch with your body, being stable and grounded helps you be present. You may take on a lot of responsibility when the Moon is in an earth sign. Remember to balance work with play and have some fun.

When the Moon is in the sign of Taurus, it has a sensual feeling. Touching and being touched is a nice use of this energy and feels fabulous. Going for a massage or any bodywork would be beneficial. Spend some time in nature by strolling through a forest or a park, or go out into your garden and feel the dirt between your fingers. There’s a desire to build something, to leave a legacy, to have something to show for your hard work. Taurus is ruled by Venus, so if you make money from your efforts, that’s a bonus. Venus is also about beauty and art, so sitting down to doodle, make jewelry, paint, sing, or any other artistic pursuit would bring its own rewards.

When the Moon is in the sign of Virgo, you may bolt out of bed to get started on that to-do list. Making lists and checking them off feels satisfying when the Moon makes its home here for a few days. Be conscious of taking on too many projects at once. It’s easy to get bogged down with too many details and think you’re not doing a good job. Let go of the need to be perfect and just get the job done. You may have an urge to clean the house—go for it. You can accomplish a lot when you follow the energy, tap into it, and use it constructively. Making nutritious meals to nurture yourself and others would be perfect, as Virgo is concerned with health matters. Studying up on a modality related to health concerns could be helpful. You never know when this information will come in handy.

When the Moon is in the sign of Capricorn, there’s more of a structured feel to the day. Again, you might want a list, but it’s all about business. How can you create more business or further your career? You need to contact the right people who can help you advance. There’s a more serious “get to work” vibe when the Moon is in the sign of the goat. It’s about putting one foot in front of the other and then doing it again and again. Career, money, advancement, and prestige take center stage. Capricorn energy is very dedicated and focused, so remember to schedule a coffee break during the day. It will all get finished, so don’t push yourself too hard.

The Moon in an Air Sign
When the Moon is in an air sign, the energy shifts gears—it’s quicker. It’s about communication and connection. It’s time to call up a friend to catch up. Since air is so fast, you may rush in with questions without waiting for a response. Remember to take a breath, slow down, and listen to what’s being said. You could write in a journal, give a lecture, sing—anything where you let your voice be heard in the most authentic way you can. Be curious, reading and studying a subject that captures your interest. Turn inward, listen to your intuition, let it guide you, and make a vision board of your hopes and dreams.

Working with the Moon in Gemini is easy and complicated at the same time. You could wake up and have a million great ideas, but if you don’t write them down or do something with them, they could just evaporate. That’s the thing with Gemini—you can easily get distracted. Pay close attention to your thoughts, and carry a notebook to write down all your ideas or use your phone to record a voice memo. You’re like a wordsmith, collecting information and sharing it with others. When the Moon is in Gemini, you should have no problem entertaining yourself; pick up a crossword puzzle or a sudoku puzzle to play with. There’s so much information on the internet and social media that discovering new ideas is not the problem; it’s learning when to shut it off. You may get information overload, and that’s when you might want to do something physical to shut off the noise and get out of your head.

Friendships and relationships take center stage when the Moon travels through Libra. Call up a friend and go for a coffee or just gab on the phone. This is the time when you’re drawn to be with others. Sharing stories, learning what’s happening in their lives—it’s what makes the world go ’round. When the Moon is in Libra, you crave harmony above all else. You want fairness and balance and go out of your way putting others’ wants and needs before your own. Remember, relationships are about an equal amount of give and take. I’m not saying you want to keep score, but pay attention if the scales seem unbalanced in any way. You might want to add some beautiful touches to your home at this time, a few special items that add a homey quality to your surroundings.

Freedom and excitement are calling your name when the Moon lands in Aquarius. The air has an electric quality to it, and you’re up for anything new and bizarre. If it’s got a bit of a weird or odd slant to it, all the better; it’s like it has your name written all over it. Socializing with groups, specifically the people closest to you, the ones who understand you, is part of the function of the Aquarian Moon. You could rebel and be argumentative for the fun of it or just because. A good use of this energy is to enjoy hanging out with friends or visit someplace you’ve never been before and explore.

The Moon in a Water Sign
Feelings abound when the Moon swims through a water sign. Your psychic antenna is tuned in to the frequencies of the watery Moon. Your sensitivity and emotions are amplified so much that you can’t distinguish if what you’re feeling actually belongs to you or to someone else. Water absorbs, and you can easily absorb other people’s feelings and energy. Learning to create good boundaries is vital to your health during this time. When the Moon is in a water sign, you may want to have some time alone to meditate or just sit quietly, turning inward. A watery Moon can bring your creativity to the surface. Listening to music can get your juices flowing and help your creativity. Tuning in to your body at this time is also great, either with meditation, yoga, qigong, swimming, or any exercise where you are bringing awareness to your activities.

When the Moon is in Cancer, spending time at home can look inviting. Having some time to yourself to retreat, rest, and rejuvenate is important for you to restore your energy sources. Whatever nurtures you is the perfect thing to do with the Cancer Moon. It could be cooking a favourite recipe that is comforting and nourishing. Maybe it’s curling up in a corner with your herbal tea and a good book or watching a favourite sentimental movie. You just want to slow things down and bring them down a notch—some quiet and solitude looks good about now.

The Scorpio Moon could bring up some intense feelings. Passions may run hot when the Moon is here. You could channel that heat by expressing it through dance or any physical activity, such as running, martial arts, or boxing. Another great outlet is sexual expression. Sexual expression is physical intimacy, but it’s also creation in all its forms. There are times when you want to know more about life and the secrets that it holds. Spend time exploring a subject where you find out more about human nature. Digging below the surface is one of the ways to tap into this energy. Another avenue is to be hypnotized. Some insights may be uncovered when you’re in a trance, and you never know where they could lead you. Think of the Scorpio Moon as a treasure hunt: so many things to explore and discover.

When the Moon is in the sign of the two fishes, Pisces, there is a dreaminess to this time. The veil is thinner, and you could get more intuitive hits during this time. Which makes this a fantastic time to write in a journal and see what messages come through after you meditate. It’s also the perfect time to play with tarot cards or any other divination tool that grabs you. You may want to think about keeping a dream journal by your bed to record your dreams; you never know what insights you’ll receive. Feelings of empathy and compassion may surface, as you want to help those in need. Ultimately, you want to connect with a higher power, whether you’re meditating, praying, or attending a spiritual or religious gathering.

Final Thoughts
Have fun playing with the Moon and the elements. Keep a journal and pay attention to how you’re feeling when the Moon transits a specific sign. Figure out your own particular way of communicating with the Moon. You’ll soon see a relationship building between the two of you. Above all, enjoy riding the lunar waves.

Excerpted from Llewellyn’s 2023 Moon Sign Book.

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Spirit Guide Communication
FEBRUARY 26, 2023 BY MAT AURYN

With the Sun in visionary Pisces and the Moon in Gemini (ruled by Mercury) for most of the day, this is an ideal time to connect with your spirit guides and open up those channels of clear communication.
This is a simple prayer to your help on the other side using the traditional offering of a white candle and a clear glass of water. Simply set out the glass of water and safely light your white candle, and with an earnest heart recite the following:

I call to those on the other side.
I call forth my highest spirit guides.
By this candlelight and a water libation,
Open the channels of clear
communication.
Spirit allies of integrity that I can trust,
May there always be a peaceful
bond between us.

Pay attention to any visions, synchronicities, and dreams for signs of guidance from your spirit allies. Extinguish the candle.
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Good Riddance Spell Banishing
FEBRUARY 25, 2023 BY DALLAS JENNIFER COBB

Aft er years of abuse, belittlement, and intimidation, I left my husband one February 25th. After years of compromising, trying harder, making peace, and doing more, better and faster, I came to the end of the enchantment. I was aware of what I hated in him. I said, “I’m not doing this anymore. I’m done.”

While many of us are in safe, secure relationships with people who love and cherish us, we all have situations with people, places, practices, or things where we need to break the spell of enchantment and be free.

To cast your own good riddance spell, you need pen and paper, a pinch of courage, a dash of self-worth, and a good measure of fortitude. Write down everything you hate about the person, place, practice, or thing. Feel the depth of despair. Crumple the paper, throw it in the garbage, and say:

Good riddance. I’m done. Be free.

Repeat daily if needed.
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Stop Gossip Spell
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 BY DEVIN HUNTER

The energy today is heavy in the air and fire elements, despite the Sun being in the early degrees of Pisces, a water sign. One of the things that can arise from this energy is a tendency to gossip, which can spread even faster than usual at this time. Cast this easy spell to freeze gossip in its tracks. All you need is a box of matches, a black pen, some water, and a container to put the spell in to freeze.

Hold the box of matches in your hands and think about the people spreading gossip, the rumors themselves, and how it makes you feel. Draw a big X on the inside of the box and say:

Not today, there is no way. I freeze this
from happening and all that you say!

Put the box of matches in the container, fill it with water, and freeze! Thaw it out once the threat has passed and throw away what remains of the matches.
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Seasons of Rebirth Spell
FEBRUARY 24, 2023 BY JAMES KAMBOS

In this ritual two elements, earth and water, are combined to honor the return of spring, the season of rebirth. Snow and ice may still dominate the landscape in many regions, but spring isn’t far away. You’ll need a garden hoe or shovel and a watering can. If you live in an apartment, you may use a dish of potting soil and an old spoon, or any suitable substitute.

Begin by going out to your garden or yard. Turn a small spot of earth with your hoe or shovel, just enough to loosen the soil. Then sprinkle the turned soil with some water. As you do so, say:

Water, combine with the earth.
Earth, combine with water.
May your union bring about
the season of rebirth.

Visualize yards and parks turning green and lush again. Put away your tools and wait for spring. It’ll be here before you know it!
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Manifestation SPell
FEBRUARY 22, 2023 BY CERRIDWEN IRIS SHEA

The number 22 is palindromic, which means it reads the same way backward and forward. It’s associated with making your deepest desires come true.

For this spell you will need:

  • 2 pieces of paper, to make a list
  • 2 small green candles in holders, rubbed with patchouli or rosemary oil
  • 2 moss agate stones
  • A firesafe dish
  • Matches

Write two identical lists of what you want to manifest over the next six months. Limit the list to three items, so it stays focused.

Light both candles, placing the stones in front of them.

Burn one list in the firesafe dish, visualizing the manifestation of your goals. Extinguish one candle when the list finishes burning. Let the other candle burn down safely.

Put the extinguished candle, the remaining list, and one stone in a safe place until the spell manifests. If you have more than one goal on your list, tear off each goal as it manifests, light the candle, and light that part of the list to burn in a firesafe dish, burning the candle all the way down when the final goal has manifested.

Carry the other stone with you until the spell manifests.
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Fat Tuesday Purge and Splurge
FEBRUARY 21, 2023 BY EMYME

This holiday is celebrated around the world the day before Lent begins. It’s a day of feasting before fasting. Approximately two to three months after Yule, it is a good time to begin a spring clean-out. Bake hot cross buns or a king cake, or prepare a nourishing soup and let it simmer. While working in the kitchen, purge any outdated items and unused or broken tools. Whether there is snow on the ground or you are in the middle of a heat wave, invite friends and loved ones over for the evening meal. Dress in green, gold, and purple. Send everyone home with a portion of the meal and a slice of cake or a bun.
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Charging Items with the Power of the Moon
FEBRUARY 20, 2023 BY JASON MANKEY

Witches love working with lunar energy. While we often are obsessed with full moons, we can sometimes overlook the subtle but powerful energy of the new moon. It’s a time of new beginnings, to refresh and to look inward. This is also a great time to charge our magical items.

Within the darkness of the night sky, the new moon is invisible to us, but it emits such a powerful aura for magical work! For this spell, all you need to do is take whatever items you feel need a good energetic cleanse and charge. It could be a piece of jewelry or even your wand or athame. Just after sunset, place your items in a safe space where they will be under a clear sky. Feel free to sit with your items and set the intention out loud that you are cleansing and charging them with new moon energy. Bring the items in the next morning and use them as you normally would.

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Heartwings Love Notes 1073 Small Economies for Big Savings

Heartwings says, “Paying attention to the truth behind advertising really helps.”

New Englanders have a reputation for thrift. “Use it up, make do, or do without” is one example of the thrifty frame of mind. Prices for everyday items like food, gas, and medicine rise every time payment comes due-or so it seems. These days thrifty habits are a necessity. A mindset that puts thrift at the forefront is extremely helpful to the budget.

I can remember my grandmother taking her foot off the gas to coast down hills. My mother found a way to use up every scrap of leftover food. I employed my old-fashioned meat grinder to grind up leftover lamb or beef for pot pies or casseroles. I have always made my own applesauce. Not only is it cheaper, it is more nutritious because I do not peel the apples before I cook them-putting them through a food mill once they have been the slow cooker overnight. I also use half cider, half water to simmer them but never any sugar.

Soup does come in cans, but the only kind I buy are the clam chowder we like. While I am reluctant to cook anything too labor intensive these days, I am happy to make my own soups with lentils or split peas. Leftovers, often combined in good ways, are used up creatively.

Normally nothing in my kitchen goes to waste. I’ve even discovered that fruit that seems overripe or to be going bad can be cooked up instead, sweetened, and used as syrup for pancakes, waffles, or plain cake. See if you can find a recipe for Cottage Pudding and bake up this inexpensive plain muffin style cake to serve with any sauce for an economical dessert. Email me if you can’t find one and I will give you my recipe from Fanny Farmer’s. That has many good, inexpensive, and helpful recipes and ways to sav

I get annoyed by the advertisements that want you to save money by spending it. It’s false economy to buy something on sale unless you really do need it. No matter how tempting the “sale” may be, if you don’t need it or are tempted to use it to replace something adequate that you already have, it’s no bargain. Spending to save is ridiculous. So is getting something “free” that will get more expensive later. Reading the small print is very important.

Once it was fashionable to be chubby. It meant you had plenty of money for food. Now it is fashionable to drive expensive cars, carry a trendy pocketbook or wear certain name brands of shoes. This is how people get corralled into running up credit cards that have exorbitant interest. I can say I get tempted too, yet I know how to resist. Being grateful for what I already have is my secret to keeping myself free of the urge to buy more. Of course, thrift stores are another way go, Think thrifty and save.

May you discover wonderful ways to economize that cause you no pain.

Blessings and best regards, Tasha Halpert

P.S. What’s your secret to saving? Write to me at reply on WordPress or at tashahal@gmail.com It’s a real treat to hear from readers, and I always answer.

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Angel Meditation

A meditation with your angels can provide a new gentleness into your normal meditation routine.

Though your host of spirit guides encompasses many diverse beings, all of which willingly watch over you, meditating with angels can be a uniquely insightful experience. The angels stationed at your side are both powerful and knowledgeable—they possess a limitless understanding of your needs and desires, your strengths and weaknesses, and your purpose. However, angels take an active part in our lives only when invited to do so. Meditation allows you to make contact with your angels and lovingly request that they participate actively in your day-to-day life.

To begin, retreat to a solitary place where you won’t be distracted by concerns. Incense and candlelight may aid you in achieving a meditative state but are not necessary. However, laying an image of an angel, angel statue, or item symbolizing your angels before you can focus your thoughts. Sit comfortably, breathe deeply, and let yourself relax. When you feel peaceful, invite your angels from the highest of light to sit with you as you meditate. Mentally repeat your request and reiterate that this time together is important to you. Then, in your mind’s eye, visualize a bright-white light floating above you. As you breathe, draw this light first into the crown of your head and then into the whole of your physical self. Allow this light to spread through your arms and hands, your core, and your lower body. Repeat this integration of illumination with a violet light.

Once again, ask your angels to be with you. Let the stillness surrounding you enter your soul, and open your heart to your angel guides. If they wish to communicate a message, they will do so now. Allow them to wrap their wings around you and infuse you with their bountiful love. Breathe them in as you did the light. As the meditation draws to a close, you may feel a presence, fluttering wings, or billowing fabric, or you may see an angel in your mind’s eye. Thank them for providing you with love and light, and being with you as you meditated. If you don’t sense or feel anything, there is no cause for worry—you can be certain your angels are with you. Don’t be surprised if you start to see signs throughout the day that your angels are near, perhaps a feather at your doorstep. As you practice this meditation, you will become increasingly adept at recognizing when your angels are near and sensing their presence.(

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9 Signs You’re Ungrounded

Present-day lifestyles leave us very little room to connect with the earth. In the days gone by, everyone lived on ‘earth’, in direct contact. They spent time in farms and forests or doing manual work. Today we live in high rise buildings, everything is mechanized, and depending on where you live, it may be between a few weeks to a few years before you last visited a forest or a farm. This coupled with the continuous usage of technology, leave our lower chakras extremely starved.

HERE ARE A FEW SIGNS THAT YOU NEED TO RECONNECT WITH THE EARTH.

  1. ‘I Don’t Belong Here’
    The main function of the root chakra is to establish a foothold. Without this, one is likely to feel a strong sense of lack of belonging. Many people with a very weak root chakra tend to get lost in alien theories, stories or visions of other realms, or chase a fantasy soul mate while ignoring their spouse. If you feel out of place on earth, in your society, in your family or even in your body, this is a sign you need to focus on grounding.
  2. Feeling Spaced Out
    An extreme lack of grounding leaves one feeling spacey and disoriented, almost like it is impossible to think. Being absent-minded is often a direct result of feeling spaced out, and one might end up repeatedly misplacing things, losing track of what one was just saying or doing, and forgetting important tasks. Another way this can manifest it when ends up bumping into objects repeatedly, and in extreme cases, meet with accidents.
  3. Highly Sensitized
    One consequence, of being very ungrounded, is that we become highly sensitized to sounds or light, and more uncomfortable, to the energy, thoughts or words of others. People that we perceive as negative, become very hard to handle and leave us feeling extremely low and polluted.
  4. Hard to Be Effective
    If you are finding it hard to concentrate on anything, you are ungrounded. This includes a lack of being able to focus on work and on conversations. Mundane tasks seem meaningless and unnecessary. Feeling tired all the time, and even more so when work needs to be done, is another clear sign.
  5. Daydreaming
    Find yourself staring into space, lost in thought? If you’re ungrounded, you are likely to find yourself continuously lost in fantasies about the future or thinking about unreal scenarios.
  6. Nervous
    The root chakra is associated with action and implementation and when it is weak, the subconscious knows that this aspect is going to falter and will cause stress, anxiety and a spaced-out feeling with the slightest pressure.
  7. Cannot Make Decisions
    A strong, stable root chakra gives one a good grip on the ground realities. Without this, it becomes very difficult to have confidence in one’s decisions.
  8. Erratic Sleep
    Too much energy in the upper chakras affects sleep. One might find changes in sleep patterns, lying wide awake at night for hours, or sleeping incessantly, if grounding is weak. Falling asleep during meditation is another common symptom.
  9. Weak Digestion
    A sudden lack of grounding can leave a person without any desire to eat, sometimes for weeks. Digestion needs downward moving energies, and when there is too much energy in the upper chakras and none in the lower ones, the body is incapable of processing any food. In contrast, when a person can eat large amounts of food and still remain skinny, that also indicates a lack of grounding – the body is unable to absorb any nutrients from the food due to lack of energy.

Article by Ashwita Goel, Reiki Master

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WIFE’S ASHES IN A TIN CAN
Queer Tale of a Crank

Wanted to Scatter Them from Washington Monument.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.

Gen. John M. Wilson, Chief of Engineers, United States Army, was sitting in his office in the War Department the other day when a person of very dubious aspect appeared in the doorway. It was a man, with clothing tattered and torn, a two weeks’ beard, and carrying an ordinary tomato can in his hand. A tramp, obviously; the tomato can, accepted as the emblem of Weary Willy in the comic papers, seemed to settle it. But the General is accessible to people of all ranks and conditions, and he bade the stranger walk in and tell his business.

“I’m in hard luck,” said the man, sitting down on the edge of a chair. As he did so he placed the tomato can on a corner of the Gen. Wilson’s desk.

The General assented, as much as to say that the confession was no surprise to him.

“I’ve been carrying this here can around for two weeks,” added the stranger, indicating the receptacle with his thumb.

“Indeed,” said the General, raising his eyebrows slightly.

“It contains the remains of my deceased wife,” the man continued, wiping one eye with the frayed tail of his coat. “She was cremated a fortnight back.”

“You don’t say so,” said the General, this time really surprised, and looking doubtfully at the tin can, as if he wished it somewhere else than on his desk.

“Fact, sir,” replied the stranger. “And her last request was that her remains should be disposed of in a genteel manner. I couldn’t afford an urn. You know one can have an urn at the crematory, but it’s awfully expensive. So I brought ‘em away in this can, and I’ve been carrying ‘em around for two weeks for want of knowin’ what to do with ‘em. Now, I’ve decided, and I’ve come to ask for a permit.”

“A permit for what?” asked the General.

“To chuck ‘em from the top of the Washington monument,” said the man, “and scatter ‘em to the four winds of heaven. That would be rather genteel, don’t you think?”

“I suppose it would,” assented the General with a gasp.

“They told me I’d have to come to you for a permit,” explained the stranger.

“No, sir,” responded Gen. Wilson, decidedly. “You can get no such permit here. The Washington Monument is not intended for burial purposes. Good day, sir.” The general said afterward. “Why, there was nothing in the world to prevent the man from scattering a bucketful of ashes from the monument if he wanted to do so. But if I granted a permit for such a thing, cranks from all over the country would be coming here to distribute the remains of their relatives from the top of the marble shaft. It would never do, indeed.”

Wheeling [WV] Register 25 September 1897: p. 6

Chris Woodyard is the author of The Victorian Book of the Dead, The Ghost Wore Black, The Headless Horror, The Face in the Window, and the 7-volume Haunted Ohio series.

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Becoming Your Parents

We may honor some traits from our parents, while rejecting others and becoming our own person.

Heredity plays a role in almost all human development, whether physical, mental, or emotional. We tend to look like our parents and are subject to the same sensitivities they have. We may even be predisposed to certain behaviors or preferences. As we grow older, we become increasingly aware of the traits that exist within us and the clear history of the traits of our mothers and fathers. Our response to this epiphany depends upon whether the inclinations, tendencies, and penchants we inherited from our forebears are acceptable in our eyes. We may honor some of these shared traits while rejecting others. However, there is no law of nature, no ethereal connection between parents and children, that states that the latter must follow in the footsteps of the former. We are each of us free to become whoever we wish to be.

When we accept that our parents are human beings in possession of both human graces and human failings, we begin to regard them as distinct individuals. And by granting mothers and fathers personhood in our minds, we come to realize that we, too, are autonomous people and in no way destined to become our relations. While we may have involuntarily integrated some of our parents’ mannerisms or habits into our own lives, conscious self-examination will provide us with a means to identify these and work past them if we so desire. We can then unreservedly honor and emulate those aspects of our mothers and fathers that we admire without becoming carbon copies of them.

Though many of the tempers and temperaments that define you are inherited, you control how they manifest in your life. The patterns you have witnessed unfolding in the lives of your parents need not be a part of your unique destiny. You can learn from the decisions they made and choose not to indulge in the same vices. Their habits need not become yours. But even as you forge your own path, consider that your parents’ influence will continue to shape your life—whether or not you follow in their footsteps. Throughout your entire existence, they have endeavored to provide you with the benefit of their experiences. How you make use of this profound gift is up to you.

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Trouble Sleeping? Consider This Scent
~Dr. Weil

If you experience anxiousness or troubled sleep, but don’t want to use prescription or over-the-counter sedatives, consider jasmine. Researchers have found that the scent of jasmine is as effective as Valium and similar drugs for relieving anxiety, promoting more peaceful sleep, and reducing anxiety upon waking. Jasmine fragrances were even shown to have the same neurochemical mechanism of action as barbiturates, without the groggy, hungover feeling in the morning.

You can get the benefits of jasmine by taking a warm bath or shower with jasmine-scented soaps before bedtime, spraying your bedding with an essential oil like jasmineprior to getting in, or placing a diffuser containing jasmine in your bedroom. Make sure you use products that have actual jasmine as one of, if not the only ingredient and not just the scent or essence of jasmine.

Other recommendations for getting quality rest include paying attention to your sleep hygiene – don’t drink anything containing caffeine or alcohol for several hours before bedtime, keep your bedroom at a comfortably cool temperature, reduce screen time as you start winding down for the night and make sure there is minimal or no light where you sleep. It’s also helpful to moderate your intake of refined sugars and carbohydrates. Also try to spend time outdoors (especially in the morning light) and continue to be active throughout the day.

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Murder In Grafton Center, Part 4 by Stephen Halpert

The next morning it rained. I sat in the breakfast nook of my second-floor apartment on Marlborough Street reading the morning Globe. On the obituary page it said Bob’s Memorial Service was scheduled for Saturday at the Unitarian Church in Grafton Center.
I warmed my raspberry Danish and brewed a pot of French roast. The doorbell rang.
Sonny Burke stood there looking soaked. “It’s a deluge out there.” She smiled, came in, shed her rainwear, and proceeded to check out my humble abode. “I love this apartment. If you ever decide to move to Cambridge, I’ll sublet from you.”
I laughed. “Never happen. Susan likes her own space and I like having mine.”
She turned and looked at me very intently. “Do you think Bob died of natural causes?”
“I haven’t decided.” I gestured toward the leather club chair by the window. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
“The chief wanted you to see this.” She reached into her red leather bag and handed me a blue memory stick. “Bob’s computer was hacked. Many of his files were deleted. Take a look.”
“How’d you get this?”
“After you came back up from his office with that wench hanging from your arm we went downstairs. Bob’s computer was on. The chief downloaded his hard drive. And guess what? All the correspondence and research about Honey Acorn Cordial was missing.” She sighed. Her face brightened. “Is that coffee I smell?”
“Want a cup?”
“Thanks.” She sat down and looked out over Marlborough Street.
I served us two cups of French Roast and a plate of warmed raspberry Danish. Then I inserted the memory stick into my computer.
“Did you notice anyone coming up from the basement just before or after I did?”
“No. Why?” She looked at me, eyebrows raised.
I told her about my sensing someone leaving Bob’s office. Then I mentioned Tony Staccato’s interest in Bob’s death.”
Sonny frowned. “Why would a Revere mob boss care about the death of a resident of Grafton?”
“Why indeed?”
The rain beat harder against the windrows.
As she had said, the contents of the Honey Acorn Cordial folder were deleted along with a few dozen other documents. I looked up at Sonny. “Feel like taking a ride?”
“In this rain?” She grinned. “Sounds romantic, but only if I can drive my new Volvo. Where to?”
“Grafton Center.” I got my raincoat.
Sonny giggled. “You look like Dick Tracy in that.”
As we were nearing exit 11 on the Pike Sonny said, “Don’t look back but we’re being followed. About five car lengths back, it’s the same maroon SUV I saw parked across the street from your apartment.”
But when we turned onto Brigham Hill Road, the SUV stayed on route 122. The rain had stopped.
Bob’s friend and neighbor Ernest Dickens lived at the top of Wild Elk Road. Sonny’s GPS said it was a simple left off Brigham Hill Road. What it failed to convey was that Wild Elk Road was a steep unpaved quarter-mile incline carved into the side of a small mountain.
Sonny downshifted adroitly. We pulled up to a rundown shack near a solid one-story brick building with small slits for windows. An old man with a tanned, wrinkled face sat in a rocker on the dilapidated porch. He wore a Red Sox tee shirt, jeans, and red sneakers. His face was turned up to the sky.
We got out and approached him. The place was surrounded with twisted thorny bushes covered in bees. He pressed his index finger to his lips. “Best not to make a sound until we know what the spirits have to say.”
Sonny’s eyes brightened. “You talk to spirits?”
“When they want to talk to me, I do. Sometimes they make me wait a long time though.”
He looked at us, squinted into the emerging sun and rocked. “Are you Tony Staccato?”
“No! I’m Spencer, a friend of Bob’s.”
Dickens nodded and looked upward. “Bob said his friends would be stopping by.” He reached into a canvas sack beside the rocker, pulled out two bottles with ornate labels and handed one to each of us. The designed label read Honey Acorn Cordial. He grinned at Sonny and said conspiratorially. “The squirrels know the secrets of the acorns.”
“Secrets?” she asked.
He chortled. “Prometheus is reborn by their power.” He pointed at the long low brick building. “But Bob’s gone. Left me holding the bag.” He looked into the sky and mumbled incoherently.
Then he grinned and looked mischievously at Sonny. “You learn a lot when you tend the bees and oversee the gathering of the acorns.”
He waved at the low brick building. “Got enough made up to sell exclusively to that cruise line for years. Only Bob never told me where it’s supposed to be shipped.”
My cell phone chimed. It was Jenkins. “Just got a call from Inspector Mallory in Grafton Center. Patience Worthington drowned in Bob’s pond earlier this morning.”
“How does someone drown in four feet of muddy water?”
“I asked Mallory that same question. He said it could happen anywhere. Someone goes wading, falls, hit their head on a rock, losses consciousness, and drowns. Simple as that.”
“I don’t buy it.”
“Neither do I but right now there isn’t any evidence to the contrary.”
(To be continued)

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=^..^=

How to Give a Cat a Bath and Survive!
By Catster

Do cats need baths? Sometimes. If your cat truly needs a bath, here’s how to give a cat a bath as quickly and efficiently as possible.

One would think that any creature that can so beautifully emulate the flow of water would not harbor such a longstanding hatred and fear of it. The fact is, most domestic cats do not enjoy getting wet. Some will even lift their noses at the thought of walking over a damp floor. So, do cats need baths and how do you bathe a cat? Let’s review how to give a cat a bath.

Why Do Most Domestic Cats Hate Water?
Before looking at how to give a cat a bath, let’s look at why our domestic kitties hate water. In the wild, there are many species of big cats that actually enjoy the water. Tigers and jaguars like to soak in water, most likely because their usual habitat is in a hot environment and it helps keep them cool. Tigers will actually swim in deep water and they have been observed catching fish.

Domestic cats may have evolved to dislike water because most breeds have coats that absorb rather than deflect moisture. It’s harder for them to get dry after they’re soaked.

Do Cats Need Baths?
The next question that comes up when wondering how to give a cat a bath — do cats actually even need baths in the first place? In most cases, a cat would not need to be washed with water. Cats groom themselves naturally, so regular brushing is usually enough to keep your pet looking clean and comfortable.

However, there are occasions when knowing how to give a cat a bath is necessary. They may have soiled themselves in the litter box. Cats have been known to try to climb up the inside of a chimney. Perhaps you’ve just adopted a new cat and she’s home from the animal shelter for the first time. Sometimes you will need to know how to give a cat a bath if you’re using flea or fungicidal medications.

How to Give a Cat a Bath — Have These Supplies on Hand
The best answer for how to give a cat a bath is to make it quick and efficient. Ensure you have all the necessary supplies handy before you start:

Rubber gloves (even the most placid feline may scratch during a bath)
Cat shampoo (various brands available at pet stores or supermarkets)*
A large pitcher for rinsing or (even better) a gentle spray nozzle
A large towel
Cotton balls to clean the ears
A small cloth to clean the face

It’s best if you have the time to purchase a shampoo specifically formulated for cats. Virbac is a good brand that many veterinarians recommend, and it comes in medicated, hypoallergenic and antibacterial varieties. If you don’t have any cat shampoo, a mild baby shampoo may be used. You don’t want to use any other kinds of human cleaning products, as it may sting your cat’s eyes or irritate her skin.

How to Give a Cat a Bath — Step by Step
It’s much easier to wash your cat in a kitchen or bathroom sink than bending over a bathtub. The following is a step-by-step procedure for how to give a cat a bath.

Fill the sink with about 2 or 3 inches of lukewarm water.
Wet the cat from the shoulders to the tail and apply shampoo.
Just like your own hair, lather and rinse thoroughly.
Since most cats really hate having water splashed on their face, use a damp washcloth to gently clean your cat’s head.

Use a cotton ball to clean inside the cat’s ears. Never put any kind of object (not even a Q-Tip) in your cat’s ear.

After a thorough rinsing, lift your cat onto a large towel and fold it around her.
Rub as much water from her fur as possible.

Longhaired cats may require the use of a blow dryer, but only if the noise does not terrify them. Set it on low and see if the cat will tolerate it.

What to Do If You Can’t Bathe Your Cat
Still baffled on how to give a cat a bath but think your cat could really benefit from a bath? If you absolutely can’t bear the thought of washing your own cat and want to make sure they hold someone else to blame for the experience, you can choose to bring kitty to a groomer or a pet care clinic or store where they provide grooming services. Costs will range from $20-$50 and will include services such as shampoo and blow dry, trimming, ear cleaning and nail clipping. There are even mobile pet grooming vans in large urban areas now that have a complete grooming facility right inside the van. These services cost a bit more, but they come right to your door.

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, February 26, 2023
All Signs

March will be a busy month. This week however, is a mixed bag with lots of promise. At the beginning of the week, (Mon., Tues & Wed.) we have excellent days for productivity. Vroom, vroom! The rest of the week is for fabulous socializing. In fact, Thursday night is one of the best times of the year to grab your main squeeze and do something dazzling because Venus is lined up with lucky Jupiter, and this will boost warm feelings in all relationships, especially romantic ones. This also indicates possible, financial windfalls! What’s not to like? Ah yes, living well is all about timing. Speaking of which, I think it’s time for a little nosh.

Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is an amazing week for you even though the Sun is actually hiding in your chart, waiting for your birthday to arrive. Nevertheless, fair Venus and lucky Jupiter are perfectly lined up this week in your sign. This is something that can only happen once every 12 years. Enjoy your good fortune! This is wonderful for all relationships because it makes you optimistic, eager, outgoing warm and friendly. It also improves your good luck! It will also enhance and attract romance to you. You will want to indulge yourself, which is why you might go overboard buying beautiful things for yourself and others. But hey, you only live once. (At least, in this body.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This is definitely a feel-good week for you. It’s also a productive week, especially in the first three days, because you will want to join forces with others in group activities to accomplish a lot. You’re willing to work hard and you’re also willing to spend the money to get what you want. Later in the week, secret love affairs will flourish. But in fact, all relationships will be mellow, harmonious and rewarding. This is an excellent time to talk to bosses and people in authority because they will listen to you. Your track record has been astounding since 2020. Yes, there have been challenges and even losses but on the whole, you have broadcasted success to the world.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Oh my! It doesn’t get much better than this. The Sun is sitting at the top of your chart, casting you in a flattering spotlight. “You look mahvellous dahling.” Meanwhile, fair Venus and lucky Jupiter are lined up in your House of Friendships, promoting warm, wonderful interactions with everyone. (Oh yes, everyone wants to see your face.) Meanwhile, fiery Mars is still in your sign boosting your energy and confidence. Some of you might travel. All of you will easily get your way this week. Enjoy top productivity; praise from bosses and VIPs; successful relations with friends and groups; plus romantic escapades! In fact, a platonic relationship could become very cozy.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
The celestial heavens are blessing you this week! Venus and Jupiter are lined up together at the top of your chart, which means you look fabulous to others, especially bosses, parents, VIPs and the police. People see you as successful, charming and capable. You will attract favours and money to you. You definitely have the ability to push through a deal or reach for the impossible. Meanwhile, the Sun continues to urge you to travel and explore opportunities in medicine, the law, higher education, publishing and the media. Discussions about shared finances and shared property will be favourable. Do something different to expand your world!

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
This is one of the best weeks of the year to travel for pleasure for Leos. Because you have this wonderful opportunity — use it! You will love wherever you go. If you can’t travel far, then take short trips. You’ll enjoy meeting people and hanging out with groups whether they’re the locals or a conference you’re attending. Some of you might strike up a romance with someone from another culture or a different country. You have lots of energy to connect with others; in fact, you’re feeling competitive. Meanwhile, privately, your passion is smouldering – almost obsessively so. Enjoy talking to others, especially partners and close friends. Younger people will entertain and amuse.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Mars at the top of your chart continues to arouse your ambition and give you the energy to go after what you want. You definitely prefer to be your own boss right now. (Admittedly, your ambition might be a bit threatening to others.) Meanwhile, back in the vault, the two planets most associated with money are both lined up in one of your Money Houses. Ka-ching! You might inherit. Gifts, goodies, cash and favours from others might come your way. This is the best week all year to discuss how to divide an inheritance or deal with shared property because you will come out smelling like a rose. This is also a passionate, romantic time for you with a strong emphasis on partnerships. (Mom always liked you best.)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Although this is a wonderful week to schmooze, and you are a very social sign, please take note that the first three days of this week are highly productive. Furthermore, you’re ready to work! Make an ambitious To Do list and get busy. After Wednesday, pivot dramatically and make plans to socialize. Your ruler Venus will be lined up with Jupiter opposite you promoting fun-loving, warm relations with partners, spouses and close friends. Meanwhile, Mars continues to make you adventurous and eager to explore new ideas and see new places. This is quite a fabulous week. Do get out of bed. Get dressed. Grab your glad rags because you’ve got places to go and things to do!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
This is the perfect week for you to work hard and party hard. All your efforts to work with others and achieve what you want will be successful because both Venus and Jupiter are planets associated with money and success and they are in your House of Employment. You can’t go wrong. Work-related travel is likely for many of you. Expect success working with groups. You might get a raise, certainly praise. Meanwhile, back on the Strip, the Sun is in one of the most playful parts of your chart bringing you lots of opportunities to party, enjoy sports events, the arts, social outings and playful activities with kids. You can’t go wrong!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This is a great week for you because your ruler lucky Jupiter is lined up with Venus in the part of your chart that is all about romance, parties, sports, the theatre, the arts, socializing and interacting with children. All the fun stuff! Be bold about going after new love. Since you have a strong focus now on home, family and your private life, you will enjoy entertaining at home. You will also enjoy increased involvement with children as well as arts and crafts. You might travel for a good time – a quick vacation or tickets to a concert in another city. Meanwhile, short trips and chances to learn something new through courses or training programs will intrigue you.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This week you have excellent moneymaking ideas, which means you can hustle on Mon., Tues. & Wed. to work hard and boost your income. Because your communication skills are hot, this is also a great time for those of you in sales, marketing, teaching, acting and writing. You will run the meeting. Meanwhile, you will enjoy redecorating your home and making it more beautiful in some way. You will also enjoy inviting people over so that they can admire your clever ideas. In fact, all matters related to real-estate deals and real-estate speculation will favour you this week. Later in the week, invite friends and family over for good food and drink because these occasions will be a success. You’ll be proud.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
This is a busy, fun-loving week for you. With Mercury in your sign, you’re ready to talk to everyone; however, quite likely, your mind will jump from topic to topic very quickly because your focus of attention will change constantly. Get out and travel if you can because this will stimulate you. However, when you travel (or not) you are bound to meet new people and see new places because Jupiter and Venus are lined up in the part of your chart that will stimulate your everyday activities. You will be enthusiastic, optimistic and eager to talk to others. Plus, you have moneymaking ideas! This is a great week to schmooze with others and enjoy good times.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Many people will enjoy socializing this week, and you will be one of them. Nevertheless, roll up your sleeves and get busy because you can boost your income this week. Oh yes, you can get richer because the two planets that are associated with money (Venus and Jupiter) are both lined up in your Money House. (It doesn’t get better than this.) Not only can you boost your income or get richer in some way, you might buy things that really please you. Some of you might enjoy travel for business. All of you will be inclined to extravagance and spending money for a good time. The first three days of the week will be your most productive opportunity. After that, it’s time to celebrate!
Weekly Horoscope:2023 Annual Forecasts are now available.

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Weekly Horoscopes Beginning Sunday, 26 February 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: For some weeks you’ve managed to avoid discussing certain matters, primarily because you knew how dull dealing with them would be. Only now are you realising they involve increasingly urgent plans that influence you and others. The fact is, the longer you wait, the more time-consuming the actual situations will be. Tackle these now, but keep this in mind for the future as well.

An ex will be in touch wanting to make a fresh start with you. This is because they are feeling alone and they’re slightly resentful of how well you have done since you split up. Take care of your health just like you urge others you are close to, to take care of themselves. Consider the food you eat, what you drink and what type of environments you spend your time in; even think about the beauty products you use and what you wear.

Monday’s First Quarter Moon is at the exact same degree that Mars stationed on January 12 and reasonable to expect an echo from that time. Decisions should now move to their next stage now that you have so much more information. True, at one level it could feel that you’re moving through quicksand. With Saturn moving over the very last degrees of Aquarius, you might wonder if a group can ever pull together and shape up. Yet Jupiter is now in your sign and if anyone can galvanise the troops, surely you can. Yes, you might need to modify your aims. However, with the enormous changes that should come in March as both Saturn and Pluto move into new areas of the zodiac, you could yet ‘direct traffic’. The art this week may be to accept that certain individuals are clinging onto rules and regulations that are past their sell by date but persuade them that review is essential.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: On last Monday, the 20th, your ruler Venus moved into the most strategic, and reflective, angle of your chart. Since then, you’ve been giving serious thought to certain matters that, deep down, you were hoping would vanish. Since then, you’ve learnt a lot. The resulting insights helped you to spot, and deal with several persistent blind spots, that is, issues you’ve ignored, in the hope that they’ll simply vanish.

You’re finding any excuse in the book to avoid making a decision regarding a joint matter. This is something you have been putting off for a while and this means you have given it plenty of thought. It is time now to make an informed choice drawing on both your intellect and your intuition. Your ability to engage people in a special way will attract someone or something into your life that will bring you happiness.

It would be all too easy for others to tune into your resolute, determined and yes, arguably stubborn side this week. There’s high probability that as Mercury aligns with Saturn at the apex of your solar chart (a conjunction in this area of the zodiac won’t recur for the best part of three decades), that others could experience you as intransigent and difficult; and yet, this may be the moment when you make a key decision and accept that the time is right to move on. In fact, you could even lay down the steps needed to see the graceful conclusion of a way of working and celebrate the arrival of a new system. In just a couple of weeks’ time it’s Pluto’s turn to arrive at the all-important career centre for Taurus. Upheaval and transformation will come. Accepting – and preparing for – the inevitable may be what this week is about.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: On 20 August of 2022, fiery Mars moved into Gemini for an unusually long stay, triggering a cycle of both personal reflection but, also a review of what, and who, brings you joy. This continues until late March. There’s no better time to tackle past issues you’ve regarded as overwhelming. You’ve already dealt with many. Better yet, you’re confident you’ll be able to conquer the rest.

You and a close friend are growing apart. Your needs and interests are different now and you are starting to feel bored repeating activities you once enjoyed together. If you decide it is time to move on, make sure you explain this in as nice a way as possible. They will try to persuade you to stay. Stand firm in your boundaries. Are you single? Someone will show interest in wanting to be with you but they may have obligations elsewhere.

Monday’s First Quarter Moon is interesting in that it’s at exactly the same degree that Mars turned direct in your sign on January 12. Taking a moment to review progress made since then would be wise. It could be that you need to open up new lines of communication. Toward the end of this week, Mercury and Saturn align in Aquarius for the final time in just under three decades. This very likely marks a ‘contractual’ moment. It also coincides with Venus’ alignment with Jupiter, and may be a moment when you take centre stage. If you’ve been withdrawn for any reason, putting yourself out there and declaring the next steps you’re willing to take – and the responsibility you’re happy to carry seems likely. For those who have been involved in long drawn-out negotiations, note too that this week should see light appearing at the end of the tunnel.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: Obviously, you’d rather discuss and bring an end to certain ongoing tensions now. However, you may be better off waiting until after the Full Moon, on March 7th, which brings those issues and, both your feelings and those of others, to a head. What you learn will clear the air, and make it much simpler to deal with the matters in question once and for all.

You need to feed your mind. No matter what your age, you are never too old to learn something new. Experimenting with new interests and activities will put you in touch with skills you never knew you had. If this means unlearning an old way of being, so be it. You are not who you were in the past and you will not be who you are going to be in the future. Stay receptive to learning.

Monday’s First Quarter Moon is interesting in that it is the exact degree that Mars turned direct on January 12. Matters that appeared to come to a conclusion should now come back for quick review. This should not be viewed as negative. Recall, that in just a couple of weeks’ Saturn enters another of the Water signs. Your expertise will be recognised and suggested that you accept a new job title. This could give you something to celebrate. With the makeup of certain teams and groups altering, you may find that you are asked to take on a position of authority. With involvement in educational projects also on the horizon, anticipate involvement in either the creation of qualifications or the checking up that someone has the requisite paperwork. In fact, following a paper trail seems to be one of this week’s main themes.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: As a quick-thinking fire sign, you’re usually the first to spot and find solutions for even tricky situations. Now, however, the difficulties you’re facing involve others, and mean discussing issues in detail. The problem? They’ll take forever getting to the point, which, in turn, leads to delays. The secret? Let them take the time they need to. In the meanwhile, deal with other, equally pressing, matters.

Something is brewing and you can sense this. What this will lead to is a choice you have to make between your head and your heart. Take your time to make this decision and be sure to consider both sides carefully. You are determined to reach a special goal and you never expected this to be easy. There will be obstacles to overcome before you get there and you are ready for these. You don’t intend to let anything stand in your way.

It would be understandable if, as Saturn crossed the last few degrees of your opposite sign, Aquarius, if others didn’t try to dump responsibility on your shoulders. Expect to be asked to do more. Yet you’ve likely given enough and now have clear idea of your way forward and should not be deflected. First thing is to make a list of priorities. In just over a months’ time, it’s Pluto’s turn to move through Aquarius. This will bring further upheaval which should be exciting; but yes, power issues could be at play. Again, it seems important that you list priorities and specifically, where and how you want to be living and working by your birthday.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: Usually you’ll avoid even making plans unless the facts are clear. However, recently you’ve had to compromise, which has meant regarding even crucial arrangements as tentative. While this has been annoying, it’s also given you a chance to explore options that, previously, you’d never have considered. In fact, those obstacles are forcing you to broaden your horizons, in wonderful if unexpected ways.

It will be upsetting to discover a close friend or relative has been having a tough time without receiving any support. Had you known what they were up against, you would have been there for them. They didn’t want to bother anyone which is why they chose to endure this situation on their own. Now you know about it, you will do all you can to help. It may be necessary to add to your skill set in order to be considered for a plum assignment.

This is a curious week in that the First Quarter Moon accents the position held by Mars at its recent direct station. It should be a useful exercise to go back to all that’s occurred since January 12 and assess the viability of continuing with certain projects. All they might need is for others to take on a more responsibility. The task this week may be to coerce those people to moving into a position where they feel able and willing to do precisely that. A strong possibility is that a new alliance can be forged before Friday. ‘New’ in the sense that this would be a different working platform but yes, probably with someone you’ve been working with for the last couple of years. If you stand back, you might accept that they’ve come a long way in that time and have gained expertise.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: You don’t think of yourself as a perfectionist until you realise how little thought most people give to keeping existing arrangements going and, equally, to new plans. However, judging by the unsettled planetary influence, you’re wise to take things slowly. The trick? The turning point is the Libra Full Moon, on 6 April. Make whatever plans you must, but until then, regard them as an experiment.

Someone you are with is more focused on making a lot of money than building better relationships. Is this a person you really want to form a more intimate bond with? Are you single? It might be a good idea to create the life you want for yourself before adding another person to it. It will be necessary to go through all the paperwork and read contracts carefully before agreeing on an important business deal.

An action replay of a recent crisis is unlikely. However, it might be useful to think back to January and the negotiations that took place then. More discussion in the light of recent developments may be necessary. You and a significant colleague may be on the threshold of a new pattern of working. This could and should be super exciting. Yes, there will likely be teething issues. However, the alignment of Venus and Jupiter in your opposite sign – coinciding with Mercury and Saturn aligning in another of the Air signs, suggests a new contract can be put in place. In moving forward, you could also be free of some of the pressures of the last couple of years.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: Only days ago, you were convinced you’d found a solution, both for past issues and more recent unsettling developments. However, with things moving so swiftly, this won’t have lasted for long. While, in the short term, that’s frustrating, the more certain of these arrangements change, the better. Knowing that, forget about finding a single, lasting, solution. Instead, make an effort to be flexible as possible.

A task you are now tackling will turn out to be far more difficult than expected. You have been deliberately misled about what needs to be done. Had you been told the full picture you would never have accepted the job. Seek help and share important information with those who can be of assistance. You have an incredible ability to solve problems but obsessing over details can be mentally exhausting. Don’t overthink things. Follow your heart.

If it seems as though all is a mess, think back to early January. You’ve no doubt accomplished much since January 12 when Mars, one of your ruling planets turned direct. True, it might seem that you’re still going back over old ground situation. That though will alter in the coming weeks. This week, and for the final time in almost 3 decades, Mercury and Saturn align at the base of your solar chart. View this as a final foundation stone. As of next week, you start to build up. Those foundation stones are important. They need to be built on good knowledge. This week may be about discerning who provides the best. With Venus and Jupiter aligning too, this marks a new cycle obviously for all signs. In your case, you may find that although extra work is headed your way, that there is someone (an Aries or Leo?) who wants to help. You could yet form a formidable working partnership.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: You’ve no objection to changes, even those that are sudden or unsettling. True, others complain. However, you find they add excitement and encourage further exploration. The problem? Others are eager for things to be settled, so they can focus on other matters. The secret? Explore, and with enthusiasm. If you’re so inclined, venture into unfamiliar territory. Just don’t mention it to those who’re eager to settle plans swiftly.

You have high hopes of achieving a special aim. Your enthusiasm continues to be high but if you burn the candle at both ends, this could have an adverse effect on your health. Accept the need to lower your sights. One thing you could do to protect your health and well-being is to plan your schedule so you can take regular breaks. A business deal that fell through earlier in the month could be back on again.

You know that fire reaches out to anything it can burn? It’s probable that you (fiery Sag) are already reaching out. Yet it may be that you’re reaching for something that is water-sodden. True, this could give you more control. Even so, caution would be wise. There’s high probability that alteration in your domestic affairs will come as Saturn moves on into Pisces. This could be a good thing – a welcome change. Certainly, an emotional shift seems likely. Careerwise you may find that you are alerted to opportunities that simply didn’t exist a couple of years ago. One of Sagittarius great gifts is building on expertise: you know how to archive information and bring it out when it’s called for. With the conclusion of one project, you could then put knowledge to good use as you prepare to launch a new schedule.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: Do you feel like doing some editing, that is, getting rid of unrewarding elements of your life? If so, you’re in tune with the coming planetary setup. This ensures your mind is clear and you’re travelling light when, on 7 March, your ruler Saturn makes a rare move into a new sign and into a new position in your astrological chart. The lighter you’re travelling, the better.

You aren’t sure where you stand with someone. This is making you feel as if you are in limbo. On thinking about it, you may have given more to this relationship than you have received. If you’re left in a situation where you are hoping to receive a message or invitation to meet up, ask yourself who is controlling who? Why don’t you respond in a way that leaves them waiting for a change?

Your workload has likely substantially increased. It may be that those who were supposed to carry certain responsibilities have been unable to do so. This in part might be due to what you perceive to be as incompetence. For their part, they may feel unsupported. As Saturn crosses the last few degrees of Aquarius, it would be understandable if grievances have built up over the last couple of years need to be aired. In particular, a conversation that took place mid-January, seems set to come back for review. A Gemini, Libra or Aquarius may feels you could have done more and/or it that you’ve been insufficiently willing to consider new approaches. You could wrongfoot someone in the second half of the week by showing that not only did you listen, but that you can improve on some of the ideas that were presented.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: Usually you’ve no problem disagreeing with others. In fact, you enjoy the resulting debate; but now, suddenly, it’s clear your thoughts and ideas are too far out for others to deal with. For now, state your case once, then quietly back off. This gives others time to think but, also, it allows events to catch up with the instincts behind your decisions.

Be honest with yourself and share your truth with others. This will make for honesty and sincerity in all relationships. Release relationships that do not allow you to be yourself for these interfere with your reality. You are pretending to be someone you aren’t. Being genuine will allow your spirits to soar. Later there may be some mix-ups regarding travel arrangements but you had been half-expecting this to happen.

Eyes may be on you and decisions that you took mid-January. You may now be called to account. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but ideas that you presented them, have likely reached their next stage. Now you have to show how they can be made to work practically. Recall that Saturn moves into Pisces in just a couple of weeks’ time. You may be asked to work with a tighter budget than before. Constraints are more likely than not. Yes, you might reasonably think that with Saturn about to leave your sign, that the reins would be off. Different reins might now be applied. This week, and in conversation with a Gemini, you come up with plans to diversify. The potential for increasing earnings should be obvious. This though, might require a redesign or refit: something to be discussed in the second half of the week.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Epigram: The Sun may have moved into Pisces over a week ago, on the 18th, but you’re still catching up with a range of timely issues. In some cases, you were short of facts, but in several you didn’t realise how important they were. Now that you do, you’ll keep track of the actual circumstances and, even more, on the manoeuvres of certain unreliable individuals.

At times it might feel as if something is missing in your life. There have been disappointments but don’t dwell too long on these. Don’t feel as if you are stuck in a rut and there is nothing you can do about it. Join a group where like-minded people get together to share hobbies and interests, they all enjoy. A visit to or from an old friend you don’t often get to see will go well. A relationship that has been long neglected could start to blossom again.

It might help to imagine that there is an inspection of some kind due at the beginning of March. Preparing for that is this week’s big theme. Archiving may be involved. There is also the strong possibility of selling items that are no longer wanted or loved. Monday’s Last Quarter Moon picks up a theme from mid-January. If there was a crisis then, anticipate an echo. It should only be minor – or even an interesting steppingstone on the way to resolution. Involvement in matters of health seems more likely than not. There again, it would surely help to read up as much as you can. This isn’t about becoming Dr Google, but being as informed as possible before an expert suggests alteration to your diet.

https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
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Introduction to Energy Healing
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Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healingLearn with GrannyMoon!
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Teach a witch a spell and she can do that spell. Teach a witch the craft and she can do magick!

GrannyMoon, Teaching the Craft for over 20 years!

“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

http://GoddessSchool.com
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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons Weekly Feast : 19 Feb 2023

Spend time every day listening to what your muse is trying to tell you. ~Saint Bartholomew

Thanks for reading my blog! https://grannymoon.wordpress.com/

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again
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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: New Moon ~ The beginning of a new cycle.

Keywords for the New phase are: beginning, birth, emergence, projection, clarity.

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona

The New Moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting.

Magickal Attributes: Invoking. Workings On This Day Are For Starting New Ventures, New Beginnings, Love, Romance, Health Or Job Hunting.

It is the time in a cycle that you are stimulated to take a new action. During this phase the new cycle is being seeded by your vision, inner and outer. Engage in physical activity. Spend time alone.

VISUALIZE your goals for the 29.6-day cycle ahead. New Moon workings can be done from the day of the New Moon to three-and-a-half days after.

The New Moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health or job hunting.

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What’s Happening?
FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 18 – MARCH 17 – CELTIC MONTH ASH MOON
The ash is strength and power. Learn how to make a besom from ash.

20: New Moon in Pisces

21: Parentalia Ends

21: Mardi Gras Day – Fat Tuesday is the last day of the Carnival season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The official start of Carnival Season is Twelfth Night, January 6. This holiday focuses on quiet, personal reflection. It is also a time to honor the ancestors.

MAY
Virginia Psychic Fair 2023
Sun, May 7, 2023, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Elks Lodge, 8421 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22031
Special Metaphysical Event.

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Mar 5
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Mar 12
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Mar 19

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!
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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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NEW MOON FEBRUARY 20, 2023 IN PISCES
https://cherokeebilliespiritualadvisor.com/

New Moon February 20, 2023 in Pisces

The February New Moon will be the third new moon of the winter 2022-2023 season. It will be the third and last new moon after the Winter Solstice in 2022.

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.

The February 2023 New Moon will be called the New Worm Moon because it is the start of the March Full Moon lunar cycle. This is something new for me as I’ve not heard this name for the February New Moon before. Depending on the year the name will change. The name is fitting for the season because while it’s part of Winter, we’re getting closer to spring.

This New Moon represents a time of giving back to the world and sharing the gift of hope. In today’s world being generous of spirit and giving and inspiring people to have hope is critical. We have gone through many changes over the last few months and now that we are way past the holidays we can start looking at the world in a new light. The light of love!

New moons are always about planting new beginnings and this Moon is urging us to plant love and hope back into the world. New moons are always optimistic. It is a time to cleanse your spiritual and emotional self. When you do a cleansing you are making room for new opportunities and growth in your life.

It’s not always easy to love people especially when there filled with negative energies. This will be a New Moon that challenges you to rise above your personal feelings.

This is your opportunity to advance your soul growth. Do not let this moment pass you by. It is easy to say that I will do it tomorrow or the next day or the next day, and soon you will discover that ten years have gone behind you, and you will wonder what you did with your life during that time.

With the energy of the New Moon and the good fortune of the Pig it’s a perfect time to create abundance. Here is one of my favorite exercises on creating abundance in your life.

New Moon Blessings,
Cherokee Billie

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Serenity Jar
FEBRUARY 19, 2023 BY ASTREA TAYLOR

The serenity jar spell is helpful for all of the problems that you don’t have the power to change. It encases them in a peaceful setting and lets you breathe a little easier. You will need a small jar with a lid, six drops of lavender oil, a cleansed amethyst, a marker, and some scraps of paper.

Drop the lavender oil and the amethyst into the jar. Inhale the peaceful aroma, and for one minute meditate on the feeling of serenity. Slowly and mindfully write “Serenity” on the jar with the marker.

Write down a problem on a scrap of paper. Uncap the jar, take a whiff of the aroma, and place the paper inside. Recap the jar and say:

Serenity, take this worry
from me. I release it.

Repeat, writing more items on the papers. When you’re done, seal the jar tightly. Place it in a safe and secret place. Repeat the spell whenever you need more serenity.
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Burn and Banish
FEBRUARY 18, 2023 BY EMBER GRANT

Banishing is a powerful way to rid yourself of something that’s troubling you. It could be a bad habit, an unhealthy relationship, or any other situation that is causing you pain. You’ll need a photo of the person, or simply write on a piece of paper the problem you wish to be rid of.

Burn the paper in a heatproof dish. As it burns, chant these words three times:

Out of my life, out of my way,
You will no longer trouble
me starting today.

Visualize yourself being free of the troublesome situation. Feel how light you are. See yourself being at peace. Soak the ashes in water and then bury them or let the wind blow them away.
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Self-Love Bathing Spell
FEBRUARY 17, 2023 BY SAPPHIRE MOONBEAM

February is the month of love. Whether you are in a relationship or not, self-love and positive body consciousness are important. Your inner dialogue with yourself and your body helps your self-love blossom from the inside out. When you wash your body, the water cleanses your emotions and spirit. Rose, vanilla, and lavender are scents associated with love. Find a scent that you love for this bathing ritual.

As you wash different areas of your body, tell yourself why you appreciate that part of yourself. For instance, you could say:

I love my feet. They help me
walk on my magical path.
I love my legs. They give me
strength for new adventures.
I love my stomach. It accepts
nourishment that benefits
my entire body.

You get the idea. You can repeat this spell whenever you need to reset your inner dialogue about body consciousness and self-love.
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Aurora Borealis Enchantment
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 BY TUDORBETH

The aurora borealis is named after Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind. Also known as the northern lights, the aurora borealis is the result of particles colliding with atoms high in the atmosphere. There are many wondrous names for the northern lights, from the Dance of Spirits to the Charge of the Equinoxes, and strangely enough, they do seem to appear around the time of the equinoxes, especially in the spring. They are also connected to geomagnetic storms set off by the sun.

To see the aurora borealis is a rare opportunity and is said to bring luck. Channel the Dance of Spirits into your magic by creating an enchantment on something you love. It could be anything you wear every day, such as shoes. Gather a picture of the aurora borealis, a green or blue candle, and a favourite pair of shoes. Put the shoes on and safely light the candle. As you hold the picture of the aurora borealis, imagine the magic and luck from the swirling colours going into your shoes. Recite this spell over the shoes you’re wearing:

Blessed shoes upon my feet,
Bring me luck with those I meet.
Chances are rare and hard to find,
Opportunities now become mine.

Then blow out the candle and imagine the rising smoke as colours from the aurora borealis bringing luck and opportunities to you every time you meet someone whilst wearing the shoes.
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Watering Can Spell for Emotional Growth
FEBRUARY 15, 2023 BY KATE FREULER

The element of water is often associated with the emotions, always swelling then receding, coming in storms or a gentle nourishing rain, much like our feelings. Water is also essential to the growth of all living things. This spell combines water and plants to steadily encourage emotional expression and healing.

Materials:

  • A watering can
  • Water to fill the can
  • 1 seed of any kind to symbolize growth
  • 1 small stone to create stability
  • Potted plant(s) or an outdoor space where plants grow

Put the stone and the seed in the watering can. As you fill the can with water, recite:

Water helps emotions flow, seeds
make healthy feelings grow.
A stone to bring stability, while
nurturing my heart and soul.

Water your plants with the watering can and repeat as needed. As your plants grow steadily and flourish, your ability to express emotion will mature and gain stability
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Meditation on Self-Love
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 BY BLAKE OCTAVIAN BLAIR

Today is Valentine’s Day. In addition to the romantic love that is so commonly celebrated and emphasized today, it is also important to love yourself. We need not be in a state of perfection to have love for ourselves. Today let’s show our love for ourselves and practice a bit of meditation on the topic. All you need for this simple meditation is a piece of rose quartz of any size, a pen and paper, and ten minutes of quiet time to yourself.

Have a seat where you’ll be undisturbed and make yourself comfortable. Write on the piece a paper a list of three to five personal affirmations of qualities you like about yourself, such as “I am a generous person,” “I am a dedicated musician,” or “I am a loving sibling.” Hold the rose quartz in the palms of your hands and, with eyes open, enter a light meditative state. Repeat the affirmations for five or six minutes, slowly and calmly. Then proclaim, “So mote it be.”
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Magical Third Eye
FEBRUARY 13, 2023 BY MICHAEL FURIE

This is a simple spell designed to enhance your ability to be influential in all situations. To begin, find a comfortable place to sit where you will not be disturbed. Relax and close your eyes. Let your mental focus fix upon your third eye (the area essentially in the middle of your forehead), and envision that a large glowing eye opens there, radiating power and light. This light is the light of your third eye chakra. Set the intention that this light will continually shine forth, granting you greater authority and influence, and that it will continually draw in light from the universe to maintain its strength. When you feel ready, say:

The third eye opens, and with its
gaze, shall influence, fascinate,
enchant, and amaze.
Universal light empowers for me
This flowering gift; so mote it be.

Open your eyes and it is done.

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Heartwings Love Notes 1072 Sweet Treats for Happy Smiles

Heartwings says, “Baking for loved ones is a special way of giving to them.”

I have always loved to feed people–not literally with a spoon of course, but by the spoonful. Some of my favorite recipes are sweet treats. I know we all need to be careful not to consume too much sugar, however it’s important to have things we enjoy to look forward to, and dessert is one of them.

Brownies were the first thing I was permitted to make. My mother never trusted me to fix any significant food, but she figured I could be trusted to bake something simple. These blond bars are simpler even than chocolate ones, being made all in one pan, and they are very true to their name: Disappearing Caramel Brownies. The recipe can easily be doubled for a crowd.

Disappearing Caramel Brownies
Bake at 350 in a metal pan or 325 in a glass one, 20 mins till firm to touch. Do not overbake or though still tasty, they will become like rocks!

Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
¼ cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla
¼ cup chopped nuts
1 cup flour

Method:
Heat butter, sugar in saucepan. Stir slowly till sugar is dissolved, then a little longer to have it somewhat liquid. Do not boil. Cool slightly. Add beaten egg, salt, vanilla, baking powder, nuts and flour. Stir well to incorporate all the flour. Spread in 8 or 9 inch pan. Bake for 20 Minutes. Press lightly with finger. Ovens may vary. If it makes a slight dent, remove, otherwise bake one or two more minutes. Rest for 10 minutes then cut into 16 squares cool in pan and remove when ready. These bake up well with alternative or gluten free flours also.

If you make a double batch bake a wee bit longer, perhaps 10 minutes more in a 9X12 pan. Do not overbake or they will be difficult to cut, let alone chew.
These cookies are very quick to make and very tasty. You can use a low sugar or fruit sweetened jam to reduce sugar. I call them Jiffy Jam Delights. Unexpected company coming? No problem! You can mix and bake these simple cookies in a half hour total.

Jiffy Jam Delights
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes, please)
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup jam (raspberry preferred by us).

Method: Beat butter, sugar well. Add egg, vanilla salt. Blend in flour.

Drop from a teaspoon onto greased sheets. Make a dent in the tops of the cookies and fill with a half teaspoon or so of jam. Bake only until firm and dry to the touch.

Bake at 375 for 10 minutes on a well greased cookie sheet. Makes 30 to 36 delicious cookies in a half hour from start to finish. Cool before eating. Jam is very hot.

May you enjoy these or other home baked treats, even perhaps making them with a child’s help.

Blessings and best regards, Tasha Halpert

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Belly Laughs

It is easy to laugh when we feel good, but it is when the world appears dim that we most need laughter in our lives.

As children, we laugh hundreds of times each day, delighted by the newness of living. When we reach adulthood, however, we tend to not allow ourselves to let go in a good belly laugh. Inviting laughter back into our lives is simply a matter of making the conscious decision to laugh. Though most of us are incited to laugh only when exposed to humor or the unexpected, each of us is capable of laughing at will. A laugh that comes from the belly carries with it the same positive effects whether prompted by a funny joke or consciously willed into existence. When our laughter comes from the core of our being, it permeates every cell in our physical selves, beginning in the center and radiating outward, until we are not merely belly laughing but rather body laughing.

Laughter has been a part of the human mode of expression since before evolution granted us the art of speech. Through it, we connected with allies while demonstrating our connection with people we didn’t know. In the present, laughter allows us to enjoy positive shared experiences with strangers and loved ones alike. Yet solitary laughter carries with it its own slew of benefits. An energetic and enthusiastic bout of whole-body laughter exercises the muscles, the lungs, and the mind in equal measure, leaving us feeling relaxed and content. When we laugh heartily at life’s ridiculousness instead of responding irritably, our focus shifts. Anger, stress, guilt, and sadness no longer wield any influence over us, and we are empowered to make light of what we originally feared. Laughter also opens our hearts, letting love and light in, changing our perspective, and enabling us to fix our attention on what is positive in our lives.

It is easy to laugh when we feel good, but it is when the world appears dim that we most need laughter in our lives. Our laughter then resonates through our hearts, filling the empty spaces with pure, unadulterated joy. We regain our footing in the moment and remember that no sorrow is powerful enough to rob us of our inborn happiness. When we understand that uninhibited laughter is the food of the soul, nourishing us from within, we know instinctively that life is worthwhile.

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We Are Beings of Light

It is through our connection to our light that we know things beyond what the visible world can tell us.

We are all beings of light. Put another way, we are spiritual beings having a human experience. As children, most of us know this, but other human beings who have forgotten what they really are and who cannot help us to know ourselves train us to forget. As a result, we are led to believe that magic is not real, that our invisible playmates do not really exist, and that we are limited beings with only one earthly life to live. There is enormous pressure to conform to this concept of ourselves and so we lose touch with our full potential, forgetting that we are beings of light.

At this time, many of us are reawakening to the truth of who we are, because we are living amidst such large-scale changes in the world. We need to access this light in order to not only survive but thrive as we shift into a new order of consciousness. As the changes around us proceed in rapid progression, we will want to be able to trust our own ability to sense what is happening and how we can best respond. We are no longer living in a predictable world in which we can trust external authority figures and prior ideas about reality to guide us. We need to be able to access the information that will help us navigate these uncertain waters, and the ultimate authority resides in our awareness of ourselves as beings of light.

It is through our connection to this light that we know things beyond what the visible world can tell us, and we see things beyond what the physical world reveals. In order to access this wisdom, we can simply allow ourselves to remember that we are not limited, as we have been taught. In fact, we are filled with divine grace and power that is ours for the asking. A daily practice of tuning into this vast potential, conversing with it, and offering ourselves up to it opens the door through which we can reclaim our true identity, taking ownership of the calling that the time has come to create bliss on earth.

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Creating a Beautiful Home

Our loving intentions can easily transform the space in which we live.

The homes we occupy are seldom ideal. A space that satisfies our basic needs may nonetheless leave us wanting where location, décor, or style are concerned. Yet every home has the potential to be beautiful. When we fill our homes with love, we transcend worldly factors such as market value and design. Our conscious, loving intentions can transform the spaces in which we live, dispelling any lingering unharmonious energy and replacing it with an ethereal beauty that is felt rather than seen. Our homes become spiritual dwellings that feel soulful and alive. Regardless of their outward appearances, they radiate love, making all who enter, including ourselves, feel instantly welcome.

Turning a space into the beautiful outward expression of your inner warmth is as easy as projecting love into it. When your intentions are sincere, you can infuse the walls of your home with your energy, your emotional sensitivity, and your generosity of spirit, turning it into a haven of affection, joy, laughter, and togetherness. It is up to you, whether you want your personal spaces to be peaceful and quiet or lively and inspiring. Begin by cultivating awareness within yourself. This will allow you to see your home as an integral part of your existence rather than somewhere you simply return to at the end of each day. Consider how you relate to each element of your space, and remind yourself that every room in your home can serve a purpose in your life and the lives of your loved ones. Finally, lovingly thank each room for providing for your needs. As you become more mindful of the manner in which your home contributes to your well-being, you will discover that, more and more, you want to love and be loved by it.

Appearance and other superficial qualities can be deceiving. An aesthetically beautiful home can prove unwelcoming. And a home that seems mundane in every characteristic can be as comforting and cozy as a beloved relative or friend. When you nurture and care for your home as if it were a loved one, it will absorb your tender intentions and project a love so touching you will soon come to feel a great affection for it.

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Murder in Grafton Center, Part Three
by Stephen Halpert

As Susan and I left I saw Juice at the side of the driveway in an animated conversation with Officer Sippi Bopp.
We got into the car and started back. Susan frowned as I related the Patience Worthington incident, and how someone I couldn’t see had breezed past me and out of Bob’s office.
“Don’t forget the house was jammed with people.” She sounded tired. “Almost anyone could have been wandering around looking for the john.”
“Why was Patience in there?”
“Probably sleeping it off until you stumbled over her. You said there was a thick carpet and that she was quite intoxicated.”
“True.”
“Just so you know, she’s Juno’s–Bob’s widow’s, best buddy in Grafton. Juno once told me she met her at an Apple Pie Social on Grafton Common shortly after she and Bob arrived in Grafton. Patience is a well-respected interior decorator with a very high-end clientele. She redid their house while they were away on one of Bob’s west coast lecture tours. When they returned, they loved how it looked and they’ve been good friends ever since. She also organized Bob’s gourmet cooking classes.”
“I can’t imagine him standing over a hot stove lecturing on how to make hard boiled eggs.”
Susan smiled. “He didn’t. Juno said his classes were very hands on. His students did everything from pealing garlic to infusing a homemade brandy marinate into squab. That made sense. Before we had left I’d checked out the kitchen. It looked like a TV set for Julia Child.
She opened the car window. “Bob specialized in guiding his students in such a way that they dared to create their own spicy sauces as well as experiment with alcoholic based cordials.” She looked at her watch. “His license for his own private label had been recently approved.”
We got onto the Pike. “How did Juno manage to stay so thin?”
“Hardly ever ate at home,” Susan said. “She’s a real live wire, always on the go: Organizing charitable events, symposiums on overcoming global sex slavery and before the Supreme Court decision, same sex marriage, Ans well as a patron of the arts–the list goes on.”
“So, Bob came up with a neat solution for not having to eat alone. I wonder if one of his students might have fallen in love with him and after a while began feeling possessive?”
“Of what, his spatula?” She smiled. “If I were you, I’d let it go, Sherlock. The man was kind and generous and loved for his cooking. Why would anyone want to kill him? They’d lose out too much.”
“True.”
She turned and studied my profile; gently she put her hand on my shoulder. “I need to tell you this.” Her voice took on the soft well-controlled tone of a therapist. “You sit around your office too much and you need to get more exercise. Seriously! At the conference it was agreed that sitting at one’s desk with insufficient hourly exercise was a major cause of premature demise.”
“I work out,” I said. “Juice and I do the gym once, twice a week.”
She shook her head. “Not enough! It’s not just about working out. It’s about getting up from your desk every hour stretching and moving around for five minutes.”
“The fifty-five-minute hour.”
She smiled. “I want you to last. After all you’re my exquisite boy toy.”
“And you’re my fire breathing cougar.”
She grinned. “Something like that.”
I dropped her at her apartment on Brattle Street, drove into Boston, parked, and walked over to my office. Inside was a reception committee I wasn’t expecting.
Vince Mango and Ty Wire, two of Tony Staccato’s hired guns sat across from my desk. Vince was leafing through Sports Illustrated. Ty Wire stared blankly at the reflections of light playing on the windowpane.
“Why aren’t you guys fighting for us in the mid-east?”
Vince grinned. “Tony wouldn’t go for that. ‘Sides, working for him we don’t have to wear uniforms.” He ran his thick fingers through his graying crew cut.
Vince took a manila envelope from his inside jacket pocket and tossed it onto my desk. “Tony wants you to find out if Bob’s death was on the up and up.”
“What makes him think it wasn’t?”
“You know how Tony is, Spencer.”
Sitting quietly, Ty Wire’s lean fingers toyed with the collar of his blue flannel shirt. I’d known him for a while. As a kid he had his head bashed in during a gang war and was never the same since. Though he hardly ever spoke, with his hand gun he could drop a pigeon from fifty yards.
“People fall down dead every day,” Vince said. “Doesn’t mean every time someone falls down it’s on the up and up. Tony wants you to make sure nobody decided to give Bob a head start over the finish line. They was pals you know.”
I dumped the contents of the envelope onto my desk. A thick wad of cash fell out. The rest was sheets of computer printouts that showed Bob’s financial investments and bank statements over the last five years.
“Tony always says follow the money,” Vince said. “He found out Bob paid out over a hundred grand to someone with a Grafton bank account.”
I waved the bank statements at him. “Where’d Tony get these?”
But Vince ignored me. He and Ty Wire got up to leave. “Keep in touch,” he grinned. He closed the door quietly as they left. (To be Continued)

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=^..^=

Are Black Cats Bad Luck?

There are many superstitions about these darkest cats in various cultures and societies around the world.

In many Western cultures, these kitties are believed to be bad luck, especially if they cross your path. This superstition dates back to the Middle Ages, when this color of cat was associated with witchcraft.

In some cultures, however, they are considered to be good luck. For example, in Japan, a black feline is believed to bring good fortune and prosperity to its owner.

In some parts of the world, it is believed that if you dream of an ebony cat, it means that good things are on the horizon.

And some people believe that giving a midnight-colored feline as a gift will bring good luck to the recipient, while others believe that it will bring bad luck.

Overall, the superstitions surrounding these felines vary widely depending on culture and region, and not all of them are negative.

However, it is important to remember that these beliefs are not based on fact and should not be taken too seriously.

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, February 19, 2023

All Signs
Get ready! This is a high energy week full of excitement! Passion, romance, charged activity, enthusiasm and uplifting vibes are just some things that will make this week sizzle. Yes, there will be a speedbump on Tuesday when Mercury is at odds with unpredictable Uranus. (Anything might happen.) And yes, this might mean interruptions, detours and even accidents, But hey, the unexpected can also herald the arrival of good news, love at first sight and unexpected glances of attraction. (A quiet thrill.) When it comes to flirtations, I agree with Eleanor Roosevelt: “One candle is better than the darkness.”

Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is an amazing week for you because on Wednesday and Thursday, the Moon will be in your sign, and it will line up with lucky Jupiter also in your sign, which will make you feel enthusiastic and optimistic about life! Meanwhile, fair Venus is also in your sign, which will make you charming and diplomatic with everyone. (Take note: This is a great week to buy wardrobe items for yourself.) Nevertheless, because the Sun is hiding in your chart, you will also be happy to take a backseat (not generally your style), and keep a low profile. Expect to socialize with younger people. Think about your future goals.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This is a lovely, high spirited week for you; and yet, at the same time, it’s a gentle week. A number of things will happen that will prompt you to reflect on important things and nourish your inner spiritualism. You might feel inspired by something. You might be inspired to learn more? You also might be inspired to teach what you learn to others or share your knowledge and discoveries. It’s a popular week. Friends will enjoy seeing you. In turn, you will find your involvement with clubs and organizations to be rewarding. A secret love affair might be percolating for some. On Saturday, you will feel independent, impulsive and possibly, reckless! Steady as she goes.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
You continue to impress others because with the Sun at the top of your chart, you are thrust into a spotlight that is flattering to you. (Symbolically speaking.) This is why you will be approached by others to take on extra duties or increased responsibilities. They see you as capable and competent! (And why not?) You will enjoy studying and learning something new this week. Avenues related to publishing, the media, medicine, the law and higher education are blessed. Midweek, something to do with a friend or a group will expand your world in a meaningful way. A platonic relationship might become romantic? Take it easy on Saturday when you might feel restless and impulsive. This is a fleeting, passing thing.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
You make a fabulous impression on others midweek (Wednesday and Thursday). People see you as successful and affluent! Your ability to influence a group or many people will be uncanny. People in authority will be impressed with you, and they might ask your advice about artistic matters like design, layout work, office redecorating or PR choices. Romance with a boss or someone in a position of authority might begin. Discussions about shared property, taxes and inheritances will benefit you. (Remember this.) Meanwhile, at the end of the week, a friend might surprise you. Or you might meet someone new who is very different and unusual in some way.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
This is a wonderful week for you to do anything that will expand your world either through travel, learning or further education because you’re hungry to discover new things, see new places and meet new people. The wisdom of philosophical disciplines and religion will appeal to you. You might have a chance to travel for pleasure. Conversations with partners and close friends will be warm, friendly and mutually supportive. Admittedly, at the end of the week, a parent or someone in a position of authority might catch you off guard. Yes, this includes the police. (Be careful.) Do what you can to expand your world through travel and learning.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Financial matters and financial discussions will definitely favour you this week. They might be related to your job, or they could be family discussions. Either way, it’s a good time to discuss how to deal with inheritances or how to divide or share something because these exchanges will favour you and you will come out laughing all the way to the bank. Likewise, at work, discussions about budgets and requests for equipment or support will favour you as well. Of course, you have been ambitious with Mars at the top of your chart for so long. This has helped you. Take note that travel plans might suddenly change around Saturday. Give yourself extra time to have wiggle room to cope with the unexpected.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
You’re still keen to work hard and bust your buns because you find it rewarding to get things done now. You’re setting your standards high and you’re happy to do so. This week, discussions with partners and close friends will be joyful, uplifting and rewarding. You will find it easy to be generous to others; and in turn, they will be generous to you. Your creative vibes are hot! This is an excellent week to write and explore the arts as well as anything related to sports and the education of children or fun activities with kids. It’s also a good time to plan a future vacation. At the end of the week, check bank accounts and arrangements about shared property because something unexpected will occur.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Many areas of your life are pulling together very well now. This is a fun-loving week full of opportunities to party and enjoy the company of others. Relations with coworkers are especially blessed. You will shine in meetings, conferences and classes. Work-related travel is likely for many of you. This is also a good time for family discussions, especially about how to tackle home repairs or make home improvements. You still have challenges with family and issues at home but these will greatly diminish in the next few months. Be patient with partners and close friends on the weekend because someone might be impulsive and rebellious on Saturday. Remember that patience is a virtue and can only be cultivated when tested. (A sobering truth.)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
You are in your element this week because social outings, parties, entertaining diversions, the arts, sports events and fun activities with loved ones are on the books. Accept all invitations to enjoy yourself. Romance is beautifully favoured. Your ability to communicate with others will be smooth and seductive. (You can sell anyone the Brooklyn Bridge.) However, some kind of interruption to your health or your work might take place at the end of the week. Guard against accidents. Pay attention to everything you say and do, especially Saturday. This is also the classic time for glitches in technology. (Oh no!) Whatever happens, you will handle it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This is a great week to entertain at home. Invite friends and family over for pizza and beer! (Or quiche and a lovely white wine, whichever you prefer.) You will enjoy redecorating projects and friends might help you. Because things so beautifully favour your home and family scene, this also means you can benefit from real-estate deals at this time as well. It’s all good. Trust your moneymaking ideas this week because they are worth your consideration, especially if they relate to real estate or the beautification of homes and gardens. Meanwhile, parents should be extra vigilant at the end of the week, especially Saturday to avoid accidents with their kids. Likewise, social plans (including vacations) might suddenly change.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
The difficulties you have suffered since March 2020 are coming to an end very soon. Perhaps this is why you feel so optimistic and upbeat this week! This is a great week to schmooze with others because conversations will be friendly. You will excel not only in one-to-one interactions with others but also with groups. You will love learning and studying something this week as well. You will be particularly effective if you teach, sell or have to give a public speech because people will love to hear what you have to say. Be aware that on the weekend, especially Saturday, something unusual will change your home routine. Make sure your weekend plans are elastic enough to cope with the unexpected. (Buy food.)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
You continue to project a confident image of yourself to the world while the Sun is in your sign. Meanwhile, this is an excellent week for you financially speaking. Business and commerce are favoured. Trust your moneymaking ideas. Look for ways to boost your income because they do exist. (Remember: you will get richer this year.) Many of you will spend money on beautiful things for yourself and loved ones. This might also relate to the continued upkeep and challenges you face on the home front. Nevertheless, a warning for you: This weekend is an accident-prone time for you, especially Saturday. On the upside, you might have brilliant ideas and meet new faces and see new places. On the downside, something unexpected could interrupt everything. Be prepared. Take nothing for granted. Slow down and pay attention.

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Weekly Horoscopes Beginning Sunday, 19 February 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this week:

It’s not that you’re unwilling to discuss certain complex issues. It’s you fear you’d get trapped listening to others complain, instead of tackling the issues in question. The trick? Gather the facts first, in as much detail as possible. Then, ensure everybody sticks to the subject. You’ll not only talk over those issues; the odds are good you’ll find solutions for even persistent problems.

Either you or someone close will decide it is time to overcome a bad habit. Anything you do repetitively is an addiction and to quit this habit, you will have to remove any temptations from your immediate environment. If you can’t manage this on your own, talk to your doctor or contact an organisation that specialises in this area. A romantic or business partner will fully support your ideas. It will feel great to be so valued and respected.

Venus is now moving through Aries and, theoretically, you could charm the birds from the trees. Boosted by Monday’s New Moon and aware that you can’t shirk certain responsibilities, you could do much to improve your position. Yet it is probable that mid-week you will be made aware that further investment is required. Whether this takes the form of a subscription you hadn’t budgeted for, or extra travel -related costs, you could temporarily be thrown of your axis. Don’t underestimate your ability to regroup. As the Moon joins Venus in your sign, you could rally the troops and before Friday put in a plan that others deem as visionary. They may not be wrong.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this week:

You’ve invested lots of time and energy in thinking things through, and organising plans. Now, suddenly, changes in circumstances or in others’ objectives are demanding a serious rethink. While, logically, you know what’s best, it’s worth asking those involved for their opinions and, in certain cases, their suggestions. True, there’ll be numerous questions. Explain patience isn’t just necessary, it’s vital. It will soon be clear how wise this is.

An arrangement that felt right for you at the start doesn’t feel the same now. Everything seems to be crumbling down around you. When things go wrong, accept that it is not meant for you and there is something better coming. Cut ties and this will take you to a much better place. Your ability to stick with a problem until you find a solution will make you a popular figure in the workplace or anywhere where there is important work to be done.

Uranus, the planet of entrepreneurship, is moving through your sign as Mercury is travelling over the apex of your solar chart. There is every likelihood that following on from Monday’s New Moon, you will push forward with an idea that requires only better distribution and marketing. If you haven’t given thought to your social media presence in recent weeks, now may be the time to do so. You could also review your CV. That’s assuming that you get time! It seems you’ll be super busy mid-week – most probably mopping up after others. Yet this too could give you a commercial idea. In fact, by Friday, and having identified what is clearly an open goal, you could put forward a plan that would put you very much in the driving seat while working with a team whose expertise you respect.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Recently, you’ve spent ages discussing, then making, future plans. However, with the foundation on which these are based shifting, many will need an extensive reorganisation. While nobody would blame you for being annoyed, there is no better excuse to rethink what you’ve already organised and, more important, to introduce new ideas; and forget worries about those who’ll battle the unexpected. The timing couldn’t be better.

There’s a reason why you are focusing on negativity and reacting aggressively to other people’s ideas instead of responding mindfully. It’s because you are tired of the way some people have got into the habit of manipulating situations for their own benefits. It is time to decide what you want to do and not to listen to anyone else. Start planting seeds for what you want in the future rather than avoiding taking action, out of fear.

Between this Monday’s New Moon and the First Quarter Moon in your sign on the 27th, you should find yourself at action stations. Don’t underestimate either the power of your words, or how much you’ve learned in recent months when Mars was moving retrograde through your sign. Yes, it was likely tedious to have to go back over old conversations, e-mails, and paperwork. If you are involved in legal dramas, hassle may be compounded by the fact that others have mislaid or misremembered a sequence of events. Effort put in to unravelling all of this will surely not be wasted. Though true, Saturn’s arrival in another of the Mutable signs at the start of next month heralds’ further responsibilities, this could be as much about experiencing successful outcome as it could be about accepting responsibility for what has been. In short, – and notably with the assistance most probably of an Aquarius, – you could at last see light at the end of the tunnel.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this week:

As a Cancer, you’re conscious you’re responsible for dealing with your own plans and, equally, commitments to others. Yet you also know it’s vital you set aside time to rest, restore your energy and, at the moment, to reorganise pivotal arrangements. Initially, certain plans seemed fine. Since then, changes in circumstances and, equally, in your own priorities mean a rethink isn’t just wise, it’s urgent.

A partner or close friend has a decision to make and they must do this on their own. You may not like their eventual choice but it is not for you to interfere. Respect that in this matter, they need their independence. Often it is impossible to envisage how things are going to work out. All you can do is trust and surrender to the journey that is ahead for you. Keep telling yourself everything is going to be fine.

This should prove a super exciting and busy week for all signs. Following on from the Pisces New Moon on Monday, it should be action stations for all. You may find yourself torn trying to be in more than one place at a time. Fact is that others likely recognise your expertise and need to spend more time with you. Respect should be growing. Obviously much depends on your personal chart, but it would appear that you are now being spoken about in respectful terms and others ready to negotiate in a way that simply wasn’t possible a year ago. Experiences gained in the last 12 months and perhaps not yet on your CV, could now be marketed. As the Moon crosses over the apex of your solar chart mid-week, you could give voice to your opinion but yes, that could draw you into the political arena.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this week:

During February’s first half, you wrestled with the unsettling Leo Full Moon, on the 5th, and your ruler the Sun’s encounter with tough Saturn, mid-month. You learnt and dealt with a lot. Now, issues involve unrealistic options. Rethink these. You’ll soon realise they’re in your best interests. The real problem? You’re battling the changes they’d require. Plunge in, and the sooner, the better.

A senior colleague isn’t trying to make things awkward for you by asking you to redo certain aspects of a job. They are required to conform and it will be necessary to jump through certain hoops before the work can be approved. Be sure to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s and they will have no cause for complaint. Someone who walked out of your life in the past wants to reconnect with you. Tread carefully.

As of Monday, Venus moves through another of the Fire signs. That, together with Monday’s New Moon should bring a blast of positive energy. If you’ve felt weighed down by emotional matters, anticipate that you will soon move forward. Indeed, by mid-week you could be involved in lively debate that makes clear that others are ready to move on with you. Constructive conversation in the second half of the week as the Moon passes through another of the Fire signs promises much. Note that the lunar node will leave the apex of your solar chart in June and that between now and then, making improvement to both your home and working environment should gather pace. This week the team that will support you through the process should form.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Few things frustrate you more than dealing with those who refuse to acknowledge certain changes aren’t just timely, they’re vital. Yet events are bringing you together. Obviously, you’re tempted to raise, and discuss, these issues. Instead, say the minimum. Judging by the current planetary setup, events are about to make your point, and in a way far more powerful than even the cleverest explanation.

You should be proud of yourself for showing amazing control when dealing with temperamental colleagues and clients. Your sensible approach will rub off on those around you. There is a reason why you are determined to keep the place as calm as possible. A project you want to complete will not be helped by a discordant atmosphere. That’s why you will come up with some great ways to get others to work together harmoniously.

Monday’s New Moon is in your opposite sign and coincides with Venus’ arrival in one of the Cardinal signs, Aries. The New Moon alone should put a spring in your step; but add to that the determination of others to get things done, and this week should get off to a flying start. True, you could be at cross purposes mid-week when you recognise jointly that certain tasks should have been carried out towards the end of last year. Clearing up mess usually brings out the best in Virgo. You have a recognised ability to reorganise, and reshape. That should be fully on display and, by Friday, it be agreed that you’re a valued member of a team. In fact, you may be asked to put forward a presentation on the next stage of a project. Remember, that in a few weeks’ time, Saturn arrives in your opposite sign. For now, it probably suits others for you to take on responsibility which actually should be theirs.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this week:

For ages you’ve managed to sidestep potentially unsettling discussions regarding controversial changes. Judging by this week’s planetary influence, destiny’s now in charge. So, tempting as it is to reorganise plans or rethink arrangements, you’re urged to go with the flow. If you’re feeling the need to get involved in arranging plans, you’ve plenty of options. In fact, certain individuals are eagerly awaiting your ideas and advice.

That mask of smiles you’ve been wearing for some time is starting to fade. You can’t keep pretending things are fine when they aren’t. When you are on a sinking ship, you need to jump out. Find the courage now to move away from a difficult situation. You will eventually rejoice in your strength and ability to change. Follow your instincts and a new door will soon open for you. Things will change for the better.

Venus’ arrival in your opposite sign on Monday, coincides with a New Moon. This particular lunation heralds something much, much bigger. This week could be viewed as an overture. Anticipate others to push you in new direction and to demand that you tackle more than one thing at a time. Yours is not a sign known for multitasking! – rather you do better when you focus. That may be hard to come by – at least through until Thursday or Friday. With others intruding, finding peace and quiet and absorbing new information may be demanding. Recall that Mars is now moving back over degrees crossed when it was retrograde. Errors and misjudgements can be repaired. You may find that Sagittarius and Pisces colleagues are particularly needy, – and arguably require you to help them negotiate challenges.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this week:

Long ago you learnt that while some matters are best discussed and dealt with swiftly, others require thoughtful timing and carefully organised plans. This has been on your mind. That time has come. While you’ve thought things through, be prepared for changes, even in your carefully organised plans. True, events may seem worrying now; but within days you’ll recognise them as the breakthroughs they are.

There is pressure from a superior who is pushing you to complete a job that has been problematic from square one. They have faith in your ability to get this done and once you do, they will come back to you with an intriguing offer. There will be cause for celebration. An offer to explore new places or pastimes will appeal to you. Although it will involve some small risk, this is a journey which will be beneficial in ways you may not yet fully understand.

Monday’s New Moon is in another of the Water signs and coincides with Venus’ Aries ingress. The combined effect should have energy benefits for Scorpio when at last you feel to be moving forward. Recall that Mars, one of your ruling planets, was retrograde from Halloween through to mid-January. It’s only now crossing back over those degrees. It’s probable that there is much mopping up to be done. This week you should be sufficiently energised, goaded, and determined to push forward; but you’re right, you may need to confront certain individuals. It is always possible that goalposts have moved. You will need to show both resilience and a degree of flexibility to get around obstacles. Don’t underestimate your abilities here. In partnership and yes, possibly with an Aries or Libra, you could yet be successful.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this week:

Of the twelve signs, you’re not only the most easy-going about sudden changes, you’ve a talent for turning serious setbacks to your advantage. However, what you’re currently facing seems unfair, and you’re so confused you’re unsure what to do. The answer? It’s out of character. Do nothing. Wait and watch. Within a very short time events as unexpected as they are thrilling will show you the way.

Slow down and give other people a chance to catch up with you. You’re brimming with enthusiasm and vitality. You have some great plans and there are so many things you want to do with your time. Making every second count is a big priority for you now. Keep going the way you are and by the end of the week you will have managed to get a number of jobs over with and out of the way.

Just how much your world will be altered once Saturn arrives at the base of your chart next month should be apparent soon after Monday’s New Moon. There are important decisions to make. Following on from conversations that took place toward the end of last week, revaluation both of items and of your hopes and dreams seems necessary. All this could be driven most likely by an Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn who is not entirely sure that your security is as it should be. Anticipate conversations around insurance. Note however, that by Friday, you may be considering a new or fresh business partnership: one that would undoubtedly have long-term benefits.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this week:

Mostly, you’re unaware that others envy your ability to conquer tricky situations and, equally, wrestle difficult plans into the kind of order necessary to make progress. Now, however, you’re dealing with several matters so complex you’ve no idea where to begin. These are introducing a timely lesson. It’s about waiting and watching. Take that approach now, knowing those answers will appear when the time is right.

You’re starting to understand what in your life you can control and what you can’t. There are things outside the scope of your control even though you have wasted a lot of precious time trying to understand what is going on. What you can control is yourself and how you react to situations. It is time to set goals and set boundaries. This, in time, will bring the change you are working towards.

Monday’s new Moon coincides with Venus’ arrival at the base of your solar chart. It’s likely that there will lead to talk of home improvements linked to altered working arrangements. You may need to create more satisfactory working space. Whether this is because it’s a project close to your heart (and so happy to work over-time), or because you determined to build a second revenue stream, the need to have clear working space seems important. There is also the strong possibility mid-week, of being caught in a debate that is essentially political. Arriving at conciliation could take a few days. The art will surely be not to accept more responsibility than you already have. Venus’ arrival at the base of the chart should be viewed as the start of a 14-month journey during which time, you make essential improvements.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this week:

You’ve been in a period of exciting, if often disruptive, change. Some were about saying farewell to the past but, also, you’ve been exploring options as unexpected as, often, they are unfamiliar. Now that you’re better informed, you’re eager to take the next step, yet feel short of facts. That’s no surprise. This is about breakthroughs. Plunge in, and the sooner you do it, the better.

There are offers and opportunities that appeal to you but you may not feel free to work on a new project because of commitments elsewhere. In addition to this you get the impression a competitor or a business owner is trying to block your progress. Talking to a powerful executive will give you clarity about why and where you are stuck and what you can do about it. Going to a concert with a group of friends will lift your spirits.

Monday’s New Moon coincides with the arrival of Venus in one of the Cardinal and Fire signs. This should put everyone on alert and, boosted by fresh lunar energy, at action-stations by mid- week. True, that probably means lively debate with you at the centre. This though, is where you are generally, you’re at your best. Throughout 2022 you were no doubt torn in two. Trying to control matters was probably impossible. Now you know that going back to old ways of working is simply not possible and that you have to work on a fresh path. This though could be one amazing adventure. By Friday, you could have joined forces and taken early steps into a new business partnership. You’re absolutely right to go slowly as investment either of time or money will be required. The exciting thing is that the person you align with, seems to have a very clear idea of what can be achieved in a short time.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this week:

You’re in the midst of a sort of personal new year. Between the Sun’s move into your sign, on Saturday the 18th, and the exciting insights triggered by the Pisces New Moon on Monday the 20th, life’s been full of discovery. Decisions are another matter. These seem urgent. First, however, you’re urged to declutter your life and diary. Once that’s done, it’ll be time consider the future.

You need time to take care of the practical affairs of your life but also to recognise your spiritual needs too. Without this you will either burn yourself out or feel unfulfilled. Avoid overworking yourself by thinking carefully about how much you take on. You had not realised the true nature of a situation and now you have all the facts, you can decide on how you really feel about it. Your views will have changed a lot.

Monday’s New Moon is in your sign and coincides with Venus’ arrival in neighbouring Aries. This should bring a boost of energy to all signs, but arguably most of all to yours. In just a couple of weeks’ time Saturn too will enter Pisces. You could view this week is offering an overture of the responsibilities to come. Yes, there could be a quick drain on your finances (the operative word there being quick). Anticipate an emergency mid-week; but note too, that those of your sign are gifted at juggling affairs. As early as Friday you could rebalance. What is likely necessary is to recalibrate costs generally. The emphasis has no doubt changed. Making a plan for the next six months would be wise. At work, anticipate that others will seek your advice but yes, that they will likely also wish to offload responsibilities. It’s the Pisces way to be amenable and helpful. Take care that you don’t take on more than is feasible.

https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
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High Priestess Certification and Ancient Mystery Teachings

Herbalism 101
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Earth Signs and Omens
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The Magic of Crystals
Introduction to Energy Healing
Introduction to Paganism
Introduction to Meditation
Introduction to The Goddess Tradition and The Feminine Divine
Kuan Yins Gentle Embrace Reiki Certification
A Year and a Day of Contemplation with Kuan Yin
Tarot, Numerology, Natal Charts and Dream Readings
Reiki Training and Certification

Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healingLearn with GrannyMoon!
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Teach a witch a spell and she can do that spell. Teach a witch the craft and she can do magick!

GrannyMoon, Teaching the Craft for over 20 years!

“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

http://GoddessSchool.com
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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons Weekly Feast : 12 Feb 2023

Thanks for reading my blog!

Breathe deeply and slowly. Let yourself become centered – shutting out distractions. Breathe in eternal peace, and let your body fill with unconditional love.

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again
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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: WANING MOON

Time: From Full Moon To Dark Moon (approx.14 days)

Goddess Aspect: Crone

Associated Goddesses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Kali, Morrigan

Magickal Attributes: Banishing, Releasing the old, removing unwanted negative energies, wisdom, psychic ability, scrying, reversing circumstances. Workings on this day are for banishing magick, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity, physical and psychic cleansings.

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What’s Happening?
FEBRUARY

FEB. 14: Norse Family Festival – Celebrated as Valentine’s Day. Voted the Sweetest Day of the Year by chocolate lovers everywhere.

FEB. 15: Lupercalia (Festival of the Wolf): Pan’s Day—Honoring the Lord of the Wilderness, Animals, and Fertility. Coming of Spring.

FEB. 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day. Need a suggestion or two?

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Feb 19
WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Mar 5
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Mar 12

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!
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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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NEW MOON FEBRUARY 20, 2023 IN PISCES
https://cherokeebilliespiritualadvisor.com/

New Moon February 20, 2023 in Pisces

The February New Moon will be the third new moon of the winter 2022-2023 season. It will be the third and last new moon after the Winter Solstice in 2022.

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.

The February 2023 New Moon will be called the New Worm Moon because it is the start of the March Full Moon lunar cycle. This is something new for me as I’ve not heard this name for the February New Moon before. Depending on the year the name will change. The name is fitting for the season because while it’s part of Winter, we’re getting closer to spring.

Receive the Gift of Intuition this New Moon from Archangel Asariel!

Archangel Asariel will be working for us on this New Moon. You just need to ask for his assistance. The meaning of Asariel is “Whom God has bound”. The Patron Angel of Waters and governs the waters of the earth; the seas, oceans and the rivers. This Archangel will be bringing gifts on this New Moon to people including: intuition, intuitive wisdom, dreams, emotions, creativity and Spirituality. So this is a perfect night to work on your intuition/psychic self. You can increase your natural gifts by asking this wonderful Archangel to help you on the night of the New Moon. I have an audio class on how to Increase Your Intuitive Psychic Self that could be of great benefit to you now and in the future.

This New Moon represents a time of giving back to the world and sharing the gift of hope. In today’s world being generous of spirit and giving and inspiring people to have hope is critical. We have gone through many changes over the last few months and now that we are way past the holidays we can start looking at the world in a new light. The light of love!

In our day to day world it’s easy to get overwhelmed by negative energies. When we start tuning in each day to the love and light of God we start to see the world and a different way. This is what this new Moon is all about. This New Moon helps you see how your light sparkles into the world and what a difference you can make.

New moons are always about planting new beginnings and this Moon is urging us to plant love and hope back into the world. New moons are always optimistic. It is a time to cleanse your spiritual and emotional self. When you do a cleansing you are making room for new opportunities and growth in your life.

If you do any type of ceremony or ritual for the New Moon make sure you send out the message of love, God’s Light, and hope. New moon rituals are perfect for planting new seeds and starting afresh. We are essentially working on the blank canvas of the dark moon where our ideas can gestate in the new moon soil. These thought-seeds are slowly awoken by the growing crescent moon as the day’s progress towards the illumination of the full moon. The darkness of the new moon gives peace and tranquility while our seed intentions slowly take root and sustenance form the fertile earth below. This period cannot be rushed and it is a great time to have some quiet dark-moon time to compose our goals and plans for the month ahead. Any wishes made at this time carry great force.

It’s not always easy to love people especially when there filled with negative energies. This will be a New Moon that challenges you to rise above your personal feelings.

This is your opportunity to advance your soul growth. Do not let this moment pass you by. It is easy to say that I will do it tomorrow or the next day or the next day, and soon you will discover that ten years have gone behind you, and you will wonder what you did with your life during that time.

I love the work that I do and sharing my messages through articles and videos is my way of giving back to the world. I know that many of you look forward to what I write and what I will come up with in a video. It does take time and it is an act of love to do this type of work. So think about it – what can you do to send out the love vibration to the world. Each one of us is capable of doing it if we make that our intention for this New Moon.

With the energy of the New Moon and the good fortune of the Pig it’s a perfect time to create abundance. Here is one of my favorite exercises on creating abundance in your life.

Abundance Check Ritual for the New Moon

Writing an Abundance Check is an exercise you can use to create more abundance in your life and the check is to be written within 24 hours after each New Moon. It is not necessary to put a date on the check and you DO NOT write a specific dollar amount on the check. Then put the check away in a safe place and forget about it. The Universe will take over from there.

Clean and shine the diamond of your soul and let that light shine before everyone, so that people wonder as you pass by-what it was that just touched their soul.

New Moon Blessings,
Cherokee Billie

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Calling the Light to Aid You
FEBRUARY 12, 2023 BY ESTHA MCNEVIN

From the moment we exist, good spirits watch over us. Over time, the good intentions of all those who love us evolve along with us into an intelligent guardian spirit. This lights-witch spell draws electricity to recharge this connection every time you use a light switch.

Use a gold glass marker to draw a pentacle on each light switch in your home. Then anoint each switch with sesame essential oil and repeat the following blessing for each room:

From womb to grave; life, with me
weave, bound as we are to each other.
Be kindness and mercy reflected
through me, drawn upon the
light; let’s work together.
I seek to understand. I am ready
to listen. I can see your perspective
from within any light that glistens.

So mote it be.

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Spell for Balance
FEBRUARY 11, 2023 BY CERRIDWEN IRIS SHEA

Eleven is considered a master number, connected to enlightenment and balance. Today is perfect for a balance spell. Gather these items:

  • A candle of any color in a glass jar/votive holder (I like yellow.)
  • Calm music
  • A yoga mat (optional)

Light the candle. Listen to the music for a few minutes, following your breath.

Pinpoint where your life is out of balance. Imagine what is out of balance on one side of a scale. Put yourself on the other side of the scale. Visualize the two sides evening out, so they are in balance. Hold this image for at least five breaths.

Embody the balance by doing your favorite yoga balancing pose, such as Tree, Dancer, or Crow. Hold the pose as long as it feels good.

Release the pose and extinguish the candle. Repeat the ritual any time you feel out of balance, visualizing the balance of eleven.
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Spell for a New True Friend
FEBRUARY 10, 2023 BY MAT AURYN

With the Sun in Aquarius and the Moon in Libra today, this is the perfect time to cast a spell for friendship. When I was a child, we would wear friendship bracelets as a sign of our bond. In this spell you will be braiding three different colored pieces of yarn of your choice to make a bracelet. One yarn represents you, another represents your future friend you are summoning, and the third represents the friendship. Braid the pieces together while reciting and focusing on the intent of these words:

I draw a friendship near to me,
One that’s built on sincerity.
A friend who cares, a friend who shares,
A friend who always treats me fair.
A friendship that isn’t superficial,
One that is mutually beneficial.
A friend with motives that are pure,
A solid friendship that will endure.

Tie the braided friendship bracelet comfortably on your left ankle until it comes off on its own. Be open to meeting new people.
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Finding Strength in a Tree
FEBRUARY 09, 2023 BY JAMES KAMBOS

In the winter when the trees are leafless, their beauty and strength are more visible. That’s when you can see their power and majesty. To increase your own strength, form a pact with a tree. Follow the instructions in the following verse:

Walk into the winter wood,
Where bare trees sleep and brood.
Select a tree majestic and great.
Now you each have a shared fate.
With this tree your strength is bound.
Leave a gift—a crumb, a seed,
or a rock you’ve found.
As the seasons turn and pass,
Your strength will grow and last.

Return to your tree from time to time. Touch it. Thank it. Be grateful for its presence in your life. If for some reason the tree is destroyed, create a bond with another tree.
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Clean Out Your Social Media
FEBRUARY 08, 2023 BY JASON MANKEY

Let’s get in the spirit of spring cleaning and bring it to our electronic devices and social media accounts. Throughout the year we collect and store lots of things on our phones, computers, tablets, etc. Whether it’s unopened files on your laptop or just a slew of random friends you don’t know or haven’t connected with in a while, now is the perfect time to clear out all the digital clutter that has no room in your life anymore.

Spend a couple of hours today sifting through your old files, knowing that you are getting rid of things that have no relevance to your life anymore. Thank them for the memories or purposes they once served and then delete them. As you clear out the unwanted clutter, say, “Be gone!” or “Thank you for you for your service,” or whatever is appropriate. When you are done, burn some clearing incense and welcome in a fresh start!
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Cosmic Influence Shield
FEBRUARY 07, 2023 BY DEVIN HUNTER

The Moon is in Virgo today and our insecurities may be getting the best of us. While usually I am a fan of working with the energies afforded to us by the movement of heavenly bodies, sometimes these energies can stir up unwanted thoughts and emotions. If you are feeling insecure, overwhelmed, or even incapable right now, it could very well be related to the current placement of the Moon. Cast this spell to temporarily shield yourself from these effects.

Visualize yourself standing on top of a six-foot-wide pentacle of white light. Say:

I call upon the Earth, my
home, to shield and protect
me from the Virgo Moon!

Take a few deep breaths and visualize the light that shines from beneath you morph into a chrysalis of crystallized light, then say:

Let the will of the Earth be
victorious over all others!
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Break a Bad Habit Spell
FEBRUARY 06, 2023 BY EMBER GRANT

There are several ways to carry out this spell to break a bad habit. The point is to write the habit you wish to break on an object that you can literally shatter. One easy way to do this is by using craft clay, which is easily found in craft stores or online. There are many types that air-dry and don’t need to be baked. Just form a portion of clay into a thin piece that’s large enough for you to write your bad habit on using a toothpick. Let it dry completely, then break it and throw away the pieces.

You can also perform this spell by writing on a rock and breaking it with a hammer. However, if you do this, be sure to work outdoors and wear eye protection. Another option is to use an old plate. Again, be careful and watch for flying shards. You may wish to put the object in a plastic bag before breaking it. The act of literally breaking something can be very satisfying and empowering.

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Heartwings Love notes 1071 Valentine’s Day Thoughts

Heartwings says, “Love can be expressed in many ways; what is important is to express it.”

Until recently, whenever I could, since I was a small child, I crafted my Valentine’s Day cards. It gave me great pleasure. I had and still have a few lacey paper hearts, stickers with cupids and similar valentine symbols, and other appropriate decorations. I’d fold plain paper in quarters and glue these down, arranging them in fun patterns and writing humorous or sentimental words inside. Alas, I no longer have the time or energy to do this. I do, however have access to a wonderful card program that I enjoy using, so I still have a good resource.

As a young child I looked forward to Valentines’ Day at school. Cookies in the form of hearts were often served and the big red and white crepe paper covered box to be filled with simple cards was placed prominently on the teacher’s desk. Later on, when I had my own children, I helped them make their cards and mail them to grandmothers and aunts, as well as prepare cards for classmates.

The sentimentality of Valentine’s Day has of course been commercialized like other holidays, yet somehow for me that does not detract from it as the excess around Christmas can. I enjoy the displays of hearts and candy, and I’m happy I don’t have to endure endless Valentine carols. It is interesting to note that Valentine’s Day has a long history of celebration behind it.

During this month in pre-Christian times the Greeks honored Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty on the 6th, as well as Hygeia, goddess of health and healing on February 26th. Artemis, creatrix, midwife and protector of the young was honored from the 7th to the 9th, and Diana had a Roman festival on the 12th day of the month. Februata, the Roman Goddess of love for whom the month is named, signifies the fever of love. Our Valentine’s Day celebration is a modern dedication to love compiled from customs taken from the original celebrations of these times, filtered through the attempts of the Roman Catholic Church to Christianize them.

Traditional says St. Valentine (apparently there were several of them and no one is quite sure which one is referred to by this story) began the making of Valentines by sending around heart shaped leaves with messages on them. Prior to this the Romans celebrated a holiday where young men and women would draw names to see who might pair with whom for the festival they were celebrating. The Roman Catholic Church tried to take over this custom by substituting the names of saints for partners, however, their version never really caught on.

Valentine cards began being made and sent in the eighteen hundreds and Valentine postcards arose in the early part of the twentieth century and were extremely popular as well. Many of these are now collectors’ items, fetching high prices on Ebay. Whether you make or buy your Valentine cards, you are continuing a tradition that has spread joy and happiness for many years.

May you celebrate the day with those you love, whether near or far, and do it with joy.

Blessings and best regards, Tasha Halpert

PS How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Do you or have you made cards as a child? Do write and tell me what you do for the day to celebrate love, I so enjoy hearing from readers. You can write to me by hitting reply or at Tashahal@gmail.com.

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The Power Of Transmutation

Adding a violet flame meditation once in a while to your daily practice is a lovely way to feel a fresh sense of peace.

The violet flame is a powerful tool anyone can use in meditation. It helps release negative karma, raise your consciousness awareness, the frequency of your vibration, and accelerate your spiritual growth. Energy can’t be erased but it can be changed, transmuting negative into positive, darkness into light. This allows you to make the choices you feel negatively about become positive, while also changing your emotional experience. Physically, the violet flame releases emotions and energy pent up within that make you vulnerable to illness and disease.

The violet flame in meditation uses a combination of affirming thoughts and visualization. Once centered, begin by surrounding yourself with white-and-blue protective energy. You may even want to call on archangel Michael for his protection while you go into this powerful spiritual state. Then repeat thoughts such as “I am cleansed and purified by the violet flame.” Picture a huge bonfire before you, its immensity making you feel small beside it, and marvel as the colors flicker between purple, violet, and bright pink. Sense its warmth while noticing that it will not burn you. Step into the flame, letting it surround you entirely while also filling the spaces in your body, your thoughts, even the cells and molecules within you. Once there, focus on the positive things you’d like to create in your life or your hopes for others. Visualize the violet flame in the midst of the scenes as they unfold in your mind. You may want to ask that the power of the flame be multiplied to assist those in need.

When you have finished your meditation, be sure to close with gratitude. The violet flame is a powerful tool that should be used consciously and with intent. Forgetting to close with thanks keeps you connected and may lead to the unintentional misuse of this energy. It is always a good idea when finished with any spiritual practice to give thanks as this creates closure. Saints and adepts throughout the ages have known how to use the violet flame, but it is available for all to use to raise our awareness and, eventually, that of all mankind.

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The Druids Garden
An Exploration of Gratitude Practices and Plant Reverence in Herbal Practices

~Dana O’Driscoll

Please note: This article appeared first in my new column, “Roots, Shoots, and Spirits” in the Winter 2022 issue Plant Healer Quarterly, a magazine for empowered herbalists and culture shifters. Folks can buy a year subscription or sign up for one issue at a time, by going to: http://www.PlantHealerMagazine.com.

As herbalists, everything we use comes from the living earth, from nature herself. And as a basic practice in herbalism, we need to practice gratitude and reverence for the plants that form the basis of our practice. Some herbalists have the luxury of being able to have large gardens full of herbs or wild areas where we can go and spend time with nature, harvesting plant and mushroom medicine in careful and grateful ways. But still more of us depend on others for growing, wildcrafting, and harvesting herbs. The distance between the plant and the use of the plant grows as we seek high-quality, organic ingredients that we cannot find ourselves. As soon as we put a consumer relationship into our herbal practice, this distance can create a sense of disconnection between the plant, the ecosystem where the plant grows, and the medicine we are making. And since we live in a culture full of destructive ideas about nature being at our disposal, humans being able to use nature indiscriminately in any ways we see fit. Growing up in cultures that destroy nature can have the impact of working on our subconscious in ways we don’t even understand.

One of the ways to counter this disconnection is to develop gratitude practices and practice reverence and respect for the living earth. Perhaps you are reading this, and you already have a set of these practices—wonderful! I hope this will give you some additional ideas. Or perhaps you are coming to these practices for the first time. Either way, in this article, we’ll explore the ideas of how we can build gratitude and reverence into herbalism.

Unpacking Gratitude and Reverence

Let’s start by examining some definitions: Merriam-Webster’s dictionary describes gratitude as “the state of being grateful; thankfulness.” Gratitude is a positive emotion where we are thankful for what we have, the blessings that nature offers us, and recognize the gifts that nature provides. Gratitude is a powerful tool of connection—it allows us to say to another being—I value you, I respect you, and I am honored with the gifts you provide. Part of what gratitude does with the plant and mushroom kingdom is to provide a basic acknowledgment of their role in our healing, lives, and for many of us, our profession. Gratitude to the plants takes them from an object we harvest to a trusted ally, friend, and companion.

Reverence takes this a step further. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary describes reverence as”1) honor or respect felt or shown; deference; 2) a gesture of respect (such as a bow); 3) the state of being revered; 4) one held in reverence.” In this case, we can think about our plant teachers, those beings who have been with us for millennia, and say, yes, these beings can literally bring us back from the brink of death, can heal our sore and tired bodies, can keep us in good health, and can help us overcome illness—these beings are deserving of our reverence. They should be honored, respected, and acknowledged for the work that their bodies do and sacrifice on behalf of our bodies.

Building gratitude and reverence into your herbalism practice has substantial health and well-being benefits. For one, it allows you to slow down, it allows you to focus and attune to the work at hand. It helps you be in a more positive state of mind. Some of the latest scientific research shows that gratitude practices build connection to nature (Chen et. al, 2022) and that it has strong links to increasing our well-being (Emmons and Mishra, 2011), and encouraging us to be our best selves (Bono and Sender, 2018). \Thus, when we practice gratitude, not only are we expressing our thanks to the earth that supports our work, but we are also healing and balancing ourselves.

A final area that gratitude and reverence practices can help is by creating a more ethical orientation towards the use of plants. My own ethical system is rooted permaculture, a practice that I am trained in both as a practitioner and teacher. Permaculture is a system of design that uses nature as a guide and teacher; learning how to work with nature and use her principles to design anything from a garden to a whole community. Permaculture’s ethics include earth care—caring for the earth, from individual plants and insects up to the entire larger planet; people care—caring for people, including our friends, family, and community but also the broader peoples of the earth; and fair share—ensuring that we only take what we need. When we pause for a moment of gratitude, of reverence, and of respect, we are taking time to orient ourselves to these three dimensions: I am grateful to the earth for this specific plant harvest (earth care), I am grateful to what this medicine will provide to a person who needs it (people care), and I am only taking what I need (fair share). Thus, gratitude can help us foster more ethical interactions overall.

In my first column in Spring 2023, I shared an animist perspective—the belief that all things on earth, natural or human made, living or object, have spirit and those spirits can be interacted with. If we take this assumption to be true (as it has been for the bulk of humanity prior to the present age and culture), then plants are not just a combination of chlorophyll, roots, stems, leaves, and branches—they also have a metaphysical self and that self is a teacher and a guide. And that metaphysical self also has an impact on the medicine they offer. So, we can learn with them by building relationships to access their deepest medicine and teachings. These principles are well discussed in indigenous communities, such as through the work of Robin Wall Kimmerer (2013) and are also broadly recognized in the present nature spirituality movements, accessible to all peoples.

Herbal Gratitude Practices
Offering gratitude to the oak with an offering Offering gratitude to the oak with an offering

On the most basic level, offering gratitude can be quite simple. You can pause and take a moment to say, “thank you” to whatever plant or mushroom material you are working with. This small acknowledgment is an excellent first step towards a deeper, more integrated gratitude practice.

To take gratitude a step further, you can move to what I call “deep gratitude” This is when one takes small moments to acknowledge all the steps of what nature has provided and to be grateful for those gifts and practice gratitude in daily interactions. By steps, I mean the soil, the rain, the farmers or wild harvesters, the people who packed and sold it to you, the people who moved the plant from the farm to the shelf—all of these can be included in a larger web of gratitude. The practice itself is simple. If you are consuming anything, take a moment for gratitude for not only that thing but that web of interactions. If you eat something, have gratitude. If you purchase something, have gratitude. If you are making an herbal medicine, have gratitude. You want to honor the life or resources that was given (because something is almost always given when we consume). Take a moment to simply express your gratitude and thanks for what nature has provided you.

For example, let’s say you are working to make an elderberry elixir for the upcoming cold and flu season. You purchased organic elderberries at your local food co-op along with the other ingredients to make your elixir: ginger, cinnamon, clove, and honey. Rather than immediately jumping into making it when you get home, take a moment with each of the ingredients. Pause, place your hands over them, and say thanks. Pause also to thank those people who stocked the shelves, transported your ingredients, harvested, and grew your ingredients. Offer gratitude to the land that offered nourishment, water, sunlight, and wind. Take a moment to offer thanks to the cookware you will be using, and the bottles that will hold these things. Thank the water that will be present in the elixir. All of these things were derived from nature and offering your gratitude can be a way of giving back. I’m not saying you need to do this every single time but taking this moment of deep gratitude to acknowledge the interconnected web from which you received your ingredients allows you to have a deeper relationship with all of those and puts you in a better state of mind for creating your elderberry elixir.

I’ve been practicing this deep gratitude for some time now, and it has done a few things for me and my herbal practice. First, I have paid a lot more attention to the steps and ways in which things get to me. Second, this practice continues to affirm the need to source everything as locally as possible (which I already do) so that I can offer my gratitude directly. For example, when I buy honey, I buy it from a local beekeeper. I can take a moment to thank the beekeeper and when I visit to pick up the honey, thank the bees and the blooming flowers that sustain them. Another thing this practice does is offer a more ethical response and a reminder of the ethics I want to live by: I am being reminded of the permaculture triad of earth care, people care, and fair share as I go throughout my day. I’m thinking about these ethical dimensions and drawing attention to both the earth-based and human-based ways in which others have touched me, nourished me, and helped sustain me. I’m focusing on what provides for me: the living earth and those others who are directly involved rather than cultivating loyalty to oppressive systems.. Finally, this practice has created more joy in my life. Rather than rushing through a meal, I take the time to savor it, being grateful for a full belly and the beautiful asparagus from the garden.

Gratitude and Reverence in the Wild Harvest
Gratitude practices can be included in any wild harvesting that you do. Perhaps you have a wild elderberry patch that you go to each year to harvest flowers and berries. The deep gratitude practice could still look similar. Go to the plant and seek permission to harvest. Then, take a moment to thank not only the plant but the broader ecosystem that sustains the plant: the soil web of life, the water in the nearby stream, the air currents bringing carbon dioxide, the insect life that pollinates. Thank the Elderberry plant, the strong roots, the branches, the leaves, and of course, the plump berries. Envision holding the gratitude in your mind and then allowing it to flow from you. This practice takes only a moment or two, but can deepen your connection both to nature, to the plant, and to the specific medicine you are harvesting.

You can grow an herbal blend that you carry with you as part of an offering to wild spaces. For myself, each year I grow plants that are specifically used in my gratitude offering—Apothecary Rose (Rosa Gallica) and Sacred Tobacco (Nicotiana Rustica), seeds of which were gifted to me many years ago, and Staghorn Sumac (Rhus Typhina) harvested in the fall from my land (when they are brilliant red, giving color and life to the blend). This blend I carry in a pouch around my neck, and as I harvest, I first seek permission from the plant and then, either way, offer a pinch in thanks. Each year, I mix a new batch of my herbal offering blend, and I also share it with friends and other practitioners who may be interested in starting up a new gratitude practice.

Gratitude for a wild harvest does not have to be a gesture of thanks but can be something tangible and specific that benefits the plant or the ecosystem. For example, perhaps as part of your gratitude practice you donate money to support riparian zone habitats in your local community—where elderberry grows. Or you show up at a riparian zone planting to help put new trees in the soil and stabilize the riverbanks in your community, putting in the sweat equity to ensure the next generation of elderberry—while also protecting the watershed. Or, you go to your forest where you harvest and pick up trash that is there. Or, you work to teach people about elderberry’s benefits in your local community, so that others also understand what an amazing plant she is and why she should be planted, protected, and honored. Gratitude can be shown through our actions as well as our intent.

Gratitude and Reverence in the Herb Garden
Having an herb garden or having wild spaces that you tend regularly allows for yet another dimension of gratitude. Everything that I shared above can apply, but you can also take gratitude a few steps further in such a setting. This setting can be as large as a ½ acre herb garden or as small as a few pots on your patio. Specifically, having a home space allows you to create permanent spaces where you can offer ceremonies for the plants.

We have many examples of folk traditions where engaging in ceremony and offering were a regular part of daily life of peoples prior to our modern era. In Europe and later North America, for example, Wassailing traditions were common. Wassail, comes from the Anglo Saxon “waes-hael” meaning good health. People would go out to the orchard on the old 12th night (either January 6th or 17th, depending on how you calculate the date), make offerings to a central tree in the orchard, sing songs, and drink cider. Wassail was designed to bring the community together to trees from evil influence and ensure a good harvest. Apples were one of the most important staple crops for both Europe and early colonists in North America, so ceremonial intervention ensured success. Looking to the indigenous traditions of North America, the Mohawks and many other Eastern Indigenous tribes had maple syrup ceremonies to support the maples. Described by George-Kanentioo (2022), the Mohawk gather on the first of their new year, where they gather to offer gratitude to the maple tree and celebrate with dancing, songs, and rituals. These are only two examples of countless ceremonies by many peoples through history with the intent of offering gratitude and working to ensure a good harvest.

Herbal meditation garden Herbal meditation garden

One is by developing specific gratitude and reverence ceremonies around planting, tending, and harvesting in the garden. These, again, can be anything that works for you, that flows from you, and that is heartfelt. In my own herb garden, I do a cycle of ceremonies that are designed to show my respect, gratitude and reverence for the plants. Developing ceremonies and cycles of ceremonies again connects us to our ancient human roots—as all of our ancestors, at some point in history, connected with nature in this way. For me specifically, I do a cycle of ceremonies in my perennial herb garden that are tied to the wheel of the year. At the Spring Equinox (March 21), I do a simple blessing ceremony, welcoming the plants back from their slumber and beginning to clear the dead plant matter from last season to welcome the garden back for the new year (a bit of spring cleaning). I chant to them at Beltane (May 1st) as they are emerging from their long slumber, dancing in the garden and showing my appreciation, adding, compost, liquid gold from my body (diluted urine), and a layer of mulch to help them grow strong. (I will note that your own urine is a good offering, being full of nitrogen. A 10% liquid gold + 90% water mix can be used on plants; if you are peeing directly you want to aim for the roots of trees, where it can sink into the soil). At the Summer Solstice (June 21) and Lughnassadh (August 1), I do much of my harvesting and herbal preparations for the year, engaging in gratitude and ceremonies on these days. Fall Equinox (September 21) is the final harvest and I offer songs and offerings of gratitude. By Samhain (October 31), we’ve had a first hard frost and much of the perennials have died back, so I once again offer gratitude and wish them a good rest. This simple wheel allows a regular interaction with the plants that offer sacred medicine, allowing me to be with them, in ceremony, throughout the cycle of the year.

As part of a larger cycle of gratitude, you may want to dedicate some space for offerings, a focal point for these practices in the garden. I have a simple flat stone that I found on our land, and I placed at the top of one of my perennial beds. I have a second stone, a long and thin standing stone, that is behind the altar. When I harvest from the garden, I can stop here and do a small ceremony for the garden, leaving an offering, pausing to say thanks, or offering a chant or song.

Developing Your Own Gratitude and Reverence Practices
Each of us can develop our own gratitude practices and methods. They don’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming. Think about how to build them into your life so they become a seamless part. I hope this article has generated some ideas for practices that you might start or deepen. If this is a new idea to you, you can start small and build from there. Simple gratitude practices can include some of what I shared above: a song, a chant, a thanks, or even an herbal offering blend. A harvest song of thanks, a few notes from a small flute or drum, or even a bit of a dance from the heart can all be welcome offerings. More elaborate practices may be developing a specific herbal blend with plant allies, developing a set of ceremonies of gratitude and blessing for your garden or broader landscape, or even building something like an herbal wassail into your work each year.

Practicing gratitude is a personally transformational practice. It encourages you to slow down, pause, and be grateful. Being grateful makes things more meaningful, richer, and more connected, which leads to a richer experience in the here and now. It helps ground you in the moment and helps re-aligns our minds and hearts with the living earth. But it also sets up a model of more earth-centered interactions that can be shared with herbal students, clients, and community members. It allows us to recognize the inherent sanctity and respect that is due to all life on this beautiful planet, a planet that offers us so much healing and life.

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Aging Gracefully

As we cultivate our life, our beauty becomes as much about what we are creating and doing as it is about our appearance.

We tend to associate youth with beauty, but the truth is that beauty transcends every age. Just as a deciduous tree is stunning in all its stages—from its full leafy green in the summer to its naked skeleton during winter and everything in between—human beings are beautiful throughout their life spans.

The early years of our lives tend to be about learning and experiencing as much as we possibly can. We move through the world like sponges, absorbing the ideas of other people and the world. Like a tree in spring, we are waking up to the world. In this youthful phase of life, our physical strength, youth, and beauty help open doors and attract attention. Gradually, we begin to use the information we have gathered to form ideas and opinions of our own. As we cultivate our philosophy about life, our beauty becomes as much about what we are saying, doing, and creating as it is about our appearance. Like a tree in summer, we become full, expressive, beautiful, and productive.

When the time comes for us to let go of the creations of our middle lives, we are like a tree in autumn dropping leaves, as we release our past attachments and preparing for a new phase of growth. The children move on, and careers shift or end. The lines on our faces, the stretch marks, and the grey hairs are beautiful testaments to the fullness of our experience. In the winter of our lives, we become stripped down to our essence like a tree. We may become more radiant than ever at this stage, because our inner light shines brighter through our eyes as time passes. Beauty at this age comes from the very core of our being—our essence. This essence is a reminder that there is nothing to fear in growing older and that there is a kind of beauty that comes only after one has spent many years on earth.

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Murder In Grafton Center Part 2
~Stephen Halpert

Bob and his wife Juno lived alone on Brigham Hill Road in a restored sprawling three story Victorian surrounded by beautifully designed gardens, a vineyard, and a pond.
A burley man with a ruddy complexion wearing a brown suit stood, arms folded, at the entrance. He nodded politely as Jess, Sherry, Susan, and Rita went in. Then he turned and looked hard at me and Juice.
“Spencer and Juice, isn’t it?” He frowned. ” Inspector R.T. Mallory, Grafton PD.”
I asked if I could see the crime scene report.
Mallory’s face got even ruddier. “Medical Examiner called it a massive coronary. Appropriate, considering his age and all the weight he carried around.”
Juice asked about an autopsy.
“Not my department,” Mallory growled, “Just to play it safe, Chief’s conducting a thorough investigation.”
Jenkins and West from Boston Police Headquarters along with Samson from the State Police pulled up in Jenkins’ cruiser. “You taking this all right?” West asked me. “You two go back a ways.”
“As well as anyone. It’s still hard to believe.”
Jenkins eyed Mallory. “Autopsy? CSI?”
“You guys’ sound like a broken record.” He straightened his shoulders. “Like I told Spencer, Chief’s in charge.”
“Got a precise time of death?” West asked.
Mallory shifted from one foot to the other. “He was dead by the time the ambulance arrived. His wife got back around one thirty, and called it in.” He looked sincere. “I appreciate how you guys feel, but let it rest.”
“Can’t.” West said. “We’re cops remember.”
Mallory sighed. “This is a good town. People here are decent, honest, God fearing, not like the riff raft you deal with in Boston. I don’t want any of you intruding on their bereavement.”
“No problem.” Jenkins said.
A slender, youthful African American policewoman approached Mallory. “What’s it now Bopp?” He sighed.
“Both adjacent fields are full up, Inspector. Best to divert any more vehicles.” She gave Juice a long look.
“Take care of it.” He snapped.
We went in. Bob’s wife Juno hadn’t aged a day since I’d seen her at their housewarming fifteen years ago. She still had the lithe, taut figure of a ballerina and a face reminiscence of an angel painted on fine Bavarian porcelain.
She sat in an upholstered antique armchair in a corner of their living room. Beside her on a small pink marble topped table were a faux antique French style phone and a box of Kleenex.
“Spencer,” She clutched my hands. “Thank you so for coming. You were practically his son. You know that?”
“I’m so sorry.”
She clutched a small ball of tissue. “If only I’d gotten back sooner. Maybe it might have made a difference.” She dabbed at her eyes. “But after Yoga I stopped by Patience’s for lunch.”
Susan joined us. “Mind if I take a quick look at his office?”
Juno nodded sadly. “Of course!” She shuddered. “And knowing him, his spirit’s probably there reading proofs on his monitor.” She burst into tears. Susan consoled her and waved me away.
The house was jammed with affluently dressed somber people. There was an open bar and a caterer had put out a spread of finger food, smoked fish and cheeses. I noticed Rita, the celebrated attorney, chatting up a gubernatorial candidate. Jenkins, West, and Samson stood together nursing what looked like small glasses of cordial. I joined them.
“Taste this.” Jenkins handed me his glass.
“I heard that Bob and his neighbor, Ernie Dickens invented it,” West said. “They call it Honey Acorn Cordial.”
“Delicious,” Samson said. “Isn’t this a banner year for acorns?”
It tasted a little sweet to me but l liked its nutty flavor. Even a few sips packed a wallop.
I went downstairs into the dimly lit basement. The door to Bob’s office was ajar. The room was dark. As I searched for the light switch, I stumbled forward and landed atop a soft body.
“You fell for me,” a woman slurred.
Then I felt a slight breeze as someone I couldn’t see passed by me and left the room.
I pushed away and sat up. Then I tried to help her up but she had other ideas and slid backwards trying to pull me back down alongside her. I helped her sit up and her arms locked around me like I was a buoy in the mid Atlantic.
Her coughing inundated me in fumes of gin.
“Someone else in here with you just now?”
“Just us,” she giggled. “Why? You like crowds?”
I found a lamp and lit the room. The woman was short, stout, dowdy and very drunk. She was overweight and wore an unbecomingly tight black silk suit.
“Who are you?” I noticed that Bob’s computer was still on.
She wiggled a stubby finger at me. “I’m Patience Worthington.” She sounded aristocratic. “Who you?”
“Spencer.”
She patted my leg. “Fox trot or waltz? My you are one wild hunk of a man. Ever play for the Pats?”
I noticed a thick gold wedding bad. “No, but back in the day I boxed. Is your husband a hunk too?”
“Oh, do I wish.” she sighed. “No, he’s an egghead; Dean of the Vertebrate Department at the Vet School.” She smiled coyly. “Lamar knows absolutely everything about backbones but zilch about me. Let’s go get a little drinky.”
“Haven’t you had enough?”
She laughed. “In this house there’s no such thing as enough.”
(To be continued)

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Can Cocoa Benefit Your Brain?
~ANDREW WEIL, M.D.

I’ve read that drinking cocoa can help you think faster and better. What is it about cocoa that could have this effect?

It is true that a study from the UK showed that drinking cocoa enriched with flavanols – a class of antioxidant compounds found in fruits and vegetables – can speed thinking and help people address and complete certain mental tasks more efficiently than they would otherwise.

The study’s lead author, Catarina Rendeiro, Ph.D. of the University of Birmingham’s School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, explained that while her team used cocoa, flavanols occur in a wide range of fruits and vegetables. By better understanding the cognitive benefits of consuming these foods, she said, “We can offer improved guidance to people about how to make the most of their dietary choices.”

For the study, 18 healthy men age 18 through 40 took part in a procedure designed to challenge the brain’s blood circulation. This involved breathing five percent carbon dioxide – about 100 times the normal concentration in air – which produces an effect called hypercapnia.

Each of the men was subjected to this procedure before and after consuming cocoa on two occasions. On one of the two occasions, the drink was enriched with flavanols. Following the carbon dioxide challenge, the participants were asked to complete a series of complex cognitive tests.

The researchers found that the men who drank the flavanol-enriched cocoa had the highest levels of blood oxygenation, up to three times that of those who consumed the non-flavanol-enriched drink. And the volunteers who performed best on the cognitive tests were those who consumed the flavanol-enriched drink. On average these men completed the tests 11 percent faster.

Dr. Rendeiro noted that when you’re being mentally challenged, your brain needs improved blood oxygen levels. Her study suggests that flavanols might be particularly beneficial during cognitively demanding tasks. However, a small group of participants didn’t derive any cognitive benefit from the flavanol-enriched drink. (They had high levels of brain oxygenation responses to start with that weren’t increased by drinking the enriched cocoa.)

“This may indicate that some individuals, that perhaps are already very fit, have little room for further improvement,” Dr. Rendeiro said.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Source:
Catarina Rendeiro et al “Dietary flavanols improve cerebral cortical oxygenation and cognition in healthy adults,” Scientific Reports, November 24, 2020

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Can Cats Eat Chocolate? What to Know About Cats and Chocolate Toxicity
By Jackie Brown

If you have a dog, you probably know that chocolate is very toxic to our canine friends. But what about cats and chocolate? Can cats eat chocolate? Is chocolate toxic to cats, too? The answer, as it turns out, is pretty complicated.

  1. First off, can cats eat chocolate?
    Chocolate and cats is a complicated topic. Photography ©cunfek | iStock / Getty Images Plus.
    “If ingested, chocolate can cause gastrointestinal [distress], such as vomiting and diarrhea, and increased heart rates,” says Stephanie Demarco, DVM, of VCA Kirkwood Animal Hospital in Newark, Delaware. “However, if enough chocolate is ingested, it can lead to much more serious problems, such as seizures, coma and death. So, yes, chocolate is toxic to cats.
  2. Cats aren’t likely to eat chocolate, though.
    “Luckily, cats don’t have a sweet tooth like dogs do, so it is less commonly seen than in dogs,” Dr. Demarco explains. Cats lack a taste receptor for “sweet”— they literally cannot taste sweet substances. This makes cats and chocolate an unlikely combination. Unlike your dog, your kitty is highly unlikely to scarf down your candy bar or sample a pan of brownies cooling on the counter.
  3. Two components in chocolate are dangerous to cats.
    The stimulants theobromine and caffeine pose no risk to humans, but can cause serious problems in both dogs and cats.
  4. Some types of chocolate are worse for cats.
    The darker the chocolate, the more concentrated it is, which means it contains more theobromine. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolates are the worst for cats to ingest, but semi-sweet and milk chocolates can cause issues in large enough quantities. White chocolate poses no risk (white chocolate contains only trace amounts of theobromine and caffeine).

Types of chocolate from most (the worst chocolate for cats) to least toxic for cats:

Unsweetened dry cocoa powder
Baking chocolate
Dark chocolate (above 60 percent cacao)
Semi-sweet/bittersweet chocolate
Milk chocolate

White chocolate (white chocolate is not a problem, as it contains none of the dangerous methylxanthines found in true chocolate products)

  1. If your cat ingests chocolate, seek veterinary treatment immediately.
    When it comes to cats and chocolate, the seriousness of the situation depends on how much and what type of chocolate your kitty ate. “The best thing to do is get medical advice from your veterinarian,” Dr. Demarco advises. “You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline [888-426-4435] to see if the amount and type of chocolate ingested needs medical treatment.”
  2. Whatever you do, don’t try to induce vomiting at home.
    Although inducing vomiting is commonly recommended for dogs who ingest certain toxins, inducing your cat to vomit is risky. “At no point should you try to make your cat vomit,” Dr. Demarco says. “It may not be necessary or recommended, or it may even be considered dangerous, depending on the situation.” Always consult a veterinarian if you think your cat has ingested something toxic.
  3. Err on the side of caution and keep chocolate — and any candy — away from your cat.
    Even though cats are unlikely to eat sugary treats, it’s best to keep chocolate and other candy safely out of reach, especially around kittens, who are more likely to experiment and eat weird things.

A note on xylitol and cats
Xylitol isn’t in chocolate, but it is in things like sugar-free gum and candy. Cats aren’t likely to eat sweets, but if they do, the good news is that xylitol is not toxic to cats. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs though, so if you have a dog who ingests a product containing xylitol, seek immediate veterinary treatment.

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, February 12, 2023

All Signs
It’s Valentines on Tuesday, which begins in an upbeat way but could shrivel into petty arguments by the end of the night. Wednesday is dreamy and romantic. Thursday is productive; while Friday and Saturday are energetic times to socialize! “Let’s pop some bubbly!” (Some might schedule Valentine’s festivities for the weekend, when the vibes are better.) Meanwhile, this week the Sun moves into Pisces to stay for four weeks, which makes us more sensitive and altruistic. Pisces loves light spectacles, music and mood enhancers. We will dream of future possibilities and “what ifs,” like what if I lost twenty pounds, meditated three hours a day, jogged seven miles, learned Hebrew, Tibetan and Swahili, gave up meat, dairy, flour and sugar? (Not alcohol, of course.)

Aries (March 21-April 19)
Right now, your personal year (birthday to birthday) is ending. However, your new year won’t begin until your birthday arrives. This means the next four weeks are an “in between” time, a bit like limbo. (You’re all dressed up with no place to go.) This is why many of you will choose to keep a low profile and work alone or behind the scenes. It’s a good time to reflect about the kind of signals you send out to the world. Many of us send out two signals: what we think are trying to do versus what we are actually doing, which can confuse others. This is a good time to check out childhood behaviour patterns that might surface because we all revert to childish behavior at times. This is the perfect month to take stock. How well are you doing at the art of living?

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
You’re entering a popular four weeks ahead! Not only will you enjoy the company of good friends, you will also be involved more than usual with groups and organizations. As you enjoy this increased interconnection with others, you might examine the role these people play in your life. To a large extent, your friends are a reflection of who you are. Think of this as you become involved with team efforts. Look around you. Are these your people? Your idealism is also aroused, which is why you might give more thought to your future goals and what you want to achieve. What would you like to do? What do you want to accomplish?

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Once a year the Sun sits at the top of your chart for four weeks. That time has arrived. This means now is the time to turn your attention to your career, your role in society, and your standing and reputation in your community. For starters, examine the direction that your life is going. Are you headed where you want to go? Meanwhile, the symbolism of the Sun at the top of your chart is that you are in the limelight more than usual, and this light is flattering! Therefore, people will approach you and ask you to take on increased responsibilities because they see you as capable and competent. Fear not, you won’t have to do anything special to impress them. Good lighting is everything!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Your desire to travel, get further education and training, or do anything to enhance and enrich your life will be strong in the next four weeks because you want to broaden your horizons in any way possible. Take up a new study. Perhaps a new hobby or an intellectual discipline? Go somewhere where you can learn something. Travel will be rewarding and satisfying at this time. Some of you might be more involved with the law. You might also have an increased interest in metaphysical, religious and spiritual ideas. Do anything that gives you a broader perspective on your world.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
The next four weeks will be more passionate and intense than usual. Perhaps you will deal with inheritances or money from another source or money from the government. You might have an increased focus on taxes and insurance issues. Discussions about shared property might come up. Loans and mortgages might be a focus. You might also notice that deep compulsions seem to surface leading to behaviour that you don’t understand. Basically, you have a stronger desire now to experience life on a feeling level, and not just in an abstract intellectual way. You might attract a powerful person to you who triggers some psychological self-inquiry within you. (Wow.)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
For the next four weeks, the Sun is opposite your sign. This happens only once a year, and when it does, it gives you a chance to learn more about yourself through your one-to-one relations with others. Examine these relationships, especially marriages as well as professional partnerships. It’s time to think about whether or not your partner is filling your needs? Meanwhile, for your own benefit, you must be as good for your partner as he or she is for you. In addition, because the Sun is your source of energy and symbolically, it is now as far away from your sign as it can get all year – you will be more tired. You will want more sleep and daytime naps (if you can do this). This is also a good time to consult experts about something.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
For whatever reason, (according to the personal details of your life), you’ve decided it’s time to pull your act together. This is why you will use the next four weeks to manage your life better. You will work hard to do what needs to be done because you’re ready to turn over a new leaf and be as efficient and productive as possible. This high standard will extend to your health as well, which is why many of you might go on a diet, begin a new exercise regime or do what you can to be the best version of yourself. You might find you have to work on behalf of someone else during this time. It’s just what’s happening.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
You are powerful, disciplined and playful! You will be pleased to know that the next four weeks are one of the best windows in the entire year when you can do what you want and set your own priorities. Enjoy amusing recreations, time out with friends, sports events and fun activities with kids. In particular, you will love movies, the theatre and the arts because you want to have a good time! Your attitude toward your relationships will be lighter and more fun-loving. Romance will be rewarding. Very timely for Valentine’s week!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This is the time of year when your concerns about your personal private life will be important. You will enjoy cocooning at home. You will also enjoy being more involved with family, relatives and parents. Family discussions will be significant. However, many of you will also choose to go off by yourself and contemplate your navel because this is the classic time for self-evaluation, especially in terms of thinking about how your childhood and your family affected who you are today. Perhaps they set an example? Perhaps they were cautionary tale? Either way, you might see patterns of behaviour that you exhibit that are related to your past.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
You will notice that the pace of your days will accelerate in the next four weeks because suddenly, your dance card is full! Short trips, errands, appointments, visits with other people (especially siblings and relatives) plus increased reading, writing and studying will all combine to give you a busy schedule. You will like this busyness because you’re eager to learn new things, see new places and meet new faces. It’s a good time to take a course. Study something new! It’s also a good time to slip away on a vacation because you are curious about your surroundings. Enjoy!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Money and your personal belongings will become a stronger focus for you in the next four weeks. You will notice this in practical terms. However, at a more subtle level, you will also have the opportunity to examine your relationship to the things you own and the money you earn. Does your wealth and your assets serve your needs? Or are you becoming a slave to what you own through maintenance, cleaning, storage and protection. Sometimes we are a victim of our possessions. For that matter, when you think about it more deeply, what do you really value? One thing is certain: you want to feel that you have greater control of your life through what you own.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
The Sun is in your sign for the next four weeks. This is great news! It happens only once a year and when it occurs, it is your chance to recharge yourself so to speak for the year to come. Without doubt, you will be able to project your personality with more force and energy, which means this will be an excellent time to make a great impression on others. Not only that, you will attract favourable circumstances and important people to you. Yes, you’re hot! Personally, you will feel a strong need to express yourself. This is just fine. This is one of those times when your first duty is to yourself and if you don’t fulfil that duty, you will be of little use to anyone.

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Weekly Horoscopes Beginning Sunday, 12 February 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this week:

Important, and contentious, as certain issues are, think carefully about who’s actually making decisions and the impact of the results. You may be better off discussing your views with those in charge, then focusing on a range of less exciting but, ultimately, inescapable dilemmas. The good news? Once these are dealt with, you’ll be free to focus on those activities and individuals who matter most in your life.

A partner is hoping for a good outcome to a situation that concerns you both. There has been no movement here for some time and now that one of you has taken the initiative, you will hopefully find a way to move forward together and not apart as you had been concerned about. Self-discipline, confidence and faith in yourself will be needed if you take up a new career opportunity. This isn’t something you should rush into.

On Thursday, and for the final time in three decades, the Sun and Saturn align in an area of your solar chart associated with affiliations and groups. You may be asked to take on a position of authority. You’ve perhaps been avoiding this over the last couple of years. Pluto will shortly leave the career zone of that same chart, and it is perhaps time to think about your position within groups and what your legacy should be. It would be unsurprising if this week – along with the romantic thoughts that come with Valentine’s Day, – if you didn’t give thought to how best to position yourself within your industry. To that end, you might consider a meeting with a career adviser or at least discuss with a good friend how you could best advance your long-term aims and ambitions.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Unsettling as recent changes in circumstances were, they’ve freed you to reorganise arrangements you’ve been struggling with. Respond swiftly, stating your intentions. Then retreat and review your objectives in detail. Discuss these with those whose wisdom you respect, since certain matters are more complicated than you realise. Once everything’s clear, have one final discussion with everybody concerned, then take action swiftly. You won’t regret it.

Recent events have changed the way you view a relationship and how you feel about and relate to each other. You might realise you’ve been expecting too much from a partner since you have got closer and instead of cementing bonds, this seems to have caused more arguments. Some people are more compatible as friends than lovers and this could be such a relationship. If you aren’t able to reach a compromise, you will eventually be going your separate ways.

Saturn will shortly leave the apex of your solar chart. This week, joined by Mercury in that same zone, giving thought to your ambitions would be wise as on Thursday, the Sun and Saturn align in this area for the last time in nearly three decades. It’s arguably important that you give thought to exactly what you’ve achieved over the last couple of years, and whether or not this has met your expectations. There is every likelihood that your career is about to go off at a tangent in ways that are presently unimaginable. With Pluto’s arrival in Aquarius, reconsidering your position will be necessary. Whilst true, you could be preoccupied by romantic matters (certainly for the first half of this week), it would be as well to give thought to your expertise and how it could best be marketed. It’s entirely possible that certain individuals are completely unaware of your talents and experience and time to review your CV.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Certain decisions may seem urgent. However, judging by the current planetary setup, you’re better off exploring your options and, equally, chatting with those who’re more expert on the matters in question than you are. This won’t just be informative; it will so alter your perspective that you’ll realise you’ve lots more to learn. Next? State your intentions clearly, but ensure any arrangements you make are flexible.

Someone who was in a position of power has made some bad decisions. They may not be in charge now but their mistakes need to be rectified. Others might start to look to you to figure out where, how and why it all went wrong. Once this has been exposed, you will have a better idea on what to do about it. Working behind the scenes could prove to be profitable, later in the week. You might find yourself joining forces with someone whose background is very different from your own.

For the final time in the best part of three decades, the Sun and Saturn align in another of the Air signs, Aquarius: marking a moment to take stock. Of course, you won’t be the only sign doing this. In your case it really is about expertise and qualifications. Given that in a few short weeks Saturn will begin its transit over the career point of your solar chart, it is arguably time to assess where you’re at and what training could be improved. It might also be the case that you now have knowledge to impart. Don’t underestimate your teaching skills. Nor, should you underestimate your ability to persuade others or support them as they follow new career paths. Though there may be love distractions at the start of the week, by its close, your career is high-profile. Anticipate that others will want to talk about your plans for the next decade. Even if these are at best sketchy, it would be a good idea to run through possibilities.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this week:

You’re in the midst of a tricky period. True, it’s essential you make others aware of your intentions, for now and, equally, for the future. However, with the foundation of plans shifting, often to your benefit, you want to ensure others understand changes are inevitable. Certain individuals will offer advice. Thank everybody, but accept guidance only from those you know are better informed than you are.

A relationship isn’t working as you had hoped it would. The longer you spend together, the longer you are delaying the inevitable. Moving on and pursuing a new love would be best for you both. You are in touch with your feelings but this isn’t a situation that is bringing emotional fulfilment or stability. In fact, it constantly depletes your energy. A partner has already detached themselves and they aren’t going to change their ways to suit you.

Thoughts might be on romance at the start of the week, but on business partnerships by its close. The Sun and Saturn align in Aquarius for the final time in almost three decades. Over the last couple of years, you’ve presumably learned the value of good and lasting working relationships. Now you may be ready to invest in one. As Pluto leaves your opposite sign next month, upheaval in close unions is to be expected. This could bring with it an amazing working opportunity. Yes, it likely means working with those from very different cultures to your own. For some, it might also involve long-distance travel. What’s important is building on your network and specifically, learning more about how an established team has worked and how it can negotiate upheaval next month. In this, you could yet become a key player.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Between last week’s unsettling Leo Full Moon and this Thursday’s run-in between your ruler the Sun and tough Saturn, you’re facing a series of tricky situations. While they’ll require patience and deft handling, they could lead to breakthroughs in troublesome issues you thought you’d just have to live with. The secret? Say or do whatever is necessary, then back off and let destiny deal with the rest.

A new boss or business partner will have a different way of running things. Their methods may not match up to your idea of the needs of the job. Although you could say something immediately, why not give them a little more time before launching into any real criticism? An agency that is overstretched and does not have enough resources needs a big fund-raising push and will appeal for volunteers. You have the skills to be able to make an important contribution to this effort.

It could fit easily feel as though others are talking at you but not listening. They may be asking you to take responsibility for all that’s happened in the last couple of years. On Thursday, the Sun and Saturn align in your opposite sign for the last time in three decades; and yes, this is a defining moment. Of course, there is bound to be some wistfulness and even regret. Yet you cannot carry the weight of all that’s occurred. The art is in agreeing a graceful ending if that’s what you want, or improving the situation so that responsibility is shared. Ahead of Pluto’s arrival in your opposite sign at the end of March, frank exchange of views would be wise. This doesn’t have to be dogmatic, but does need to be planned. It may be that a career adviser could help you negotiate this hurdle.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Usually you’re the first to spot, and find solutions for, potentially troublesome dilemmas. Now, suddenly, certain matters need fast action. While some are clearcut, others are as unexpected as they are sudden. Yet they’re all urgent. The secret? Get those who’ve experience with these involved, take their suggestions seriously, then move swiftly. Also, be aware these are the first of a series of timely, if not overdue, changes.

It will take time to understand new routines or to get used to technical devices that are being introduced to the work scene. Arguments will revolve around how to make the best of changes that are unwanted by many. Eventually the atmosphere will lighten as everyone settles into and starts to accept their new responsibilities. If your living conditions are starting to get you down, think about relocating to a more appropriate area.

Coinciding neatly with Valentine’s Day, Venus and Neptune align in your opposite sign. This suggests visionary thinking, and yes, a degree of wistfulness and possibly even regret. While this has most obvious connotations in your personal life, it could be that there are career regrets too. Recall that throughout 2022, a difficult planetary combination sent a burden of responsibility your way. That period is now coming to an end. Prior to Saturn’s arrival in your opposite sign on March 7, anticipate conversations about how much responsibility you’re willing to carry over the next couple of years. A new title may be in the offing. It’s further possible that before the end of this week you’ll be headhunted, or at least given the chance to consider a career move that would establish you as having authority and experience. You won’t be alone in seeking the counsel of an expert, but in your case, might need someone with experience of drawing up contracts to assist.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Recent surprising changes in the tricky attitude of certain individuals and, equally, in circumstances you’ve been struggling with were as welcome as they were unexpected. True, you must respond, in some cases swiftly. Do exactly that, but avoid discussing far-reaching plans. Changes will continue, and many will be timely. For now, forget about details or finalising arrangements. That can, and should, wait.

A close friend or housemate is not going to change patterns they were allowed to indulge in, as a child. They are used to getting their own way and this kind of attitude means you are always having to forget your own needs in favour of theirs. Why should you always have to try to make them happy when it makes you miserable? If they refuse to change, you may have to walk away. Avoid discussing controversial subjects like politics and religion in the working environment.

For the final time in the best part of three decades, the Sun and Saturn align in another of the Air signs, Aquarius. Though true, all signs will pick up on this conjunction to greater or lesser extent, Libras are likely to experience this as the closing of a chapter. Consider all that’s happened over the last 2 1/2 years. You properly have expertise that you would never have anticipated acquiring. It’s arguably time to review your CV, your social media accounts, your LinkedIn profile or whatever and to move to new platform. To do this, arguably requires advice from a marketing expert. This is something that you could organise. With the strong likelihood that you will be asked to take on a position of considerable authority in the coming weeks, this exercise should prove worthwhile.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this week:

It’s not that you’ve been ignoring tricky situations, many of which influence your way of living, loving or working. With the foundation on which these are based shifting, you’re unsure what’s wise. The secret? Make halfway plans. This way, others will be aware of your thinking and priorities, yet this ensures you’re free to continue to explore the intriguing options promised by the coming weeks’ planetary activity.

Because you have weighed the pros and cons and you still remain uncertain about what you really want, a lot of your decision making will be based on intuition and feelings. What is strange about this is that something is urging you to try things you would normally avoid. This is a defining period for you and it will help you work out where your true passion lies. You’ve got a lot on your plate but you will handle this well.

The sun and Saturn will align at the base of your solar chart for the final time in is best part of three decades; and yes, it could feel as though you’re saying goodbye to the past. You might also recognise that further upheaval will be necessary in the next couple of years. First though, is necessary to tie up loose ends and yes, likely take part in intense space clearing. You may be asked to assist with estate planning or with the distribution of a legacy. Given that the first half of the week could be given over to affairs of the heart, this working task could hit you hard. It might help though to join forces with someone born under Aquarius, who could help you negotiate hurdles that do your mind are insensitive yet need to be tackled before you can move forward.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this week:

True, nothing can undermine the powerful influence of your ruler Jupiter’s position in the portion of your chart that accents life’s joys. However, certain tricky situations and difficult individuals haven’t vanished. Changes are inevitable, often when things seem organised. Plus, the swift pace, in your life and around you, means even simple arrangements will need to be rethought, often more than once. The secret? A flexible attitude.

A new relationship doesn’t seem to be working quite the way either of you had imagined or expected. Romantically, you aren’t drawn to each other but other than this you get on really well. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing; a compromise can be reached. You might agree to maintain a platonic friendship where you both still have your freedom. In the workplace there is a power struggle that really needs to be overcome.

Saturn has been moving slowly through Aquarius and makes its final aspect to the Sun in that sign later on this week. This should mark the end of a period when focus – and reliance – has been on others people’s expertise. At times you may have felt ground down by limitations and regulations. It’s not exactly the case that all will change once Saturn moves into Pisces next month, but highly likely that your position will alter and that others will start to treat you differently. This week they likely need to know how you feel about developments and how you would like your career to progress. Establishing new ground rules appears a major theme. With a probable second revenue stream developing, you might also need to adjust – and announce – a revised schedule to accommodate new responsibilities.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this week:

Over the past months you’ve dealt with sudden changes, many as unexpected as they were challenging. Yet, looking back, you’re now recognising how much you’ve learnt from these. Enough you’re rethinking certain plans, for the present but, equally, for the distant future. Still, prepare for yet more timely changes in those plans. Knowing these are coming, you’ll ensure your thinking and the actual arrangements are flexible.

A colleague will admit to having ignored some good advice. They made a big mistake in going their own way and you will respect their need to spend some time reflecting on their decisions. An incident in your neighbourhood will shock many people. An investigation will get underway to determine exactly what has been going on. If you’ve been yearning to move away, you will find a suitable property within your price range.

For the final time in the best part of three decades, the Sun aligns with your ruling planet, Saturn, in Aquarius marking a defining moment for all signs. Together the Sun and Saturn have a reputation for limitation but also for construction. Key decisions should be taken. Through the first half of this week the focus is on design and marketing, but by its close, the accent moves to adapting to a technology that is now free of the bugs that created so many difficulties since last August. Don’t underestimate your ability to grapple with new technology. It’s quite possible you will be seen as having expertise in this area and that this will bring you kudos if not cash reward.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this week:

While there’s an Aquarius New Moon every year, the most recent one was on 21 January, just as Mercury’s retrograde cycle ended. While events were positive, you were juggling so many welcome but sudden changes, you were forced to ignore vital details. The time has come to tackle these. This alone, will clear up most of the minor, but serious issues you’re facing.

Someone has betrayed you and this hurts most because you had trusted them with a secret you have shared with no other. A work contract isn’t worth the paper it is printed on when the other party welches on a deal. Whatever you have worked on so far will seem to be wasted as even to continue on your own, you will have to rebuild again. Trust your intuition when it comes to financial and family matters.

Perhaps you should prepare to celebrate. At the end of this week, the Sun and Saturn align in your sign for the last time in the better part of three decades. This should be a defining moment for all signs, but in your case, marks a most decided shift in energy. The responsibilities and weights of the last few years can now be shouldered more comfortably. With others willing conceding that your ideas have merit, anticipate being asked to join a team or even to take on a position within an association. Another feature is getting to know a creative team whose approach – honed over the last decade -, to your mind requires review. This needn’t result in a clash of wills, but it is likely that lively discussion will ensue.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this week:

As you begin this week, you’ll have far more questions than you do answers, mostly about exciting yet unclear future plans. Actually, the timing is perfect because, ideally, those decisions will wait until after the Pisces New Moon, on 20 February, which ushers in a welcome fresh perspective on existing arrangements and potential future plans. For now? Focus on decluttering. You know exactly what needs to go.

You can’t understand why it is taking so long for a partner to make a decision. You have already made your mind up and you’re hoping they feel the same way but you’re starting to get the impression they aren’t really interested. Your intuition is warning you to prepare for a negative response. A colleague who is battling with issues at home will turn to you for advice. Be sure that is all you give them.

If it feels as though the ground is shifting beneath you, you may well be right. Changes in the air. In a few short weeks, Saturn will arrive in your sign, and new structures will need to be put in place. This week, with the sun’s alignment in Saturn in Aquarius you are neighbouring sign, hint should be aplenty. It’s entirely possible that a colleague is now moving on or planning to do so, and that extra responsibility is headed your way. This is likely not something to be feared is already made been identified that you have a magic touch, and no how to smooth out difficulties. Long-term career planning is always useful, this week though, you could perhaps do with discussions with a mental or health adviser who will help negotiate the challenges of the next couple of years. Identifying these in advance, which surely be helpful.

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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons WeeklyFeast : 5 Feb 2023

Thanks for reading my blog!

Believe in love.
Believe in magic.
Believe in others.
Believe in yourself.
Believe in your dreams.
If you don’t, who will?

  • Jon Bon Jovi

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again
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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: FULL MOON

Time: Approx. 14 days after New Moon (energy lasts from three days before to three days after actual full moon)

Goddess Aspect: Mother

Associated Goddesses: Danu, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aphrodite, Isis

Magickal Attributes: Fruition Manifesting goals, nurturing, passion, healing, strength, power. Workings on this day are for protection, divination.”extra power”, job hunting, healing serious conditions Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams.
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What’s Happening?
FEBRUARY

FEB. 1-14 Greek festival of God Dionysus – in which vines were pruned and sprinkled with wine, accompanied by ritual singing and dancing.

FEB. 7: Greek Day of Selene: Moon Goddess

FEB. 11: VELES

FEB. 14: Norse Family Festival – Celebrated as Valentine’s Day

FEB. 15: Lupercalia (Festival of the Wolf): Pan’s Day—Honoring the Lord of the Wilderness, Animals, and Fertility. Coming of Spring.

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The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Feb 12
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Feb 19
WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Mar 5

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!
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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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This Week’s Astrology Forecast
Astrology Forecast brought to you by Storm Cestavani

February 6 – February 12, 2023

We start the week off with Mercury in Capricorn forming a sextile to Neptune in Pisces. You may feel more receptive to the emotions and needs of others and will find it easy to relate to their current concerns.

Towards the middle of the week, you will crave excitement as Venus sextiles Uranus in Taurus. Your daily routine may feel stale and boring, and you need to find activities that inspire you.

This weekend, we dive into deep waters as Mercury conjoins Pluto in Capricorn. You will focus on intense matters and are willing to dig deep to find solutions to your problems.

Recommended Candles: Mercury (Astro Magic), Emotional Balance (Blessed Herbal), Everything and then Some (Wicked Witch Mojo)

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Balancing Lunar and Solar Energies
FEBRUARY 05, 2023 BY DALLAS JENNIFER COBB

Today is the full moon! We all know about today’s powerful lunar energies for working magic; however, we can work a special bit of balancing magic by bringing in some solar energy. Why don’t we have a meditation and a toast to balance?

This evening, after the moon is visible in the sky, pour or brew yourself a drink with solar energy. Try a nice glass of local mead, which is made from honey, or perhaps choose a hot cup or thermos of a decaffeinated tea of your choice with some honey stirred in. Honey has fiery, masculine, solar energies that balance out the moon’s watery, feminine, lunar energies.

Raise your drinking vessel in a toast to the full moon. Take a sip of your libation and bask in the moonlight, meditating on the fact we all contain a mix of these solar and lunar energies within us. As you take another sip, visualize yourself balancing these energies as your solar-inspired drink moves down through your body and you bask in the gentle lunar light.
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Kitchen Witch Intentions
FEBRUARY 04, 2023 BY DALLAS JENNIFER COBB

There is no need to buy special ingredients to work magic, cast spells, or change consciousness at will. Just reach for these magical kitchen basics.

Whether you’re cooking, baking, or stewing, adding common ingredients with strong scents can increase magical energy. Today, as you prepare food for yourself or another, set an intention of what you want to convey, instill, or magnify, then use an herb, fruit, or spice to fix the intention in the food, inviting the energy into yourself, your food, and your kitchen.

To invite love, protection, and feelings of belonging, use cinnamon. Need comfort, quieting, and soothing? Try chamomile. For energy, memory, and attention, choose coffee. Want a calm, mindful focus? Choose lavender. To promote clearing, cleaning, and uplifting, use lemon. You can add clarity and inspiration with mint, promote abundance, success, and enlightenment with orange, and nurture a sense of wellbeing with vanilla.
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Push It Protection Spell
FEBRUARY 03, 2023 BY ANDREA TAYLOR

Salt and pepper are not just good for seasoning food—they’re also used for magickal protection. This is because salt neutralizes negative energy, and pepper acts as a potent guardian against harm. You can prepare this protection spell nearly anywhere and anytime. You will need a plate, some salt and ground pepper, a spoon, and a small pouch.

On a plate, make two equal-size mounds, one of salt and one of pepper. Hover your right hand over the mounds, then start mixing them together with your fingers in a clockwise motion. Push your intention for protection into them as you repeat this phrase:

Salt and pepper, protect me from harm.

Do this for at least three minutes. When you feel they have absorbed your will, use a spoon to gather the powder into the pouch. To use it, take a pinch of the powder with your left fingers and throw it while pushing the protective energy out with your hand. Take a deep breath and walk away.
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Sadness Be Gone Spell
FEBRUARY 02, 2023 BY TUDORBETH

February 2 is an auspicious day for many: it is Candlemas, Imbolc, and Groundhog Day. Moreover, February can be one of the coldest months in the Northern Hemisphere, with snow heavy on the ground. Fragile snowdrop plants begin to push their way up through the frozen land to greet us, a sign that the earth is once again emerging from her winter sleep. In Hedgewitchery, we often call Imbolc the Snowdrop Festival.

The festivals around this time are regarded as celebrations of light, as the light is dawning after a dark winter’s night. Further, even though magic is within everything, there are a number of traditional symbols of magic. One in particular is the bell, which is said to drive away evil spirits, including the winter blues. In the Craft, bells are used to invoke the Goddess or to call the elementals and to drive away winter and sadness.

If you have been suffering or feeling low, cast this spell today to renew your spirit and embrace the coming of spring. You will need a bell of any size, a white candle, and a snowdrop plant or a picture of one. If you don’t have a bell, there are lots of videos online of a bell ringing, or you might have a bell sound effect on your phone.

Safely light the candle and look upon the snowdrop. Hold the bell in your left hand (if you’re using one) and say:

Festival of light,
Release the pain that I feel
When thrice the bell peals.

Then slowly ring the bell three times and blow out the candle. Watch the smoke rise, taking your pain with it.
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Creativity Imbolc Spell
FEBRUARY 01, 2023 BY SAPPHIRE MOONBEAM

At sundown we begin to celebrate Imbolc, the Celtic festival in honor of Brigid. She is known as a goddess of wisdom, poetry, and inspiration, among other things. Imbolc is also a fire festival, a celebration of the return of the light. The light and fires of Imbolc represent a luminous, radiant hope after experiencing harsh, cold winter days. Fire is the element of transformation and passion. It is a perfect time to renew and transform your creativity.

A simple way to celebrate Imbolc is to light a white candle to “spark” your creativity and celebrate the return of the light. Once your candle is lit, cup your hands around the candle at a safe distance and say:

On this Imbolc night, as my
candle burns bright, help my
passion and creativity reignite.

Safely extinguish the candle once you are done.
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Feast for Hecate
JANUARY 31, 2023 BY CERRIDWEN IRIS SHEA

By January 31, some of the ambitions we had on the 1st have lost momentum, and we feel disjointed. It’s a good time to ask Hecate for guidance and blessings.

Clean your house, and cleanse it with the smoke of lavender and rosemary incense.

Hecate is connected to the crossroads. Take two yards of black fabric and two yards of white fabric. Create a crossroads on your floor by putting the pieces of fabric at right angles to each other, and place a table in the middle of the crossroads.

Now make a simple meal. Decorate the table with candles, keys, and offerings of honey, arranged in groups of three, on a black and white cloth.

Ask for Hecate’s guidance in anything where you feel you are at a crossroads. Eat the feast and let the candles safely burn out.
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Spell to Wipe Away Debt
JANUARY 30, 2023 BY TUDORBETH

The bills are in and repayment on those Christmas and New Year festivities may have taken a toll on your bank account. It’s time to put some action into your finances. If you have debts, especially credit card bills and loans, then do a manifestation spell to consciously wipe them away using this snowball practice. This spell involves paying off the smallest debt first, then snowballing that money and carrying it on to the next bill until you are completely debt-free.

Write down your debts on a piece of white paper, and look at them and acknowledge them. Don’t be frightened; instead, accept them. Then safely light a green candle and imagine a snowball wiping away those debts, starting with the smallest one, until it wipes them all clean whilst gathering momentum and growing larger.

To manifest a debt-free life, think of how you will feel when you’ve paid everything off and then, while holding the paper in your left hand, say:

Snowball, snowball, rolling bright,
Debts disappear with all my might.

Blow out the candle, and keep the paper in a special place where you can see it every day to acknowledge it but not where everyone can see it.

Make a conscious effort to pay the debts off. Contact the credit card, loan, or debt company to arrange a repayment plan and ask for them to lower your interest rate. Actively pursue clearing those debts. Show the universe how capable you are, and keep imagining that snowball wiping away all those debts

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Heartwings Love Notes 1070: Small Victories

Heartwings says, “Being grateful for small victories is better than complaining about any losses.”

I’ve read that one of the first skills a child learns is to let go. They must be born with the instinct to hold on, as any mother with long enough hair knows. It makes sense, because they need o hold onto their mothers or anything else to keep from free falling into danger. Once they learn to let go, they delight in doing it. I remember my little ones sitting in the family high chair gleefully dropping things onto the kitchen floor. We all grow up and learn various skills that serve us until the day they don’t. I clearly remember learning to tie my shoes. My dear nurse Emily had me stand bent over my shoes until I learned to do it. I was in nursery school, aged three, perhaps almost four, depending on the time of year. Called the Woodward School, it had blue double doors. I can see them still. My finger dexterity was never to become perfect, however I did get good enough to tie laces or untangle knots, until one day I developed Parkinson’s and the dexterity dwindled.
I remember how difficult it was in first grade trying to improve my penmanship. In time I managed to learn to write at least reasonably well, until once again, Parkinson’s took over and unless I focused very carefully my handwriting would shrink more and more as I wrote a sentence. However, I did find that by printing rather than using cursive that my writing shrank less. The ability to focus and write slowly has enhanced the clarity of my handwriting, and this is something for which I am grateful. It is a small victory in the midst of abilities that without my being able to stop doing so, are beginning to fade.
I have had to give up the pride I once took in skills I had worked on and developed. Being able to do things I once took for granted as accomplishments has transmogrified into taking pride in the smaller victories I am able to manage. I had a teacher who once said, “Rather than lament that roses have thorns, be glad that thorns have roses. I remember that the roses in my father’s garden had large thorns yet they smelled wonderful. Often the roses of today have no thorns to speak of, yet they do not have much of a scent either. Still, they are lovely.
While I have lost some of the abilities of which I was once so proud, I have gained others for which I am grateful. I have become more patient because I must be, otherwise I would be all too frustrated. Being patient with myself means I am able to be more patient with others. I have also become more compassionate, and now I have more compassion for others and am more forgiving. While these could be considered small victories, they are also big steps in being more comfortable with myself and kinder, and by extension, with others as well.

May you remember to take pleasure in your personal victories no matter how small.

Blessings and best regards, Tasha Halpert

PS I so appreciate any comments you may have to share, or stories of your own victories. It always warms my heart to hear from readers. Thanks for sharing. Please write me at tashahal@gmail.com. For more love notes, see my website at http://www.heartwingsandfriends.com.

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The Druids Garden
Dreaming Primer: Lucid Dreaming, Dream Recall, and Exploring Dreamscapes for Creativity

~Dana O’Driscoll

The average human being will sleep approximately 229,961 hours over the course of their life. Dreaming, including working on dream recall and lucid dreaming, can offer us gateways to cultivating a rich inner life and in supporting our spiritual and creative practices. In many spirit-led cultures, dreaming and sacred dreams have a tremendously powerful role; dreams can help guide and shape us and offer teachings, lessons, and inspiration. But in western culture, people assume their dreams are by-products of their waking hours, and often don’t know how to work with them in any intentional way. Dreams can be very powerful forces of creative flow and insight in our lives. Given how much time we spend in dreams, this represents a great opportunity to explore spiritual practices tied to dreaming. Today’s post specifically explores how to use dreaming to support ongoing creative practices and creative work, including setting intentions, dream recall, and lucid dreaming.

This post is part of my ongoing series on creativity and spirituality, which I consider to be of critical importance due to the rise in AI designed to strip us of our own creative gifts. Last week’s post explored how daydreaming and mind-wandering can support creative practices. Today we’ll explore the other side of this–dreaming–and how dreaming can also cultivate a rich creative practice and inner life. Previous posts in this series include taking up the path of the bard parts I, and II, practice makes perfect, the fine art of making things, bardic arts as spiritual development, rituals to enhance creativity, cultivating the flow of awen in our lives, the bardic arts and the ancestors, visioning the future with the bardic arts, and creativity to support mental health. So let’s continue our journey in exploring the bardic arts as a core part of spiritual practice and being human with–dreaming!

What is Dreaming?
Entering the Dreaming (Hawthorn card from the Plant Spirit Oracle Deck)

Before we get into how to engage in dream seeding, lucid dreaming, and dream recall, it is useful to explore what we mean by dreaming. Let’s start with some cultural assumptions about dreaming and take a moment to examine our own assumptions.

In the West, dreams are considered completely part of our subconscious, that is, they are tied to our brains and are seen as our brains processing the day’s experiences, working through things, and connecting us to ourselves. We can see this from work like Carl Jung, who writes:

“Dreams are impartial, spontaneous products of the unconscious psyche, outside the control of the will. They are pure nature; they show us the unvarnished, natural truth, and are therefore fitted, as nothing else is, to give us back an attitude that accords with our basic human nature when our consciousness has strayed too far from its foundations and run into an impasse.” –Carl Jung, Collected Works Volume 10, paragraph 317

This perspective is a useful place to start, but if we are seeing creativity as a sacred act tied to spiritual practice, it is insufficient for our purposes today.

If we look at cultures beyond modern Western ones, we can see that dreams are much richer and spirit-filled. In this view, dreaming is a way to not only connect with ourselves but also connect with spirits (ancestors, deities, etc), receive their lessons and teachings, and travel in a world that is just as real as our own. We can see dreams at work in various ways with the cultures that influenced modern Druidry, including the Welsh. In the Mabinogion, The Dream of Rhonabwy, where Rhonabwy has a three-day dream where he visits the time of King Arthur. Ettlinger (1946) in “Precognitive Dreams in Celtic Legend” shows that some of the most ancient sources show the power of dreams for the Ancient Irish. Dreams were powerful portents and signs and were considered divinatory, visionary, and healing. She notes a number of different ancient Irish stories where prophetic dreams lead kings to avoid conflict or seek it out, and they often sought out advice to interpret their dreams. We see similar philosophies in existing indigenous traditions today.

For example, in Black Elk Speaks, much of the teachings that Black Elk conveys to his people were passed to him through his dreams. The Aboriginal Australian Dreamtime is a critical part of Aboriginal spirituality and is recognized as the essence of who they are as people. As described by Clanchy (1994), the Dreamtime dates back at least 65,000 years and part of it includes stories of how the universe was created, but also land that they inhabit, the spirit of the place.

What I’m presenting here is just a small piece of various cultures’ beliefs about dreaming beyond ourselves and into the world of spirit/the divine. Dreams can be as real as the waking world, a place where we can be inspired, gain ideas for creative practices, journey, and cultivate a rich inner life.

So you might think about how you view dreams–do you see them as fully internal? Do you value them? Do you believe that you can receive messages from them? Do you actively cultivate and seek out dreams and dreaming? Do you see them as sacred? Thinking about these questions can help you take your own sacred dreaming and allow you to connect with them for creative practices.

Before I get into the next section, I want to share two things. First, I feel like I am very much still learning my way into these practices–while I’ve been interested in dreaming and dreamwork and have been doing it for years, I still feel like there is a lot of untapped potential in my own dreaming practice. Second, I have found that the more that I am committed to embracing and cultivating a rich inner life (meditation, ritual, spirit-focused, time in nature, bardic arts), the more that I am able to engage in these practices in much more depth. But, if I have too much screen time, I am falling off in my ritual work, etc, am consuming media before bed, the dreams also seem to be elusive. I feel like sacred dreaming is a package deal–cultivate an inner life in a few areas (ritual, meditation, limiting consumption of media/screens) and all are enriched.

Lucid Dreaming, Dream Recall, and Exploring Dreamscapes for Creative Practices
Dreaming is a very powerful form of creative activity that can lead to the spark of awen and new ideas, that can help us solve problems, and that can support us as creative people. Like daydreaming, a large body of research exists on the connections between dreaming and creativity, including how to engage in lucid dreaming and dream recall to support creative practices.

Sleep studies show that REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which is the deepest form of sleep, is both the most vivid form of sleep and the kind of sleep that fosters the most creativity[1]. REM sleep is also where the brain creates associations and connections between otherwise unrelated information. Lucid Dreaming, where the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming and can sometimes shape their dreams, also takes place during REM sleep. Lucid dreaming is one gateway to creativity, and thus, can be a very powerful tool to learn and work with as part of your own growing creative practice.

Many people have the ability to spontaneously lucid dream, approximately 55% of adults can share at least one lucid dream experience while 23% of people can lucid dream at least once a month[2], a whole body of research has explored how to help people more successfully lucid dream. Lucid dreaming begins with dream recall—the International Lucid Dream Induction study[3] found that people who could recall their dreams had a much higher likelihood of successful Lucid Dreaming. Once people learn how to recall their dreams, they can then engage in lucid dreaming, both of which can foster creativity, new ideas, and new insights. Thus, exploring dreaming is a worthy practice for any aspiring bard! For the rest of this post, we will explore how to recall your dreams, lucid dream, work with your dreams creatively, and seed your dreams for future creation!

Learning how to Recall Your Dreams
So, let’s start with Dream Recall as a step into the act of sacred and creative dreaming. Like other dream methods, a combination of several is likely to be the most successful. Humans have been dreaming and experiencing sacred dreaming back into our pre-history, and thus, you are hard-wired to work with your dreams in powerful ways. Even if you are frustrated at first or do not get the results you want, keep persisting and you will be able to recall your dreams in time.

Mugwort – the dreaming herb. This is mugwort from my Plant Spirit Oracle Mugwort – the dreaming herb. This is mugwort from my Plant Spirit Oracle

Mnemonic for Dream Remembering. Using a simple phrase that you chant to yourself and continue to repeat as you fall asleep is a simple method to start to remember your dreams. Say something like, “I remember my dreams” or “when I wake up, I will remember my dreams.” This method is based off of the Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams in the psychological research, discussed below.

Recording of Dreams in Bed. Find a way to record your dreams while you are still in bed. For this, I recommend either a small journal that can stay on your nightstand or a recording device (like on a phone) that can allow you to speak your dream aloud while still in bed. I actually prefer to use my phone for this–I simply hit the record button and I can use it even when it’s dark, without turning on the light. Later, when I wake up, I listen to the recording and write down the details in a dream journal.

Stay in bed and attempt to remember. Stay in bed as you work to recall your dreams–as soon as you get up and make the transition from sleeping to waking, you may find that you will recall less and less, and eventually, the mundane pushes the dream completely from your mind. By staying in bed, as close to sleep and dream as possible, you will be able to remember more.

Keep a Dream Journal. Work to keep a dream journal for all of the dreams you can remember. The dream journal can help you keep a record of dreams over time. You can revisit the journal and see patterns, creative ideas, and more come forth.

Seeding your dreams. I also have had a lot of success with “seeding” my dreams by engaging in rituals, meditations, and/or chanting right before bed. See the last section of this post for more information.

Embrace herbal allies. Mugwort has been known throughout the ages in multiple cultures to be a dreaming herb–she offers you more powerful and intense dreaming. She is a common plant that grows throughout temperate regions of the world. She is very easy to grow and easy to use–you can burn her as incense or as a smoke-clearing stick, drink her as tea, smoke her (alone or in a smoking blend), make an oil and anoint yourself or a candle for meditation before bed, take a bath adding mugwort, etc. Any of these interactions allows you to connect with Mugwort’s dreaming energy. Other herbal allies can also help you relax and fall asleep–chamomile or catnip are wonderful teas to enjoy before bed.

Be consistent. Even if you aren’t recalling any or many dreams, keep engaging in the approaches above. Eventually, with enough perseverance, you should be able to remember your dreams. Remember that this is a gift from the ancestors, something that they cultivated and brought into our present. Thus, like the flow state and the bardic arts, these are ancestral gifts. Our ancestors want us to have them. Give it time.

Working with the Remembered Dream to Enhance Creative Practices
The dream is like the seed of something that you can plant and watch grow. The dream is the spark of awen that leads to creation, healing, and growth. You want to keep working with your dream after you have it to ensure it is nurtured to grow. Another metaphor here is that the dream is like bringing home a package wrapped in gift wrap with a bow. To really know what’s inside you have to work with it further.

Exploring dream symbolism! Exploring dream symbolism!

Writing down your dreams is an outstanding practice if you want to use dreams for creative practices. Write down the details of your dreams, ideally as many as you can, but certainly, ones that are powerful or notable in some way. Consider returning to read these dreams at various intervals–maybe later the same day or maybe even a week or month later to gain new perspectives.

Exploring symbolism and the content of the dream. One of the things that Jung’s subconscious perspective gets you is to recognize that any images or symbols you experience in a dream are unique to you as they are a product of your subconscious, or, as we’ve explored here, they may be messages from spirits. Thus, dream dictionaries aren’t really useful–I don’t recommend them. Rather, you want to think about what the specific symbols mean to you. How do you interpret them? What comes to mind?

Use brainstorming techniques with the central focus/theme of the dream. You can use a technique like mind-mapping or freewriting to explore the dream further. For mind-mapping, get a blank sheet of paper and put the dream/seed of the dream in the center. Then just brainstorm, branch out, and see what comes to mind. For freewriting, start by writing down a summary of the dream and then keep writing–write without worrying about if your grammar is correct or your sentences are complete. Just write to generate ideas and see where the writing goes.

Use the dream as a seed for creative meditation. You can also use the dream as a seed for meditation. For this, a process called discursive meditation (which we practice in AODA) works quite well. In discursive meditation, you start with a theme (in this case, the image/theme/symbol/idea from your dream) and then allow your mind to follow the theme and generate ideas. If you get too far off of the theme, you work your way back to the theme (just like you would follow the wrong path back to the right path). Thus, you can use this meditation form–a form of highly focused thought–to explore the dream in more detail.

Spirit journey back into the dream to explore more. Using spirit journeying techniques, you can go back into the dream and explore further. Open up a sacred space and protect yourself. Invite a spirit or guide with you if you’d like, and then step back into the dream, or into a specific scene of the dream. Astrally explore this as much as you feel the need to, seeing what may spark your ideas or creative energy.

Let your subconscious play. Use mind wandering or daydreaming here, using the dream as a starting point and seeing what happens.

Sit down with your bardic instruments (body, paints, carving tools, pen and paper, etc) and create from the dream. Use the dream as a seed for creation. Paint the dream, compose the song that you received the first notes of in the dream, write poetry about the dream, and bring the dream to life in some way. You are essentially giving the ream as giving the dream life, shape, and manifestation.

Talk about the dream. Tell the story of the dream to someone else. Ask them to ask questions to you about the dream–how did you feel? why is that important? See where the conversation takes you.

Lucid Dreaming – Research-Based Strategies
Once you are able to recall your dreams, you can move into practicing lucid dreaming. Again, Lucid dreaming is when you are aware that you are dreaming; this awareness may give you more control over the dream.

The following are some of the research-based techniques that can assist you in developing the ability to regularly have lucid dreams. You can try all of these techniques or start with one and see what works best for you. The International Lucid Dream Induction study found that a combination of these techniques was most effective to support lucid dreaming. The second, third, and fourth techniques should be done in bed when you are in a comfortable position.

Reality testing: Reality testing is when you, throughout the day, pay attention to if you are dreaming or waking. The goal is to habituate yourself into this practice—if you regularly make it a point to ask if you are dreaming or waking during your waking hours, you can ask the same question when you are lucid dreaming. Ask yourself the question, “Am I dreaming or awake?” repeatedly throughout the day to habituate the question in your mind. This can be combined with breathwork. The reality test in the lucid dream, then, allows you to recognize you are in a dream. Typically this technique is only successful when combined with the two techniques below.

Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD). MILD gives you a phrase or chant to say while you are falling asleep to prime your mind to remember. You can say some version of “next time I am dreaming, I will remember I’m dreaming.” Repeat the phrase (silently or aloud) as you are falling asleep. You simply will yourself to remember.

Wake back to bed. This third technique is when you wake up in the middle of the night (intentionally or unintentionally) and then use the MILD technique as you are falling back asleep, especially as REM sleep often comes in the middle of the night, so when you fall back asleep, you should now be in REM and able to lucidly dream.

Senses Initiated Lucid Dream Technique (SSLID): This technique works to condition the senses into a state that is supportive of lucid dreams. It has three steps, which are done in a cycle of repetitions before bed:

Step 1: Vision. Close your eyes and keep your eyes completely still and relaxed. Focus entirely on the darkness behind your eyelids. You may see patterns, images, dots, lights, or nothing at all. Don’t try to see anything, just stay relaxed.
Step 2: Hearing: Fully attend to what you hear. You may be able to hear sounds from outside or in your house; you may also hear your own heartbeat. Regardless of what you hear, just attend fully to your hearing and stay relaxed.
Step 3: Body: Fully attend to the sensations of your body and sense of touch. Feel the warmth, the temperature, how your body feels, the blankets and pillows. Relax and passively observe this sensation.

To successfully perform this technique, you should first take 3 seconds for each of the steps and cycle through the senses four times. Then, take 20-3 seconds for each step and do another four cycles. Do not count, just estimate and move on. Do this and then work to normally fall asleep after completing the cycles

Lucid Dreaming – Spiritual Strategies
Beyond the research-based strategies above, you can also do various kinds of rituals, meditation, and prayer to assist in lucid dreaming.

Spirit Request technique: Just like with dream recall, you can make a request (prayer, lighting a candle, ritual) to ask your spirits/deities/guides to assist you in lucid dreaming. Perhaps you already have a spirit/deity in your life that could assist with this work. For example, as an animist who works deeply with plants, I would spirit journey to the spirit of Mugwort, who I know (and have met through ritual work and depicted in my bardic work). I would ask Mugwort to assist me with lucid dreaming. I would make offerings to her, work with her, and cultivate a longer-term relationship with her as part of this request.

Ritual Sleep technique. Another aid to both dream recall and lucid dreaming is ritual sleep. Ritual sleep is when you open up a ritual space (sacred grove, sacred circle, whatever method you use), do meditation, prayer, or other activities, and then before you close the space, you go to bed. Sleep becomes part of the ritual you are enacting. When you wake up in the morning write your dreams down and then close the sacred space. There are so many possibilities for how you can use ritual sleep!

Creative Priming for Dreaming, Daydreaming, and Lucid Dreaming
Creative priming for dreaming (art by Dana O’Driscoll)

Most of the time, dreams can reflect our lives, or maybe may seem quite random. But, just as dreams can be a seed for the waking world, you can also seed your dreams and try to nudge your dreams in certain directions for working on creative problems or tasks.

Once you have started to lucidly dream, go to town. Bring your creative instruments with you just like you would in the mundane world. Ask the spirits in the dreamtime for inspiration. Do rituals for inspiration, see if you can visit and flow with the awen in the dreams. Speak to the ancestors. Dream and bring those dreams into reality.

To do this, you can try any number of approaches:

Chanting the words and/or holding an image firmly in your mind as you fall asleep
Ritual or meditation right before bed on the topic
Prayer or Spirit requesting: ask spirits/deity/higher powers to guide your dreams.
Chanting the “Awen” as you go to sleep to be inspired and connect to the flow.
Conclusion
This post got a little long, but there’s just so much good stuff to explore with sacred dreaming, lucid dreaming, and dreaming for creativity. If we think about things that make us truly human, that AI can never replicate, it is finding creative experiences in our dreams. Since we sleep every night, this is a wonderful opportunity to more fully build a creative, inspired inner life and encourage the flow of awen in our bardic arts! Blessings and sweet dreams!

Ecospirituality Course: I wanted to share that I will be one of the guest instructors in an upcoming zoom-based EcoSpirituality Course being hosted by Nate Summers. There’s an early bird discount for the course till Tuesday.

References
[1] Walker, Matthew P., Conor Liston, J. Allan Hobson, and Robert Stickgold. “Cognitive flexibility across the sleep–wake cycle: REM-sleep enhancement of anagram problem solving.” Cognitive Brain Research 14, no. 3 (2002): 317-324.

[2] Saunders, David T., Chris A. Roe, Graham Smith, and Helen Clegg. “Lucid dreaming incidence: A quality effects meta-analysis of 50 years of research.” Consciousness and cognition 43 (2016): 197-215.

[3] Aspy, Denholm J. “Findings from the international lucid dream induction study.” Frontiers in Psychology (2020): 1746.

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How To Make Anti-Inflammatory Golden Milk

If you want to increase the amount of anti-inflammatory foods you consume, this Golden Milk recipe is a delicious way to begin. Anti-Inflammatory Golden Milk, also called turmeric milk, is a popular beverage throughout Asia and is known by some as “liquid gold.” Similar to Turmeric Tea, Golden Milk offers up a creamier texture through the addition of coconut milk, and increases the anti-inflammatory health benefits with the addition of ginger.

The health benefits of our Golden Milk recipe come primarily from three ingredients: turmeric, ginger and black peppercorns.

What Is Turmeric?

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a culinary spice – and a relative of ginger – that is a featured ingredient in Indian curry dishes. It is also what makes American mustard’s color a distinctive bright yellow. Turmeric has been used in medicinal and culinary settings for centuries, and is prized for its anti-inflammatory properties. The chief active component of turmeric is curcumin, which is usually taken as a supplement.

Turmeric tea is the traditional favorite drink in Okinawa, and may be linked to the long life span of the residents there – some of the longest-living people on the planet.

Turmeric Health Benefits

Numerous studies have shown the anti-inflammatory effects turmeric and curcumin provide, including:

Liver Health: Curcumin may help to delay liver damage that in some instances could lead to cirrhosis.
Cancer Prevention: Turmeric reduces – by up to 40 percent – the levels of carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). These form when meats are barbecued, boiled or fried, and evidence links increased consumption of foods with HCAs to stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers.
Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease: As mentioned above, turmeric is part of the curries that are eaten daily in India. This may help explain the low Alzheimer’s disease rates in that country – it is less than one-fourth the rate of Alzheimer’s disease in the US in people aged 70 to 79.
Preventing Skin Cancer: Curcumin has been shown to inhibit the growth of melanoma, the most serious and potentially dangerous form of skin cancer.
Relieving Arthritis Pain: Turmeric contains more than two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds, and studies of the efficacy of curcumin have shown positive changes in arthritic symptoms.
Turmeric may also be useful as an anti-depressant.

Learn more – see Dr. Weil talk about the health benefits of turmeric.

Why Is Ginger Good For You?

Ginger is a root of the Zingiber officinale plant. A natural anti-inflammatory agent prized for its ability to address nausea and digestive issues, medicinally ginger has been used to relieve symptoms associated with motion sickness, arthritis, bursitis, and more. As a culinary spice ginger is popular in Asian and Eastern dishes, and adds a zesty, spicy flavor profile to foods.

Watch Dr. Weil discuss the health benefits of ginger.

The Health Benefits of Black Pepper

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is native to Asia and the most popular spice in the world. Black pepper is the whole, partially ripened fruit of the pepper plant, and offers up a variety of health benefits: not only is it is a proven antibacterial agent, but it has the potential to protect against cancer, as the compounds in this spice help protect the integrity of DNA.

Getting The Health Benefits Of Turmeric

Turmeric and curcumin are poorly absorbed from the G.I. tract, but taking turmeric along with piperine enhances absorption. Piperine is a constituent of black pepper, and Indian cuisine often uses turmeric and pepper together. This Golden Milk recipe includes black pepper, to enhance the health benefits of turmeric.

Golden Milk Recipe
Perfect for an evening drink just before bed, here’s Dr. Weil’s recipe for Golden Milk:

Heat 2 cups light, unsweetened coconut milk (or almond or soymilk)
Add 1/2 tablespoon peeled, grated fresh ginger
Add 1 tablespoon peeled, grated fresh turmeric
Add 3-4 black peppercorns
Heat all ingredients in a saucepan
Stir well
Bring to a simmer and simmer covered for 10 minutes.
Strain and sweeten to taste (if desired).
Here’s a video demonstration of How To Make Anti-Inflammatory Golden Milk.

Simple and delicious – enjoy!

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Gratitude: The Power Of Positive Thinking | Andrew Weil, M.D.

Optimists tend to explain bad events as due to a temporary external cause and have a generally positive view of life’s ups and downs. Because optimists tend to actively engage in planning and problem solving, they may experience less anxiety and stress than pessimists. Research suggests that positive thinking and optimism can impact health. Positive emotions are associated with a decreased production of the stress hormone cortisol, along with improved immune function, and reduced disease risk. Even simple laughter may boost immunity, relieve pain, lower stress, and even help protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure.

Here are several proactive, health-beneficial steps to feeling more optimistic:

Take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and getting adequatedeep sleep.
Consider writing in a gratitude journal. Make mental or actual notes throughout the day of things you are grateful for or text yourself as they come to you or occur. At the end of the day, spend a few minutes before bed writing these down in a journal. Both feeling and expressing gratitude can go a long way to affect positive mental change.
Breathe! My breath exercises are just the ticket to help activate your parasympathetic response and promote calm in stressful events.
Confide in someone – your significant other, a good friend, or a trusted family member. And don’t be nervous if you feel you need professional help in problem solving or just need a trained ear to speak with.
You’ve all heard the saying: “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Instead of bristling at life’s annoyances, try to view them calmly and curiously.
Look for humor in difficult circumstances. It can help brighten situations and keep negative emotions at bay.
Truly try to view the cup as half full instead of half empty.
In appropriate situations, relinquish control and learn to just go with the flow! This can be quite liberating.
Take a news detox. Too often the news media and social media lead toward a focus on the negative. Spend time unplugged from these sources and instead invest in positive stories or experiences.

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Murder in Grafton Center, Part 1
~Stephen Halpert

Dedicated with appreciation to Robert B. Parker

I picked Susan Silver up at Logan airport. We got onto the Pike west to Grafton. When we spoke last night, I had told her about Bob Park’s sudden death. She insisted on leaving her Jungian conference in Cleveland and flying back to Boston.
The calling hours were at Bob’s home on Brigham Hill Road from 2 to 8. We had time to stop for lunch.
Susan looked ravishing. A new chocolate cashmere jumpsuit outlined her sleek trim figure. Her streaked blond hair was perfect and her makeup gave the impression she hadn’t used any.
She studied the menu at the historic Inn on the town common. She frowned. “Bob never ate right, and all that booze was noticeable especially in his recent writing.”
“And he’d always gloat over some artery clogging recipe he’d create.”
Susan sipped her sparkling water. “You’d best be careful too. At your age eating poorly is best replaced by having fun doing something else.” She grinned.
I decided on the grilled tuna and seaweed salad.
We sat by the window at the inn across from one of the three churches facing to the town common. The cute waitress with a blond pageboy recited the luncheon specials. Susan chose the Cobb salad. She looked around the inn’s rustic interior. “Tell me everything.”
“This morning’s news said he died at his desk. His wife found him when she got home. Massive coronary.”
My mind went back to the night before when Juice had called. “Boss is gone,” he said. “Right in the middle of writing a new chapter, his ticker gave out!”
I was in my Back Bay office overlooking Arlington and Marlborough Street. “Just like that? Nothing funny?”
“How should I know? You is the private eye. I’m just your faithful Afro American companion.”
The waitress brought out lunch. I asked her if she had known Bob.
“Everyone in town knew him,” she said wistfully. Then she grinned. “Especially the ladies. He liked to teach them about gourmet cooking.”
“Anyone in particular,” I said.
“Everyone in particular.” Then she looked blank and beat a hasty retreat.
“The plot thickens.” I tasted the tuna.
“What plot? From everything you’ve said it sounds like his heart gave out. Happens every day.” Susan noticed another couple taking a nearby table. “Hello there, Sherry,” she waved.
“Susie!” The hefty brunette smiled. “I’m so sorry we have to run into each other on such a sad occasion. I’d like you meet Jess Stone, Chief of Police of Divinity, MA.”
Susan smiled at Sherry. “Just like you said, he does resemble Clint Eastwood.”
Jeff seemed to enjoy the compliment. “And you must be Dr. Susan Silver, the celebrated Cambridge shrink. Even in her sleep Sandy talks about you.”
“If I ever dared to call you a shrink …” I mumbled.
“And you’re Spence.” Her eyes lit up. “I’m Sherry Burke. My father always speaks well of you.”
I nodded. “Is he enjoying his retirement from Boston PD?”
“He’ll never completely retire.” Sherry said. “Now he’s a weapons annalist for Homeland Security. He couldn’t stand being alone at home 24/7 with mom.”
The blond waitress appeared at their table. “Can I bring you anything to drink?”
“Iced tea,” Jess said with a sigh. He looked across at Sherry.
“Same,” she smiled.
“Here for calling hours?” Susan said.
They nodded.
“This whole thing is blowing my mind,” Sherry said. “Just the other day we talked and Bob told me he was planning a European vacation with his wife over Christmas. Apparently, she’s been on the go and they hadn’t had much quality time together.”
The waitress brought their iced teas and they ordered.
“Wives require lots of time.” Jess said.
“Look,” Susan said. “There’s Juice.”
Juice, trim and muscular sat down at a table near ours. With him was the attorney Rita Danvers, tall, curvy, and attractive. Rita smiled cordially at Susan.
Susan smiled. “And you must be that lady lawyer Spencer speaks so well of.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Rita grinned. “Considering…”
The blond waitress reappeared. “Can I bring you something to drink?”
Juice, wearing a black turtleneck and jeans looked up. “Imported French Champagne. Tragedy calls for something bubblier than soda pop.”
“I’ll check with the bartender,” she scurried off.
I introduced Rita and Juice to Sandy and Jess.
“How are you, Chief Stone?” Rita gave him an imperceptible wink.
Jeff nodded and gazed around the rustic dining room. “I’d have thought Bob would have lived in Boston or even Manhattan. I can’t quite picture him out here in the woods.”
“Grafton’s not too far from Clarke in Worcester where he lectured on creating effective detective fiction,” I said.
“Or even somewhere on the North Shore near Divinity,” Sherry said. “I wonder if there’s any night life around here? Or do people in Grafton watch PBS and lights out by ten?”
“Night life’s easy to find,” Jesse said. “All it takes usually is booze and two people drinking it.”
“We don’t know anything about Bob’s private life,” I said.
Rita frowned and examined her manicure. “You mean our Mr. Monogamy lead a double life? Is that what you’re insinuating?”
“I wouldn’t make any assumptions,” Susan said. “He adored his wife. Or the next thing you know one of us might start suggesting foul play.”
(To be continued)

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, February 05, 2023

All Signs
As this week begins, Mercury is waltzing with Neptune, which makes us feel dreamy, imaginative and lazy. By midweek, storybook romance is in the air and some will feel swept off their feet! But caution: Although high hopes will lead to delightful escapes; some will encounter disappointment due to unexpressed expectations. By Friday, we have X-ray vision and powerful problem-solving abilities. We will see solutions and grasp deeper understandings. “Watson! Look up! What so you see?” “I see millions of stars.” “Watson, what do you conclude?” “Well, astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. What does it tell you, Holmes?” “Watson, you idiot. Someone has stolen our tent!”

Aries (March 21-April 19)
Be careful. At the beginning of the week, you will idealize a parent, teacher, boss or someone in authority. You might develop a crush on this person. You will have a bias toward them and will believe whatever they say. But do they really know what they’re talking about? By the end of the week, you will know. In fact, not only will you know, you will have an intense, realization that strips away illusion and gets to the bottom of things. This makes sense because once again, like back in 1994, you are entering a two-year window when you will let go of beliefs, attitudes, belongings and relationships that are no longer relevant. To quote Groucho Marx, “Go! And never darken my towels again!”

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
You’re sitting pretty this week because the Sun is still high in your chart casting you in a flattering spotlight. People respect and admire you! Meanwhile, you might get carried away with philosophical discussions. You might have dreamy aspirations to travel somewhere exotic. Romance with someone “different” might blossom, which could put a new spin on travel plans. However, by the end of the week, your ability to grasp the essence of political, religious and philosophical issues is so profound, you might have an epiphany. Or an argument with someone? Or you will teach your ideas? So much to learn. So much to share.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Many of you will develop a crush or fall in love with your boss or an authority figure this week. This could be a fleeting feeling or the beginning of something long-lasting? You might also have fantasies and daydreams about how to spend money you don’t have. Perhaps these ideas include money from an inheritance or shared income or someone else’s wealth? (One can always dream, can’t they?) Travel and exciting escapes will also appeal. By the end of the week, you will see solutions and ways to strip things down to the bare essentials in order to build them up into something better. You want results!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
It’s been a slog since early 2020. Many of you have had to get along with less. This year with Jupiter at the top of your chart, you look good to others, even successful! It appears your fortune is changing! Perhaps this is why this week you feel affectionate or in love with someone close to you. You admire them. This might also be why, at the end of the week, you have an intense discussion with them. This exchange will be no holds barred. The truth will be exposed. You want to get to the bottom of something. This discussion will have a strong impact on them or you or both. Perhaps you want to convince them of something or they want to convince you? Be wise, and listen.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
You need more sleep. Acknowledge this need. As this week begins, you are idealistic about your work. Perhaps you hope you can make a meaningful change in your life or the lives of others. Meanwhile, your Spidey Sense is tuned in, especially with respect to coworkers. You might be astonished at the insight you have about others, that you never realized before. This could lead to a crush or a work-related romance. By the end of the week, you are ambitious! You want to strip things down to the bare bones so that you can identify a problem and then fix it. You might also take this approach to a health issue. Nothing wrong with finding our what’s going on!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
This is an eventful time for you. In many ways, it has some of the same qualities that life brought to you back in 1994. Certainly, you are entering a testing time for partnerships and close relationships. (Just as you did back then.) This could be brought on by a crush or falling in love with another person? Certainly, at the beginning of the week, your relations with kids as well as romantic partners is idealized, almost in a fairytale way. By contrast, by the end of the week, an intense discussion might reveal what is really at play. The emperor has no clothes! One thing is certain, romance will be magnetic and mesmerizing this week. Nevertheless, you will still be productive.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This is another week when you want to get out and schmooze! You’re visiting restaurants, theatres and enjoying social times with others because it feels good! At the beginning of the week, relations with a family member will be sweet and mutually affectionate. You might make travel plans. You will also make a lovely impression on coworkers, which could lead to a crush or an affectionate bond. At the end of the week, intense family discussions might take place. You might also tackle home repairs. The upshot of this energy at the end of the week will be that you want to make something better. You want improvements and solutions.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
This year will be a huge improvement over the last three years because Saturn will be in your fellow Water Sign, which will support you. Your energy to work will dovetail with what’s happening in your life. This means you will accomplish as much as possible. It will also be a time of preparation so that you can make your world stronger against future difficulties. As such, you can also build up your physical strength. Meanwhile, enjoy idealistic, impossible romance this week! Likewise, enjoy playful times with kids, sports events and social outings. At the end of the week, lighten up! You don’t have to convince everyone to agree with you. Or do you?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
You’re entering a window, similar back to 1994-95, when you want to secure your home base to feel reassured about where you live and what you can provide for your family. Caution about spending money on luxurious items at the beginning of the week. Save your receipts. This is great week to entertain at home. You will enjoy short trips and discussions with daily contacts. At the end of the week, you might decide to adopt a budget. Or you might make plans to attack your belongings and keep what you want and recycle or turf what you don’t need. This is all part of the bigger plan of creating a home base that works for you. “I want curtains! I’m not living in a fishbowl.”

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Your idealism is aroused at the beginning of the week, which is why you might daydream “what if” scenarios for the future. Daydreams are good. They allow us to try on different possibilities for our future. What size fits best? Because you are entering a two to three-year window when you might have a residential move or a job change (or both), you’re thinking about a lot of options and possibilities for your future. By the end of the week, you might have an intense discussion with someone. Or you might flip this intense energy and direct it toward yourself by taking a realistic look in the mirror to see how you can improve your image. After all, appearances are everything.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
More than any other sign, you will feel a huge relief this year beginning next month. Saturn has challenged you since March 2020. Small wonder that your optimism will return in a big way! “I have a future!” As this new optimism builds within you, this week, you will think of ways to make more money as well as spend it. “Shops must be visited! Money must be spent!” You might buy a beautiful gift for someone midweek. Meanwhile, by the end of the week, your mental acuity will be off the charts. Research will be productive. A profound epiphany might occur. You will see that the past is now the past and the future is whatever you make it.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
This year and next are a dramatic change for you. And a welcome one! It means you will have finished your journey through the Dark Night of the Soul. You gave up many things in the last few years – places, possessions, people, relationships and perhaps even countries. This year marks the beginning of a new 30-year cycle for you where you will reinvent yourself. Not only that, this year you will get richer! Romance will be affectionate and friendly this week. (A friend might become a lover.) At the end of the week, a powerful discussion might prompt you to change your future goals. Keep an open mind.

Weekly Horoscope:2023 Annual Forecasts are now available.
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Monthly Horoscopes for February 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.

Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this month:

As a quick-thinking Aries, you’ve a knack for spotting anything from an issue that needs attention to an opportunity, taking action on it, then moving onto whatever is next. During February, however, you’ll find even seemingly simple matters require more thought, often in greater detail, than you expected. While initially this may be irritating, you’ll soon be fascinated by what you’re learning and the resulting discussions with others. These aren’t just informative, they’ll broaden your horizons in ways that, previously, you’d never imagined possible.

A financial upset forces you to make last-minute changes to a cherished plan. Don’t panic; a bigger and better opportunity will emerge. On the 5th, the Full Moon finds you moving away from a hobby or person that you’ve outgrown. Give yourself permission to move on to greener pastures. A professional talk will go extremely well on the 10th; you could be offered a raise, promotion, or a high-powered job on this transformational day. The New Moon on the 20th is perfect for taking a well-deserved break from work and personal responsibility. Reward yourself with a nap, spa treatment, or lavish gift. Investing in your happiness will cause a significant glow-up. Neither a lender nor a borrower be on the 21st; it won’t pay to mix friendship with finance. Take immediate advantage of a big sale on technology or equipment on the 22nd. Use your powers of negotiation to get an extraordinary deal.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this month:

Certain pivotal decisions are nothing new. However, they’re now urgent. Some involve domestic matters or relations with those closest, a few, practicalities. While the New Moon on 21 January, kick-started this cycle of exploration and discussion, the process continues throughout February. Be patient. Most situations are so complex, they’ll remain your focus during the coming months. If others are in a hurry, explain why delays aren’t just inevitable, they’re necessary. Then make a point of exploring every option. What seems least likely initially, could work brilliantly in the long run.

Inconsistent behaviour will undermine your career progress on the 4th. If you make a promise, stick to it, even at the risk of taking a temporary financial hit. The Full Moon on the 5th prompts you to walk away from a domestic problem that is draining your energy. Find a living situation that allows more freedom. Working with a respected expert will inspire a creative project on the 10th. Friendship could quickly turn to romance on the 15th; trust your intuition in this matter. It won’t steer you wrong. Do your best to satisfy your employer’s demands on the 16th; you’ll be richly rewarded for going beyond the call of duty. On the 20th, the New Moon will tempt you into attending a fun social gathering. You’re sure to make some interesting new friends at this event. Don’t insist on getting special treatment at work on the 21st, when all your colleagues will be expected to shoulder extra burdens.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this month:

Those around you are complaining about the range of undecided plans currently causing delays. However, as an inquisitive Gemini, you’re fascinated by the facts revealed so far, and await what’s next. True, this is delaying organising future arrangements; but it’s also broadening your horizons in terms of existing plans and options you’re eager to explore. Practical Saturn’s link with the Sun, on the 16th, clarifies the circumstances. From that point onward, you know what you’re seeking, and begin doing it with enthusiasm.

Unexpected developments will throw a monkey wrench in travel plans on the 4th. Instead of getting upset at this change of events, assume that the revised plan will be even better than the original. The Full Moon on the 5th brings in a surprising communication about a test or application. Remember that whenever one door closes, another opens. The 10th is an ideal time to apply for a loan, grant, or scholarship; don’t be daunted by lots of paperwork. A creative project or proposal will get an enthusiastic reception on the 15th; seize this incredible opportunity to showcase your artistic talent. On the 20th, you’ll get a lovely opportunity to work behind the scenes with talented people. This is the beginning of an exciting professional chapter for you. Be a little more forceful than usual with a respected expert on the 22nd; they’ll admire your drive. This is a great time to take a bold risk.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this month:

It won’t have been easy; but if, during late January, you managed to avoid being drawn into others’ dramas, you’ll begin February free to explore promising and, often, unexpected ideas or opportunities. Tempting as it is to rush into organising things, focus on learning about what’s on offer and, as important, who’s involved. This won’t just be informative, it could lead to other, equally interesting, encounters. Final arrangements? Be patient. For now, focus on letting go of anything burdensome and, especially, exploring options that show promise.

A friend’s instability wreaks havoc with your finances on the 4th. It’s time to stop bailing out this troublemaker; let them accept the consequences of their actions. The Full Moon on the 5th makes you yearn for more money; it’s time to develop a prosperity consciousness. Cultivate a sense of abundance instead of dwelling on feelings of loss. A conversation with a business or romantic partner will change things for the better on the 10th. Get straight to the point, and don’t be afraid to address sensitive subjects. Sharing your expertise on the 15th will be richly rewarding. Don’t be surprised if someone expresses romantic interest in you on this magical day. On the 20th, the New Moon makes it possible to book a trip you’ve been dreaming about for months. This adventure could improve your professional prospects, too. A thoughtful gift from an admirer will make you glow with happiness on the 22nd.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this month:

As a fire sign, you’ve a gift for thinking and acting swiftly. However, the events triggered by the Leo Full Moon, on 6 January, will have been so complex that, as February unfolds, you’ll still be seeking facts and wrestling with decisions. These aren’t just keeping you intrigued, what you’re learning and who you’re meeting are adding to your life in unexpected ways. Explore every encounter, knowing while some are temporary, others won’t just be lasting, a few could change your life.

Tension between your personal and professional lives will rear its ugly head on the 4th. Have a blunt conversation with your romantic partner or best friend about your priorities now; you can’t afford to neglect your job. On the 5th, the Full Moon finds you breaking away from a restrictive professional role. Give yourself permission to pursue a job that allows you to flourish and grow. A flirtatious conversation makes you glow with happiness on the 11th; it’s fun to joke with someone who understands your sense of humour. On the 16th, a romantic interest will try to rain on your parade; remain stubbornly optimistic. The New Moon on the 20th is perfect for getting up close and personal with an ardent admirer. It will be virtually impossible to resist your charm on this magical day. Listen to a friend’s encouragement on the 30th; let their praise prompt you to take a risk in love.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this month:

Ordinarily you’d avoid proceeding with a plan when short of facts. The problem? With the foundation itself shifting, what you organise must be flexible. Knowing that, take things one day at a time. You’ll soon realise you’re less stressed. Better yet, you’re free to focus on what you enjoy doing and, equally, to be with those individuals who matter most. Some plans have taken a great deal of your time and, occasionally, left you feeling drained. The sooner you began rethinking and simplifying those overwhelming arrangements, the better.

Don’t pay attention to a teacher with restrictive beliefs on the 4th. You’re smart enough to develop a winning philosophy of your own. The Full Moon on the 5th forces you to come to terms with a nagging fear. Instead of sticking to a dull but familiar situation, venture into new territory. Someone will express romantic interest in you on the 10th; it’s nice to be appreciated for your distinctive allure. A heartfelt declaration on the 15th could prompt you to embark on a relationship, make a romantic commitment, or renew sacred vows. Work responsibilities will drain your energy on the 16th; take frequent breaks and get lots of sleep once this busy day is over. The New Moon on the 20th opens the door to a passionate relationship; your personal life will become a lot more exciting. Arguing with an immature person will be a waste of valuable time and resources on the 21st.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this month:

As a Libra, you’re always aware of others’ needs and challenges, and seek ways to be helpful, ideally, discreetly. Yet with the current swift pace of change, discussion is vital. While this is time-consuming and also accents issues you were hoping to sidestep, you’ll soon realise how worthwhile those frank discussions, and even temporary solutions could be. Be patient. For now, focus on what you’re learning; and finalising plans? Think in terms of the Libra Full Moon on 6 April. The results will be worth waiting for.

Focusing on debts can cause them to expand on the 4th. If you’re having trouble making ends meet, make a list of all the blessings you enjoy, both material and spiritual. What you focus on will expand, including finances. On the 5th, the Full Moon causes a rift in your social circle. Walking away from a manipulative person will cause you to breathe a massive sigh of relief. Negotiating a mortgage or lease is favoured for the 10th when your powers of persuasion will be powerful. Pursue a job that speaks to your heart on the 15th; your chances of landing a position that feeds your soul are very strong. The New Moon on the 20th is perfect for launching a fitness routine that includes a spiritual element. Your improved health will make you very attractive to romance. Beware of spending money on things that don’t bring prolonged happiness on the 21st.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this month:

True, the sudden changes that begin in late January and continue into February are unsettling. Yet they’re also leading to once-unimaginable breakthroughs. Tempting as it is to organise these, for now, wait and watch. While you’re learning a lot, the foundation on which these are based is shifting, and as you’ll discover, for the better. What’s more, you’re more relaxed about ‘going with the flow’ than, only recently, you’d have imagined possible. The resulting insights will benefit you in many ways, and for a very long time.

A close partnership causes strife with your home life on the 4th. It’s time to decide whether this relationship is worth disturbing your inner peace and personal space. The Full Moon on the 5th prompts you to walk away from a work situation that makes you miserable. You’re making bold strides for the sake of your own happiness; give yourself a handsome reward for this bravery. Learning a specialised skill on the 10th will dramatically improve your earning potential; be patient and allow yourself to make mistakes. The 15th will be a blissfully romantic day for you; get ready to fall head over heels in love. If you’re already in a relationship, your partner won’t be able to contain their adoration for you. The New Moon on the 20th is wonderful for launching a creative project or embarking on a romance. Criticism from a surprising source will arrive on the 21st; take these remarks as constructive comments.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this month:

Usually, you’re not only easy-going about sudden changes, if life’s too predictable, you’ll stir up excitement yourself. However, during February, you won’t always welcome or even understand seemingly random changes. Tempting as it is to challenge these, instead focus on learning about them. This won’t just be informative, it will revolutionise your thinking regarding the matters in question and people involved. That, in turn, will broaden your horizons in wonderful ways, and better yet, encourage you to begin exploring new territory, in terms of your priorities, and your life.

Anxious thoughts take a toll on your health on the 4th. Take this opportunity to release a stressful situation, even if it means taking a temporary financial loss. The Full Moon on the 5th illuminates some beliefs that have been working against you. Instead of obeying conventional wisdom, adopt a liberating philosophy. Limiting attitudes aren’t helpful for a free spirit like you. An exciting financial opportunity is yours for the asking on the 10th. Don’t be afraid to ask for more money than is originally offered; you have more power than you realise. Wonderful news about a dream home or family matter will reach your ears on the 15th; it’s time to celebrate. The New Moon on the 20th inspires you to improve your living situation; it’s a great time to put a down payment on a home or rent a nicer place. This relocation will put you in the path of an attentive admirer.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this month:

Although January’s powerful planetary activity will have triggered discussions and those, in turn, decisions regarding practical matters, you’ll begin February with a range of unanswered questions. However, you’re restless and eager to broaden your horizons, via ideas and activities. The challenge? You’re overwhelmed. Actually, that’s exactly what’s needed. For now, and the coming months, focus on exploration. What you learn and who you encounter will revolutionise your thinking. That, in turn, will lead to a thrilling new chapter of your life.

Don’t overextend yourself financially on the 4th. Buying a loved one a lavish gift won’t secure their affection; impress them by spending quality time together. On the 5th, the Full Moon will cause you to end an emotional or financial association that feels suffocating. Advancing your financial and emotional interests is strongly favoured for the 10th when people will be impressed by your intelligence and charisma. The 16th is one of the best days of the year to increase your fees, ask for a pay rise, or interview for a lucrative job. The New Moon on the 20th will pave the way for a lovely pleasure trip. Visiting a waterside retreat will soothe your ragged nerves. You might even decide to relocate to this part of the world. Throwing a temper tantrum on the 21st will undermine your earning ability. Summon your patience when dealing with repeated delays; this, too, shall pass.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this month:

It’s said that planning ahead is wise. However, judging by February’s twists and turns, you’re better off dealing with each day as it unfolds. While this agrees with your independent streak, others could be annoyed, if not feel unsettled. Reassure them you’ve a plan, but can’t discuss it just yet. Then make a point of exploring every idea or offer that comes your way. While few will last, each will be informative. The challenge? Ensuring you’ve enough time to be with those who matter most.

Beware of imposing your will on a relative or close friend on the 4th. By showing respect for a person’s free will, you’ll forge a path to a better relationship. The Full Moon on the 5th triggers an intense talk about a business or romantic alliance. You may decide it’s time to go your separate ways. Connecting with an audience should become much easier on the 11th; this is a good time to go on a job interview, first date, or audition. Finding your dream job is a distinct possibility on the 15th; contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be miserable to earn a fortune. A greater measure of authority will be given to you on the 16th, thanks to your intelligence, work ethic, and determination. On the 20th, the New Moon will deliver a lovely opportunity to work from home. This arrangement will be both financially and emotionally rewarding.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this month:

You rarely think about the benefits that come with your Pisces intuition. However, during February, you’ll rely on those instincts, and in a range of settings. The problem? Not everybody shares your talent for spotting, first, pressing changes and, equally, worthwhile new ideas. When making decisions, ignore those who distrust instinctive feelings, such as yours. This, then, frees you to explore in ways you’d once have avoided, simply because it upsets others. Now you’re free to do what you want and, importantly, to be true to yourself.

Beware of blurting out secrets on the 4th, as you want to maintain an important person’s trust. On the 5th, the Full Moon finds you wrapping up a job that has been getting on your nerves. It will be a real relief to move on to greener pastures, even if you don’t have any more work in the pipelines. The best way to find a fresh work opportunity is to network, especially on the 10th. Attending a party or social gathering on this day could be very profitable for you. The 15th will be an especially romantic day, as your natural good looks will be strongly emphasised. Prepare to turn heads wherever you go. You’ll be stepping into your power on the 18th; instead of looking for opportunities, they will find you. The New Moon on the 20th is perfect for manifesting a short pleasure trip or fascinating class. Make a wish; it will come true.

https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
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Kuan Yins Gentle Embrace Reiki Certification
A Year and a Day of Contemplation with Kuan Yin
Tarot, Numerology, Natal Charts and Dream Readings
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Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healingLearn with GrannyMoon!
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“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

Granny Moons Weekly Feast: 29 Jan 23

You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely
as small as what you allow to annoy you. ~Robert Anton Wilson

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again
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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: Waxing Moon

Time: From New Moon To Full (Approx. 14 Days)

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona

Magickal Attributes: Invoking Beginnings, New Projects, Ideas, Inspiration, Energy, Vitality, Freedom. Workings On This Day Are For “Constructive” Magick (Love, Wealth, Success, Courage, Friendship, Luck Or Health.)

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What’s Happening?!
January

The Goddess Calendar – Month of Bridhe, runs from 1/23 – 2/19 –
Associated with Brigid and Imbolc. Power, success, and travel.

Celtic Tree Calendar ~ January 21st to February 17th – Rowan

JAN 31: DISABLOT
This Norse celebration marks new beginnings honors the land and revitalizes the plow for the upcoming planting season

POWAMU HOPI FESTIVAL

FEBRUARY
1-2 – IMBOLC/CANDLEMAS
Celtic pagan holiday marking the beginning of spring. Christians refer to it as the feast day of Saint Brigid.

1 – 2 – Feburalia

11 – VELES
Rodnovery God

15 – Lupercalia

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Feb 5
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Feb 12
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Feb 19

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!
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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE FOR FEBRUARY 2023
January 25, 2023

As we enter into February, the second month of what will be a spiritually powerful year. on the heels of an intense and vibrant January we now enter the mixed energies of February.,

We have choices, changes and influences coming from all points and directions.

Although the universal energies and/or intentions are not nearly as invasive as we experienced in January, we are still ways off from a full reprieve or a time of resting without the almost constant feeling or influences that keep us engaged and aware.

In February our spiritual quest is towards embracing the greater good that continues to shape our individual journey.

As we complete the tasks at hand, we begin to enter into the abundance that seems to be the “promise” or lure. Or depleted, or stripped of that essential faith and hope, we can easily slide into redundancy where our intentions just never seem to make it across that finish line. There is still work to be done as this as any profound or worthy cause is progressive and often a lengthy process, or we grow weary of the seemingly endless demands, and rather than true change, we continue to repeat what should be, rather than creating such.

Universal Messages and Lessons

The core of 2023 – and February is no exception – is uniting our spiritual beings with the collective (brotherhood) and Divine (that which is recognized as the greater source or highest power). This month allows us to begin to recognize the abundance that is possible and for many, the rewards both intrinsic and external are finally delivered. Although we are still in somewhat of an “infant” or beginning stage of reaping what has been sown, there is plenty to go around for those that manifested, created and took the risk for a brighter future.

So the message is much like a bonus program, the intention is to acknowledge the abundance without allowing it to be enough.

It is to enjoy the slice with gratitude and thanks, but also to become the incentive for continuing as there is certainly more ahead for those of us that can keep pace with our spiritual growth, and face and accept all the changes now and those that are to come.

The warning, or what must be avoided, is the tendency to be too easily fulfilled, so that our energy is influenced. Then, all we can create becomes a repetition, rather than the ongoing process it was or is meant to be. While certainly for some the biggest hurdles were managed, those outlying areas of our life and the efforts needed to keep constant contact with our higher-self to continue to receive the abundance remains the core of our mission.

So for February, we align and harmonize with what we have so courageously shifted, basking in those achievements, while never losing sight that there is even greater potential waiting ahead.

So we garner strength from the gifts and abundance given, by embracing new challenges and shifts rather than repetition or reproduction of what has already become the past.

Love and Relationships

Although for many February is the month of “love” symbolized by the Valentine’s Day holiday that falls mid-month, universally it may lack the vitality of attracting romance that January seemed to favor. February IS a month of love, but our Universal lesson and the collective message and energy leans more towards self-love and expression, and love in its most general form and display. As we work harder for and with self, we then build from the foundation up an unshakable core identity and rebuild the skills to trust in our own judgments, intuition and self-validations. In this month of honor self, we are literally preparing or setting the stage for attracting the highest possible energy into our lives, even if we do not see that outcome quite yet.

We are also focusing on the collective love and the relationship of total acceptance of all individuals, all for one and one for all, which relies always first on that very private relationship with self. We also should be tuning in or fine-tuning our connection with Divine so that rather than being an abstract thought, it becomes a solid and key factor behind all that we do.

February brings a sense of empowerment and the ability to place want over need. This activates our independence and as we have all been urged, it continues to support the release of toxic and dysfunctional relationships. For any that slipped past the intensity of January or were forced to be postponed due to circumstance or avoidable situations, abundance comes as freedom to let go, and to desire that rather than feeling forced.

For those involved in healthy relationships, the strength comes through steps of independence which strengthen those bonds.

For those involved with somewhat new or not yet fully committed relationships, February will march at a slow but steady pace. Allowing us the opportunity to be sure that intention and agenda match and again we will be reminded that want should always replace need.

So although some will meet that special person, the highlights for love in February are illuminated towards self and in preparation of finally being ready to attract that which is desired.

If you are looking to find love or want to improve your relationship contact the Archangel of Love. Read My Article and learn how to work with this Archangel.

We are energy!

To Sum Up

February begins and ends as month of gratification and the intention to enable us to push harder, move faster and embody all that we as spiritual and human beings are truly capable of. It is a month of renewed self, identity and empowerment and enough of a glimpse into the future that we are once again engaged to continue this spiritual movement.

Faith, hope, and love still are the building blocks for all that we fabricate, create, and manifest.

And abundance is not just now, but also that which defines our future. We avoid redundancy by avoiding stops or allowing self in all ways to be satisfied with just this much.

For where there is some, there is more and it certainly could not be truer than in February. Remember the kingdom of heaven is within you!

Be renewed and filled with love from above!

Many blessings,
Cherokee Billie

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FULL SNOW MOON FEBRUARY 05, 2023 IN LEO

February’s Full Snow Moon peaks on February 05, 2023. The energy of this full Moon will be felt three days prior to its peak time and for three days afterwards. So be sure and take advantage of these powerful energies to pull in the divine guidance you need. This is the last full Moon of winter.

February may bring dark days and a lot of cold weather (for some parts of the world), but this February can also bring a renewed energy into your life.

February’s full moon is also known as the Snow Moon, Ice Moon, Hunger Moon, and Cleansing Moon. Native American tribes of the north and the east called it the snow moon as it use to be the time that the greatest amount of snowfall came. Another theme of this month’s Moon names is scarcity. The Cherokee names of Month of the Bony Moon and Hungry Moon give evidence to the fact that food was hard to come by at this time. The name Hunger moon refers to the difficulty to gather food this time of year. The Celts called it the Moon of Ice.

A stir is just beneath the surface, a quickening heart full of tiny changes that may go unnoticed by others. The days begin to get longer, some animals begin their mating season, and the birds are a bit more active. As the sunlight strengthens, your dreams and ambitions for the year are beginning to take shape as well.

The snow moon is full of spiritual revelation and purpose. It signifies renewal in the spirit. The snow moon gives people a chance to reset and reevaluate. It’s about new dreams and overcoming past hurts, forging forward with greater sense of purpose. With the influx of spiritual energy coming through this can be one of the most important months of the year.

This full moon is square (challenging aspect, three signs away) transit (moving) Uranus in Taurus, and this can bring out rebellious energy, impatience, and impulsive behavior. We may lash out if we feel we’re being boxed in, and this can be irrational and sometimes not even reality.

Tap into one of the other aspects of this Moon which is harmony and peace. Much depends on your inner mood. Tune in and work on controlling yourself. We need to maintain some control over emotions and not let impulse take over. Instead, we should try to work on smaller changes that can show results quickly, and work to get out of a rut with something where we’ve been extra stuck since this energy can be excellent for that.

We may be a little desperate for attention and praise with Leo full moons, so we have to be mindful of acting that way. If we’re feeling insecure, we need to address why instead of looking for external validation.

If there are not enough bright emotions, there is a desire to shake things up a little, adventure will certainly be found. Events in your personal life will be especially exciting: emotions are off the charts, feelings are heightened to the limit. Quarrels and showdowns are not a good idea at this time.

Emotions will subside, but the residue will remain: a damaged relationship is very difficult to restore. It is necessary to correctly prioritize, determine the goals. It is better to spend this time in a comfortable environment, indulging in pleasant fantasies. Soon there will be a chance to bring ideas to life.

Leo full moons are great for reconnecting with the heart and with loved ones, and we can strengthen our love relationships. We may prioritize love relationships where we feel a soul connection with the other person, but it can be strong.

Leo rules our hobbies and creativity, so this can be a great time for finishing up a creative project, or becoming more invested in a hobby. Our hearts can lead us, and we can follow (just make sure not blindly!).

If you follow the moon cycles and live by the stars, you already know that each month’s full moon has a different meaning and a different purpose for your life.

February’s Full Moon will actually be at the closest point in its orbit to Earth, making it the largest and brightest full Moon of the year. So get ready to use all of this extra planetary energy to connect with your angels and all of your heavenly guides to show you what direction to go over the next month.

The lunar qualities of emotions and instincts reach their peak at a full moon. Use you increased emotional strength and intuition to overcome any relationship challenges. Use a detached approach to looking at your life as you will see it more impartial and balanced, when you view it without emotions. When you view things without emotions you will clearly see any relationship dynamics or negative feelings causing disharmony. And then can make the right choices based on your observations.

This full moon brings opportunities for change, romance and success. This is wonderful timing because it follows on from the good news.

HEIGHTENED EMOTIONS:

The Moon is at its closest approach to Earth all Month.

Can you feel it?

Have you noticed you are picking on little things for no good reason?

Having very random thoughts or other people seem to be having a go at you?

Be aware that we are being influenced by the cosmic weather.

So if you are a little agitated right now, let it pass without lashing out at someone or something you will later feel sadness over. Stay in your own space during this full Moon cycle and contemplate the bigger picture of your life.

Do a Full Moon Tea Ritual

February is a month to do introspective work. This little tea ritual can really help you relax and feel comforted.

I recommend Jasmine Tea or Green Tea.

Set up a little area in your home where you will sit and relax with your cup of tea and it works best if you can see the Moon. If it’s snowing or raining know that the Moon is still present with you.

You can make an entire pot of tea or just a cup. You choose. Once you have poured hot water into your teapot or cup. Visualize all of your cares vanishing as the tea brews.

Feel yourself surrounded by all of your angels. Embrace the love energy that they’re sending you and send that same energy into your tea.

Slowly sip your tea and feel the love energy of all that is divine flowing throughout your body. Know that your dreams on the Full Moon will be filled with visions to inspire you going forth.

Believe it or not this moon represents the coming of spring. It’s the time when the seeds start stirring to life under the cold ground. The farmers start planning crops for their gardens. The animals will start to feel their young in their bellies as they are readying for their spring births. The long sleepy winter is finally ending and the earth is in its early awakening to the longer days in the warmth of the sun.

Focus on new beginnings of your dreams and goals for this year. Work to realize where you past mistakes may have been, forgive and love yourself, and plan for your future. Ask God for blessings for all on this planet.

Focus on new beginnings of your dreams and goals for this year. Work to realize where you past mistakes may have been, forgive and love yourself, and plan for your future. Ask for blessings for all on this planet tonight.

Your work on the full moon should focus on new beginnings of your dreams and goals for this year. It’s a night of purification. Work to realize where you past mistakes may have been, forgive and love yourself, and plan for your future.

The Full Moon is the time of greatest power and the perfect night for a Spiritual Reading as it’s a night where energy is in abundance. This Moon is a great time to take a snapshot of your life and see where you are and where you need to be going on your personal path. Check Out My Services Here.

Full Moon Blessings,
Cherokee Billie

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The Druids Garden
An Imbolc Ritual for Creativity: Maple Awen Ritual

by Dana O’Driscoll

Traditionally, Imbolc is a celebration of the first stirrings of spring coming back into the land. For people living in temperate parts of North America, particularly on the eastern seaboard, the timing can be challenging–we are in deep winter and there aren’t always clear and visible stirrings of spring. But looking to our dear friends, the Sugar Maple trees, offers a wonderful focus for this season. Today we’ll explore a bit about the maple tree’s magic and connections to creativity and the flow of awen, and I’ll share a ritual for celebrating Imbolc that honors the maple tree and invites the flow of awen and creativity into your life.

For more posts on Imbolc, you can visit any of the following posts: reflections on the landscape in the Northeastern USA at Imbolc, healing waters of renewal ritual at Imbolc, the butzemann tradition at Imbolc, 21st-century wheel of the year–reskilling at Imbolc, energizing snowy spaces with sacred geometry at Imbolc. For more posts on the maple tree, including tapping the tree and honoring the maple, please see: January Wassailing for Abundance, Building a Maple Sap Rocket Stove Evaporator, Tapping Maple Trees, the four sacred trees brew, and the Maple tree’s mythology and magic.

Maple and the Awen
The sacred awen! The sacred awen!

As a new animist druid learning the wheel of the year, I actually had the most difficulty with connecting to Imbolc–we did not have flowers coming up, I did not have the traditional sheep herd, I’m not a polytheist (so no work with Brigid) and it was still really frozen most years. Over time, and being involved in AODA, I learned to adapt Imbolc and other holidays to a more ecoregional approach–where I would pay attention to what was happening on my land instead of following a wheel that was meant for a different ecosystem. Thus, when I started learning about the flowing of maple sap in the trees at this time of year, it allowed me to engage in a multi-year exploration of the celebration of the maple and her flows at Imbolc–and today’s post explores the energy of the maple tree by offering an Awen ritual for the celebration of Imbolc.

In the Druid tradition, we honor the Awen (Ah-wen), which is Welsh term that means creative inspiration or creative flow. Awen can mean both a spark of a new idea or getting into a creative flow with a work (including what psychologists would call the flow state). This can be a very powerful, mystical experience. Awen as a concept is central to modern revival druidry–it is present in our symbol (the Awen symbol, detailed here), we chant it, and one of our three major paths focus on the bardic arts or sacred creativity. Awen can be personified through a deity or muse, can be a mystical force, and it also can be an experience. I detailed the history of this term in an earlier post, so you can see more there. Thus, if you want to connect with your creativity, bring life to a new project, get back into the groove of something you had to put down–connecting with the Awen at this time of year th

In my work with maple trees, and as I published in the Magical Compendium of North American Trees, Maple has deep associations with the Awen for several reasons: first, the maple is associated with flows and the flowing of the sap. The sap is rich in vital life force, in energy, in what we druids would call Nywfre (see my last section for more on this). This powerful force can inspire new things into being. Maple also has firey energy in the fall (sugar maple in particular), decking the land with bold colors and being the brightest and most colorful of all the fall trees. Thus, maple is a creative force in and of herself. Maple encourages us to get into our own flow, show our own bold colors, and express ourselves creatively.

This ritual is typically done at Imboc, when the maple trees flow with sap, to tap into the energy of this time: the stirrings of new beginnings and inspiration. You could do this at another time of year as well, with the blessing and permission of the maple.

Imbolc Maple Ritual for Invoking the Awen and Creativity
The Sugar Maple tree flows in the spring in the Northeastern part of North America. It is this tree that can be tapped to produce maple syrup and maple sugar; it has long been associated with the flow of energy, and in the druid tradition, this tree is also associated with Nywfre, the vital life force of the earth and the force of creativity. This ritual taps into the energy of the maple tree to offer a powerful Awen blessing upon your creative endeavors. While you can perform this ritual at Imbolc (traditionally on February 1 or 2) you are also welcome to perform it any other time when you feel the need to ritually invite the awen into your life.

Further, if you do not have maple trees in your area but you have other trees that produce sap (Walnut, Birch, Sycamore) you can use one of these trees in place of the maple.

Supplies
For this ritual, you will need

Maple syrup, maple sap, or maple sap water (tapped fresh from trees) with a goblet or cup for drinking. If you are using maple syrup or maple sugar, put 1 teaspoon of maple syrup in one cup of fresh, cold water. This will give an approximation to real maple sap. The water should be very cold and invigorating, just like you were drinking it from a tree in early February when the temperatures are low–put it in the freezer for 1/2 hour before the ceremony.

Journal for writing down creative ideas or tools for creation (used at the end of the ritual)
Offering made to maple trees (herbal blend, song, dance, drumming, etc.)
Anything you want to include to open up your sacred space.
Oracle or tarot deck for divination

Ritual Part 1: Offerings and Reflections

Maple Offering
Prior to the ritual and in order to enlist the maple tree’s help, you should make an offering to a maple tree (any in the Acer family) or a related deciduous species in your region. Maple trees, being connected with the bardic arts, love bardic arts offerings—singing, dancing, music, poetry, and other bardic crafts. Once you have done this, explain to the tree that you would like to perform a ceremony to invite the awen into your life, and see if the tree agrees to help (ask directly using spirit communication or use a divination system — a pendulum works very well for this). If you receive permission, you may proceed with the ritual. If not, find a different tree and ask again. If the trees don’t agree, don’t proceed forward with the rest of the ritual. If possible, after the tree has agreed, bring something from the tree into your ritual space (e.g. old leaf, fallen branch, etc.).

If you would like, you can sing this song that I wrote to honor the maple. It is done to the tune of “Edelweiss” from the Sound of Music:

Maple Tree, Maple Tree

Every morning you greet me

Strong and wise, burning bright

You look happy to meet me

Flowing in snow, may you bloom and grow

Bloom and grow forever

Maple tree, maple tree

Bless this dear friend forever

Reflecting on Awen and new projects
Optionally, you can also take time before the ritual to reflect on how you might want to call to the awen and direct the flow of awen in your life. Do you have a project that you are starting that you would like creative energy for? Do you need ideas and inspiration more generally? You can take some time to reflect, meditate, or set intentions prior to the ritual–as you will be asked to state your intentions as part of the ritual.

Ritual Part 2: Invoking the Awen
Setup: Place the goblet of maple water in the center of your space. You may also choose to have the elements present. You can use your Awen altar for this ritual.

Begin by opening up a sacred space in whatever method you prefer. I use AODA’s Solitary grove opening. You can also use an oracle or tarot deck to open up a sacred space, as I detail using this method.

Begin with an Awen chant: “Awen, Awen, Awen” (pronounced Ah-Oh-En and drawn out as you chant).

Say, “Sacred Awen, flowing inspiration from nature and the divine, I ask for your flow within me. May you find me a worthy vessel for the sacred act of creation. I specifically ask for your assistance with _ ” (Describe in your own words what you are seeking inspiration for.”

Pick up the goblet and hold it above your head.

Say: “Sacred maple tree, I call to you for the blessing of Awen in my life! Please fill this cup with the Awen, the divine force of inspiration. As your sap flows in this most sacred time of year, so too, let the Awen flow into my life and overfill my cup!”

Envision the liquid glowing green-gold in the goblet, radiating the energy of the Awen. Chant three or more Awens as you envision this.

Lower the cup and say, “Maple tree, each spring, your sap flows deep from your roots into the tips of your branches. These branches swell and bud, and a new season of abundance and growth is upon us. This flow connects to the Awen, the divine inspiration within all living things. May I be a worthy vessel for the gift of Awen!

Drink the water in the goblet, feeling the gold-green energy of the maple flowing into you. If you feel led, chant the awen again.

Enter into a meditation where you seek the flow of awen. Envision you visiting a maple tree, and being able to directly walk into the tree and travel down into the roots, flowing with the sap flow of the tree. Follow that journey and see where it leads. As you do the journey, you may be inspired with new projects, ideas, and energy. When you come out of your meditation, use your journal to document ideas.

Optionally, you can use a divination system (Tarot, Ogham, etc) to gain further insight as to the path ahead.

Close your sacred space. Go start creating!

Awen and Nywfre
Awen and the bee

Another close tie to the maple flowing and the sap is its connection with Nwyfre (NOOiv-ruh). Nwyfre is one of the druid elements representing the vital life force and consciousness within each living being. It is a middle Welsh word that translates to “sky” or “vigor”. Nywfre refers to the spirit of life that flows through the plants–the energy that allows a plant to grow. This is not a physical thing, but a metaphysical thing. I also think that drinking sap from a maple tree is the closest thing you can experience to physical Nywfre–it is vitalizing, rich, and intense.

Nywfre and Awen are complementary but not the same–the druid revival texts distinguish them as follows: Nywfre is the spark of life, that which separates an inanimate thing from an animate being and allows life to exist. Awen is the spark of ideas and the flow of creativity that allows sacred creations (which also have spirit and a different form of life). These distinctions are helpful because if you wanted to adapt the ritual below to connect to Nywfre instead of Awen, it would be certainly possible to bring Nwyfre and that energy into your life.

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Heartwings Love Notes 1069 Intentions versus Resolutions

Heartwings says, “Good intentions are a safer bet than Resolutions, and safer.”

This year in January we in the USA have had the good fortune to have two New Years. January first is of course one. However, the Chinese New Year has also just occurred. Rather than being a fixed date, this day is calculated by the Moon. The Jewish holy days are also arranged according to the date of the appropriate moon. When I checked that wonderful source of information, Wikipedia, I discovered New Year’s resolutions, common to both the East and the West, have a long history. However, the practice is more usual in the West.

Many if not most people have probably given up on their resolutions by now. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people making resolutions either to attempt too much at one go, to make impossible decisions, or to just be too lazy to push.
Regardless of the reason, many people may quit their resolutions even before they give them a chance. I gave up making resolutions some time ago because I wasn’t carrying through, and it annoyed me. I have certain standards I like to live up to and one big one is being honest. Perhaps I too was aiming at impossible goals.

Intentions, on the other hand, make no boasts. They are statements of what we have in mind to accomplish rather than, as most resolutions seem to be, heroic efforts at self-improvement. Intentions can be built around needs or not. They can involve others, which resolutions often do not, and if they prove misdirected, they can always be restructured. They do not have to be confined to a particular time.

Intentions are something you can get up with in the morning or go to bed with at night. They make wonderful guidelines and can be very useful. As a substitute for resolutions, they can be restated to bring about or result in more success. For example: Instead of saying, “In the new year, I will exercise faithfully,” I might say, “More exercise is one of my goals for the new year.” My intention is to focus on exercise. When I do that, I am directing my thoughts in a good direction rather than building resistance to my resolve. Goals are not necessarily fixed or imperative like resolutions.

Resistance is best overcome not by confrontation but by avoidance. Because I have no resistance to thinking about exercise, I tend to keep it in mind. Then at odd moments during the day, while waiting for the kettle to boil, or something to toast, I might spontaneously do a simple exercise that doesn’t require extreme effort, like standing leg lifts or a stretch. When I don’t have to encounter resistance, I can accomplish more. Intentions help with that. Also, as I said earlier, they can be made any time and not just at the first of a New Year.

May you discover your best intentions and be sure to follow up.

Blessings and best regards, Tasha Halpert

PS Do you have good intentions for this year? Please share! Hearing from my readers is a great blessing and I thank you! Please writ me at tashahal@gmail.com or hit reply.

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

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A House Protection Spell
JANUARY 29, 2023 BY JAMES KAMBOS

Use this spell to bring stability, peace, and security to your home. You’ll need the Ten of Pentacles card from your favorite tarot deck, a light blue candle, some rose water, and a cotton ball.

Place the candle on your altar, and lay the tarot card in front of the candle, facing you. Set the rose water and cotton ball off to the side. First, safely light the candle. Meditate on the card.

Think about what you want your home to be like. Calm? Peaceful? Stable? Now gaze at the candle flame and say:

From this home I banish all negativity.
Only positive forces dwell here.
Peace surrounds me
And those who carry my key.

Safely snuff out the candle. You may use it for other positive magic. Put the card back in the deck. End the ritual by moistening the cotton ball with the rose water. Use it to wipe off all exterior doorknobs of your home as you focus on peace.
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Treasures
JANUARY 28, 2023 BY ESTHA MCNEVIN

Sweet bean soup is a bit like liquid trail mix. Often served for Lunar New Year in many countries in Asia, it is a restorative food that has its roots in ancient curative cuisines. Nuts, spices, and dried fruits are slowstewed or days, along with sweet adzuki and lotus beans. The result is a thick, richly spiced broth with many sweet treasures suspended beneath the surface.

Here’s a Crock-Pot version that is easy and rewarding. Cook the following on low heat for three to five days. Serve over rice to promote longevity.

  • 1 pound adzuki beans, soaked overnight
  • ½ pound lotus beans, soaked overnight
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 1 cup dried plums
  • 1 cup dried apples
  • 1 cup diced oranges or marmalade
  • 1 cup dates, sliced
  • 8 cups apple juice
  • ¼ cup diced candied ginger
  • 1 cup sliced candied winter melon
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
  • 3 star anise pods
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 8 clove buds
  • 3 teaspoons cinnamon powder
  • 2 teaspoons ginger powder
  • 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 pinch mace
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    The Prismatic Crystal Shield
    JANUARY 27, 2023 BY MICHAEL FURIE

A fast yet surprisingly powerful means of magical protection is to form an energetic crystal shield. This is very similar to other methods of creating a shield, such as the mirrored shield, but the effects are quite different.

To form the crystal shield, close your eyes and envision being surrounded by a brilliant white light. Concentrate on it condensing around you to form a crystalline egg of power that will act as a magical prismatic filter. In other words, any harmful energy that is sent your way will be drawn through the crystal prism (as opposed to being repelled) and its power will be transformed from a single (and harmful) intention into a rainbow of constructive energy that you can utilize to your own benefit. In this way, you are not only preventing harm, but also transforming the energy to serve the greater good—a powerful piece of magical recycling.
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Spousal Symbiosis
JANUARY 26, 2023 BY BLAKE OCTAVIAN BLAIR

Today is National Spouses Day. The day is meant for people to celebrate the bond they share with their spouse and to show each other appreciation and gratitude. If you have a spouse, hopefully you do this regularly anyway; however, it’s always nice to have a celebration! If you don’t have a spouse, today is a great day to do a meditation on self-care and being your best self, as this will help you be the best possible partner to a future spouse and also identify what qualities in a person would make the best spouse for you, if that is your desire. If you do have a spouse, meditate on how you balance each other and complement each other.

Culminate the meditation by visualizing a healthy balance of two fully realized individuals who support each other in healthy ways. Outwardly express to your spouse the positive ways in which they support your life together.
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Mystical Renovations
JANUARY 25, 2023 BY DALLAS JENNIFER COBB

My village is gentrifying, and I often feel unsafe. On a bad day, I feel “less than,” unworthy, and worthless. I see how much time and money are being spent on the upgrade, rebuilding, and renovation of houses, and I am deeply aware that my financial resources are very different from “theirs.” Why do they deserve more than I? From there, it’s a quick spiral down into worthlessness. Ugh.

In order to change consciousness around this dynamic, choose to undertake mystical renovations. Renovate your spirit. Repeat after me:

I don’t need new windows;
I choose to see more clearly.
I don’t need to replace the doors;
I replace my fearful thinking.
I won’t add a sunroom or pool; I will
go out and commune with nature.
While I “live” in this home,
I dwell in spirit.
I don’t have to rebuild this
place; I rebuild my life.
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Manifest Abundance with Ekeko
JANUARY 24, 2023 BY EMYME

On this date in La Paz, Bolivia, begins the monthlong celebration of Alasitas. The main figure honored during this event is Ekeko, a god of abundance. Ekeko is depicted as a man carrying money and household items related to abundance. If presented with wheat, he provides a good harvest. If he is presented with money, the household will prosper.

Miniature items are sold at the festival. These items are exchanged as gifts to bring specific types of abundance. It is believed that if you are gifted a miniature version of something, you will get the real object sometime the following year. Create a simple statue of Ekeko decked out in symbols of the wealth you already have or the wealth you wish to manifest. Miniatures are found in almost every hobby store. When Ekeko occupies a place of honor in your home and with appropriate intention, riches will come your way.
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Tea Leaf Spell
JANUARY 23, 2023 BY SAPPHIRE MOONBEAM

Divination is a way to discover and see magical signs. You can drink a cup of tea in the winter and do a bit of scrying to get a glimpse of the future in the tea leaves. Tea leaf divination requires practice but can be done with minimal supplies. Use a loose leaf tea. Boil the water and allow it to steep and infuse the water for three to five minutes before pouring it into your cup.

As you drink the tea, think of the question you have about your future. After you have finished, place the teacup upside down on a saucer and say these words:

May the tea leaves show the story
unfold and reveal signs and symbols
of what the future may hold.

Turn the cup right side up and study the tea leaves. Turn the saucer clockwise to find symbols from a different perspective to discover the answer to your question.


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When We Don’t Take Action

Our actions shape our lives, but what we don’t take action on can be just as powerful.
Life is sculpted on a moment-to-moment basis. Every one of the thoughts we think, the words we speak, and the actions we take contributes to the complex quality and character of the universe’s unfolding. It simply is not possible to be alive without making an impact on the world that surrounds us. Every action taken affects the whole as greatly as every action not taken. And when it comes to making the world a better place, what we choose not to do can be just as important as what we choose to do.

For example, when we neglect to recycle, speak up, vote, or help somebody in immediate need, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to be an agent for positive change. Instead, we are enabling a particular course to continue unchallenged, picking up speed even as it goes along. By holding the belief that our actions don’t make much of a difference, we may find that we often tend to forego opportunities for involvement. Alternatively, if we see ourselves as important participants in an ever-evolving world, we may feel more inspired to contribute our unique perspective and gifts to a situation.

It is wise to be somewhat selective about how and where we are using our energy in order to keep ourselves from becoming scattered. Not every cause or action is appropriate for every person. When a situation catches our attention, however, and speaks to our heart, it is important that we honor our impulse to help and take the action that feels right for us. It may be offering a kind word to a friend, giving resources to people in need, or just taking responsibility for our own behavior. By doing what we can, when we can, we add positive energy to our world. And sometimes, it may be our one contribution that makes all the difference.

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Fungi: A Dr. Weil Favorite

Here’s a sampling of what some of them can do for you.

Shiitake Mushrooms
Staples of Asian cuisines, shiitakes have a rich, savory taste. Dr. Weil likes them so much he’s trying to grow them near his summer home in British Columbia. Shiitakes contain substances that may help lower cholesterol, boost immune function, combat viruses and reduce the risk of several kinds of cancer.

Mushrooms Of Immortality: Reishi
Woody reishi mushrooms have impressive health benefits but aren’t for eating. You can buy reishi in tea bags, as capsules and as liquid extracts. These medicinal mushrooms can help:

Lower blood pressure
Improve immune function
Protect the liver
Counteract allergy symptoms.
They may even help prevent the spread of cancer cells.

Energy Boosting Mushroom: Cordyceps
Cordyceps are parasitic medicinal mushrooms and grow mainly on insects and even other fungi. Cordyceps can:

Enhance energy
Help increase aerobic capacity
May help athletic performance
Banish fatigue.

They also can help overcome muscle weakness and heighten sexual vigor. You can buy cordyceps in tinctures, liquid extracts, capsules, and powders.

Hen of the Woods: Maitake
These mushrooms resemble the tail feathers of a nesting hen. Maitakes taste great and are widely available fresh or dried. Maitakes have anticancer and antiviral effects. They also can help control high blood pressure, high blood sugar control and enhance immune system power.

Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
These culinary mushrooms also have impressive health benefits. They can improve mild cognitive impairment and promote nerve growth. Lion’s Mane mushrooms also have been shown to reduce anxiety and enhance sleep.

Enoki Mushrooms
Enoki are mild tasting mushrooms that cook quickly and are perfect in soups and salads. Besides their great taste, enokis have anticancer and immune enhancing effects.

Turkey Tail Mushrooms
Strictly medicinal mushrooms Turkey Tails have anticancer effects and can increase immune function. You can buy Turkey Tail mushrooms in liquid form or in capsules.

Agaricus Blazei
This edible medicinal mushroom is also known as the “almond portobello” for its distinctive flavor. Healthwise, agaricus blazei can enhance immune system effects. It also has anti-tumor and anti-viral activity.

Final Notes On Mushrooms
Dr. Weil always cooks mushrooms and warns against eating them raw because they’re tough to digest and some contain toxins that cooking destroys. Before broiling, grilling or sautéing, Dr. Weil flavors mushrooms with a little teriyaki sauce.

Dr. Weil used mushrooms in the line of skin care products he developed for Origins to combat dry, inflamed or sensitive skin.

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Disarming the Know-It-All

People that are know-it-alls are simply stuck in a pattern and may actually have feelings of low self worth.

Most of us have encountered a person in our lives who can accurately be referred to as a know-it-all. This person seems to know everything about anything that gets brought up and tends to dominate the conversation. They don’t take well to being questioned, and they have a hard time ever admitting that they were wrong.

Being around a know-it-all is inevitably tiring because there is no shared energy between the two of you. Rather, you become an audience member to this person’s need to be the center of attention. Attention and respect are probably the two things this person most longs for, and at some point in their lives, they learned that knowing it all was the way to get those needs met. Over time, they have become stuck in this pattern, regardless of the fact that it is no longer working. They may feel afraid of the experience of listening, being receptive, or learning something new, because it’s so unfamiliar.

On the one hand, when we see the childlike need underneath the know-it-all’s mask of confidence, we feel compassion for the person, and we may tolerate their one-sided approach to conversation out of a desire not to hurt their feelings. On the other hand, we may be feeling drained and tempted to avoid this person altogether. In the middle of these two possible ways of feeling, we may actually like this person and wish for a closer relationship. If we come from a place of kindness, we might attempt to bridge the gap that this person’s habitual way of relating creates. Simply expressing a desire to be closer may open their heart, and give you a chance to ask for what you need in the relationship—a chance to contribute.

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10 Healthy Herbal Teas and How They Benefit You!

Herbal teas have grown in popularity over recent years and are feted by many for the range of health benefits they offer drinkers. Of course, in some countries – such as China and Sri Lanka – they have a long history of use for their medicinal qualities, as well as their range of tastes and flavors. When choosing an herbal tea, it’s important to understand how each herb can help your health and overall well being. This article will help you select and prepare the right teas to match the health benefits most relevant to you.

What is Herbal Tea?

It’s not really ‘tea’ at all, because tea is a specific type of plant. It refers to an infusion of leaves, seeds, roots or bark immersed in hot water. They should not be confused with ‘fruit teas’ (orange tea, lemon tea etc.), which are flavored largely to make them taste good. Only certain parts of many of the herbs used to make these drinks can be consumed, as others might be poisonous, but drinking a generously stacked portion of herbal tea can provide as much goodness as a vitamin pill, in a way that is easy and enjoyable to digest.

Selecting and Preparing Your Herbal Tea

When selecting an herbal tea, it is important to look for a well-sourced product made from natural ingredients. This is one sector where organic is usually very much best, and if you want to gain the most health benefits, avoid teas with added oils and artificial flavors. You should also leave your teabag to infuse for a decent amount of time – at least 10-15 minutes when preparing your drink. Here are ten of the healthiest herbal teas you can drink.

  1. Chamomile

Main Benefits: Fights sleep problems anxiety

Chamomile is a small flowering plant that looks similar to a daisy, and it’s golden buds have been found to help people who struggle to sleep well or suffer from mild insomnia. This is because it contains tryptophan, an amino acid known for its tranquilizing qualities. Studies have shown that it also possesses anti-anxiety properties that can help anyone prone to bouts of anxiety to relax. Chamomile has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries and was favored by ancient Egyptians. It is an effective, gentle and natural sedative with anti-stress properties.

  1. Elderflower

Main Benefits: Decongestant, allergy relief and treating the common cold

Elderflower is a white flower of the Elder plant, which belongs to the Adoxaceae family and is found in subtropical areas of the world. Only its ripe berries are edible (when cooked) and other parts of the plant are poisonous. The berries have been used throughout history as a treatment for the common cold, blocked sinuses, respiratory health, and allergy relief. So if you want to breathe more easily, try Elderflower Tea.

  1. Peppermint

Main Benefits: Treatment for nausea, vomiting and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Peppermint is a hybrid cross between watermint and spearmint, and is indigenous to areas of Europe and the Middle East, although it has now been introduced to most areas of the world. It is a popular flavoring in confectionery, ice-cream, and toothpaste, and is also used in soaps, shampoos, and washes. It is also understood to encourage bile production in the gallbladder, helping the body break down fat and combat symptoms of nausea. It also provides short-term relief for people who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

  1. Lemon Verbena

Main Benefits: Aids digestion boosts the immune system

Lemon verbena or Aloysia citrodora is a native South American plant brought to Europe in the 17th Century and cultivated for its oil. It is traditionally used in France as a digestive aid because the citrus helps to break down fats as they pass through the digestive tract. It can be drunk before and after meals to serve its purpose. Studies have also shown that it can reduce oxidative stress and strengthen white blood cell production, encouraging a better functioning immune system.

  1. Green Tea

Main Benefits: Strengthens tissue cells

Pages could be written about the many health benefits of green tea, and no list of healthy herbal teas would be complete without it. It strengthens tissue cells to help protect the body from aging (and age-related diseases) and is high in antioxidants, which prevent cell damage caused by pollutants. Green tea can help fight cancer, heart disease, and diabetes and has a number of other benefits too. You can find out more here. The Japanese drink gallons of it, and they have the highest life expectancy of any nationality.

  1. Fennel

Main Benefits: Treatment for constipation, colic, and flatulence. Also aids weight loss.

Fennel is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean and has many ancient culinary and medicinal uses. It has anti-spasmodic properties that help relax intestinal muscles and provide an effective solution for constipation, colic, and flatulence. Fennel tea is also an excellent diuretic that encourages the urge to urinate, helping expel toxins from the body. The herb also helps suppress hunger and speeds up metabolism, making it an excellent weight loss tool.

  1. Nettle

Main Benefits: Boosts a run-down body

Nettle is a British herb that forms the basis of an excellent, all-around healthy tea. It is made from the plant of the stinging nettle, a plant that causes pain if touched in the wild, and has been used in medicine for many thousands of years. It has been shown to have a range of health benefits, including the treatment of urinary tract infections, hay fever, and osteoarthritis. It boosts the immune system and supports the adrenal gland, just two of the properties that make it an excellent tea to drink when you are feeling run down.

  1. Milk Thistle or Dandelion Tea

Main Benefit: Cleanses the liver

Both milk thistle and dandelion tea are classed as weeds in the wild, but when used in tea they are one of the best natural ways we can regenerate, cleanse and purify the liver. Although both are beneficial, they work in different ways. Dandelion is known to act as a liver tonic and stimulates bile secretion, while milk thistle has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help improve symptoms of hepatitis and liver disease.

  1. Ginger Main Benefits: Cleansing, circulation, digestion pain relief

Ginger is another plant with plentiful health benefits and has been used for centuries to ease stomach upsets and relieve pain. Ginger tea can be bought from the store, or made using a fresh piece of ginger placed in water and simmered on the stove for 10-15 minutes. It is known for its warming properties, so it is a great option if you have a fever. It also promotes blood circulation and relieves joint pain, making it a great healer.

  1. Rosehip Tea

Main Benefits: Protects the skin, boosts adrenal function and promotes immunity

Roses are among the best-loved flowers in the world, but they are not just useful for their beautiful scent and aesthetics. Their fruit – the rosehip – also provides a host of goodness that makes for a great fragrant and healthy tea. Rosehip is one of the best sources of vitamin C in the natural world, important for healthy skin, a successful immune system and tissue health. Rosehip also boosts adrenal function, providing plenty of extra energy and alertness. It’s worth reaching for next time you feel run down.

“If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”— Winnie the Pooh

Walk with me through a second chance of life: consider a Kidney donation: Blood type ONegative
https://www.gofundme.com/sugars-transplant-journey
-Sugar

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Fool’s Paradise
By Stephen Halpert

Todd sat down at the oval wooden seminar table. Sitting across from him at the graduate seminar on artificial intelligence was a very beautiful Indian woman feverishly typing on her laptop. Her long black hair shimmered. Her amber eyes sparkled. Todd found he couldn’t take his eyes from her. Though he had no intentions of engaging in a relationship until his doctorate work was completed, he felt instantly drawn to her.
The professor came in, and to the sound of polite clapping took up his station by the side of the screen. It lit up and a series of diagrams and formulars appeared.
“What must be understood,” he began “is that without recent advances in miniaturized batteries, the work of Musk, Kurzweil and other pioneers…artificial intelligence would remain in its infancy.”

Todd bristled. There he goes again, he thought, selling his pet concept that one day the proper batteries will enable androids to walk amongst us.
The professor cleared his throat. “And if I may say,” he smiled, “These advances lead us to restate the rhetorical questions how many batteries ultimately fit on the head of a pin?”

Several chuckled politely.
“Of course,” he went on, “the weak link is not programmable data but the lack of battery longevity. A perfect battery enables the perfect life-like android to participate in our campus community.”
He looked toward Todd. “Would you agree Mr. Stanley?”
Todd was only half listening. His gaze had returned to the young woman studiously typing her notes. He cleared his throat. He knew not to get pushy about his belief that robots were robots and people were people. He swallowed and nodded. “Within limits,” he said.
The professor smiled. “Your skepticism is refreshing.”
Todd’s mind was still on his new crush. He hadn’t seen her at the usual campus haunts, however there were many new graduate students from India and Pakistan enrolled in the AI program.

When the seminar concluded the woman looked over at Todd and smiled. He stood up and approached her.
The Professor walked over. “Todd Stanley, Jasmine Murti.” She nodded and smiled again. Todd invited her to lunch. She accepted.
They found a table in the graduate bistro and ordered. She smelled of peach blossoms. Todd was not only impressed by her beauty but also by her comments concerning the seminar. She said that she had recently graduated from MIT. They spent time exchanging information.

“But you understand what I mean about androids. Regardless how sophisticated their programming they’re still robots. They lack feelings. They’re nothing more than machines.”
She touched his hand gently. “You must understand that with every advance, androids gain greater human qualities.”
He shrugged and smiled. “May I see you again?”
“Yes,” she smiled. I find your attention refreshing, genuinely touching.” She sipped her tea.

“You do?”
“Of course. One needn’t be human to appreciate your kind feelings,” she looked deeply into his eyes.
“Oh, let’s not get started on that android human quagmire. I don’t care how intelligent a device may be there are still limits. They have no limbic system.”
“But doesn’t human psychology bring to the personality similar limitations?”
Her eyes twinkled. “In fifty or sixty years this conversation will be passe. By then few humans will be able to tell the difference.” She finished her tea.
“Dancing,” he said abruptly. He needed to change the subject. “Let’s have dinner and go dancing this Saturday night.” He didn’t dare say how much, despite her cockeyed theories, he wanted to hold her, kiss her, lose himself in her eyes.
She agreed. Then her tone turned serious. “Have you read any of the recent papers on robotic equality?”

He chuckled. “A Bill of Rights for,” he searched for the exact word, “machines?”
She smiled. “By midcentury human/android interaction will be commonplace. By then equality must be considered.”
He couldn’t figure out where she was going with this. “What for? We’re only talking about machines. Sophisticated, remarkably crafted scientific products, but none-the-less a machine can’t think beyond its input. It must be part of its programming.”
“And the human brain can?” Her eyes twinkled as she smiled. “I suppose close intimacy between a human and an android is not to your liking?”
Todd blushed and started to stammer. “You mean cohabitation? The way two humans do? Isn’t that a little farfetched? In his mind he saw unattractive rubber dolls sold at sex shops and winced.”
“Does it have to be?”
Just then he wanted to kiss her, hold her, never let her go. But he knew that once they did he’d never want to stop.
“Please don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I’m all for cloning. I’m all for robotics, especially in medical research. None of that bothers me. But the replication of humans?”
She grinned. “Human android cohabitation? Is that too far fetched for you to consider?”
“Not if it were us,” he gulped and then blushed. He hoped he hadn’t spoken out of turn.
But she seemed appreciative of his compliment.
She grinned. “Then we’ll still go dancing?” She jotted down her address and they set a time.

Saturday night she dressed carefully, then tied back her hair. Standing by her mirror she lifted her earlobe. Behind it was a barely visible slot. She widened it and one at a time inserted several new tiny batteries. She let her hair fall back down over her shoulders and dabbed a little perfume behind her ears. Then she smiled into the mirror and went downstairs to wait for Todd.

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=^..^=
5 Ways Cats Make the Most Out of Naptime
By Angie Bailey

Cats! Naps! Let’s agree on a couple of things before we dig into the subjects: 1. Cats nap better and harder than humans; 2. Cats are smarter than humans. Are we on the same page? Great!

Let’s move on to five ways cats make the most out of naps.

Chair stealing
Have you ever left your chair for a few minutes only to return to find a feline in your place? They’re either zonked (how do they do that so quickly?) or staring at you with the sweetest-yet-smuggest look you’ve ever seen. We choose to either grab a different chair, move the cat or balance ourselves on the very edge of the seat. Cats know we face this conundrum. They also know we will probably let them stay where they lay. Not only do the cats get a spectacular nap, but they’ve also manipulated us (again), which pleases them.

Hiding
Some kitties snooze in the open, loafed on a sofa arm or resting in yoga-like repose in the middle of the floor. While they nap so openly, we get to admire their grace and beauty. But cats are smarter than us (remember?), and sometimes they prefer tucking underneath a bed or behind a curtain. They’re such skilled hiders that we occasionally cannot locate their napping headquarters. This is by design. By hiding, they raise their chance of getting a bomb-diggity nap, and they rest in the knowledge that they’ve pulled yet another one over on us.

Embellishing clothing
Kitties love naps atop our clothing, especially if it’s nicely laid out on our beds, clean and mostly wrinkle-free, ready for the day ahead. And then we emerge from the shower to find our cat taking a grand snooze on the aforementioned outfit. Let’s face it, friends: We’ve become accustomed to wearing cat hair as an accessory. We’d like to think our cats aren’t trying to sabotage our black pants and white sweaters, but instead believe they do it because they adore our smell and want to send us out into the world with layered reminders of them on our clothing. Nice nap + retaining control = making the most of a nap.

Charging
If the sun’s streaming through a window, there’s a mighty fine chance a cat is lying square in the middle of a sun puddle. And why not? It’s warm, and heat can make us feel sleepy. I may or may not have curled up in a person-sized sun puddle a few times. What cats know is that, not only is it a sweet nap spot, but it’s also full of solar charging power. While kitties are off in dreamland, chasing mice and swatting bathrobe belts, their inner power meter is rising. They may not use this power reserve the minute they wake up, but they will use it. I’m sure you’re familiar with 3 a.m. hallway races and post-litter box zoomies. These are sponsored by sun puddles.

We humans and our cats benefit from shared snuggles while we’re watching TV or reading. The warmth of a lap cat is pure heaven for us, and kitties can’t get enough of our hands stroking their fur and feeling that love vibe. Smart cats all over the world know this is a recipe for a quality nap. Even better? Sharing a nap with a human. Our naps are way better when we’re spooning a kitty, picking up on their supreme napping mojo. Hey, maybe that explains those mysterious mouse-chasing dreams I sometimes have.

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, January 29, 2023

All Signs
This is a lovely, laid-back week with lots of positive energy. It’s an excellent time for creative projects because we will more easily think out-of-the-box and be open to fresh ideas. At the end of the week, power struggles and manipulations are possible, so steer clear of bossy types. On Thursday, (Feb. 2.) it’s Groundhog Day. I find it curious that no one ever calls it Woodchuck Day, even if they didn’t know how much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood. But really, it’s a heart-warming tradition based on the odds that if a groundhog pops his head out of the ground and sees a Maple Leaf, we get six more weeks of hockey.

Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is a popular week for you, which means you’ll be out there flying your colours! Everyone wants to see your face because lucky Jupiter is in your sign (something that happens only once every 12 years). This makes you exuberant, enthusiastic and feeling lucky! This is a lovely blessing because Jupiter in your sign will boost your self-confidence and increase your self-poise. Be smart and make the most of this blessing until Jupiter leaves your sign to move into Taurus mid-May. Enjoy schmoozing with others this week but be aware that at the end of the week, a friend or a group will surprise you. They will say or do something you least expect. “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.”

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
The Sun is still at the top of your chart casting you in a symbolic spotlight that is flattering. This means you look good to others, especially authority figures. Obviously, you will be approached by others to take on increased responsibilities because they see you as competent and capable. (Smile and take a bow, especially when the spotlight of the Sun is helping you. Always take credit when you can.) Nevertheless, a boss, parent or someone in a position of authority might throw you a curveball at the end of the week. You might feel angry, surprised or rebellious. Ready to flip the bird. Don’t do this because you gain nothing by burning bridges. (You never know when you might need to cross them again.)

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
It’s amazing that fiery Mars has been in your sign since mid-August! (It will stay until late March.) This pumps your energy! Surely, you have noticed. (“Don’t call me Shirley.”) This is another week of high energy for you. With fair Venus at the top of your chart, you look charming and diplomatic to everyone. Your urge to travel and do anything to expand your world continues to be strong. However, towards the end of the week, travel plans might suddenly change. They could be delayed, cancelled or alternatively, you might have to travel. Likewise sudden and unexpected news related to legal matters, your health or publishing and the media might also catch you off guard. Nevertheless, this is a strong, pleasant week!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
You continue to look fabulous in the eyes of others because lucky Jupiter is at the top of your chart where it will stay for some months. This makes you look successful in the eyes of others. Even affluent! (What they don’t know is none of their business.) Travel opportunities favour you now, especially travel for pleasure. Some of you will discover new love or an exciting flirtation with a person who is “different.” Do be aware that something sudden and unexpected will happen toward the end of the week that affects inheritances, wills, estates, shared property and possibly your debt. Stay top of red-tape paperwork so that you know what’s happening. You snooze, you lose.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Gifts and goodies from others continue to come your way. In fact, all kinds of financial negotiations will favour you now because discussions about wills, inheritances and shared property will be resolved in a way that benefits you. Romance is also sweet and passionate this week. Small wonder that your primary focus is on your closest relationships – partnerships, spouses and friends. In a curious way, you have more objectivity and ability to see how you react with others, which gives you a chance to improve your people skills. This is also a productive week because you are taking a hands-on approach to things.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Your desire to be productive, efficient and effective is still strong. This is why you feel proud of your accomplishments this week. Not only do you want to excel in what you do, you would also like to improve your health as well. Meanwhile, relations with partners and close friends are warm and friendly; while relations with kids and romantic partners are playful and intellectually stimulating. Get ready for some kind of interruption to your work (and possibly your health) at the end of the week. This could include a breakdown of equipment or a breakdown with authority figures. You will handle this smoothly because Venus is opposite your sign honing your diplomatic skills.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This continues to be play city for you, which is why you’re enjoying restaurants, movies, the theatre, sports and accepting invitations to socialize more than usual. You are a social sign but this month it’s over-the-top! Make an effort to look good because when you feel good about how you look, you’re more charming than ever. (Looking good boosts your confidence.) Be prepared for unexpected changes to social plans at the end of the week. Likewise, parents should be extra vigilant because Friday and Saturday are accident-prone times for your kids. Keep an eye on them. This is an excellent week to make your workspace more attractive. It’s also a good time to be friendly with work colleagues. “Hey guys, I brought bagels!”

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Home, family (and perhaps a parent) are your focus now. Nevertheless, socializing, sports events and opportunities for romantic delights are exciting. Plus, your sex drive is amped! These are positive influences, plus the fact that you can improve your job – and your health – in the coming year! Meanwhile, if you want to think back to 1994, you might see that you are in a similar time loop. Much of what was occurring in 1994 might be coming your way again. Be patient with family members at the end of the week. Yes, they can be frustrating; nevertheless, family is gold. When things are tough, family is where you turn for help and support. (For most of us.)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
You are a futuristic sign who likes to plan ahead. It might help you to know that you are now entering a window that is similar to what you experienced in 1994-1995. But this time, the change is that you are more playful and fun-loving. You want to enjoy yourself. In particular, you want to escape on vacations this year! This week is busy with short trips, errands and appointments. You will enjoy redecorating and entertaining at home. However: be careful because on Friday and Saturday, you are in an accident-prone window. At the least, your daily routine will change. At the worst, you might encounter a serious upset. Pay attention to everything you say and do.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Thoughts of financial security are on your mind. Many of you are organizing your possessions to be more efficient. What to keep. What to recycle. What to give away. In fact, you are entering a similar window to the time back around 1994-95 when many of you had job changes or residential moves. This influence has returned once again. However, one difference is that this year, home and real estate are beautifully favoured. Enjoy conversations with others because your words are sweet and charming. In fact, not only do you enjoy the company of everyone around you, you also have a great appreciation for the beauty of your daily surroundings. This is a blessing.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
You have so much to look forward to because life will get so much better for you this year. (Wait until spring before you feel this shift in a big way.) Meanwhile, this is a lovely time for you because the Sun is in your sign, which happens for four weeks only once a year. This is why you feel energized and confident! Money, gifts and goodies will come your way. Quiet research behind the scenes appeals to you. You have lots of energy to play, flirt and enjoy sports and fun activities with children. Nevertheless, do be aware that by the end of the week, you might feel rebellious about something. An event will shake up your routine!

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
In many ways, this continues to be a low-key time for you as your personal year comes to an end and you wait for your birthday to arrive. Nevertheless, with Venus in your sign, you’re schmoozing with everyone. You will also enjoy buying wardrobe goodies, boots and shoes. Since late summer, your home routine has been interrupted by chaotic activity, which has been challenging. It makes you feel that you are out of control in your private world. Fear not. In two months, you will start to take charge once again. In fact, you’re entering a two-year window very similar to what began in 1994-95. Thoughts?

Weekly Horoscope:2023 Annual Forecasts are now available. Order Now.

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Weekly Horoscopes Beginning Sunday, 29 January 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this week:

For ages you’ve been trying to get certain stubborn individuals to at least discuss altering arrangements as predictable as they are dull. Suddenly, they’re not only interested, they’re eager to take over planning, now and for the future. Encourage this enthusiasm, but ensure that you’re still involved. You’ll soon realise that the individuals in question don’t know nearly as much as they think they do.

Problems relating to partnership funds will be easier to resolve than you had expected. A new colleague will impress everyone by their enthusiastic approach to their work but they could promise more than they are able to deliver. You might find it hard to work out whether or not you are on the right track when recent decisions seem to have been the wrong ones. Give it time before changing direction. You may find you do not need to.

This week marks the run up to a Full Moon in another of the Fire signs. As you might expect, your energy levels should increase. Yet there is also the possibility of others viewing you as being marginally irrational, careless with money, and bent on a path that they feel is impractical or unrealistic. The challenge may be to show others that you have indeed thought through all practicalities, and that you have a team in place ready to give support. What may be crucial from Thursday, as Venus moves towards its right angle with Mars, is ensuring that you have a partner on board and sharing the burden. You presumably don’t want to tap in to your own resources unnecessarily.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Discussions about plans have been going well, but aren’t as exciting as you hoped for. Be patient. Suddenly, the pace will pick up. In fact, there’ll be pressure to make pivotal decisions, often while you’re still short of facts. The secret? Regard what you say, do and plan as more of an experiment than anything meant to last. Talk things over with others. They’ll be amazingly cooperative.

Although it goes against your natural desire to take your time over the jobs that you do, it will be possible to take some shortcuts and still keep everyone smiling. Finishing work before a deadline seems to be more important than getting it perfect at this time. The way you cleverly handle a tricky situation will impress your boss and others in high places. Your career standing is about to go up a few notches.

Three things to remember: firstly, that next Sunday’s Full Moon is in another of the Fixed signs and should mark a turning point. Not only that, but the Sun forms right angle to Uranus travelling through your sign: yet another signal of crossroads. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, Venus, your ruling planet, is headed towards right angle with Mars moving through one of the key financial zones of your solar chart. All told it seems that you are en-route to making a major decision regarding your approach to resources and assets. Recall that all the planets are now in forward motion, and that there is little to hold you back. What is arguably important is that you ‘dot the i’s and cross the t’s. Before Friday when your signature may be required on a key document, doublecheck facts.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this week:

With the Sun accenting ways, you can broaden your horizons and your ruler Mercury in the portion of your chart that’s about the wise use of your resources, from time and money to ideas, you’re in an exciting cycle of review and discovery. The challenge? Being patient while you gather all the necessary facts. This won’t be easy. However, the results will justify the effort required.

Your popularity will make for mixed influences in social events, creative pursuits and family affairs. Someone will want you all to themselves but you cannot oblige them when others are keen to have you join in with group activities being arranged. You only have to give a little in a social setting, to get a lot back in return. A great money-making opportunity should be exploited while the chance is there.

Next Sunday, and coinciding with the Full Moon, Venus arrives at Quarter phase with Mars (still travelling through your sign). Whilst this obviously affects all signs, in your case, it could be that this it brings a business partnership turning point. It may be necessary for others to go back over what you’ve said in the past. They may decide that you’ve been careless but not necessarily disingenuous. Anticipate feeling cornered and held to account. Yet it’s likely – and especially on the last day of January and first of February, – that you could spell out exactly what you meant earlier or retrieve an e-mail that backs up an earlier account. What’s important is that you don’t get too emotional and stay calm. Once again, remember that next Sunday is a Full Moon, and that there is a danger of overreacting.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this week:

As a Cancerian, and being ruled by the Moon, your instincts will be alerting you to the frank discussions and potential changes that will reach a peak around the Full Moon, on Sunday 5 February. That may seem a long time from now, but what you learn and the resulting insights will prepare you for the pivotal decisions you’ll be making then.

Where’s your self-control. You are strongly tempted to indulge in an extravagant purchase but can you really afford it? Do you really need this item? If you give in to temptation you could regret it later. A little restraint will be called for. Worrying about a relative who seems to be going through some difficulties will be a waste of time as you are about to discover they are more resourceful than you had given them credit for.

Don’t panic, but there’s a Full Moon next Sunday. That this coincides with Venus and Mars coming to their quarter phase and soon after the Sun and Uranus form right angle suggests this will be a volatile period for all. As you might expect, when Venus and Mars are involved, relationships matters surface. In this instance, and looking through the career lens, it may be that you decide to either part company or join forces. One way or another the dynamics are set to change. This could be to your financial advantage though it’s imperative – and especially as Mercury and Saturn form one of their tight aspects at the beginning of February, that contractual matters are dealt with without panic. This aspect coincides with the Moon moving through your sign. Whilst emotionally you could feel churned up and put under pressure, this should also find you at your best for negotiating.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Recently, you’ve encountered individuals and, equally, run into a series of situations that were both inspiring and disruptive. As a Leo and a fire sign, you rather enjoy the challenge of turning such disarray into something worthwhile. That’s exactly what you’ll be doing. However, be aware that with the foundation on which plans are based shifting, they’re best regarded as an experiment, more than anything lasting.

There’s an increasing restlessness that makes you disinclined to get down to tasks that are serious, tricky or time-consuming. You would rather be out and about, doing things you want to do and generally, pleasing yourself. If you’re confined to the one place most of the time, you won’t be too pleased about it. A wander-lust mood can be satisfied in the weekend by visiting friends who live some distance away.

Next weekend’s Full Moon is in your sign. True, this is an annual event, but what’s unusual this time, is that Uranus, the planet of the unexpected is at right angle to the lunation. This suggests fireworks. Of course, you’ve likely known that these were coming for some months. In fact, it could be argued that this is an unstoppable force. However, next weekend, Venus and Mars reach their right angle and this too signals development and eventfulness. It wouldn’t be so surprising if you felt cut off or uninvolved. Of course, it could be that this suits you. It may be that you need the spur to go on to do your own thing. Yet your entrepreneurial spirit should surface. As importantly, your eye for design should be enhanced by Venus’ arrival in Pisces. In short, though you have much to offer, it could be that you’re now on the road to breaking free of certain restrictions. Leaving a situation with grace may be a challenge.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this week:

As a Virgo, you prefer to make lasting plans. However, currently you’re facing a series of changes as sudden as, often, they are confusing. There’s no easy way to deal with these. The trick? Take an approach that’s out of character. Back off, and if you can’t completely ignore events, do the minimum. You’ll be far less stressed but also find, effortlessly, you’ve devised alternative plans.

Keep a smile on your face even when you are dealing with awkward, argumentative or annoying people. You can overcome obstacles; despite any opposition you may encounter. Your success with a difficult challenge will put you at the centre of attention. Praise and admiration that comes your way will help you forget any earlier tension. A cultural matter will crop up in the workplace. Refuse to be intimidated by someone with a powerful personality.

Venus has now arrived in your opposite sign, and with that comes the likelihood of being drawn to those who are exceptionally artistic. It may be that you require their input – and perhaps even their salesmanship. All this occurs in the run-up to an important Full Moon next weekend. The effects could be felt from the beginning of this week. Perhaps you will sense that others are becoming highly emotional and yes, a few people a little unstable. You may be requested to take sides. There is a political edge to all of this that could at times be uncomfortable. With Venus and Mars coming to the next phase in their cycle, you could feel pulled in different directions. Of course, this is not unusual for Virgo who quite often have feet in different camps. Anticipate though, that travel issues will require attention, and that you may have need to get involved with local issues. Involvement in these could lead you into the political arena.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this week:

For weeks you’ve known that, sooner or later, you’d have to acknowledge, and discuss, certain complex issues. While you’ve figured out the best strategy, you’ll need to explain it to others, often in detail. True, the timing isn’t ideal. Still, talk things over, with individuals or, where possible, groups and you’ll win others over to your ideas for now, and way of thinking about the future.

Keep a secret someone shares to you, to yourself. There will be others who would be interested in this information but you are being trusted to keep it under wraps. Avoid putting anything in writing or making comments on social media that might attract attention to yourself. If you keep a journal, be sure it is well hidden from prying eyes. In a situation later in the week you may need to find someone with practical skills to assist you.

Libra has a justified reputation for procrastination. That is a little unfair as there are times when you need rest to boost your creative batteries. You are generally not work-shy! You perhaps need extra rest now that Venus has entered Pisces. True, this transit happens annually but doesn’t always coincide with the Full Moon that accents creative areas of your solar chart. You need time-out to have your blue-skies thinking. There is also alteration in the Venus-Mars cycle. Mars is travelling through another of the Air signs and presumably, exciting your brain cells. It’s probable that you have information that others would like access to. Marketing requires flair. This may be the optimum time to reach out to Virgo and Pisces colleagues who could make useful contribution – and perhaps give you social media tuition including advertising and design.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this week:

You’ve long hoped you could rethink, if not radically alter, certain arrangements without talking things over with the individuals in question. This is mostly because recent conversations suggested they’d only want to make unwelcome changes, if not object to everything. Still, judging by the planetary setup, those discussions are inevitable. Plunge in. They’ll go brilliantly. Once you begin, you’ll wonder why you worried for even a moment.

It will be through choice that you are working on your own but this could also mean you are pushing yourself to your limit. Don’t be reluctant to delegate some responsibilities. Avoid taking on additional commitments for the time being. An older friend will give you some good advice. A partner will have been dipping into a joint account without your knowledge. Once this is brought to your attention, they will be regretful and apologetic.

Next weekend’s Full Moon is in another of the Fixed signs and is part of a planetary picture involving Uranus now moving through your opposite sign. It seems likely that you will be ambushed, or affected by decisions taken by others. Of course, that’s always true, but rarely are these decisions likely to be as left-field. You may wish to cut off negotiations entirely, or to get super, super involved. It’s probable that this issue has been brewing for at least a year. The climax – and the collateral damage caused by lack of adequate planning – could be considerable. It might be wise, in the first half of this week, to consider both options and long-term implications. Recall, Uranus will not stay in your opposite sign for ever. As it moves on in a couple of years’ time, you will have to live with the fallout. Maintaining lines of communication should take priority.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this week:

As an inquisitive Sagittarius and a fast-thinking fire sign, you’ll often be involved in potential changes or new ideas, and while others are still asking question. However, some of what you’re dealing with is so unfamiliar that you’re unsure what to think. The secret? Take things slowly and, ideally, get those whose advice you trust involved. That should enable you to avoid hasty decisions you’d later regret.

Someone will try to persuade you to commit to more than you prefer. It doesn’t matter how charming, persuasive or friendly they may be, if deep down you aren’t keen on what they are asking of you, refuse to get involved. It might be fun to join a group, social club or charity organisation that has links to your place of work. Financial matters are looking up and you will have a partner’s success to thank for this.

Next weekend’s Full Moon is in another of the Fire signs: suggesting an emotional hiatus affecting your world. That this coincides with Venus and Mars coming to the next phase of their cycle (and the latter being in your opposite sign), indicates relationship crisis. This doesn’t have to be in the affairs of the heart sector of your life, and is as likely to concern work partnerships. It might also involve a health issue. Recall that Uranus, the planet of the unexpected, has been travelling through a ‘health’ designated area for Sagittarius for the last couple of years. It may be that you’re reaching a crisis or turning point. This does not need to be negative. It may be that another approach is required. You might also discover that you’re short of vitamins that would boost your nervous system. The area of the body associated with Sagittarius is the liver and a build-up of toxins may have created difficulty. At work the issue may be that you’re ready to expand horizons, whilst others are determined to control investment – at least until more facts are known.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this week:

When recent decisions were made, some in such haste others were short of facts, you expected problems. You may even have spoken up. Now those problems have become reality, but they’re giving you a timely opportunity to review past arrangements, along with rethinking those that involve others. If anybody begins rushing things, gently but firmly make it clear that pivotal details can’t be ignored.

An unexpected financial demand will set the stage for some dark clouds over money matters. You hadn’t expected to have to find a large sum of cash so quickly. The good news is someone in the family will offer to help you out and those clouds will soon drift away. Reaching a career milestone gives you something to celebrate. Be sure to thank a senior colleague who helped you during a time of trial.

Tension at work should build. This is linked both to next weekend’s Full Moon, and to two other major planetary cycles. It might be as well to anticipate a degree of irrational behaviour. Yet it could also be – and especially in the second half of this working week, – that you come in contact with someone who could be classed as genius. Their ability to manage data may be exceptional. True, they might not be content with the way that things have been and challenge your systems. It would perhaps be wise to listen to their suggestions however. Grappling with a new administrative system may not be your idea of fun but essential if an aim for 2023 is to be met.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this week:

Being a clever air sign, you’ll have kept in mind the insights triggered by the Aquarius New Moon, on 21 January; but others haven’t. Knowing that, prepare them for the exciting if, often, puzzling discussions that are based on those recent events, but are taking things forward, and at a swift pace. Stay close by. That way, you can prevent them making unwise decisions.

Someone you work with is pushing you to go along with their ideas but have they considered any of yours? You have some great suggestions to make and if people are ignoring these, you may have to go ahead without their help or support. You can make it on your own if you feel forced to do so. A friend will not understand your spiritual beliefs. Don’t let this come between you. Provided you don’t try to convert each other, friendship will continue to grow.

Next weekend’s Full Moon is in your opposite sign and coincides with Venus moving to right angle with Mars (moving through another of the Air signs). These events come just after the Sun makes right angle to one of your ruling planets, Uranus. These three forces are considerable and indicate a crisis. This doesn’t have to be work related, – but probably is. It could be that you are headhunted. Obviously much depends on your personal chart, but there is every likelihood that your particular qualities have already led you to stand out from the crowd. Anticipate that others now see potential that had been hidden. Of course, there is the possibility is that you’ll choose to break free and do your own thing. It may be that a partnership that began at the beginning of last year is no longer viable. This week could bring major alteration to business partnerships.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Often, when others are debating potential changes, they’ll talk things over with you. However, your own ideas and the plans you’re discussing are so far-reaching you’re seeking somebody you can trust, but who’s also an expert. That individual is closer than you realise. It’s just you don’t think of them as having interest in such matters. Ask them. You’ll be amazed how enthusiastic, and helpful, they are.

A dream you have been nurturing for some time looks like it is coming closer to realisation. Someone you work with could in some way give you a helping hand. As you see hopes and wishes taking shape, you will feel more confident. Patience will bring its just rewards. A bonus or financial gift will be received. Don’t be tempted to splash out on something new. Instead, use this money to maintain your current standard of living.

The arrival of Venus in your sign should enhance your attractiveness at work and at play. However, in the lead into next Sunday’s Full Moon, both Venus and Mars are moving toward their right-angle aspect. An alteration of partnership direction is probable and come following some kind of hiatus. It’s not unusual for Pisces to find themselves at the centre of drama. You don’t have to create it, but it’s probable that others will look to you for advice, support and a shoulder to cry on. Another aspect suggests political involvement and yes, uncomfortably, you may be asked to take sides. This may be particularly true if working with a Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius who, at least for the moment, is determined on a course of action and oblivious to the impact this will have. Of course, it would be wonderful if you could simply put your head down and get on with things quietly. That though is most unlikely. It would presumably help to make your environment as congenial as possible. In this respect, look to a Cancer colleague who seems to know exactly what would make you comfortable.

https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
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Herbalism 101
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Earth Signs and Omens
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The Magic of Crystals
Introduction to Energy Healing
Introduction to Paganism
Introduction to Meditation
Introduction to The Goddess Tradition and The Feminine Divine
Kuan Yins Gentle Embrace Reiki Certification
A Year and a Day of Contemplation with Kuan Yin
Tarot, Numerology, Natal Charts and Dream Readings
Reiki Training and Certification

Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healingLearn with GrannyMoon!
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Teach a witch a spell and she can do that spell. Teach a witch the craft and she can do magick!

GrannyMoon, Teaching the Craft for over 20 years!

“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

http://GoddessSchool.com
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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons Weekly Feast: 15 Jan 23

The Waning Moon

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

  • Chinese proverb

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again
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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: WANING MOON

Time: From Full Moon To Dark Moon (approx.14 days)

Goddess Aspect: Crone

Associated Goddesses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Kali, Morrigan

Magickal Attributes: Banishing, Releasing the old, removing unwanted negative energies, wisdom, psychic ability, scrying, reversing circumstances.

Workings on this day are for banishing magick, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity, physical and psychic cleansings.

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What’s Happening?!?
January

The Goddess Calendar – Month of Hestia runs from 12/26 – 1/22

Celtic Tree Calendar ~ Birch – December 24th to January 20th

Jan 13: In pre-Christian Ireland, the Feast of Brewing was celebrated about this time

JAN 16: Festival of Ganesh: God of Success

JAN 17: In the English West Country, this is the traditional Wassail Night—time to wassail your apple tree!

JAN. 17-18 Tu B’Shevat – Jewish Festival of Trees, celebrated with tree plantings and orchard blessings. Originally honored Old Canaanite-Hebrew Goddess Asherah.

JAN. 18: DAY OF DANU Celtic Mother Goddess

JAN 20: Today is the feast day of St. Sebastian, patron saint of gardeners.

JAN 21: The Celtic Month of the Rowan begins today. (Read about it in China Bayles’ always-thymely Book of Days)

JAN. 21 – FEBRUARY 17 – CELTIC MONTH ROWAN MOON
Associated with Brigid and Imbolc. Power, success, and travel.

JAN 23 : National Handwriting Day.

JAN. 24: Norse Heathen celebration honoring Thor. A mid-winter feast.

JAN 25: Today is National Irish Coffee Day. (And yes, coffee is indisputably an herb!)

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Jan 15
WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Feb 5
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Feb 12

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!
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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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Last Quarter Moon of January

Tonight, the moon will appear to be split perfectly in half (one light, one dark) making this a great time for justice and harmony spells.

This is further enhanced by the moon’s current location in the diplomatic realm of Libra– the Scales of the Zodiac.

While the First Quarter Moon on the opposite side of the moon phase cycle encourages balance through increase, tonight’s Last Quarter Moon is all about finding balance through decrease.

Recommended spellwork for tonight includes reducing tension, banishing negative energy, and easing any burdens you may be carrying.

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Hat Day
JANUARY 15, 2023 BY EMYME

If you are one of those people who puts off taking down all the holiday decorations, perhaps this is the day to do just that and make what may be seen as a chore into fun.

As you remove decorations, set aside the care-worn tree trimmings and baubles. Do not discard them. Next seek out a hat that has seen better days. With magickal intent, combine the two. Using your imagination, a needle and thread, and some glue, create a headpiece fit for a goddess or god, or the Lady and Lord. Save the hat in a hat box or other sturdy container. You now have a wonderful conversation piece. Wear it to a holiday event or use it as a wall or table decoration next year. Don’t forget to cleanse the hat with burnable purifying herbs before storing it.
As you do so, chant:

These items have served me
well over the years.
New life they find as creative memories.
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The Sweet Smell of Sustainability
JANUARY 14, 2023 BY ESTHA MCNEVIN

Balancing our books is an eternal journey of karma and self-sustainability. We can be profoundly impacted by the energy of the quarter moon today as Libra and Capricorn begin to calculate our course in life. The following anointing oil is formulated to draw wealth and fulfill our need for balance. Our finances and our karma can have a lot in common. Use this oil on your bookkeeping journal or wallet and wear or carry it to business meetings that favor a healthy bottom line.

Place the following ingredients in a 2-ounce amber glass vial with a roller:

  • 8 drops vanilla extract
  • 8 drops pure essential wheatgrass oil
  • 8 drops pure essential bergamot oil
  • 8 drops pure essential orange flower oil
  • 8 drops pure essential sage oil
  • 8 drops pure essential sandalwood oil
  • 8 drops pure essential lavender oil
  • 8 drops pure essential mulberry oil
  • 8 drops of sweat from your own brow
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    Find Your Voice Spell
    JANUARY 13, 2023 BY CERRIDWEN IRIS SHEA

January 13, 1910, was the first public radio broadcast in New York City, and it featured Enrico Caruso and other Metropolitan Opera stars. I love radio, so in homage to this day, I created this “Find Your Voice” spell.

You will need a pen and paper. Take three deep breaths, and think about where you feel you aren’t being listened to/heard in your life. Write a list. Example:

When my friends and I talk
about where to go out, my
suggestions aren’t used.

When you finish the list, take three more breaths. Now rewrite each item, turning them into positive statements. Example:

My suggestions delight my friends,
and we have a wonderful time.

Go outside with the rewritten list. Face south, for action and identity. Speak the list.

The next time you are in one of the negative situations, remember your positive rewrite, and speak up to make it happen.
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Magical Year Resolution Spell
JANUARY 12, 2023 BY TUDORBETH

With the holiday celebrations w ell and truly over for another year, now is the time to make your New Year’s resolutions into solid plans.

At the post-holiday sales, buy yourself a journal. Using numerology, add the digits of the new year together:

2023 = 2 + 0 + 2 + 3 = 7

Thus, the magical year number for 2023 is seven. Using this powerful number, make seven resolutions for the year. Think about your ultimate dreams and what your heart truly desires, and write them down in your journal. Then look at them and say three times:

2023 is my year.
Magical manifestations of seven,
Empower my resolutions to
make my year heaven.

Work toward your plans throughout the year and check on them halfway at Midsummer. Tick the ones that you have accomplished and repeat the spell for the remaining resolutions. Use the power of seven throughout the year to manifest the life you want.

Each year, add the digits of the year the same way, and use that magical number to power your resolutions.
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Eleven for Justice
JANUARY 11, 2023 BY BLAKE OCTAVIAN BLAIR

Eleven is a most magical number! In just about any spiritual or occult system, the number eleven is celebrated as having wonderful energetic associations. Today is the eleventh day of the Gregorian new year, so let’s harness some of that energy to make magic fitting for our times.

Currently we are seeing valiant fights for justice by people from marginalized populations. The scales have been tipped against many people for far too long, and balance is being sought. The eleventh card of the major arcana in the tarot is the Justice card. Tarot’s Justice is cosmic justice, justice with a capital J. It’s not an individual’s opinion of what is right, but the Truth of Justice.

For this spell, gather eleven tea light candles in safe holders, and place them in a reasonably large circle on a table or other safe space where they can be supervised. Place an image of Justice from your favorite tarot deck in the center of this circle. And as you slowly light the candles, recite:

Justice! Justice! We call
upon your power,
On this eleventh day, full of power.

We ask that you arrive
at a timely hour.
May the Truth of Justice win
out at the appointed hour!

Extinguish the candles.
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Seeking New Knowledge
JANUARY 10, 2023 BY MICHAEL FURIE

If you have ever searched for just the right book or new area of study but weren’t quite sure exactly what you wanted, then this spell may help. You will need a small blank notebook, a white candle, and a candleholder.

Hold the notebook in your hands and visualize that it is filled with exactly the new information you wish to learn. Set the book down and pick up the candle. Envision a bright orange light (a color of Mercury and learning) streaming down your arms and into the wax. Place the candle on the notebook, light the candle, and say:

Words of power, a brand-new course,
Seeking knowledge from a new source.
Candle’s flame, now light my way,
to ideal form and topic for me.
As I do will, so mote it be.

Allow the candle to burn for as long as it is safe, then extinguish it.
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Embodied Consent Spell Protection
JANUARY 09, 2023 BY DALLAS JENNIFER COBB

This spell requires your body and voice, and repetition. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart, arms at your sides.

Step forward with your dominant foot (if you are right-handed, then you are right-footed) while pushing away with your palms facing out in front. Say, “No.” Step back to your neutral starting position.

Step forward, raising your arms forward, with palms facing down toward the ground, and say, “Maybe.” Step back to neutral.

Stand firmly with your feet hipdistance apart. Roll your shoulders back, with arms loosely at your sides, palms up, and say, “Yes.”

Envision a situation that requires your consent. Practice using your voice and body to respond. Practice “stepping into it” and saying what is needed: no, maybe, or yes. Feel the power of embodied consent.

When you repeat this practice 300 times, you develop muscle memory. And when you repeat it 3,000 times, you create new neurological pathways that will make future access to these skills almost automatic. Then, without having to think about it, you can practice embodied consent even when confronted with a sudden stressful event. And that embodied consent is the magic we most need to use in a crisis.

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The Poe Museum

The Birth of Edgar Allan Poe.

It is once again the month of that most dreadful occasion… the birth of Edgar Allan Poe. It is also the first month of the second century of the Poe Museum. There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate these momentous milestones with us this month.

Looking for a way to honor Poe’s birth and to help us steward his legacy for the next 100 years? Considering making a donation to the Poe Museum and support our mission: illuminating Poe for everyone, evermore.

Dress in your Gothic finest and get ready to have a marvelously macabre time! As part of our centennial celebrations, our friends at Shockoe Sessions Live will host The Poe Redux, music and spoken word concert inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Performers include Chance Fischer, Ant the Symbol, and Saint Samuel. Get your tickets here! Can’t make it in-person? The Poe Redux will be live streamed on shockoesessionslive.com.
Birthday Bash 2023

January 21st – 23rd
Happy 214th Birthday, Edgar Allan Poe! Join the Poe Museum for three days of festivities as we mark the end of our 100-year anniversary. This extraordinary event will feature live music, readings, food trucks, beer, wine, entertainment, programs and much more. This is a party to die for!
See the Schedule of Events Here

January 23rd, 7pm at the Dominion Energy Center
Join us in celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Poe Museum! Writers R.L. Stine (Goosebumps) and Nnedi Okorafor (Who Fears Death, Black Panther) take the stage to honor the legacy of Edgar Allan Poe, dubbed the “master of the macabre.” Listen to insights from two of the most talented writers of our time, and discover how Poe’s strange and groundbreaking works still influence our world today…
Purchase tickets here

Not sure what to wear for our party to die for? Pre-order our 2023 Birthday Bash tees to look drop-dead gorgeous.

“I have no desire to live since I have done ‘Eureka.’ I could accomplish nothing more.”

Edgar Allan Poe said this about the last book he published before his death. “Eureka” was a controversial and somewhat confusing book that Poe considered to be his masterpiece. Join Chris in the Curator’s Crypt to understand the book and its impact.

You could have seen this video a week early! Join our Patreon for exclusive first viewings of Curator’s Crypts and behind-the-scenes access to our collection: patreon.com/poemuseum

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What Does 111 Mean? Why You Keep Seeing It And How It Signals New Beginnings.
Story by Olivia Munson, USA TODAY •

According to numerology, the number one represents the start of things. Whether it be a new journey or path, maybe you’ve seen a high frequency of repeating ones lately.

Angel numbers are repeating number sequences often used as guides for deeper spiritual exploration with each numeral having its own significance.

In a conversation with numerologist Novalee Wilder, USA TODAY dives deeper into the number one, its angel number meaning and how it can inform your relationships and career.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

What are angel numbers? Beginner’s guide to angel numbers and what they (could) mean.

What does 111 mean?
From 11:11 on the clock to a total of $1.11 on your receipt, this angel number can signal a new journey of self is on the horizon, said Wilder. The angel number is also associated with confidence, motivation and independence.

“One is new beginnings, the start of things, creation,” Wilder said.

The repeating sequence of one is also centered around ego and the individual. The angel number 111 means to be present and ready to engage with whatever is coming your way, said Wilder.

While you may not have the right tools ready for this new path, one energy is self-assured. Seeing the angel number 111 signifies confidence within yourself and motivates your own strength and decision-making when opportunities are sent your way.

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Using Yourself as a Pendulum

Using your body as a pendulum, is another tool you can use to access your higher wisdom.

Learning to trust our intuition is something that can connect us with our higher selves. Sometimes it might not seem easy to do this. Our thoughts and minds often get in the way. But by accessing our innermost self, we will find that the information we receive is usually what we truly need at that moment. One of the techniques that allows us to really get in touch with our deepest font of wisdom is using our body as a pendulum. The simple act of letting our physical being lead us in a certain direction can offer us extremely deep insights and help us find the answers we seek.

Many of us may have tried using a pendulum or crystal on a chain as a dousing tool to acquire the information we need to make decisions or even find lost objects. Using our bodies puts us much more closely in tune with our being. The process of using your body as a pendulum is to ask your higher self a question and wait for your body to respond in either a forward-tilting or backward-tilting motion. The first step is to really understand how our higher self communicates with us by centering our bodies, asking ourselves the directions for “yes” and “no,” and noting which way our body moves. For a lot of people a forward motion is “yes,” and your body tilting backward is a “no” answer. It is easier to start with simple questions at first to understand how our higher self communicates with us. As we become more used to the messages we receive and how we process them, we can start asking for more specific things such as what dosage of herbs to take or which foods would best nourish our bodies. Using this technique in the grocery store or when shopping for vitamins and remedies can be extremely helpful.

Since we are always present in our bodies, understanding how we can use our bodies as pendulums is a tool we can use at any given moment in our lives. Letting our bodies tell us what is happening inside of us will in turn help to guide us through not just daily but also major life decisions. The more we allow our bodies to open up and share with us the connection it has with our deeper self, the better able we will be to truly access the knowledge we hold so deeply within.

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The Druids Garden
Daydreaming and Mind Wandering as a Creative Practice

~Dana

What do Salvador Dali’s Persistence of Memory (the painting with the melting clocks), Elias Howe’s invention of the lockstitch sewing machine in 1845, and the Beatles’ song Yesterday, have in common? They all were ideas that first emerged in dreams. Dreams, where we spend up to 1/3 of our lives, are fertile soil for us to explore and expand our creative practices.

Dreaming is recognized by researchers[1] to be a place where we can have a much more creative space of mind because we are not bound by external input nor our own self-imposed limitations—the mind is literally able to go anywhere, do anything, and be anything. Daydreaming in many ways mimics more deep sleep dreaming, where the mind is again free to wander, to create, to explore. Because of this, both daydreaming and dreaming are powerful creative tools, and one you can harness to build your creative practices, generate ideas, and create a more fanciful view of the world.

Just so you know, going to continue to write about how to foster bardic arts and creativity in your life due to the new challenges present with Artificial Intelligence successfully replacing human creations. I feel like it is a really important time to speak to the value and importance of human creativity, how to foster creativity, and how to make creative practices accessible to all people. Some of you may remember that I was OBOD’s 19th Mount Hameus scholar, where my research explored the role of the bardic arts in the druid tradition, and I’m continuing to explore these themes with new research and work in these areas. Previous posts in this series include taking up the path of the bard parts I, and II, practice makes perfect, the fine art of making things, bardic arts as spiritual development, rituals to enhance creativity, cultivating the flow of awen in our lives, the bardic arts and the ancestors, visioning the future with the bardic arts, and creativity to support mental health. So let’s continue our journey in exploring the bardic arts as a core part of spiritual practice and being human with–daydreaming!

This post specifically explores the practice of daydreaming to cultivate creative thoughts and ideas, and in two weeks, my post will explore dreaming, including dream recall and lucid dreaming. There’s actually a great deal of published research on these topics, which is pretty cool! So let’s dive in!

Daydreaming and the Spark of Creativity / Awen
Daydreaming is most often described as mind-wandering or focused thought that is not directly related to the present. In other words, your thoughts stray from the task at hand or the present, and you have thoughts and experiences that take you somewhere else–you envision conversations, you have fantastical experiences, or think about completely other things–all while being awake. Daydreaming is something that humans all do, but of course, our productivity-focused, insane industrial culture discourages such activity and frames it in a negative light.

Daydreaming can take you into fantastical worlds in your imagination and can be rich and fertile soil for creative ideas to emerge. We can think up fantastical tales, consider the steps through which to engage in a new project or even journey deeper into our own imaginal realms. What isn’t in the literature, of course, is that there can be little difference between what the experts would call daydreaming and what a druid might recognize as journeying on the inner planes. More on that later.

Despite these cultural inhibitions, daydreaming has a considerable scientific body of evidence to show that it fosters and stimulates creativity. For example, if you are stuck on a particular problem, one of the best things to do is take a break from the problem, do some mundane activity (walking, sitting, being in nature), and allow the mind to wander and daydream for a time, to let your subconscious work out the problem. By stepping away from “productive” work, you are more likely to generate the kinds of creative ideas necessary to solve the problem at hand[2]. This principle doesn’t just apply to people who are engaged in creative acts (like creative writers) but also to those who are trying to solve pressing professional problems (like physicists). Thus, by not paying attention for a while, you allow your subconscious to come up with ideas. This works not only over a short period of time but a longer one–you can set aside a problem you are not making headway on and allow it to rest for a while and ideas will often come to you.

Research also shows that some people have a tendency to daydream more than others—those who do have more creativity[3] and may have more spontaneous ideas and insights (Druid translation = Spark of Awen!) [4]. I wonder about this research–is it a “tendency” as researchers claim, or maybe it’s just allowing yourself the time to get lost in other places and cultivate a rich inner life. More on that is below.

Fantastical Daydreaming
Different kinds of daydreaming exist, and some types of daydreams generate more creative ideas than others. Researchers have found that many daydreams may be about mundane life, e.g. you are thinking about “what ifs” in mundane life or working to solve upcoming problems in daily life, or they are sexual in nature. So basically, these kinds of daydreams extend mundane life. These mundane daydreams are not associated with higher levels of creativity activity or ideas. Those are just you working through various issues or having some fantasy time in your mind.

Entering the Dreaming (Hawthorn card from the Plant Spirit Oracle Deck)

Two kinds of daydreams are particularly linked with creativity – those that are “fantastical” and those that are “personally meaningful.”[5] Fantastical daydreams are as the word suggests—they are otherworldly, supernatural, weird or somehow outside of mundane reality. In druid terms, it sounds like fantastical daydreams are all about cultivating a rich inner life: they are the places we may journey to in our inner worlds, the spirits we encounter, and the beautiful landscape of our inner spiritual life.

The other kind of daydream that is linked with higher creativity is a meaningful daydream. Meaningful daydreams are those of increased personal significance or value to an individual. Individuals who engage in these two kinds of daydreams are those that have higher creativity and generate more novel ideas.

This research makes a lot of sense—while creativity itself is often defined in multiple ways, one of the core ways it is always defined in this research is the ability to come up with novel and useful ideas or uncommon approaches to solve problems. That is, it is all about linking things not commonly linked together or seeing novel ways of doing something. Other definitions include unique and meaningful personal expressions and art–but all of these different facets of creativity are supported by this body of work.

The Boundaries Between Daydreaming and Spirit Worlds
Since I’m a well-published learning researcher and a druid, I understand the kinds of limitations of these studies–what can and can’t be said. Modern researchers can’t or won’t acknowledge that spirit worlds exist, there’s no way to know how many of these fantastical, meaningful daydreams are actually interactions with spirits, inner planes, and spirit worlds. One would assume that at least some of these are, even if the participants and researchers don’t use those terms.

So I’ll step into my own experience to fill in this space. I do think there’s what I would call intentional spirit journeying, for example, going to an inner grove or safe space, interacting with spirits and guides, or going on other kinds of spiritual journeying. These are intentional deep meditative spaces where you are engaging in these as a spiritual practice. For most people, we work to have these experiences–setting up safe and sacred spaces, setting aside time, and making spiritual intentions. Is that the same as daydreaming? Not really, but I would be it gives us the same result.

But there’s also daydreaming that is much less intentional and maybe happens in different times and places. Your mind wanders for 10 minutes while looking at the sky. You make up a fantasy world in your head that you like to return to. This can be more whimsical and fantastical–perhaps a story you are writing in your head, diving into a photograph to see where it leads, or other less formal things. Are these part of your inner world? Sure.

The difference here seems to be in intention. When I go intentionally into the inner planes, I have committed to that journey and maybe I have specific goals or things I want to accomplish. When I lay by the stream and daydream for 10 min, I don’t have such a strong intentional goal. The daydream goes where it wants to go, just like a little puff of milkweed fluff carrying a seed into the wind. Both of these are useful and in my experience, both can offer creative inspiration. (For example, my 48 card Plant Spirit Oracle was painted as part of a set of intentional inner journeys while I worked through the Celtic Golden Dawn pathworkings).

Fostering Daydreaming in Your life: Activities and Approaches
Daydreaming to fantastical realms Daydreaming to fantastical realms

Knowing that there are different kinds of daydreams and that more fantastical and meaningful daydreams foster creativity, we can support our creative practice by intentionally creating space for daydreaming. People often daydream without realizing it, but we can be intentional in making this a habituated practice.

So the first thing to do is allow yourself permission to daydream. See it as an investment in your creative path, in cultivating the flow of Awen in your life, and in developing your bardic skills. Recognize that if you commit to doing anything and do it regularly, it will come more easily and naturally to you. So just give yourself permission to enjoy the practice of daydreaming without the slog of modern-day expectations.

Then: create space to daydream. This is less formal than meditation or spirit journeying, it’s really just a free space for the mind to rest and wander, for the subconscious to rise to the surface, and to see what happens. At least once a day, find a spot where you are comfortable, and simply lay down and allow the mind to wander. Lay in bed, sit on the grass, drink some tea, or sit by the steam and daydream. For a time, allow the mind to meander. Don’t have a purpose Think about fantastical things, other worlds, perhaps even places you’ve visited before. Create narratives of people and ideas in your head. See what happens.

Even a short amount of daydreaming each day can help more generally foster your creativity and allow the awen to flow!

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Appreciating Suggestions

People will always have an idea about how you should live your life, but your idea is the only one that matters.

As children, our parents had dreams for us. They wanted us to do well in school, and to do whatever was necessary to reach our highest potential. Later in life, friends may try to set us up with their idea of the perfect partner or the perfect job. Spouses may have agendas for us, too. People close to us may have ideas about how we should live our lives, ideas that usually come from love and the desire for us to be happy. Other times, they come from a place of need within them—whether it is the parent who wants us to live out his or her dreams or the friend or spouse who wants us to play an already-defined role. Whatever the case, we can appreciate and consider those people’s input, but ultimately we must follow our own inner guidance.

There may come a time when all the suggestions can become overbearing. We may feel that the people we love don’t approve of our judgment, which can hurt our feelings. It can interfere with the choices we make for our lives by making us doubt ourselves, or filling a void with their wishes before we’ve had a chance to decide what we want. It can affect us energetically as well. We may have to deal with feelings of resistance or the need to shut ourselves off from them. But we can take some time to rid ourselves of any unnecessary doubts and go within to become clear on what we desire for ourselves.

We can tell our loved ones how much we appreciate their thoughts and ideas, but that we need to live our own lives and make our own decisions. We can explain that they need to let us learn from our own experiences rather than rob us of wonderful life lessons and the opportunity to fine-tune our own judgment. When they see that we are happy with our lives and the path we are taking to reach our goals, they can rest assured that all we need them to do is to share in our joy.

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Beauty

All we have to do is look for beauty, and she is there all around us at any given moment.

Beauty speaks to us in soft whispers or bold declarations. She calls on us to gaze in awe at her splendor. We are enticed by beauty. We adore her, idolize her, and even court her. Beauty seduces all of our senses. Beauty’s seduction can be as obvious as the striking good looks of a man or woman or as subtle as the charms of a shaggy dog with loving brown eyes. We find beauty in the wonders of nature. Beauty offers us a symphony of colors with every sunrise and sunset and reveals to us her brash power through a storm at sea. Beauty teases us through the shy smile of a child and delights us via the brilliant flashes of fireworks. Beauty sometimes piques all of our senses at once, appealing to our taste buds, as well as our eyes and nose, when she appears in the form of a deliciously baked cake. Beauty calms us with floral scents and excites our aural lust through the passionate sounds made by an orchestra.

Beauty can be cruel, and our pursuit of her can be in vain. We may go to the opera in anticipation of finding beauty there, and she may bore and disappoint us. Instead, beauty lavishes her attention on another suitor who may be more appreciative of her charms. Or, we may try to capture beauty’s essence in a photograph, painting, or sculpture, and still she is nowhere to be found. Beauty will forever inspire works of art, and she will always pose for her portrait, selecting the artist who is most worthy of her catching her likeness.

Depending on our personal tastes, beauty can be found in every color, flavor, scent, and texture. She lives among the poor, as well as the rich, and appears in the faces of the young and the old. She is at home in the city, as well as the country, decorating skylines as well as landscapes. She is the ultimate shape shifter. Beauty is a weather beaten barn beloved by one person and an awesome testament of naval craftsmanship revered by another. Beauty knows no bounds, and we can find her everywhere. All we have to do is look for beauty, and she is there.

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French Lentil Soup Cremini Mushrooms, Sweet Potatoes & Thyme
~Dr. Weil
Serves 8-10 + vegan, gluten free

Nutrients Per Serving:
Calories 181
Fat 0.6 grams
Saturated Fat 0.1 grams
(2.7% of calories from fat)
Protein 10.0 grams
Carbohydrate 33.4 grams
Cholesterol 0 mgs
Fiber 11.1 grams

Recipe courtesy of Hollyhock, from the cookbook Hollyhock Garden to Table.

This Mediterranean-inspried soup has meaty French lentils, sweet potatoes and mushrooms of your choice.

On cool, damp nights, there’s nothing that warms the gullet more than a robust Mediterranean-inspired, wholesome stew. This soup is thick with meaty French lentils, sweet potatoes and mushrooms of your choice.

Ingredients
2 cups coarsely chopped onion
1 tbsp coarsely chopped garlic
2 cups thinly sliced cremini mushrooms
8 cups water or vegetable stock
1 1/2 cups French lentils, rinsed
2 cups cubed sweet potatoes
1 cup coarsely chopped celery
2 tbsp minced fresh rosemary
2 tsp minced fresh thyme
3 bay leaves
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp pepper
2 cups fresh tomatoes, cubed
1/4 cup red wine

Instructions
In a large soup pot, dry sauté (no oil) the onion and garlic on medium heat for about 2 minutes.
Add the sliced mushrooms and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes. Don’t worry about the browning that starts on the bottom of the pan; this will enhance the rich flavor of the soup.
Add the water or stock, lentils, sweet potatoes, celery and remaining herbs and spices. Bring to a gentle boil, and cover and reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes.
Add the fresh tomatoes and red wine and simmer for another couple minutes before serving.
Cook’s Tip: Other than our confusion, sweet potatoes and yams have no relation whatsoever. Varieties of sweet potato range from the pale, light-fleshed dry tuber to the much-loved sweet, orange moist one. On the other hand, almost all of the world’s yams are cultivated in West Africa and can grow up to 150 pounds each. You’d be hard pressed to find one at your corner market.

– Moreka Jolar

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How You Affect Others Daily

You never know whose life you are affecting, big or small.

As the pace and fullness of modern life serve to isolate us from one another, the contact we do share becomes vastly more significant. We unconsciously absorb each other’s energy, adopting the temperament of those with whom we share close quarters, and find ourselves changed after the briefest encounters. Everything we do or say has the potential to affect not only the individuals we live, work, and play with but also those we’ve just met. Though we may never know the impact we have had or the scope of our influence, accepting and understanding that our attitudes and choices will affect others can help us remember to conduct ourselves with grace at all times. When we seek always to be friendly, helpful, and responsive, we effortlessly create an atmosphere around ourselves that is both uplifting and inspiring.

Most people rarely give thought to the effect they have had or will have on others. When we take a few moments to contemplate how our individual modes of being affect the people we spend time with each day, we come one step closer to seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. By asking ourselves whether those we encounter walk away feeling appreciated, respected, and liked, we can heighten our awareness of the effect we ultimately have. Something as simple as a smile given freely can temporarily brighten a person’s entire world. Our value-driven conduct may inspire others to consider whether their own lives are reflective of their values. A word of advice can help others see life in an entirely new fashion. And small gestures of kindness can even prove to those embittered by the world that goodness still exists. By simply being ourselves, we influence other’s lives in both subtle and life-altering ways.

To ensure that the effect we have is positive, we must strive to stay true to ourselves while realizing that it is the demeanor we project and not the quality of our wondrous inner landscapes that people see. Thus, as we interact with others, how we behave can be as important as who we are. If we project our passion for life, our warmth, and our tolerance in our facial features, voice, and choice of words, every person who enters our circle of influence will leave our presence feeling at peace with themselves and with us. You never know whose life you are affecting, big or small. Try to remember this as you go out into the world each day.

=^..^=

Why Do Cats Move Their Ears Around?
By Susan Logan McCracken

One talent felines possess is the ability to move their ears independently. But why do they do this?

One talent felines possess is the ability to move their ears independently. Although recent research shows that humans move their ears slightly when a sound piques their interest, only about one in five people can move their ears intentionally. For most people the movement is involuntary. That ability may make the person a YouTube star or the life of the party, but it doesn’t come close to the way cats swivel their ears. But why do they do this?

Pinpoint sounds
One of the reasons cats move their ears is to pinpoint and identify what they are hearing. By moving their ears toward the sound’s direction, cats improve their hearing by 15 to 20%.

More than 30 muscles are involved in moving a cat’s ears, which can swivel 180 degrees. With a frequency range of 45 hertz to 64,000 hertz, cats not only have the broadest frequency range when compared to dogs, rabbits and humans, but they can hear higher and lower frequencies than all of them.

In comparison, dogs use 18 muscles to move their ears and can hear from 67 hertz to 45,000 hertz. Rabbits can swivel their ears 270 degrees, rotate them independently of each other and simultaneously listen to sounds coming from two different sources. Rabbits’ ear talent supersedes that of dogs and cats in some respects, although their range of hearing is narrower, falling between 360 and 42,000 hertz. Humans have similar hearing ability to dogs at lower frequencies, but at higher frequencies, dogs, cats and rabbits prevail. The human range of hearing frequencies is 64 to 23,000 hertz.

Communicate feelings
Cats’ ears are also an important part of their body language to express emotion.

? When a cat’s ears are pointing forward, he’s typically content. Contentment is also signaled by an erect tail that’s slightly curved at the top, along with head bumps and purring. Cats welcome affection and attention when they are in this mood.

? When their ears are pointing straight up and accompanied by wide-open eyes and an alert stance, something they hear has their attention. If they rotate their ears quickly, something may have triggered their hunting instincts. This is a good time to get out their favorite interactive toy.

? Ears pointing sideways show fear that could lead to aggression. Give your cat space when his ears are in this position. Flattened ears pointing backward indicate a cat who is about to attack, bite or scratch. These are two ear positions, which can be accompanied by aggressive or defensive body language, indicating that your cat needs to be left alone. Signals of aggression include arched back, low and stiff tail, direct stare, hissing and growling. Signals of fear include crouching, tail curved around the body, hair standing on end, hissing and spitting.

? Similar to this position, when a cat’s ears are low and facing outward, she might not be feeling well. Cats are good at faking that everything is OK, but sometimes their ears betray them, so pay attention to the position of the ears and other body language. Cats also often hide when they’re not feeling well.

Because these ear positions may be similar, keep an eye on your cat’s body language, vocalizations and other behaviors.

Cat ears, along with their vocalizations and other body language, are prolific communicators. Their sense of hearing, in addition to other heightened senses and numerous talents, make them an impressive species that honor us with their companionship.

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, Weekly Horoscope: Sunday, January 15, 2023

All Signs
This week the Sun moves into Aquarius for four weeks, triggering a heightened sense of rebellion and independence in the world. People will fight for their beliefs. There will be news in the media about aviation or space travel because Aquarius rules the skies (rocket technology, aviation, astronomy and astrology). Aquarius is also associated with the gathering of likeminded individuals to fight for a cause. It’s the energy behind Greenpeace, Amnesty International and trade unions. The New Moon on Saturday (and Sunday) is an excellent time to set intentions and make resolutions. This year I resolve not to make resolutions. I’m going to live with myself.

Aries (March 21-April 19)
You’re heading into a four-week window of increased popularity! You will see friends more; and you’ll be more involved with groups, clubs and organizations. You will enjoy the company of creative, artistic acquaintances. (A friend could become a lover.) Please note: This is actually the best time of the year for you to define future goals. Goals give you a clearer focus on what is important. More clarity in decision-making. Better control over your future. And of course, they give you a sense of purpose. With Jupiter in your sign now (a once in 12 years event) –you have permission to think big!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
For the next four weeks, the Sun is at the top of your chart. This occurs only once a year and when it does, it symbolizes that you are thrust in the light of the Sun – like a spotlight on you. And this light is flattering! Therefore, even if you don’t do anything different or special, others will admire you and see you as competent, capable and successful. (Good lighting is everything!) Since this is a blessing, make use of it! The next four weeks are the perfect time for you to make your pitch and do whatever you can to advance your agenda. Some of you look so good to others, you will begin a romance with a boss.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
The next four weeks are exciting because you want to explore and discover new things! You want to travel. If you can’t travel, you will travel through books and film. You might take a course? You might study a new language? You will enjoy meeting people from other cultures and countries. (Some of you will fall in love with someone “different.”) This will be an exciting time for you because let’s face it, you hate to be bored. You need new and exciting stimulation! (Is that a bright shiny object, under the table?) Meanwhile, fiery Mars continues to be in your sign boosting your energy and giving you drive and enthusiasm for life. Make the most of this blessing that lasts until the end of March. Lucky you!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
This year, Jupiter is at the top of your chart, which happens only once every 12 years. Expect a promotion, public recognition, and the increased esteem of your colleagues. Meanwhile, in the next four weeks, you will focus more than usual on shared property, inheritances, reducing debt and dealing with insurance issues. All that boring stuff that doesn’t go away on its own. Fortunately, you will also attract money and gifts to you. With Mercury opposite your sign, enjoy important discussions with partners, spouses and close friends. Seek intellectual stimulation – anything from cheerful banter to spirited, philosophical debates.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
In the next four weeks the Sun is opposite your sign. (Happens only once a year.) This means you will need more sleep. Take naps. Respect your need for more rest. (It’s just what’s happening.) You will also have a stronger than usual focus on close friends, business partners and spouses. Because you will have more objectivity to see these relationships, you will have a better chance to grasp your role in the relationship, which means you can see how to improve how you relate to those who are closest to you. Major bonus! Normally, it’s tough to see ourselves objectively. (“I know what I’m doing – you, not so much.”)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Count on being more productive in the next four weeks because you will really want to work. You will work hard and you will work smart. This is why you will try to be efficient and effective in everything you do. You will make lists and you will tackle them with determination. And you will be pleased with how much you get done! This same high standard will extend to your health, which is why you can expect to get on a health kick about eating better and getting more exercise. (“I’m almost perfect!”) Fortunately, relations with work colleagues are pleasant and mutually supportive. In fact, a work-related romance will begin for some of you.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Oh joy! Expect happiness and good times in the next four weeks because the Sun is travelling through your fifth house of play and amusement. This will give you a strong urge to get out and have a good time. Start to make plans for dinner, the theatre, movies, sports events and laughter with friends at Happy Hour. Expect more involvement with children as well. All your relationships will be more playful and lighthearted. Your energy level will be higher than usual. You will accomplish a lot with minimum difficulty. This is a great time to take a vacation and fun times. Romance will abound! Nevertheless, you will tackle home repairs and family discussions.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
This is the only time all year that the Sun is at the bottom of your chart for four weeks drawing your attention to home, family and domestic matters. You might be more involved than usual with a parent. You will give more focus to your home, where you live and to family relationships. Redecorating projects, as well as entertaining at home, will be rewarding. This makes sense because group discussions and conversations with others, as well as meeting new people and taking short trips will appeal to you. Start to make serious plans about how to improve your job or get a better job because this will happen this year. Count on it. Likewise, you can improve your health.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Fasten your seatbelt because the next four weeks are busy! You might take short trips. You might read, write and study more than usual. You will certainly be busy with errands, appointments and fun diversions. Ever the Truth Seeker, you might discuss profound topics with others or sign up for a course or learn a new language. (“Cenare?”) This will be a time for you because you will find your everyday surroundings more pleasant and agreeable. Not only will you enjoy the everyday beauty around you, you might also, at a deeper level, realize there is a considerable amount of love in your everyday world. It’s time to alphabetize your blessings.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Your focus on money, cash flow and earnings will be strong in the next four weeks. Keep your eyes open for financial opportunities because this is a favourable window for financial negotiations. Borrowing money will be easier. Admittedly, you will spend money on beautiful clothing, jewelry and art. (Keep your receipts.) (And the box.) Meanwhile, Mercury is in your sign, which means you will put a great deal of yourself into whatever you have to say, which is why you’ll be convincing and persuasive! Admittedly, your mind will be busy, jumping from topic to topic. Be aware of this. This is a good time to examine your relationship to the things that you own. Get rid of dead weight! Who needs it?

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
The Sun will be in your sign for the next four weeks. This is something that happens only once a year. The New Moon will also be in your sign on Saturday giving you a chance to take a realistic look in the mirror to see how you can improve the image you create on your world. Ideas? In fact, this is an excellent time for you to buy wardrobe goodies. Why not look your best? When you look good, it’s a gift to your friends. They are certainly more pleased to encounter you looking great instead of down at the heels. (Think about it.) This is a lovely window of time because with Venus in your sign, you find it easy to be charming and diplomatic with everyone. Kiss, kiss, hug, hug.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
At this time of year, your “personal year” is coming to an end but your new year will not begin until your birthday. That means that the next four weeks are like a time of limbo for you. You’re double parked. However, it’s the perfect time to think about defining personal goals for your coming year ahead. After all, goals keep you on track and make future decision-making easier. They also give you a sense of purpose. Write down a few things that you hope to achieve in the coming year ahead. One thing is certain, for the first time in 12 years lucky, moneybags Jupiter will be travelling through your House of Earnings this year. Oh yes – you will get richer! This is also a good time to tackle home repairs and renovations to pull your act together.

2023 Annual Forecasts are now available.

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Weekly Horoscopes Beginning Sunday,
Sunday, 15 January 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this week:

This week isn’t just about dealing with tasks swiftly. It’s about tackling a range of persistent obligations and, equally, troublesome misunderstandings. This won’t be easy. Still, you’ll not only put them to rest, the resulting insights will explain their cause and ways to avoid them in the future. Yes, this requires patience; and, yes, it would be worth it.

Traces of some unfinished discussions remain. These can be concluded if others are willing to reach an agreement with regard to these matters. If someone refuses to talk, you may have to make decisions without their input. Reading an old diary or journal will make you realise what has been holding you back in the past. You’ve been putting other people’s needs before your own. As you move forward, you would be wise now to start thinking of yourself.

Your ruling planet Mars, has now stationed and will be joined in direct motion by Mercury mid-week. Until Friday, the focus is on clearing things up: which includes both misunderstandings and general archiving. It would be wise to make use of this period given the swathe of work that is likely headed your way soon after next week’s New Moon. There is high probability that someone in authority is rethinking a plan that was formulated last September. It may be that more than a little modification has to take place. Your opinion is valuable. Your understanding of how costs have risen and how these could be addressed makes you a valuable member of the team. Mid-week, anticipate that you will be asked to carry extra responsibility.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this week:

You’ve long dreaded rethinking familiar elements of your life. Now, suddenly, this isn’t just happening, you realise how beneficial changes would be. The secret? For now, focus on what you’re experiencing, not the impact of events on past memories or future plans. Things will come together, and far better than you’ve imagined possible. However, just how will remain unclear for some weeks yet. Is patience required? Absolutely.

Once you get bills up to date you might enjoy a short spell when you won’t have to give so much thought to financial matters. If this seems like an impossible dream, consult a money management expert who has experience helping people in your situation. Make good use of your imagination to turn liabilities into assets. You might make some extra money through teaching, writing or showcasing your talents. Someone who admires your work will make you an interesting offer.

For approximately 30 months in every 30 years, Saturn passes over the apex of your solar chart. It’s been doing that since December 2020 and will leave this zone in March. Before then, a professional career crisis is probable. There are decisions that need to be taken. Tempting as it may be to make these early this week, note that Mercury is retrograde in another of the Earth signs. You may have more information if you hold on until after next week’s New Moon. That doesn’t render this time redundant. Indeed, with Mars now in direct motion, you could resolve financial ramifications and prepare a new budget. This should be about valuable exercise – particularly if undertaken with the assistance of a Capricorn who has seen all of this before and has valuable experience.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Your ruler Mercury has been retrograde since 29 December, triggering considerable confusion. You’ve learnt lots, but will be relieved it resumes forward motion on Wednesday. This, in turn, begins a new, and powerful, cycle. It also gives you a clear perspective on existing plans and future arrangements. Tempting as it is to rush into what works, first, focus on disentangling yourself from past confusion. The resulting clarity will change everything.

Gossip fills the air. As well as being intrigued by what you hear, you will want to find out more. A talk with a neighbour who never seems to miss a thing will give you all the information you need. In business, future success will depend on taking advantage of information from an insider source. Think about volunteering for a charity organisation you have always admired. You will be making some good contacts behind the scenes.

Mars is now in direct motion in your chart. Although it might seem that you’ve been holding back in recent months in fact, you’ve probably been dialoguing furiously. Now you can see an end in sight. First there are ongoing difficulties with paperwork and particularly, with e-mails that may have gone astray. Finding these before your ruling planet Mercury turns direct on Wednesday appears imperative. It’s entirely possible that you are now involved in a complicated game of fact-finding. Determining exactly who should carry the can for recent errors of judgement, is one possibility but could find that an Aquarius hones in on the problem and the time management that will be required if this issue is to be resolved before Saturn arrives at the apex of your solar chart in March.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this week:

If you’re still wrestling with the insights triggered by the Cancer New Moon on 6 January, it’s no surprise. While certain matters were clear cut, others combined past misunderstandings with ongoing dramas. Tempting as it is to impose order on these, wait and watch. What you learn, both from events and others’ actions will reshape your thinking and future plans; and in the meantime? Relax. You’ll be glad you did.

It is going to take time to achieve some of the goals you are setting for yourself now. You’re aware of the hard work that’s ahead and you know too that it will be worth it in the end. You aren’t ready yet but there will be opportunities to show off your talents later in the year. A friend who can be forgetful and careless will ask to borrow something that has sentimental value. If you feel you can’t trust them not to lose it, refuse their request.

You won’t be the only sign who would benefit from using this week for space clearing. Now that Mars is at last moving forward, it’s time to tidy up the mess that been created – more or less since Halloween. With that done, and as Mercury arrives at its station in your opposite sign midweek, and with a work colleague, you can make plans for what can and should be achieved before March. It won’t be surprising if Gemini, Libra and Aquarius colleagues bring you ever more problems to solve and yes, you could feel overwhelmed with the sheer number of tasks that have to be tackled. Note that yours is one of the Water signs. It’s imperative that you have time to ‘feel’. The problem with others being in states of chaos, is that more thought and feeling is required. It would be wise – especially as the Moon passes through another of the Water signs over Monday and Tuesday, – to ensure that you’re given personal space and solitude to process. To this end, you could ask a Capricorn to act as gatekeeper.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this week:

While you can act swiftly on certain matters, others can’t be rushed. Once that’s clear, you’ll do what you can, then focus your attention on enjoying here and now pleasures – and there are plenty to enjoy. The secret? Regard each as an experiment, so avoid even thinking in terms of long-range plans. Those will come, but not until the powerful Leo Full Moon, on 5 February.

A family disagreement will turn out to be a storm in a teacup so don’t waste time worrying about it. Put your mind, instead, to work, career or study assignments. Accepting the chance to teach or enrol on a training scheme could be a stepping stone to future job success. An after-work date later in the week will not only prove profitable but it will also be a lot of fun.

In just over a week’s time, there will be the annual New Moon in your opposite sign. This one is particularly special as it’s the last where Saturn will also be moving through Aquarius. This marks a potential fresh beginning for a professional partnership. This week, with Mars now in direct motion, you could do much to pave the way, delegate where necessary, and determine which teams work best. Yes, this will likely lead to a shakeup as Mercury arrives at its direct station on Wednesday but could be super productive. What has been the case for so long, is that property matters need attention. It would appear that you’re coming to yet another turning point with these, and that by delegating and deploying, you could yet arrive at the outline for sound project management that begins after next week’s New Moon.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Usually, when getting things organised, you check out details carefully. However, changes are so sudden you couldn’t possibly have anticipated them. Instead, focus on letting go of the past. This both keeps you busy and clears the way for what’s appearing now and continues over the coming weeks. Final plans? Urgent as they seem, there’s no rush. They can, and should, wait.

You have plenty to do but it shouldn’t all be about work and responsibility. Mix in some family activities, socialise and think about ways to add some fun to your days. Spending time with a housemate will avert emotional tension in the home on Wednesday. Someone is asking too many questions about your personal life. Don’t feel guilty about being suspicious of their motives and don’t be surprised if you feel an increasing desire to get away from it all as the week ends.

Yes, you probably could get a degree in worrying! – you might even get an ‘A star’ rating. That though, is generally unproductive energy. After months of fretting as Mars turned retrograde, that planet now being in direct motion should make real difference. Before your ruling planet Mercury turns direct midweek, you could yet mastermind a brilliant – yes brilliant -clearing up exercise. Those of your sign tend to have fabulous eye for detail and can see precisely what tasks need to be addressed and how they should be tackled. You’re also good at time management. Putting these traits to use should prove a super productive. The key is to have everything in order as much as possible before next week’s New Moon. It’s after then, and with Uranus also in direct motion, you could be ‘off to the races’.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Your talent for organising your own life, events and, often, the plans of those around you so diplomatically is unique. Now, however, in certain situations you’ll need to stand your ground, either to eliminate confusion or ensure others recognise who’s in charge. Tempting as it is to sidestep such responsibilities, they need your gentle but firm touch; and move swiftly. Next week will be too late.

Get to know someone you have just met better before bringing them home to meet your family. There’s nothing worse than having people think there is more to a relationship than there actually is. A strange incident concerning a neighbour will pique your interest. There are questions you would like to have answered but you won’t want to make your curiosity too obvious. If you agree to new plans a partner is making this could mean having to end an old commitment.

With Mars now in forward motion, dressing to impress may be more important than usual. Yet Mercury is retrograde at the base of your solar chart. This is perhaps a case of wearing something old or yes, even borrowed. You clearly need to move on and get back to business with ideas that have been incubating since last September. This week seems to be all about juggling the past with the future: a theme that began to play in 2022 but which is now coming to its conclusion. Not long after next week’s New Moon, there is high probability of developing a fresh working pattern.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this week:

For ages you’ve been thinking about and, possibly, discussing potentially far-reaching changes. Deep down you know they’re wise, yet you dread the disruption and uncertainty. Overcome those doubts and plunge in. This shifts your perspective, and is both revealing and reassuring. What’s more, you’ll spot potential in situations you’ve regarded as pointless. Now you realise that, with only a little patience, just how worthwhile they can be.

Trusting a friend or colleague to take care of your possessions could be a wrong decision. Someone could lose something that is important to you. Even if it looks as if a group project is going to proceed with ease, don’t drop your guard. Later an upsetting incident will require you to take on a leadership role. Arguing over trivial issues will waste time and deplete your energy. Encourage others to focus on activities that are likely to bring worthwhile results.

Mars is now in direct motion, but Mercury doesn’t turn direct until next Thursday. For most signs it’s a case of proceeding with caution. Progress can and likely will be made in a financial partnership. You could also effectively sow the seeds for a project scheduled for launch in late March. First though, it may be necessary to address past errors or miscalculations. Your ability to hone in on exactly what ought to have been done, and how necessary repairs can be carried out gives you an edge. It’s probable that Aries, Leo and Sagittarius colleagues will be particularly appreciative. What they may sense and you may know, is that by the time Mercury turns direct on Wednesday, that you’ll have a revised schedule in place and motivated those who have to be involved to accept new timelines and complete a project before next week’s New Moon.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this week:

It’s unlikely you’ll have problems with the current dramatic and, often, sudden changes. However, others will. While some will merely complain, a few will actively battle them. Distract them if you can; but if that’s not possible, ensure you’ve back-up plans, for yourself and any joint efforts. Most of all, recognise that because changes are inevitable anyway, the more flexible your attitude is, the better.

Events early on will seem like an intense replay of some recent happenings. You might wonder why you have to go through it all again. This time round, it will all finish on a much happier note and you are unlikely to see another repeat, much to your relief. A creative skill that is uniquely yours will receive an encouraging push forward, thanks to the support a powerful executive is willing to give you.

Expect others to be in action mode as Mars is now in direct motion in your opposite sign. You imagine too, that they are like cars that aren’t quite refuelled. They could stutter – at least until Mercury turns direct mid-week. Fact is, that their plans are probably not yet thought through. This week is all about tidying up loose ends. You might also find yourself irritated with a Gemini, Libra or Aquarius who is full of futuristic thoughts, but clearly unwilling or unable to accept responsibility for past errors. These issues need to be resolved and fall to you to point out misjudgements mid-week. In so doing you are perhaps also lining yourself up to take on new responsibility in a couple of months’ time.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this week:

With the retrograde Mercury actually positioned in Capricorn, the errors it’s triggering accent certain persistent issues. In some cases, you’ll deal with them swiftly, while in others, gathering facts will take time. However, with this cycle continuing until the 18th, there’s no rush. Knowing that, take advantage of this opportunity to seek, and remedy, the source of that ongoing confusion.

Someone who has your best interests at heart will give some good advice. Whether a tip concerns your job or finances, don’t dismiss this as being unnecessary. You won’t be sorry if you follow their sensible suggestions. A surprise offer is in store and this could result in you travelling with someone you would never have expected to share a journey with. Be sure not to let limited thinking prevent you from taking up this exciting opportunity.

It should be abundantly clear that errors have been made and probable that the wrong personnel is in place. Teambuilding may not be possible for a couple of weeks yet. Of course, it could be that at least one person has decided to move on. Whatever, where work matters are concerned, it’s unlikely that things will run smoothly. Perhaps owing to change of personnel, or the clearly divided attention by those who are supposed to be operating to a schedule, you may need to put your foot down super firmly as Mercury arrives at its station in your sign on Wednesday. It’s perhaps only from then that new schedules can be put in place. The art may be to give others time to accept responsibility and for you, in the meantime, to determine how communications could be improved.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this week:

Usually, your quick mind is an asset. However, with so much in transition, you could easily misunderstand the origin of, or solution for, certain dilemmas. Knowing that, focus on exploring their source and, where helpful, seeking others’ guidance. The resulting insights will be as unexpected as they are timely. Explore them in depth. Final plans? Be patient. You’ll still short of facts.

You are often eager to please and you will think of other people’s needs before your own. Whether it is a close partner, old friend or a stranger you meet on the street, if someone could do with some support, you will be the first person to offer it. Just remember that your own needs are important too. You might also look into ways to improve your career situation. This is a great time to go to a job interview.

Figuring out exactly what you don’t know – and how you set about acquiring information – is a big theme. This week is all about working out which courses are available, and which expertise you could access with ease. It should be apparent that there are holes in your learning and that these need to be resolved. Planning this before Mercury turns direct at the end of this week should be considered wise. Good advice will likely come from a Scorpio. Renewed contact with those who live and work far away is probable too. Indeed, it may be company with international connection that makes real difference to your career-world. With the New Moon in your sign next week, preparation is essential so that you’re well positioned for new offers.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this week:

For ages you’ve known that you’ve no choice but to live with certain persistent issues until the facts are clearer. While this week’s timely revelations help, you’re still mystified what to do about those dilemmas. The answer? For now, nothing. Wait, watch and learn. Meanwhile, declutter elements of your life that have become overwhelming. This will take time, but be well worth the patience and effort required.

Some luck, early in the week, will be in connection with your career. Joining forces with a talented friend will help you get the job you have been hoping for. If a housemate wants to talk about matters that are money related, at least let them see you are as keen to resolve this situation as they are. Be prepared to make many phone calls before a question regarding an unexpectedly large bill is resolved.

If you haven’t already thought about making improvements to your environment, this should be the week to do so. Yes, costs have probably risen. Even so, it should be apparent that you need to take action – and soon. Obtaining revised estimates, replanning, rewording or re-anything are the big themes between this Monday and Mercury’s direct station (Wednesday). With Mars direct in one of the Air signs, you should find that Gemini, Libra and Aquarius friends are rushing to complete tasks which you know ought to have been resolved months ago. Irritation is probable. Yet amidst the storm, you could arrive at new ways of thinking about your social media presence and generally, how people make access to you. It may be important before Friday, to have your CV revised and even, to review your signature.

https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
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The Magic of Crystals
Introduction to Energy Healing
Introduction to Paganism
Introduction to Meditation
Introduction to The Goddess Tradition and The Feminine Divine
Kuan Yins Gentle Embrace Reiki Certification
A Year and a Day of Contemplation with Kuan Yin
Tarot, Numerology, Natal Charts and Dream Readings
Reiki Training and Certification

Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healing? Learn with GrannyMoon!
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Teach a witch a spell and she can do that spell. Teach a witch the craft and she can do magick!

GrannyMoon, Teaching the Craft for over 20 years!

“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

http://GoddessSchool.com
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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons Weekly Feast : 8 Jan 2023

Thanks for reading my blog!

Life is without meaning.
You bring the meaning to it.
The meaning of life is
whatever you ascribe it to be.
Being alive is the meaning.

  • Joseph Campbell

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again
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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: WANING MOON

Time: From Full Moon To Dark Moon (approx.14 days)

Goddess Aspect: Crone

Associated Goddesses: Callieach, Banshee, Hecate, Kali, Morrigan

Magickal Attributes: Banishing, Releasing the old, removing unwanted negative energies, wisdom, psychic ability, scrying, reversing circumstances.

Workings on this day are for banishing magick, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness or negativity, physical and psychic cleansings.

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What’s Happening?!?
January

The Goddess Calendar – Month of Hestia runs from 12/26 – 1/22

Celtic Tree Calendar ~ Birch – December 24th to January 20th

JAN. 9: Festival of Isis: Mother Goddess, Great Goddess, Throne of Egypt

JAN. 16: Festival of Ganesh: God of Success

JAN. 17-18 Tu B’Shevat – Jewish Festival of Trees, celebrated with tree plantings and orchard blessings. Originally honored Old Canaanite-Hebrew Goddess Asherah.

JAN. 18: – DAY OF DANU Celtic Mother Goddess

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Jan 18
WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Feb 5
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Feb 12

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!
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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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New Year, New Start

Viewing the start of the coming year as a time of rebirth allows you to focus on what you want to accomplish.

To many, the coming of a new year represents an opportunity to begin again. It is a time to step off of dead-end paths in order to create a fork in the road, disassociating from the old, and aligning with fresh possibilities. Harnessing the power of this transformative energy is a matter of truly believing that resolutions can conquer past patterns. If we believe we are capable of changing our lives, we are more apt to believe that we are capable of leaving our mistakes behind. Our dedication, which might otherwise falter, is buoyed by hope. Thus, the beginning of the new year is traditionally a popular time to tackle difficult tasks such as quitting smoking, losing weight, or fulfilling worldly ambitions. But the transition from year to year can also be an opportune occasion to pursue emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth because we no longer feel burdened by regret and disappointment.

Whatever your reality, it is within your power to create the fork that allows you to walk a more conscious, grounded path. Viewing the start of the coming year as a time of rebirth allows you to focus on what you want to accomplish in the coming weeks, months, and years. Because you are a new person—in other words, a clean slate—you are free to immerse yourself in new experiences with impunity. If you feel a need to reconnect with your spirituality, consider taking up yoga, meditation, or another discipline that challenges both your mental and physical selves. Fill your newly-cleansed mind with stimulating knowledge, poignant wisdom, and useful skills. Clearing your home or workspace of clutter can improve the flow of energy in your life, giving you the momentum you need to stay true to your resolutions. And beginning a fresh journal can be a wonderful way to celebrate these developing aspects of your life.

In the ancient Babylonian, Chinese, and Celtic traditions, the period marking the transition from the old year to the new was viewed as a struggle between chaos and order, in which order always prevailed. Your belief that you, too, can banish chaos and integrate your dreams, desires, and goals more fully into your life will give you the determination and fortitude to change your life for the better.

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Right Path Tarot Reading
JANUARY 08, 2023 BY ASTREA TAYLOR

New years are exciting, but the terrain can seem unfamiliar at times. This reading gives you signposts to indicate you’re on the right path. Hold a deck of tarot cards in your hands and take a deep breath. In a clear, strong voice, say:

Signs to know and signs to see.
Six months of signs, please send to me.

Draw six cards from the middle of the deck. Place them before you in a rainbow arc, starting on the left and continuing to the right. These cards represent signs for each of the six months:

  1. Sign in January
  2. Sign in February
  3. Sign in March
  4. Sign in April
  5. Sign in May
  6. Sign in June

Write down the information in your book of shadows, along with the symbols on the cards. Over the next six months, watch for these signs to know you’re on the right path.
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Flower Power
JANUARY 07, 2023 BY SAPPHIRE MOONBEAM

January is a cold and snowy month for many people in the Northern Hemisphere. While it is dark and cold outside, bring flowers into your home to add vibrant new life to your space. You can choose flowers based on their color meanings. Red flowers bring power, passion, and love to your space. Yellow flowers add an uplifting joy. White flowers have the energy of purity and innocence. Orange flowers represent enthusiasm.

Once you have flowers and colors in your space, this chant will evoke the energies to magnify and show gratitude for nature’s gifts:

I am grateful for the flowers
that are now in my space.
May their energies enhance my home
with their magick and grace.

This spell can be done to liven up the energy of your home and add more magick to your days at any time of the year.
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Full Moon Family Blessing
JANUARY 06, 2023 BY MAT AURYN

The Full Moon in the watery, intuitive, emotional, and nurturing sign of Cancer tonight is an ideal time to heal and strengthen family bonds, with both those who are family by birth and those who are chosen family. For this spell you will need a bowl of water and slips of paper to write down the names of those in your family you wish to bless using a pen. Then, under the Full Moon, place the name papers into the water and say:

Cancer Moon, as you do shine,
Bless those who are family of mine.
Heart to heart, our bonds are strong,
A seat of blessing to all who belong.
Be they through blood or
be they through feeling,
I bless us all through the
Moon’s power of healing.

Leave the bowl of water under the Moon until morning. The words of ink should have dissolved. Remove and dispose of the papers, and pour the water at the roots of a nearby tree.
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Abundance Talisman
JANUARY 05, 2023 BY EMBER GRANT

Prepare yourself for a prosperous new year by creating a talisman to carry with you in your purse, your backpack, or even your pocket. First, wrap a dollar bill around a small cinnamon stick. As you wrap it, chant three times:

Let my assets multiply—
all my needs be met.

Burn clove incense. Pass the bundle through the smoke several times and chant three times:

Bring abundance to my life,
as much as I can get.

As the incense burns, visualize the abundance you desire and deserve. Keep the talisman with you as often as possible. When you have more than enough, remember to share with others by giving something back.
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Double Capricorn “Boss Vibes” Oil
JANUARY 04, 2023 BY DEVIN HUNTER

Today both the Sun and Mercury are expressing peak Capricorn energy as they travel through the depths of this sign, giving us major boss vibes. By “boss vibes,” I mean that ability to manage, prioritize, and delegate the things that need to get done to achieve personal and shared goals. This is a good time to take practical steps and see things through. You can bottle this energy by creating the following ritual oil.

Into a half-ounce bottle, blend the following oils and allow to charge on your altar for forty-eight hours:

22 drops cypress essential oil
11 drops cedar essential oil

Once the oils are charged, fill the rest of the bottle with the carrier oil of your choice. (Fractionated coconut, olive, and grapeseed work well.)

Add Saturnian herbs such as comfrey, elm, and thyme to enhance this energy. Label the bottle and use the oil whenever your energy is dragging or when tackling big projects.
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Toss the Fruitcake Spell
JANUARY 03, 2023 BY JASON MANKEY

We love the holidays, but by early January we are ready to move on and embrace all the new year has to offer. Just as strange energies accumulate in late December/ early January, our refrigerators also acquire a lot of leftovers that need to be gotten rid of. Clear out both unwanted food and unwanted energy with this spell.

Peek into your refrigerator and find any items that are past their expiration date. For many of us in early January, that might include a fruitcake. Once you’ve gathered your unwanted/spoiled leftovers, take them out to the compost pile or trash can and say:

The holiday season has passed, and
I throw away all that doesn’t serve
me from that season. I shall be rid
of any negativity and bad feelings.
All will be renewed. So mote it be!

Put any lingering concerns about Yuletide out of your mind.
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A New Path
JANUARY 02, 2023 BY JAMES KAMBOS

So now we begin a new year and a new path. This meditation will help you set out on your new path with a clear vision. You’ll need one small twig or branch. Select one that has some twists and bumps. Sit with it before your altar. Hold it; feel its curves and bumps. Project your feelings and concerns about the coming year into it. When you’re ready, say:

The new year may hold
twists and turns,
But from my challenges I shall learn.
And when my road is
smooth and straight,
Then my victories I shall celebrate.

Keep the twig on your altar throughout the coming year. Now and then, hold it and think about what has happened in your life this year.

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Heartwings Love Notes 1068: Avoiding Expectations May Be Wise

Heartwings says, “The future depends on how the present proceeds.”

At our New Year’s Day gathering Stephen and I were sitting together on the sofa when a friend began taking our picture. The light was reflecting off my eyeglasses so he asked me to take them off. I heard the echo of my dad’s voice saying, “Take off your glasses and look pretty.” I laughed to myself and removed them. These days, confident in my appearance and no longer impressed by my father’s prejudice, I am happy to be photographed with them either on or off. My expectations have changed.

Expectations often dominate a new year. After all, that’s how we express our resolutions. These may or may not be realistic, fall by the wayside, or bring results. However, they may be doomed by our expectations. This failure comes about as a result of the unconscious programming behind them. Our programming is the unremembered precepts we grew up with. They are often reflected in our self talk: my weight is inherited from my mother’s side of the family or I am lazy and uncoordinated.

Do you listen to yourself? Do you hear how you respond mentally to plans? To resolutions? Here’s the thing: At the start of the new year many resolve to lose weight or exercise more. If they were listening to their inner responses, here’s what they might hear: “I’ve tried this before and failed, why bother trying.” Or, “I’ll just fail again; it’s too difficult to exercise, and anyway, I don’t want to take the time.” If the resolution involves depriving oneself of the pleasure of eating, or projects the boredom of exercise, where’s the incentive? These may be the negative expectations that arise when resolutions are expressed.

Or it may be possible to avoid expectations, both positive and negative altogether. There is a way to do this. It comes from the practice of Buddhism and is called beginner’s mind. I once had a yoga class with a teacher who said his mantra-a saying to help one grow spiritually, was “I know nothing, I want to learn.” This is an excellent way to express beginner’s mind. Back when I first heard this I scoffed, thinking that I was creating an affirmation of stupidity. This was incorrect. By affirming I know nothing,, as I later realized, I was clearing the slate of the expectations, definitions, or prejudices I might carry in my mind.

Now when I look at the New Year I see it through a lens of confidence, sure I approach it without any idea what will happen. However, regardless what does, I know I will grow from the experience because I wish to. My life may or may not go in a direction I am prepared for, That’s not important. What is, is that I greet any and all happenstance without prejudice but with the confidence that I will benefit if only by learning not to do something or else to do what is needed. That way a new year is truly a blank slate I can look forward to writing on, just to see what happens next.

May your new year of life be filled with blessings of all sorts, known and unknown,

Blessings and best regards Tasha Halpert

P.S. Did you make any resolutions? How are you doing with them? I always enjoy your comments so much. Write me on my blog or at this email: tashahal@gmail.com.

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Birds Fly in a V

Like birds flying in a “V,” when we feel the presence of others moving along side of us, there is little we cannot accomplish.

As they swoop, drift, and glide, inscribing magnificent patterns across the sky, birds are serene displays of grace and beauty. Long a source of inspiration, birds can be messengers from the spirit realm, or a symbol of the human soul, as they cast off their earthly mooring and soar heavenward. An upturned wing, a graceful flutter, all so effortless and free… More magnificent still is the inspiring sight of birds migrating, progressing steadily across the horizon in a solid V formation that is a singular pattern too unique to be mere chance.

Pushing steadily forward, this aerodynamic V reduces air resistance for the whole flock. With wings moving in harmony, the feathered group continues its course across the sky, covering more ground together in community than as individuals. When the bird at the front gets tired, she will move to the rear of the formation where the wind drag is lowest, and a more rested bird can take her place.

By learning from the example of our winged guides, all of us can feel empowered to take on daring challenges as we chart adventurous courses. Feel the strength of others moving alongside you, as their presence lends power to your wings during this journey across the sky of life. When buffeted by unexpected gusts, we can choose to find refuge in the loving shelter of friends and family. We may even marvel as an otherwise difficult day passes by like a swift wind, as a kindred spirit charts a way for us through the clouds and rain ahead. If your wings begin to ache on your journey, look around for somebody else to fly at the front for a while. All of us move faster when we move together. Let your ego drop earthwards as we all soar ever higher.

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Haunted Houses Have Nothing on Lighthouses
BY SARAH DURN

From drowning to murders to the mental toll of isolation, these stoic towers carry a full share of tragedy.

THOUGH THEY SHARED A NAME, it’s said the two lighthouse keepers, the towering Thomas Griffith and the middle-aged Thomas Howell, didn’t get along, and could empty pubs with one of their heated arguments. In the winter of 1800 to 1801, the two men were stuck on the most remote island in Wales, 20 miles from shore, operating Smalls Lighthouse. The brutal winter weather turned what should’ve been a month-long stay into a grueling, almost five-month exile. Then, four months into their stay, things got worse. Griffith took ill, according to Ivor Emlyn’s 1858 account, or perhaps he fell, as Christopher P. Nicholson writes in Rock Lighthouses of Britain. Howell hoisted up a distress flag (likely an inverted Union Jack), but no help came. After weeks of suffering, Griffith died.

For the next three weeks, Howell’s only companion was Griffith’s rotting corpse. He feared that casting the body into the sea would implicate him in Griffith’s death. After all, everyone knew they didn’t get along. So Howell, trained as a woodworker, assembled a makeshift coffin for his departed colleague and secured it to the lighthouse’s railings. After three weeks, a massive sea swell tore the coffin apart, scattering Griffith’s remains across the beach. Howell again secured Griffith’s body the best he could, this time to the outside gallery.

Ship after ship attempted to land on the island to relieve the desperate keepers, with no knowledge that only one remained. According to Nicholson, one ship managed to get close enough to see “a man leaning motionless on the gallery next to the flag of distress, his hand waving freely as if trying to attract attention.” Unable to dock, the ship took home the news that the keepers were managing. The light was still lit, after all. The ship’s captain didn’t realize the hand flopping in the wind belonged to a dead man.

During a brief reprieve from the storms, a boat from nearby Milford made another attempt. When it successfully arrived, the sailors were overtaken by the smell of rot. Then Howell emerged, seemingly more dead than alive, an unrecognizable shell of a man.

Lighthouses are full of stories like Howell and Griffith’s—death, isolation, madness, and in some cases actual murder. While their light can be a beacon of hope to lost sailors, darkness has often haunted them. Almost every one seems to have a few ghostly inhabitants. As Dick Moehl, former president of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, told Dianna Stampfler in her book, Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses, “every lighthouse worth a grain of salt has a good ghost story.” Old Victorian mansions have nothing on them.

The earliest known lighthouse was one of the wonders of the ancient world, Pharos of Alexandria. Construction began some time before 270 B.C., and Pharos lit the Mediterranean for almost a millennium. With a 300-square-foot base, it is estimated to have been 400 feet tall. The Roman Empire would go on to build something like 30 lighthouses around the Mediterranean and Europe’s Atlantic Coast. But after the fifth century or so, lighthouses disappeared from the architectural record until the later Middle Ages and early Renaissance. One of the earliest of these was the Meloria lighthouse, off the coast of Tuscany, built in 1157. Soon other coastal countries—Spain, France, Portugal, England—started constructing lighthouses, too.

The century between 1840 and 1940 is largely considered to be the golden age of the modern lighthouse. In the United States alone, the number of lighthouses went from 16 to roughly 1,500 during this time. The rest of the world, especially Europe and its colonies, also went through a lighthouse-building frenzy, but nowhere else reached the heights that America did.

Kevin Blake, a geographer at Kansas State University who has written about lighthouses, says that the buildings appeal to Americans’ “rugged individualism” and “pioneer spirit.” They represent a frontier and the spirit of survival—one keeper facing the odds, weathering the seas and storms, with self-sufficiency and grit. Keepers were often veterans, which added to the heroic air the job carried, according to Blake.

There’s also an aura of “mystery associated with lighthouses,” he says. As superior navigation equipment began to replace lighthouses and automated lighting systems began to replace the keepers for the ones that remained, “this slow loss of change, this sense that America was losing something unique, is when ghost stories came in.”

Michigan, with 129, has more lighthouses than any other state. Many of those lighthouses, says Stampfler, have a ghost story or two. A lighthouse is like a “safety port” for ghosts, she says, and spirits of “keepers, ship captains, sailors—they all can become residual spirits,” drawn, as you might expect, to the light.

One tragic story that has always fascinated Stampfler comes from South Manitou Island Lighthouse, on a small, sleepy island about 45 miles northwest of Traverse City. Between 1866 and 1878, Civil War veteran Aaron Sheridan and his new bride Julia operated the lighthouse. Julia was officially recognized as the lighthouse’s assistant keeper in 1871 (along with many other women who worked both as keepers and assistant keepers—even today). Over the course of 12 years there, the couple had six sons.

Then, on March 15, 1878, Aaron, Julia, and their youngest son Robert were returning from the Michigan mainland with the help of a local sailor named Christ Ancharson. The waters were calm until they neared the lighthouse and “the wind went down and one of the old seas capsized the boat,” Ancharson said later. The minutes ticked by as Christ, Aaron, Julia, and little Robert clung to the overturned boat, screaming for help. Baby Robert was the first to go, dying in Julia’s arms. Then, Aaron and Julia, too, slipped beneath the waves. Only Ancharson survived, after four and a half hours holding on to the slippery hull.

The bodies of the family never washed ashore, but their ghosts, according to legend, still haunt the remote lighthouse. “Visitors have reported hearing the echo of voices, the sounds of footsteps and other unexplained noises coming from the causeway, which connects the boarded-up keeper’s residence to the light tower,” writes Stampfler. Stampfler herself even visited the lighthouse and spent “time slowly climbing the tower and listening for the cries of the Sheridans,” without success, she says.

Julia and Aaron Sheridan died, with their young son Robert, just off the coast of the lighthouse they operated.

The deaths of Julia, Aaron, and Robert isn’t the end of the Sheridan family’s tragic tale. In 1893, the eldest son Levi, or “Fisk,” as he liked to be called, died during the collapse of the “Big Four” railroad bridge near Louisville, Kentucky. George, the next oldest, spent months trying to recover Levi’s body, but his brother was never found. George, following in his parents’ footsteps, became a lighthouse keeper. For decades, he struggled with depression, often leaving his keeper duties to his wife Sarah. In early spring 1915, George was visiting his uncle, another keeper, at Grosse Point Lighthouse in Illinois. Several days later, on March 24, 1915, George’s body was found hanging from the rafters, an apparent suicide.

There’s a duality to lighthouses, says Stampfler, because “Here you have a light full of darkness.” Stampfler sees many similar examples in lighthouse histories. She can cite numerous lighthouses that bear the weight of unexplained death, suicide, madness, or murder.

In 1960, a well-reported murder took place at Little Ross Island Lighthouse off the southwest coast of Scotland. It all began with a father and son’s day trip to the island. It was a trip the Collins had made many times before, but when they arrived on the small island on Thursday, August 18, things straight away felt weird. Usually, the keepers would greet them as they disembarked, but that day the island was eerily quiet. After hearing a phone call go unanswered, “my father eventually plucked up courage and went into one of the houses,” David Collin, an architecture student at the time, told the BBC. “He quickly came running out and said, ‘Get help if you can, there is a man ill in his bed.’” After the authorities arrived, it became clear that the middle-aged lighthouse keeper Hugh Clark had been shot at close range with a .22 rifle. There was only one man the evidence pointed to, Robert Dickson, the assistant keeper. Having fled the island, Dickson was the subject of a manhunt before he was arrested in Yorkshire. The trial captured national headlines and Dickson was sentenced to death (later reduced to life in prison). He didn’t stay incarcerated long. Two years into his sentence, Dickson killed himself.

For Blake, there’s always been something “sublime” and “dangerous” about lighthouses. “When you climb a lighthouse and you step onto that parapet or gallery that may be 110, 160, 200 feet above the Earth’s surface, it’s practically a death-defying experience.” Indeed, there are stories of keepers “throwing themselves off lighthouses,” says Blake, isolation having driven them to madness.

When people think of a haunted house, a towering lighthouse on some rocky coastal bluff might not be the first thing that comes to mind. And yet it seems that almost every lighthouse bears the weight of some tragic tale. The isolation, harsh conditions, and constant work were too much for many of the people charged with keeping those lights glowing, through listless nights and unrelenting storms. Perhaps it’s time crumbling Victorian mansions made way for a different kind of haunted house, one that has always lighted the way for both the living and the dead.

Atlas Obscura

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Vacations

An aware traveler sees each new journey as an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of humanity.

As the technology of travel grows ever more refined, the world grows smaller. Whereas a journey of a hundred miles once took many days, we can now travel across the globe in mere hours. The four corners of the earth are accessible by plane, train, and ship, and there are few pleasures in life as soul-stirring and transformative as travel. In a new land, the simplest of joys can be profound—meditation takes on a new quality because the energy in which we are immersed is unfamiliar. Our sensory experiences are entirely novel. Yet the relative ease with which we can step out of our own culture in order to explore another means that we are ambassadors representing not only our own way of life but also the culture of the traveler. As a conscious citizen of the world, you can add value to the locales you visit while simultaneously broadening your own perspective.

A truly aware traveler sees each new journey as an opportunity to improve international relations, spread goodness, and gain a greater understanding of humanity. To immerse yourself in foreign cultures is to open your mind to fresh ways of being. Your natural curiosity can help you navigate the subtleties that define a culture. While you may not agree with all the traditions or laws of a country, abiding by them demonstrates that you understand and respect their value. Staying centered in another culture is often simply a matter of learning about your destination, being patient with yourself and others, and accepting that people may treat you as an example of your country’s attitudes. New worlds will open to you when you take part in the everyday life of a locale—the reality of a destination is in its markets, its streets, and its people.

Traveling presents a wonderful opportunity to practice being open-minded and grounded. The voyages you make help cultivate a worldwide community in which we as humans can acknowledge and appreciate our differences as much as we recognize and appreciate our similarities. Though you will eventually return home, the positive impression you leave behind will remain as a testament to the respect and amicability that marked your intercultural interactions.

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How to Grow and Care for a Money Tree Plant
By: Julie Martens Forney

Money may not grow on trees, but the money tree plant delivers good fortune and positive energy — or so the legend goes. Learn how to care for this easy-growing beauty.

Ever dreamed of owning a money tree? Make your dream come true by getting a money tree plant! It may not produce dollar bills, but this tropical beauty is easy to find at local garden centers or online. It’s even easier to grow, thriving indoors and out.

Money tree plant goes by a host of names, including Malabar chestnut, saba nut, Bombax glabrum, monguba and French peanut. It’s said to bring good luck and is a popular plant for using with feng shui principles. From shiny, hand-shaped leaves to pretty braided trunks, the money tree is a can’t-miss indoor plant. It delivers lush good looks in any setting. Learn what you need to know to help your money tree plant thrive.

Basic Money Tree Plant Care
Money tree plant is tropical, native to Central and South America. It typically grows in marshy wetlands where there’s plenty of moisture and high humidity. Indoors, you’ll see the best results if you can mimic those natural growing conditions.

Sunlight. In a typical indoor setting, place your money tree plant in a spot with bright, indirect light. That means near a sunny window, where there’s plenty of ambient light for your plant. Too much sunlight can burn leaves, leading to brown patches. Too little light, and leaves tend to turn yellow. Remember to rotate your plant a little each time you water to keep growth even and not leaning toward the light.

Temperature. Ideal growing temps for a money tree are between 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Indoors, locate your plant away from drafts — that means away from an exterior door or heating/cooling vent. If you’re growing your plant outdoors, it’s hardy in Zones 10 to 11. When air temperatures fall into the upper 40s, it’s time to bring your plant indoors or protect it as best you can from the chill.

Water. If you tend to overwater houseplants, a money tree plant is a good choice for you, because it does like soil on the moist side. The botanical name is Pachira aquatica. The species name “aquatica” gives a hint about the kind of moisture this plant prefers. But when you’re growing it indoors, you need to avoid overwatering, which can kill the plant. Don’t let it sit in water, especially overnight. The best way to water a money tree plant indoors is to let the soil dry before you water again.

Humidity. Money tree plants benefit from high humidity. Indoors, use a humidifier, a pebble tray filled with water or misting to help raise the humidity around your plant.

Fertilizer. Choose a typical houseplant fertilizer to feed your money tree. Follow fertilizer instructions for the right dose of plant food. You can feed your money tree plant as little as twice a year — once at the start of spring and again in midsummer. In all but the warmest zones, skip fertilizing in winter.

Braided Trunks
It’s very common to find several money tree plants in the same pot with the trunks braided together. This does not hurt the plants. Some growers say that the braid helps to “lock in” money tree’s good fortune. After trunks are braided, they continue to grow in that formation. You can always prune away any branches that sprout or threaten to deform the braid. As the tree ages, the trunks grow fatter and fuse, creating a striking plant.

Design Ideas
With a braided trunk, money tree plant easily commands attention in any setting. To add your own signature style to your plant, consider covering the soil surface with items that relate to the plant’s native wetland setting, such as polished river rock, glass fishing floats or sea glass.

Or you can cover the soil with a living ground cover, like calathea or baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii). Be sure to choose houseplant ground covers that need the same growing conditions as the money tree plant for best results.

You can also create a grouping of potted plants with leaves that provide a textural contrast to your money tree. Good candidates include peace lily, snake plant (Sansevieria), Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) or fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata).

Common Problems
For the most part, you probably won’t experience challenges growing money tree plant. It really is easy to grow. But if you do have issues, it will likely have to do with the leaves.

Yellow leaves occur when a plant is overwatered or underfed. If leaves start to yellow, check the soil to see how wet it is. If it feels like a saturated sponge, you should stop watering until it dries out. You might even want to repot your money tree into fresh potting mix, using a blend that drains quickly (like a cactus mix). If leaves turn yellow and the soil is dry, you may need to fertilize your money tree plant.
Brown leaves that are crispy on the edges usually happen when there’s not enough humidity. To raise humidity around the plant, group it with other indoor plants. Or place the pot on a pebble tray that’s partially filled with water. You can also mist your plant or run a humidifier to increase moisture in the air.
Dropping leaves typically occur if the plant is overwatered or exposed to cold temperatures. Plants usually recover from either condition once the problem is fixed.

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Should Your Cat Hunt For Food?

By Sassafras Lowrey

Cats are natural hunters and in need of daily exercise. A simple way to increase the amount of activity in your cat’s day is to stop feeding your cat in a bowl and allow your cat to “hunt” for their meals.

Instead of just putting your cat’s meals into a bowl or on a dish, you can channel your cat’s natural hunting instinct by purchasing or creating feeding puzzles. This turns mealtime into an interactive game adding enrichment to your cat’s day.

How to feed a cat with puzzle feeders
Dr. Jamie Richardson, DVM with Small Door Veterinary, recommends providing puzzle toys and interactive toys for your cat to play with on their own.

Dr. Richardson specifically recommends the: Nina Ottosson puzzle toys and Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Feeder.” Another option is the KONG Cat Treat Dispensing Ball. Although designed for treats depending on the side/shape of your cat’s kibble, you can also use this for dispensing dry cat food as part of mealtime. These toys allow your cat to “work” for their food by figuring out how to interact with the puzzles/treat dispensers to release the food.

How to have your cat hunt for food using DIY puzzles
You can easily create puzzles for your cat to hunt treats in by repurposing boxes that get delivered. Take empty boxes and either leave them open or cut holes into them that your cat can “fish” with her paws into. Then put all or a portion of your cat’s kibble for a meal into the boxes. By spreading the meal through multiple boxes of different sizes and different-shaped holes, your cat will have an interactive meal that provides mental exercise and stimulation.

You can feed your cat wet food and still make mealtime interactive
If your cat eats wet food for some or all of his meals, it’s still possible to add enrichment to your feeding routine. The Doc & Phoebe Wet Feeder is designed to increase enrichment while your cat eats and slow your cat down to prevent him from scarfing his meal. You can also create slow feeders for wet food by utilizing food-safe use of silicone plates, cupcakes and cake molds. Purchase them in various shapes in the baking or cooking section of most stores. By spreading wet food around, the silicone’s shapes and texture give your cat something interesting to lick, and she will have to work to get all the food out of the different cervices. Most of these molds are dishwasher safe making them easy to clean and sterilize after feeding.

Use search opportunities to feed your cat
In addition to using or making puzzles for feeding your cat, you can create more of a hunting experience for your cats by using the cat furniture you already have in your house. Take your cat’s pre-measured kibble and scatter it into cat tunnels, cat trees, or other climbing areas. This is a great way to increase your cat’s overall physical activity level as he will have to go in search of his meal instead of just eating from a dish.

How to add challenges
Adding enrichment to feeding time is fun for most cats. The more practice your cat gets, the better she will get at “hunting” for her food. Over time you can begin to expand the search/puzzles you provide to make them more complicated. You can also combine multiple boxes into puzzle structures to make the hunt more complicated.

Supervision
Be sure to monitor your cat as they are “hunting” for their meal to ensure that your cat finds all of its food and gets enough to eat.

If you have multiple cats, it’s generally best to keep your cats separated during mealtime. This is especially true if you are hiding food for your cat to search for. This will ensure that each cat is getting its appropriate serving of food for each meal. It will also prevent conflict or bullying between the cats as they hunt for their meals.

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, Sunday, January 08, 2023

All Signs
This year Hanukkah took place from December 18 to 26. Yule culminated its celebration on December 21, on the Winter Solstice. Yesterday, January 7, was Christmas in Ukraine and for others who observe the orthodox calendar. On January 15, it will be World Religion Day. And for many of us, Christmas was celebrated on December 25th at home or in airports. But to my way of thinking, the Romans knew what most of us are facing this week; hence, their famous phrase: Veni vidi vacus. I came, I saw, I vacuumed.

Aries (March 21-April 19)
This is the perfect week to gear up and reach out to others and socialize! Make contact with people you have not seen or talked to for a while. In particular, you will enjoy interacting with creative, talented individuals. Furthermore, everyone will be glad to see you because with the Sun at the top of your chart, you look fabulous! Plus, lucky Jupiter is now in your sign, which also hypes you popularity and increases your good fortune! By Thursday, you’re raring to go. This is when Mars turns direct in your House of Schmooze. By the end of the week, you’re sailing on steroids!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This week, you are full of ways to explore opportunities in publishing, the media, medicine, the law and taking courses perhaps, or working in higher education. These are all things that will expand your horizons. However, what will most titillate you, will be an opportunity to travel! This is why many of you are travelling or making travel plans for the future. Meanwhile, relations with bosses, parents and VIPs are warm and mutually supportive. (A romance with a boss will flourish for some.) By Thursday, financial matters will get the green light, which means you will be excited about moneymaking ideas. You will also be spending fast and furious! Ka-ching!

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
This is a lovely and energetic week! Travel for pleasure will appeal. Some of you will strike up a romance with someone who is “different.” You look attractive to others, which is why you are starting to be more popular. This is also why some of you are increasing your involvement in clubs, groups and organizations. Sharpen your focus on shared property, inheritances, debt and taxes to clean up loose ends because you can do this with skill, planning and attention to detail. Meanwhile, Mars has been retrograde in your sign since late October, creating snafus and delays! This week on Thursday, Mars turns direct, which means from here on, you’ll be all systems go!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
This week you will be friendly and sociable with everyone including members of the general public. In particular, you will have a stronger focus on partners and close friends. In fact, physical intimacy will be particularly affectionate and meaningful at this time because fair Venus is hyping your romantic desires. Your reputation will shine now and in the coming year, because Jupiter is at the top of your chart making you look successful to everyone. This week gifts, goodies and money from others might come your way. Meanwhile on Thursday, when Mars stops being retrograde, you will feel that “behind-the-scenes difficulties” are over. And the rain fell and the crops grew and there was peace in the land.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
This will be a productive week for you – no question. The timing is right. You’re ready to swing into action. For starters, relations with others, especially partners and close friends, are mutually supportive, friendly and agreeable. Meanwhile, the position of the Sun and Mercury in your chart will make you want to work efficiently and be as productive as possible. In fact, you will pay attention to detail and be willing to do routine work to get it out of the way. Meanwhile, on Thursday when Mars stations direct, you will find that interactions with groups and organizations, as well as contacts with friends will suddenly spring to life! People will contact you. You will contact them. Busy, busy. “Shops must be visited. Money must be spent.”

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
This is a glorious, lovely week for you! Grab every chance you can find to enjoy fun, social outings with others. A power breakfast? A long lunch? Fun with the gang at Happy Hour. Meet a friend for dinner? Grab a movie. See Avatar in 3-D (something I have yet to do). Enjoy sports events and playful activities with children. Of course, romance will flourish! Meanwhile, work colleagues will be supportive and friendly. You might see ways to boost your income through your work. On Thursday, Mars will start moving forward at the top of your chart, which will arouse your ambition as never before! Enjoy good times. Expect success.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
I’m sure you can resonate with the Roman phrase in All Signs above because this week, you want to pull your act together at home and where you live. This makes sense because more than any other sign, you are affected by your immediate environment. Lighting, smells, sounds, colours and the general ambience of the world around you will affect your mood. On Thursday, when Mars stations direct and starts to move forward, you will be keen to travel and explore opportunities in publishing, legal matters and medical issues. However, you will also feel ambitious and very hands-on about straightening up where you live and making everything look wonderful. Begin this new year in lovely surroundings. You deserve this!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Your daily pace is accelerated now because you have a busier than usual schedule due to appointments, errands and short trips. Fortunately, it’s a “happy busy” time so you won’t mind hustling. This is an excellent time to study and learn something new. It’s also a great time to converse with siblings, relatives and neighbours. Meanwhile, you will enjoy redecorating your digs and making them look better because this will please you. Since this is a year when you will improve your health and improve your job, it’s important to make sure that your home base is covered and you don’t have to worry about that too much. Give yourself this luxury.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Your focus on money, earnings and cash flow continues. You have moneymaking ideas, which are worth your consideration. (You often like to dream up ideas about how to get rich quick.) In this vein of thinking, many of you will make money in the coming year related to the entertainment world, the hospitality industry, resorts, golf courses, and anything to do with sports. This also includes the education and involvement of children. This is because financial speculation looks good for you in 2023. This week, communications with others will be sweet and supportive. You’ll find that you have a greater appreciation of your daily surroundings. Certainly, from Thursday on, relations with partners and close friends will improve. Thank heavens!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
This is a powerful week for you! For starters, the Sun and Mercury are in your sign, which attracts favourable situations to you as well as people. In turn, Mercury will promote your ability to reach out and connect with others. This is an excellent time for example to give a public talk or to teach. People want to hear you. Meanwhile, you can attract money to you at this time! This is also why you are spending money on beautiful things for yourself and loved ones. This is not surprising because this year, you will improve where you live by fixing up your current home or moving to someplace better. On Thursday, when Mars finally goes forward after being retrograde for the last few months – you will be keen to work and be as productive as possible!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
This continues to be another week when you are happy to keep a low profile. With all the recent hoopla, you welcome a chance to catch up on things by working alone or working behind the scenes. In fact, you will make great strides doing any kind of research, or the study of the past, or the study of history. Despite your desire to be low-key, with Venus in your sign, you find it easy to schmooze with others now because you are so charming and diplomatic. Those of you who are involved in sports, the entertainment world, the hospitality industry and working or educating children will be happy to know that the delays you have suffered in the last few months are over as of Thursday. You can move forward now with confidence!

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
This is a popular time for you. In particular, you are enjoying the company of younger people and sharing ideas as well as goals for the future with others to get their feedback. This week is an excellent time to reach out and make contact with others. Make social plans. Make an effort to see others. Invite people home to your own digs because all these interactions with others will please you. On Thursday, when Mars finally moves forward after being retrograde since late October, you will feel a strong energy to revitalize your home and do whatever you can to fix repairs and make things better. This same positive energy will encourage you to interact in a positive way with family. Yay!2023 Annual Forecasts are now available.
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Weekly Horoscopes Beginning Sunday, 08 January 2023

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this week:

You begin the week conscious you must ‘go with the flow’, something out of character for you, as a single-minded Aries. However, in a range of unsettling situations, others are better informed than you are. The trick? Reflect on what’s truly important to you. Think those details through in depth, enough that when you’re discussing this with others, the facts and your feelings are crystal clear.

Control the urge to splash out on items you do not need. If you spot a bargain on an online auction or at a car boot sale, ask yourself whether you might find a better alternative from a more reputable source. If you’re having a hard time getting back into your usual routines, don’t take it out on your credit card. If you must buy something, invest in something useful or some home gym equipment. When you feel restless, taking regular exercise is strongly advised.

As Mars, your ruling planet, comes to its station mid-week, anticipate that you will come to a decision. Given that this happens as Venus and Mars form excellent aspect, partnership matters will surely be to the fore. Yes, Mercury is still retrograde – and in the career zone of your solar chart – so yes, you might also be faced with knowledge that at least one project has not been completed to satisfaction. Yet progress can still be made – and the seeds of a commercial idea that have been developing in recent weeks could move to the next stage of development by Friday. It appears that a partnership you’d never imagine working will gather momentum.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this week:

As a practical Taurus and an earth sign, you’re well aware certain longstanding arrangements need to change, as do more recent plans. While, mostly, that’s a relief, you’re tempted to battle to keep some things as they are. If you feel you must, do so; but focus more on what you’re learning than simply getting your way. That ensures whatever the outcome, you benefit, and handsomely.

Keep your wits about you if you are hoping to impress a senior colleague. They will listen to your ideas but you need proof to back what you say. Unless you can show your suggestions are realistic, you will leave yourself open to misinterpretation. Are you single? You could miss the boat of love if you hide yourself away from the world. There are social invitations coming your way. Take advantage.

Think back to late August. It’s likely that since then it’s been come increasingly difficult to get a handle on financial matters. With Mars having turned retrograde at the end of October, turmoil in this area and even disappointment, is likely. Yet mid- week, not only does Mars reach its direct station, but it does so just after making a sublime aspect to Venus (your ruling planet). There should now be cooperation. Your accomplishments and expertise have real value. Before the end of what could be a week of high drama, your abilities should be noticed. If applying for jobs, your qualities should be noticed. Equally, even if you’re not looking for work, it may be that jobs are offered.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Everybody has views about your ruler, Mercury’s, retrograde cycle, which began on 29 December and continues until next week, 18 January. While the resulting confusion is universal, you’ve already benefitted from the unexpected but thrilling shifts in existing arrangements and, even more, in your options. The secret? Forget about complex commitments. Explore every idea or option, ensuring others know you’re doing exactly that, exploring. Commitments can wait.

You will not have been previously aware of a family-related problem even though someone will accuse you of having deliberately ignored this issue. Now you have been told about it, you will want to get to the root of the matter. Encouraging people to talk will be difficult when someone obviously has something they are trying to hide. Find a way to get more freedom even if this means leaving your watch at home so you can lose all sense of time and responsibility.

Mars stations in your sign mid-week and does so just after it makes a fabulous aspect with Venus. This could bring a real turning point when it comes to relationships – romantic or otherwise. Bearing in mind that Uranus is coming to its station next week, a strong possibility is that an institution or organisation that you feel has been anything but supportive in recent weeks, will have arrived at the conclusion that your side of an argument is the correct one. By the end of what could yet be a crucial week, you may find you have far more support than you imagined. The art then is not to self-sabotage by putting forward yet another point of view.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Although the Cancer Full Moon is on Friday, 6 January, you’ll have been aware of its pivotal influence for the week before and will be juggling decisions about the range of changes it triggers long afterward. The secret? Forget about organising things perfectly but, instead, focus on ensuring both plans and your own objectives are flexible enough to accommodate this period’s thrilling, if often unexpected, changes.

The main benefit of doing a job thoroughly will be that it will not have to be repeated. For this reason, resist the temptation to cut corners and rush things. If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. Someone you normally trust will give advice that does not sound right to you. Trust your intuition. You might welcome a talk with an older relative when what they have to say will help you make an important decision.

Feelings continue to run high as Mars moves towards its direct station mid-week. It achieves this position shortly after making fabulous aspect to Venus. Whilst clearly all cannot be good for every sign and every person, it would appear (especially since Jupiter is moving across one of your career points), that this week will see major developments in your working life. Opportunities should abound with strong possibility of international connection. If not that, then you may be in touch with those working in higher education. Either way, this week should find you negotiating with a large organisation that has at least two head offices. It would appear that they need you every bit as much as you need them.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this week:

While ordinarily you’d be bored by the details you’re currently facing, recent events have cast them in a new light, one that’s got you thinking about options that previously were out of reach. True, the path to achieving them will involve tedious details and numerous twists and turns. Yet, as you’re already discovering, these are as exciting as they are complex. Get involved. It’s unlikely you’ll regret it.

A studious friend or someone from a large organisation is having a great influence on a person you are close to. You might feel a little concerned and you will want to encourage your loved one to start thinking for themselves. Keep a low profile and keep our thoughts secret from the world at large. As long as you are careful you should get through this week’s challenges without too much difficulty.

Venus is moving through your opposite sign and, before Mars reaches its direct station mid-week, makes good contact with that planet. If relationships have been difficult – particularly in the working scene, – it should be possible to iron out any differences. Note that Jupiter is travelling through another of the Fire signs. Others will presumably want to get decisions made and quickly. Resolving all disputes ought not to be a problem. The art is likely to listen to what the other party has to say. Leos have a bad reputation for being too fixed and unwilling to do precisely that. Yet mid-week you could arrive at good understanding with a Gemini, Libra or Aquarius. By Friday there might even be something to celebrate.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this week:

Uranus is the planet of breakthroughs, and with both the Sun and your ruler Mercury forming powerful links with it, life’s been full of twists and turns. While some are clearcut, as many are bewildering. That’s the point. These are leading to thrilling events, often into territory as exciting as it is unfamiliar. Forget about analysis. Leap in, knowing experience is your best teacher.

A strong urge to purge your household will be hard to ignore. Divide unwanted gifts and items into three piles: sell, donate and throw-away. Just be certain you aren’t being too quick to rid yourself of rubbish. There could be something you would hate to lose hidden amongst the clutter. A spur of the moment opportunity to travel will make for a refreshing change later in the week. You could do with a change of scenery.

Mid-week, Mars arrives at its direct station and the apex of your solar chart. If you’ve had a finger in too many pies, then perhaps it’s time to consider which one is worthy of more focus. Mars’ station comes just after it makes a fabulous aspect with Venus. It’s likely that you already have strong rapport with a Gemini Libra or Aquarius, and someone from one of these signs could help you through muddle or chaos. Yes, it’s likely that communications have been fraught with Mercury, your ruling planet still retrograde and that there are still issues to resolve. Yet all of this can should be achieved by Friday when another strong aspect suggests that a working partnership with international flavour, will veer off in fresh and exciting direction.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this week:

With so much going on around you, in terms of unsettled circumstances and, equally, others’ dramas, you’re exhausted. Yet you’re also thrilled with certain changes, enough you’re happy to ride out the resulting ups and downs. The problem? Others’ complaints. Ignore them. This may seem unkind, but many deal with even welcome changes that way. Be sympathetic, but then busy yourself with matters elsewhere.

Steer clear of subjects you know very little about during important meetings and interviews. Find a way to move conversations onto topics you know inside and out. Someone you hardly know will be treating you as if you’ve been friends for years. It won’t surprise you when they ask for a favour or two as the week ends. You have always been perceptive and you will have had a feeling they were up to something.

Though not your ruling planet, Mars’ movements are still important. That planet’s motion is presently barely perceptible. It arrives at its station next Friday. Before it does, it makes fantastic aspect with Venus and yes, relationship -wise this could prove really memorable period (when stars align). Friendships and working partnerships should benefit. As the Sun and Jupiter come to one of their better aspects, it’s probable that others will view you as a star. Yours is one of the Air signs of the zodiac and you ‘do’ ideas really well. What you present could be inspired. Yes, a thought may have been incubating since the end of August or early September last year. Now others may be ready to listen to you. Meetings taking place on Friday (Venus’ day of the week), should prove particularly rewarding.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this week:

Very few are aware that you think through even the simplest of changes, in everything from your lifestyle to future plans. However, the pivotal insights, if not revelations, triggered by the Sun’s link with your ruler Pluto on the 18th, could surprise even you. The secret? Instead of retreating to reflect, discuss events with others; and be bold. The more forthright you are, the better.

A family project will be gaining in momentum. This is all because of the enthusiasm you are all putting into this work. You are being trusted with jobs normally carried out by others who are more qualified. Even if you are learning as you go, you will be thoroughly enjoying this challenge. A job you are doing on someone else’s behalf will go more smoothly than expected. You are starting to realise you are capable of so much more than you imagined.

Mars, your ruling planet, arrives at its station next Friday. Before it does, it makes fantastic aspect with Venus (still passing over the base of your solar chart). If things have been rocky (and it’s probable that they have been relationship -wise), anticipate a sense that the tide is turning. Following on from last Friday’s Full Moon, you could come to new understanding. A strong possibility is that you will feel more at home with a project that began in late August or early September last year but, for a variety of reasons, has stalled. You won’t be the only sign in this position but could arguably be one of the best to sort out the mess and do the project planning necessary for the next stage. This could be the wisest investment of your time. Prior to Pluto’s arrival at the base of your solar chart in March, it’s almost certain that you need others to know you have gifts and talents yet to explore.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this week:

For ages you’ve managed to sidestep certain tedious practical or financial issues. While, initially, this seemed a victory, you’ve become increasingly aware these can’t be ignored much longer. The secret? Get involved, but first get help from somebody who understands both the matters in question and you. Then ask them to explain issues, step by step. Soon you’ll learn enough to begin handling these yourself.

Financial problems will cause tension between you and a romantic partner. This does not mean your relationship is doomed to fail. Stop thinking it is destined for the scrap heap and instead look for ways to improve things between you. Remember all the good times you have shared and let this help you through the bad. Extending a hand to a neighbour who admits to being lonely will make you feel you are doing something meaningful with your time.

Mars arrives at its station in your opposite sign next Friday. Before doing so, it makes fabulous aspect with Venus and yes, it is likely that relationship issues will be at the top of your agenda. Legal matters could reach a turning point. With the Sun making very special aspect to your ruling planet, Jupiter, there’s high probability of you being the centre of attention and winning a debate. The art is ensuring that you have facts at your fingertips. Gathering facts together should suit you well as the Moon passes over the apex of your solar chart over Wednesday and Thursday. You could yet amaze someone with your detailed knowledge and understanding of the complexity and history of a situation.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this week:

Between late December’s Capricorn New Moon and the ideas planet, Mercury, going retrograde in your sign on December 28th, you’ve experienced breakthroughs, often in situations you hadn’t recognised as holding you back. Between now and next week, this process of recognising, then rethinking, restrictive arrangements continue. Be bold. What you say farewell to is clearing the way for a range of thrilling new developments.

You’re in a determined mood and it doesn’t matter if other people aren’t keen on doing anything serious, you are ready to work hard to get results. This will keep you one step ahead of competitors. Just think of the pleasure you will get out of reaching a self-set goal. If you’re looking for work, this is a good time to attend interviews and auditions. You will impress others by your strong work ethic and the high value you place on professional success.

It’s probable that a storm is brewing at work. Tasks that ought to have been attended to in the latter half of 2022 might still be unfinished and resentment growing. There are astro-clues that suggest you might put your foot down and make clear that certain schedules must be adhered to. With Jupiter passing through another of the Cardinal signs you should be in action mode. As Mars arrives at its station next Friday, it might suit you to make clear just how irritated you’ve been, what needs to be done and your revised expectations and even yes, perhaps a threat of what you might do if others don’t take essential steps.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this week:

You don’t think of yourself as a control freak and, mostly, you’re not. However, mid-January’s thrilling planetary activity, which climaxes with the Aquarius New Moon, on January 21st, accents breakthroughs. Some involve existing plans; but those that are most important are about ideas, offers or events as timely as they are unexpected. Explore them all. You be thrilled what you learn and who you meet.

It will be with some relief to find there is nothing too bothersome or demanding waiting for you. You aren’t in the mood for work and would rather fill your calendar with events that are fun and relaxing. Everyone deserves to have some time to spend with friends and family. If you need some time off work, take it. You might find a use for a housemate’s unwanted items by adapting something in a way that makes it more attractive or useful.

Just how much knowledge do you really have? It might be worthwhile listing what you feel you’ve gained since late August 2022. You may now have reason to question the validity of information received and need to position yourself to collate new facts before gathering a small defence army around you. Mars stations in another of the Air signs next Friday, but before doing so makes splendid aspect to Venus travelling through your sign. True, this could bring developments in your romantic life. At work however it should be clear that you are well qualified and a key team member. You may then be asked to head up a subcommittee to develop a project projected to launch in March.


Pisces
Personal theme: I believe!!
Water sign: February 19 — March 20

Your horoscope for this week:

Finding a balance between looking after your own needs, interests and passions and being there for others, when their dramas arise isn’t easy. Especially now. The problem isn’t who should come first. Certain elements of your life are thrilling and deserve attention, yours and, where others can be helpful, theirs’. Your challenge? Asking them. Once you do, you’ll realise how thrilled they are to help.

You won’t be in the mood for work and responsibility. Be doubly cautious in all that you do. Remember that tension and tiredness make for absent mindedness and this can lead to careless mistakes. To get the most out of all relationships you should be prepared and willing to spend as much time listening to others, as you do talking. You will become completely absorbed in a creative challenge as the week ends.

Plans to improve your domestic conditions may have developed since late August 2022. Now you know precisely what it is that you want to have done and importantly, why. Shelving for books could be prime consideration. There may be other ways in which you want to build up your information or knowledge base and unsurprising if you invited others into your home – perhaps as a book club or development of a small research committee. Careerwise, this could be the start of a second revenue stream that gathers momentum. A further possibility is determining an event that you want to host within the next couple of years and choosing the team members you would like to work with you. This week is all about laying foundations.
https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

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Every Day is Earth Day! Love Your Mother!

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Goddess Blessings!
Live Well – Laugh Often – Love Much
High Priestess Training
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Healing Arts and Pagan Studies
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The GoddessSchool ~ http://GoddessSchool.com

High Priestess Certification and Ancient Mystery Teachings
Herbalism 101
Herbalism 202
Herbalism 303

Earth Signs and Omens
Natural Witchcraft
Practical Magick: Spell Casting for Every Day Use
The Magic of Crystals
Introduction to Energy Healing
Introduction to Paganism
Introduction to Meditation
Introduction to The Goddess Tradition and The Feminine Divine
Kuan Yins Gentle Embrace Reiki Certification
A Year and a Day of Contemplation with Kuan Yin
Tarot, Numerology, Natal Charts and Dream Readings
Reiki Training and Certification

Herbs!!! Herbs!!! Herbs!!!
Interested in herbs and healing? Learn with GrannyMoon!
The Healing Arts Certificate Program Four great courses! Buy three get one free!
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Teach a witch a spell and she can do that spell. Teach a witch the craft and she can do magick!

GrannyMoon, Teaching the Craft for over 20 years!

“We all come from the Goddess
And to Her we shall return
Like a drop of rain, going to the ocean”
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“May the circle be open, but unbroken,
May the love of the Goddess be ever in your heart.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
And Merry Meet Again

Never forget…you are magick!

Goddess Bless!
GrannyMoon

http://GoddessSchool.com
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By GrannyMoon Posted in Pagan

GrannyMoons Weekly Feast: 1 Jan 2023

Stop holding on to the past.
Release your regrets about whatever you may have done
or failed to do that turned out poorly.
Forgive others for whatever they may have done
or failed to do that cause you harm.
Declare today to be a new beginning.
Let go of the past and move on with creating
a joyful new future for yourself.

  • Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Blessed Be My Little Witch. To those who came before and those who will come after, know that the Goddess is with you always. Thank you all my dear readers…be blessed. ~GrannyMoon

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Dark Moon – Time to Rest
New Moon – Time to Begin New Projects; Birth; Attraction
Waxing Moon – Time to Grow; Increase
Full Moon – Time to be Fulfilled; Abundance
Waning Moon – Time to Banish; Decrease
Last Sliver of Moon – Time to Die; Letting Go
Dark Moon – Time to Rest Again
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Light A Candle Today!
In many different traditions lighting a candle is a sacred action. It expresses more than words can express. It has to do with gratefulness. From time immemorial, people have lit candles in sacred places. You may want to begin or end your day by the sacred ritual of lighting a candle on this gratefulness. Or you may want to light a birthday candle for a friend. One single guideline is all you need: Slow down and do it with full attention.

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Current Moon Phase: Waxing Moon

Time: From New Moon To Full (Approx. 14 Days)

Goddess Aspect: Maiden

Associated Goddesses: Artemis, Branwen, Eriu, Nymph, Epona

Magickal Attributes: Invoking Beginnings, New Projects, Ideas, Inspiration, Energy, Vitality, Freedom. Workings On This Day Are For “Constructive” Magick (Love, Wealth, Success, Courage, Friendship, Luck Or Health.)

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What’s Happening?!?
January

The Goddess Calendar – Month of Hestia runs from 12/26 – 1/22

Celtic Tree Calendar ~ Birch – December 24th to January 20th

JAN. 1: Hag’s Day – honoring the Goddess as She Who Transforms

JAN. 1: Day of Ishtar ( Inanna, Ashtart, Ashtaroth, Ashtoreth, Anat, Astarte, Anaitgis, Atar, Isis): Goddess of Love & Battle.

JAN. 2-3: Feast of Old to Greek Goddess Hekate – who guides all through transitions and crisis.

JAN. 6: Triple Goddess Day—honoring the Goddess as the Three-In-One;
Day of the Lord of the Dance – honoring Shiva, seeking his aid for prosperity and wisdom in the New Year, and for prosperity and wisdom in the New Year, and also for a spouse if desired.

JAN. 9: Festival of Isis: Mother Goddess, Great Goddess, Throne of Egypt

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Face to Face Workshops with GrannyMoon at Sticks and Stones
Join us at https://www.meetup.com/Witchy-Wednesdays

WitchCrafting: 1 PM – 3PM – Jan 1st – No Workshop!
The Herbal Cauldron 1 PM – 3 PM – Jan 8
The Magick of Crystals: 12 PM – 2 PM – Jan 18

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High Priestess Training with GrannyMoon
http://GoddessSchool.com

The entire course takes 15 months to complete (four levels). Tuition covers lessons, assignments and instructor feedback. In addition, students may download guided meditation exercises and be eligible for Sabbats, Esbats and retreats with the Sisterhood. The entire fee for each level is $120 (payment plan available), sixteen lessons in each level, except the last.

Ceremonial Cords and frame-able Completion Certificates are awarded as members complete each level.
Level I – Initiate of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – White cord
Level II – Adept of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Red cord
Level III – Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch- Black cord
Level IV – High Priestess of the Sisters of the Burning Branch – Green cord

You Might Also Be Interested In:
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/index.html
http://www.goddessschool.com/courses/natural/naturalwitch.html
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

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Learn About Herbs with GrannyMoon!

There is so much to learn about herbs! In Herbalism 101, we cover 21 herbs, and you will start your own personal Materia Medica, that we will build throughout the next levels. We will cover the basic aspects of herbs. From culinary to magickal, medicinal to ornamental. As well as the many modalities of herbs!

During this course, in addition to the on-line lessons and hands-on projects that you do at home, I will be sending you articles, and information, as well as questions about your own personal use and research.

I look forward to walking this green journey with you! I love herbs and I hope that you do too or will learn to!

There are 10 lessons in each level and there is no time limit for completion. You may study at your own pace! There are no texts to purchase.

For more info or to join my class, click here!
http://goddessschool.com/Paganstudies/healingarts.html

The cost for Level 1 is $50.00 or $150.00 the entire online Healing Arts Course (1-3) which includes a free Reiki certification course when all three are ordered at the same time!
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Natural Witchcraft with GrannyMoon

Welcome to a journey to learn about yourself and your hidden powers. Wise women and men have existed for thousands of years and still exist throughout the world. They know Mother Earth as the ultimate healer, and have learned to utilize the gifts of of nature. Inside each person is a being of wisdom, deeply connected to the phases of the moon and the tides of the sea. All we need to do is trust our innate wisdom.

This will take 13 weeks of study and hands-on practice. But it should be fun for you too! We start with the basics!

~What You Need To Know First!
~Your Inner Witch
~The Informed Witch
~Your Witchy Genealogy, Finding Your Ancestors
~Much Much More

This is not Wicca! You don’t need expensive accoutrements or other fancy trappings! All lessons are done weekly with GrannyMoon through e-mail, with personal feedback.

Course requires purchase of one text book! You may buy this new,
used or you may already have it! “Way of Natural Magick” by Nigel Pennick

All Students Welcome!
A 13 week course on-line course.
$150.00
Those completing this course will receive a certificate in Natural Magick!

Payment Plan Available
3 payments of $50.00
Payments Plan!
Contact GrannyMoon at:
GrannyMoonsMail@yahoo.com

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The Goddess School Grimoire

http://www.lulu.com/shop/sotbb-Goddess-school/the-Goddess-school-grimoire/hardcover/product-762380.html
Hardcover: $39.45
Softback: $26.95
eBook (PDF): $6.25

The Goddess School Grimoire is a collection of recipes, artwork, poetry, prose, prayers, rituals, spells, and practical Goddess wisdom put together by the teachers, students, alumni, and friends of The Sisters of the Burning Branch Goddess School. The sisterhood is dedicated to restoring spiritual balance by returning the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and by assisting women in their personal and spiritual development. Since being founded by Head and High Mother Priestess Grandmother Moon in 2000, The Goddess School (GoddessSchool.com) has grown into a large and beautiful global community of women.

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My New Year’s Message and Predictions

It is now the ending of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, which could be filled with many emotions. No two ways about it 2022 has been a hard year for everyone. So we have to set our mind and spirit to going forward into the New Year in a positive way.

Now, you will enter the unseen, and you can enter a new year equipped with an arsenal of heavenly energies.

Many of the events that have happened in 2022 have made people realize how fragile life is and how quickly things can change. Now is not a good time to be clinging to past issues and past hurts. Letting go is a good option because it frees you from heartache caused by going over and over the past.

Bob Marley once said, “Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you’re riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts; put your vision to reality. Wake up and live!”

Feelings cannot be seen, but they exist. Therefore it is important to stay in touch with your feelings, which puts you closer to the Divine. Realize that negative thinking will pull you and your world down. I’m not saying it’s going to be easier than it was before, but we must look ahead of us. We have to draw upon the Divine Spirit and continue to battle the negative forces. Your internal peace can guide many during rough times and will be greatly needed for many who are open to the light.

Chinese New Year 2023 will fall on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023, starting a year of the Rabbit.

2023 Year of the Rabbit, A Year of Hope!

Chinese New Year 2023 will fall on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023, starting a year of the Rabbit. The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture.

In 2023, the Earth element influences recognition, power and rank, bringing the kind of luck that deals with career potential..

In 2023, the Paht Chee chart indicates an unbalanced year. There is an EXCESS of the Fire and Wood elements, while Metal and Earth element are MISSING from the main chart. For a more balanced year, we should therefore fortify the missing elements, and one of the easiest ways to do so is by incorporating the elements’ corresponding colors into one’s wardrobe.

In 2023, the Earth element influences recognition, power and rank, bringing the kind of luck that deals with career potential..

Wear YELLOWS & BEIGES for RECOGNITION

Activating the Earth element by wearing yellows and beiges improves promotion luck and earns you recognition for the work you put in. You can also wear natural gemstones, or crystals to further boost this element.

WHITE brings TALENT AND INTELLIGENCE

BLUES & BLACKS foster GOOD ALLIES

The color RED attracts WEALTH

The color GREEN manifests WISDOM & INTELLIGENCE

Now is the time to let down the walls that have kept you trapped. If you choose the spiritual path these walls will soon start to fade away and you will get a taste of real freedom. You can become more aware of your connection to everything as you let down your guard and remove the walls. Focus on what has changed for you and what you desire to change in the future. For some of you this will be easy to do. For others who are resistant to change pulling down those walls will be more challenging.

Allow yourself to connect with that spark within that has been glowing inside of you from the beginning of your existence. Sometimes we only get a glimpse of the eternal, but those moments are given to us so that we have the fortitude to carry on.

Even if circumstances try to take you away from focusing on who you really are, you must not let them stop you from connecting to your true self. No matter what choice you make you have not failed any test my friends. You are here for a reason, so your goal for the year should be to find what that reason is and start acting upon it. Wake up and live!

The Full Wolf Moon

January’s Moon is called the Wolf Moon. The Saxon word for the month was Wulf-monath or “wolf month.”

This year, the full Moon reaches peak illumination on Friday, January 6, at 6:09 P.M. EST. It can be seen rising from the horizon around sunset that evening.

See the January Wolf Moon article to learn more!

Remember I’m always here to help you if you need guidance going into the New Year. Find out what is ahead for You this Coming Year with one of My Customized Spiritual Clairvoyant Readings. Increase Your Spiritual Knowledge with one of My Classes. Learn More From One of My Books. Find Out More

Have a blessed New Year,
Cherokee Billie

© 2022 Cherokee Billie Spiritual Advisor.

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Llewellyn’s Spell A Day

Self-Love Manifesto
DECEMBER 31, 2022 BY TESS WHITEHURST

You don’t have to love yourself in order for other people to love you. But loving yourself sure does make a positive difference in every aspect of your life! And no matter how much you love yourself now, you can always love yourself more.

Today, pave the way for greater selflove than ever before. Light some cinnamon incense. Then, in a journal, list every self-loving thing you can think of that you did for yourself this year. How did you set boundaries? In what ways did you speak kindly to yourself ? How did you take care of yourself ? Now, with kindness and nonjudgment, list the areas where you didn’t love yourself as much as you’d like and the ways you could have loved yourself even more. Finally, write a self-love manifesto in which you commit to loving yourself unconditionally in the year ahead. In what ways will this manifest? How will it look? How will it feel? Sign your manifesto and date it. Extinguish the incense.
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The Power of Quitting Cleanly
DECEMBER 30, 2022 BY MELISSA TIPTON

The end of the year is an ideal time for practicing something I call “quitting cleanly.” Often we have a long list of things we feel we should be doing, yet we find ourselves endlessly procrastinating. When we allow ourselves to consciously release these lingering “shoulds,” this frees our energy and focus for more soulaligned pursuits.

Quitting cleanly doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll never decide to do this thing again; it simply means that right now you’re liberating yourself from the energy-draining pressure of “should” so you can start fresh.

On a piece of paper, write down any nagging projects you’re ready to quit cleanly. Roll the paper into a scroll, rolling away from your body, then safely light the paper on fire in a heatproof dish. Feel the energy separating from these commitments, reentering the cosmic cycle, where it can be used for other purposes. Let the ashes cool, then bury them or throw them away with gratitude.
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Smoke Gazing
DECEMBER 29, 2022 BY STEPHANIE ROSE BIRD

As we head into the new year, let’s do some smoke divination with copal. Copal’s aroma can quickly put you in a trancelike state, and for that reason it’s revered by visionaries, shamans, and energy healers. This food of the gods in several venerable cultures should be used in a very wellventilated area or outdoors. Once lit, copal produces copious amounts of smoke, and it will relax your senses. Let’s look into copal smoke’s shape formations to see what’s revealed.

To begin the ritual, light an incense charcoal and put it in a sturdy shell or on a fireproof plate. Put a small copal nugget on the white-hot charcoal. Invoke the Corn Mothers as you wave a whole maize in the copal smoke. Say:

Maize, I ask you respectfully to
open the way. Reveal to me all that
I need to see to ensure success and
abundance in the coming year.

Place the maize next to the smoldering copal and gaze deeply into the smoke. Let the aroma permeate your thoughts. Reflect on the smoke signals and notice shapes that appear. Seek out messages in the signs, symbols, and shapes created by the smoke, inspired by the aroma. When done, extinguish the incense.
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Tea with the Mighty Dead
DECEMBER 28, 2022 BY LAURA TEMPEST ZAKROFF

The Mighty Dead are the spirits of accomplished magical practitioners, teachers, and honored guides who have crossed over. They may or may not be related to us by blood or lineage, but they are powerful beings we can look to for inspiration and guidance. If you didn’t know them in life, then it’s good to start with an introduction before formally setting them up on your altar and working with them. To do this, review the work they did ( books, songs, art, speeches, etc.) that has inspired you. Frame a photo or other image of them and place it on a table you can sit at, facing you. Prepare two cups of tea (appropriate for the hour), one for yourself and one for them. Between you, set and light a white candle, and say:

I welcome you, (name of Mighty
Dead). Please join me for tea.

Sit quietly, enjoying your tea and focusing on their image. Make note of whatever words or feelings come to you to determine if you can work with them further. Extinguish the candle.
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Traveling with Tea
DECEMBER 27, 2022 BY DALLAS JENNIFER COBB

This period of time over the holidays, with kids out of school and workplaces holding those dreaded parties, might leave you in need of peace and quiet and some time alone. But maybe your home is still filled with people, or perhaps you are visiting relatives in their space.

Put on the kettle, choose your favorite mug from the cupboard, and get ready for the power of tea. Black tea has antioxidants and other compounds that improve cardiovascular and neurological health. Plus it provides comfort. Pour boiling water on a tea bag and let steep for five minutes. Mix in milk, sugar, or lemon, then pause.

Wrap your hands around the mug and feel the warmth. Close your eyes and inhale the fragrant steam. Now sip and taste and appreciate the tea, knowing that even in this busy season, there are moments of comfort, safety, and ease. And you’ve made one.
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Sharing the Unity of Kwanzaa
DECEMBER 26, 2022 BY SUSAN PESZNECKER

It’s the first day of Kwanzaa, and today celebrants honor the concept of unity. You can honor this day magically with a ceremony of unity for your family and ancestors.

Prepare by creating a list or a family tree of your family members, as many as you know or can recall.

You’ll also need a special cup or goblet, a beverage to be shared, family photographs, and a candle. Ask each family member attending to bring a favorite item that reminds them of the family.

Gather your family members at the dining table, inviting them to place their items on the table with the photos. Light the candle safely. Ask everyone to share a favorite family memory, then read aloud the list of family members sharing memories. Pour the libation into the cup, and pass it around the table. Ask everyone to drink in honor of family, past and present.

Join hands and say:
Together, our family is strong.
Present and past, we endure.
May it always be so.

Extinguish the candle.

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The Beatles? ‘They Have No Future In Show Business’
The original Beatles line-up: John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Pete Best on drums
by Ray Setterfield

January 1, 1962 — On this day, the Beatles – scruffy, clad in leather and unknown outside their home town of Liverpool – travelled through snow in a van for 220 miles to make a recording audition in London. And they were turned down.

In charge at the Decca studios where the audition was held was senior A&R man Dick Rowe. His assistant, Mike Smith, had seen the Beatles perform at what was to become the famous Cavern Club and had put forward the audition suggestion to their manager, Brian Epstein.

It lasted about an hour and the Beatles – John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and the original drummer, Pete Best – performed 15 songs. They were nervous and the session did not go particularly well but Smith told them afterwards that he “saw no problems” and they would have a decision “in a few weeks”.

Epstein let the “few weeks” pass, then, fed up with waiting, phoned Rowe and asked for a decision. It was not what he expected. “Groups with guitars are on the way out,” Rowe allegedly said, adding that he believed “the Beatles have no future in show business”.

Rowe, who died in 1986, always denied the story, saying it was actually Mike Smith who turned down the Fab Four. Another group, Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, also had an audition on the same day and according to Rowe: “I told Mike he’d have to decide between them. It was up to him – the Beatles or the Tremeloes. He said, ‘They’re both good, but one’s a local group, the other comes from Liverpool.’ We decided it was better to take the local group. We could work with them more easily and stay closer in touch.”

Whoever made the decision, Rowe went on to redeem himself by subsequently signing, among others, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Moody Blues, the Small Faces and Tom Jones.

And on musical grounds, maybe it was the right verdict. Years later, George Martin, the Beatles’ legendary producer at EMI, said that he, too, would have turned them down on the basis of the mediocre Decca audition tape.

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Full Moon Oil Recipe

This Full Moon Oil is a creative alternative to Moon Water. Use it to anoint candles, tools, amulets, your home or yourself! You can even add a splash to your bath to fill it with powerful Full Moon energy! ??

Why this Spell Works
Anointing oils aid us with a symbolic aspect, which enhances the desired results of our spell work. Anointing oils and their use in magic date back for centuries! Many religions use anointing oils for various reasons. They can be used for blessings, healing, spiritual work and more.

The Herbs listed here each have their own magical properties which, combined with your intentions, (and the energy of the Full Moon!??) will aid in attracting your desires.

Full Moon Oil
Recipe by SilverBear

Use this oil to anoint candles, tools, amulets, your home or yourself. Add it to your bath to invoke the powerful energies of the Full Moon.

INGREDIENTS
Glass jar or bottle
Carrier oil e.g. Olive, Fractionated Coconut, Grapeseed
Palo Santo, Sage or other cleansing Incense
Dried Rose Petals
Lavender
Jasmine
Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Find a clean jar, bottle or small container that you like for its looks or for having a special meaning for you. It must have a lid that closes well and doesn’t leak.
Light Sage, Palo Santo, Frankincense, Cinnamon or another purifying incense.
Ask for the plant spirit blessing, for example:
“I ask that the plant spirit of Palo Santo please infuse this space with blessings.”
Pick up the jar, fan it with smoke as you say:
“With this smoke I cleanse this object
of all negative and harmful energy
so that I may use it for my highest good.
So it is said, so it shall be.”
Take each ingredient and empower it with your intent. Your intention/petition could be attracting more money to your life, healing a part of your body, fixing a relationship, or anything else where you want to focus this sacred energy.
Add the olive oil or another carrier oil.
Shake the ingredients together.
As you are calling upon the spirits of these sacred plants to support these magical workings, use them wisely, with respect and be sure to thank them for their aid!
“Thank you plant spirit for your blessings.”
Put the jar in a place where it will be lit by the moonlight, preferably outside, but it could be near a window inside your home. It doesn’t matter if it’s cloudy outside, since moonlight, just like sunlight, can pierce through the clouds easily.
You don’t need to leave the jar outside all night. A few hours is enough, but make sure to collect it before dawn, before the sunlight touches it.

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Rain

On the next rainy day, imagine the rain washing away and cleansing your emotional body.

There are times when we might feel the need to wash away all of our troubles and call forth freshness into our lives. Since perhaps the most cleansing substance on this earth is water, we can think of the joy rain brings as an energetic bath, rejuvenating our minds, bodies and souls. Just being able to spend a few moments every time it rains to become aware of the healing powers water brings to us can renew us in so many ways. As we do this we will find that the more we appreciate the universe’s gift to us in the form of rain, the more we can see that a gentle rain shower is a strong reflective tool that has the ability to cleanse our entire being.

The next time it rains might be a good chance to experience the rain through all of your senses, allowing you to truly understand just how truly important each and every drop of water is. First, take a few minutes to look outside and notice how each individual raindrop seems to come down in a continual stream. By noticing this you can contemplate how it takes many small accomplishments to create the whole of your existence, for nothing exists in isolation. Then you might wish to focus your attention on the sound of the rainfall, letting the sounds of drops penetrate into the innermost recesses of your self. Listening in this way may bring you a greater sense of connection with nature and the world around you, knowing that the sounds you hear are an integral part of not just the physical sustenance you require but also nourish your spirit as well.

Consciously using our senses to feel nature’s healing energy as it comes to us in the form of rain is an act of internal cleansing. Just as the rain physically washes over the earth and rinses out any impurities and imperfections, so it also bathes our spirit in the joy that comes from knowing that we are in fact one with the world around us.

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Have We Lost Touch Of The Beauty Of An Aging Woman?

Have we lost touch of the beauty of an aging woman? She is powerful beyond measure; she has an essence about her that screams strength, wisdom and knowledge. She is a role model, she has many stories to tell. She shines where she stands. She is outrageous, she is wild, but most importantly she is free of the demands that society puts on her. She is confident; she believes in herself, she lives her life by her own set of rules.

She finally becomes comfortable and settles into her life. She gets this time to experience things that she felt that she never could before because now the rules have changed. Her life is written on the lines on her face, the grey in her hair, and the age on her hands, and the shape of her body changes but it doesn’t mean that it cannot be loved.

Why do we not look up to these women? We can learn from them and be inspired by them, and understand that age only strengthens beauty. It’s time to praise these women for what they have been through; they have survived life, for they are the brightest shining lights leaving their mark, with grace, charm and elegance. So here’s to the older woman, may she continue to shine.

~ Mary Costanza

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Why We Don’t Remember

There is a gift in not remembering who we are when we are born into this lifetime; the gift is the journey.

Many of us wonder why we do not remember who we were before we were born. We wonder what it was like to be a soul without a body and what it will be like to be one again. Many of us have a strange sense that we do remember, as if we did experience a bodiless existence, but we can’t quite recall the details. We may remember feeling as if we were flying, or as if we were just incredibly light and unrestricted in our movements. Still, most of us do not recall anything in detail about the time before we incarnated into a human body.

There are many possible reasons for this deep forgetting, one of which is that remembering would probably impinge upon our ability to fully commit to this life. Experiencing life on earth without any memory of an alternative existence allows us to be here completely, and that is what is required in order for us to learn much of what we must learn here. Most of us are not meant to spend our time here preoccupied with concerns beyond the realm of this lifetime. Instead, it is our job to occupy our bodies and our planet with a fullness that would not be possible if we were constantly aware of another, and extremely different, realm of existence.

There is no doubt that life on earth is difficult in ways that life outside of a body is not. As we modulate our energy to move into a body, our consciousness changes, and this is a necessary change. Forgetting other levels of being protects us from a confused and divided experience. Soon enough, we will be back where we started, so thinking too much about it now is a bit like being on a fascinating journey and spending the whole time thinking about going home. It is more in alignment with our purpose here to be fully present in the gift of this journey, unreservedly offering our energy to the experience we are having right now.

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6 Reasons to Be Thankful for Friends
~Dr. Weil

When you thank your friends and family during the holiday season, the reasons to do so may extend beyond good wishes, and actually benefit you and your health. Study after study has shown that social connections – through family, friends, or even with companion animals – seem to pay off in terms of good health, longevity and even prolonged survival among patients with very serious diseases. Some evidence linking good health with strong ties to family and friends includes:

The immune system’s natural killer cell activity is negatively affected by three “distress indicators” – one of which is lack of social support.
One study of 75 medical students found that those who were lonely had more sluggish natural killer cells than students who were social.
Research has shown that people who have companion animals have less illness than people who do not. Companion animals’ owners also recover from serious illness faster.

Susceptibility to heart attacks appears to correlate with how often people use the words “I,” “me,” and “mine” in casual speech.

And believe it or not, studies show that people who get out and spend more time with others during cold and flu season actually get fewer episodes of colds or flu than those who choose to be alone.

Being grateful for what you have has been associated with physical and emotional health. Combine this gratitude with gathering with loved ones and amplify the health benefits.

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Changing Roles

We all change throughout life trying new and different things, but the core of who we really are remains the same.

As we bob and weave with the ebb and flow of life our roles change, but our true self remains constant. As spiritual beings having a human experience, we go through many aspects of humanity in one lifetime. Living in the material world of opposites, labels, and classifications, we often identify ourselves by the roles we play, forgetting that these aspects shift and change throughout our lives. But when we anchor ourselves in the truth of our being, that core of spirit within us, we can choose to embrace the new roles as they come, knowing that they give us fresh perspective on life and a greater understanding of the lives of others.

As children, we anticipated role changes eagerly in our rush to grow up. Though fairy tales led us to believe that “happily ever after” was a final destination, the truth is that life is a series of destinations, mere stops on a long journey filled with differing terrain. We may need to move through a feeling of resistance as we shift from spouse to parent, leader to subordinate, caregiver to receiver, or even local to newcomer. It can be helpful to bid a fond farewell to the role that we are leaving before we welcome the new. This is the purpose of ceremonies in cultures throughout the world and across time. We can choose from any in existence or create our own to help us celebrate our life shifts and embrace our new adventures.

Like actors on the stage of the world, our different roles are just costumes that we inhabit and then shed. Each role we play gives us another perspective through which to understand ourselves and the nature of the universe. When we take a moment to see that each change can be an adventure, a celebration, and a chance to play a new part, we may even be able to recapture the joyful anticipation of our youth as we transition from one role to the next.
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4 New Year’s Resolutions for Cats
By Beth Ann Mayer

There’s a stereotype out there that cats are stuck in their ways. And while some certainly are, others are up for learning a new thing or two. Helping a cat learn a new skill or to love life a little more can be a bonding experience for both of you.

January is the natural time to set goals and make plans to try something new. It’s a time for New Year’s resolutions and looking ahead. Help Kitty get in on the fun with these four New Year’s resolutions for your cat.

And remember, this should be enjoyable for both of you. If Kitty isn’t into it, it may be best to let her be. She’s PURR-fect just the way she is.

Help your cat work on her anxiety this year
You love your cat, but maybe you’d like to see more of her in 2021. Cats with anxiety are prone to hiding, and too much stress can actually make them sick. Fixing this will likely mean changing some things around the house. Make sure litter boxes are easily accessible, they have spaces like cat trees that are just for them and that you’re feeding them the way Mother Nature intended.

Put “lose weight” on your cat’s New Year’s Resolution List
They say cats have nine lives, but it’s best to extend their current one as long as possible. Losing weight can play a big role in this, as excess pounds can cause a variety of issues, including heart disease and joint pain. If your cat could stand to lose a few pounds, talk to your vet about a healthy diet and exercise plan. Other tips: Schedule in play sessions, which double as workouts, and groom them regularly. Frisco’s beginner grooming kit has all the tools you’ll need to help Kitty feel pretty ($12.99, Chewy).

Help your cat venture outside (safely) in the New Year
It can be heartbreaking to watch your cat stare at the window and yowl. But keeping her indoors is safer for her and the animals around them, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Still, if your cat dreams of going outside, you can help make that happen in 2021 without putting her at risk. Catios, cat-proof fencing systems and strollers are all ways to get Kitty some fresh air. And yes, you can even leash-walk her (if she’s game).

Play with more Amazon boxes
Cats are sort of like toddlers in that you buy them all these toys, and they just want the box. Embrace this quirk with this fun-filled itinerary that will keep Kitty happy all day. You can also go all-out and make a box fort.

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Georgia Nicols Weekly Horoscope : Sunday, January 01, 2023
2023 Annual Forecasts are now available.
https://www.georgianicols.com/forecast/2023/

All Signs
Read your sign for a quick recap of what to expect in the year ahead. For many of us, life will get easier – no question. The most important thing to know is that two major changes will take place this year: Saturn will move into Pisces in March. (The last time Saturn was in Pisces was from 1994-1996.) Two months later, in May, lucky Jupiter will move into Taurus. It’s important to note that both the planet (Jupiter) and the zodiac sign (Taurus) are associated with wealth. This will therefore signal a time of increased wealth and the enjoyment of creature comforts for everyone. I can’t wait. They say that the time to save money is when you have some. I hate that part.

Aries (March 21-April 19)
You will meet two very different influences this year. On one hand, you are entering a two to three-year window when you will start to give up anything that is holding you back. It’s time to tackle storage lockers, attics, basements and garages, as well as cupboards and closets getting rid of what is no longer useful and relevant in your life. “Be gone!” You might also give up friends, jobs and even countries. Consider this a time of lightening up, not loss. You’re streamlining your life to get ready for new beginnings around 2026. The other piece of news is you’re going to get richer this year! With one hand, you let go of stuff, and with the other hand – you grab the loot!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Excellent news for you, dear Taurus! Lucky Jupiter will enter your sign this year for the first time in 12 years; and it will stay there until June 2024! This is a marvellous blessing! It boosts your ability to feel good about life. It also will boost your health. It means that is the beginning of a new 12-year cycle of growth in values, as well as choices that affect all areas of your life. Many of you will have more travel opportunities this year. This year is also an excellent time to study any subject that expands your world view. You will find it easy to be optimistic and generous to others this year. Admittedly, 2023 will encourage extravagance. (Start minting more money in your backyard.)

Gemini (May 21-June 20)
This year is the culmination of a 30-year cycle for you, which means you are now entering your time of harvest. This will be a time of recognition, accolades and awards! It will also be a time when you might see some failures. That’s because you will now see clearly what is working in your life and what is not. You can expect to have a lot of responsibilities this year. You will be working hard. But you will get public credit for what you do! About 14 years ago, you laid the groundwork for what is coming to fruition now. Where you have prepared carefully, you will receive tremendous benefits. Note: be aware not to ignore family and close relationships while you are caught up in your job and your increased social prestige and status in the community.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)
In 2023, life will flow more easily! It will also be more popular for you. Not only will your year ahead be more popular with friends, colleagues and acquaintances, you will also be more involved with clubs, groups and professional organizations. (Note: your relations with people in power will benefit you.) In turn, you will find it easy to be generous and tolerant of others. This year, you will be more idealistic and will likely work to improve the world around you in every possible way. Your hopes, ideals and wishes for the future will play an important role in what you choose to do. It’s important to know that whatever you put out this year will come back to you in even greater quantity.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
This year you will have to get along with less. Less support financially, practically or emotionally from others. You can do this very well because you are a resilient, strong sign. Fear not. This does not mean your life is going down the tube. Au contraire! Your time of harvest is a mere five years away. What it means is that this is a learning curve meant to build your self-discipline and strengthen your focus. By contrast, another influence is that lucky Jupiter will cross the top of your chart for the first time in 12 years, making you look fabulous in the eyes of others! For most, this is a time of getting ahead. Expect a promotion at work, public recognition or the esteem of your peers. Perhaps an award? Time to take a bow!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
This year it’s important to respect your need for rest. Take care of yourself. Because Saturn is opposite your sign, you might feel world-weary. You might also feel your ambitions are thwarted by circumstances or other people. Nevertheless, you have wonderful opportunities to travel this year! It’s an excellent year for writers and anything to do with publishing, the media and communications with the world at large. Some of you will take courses or go back to school. You might also become involved with a human potential group or discipline to improve yourself. You will expand your world through education and travel this year – definitely.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
This year you will work hard for important long-term goals that will come to fruition in about two or three years. (Around 2026.) Fortunately, you will have all the help that you need because lucky, moneybags Jupiter will be travelling through one of your Money Houses. This means you might inherit, or you might become richer indirectly through a partner or another person or source. You will benefit others this year. Factoid. This is the perfect year to ask for a loan or a mortgage. Sweeping changes will happen now that are for the best and will make your life richer and more rewarding.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
This year you will enjoy favourable influences for close friendships and partnerships. In fact, this is the best year for Scorpios to get married in 12 years! The good news is that you will encounter all kinds of people who will help you out in various ways. This is not the time to go it alone. Reach out to make contact with others – new friends and old. This is also an excellent year to consult experts, lawyers, counselors and astrologers. Some of you will have increased responsibilities with children. Make an effort to get organized this year because whatever you produce will be the result of hard work. Get your ducks in a row.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This is a pivotal year because in a 30-year cycle, now is the time for you to set down roots and establish a firm base for yourself and your family. You might do this by changing residences. (Or possibly, you changed residences within the last two years, which was a time of flux for you.) If this is the case, then this year, you will address basic home repairs and do what you can to improve where you live. Meanwhile, this is the best year in over a decade to find rewarding work and enjoy your job. You can improve your existing job; and if not, you can get a better job. Likewise, you can improve your health. Yippee!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
A welcome year ahead! Lucky Jupiter will travel through one of the most playful, fun-loving parts of your chart! This will encourage opportunities for a fabulous vacation this year. Maybe several? It will also promote romance and enjoyable times with children. It will enhance your enjoyment and participation or viewing pleasure of sports events. It can also sharpen your ability for financial speculation. It will hugely boost all aspects of creative self-expression – great news for artists and writers. Meanwhile, you are headed into a two-year window of flux and change with possible job and residential moves. Get ready!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Your year ahead will bring you abundant opportunities to make improvements to where you live. You will redecorate, renovate or expand your living quarters. Others will move to something better, something they prefer. By extension, this is also an excellent year for real-estate speculation because you can make money through real estate. Meanwhile, your family will be happier. Children and family members will be lighthearted and more generous to each other. Yes, this all sounds like you’re sharing a bottle of Happy Pills – but it’s the truth. Be grateful.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
The good news for you is that as of March, your journey through the Dark Night of the Soul will be over. Since early 2020, life has been difficult. Challenging. Disappointing. Frightening and full of loss, especially friends. Admittedly, your social skills were not always at the best. Starting this year – all of this is history. You’re setting out on a new path of adventure where you will reinvent yourself by 2030. Things will be so new and different for you this year, some of you will even change your daily wardrobe. This year you will be happier, more optimistic, busy with short trips and full of big ideas!

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Monthly Horoscopes For January 2023
https://groups.io/g/CelestialPrognostication

If you’re born within a cusp period (16 to 26 of any month); you’re advised to read horoscopes of both signs covered by that period. You’re on the border; you may have influences from houses within those signs.

Outlines are longer versions; consist of every possible detail of everyday and are based on three parts of each sign: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Decan; that is, any of three divisions of 10° within a sign of the zodiac. Even if you know or don’t know your Decan; I recommend, please read all three Decan.


Aries
Personal theme: I am!!
Fire & cardinal sign: March 21 — April 19

Your horoscope for this month:

While there’s no avoiding the confusion triggered by January’s tricky planetary activity, those problems will provide an exciting challenge. Some are about spotting and untangling past mistakes, others the result of changes in circumstances demanding you rethink plans. Yes, this slows your pace. However, by midmonth, what you experience and who you meet will more than justify any delays. The secret? Invest time exploring the new ideas you encounter. Some are exactly what you’re looking for, if in an unexpected form. Then plunge in with conviction.

2023 begins on a lovely career note for you; a raise, promotion, or plum position should land in your lap on the 1st. If you’ve been thinking of leaving a dull position for your dream job, go for it. A social gathering on the 3rd is worth attending; a friendship could quickly develop into a romance on this magical day. On the 5th, a professional opportunity could unexpectedly raise your income by quite a bit. The Full Moon on the 6th finds you spending quality time with your nearest and dearest; don’t be surprised if a relative makes a happy announcement. A text, voice-mail, or DM you’ve been awaiting will suddenly arrive on the 12th, filling you with relief. On the 21st, the New Moon kicks off a beneficial social alliance. The 30th will inspire you to take a long-delayed pleasure trip. It’s possible you’ll leave at a moment’s notice.

Jupiter moves through your sign until May 17. Remember, Jupiter is the planet of excess. You will want more. The temptation to overspend and overindulge will be great. Putting reins on that is arguably imperative. Yet you could do that before your ruling planet, Mars, turns direct on January 13. It’s always wise to review subscriptions and monthly payments but that is likely imperative at the start of 2023. You could give yourself a financial boost over the weekend of 7&8th by doing precisely this. Then, after Mercury turns direct on 19th, you may find others more willing to renegotiate and perhaps do better deals. These are likely to be struck before the Moon reaches your sign on January 26 when your voice – and needs – will likely be heard. In short, with care you could end this month slightly better than at its start.


Taurus
Personal theme: I have!!
Earth & fixed sign: April 20 — May 20

Your horoscope for this month:

Certain decisions are urgent. That’s no problem. In fact, you know exactly what to do. The challenge? Ensuring plans are flexible enough to accommodate ongoing changes in circumstances and, often, in your priorities. Initially this seems pointless. Soon, however, you realise January is about letting go of the old and, equally, about discovery. Being a cautious Taurus, you’re tempted to wait and watch. Don’t. Plunge in. Let experience guide you. What you learn and who you meet will add to your life richly now, and throughout the year.

The 1st inspires you to take a trip or class that could transform your life for the better; it’s an opportune time to expand your horizons. All eyes will be on you in the professional arena on the 3rd; a job interview or audition will go swimmingly. If you get a chance to learn something new, seize it with both hands. On the 6th, the Full Moon brings an exciting brainwave that improves your outlook. Career talks will be exciting and eventful on the 9th. Don’t be afraid to ask for more than you are offered on this eventful day. Beware of contradicting an authority figure on the 15th, even if you know you are right. The New Moon on the 21st is perfect for embarking on a fresh career path that gives you a greater measure of independence. More time for social pursuits and hobbies will arrive on the 27th.

The New Moon on January 21 is arguably one of the most important lunations of Taurus’ lifetime. This New Moon, at the apex of your solar chart, could coincide with the opening up of a career pathway that brings benefits to your financial life. It’s around this same time that the planet Uranus, still moving through Taurus, arrives at its direct station. Your entrepreneurial talents will no doubt surface. Coupled with Mars (by then direct and moving through key financial zone), the last 10 days of January could find you in a position to invest – most probably, in areas where you are involved. That covers companies you might work for, or self-investment through hobbies and talents. As a further possibility, and after Friday 27th, involvement in a group enterprise promises dividends for all.


Gemini
Personal theme: I think!!
Air sign: May 21 — June 20

Your horoscope for this month:

You’ve long intended to review, perhaps change and, at times, say farewell to certain arrangements; but something has always distracted you. However, with your ruler, Mercury, the ideas planet, retrograde – or in reverse motion – from 29 December until 18 January, twists and turns will be unexpectedly informative. The secret? Explore the direction they take you. Soon, events and encounters will broaden your horizons amazingly; and planning ahead? Do, but regard these as an experiment to be learnt from. The resulting insights could prove astonishingly rewarding.

Your expertise turns you into a love magnet on the 3rd. Someone who is impressed by your depth and breadth of knowledge will want to get closer. A financial matter will be resolved to your satisfaction on the 6th, thanks to a supportive Full Moon. Taking the initiative with a love interest is strongly advised on the 9th; your confidence paves the way to a passionate encounter. After a period of indecision, you’ll move forward with a self-improvement plan on the 12th. An ambitious fitness regimen will yield wonderful results. On the 18th, it will be easier to collect debts and get reimbursed for business expenses. You’ll also find it easier to discuss sensitive issues. The New Moon on the 21st brings an exciting travel opportunity; this adventure will bring out the best in you. You’ll make an excellent impression in the public arena on the 27th; this is a great time to make a professional presentation.

Firstly, recall that Mars is presently retrograde and still in your sign. It turns direct on the 13th just before the Last Quarter Moon. This should bring an end to an expense that has increased greatly since last September. You may have been fighting for a cause or incurred additional costs that are more health-related. Once your ruling planet, Mercury, joins Mars in direct motion from the 19th, and boosted by a New Moon on January 21, your fortunes could yet move in new and more promising direction. True, these planetary currents affect all signs. You could though, by Tuesday 24th, should feel that you’ve grappled with an issue and can see brighter lights ahead. This would arguably be the optimum time to consider new investments. Being drawn towards digital currencies, artificial intelligence and robotics companies should suit. As always, key is in understanding and doing background checks. This may be something you are quite happy to immerse yourself in as the Moon moves through your sign over Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st.


Cancer
Personal theme: I feel!!
Water & cardinal sign: June 21 — July 22

Your horoscope for this month:

Being an intuitive water sign, you’ve a powerful creative streak. It can appear at home, at work or in the community. Add the emotionally intense Cancer Full Moon on 6 January, and events or, possibly, your own ideas kick-start a cycle of change and growth. Some plans are clear, others mean making changes; and be bold. You won’t regret it. Equally, broaden your horizons via who you meet and what you explore. For now, focus on that. You’ll finalise those plans, but probably not until February at the earliest.

A powerful romantic or professional alliance allows you to do more of what you want on the 1st. Don’t hesitate to ask your partner to help you achieve a cherished dream. On the 6th, the Full Moon finds you reaching an exciting turning point. Reaching a fitness goal, landing your dream job, or finishing a creative project are among the lovely possibilities. Your hard work will get praise from some surprising sources. Contract negotiations are favoured on the 18th when it will be easy to get straight to the point. Be clear and detailed with all your communications during the second half of the month. The New Moon on the 21st finds you powerfully drawn to someone in your professional life. The potential for a passionate romance is strong. Although you don’t like mixing business with pleasure, this prospect may be irresistible. A relaxing vacation beckons on the 27th; book a pleasure trip.

In March, both Saturn and Pluto change signs. January is a period preparation. Until 23rd, Mercury, Mars and Uranus are each in retrograde motion. As their movements become direct, on 23rd, and just two days after an important New Moon, you should experience progress. There’s an impetus then that isn’t available at the start of the year. Priority – until Mercury turns direct on 13th, is improving savings. Your management here is generally exemplary, but only if you give time over to balancing those books. You know what is a comfortable threshold. Making that a priority before the Sun changes signs on Friday 20th should be deemed wise. Thereafter, and yes although it’s out of your usual comfort zone, investment opportunities in sectors which at the moment seem alien, should present themselves. Take time to learn. From 27th, when Venus moves into Pisces another of the Water signs, you should find that you are more adaptable than you thought. Indeed, it’s quite possible that sponge-like you soak up new information finding gadgets and services that really are new-age and worthy of investment.


Leo
Personal theme: I will!!
Fire & fixed sign: July 23 — August 22

Your horoscope for this month:

You’re in a period of dynamic change. Once that’s clear, you’ll ride out the twists and turns that dominate late December and January’s first half. You soon realise even unexpected events are broadening your horizons, often in wonderful ways. True, this means rethinking plans. Be patient. They may not come together until the Leo Full Moon on 5 February. That may seem a long time to wait. However, those details you’ve dealt with clear the way for the amazing ideas, events and encounters that appear, often overnight, around then.

2023 begins on a highly romantic note for you when several love offers are made on the 3rd. Pick the suitor who excites your imagination. An unusual work opportunity falls into your lap on the 5th. You’ll be happy to express your originality in this high-profile position. The Full Moon on the 6th urges you to indulge in self-care. Take a day off to rest and relax. The good news about your health will arrive on the 7th; your decision to break bad habits is paying off handsomely. On the 20th, the New Moon invites you to team up with a highly innovative person. This alliance will allow you to gain mastery of a marketable skill. After being pushed to the side-lines, you’ll get a sudden chance to assume the spotlight on the 22nd. This will be a great time to give a professional presentation, go on a job interview or audition for a role.

By now you’ve probably realised that the only way forward is to modernise. It’s imperative to think differently. The past can no longer restrain you. If running a business, you need to find new avenues. It’s perhaps fortunate that Mercury, Mars and Uranus are retrograde at the start of the year. This should provide the perfect backdrop for rethink and reinvestment. Until 21st, focus is on cutting the cost of servicing debt and devolving from partnerships that no longer satisfy. After 21st, and by joining forces in areas where you as yet have little expertise, you could yet make gains. After a couple of years of Saturn’s slow transit through your opposite sign, and being tied by convention and partnerships that are no longer as exciting or rewarding as they once were, you’re ready to embrace something new and to reap reward in new – very 21st Century – areas.


Virgo
Personal theme: I analyse!!
Earth sign: August 23 — September 22

Your horoscope for this month:

Resolving certain problems will take time. This means learning to live with them. While it won’t be easy, doing so frees you to explore certain intriguing and, often, unexpected ideas and offers. True, they’re lacking details. Still, plunge in, knowing you’ll learn from experience and, equally, the interesting people you meet. Long term plans? With your ruler Mercury retrograde until the 18th, the more flexible arrangements, and your thinking, the better. Take advantage of this period to declutter your life, in as many ways possible. You’ll be glad you did.

The New Year begins on a romantic note when a secret admirer confesses their love for you on the 1st. This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship. It’s possible you’ll be travelling to see someone special on the 5th. The Full Moon on the 6th is perfect for attending an impromptu social gathering; if someone invites you to dinner or a party, you should accept. You could find a last-minute discount on transportation and hotel rates. Taking a test, submitting a paper, or competing in a game of skill will pay off handsomely on the 9th. You’ll be rewarded for your expert knowledge and mastery. Postponed plans will move forward after the 18th, bringing you much relief from a boring routine. On the 21st, the New Moon inspires you to embark on a health regimen. Taking better care of your body, mind, and spirit will cause a fabulous glow-up.

Think back to last September (birthday time). Mars had moved into Mutable Gemini and Mercury had turned retrograde. There is a theme here that continues to play through January. Review and revision, sounds easy but is often costly. You might agree that your energy hasn’t always been spent well and that you have accrued costs as a result. This needs and must change. Yet that exercise could be accomplished by the New Moon on January 21. All signs will surely benefit from Mercury, Mars and Uranus then in direct motion and a New Moon that reflects the business cycle that began at the end of December 2020. Indeed, it’s entirely possible that you will have dealings with those who live and work in very different cultures to your own, and who value your expertise. Deals could yet be struck. Yes, that likely means incurring the costs of an expert to check a contract – but this would surely be a wise investment. It’s very likely that since September you’ve discovered or uncovered a talent that is now marketable and which, by the time Saturn reaches your opposite sign in late March, provides a significant revenue stream.


Libra
Personal theme: I balance!!
Air & cardinal sign: September 23 — October 22

Your horoscope for this month:

The changes you’re facing are welcome, yet many are complex and taking ages. Once you understand they can’t be rushed, you’ll do whatever you can each day, then move on to other, less complex, situations. While some will be personal, others give you an opportunity to spend time with those who enrich your life in wonderful ways. Enjoy these valuable moments. Often, they’ll form the foundation for improving on existing plans and exploring new options. The secret? For now, focus on what you’re learning. Final plans can, and should, wait.

Home comforts give you a stronger sense of self on the 1st. Take this opportunity to enjoy quality time with your nearest. Your love life gets a tremendous boost on the 3rd; don’t be surprised when someone who was once indifferent becomes obsessed with you. On the 6th, the Full Moon marks a turning point in your professional life. Signing a high-profile client, joining a prestigious company, or starting your own business are among the possibilities. The 9th is perfect for connecting with someone who admires your expertise and shares your love of the arts. Arguments over shared resources could erupt on the 15th; this is not a good time to borrow precious things from your significant other or business partner. The New Moon on the 21st inspires you to confess a crush on someone who is larger than life. Your allure is greatly heightened on the 27th; use it to lure someone into your web of intrigue.

Think back to September 10, 2022 and financial decisions taken. On 19th, Mercury arrives at exact right angle to the position it held then. Before that date, is about rethink and revaluation. Design might need to be reconsidered. Another possibility is revamping an office space. Whatever occurs, will likely have financial impact. With Jupiter now moving through your opposite sign, anticipate that partnership will be involved. Yes, a significant other may want you to invest further. Their ideas may be both well-meaning and timely. You could yet push your financial boat out in fresh direction. With Mars moving through another of the Air signs and like Mercury also turning direct this month, anticipate your expertise to have increased in value. It’s not at all impossible that you could close January richer than at its start – or at least confident in the knowledge that a sound investment has been made.


Scorpio & Ophiuchus
Personal theme: I desire!!
Water & fixed signs: October 23 — November 21

Your horoscope for this month:

While some Scorpios enjoy being out and about, as many are less sociable; but whatever your personality traits, you’ve a powerful sense of privacy – that is, what you’re willing to reveal and what you’d rather keep to yourself. Judging the planetary emphasis on talking things over – during January, and the early part of the year – certain topics you’ve been avoiding won’t just come to light, the resulting exchange of ideas will be amazingly informative, for you and, equally, for others. The more you discuss, the better.

Someone could melt your heart with warm praise and lavish compliments on the 1st. Let these loving communications uplift and inspire you. The Full Moon on the 6th allows you to advance to a higher position; you’re finally being recognised for your expertise. Support from a surprising source arrives on the 8th; thanks to this person’s recommendation, you could land a great job or work assignment. After a long period of waiting, you can finally purchase a high-ticket item that makes life much easier on the 12th. Your family will express disapproval about a close relationship on the 15th; don’t let your loved ones spoil an alliance that brings much-needed excitement to your life. Your words have additional power on the 18th; use them to confront someone who has been criticising a talented artist’s contributions. On the 21st, you have an excellent opportunity to improve your living situation. Moving to a place that fuels your energy is strongly favoured.

Though it would be understandable if you were dismayed – as January opens – to discover that you have even less in terms of resources than you hoped, it’s probable, especially in the dates around the Full Moon on January 6, that you will find ways to plug a leak. January is a month of unequal halves. What can be achieved post the New Moon on January 21, is considerable. One of your ruling planets Mars, ceases its retrograde motion on the 13th and thereafter, discovering ways of supplementing income should be possible. Yes, negotiations could be tight between 13th and 20th, yet it’s during this period, – and especially as the Sun conjoins your other ruling planet, Pluto, on 18th, that you could come up with a plan that would protect your long-term interests.


Sagittarius
Personal theme: I see!!
Fire sign: November 22 — December 21

Your horoscope for this month:

Being a forthright fire sign, you’ll stand up for what or who you believe in. However, with elements of the foundation on which certain arrangements are based shifting, you’re urged to check out the facts before you tackle pivotal practical or financial matters. Either you’ll be unaware of changes in the background or, alternatively, you’ll realise your priorities need a rethink. If matters seem urgent or others are in a rush, explain you’re gathering the facts, then do exactly that. Finalising plans? That can wait.

A big windfall could change the entire course of the year on the 1st. This is a wonderful time to land a lucrative job or start your own business. An unusual work opportunity brings the financial stability you crave on the 5th. On the 6th, the Full Moon creates an emotional breakthrough with someone who has been closed off and indifferent. This begins a beautiful new phase in your relationship. Let an admirer pursue you on the 9th; playing hard to get will yield the results you desire. Getting daily communication from the object of your desire will begin on the 12th, making your eyes sparkle with delight. The New Moon on the 21st finds you becoming a lot more active; prepare for your phone to blow up on this busy day. Home is where the heart is on the 27th; this is a great time to buy furniture and artwork.

Your ruling planet, Jupiter, continues to move quickly through another of the Fire signs. The area through which it passes is associated (for Sagittarius) with risk and speculation and yes, you may feel you’ve found the Midas touch. Yet until 23rd (two days after the New Moon, Mercury, Mars and Uranus each have retrograde phases. These should not be associated with retreat – but definitely with repair. In particular, as Mars is retrograde until 13th and in your opposite sign, it may be that a partner or close associate is focused on restoring a balance sheet and is not in a position to invest or assist you further. Yet with the January New Moon on 21st, all could change. This New Moon is special in that it picks up an important degree from the business cycle. This is where you could truly take off. Remember, your sign is associated with both adventure and expertise: enterprise is the key word for January and could yet deliver a second revenue stream.


Capricorn
Personal theme: I use!!
Earth & cardinal sign: December 22 — January 19

Your horoscope for this month:

With the actual Capricorn New Moon, your personal New Year, taking place on 23 December, by early January, you’ll have discussed and dealt with a range of practical matters. This is good timing, because events are likely to draw you into new territory, in terms of rethinking existing activities and planning ahead. What’s more, with exciting offers shaking things up, those plans could shift often, and suddenly. Out of character as making so many, and such dramatic, changes in plans may be, do exactly that. You won’t regret it.

Your commanding personality draws admirers from every corner on the 1st. It will be easy to make romantic and professional connections on this pivotal day. Your finances get a considerable boost on the 3rd; take this opportunity to buy yourself a lavish gift. The Full Moon on the 6th is perfect for making a romantic commitment. Getting engaged, exchanging vows, or embarking on a relationship among the exciting possibilities. Taking a creative risk pays off handsomely on the 8th. Stalled communications about your personal goals will move forward on the 18th; seize this opportunity to advance your dreams. The New Moon on the 21st inspires you to move into a bigger place; you’ll find the money to finance this adventure. On the 22nd, you can land a long-term professional position that brings fame, money, and prestige. January ends on a romantic note when you have a flirtatious conversation with an offbeat admirer.

January opens with Mercury retrograde in your sign and yes, you probably will be involved in a rethink. That this coincides with Mars similarly retrograde the moving through one of the works owns of your solar chart suggests you’ll be wondering just how long your present work schedule can continue. Review and reflection, is probable for all signs. Yet this need not be a negative. Soon after the new Moon on January 21, with, by then, both Mercury and Mars in direct motion, your Ennis the planet of surprises also begins its direct motion. The combination of all this together with the new Moon suggests a very different energy toward the end of the month. This should suit you well. It would be unsurprising if a job offer came your way though of course much depends on your personal chart. What schemes clear, is that in the last nine days of the month you give thought to adjusting your working pattern so the costs are further reduced. With that should also come financial relief and time to think about small potentially valuable investments most likely in sectors that a decade ago didn’t exist.


Aquarius
Personal theme: I know!!
Air & fixed sign: January 20 — February 18

Your horoscope for this month:

Confusion regarding decisions involving various obligations, to matters from family to your professional life, is nothing new. The problem? Figuring out what’s fair, yet is practical. Judging by January’s unsettled planetary activity, you’re better off regarding even simple plans as an experiment. That being the case, you’ll take chances but, equally, will sidestep restrictive commitments. Most of all, when the inevitable thrilling but unexpected ideas or offers appear, you’ll explore enthusiastically, if only for what you’ll learn and who you meet. Decisions? They can wait until February.

Your natural good looks turn heads on the 3rd; it’s easier than ever to attract the romantic attention you want. A hidden benefactor helps you find your dream home on the 5th. The Full Moon on the 6th helps you realise a fitness goal. You’ll feel and look better than ever on this fateful day. Happy news about a domestic matter arrives out of the blue on the 8th; this marks a new phase of security for you. A flirtatious conversation gives you a boost on the 9th when you’re virtually irresistible. Beware of lashing out at a loved one on the 15th when tempers will be running high. Commanding the spotlight becomes effortless on the 20th. The New Moon on the 21st helps you to connect with an influential person. Make a commitment to a professional goal on the 22nd; any agreement you make on this day will bring financial and emotional stability.

As 2023 gets underway, Mercury, Mars and Uranus are all retrograde. You can think of this as trying to drive but with the electrics intermittently failing. So yes, progress could be difficult. Yet soon after the New Moon in your sign on 21st, and with those three planets by then all in direct motion, conditions should feel very different indeed. That New Moon is particularly special in that it aligns with the degree held by Jupiter and Saturn at the start of the business cycle in December 2020. In just a few weeks’ time, Pluto will move into your sign too. If you haven’t already started on a grand working adventure, anticipate that it may not be far away. Yes, the costs of moving from one place to another could be huge, yet this might also be in the investment. What may be necessary is to learn different ways to manage financial transactions. Taxation could be involved. In rethinking and reworking, you could embrace new methods and eventually act as guide to others. In short, financially this might be a turbulent period but long-t