Thursday

Would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in the days of abundance.

Kahlil Gibran

At-a-Glance Correspondences

planetary influence	Jupiter
planetary symbol
deities	Thor, Juno, Jupiter/Jove, Zeus
flowers & plants	Honeysuckle, cinquefoil, mint, maple tree, oak tree
metal	Tin
colors	Purple, royal blue, green
crystals & stones	Sapphire, amethyst, turquoise
essential oils	Clove, honeysuckle, nutmeg, sage
tarot cards	Ten of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles, Ace of Pentacles
foods, herbs & spices	Cinnamon, nutmeg, wheat

Daily Magickal Applications

Thursday comes from the Latin Dies Iovis, which means “Jove’s day.” Jove, or Jupiter as he was sometimes called, was the supreme god and patron of the ancient Romans. Jove/Jupiter is associated with wealth, leadership, thunder, and lightning. A lord of heaven, Jove/Jupiter was also a god of light, and his sacred color is white. In the Greek mythologies, this deity was known as Zeus.

This fifth day of our bewitching week was eventually turned into the Old English Thursdaeg or Thunresdaeg, which translates to “thunder’s day” or, more simply, “Thor’s day.” This day of the week is named after Thor, the popular Norse god of thunder. Thor was the son of Odin. He carried a war hammer called Mjollnir, and it was this that made the thunder and lightning. All of these Thursday gods—Jupiter/Jove, Zeus, and Thor—were wielders of the thunderbolt.

Thursday has the planetary association of Jupiter, and this day of the week is associated with prosperity, abundance, leadership, and good health. Prosperity and abundance are the typical magickal concerns on a Thursday. However, the way people define prosperity can vary greatly between individuals.

Personally, I think prosperity and abundance aren’t about owning the biggest house, fanciest wardrobe, or the newest car. It’s about living within your means and living well. My definition of prosperity is having enough money in the checking account to cover the bills and to pay for the groceries; anything left over is gravy.

But with a family, there is always something. Just about the time you’re feeling confident, something pops up. Somebody has to go to the doctor or the dentist, or someone needs work done on their car. Or my daughter calls from college with the classic “send money” request. It’s enough to drive me bonkers! For instance, just this past month, I got hit up for sorority dues, book fees, dentist bills, a bit of car repair and, lest we forget, living money for my daughter while she is away at school. Ouch!

The aspiration to make your budget stretch and to find ways to cover extra expenses is a real need for just about everybody. So on this bewitching day, let’s look at some practical, magickal ways to increase your prosperity and try out a few enchanting ideas designed to create a little abundance and, last but not least, good health.

Deities

Thor

This fifth day of the week is dedicated to Thor, for he was—and is—greatly loved. One of the most widely worshiped of the Norse gods, people called on Thor to protect them from evil and to bless them with both fertility and abundance. Thor is referred to as the “everyman’s god.” He is pictured with red hair and a red beard, and he is thought to be hearty and hot-tempered. He is married to a golden-haired goddess named Sif. Thor is the strongest of all the Norse gods. When he uses the hammer, he wears a belt, or girdle, that doubles his strength, and he wears magickal iron gauntlets. When Thor rides the earth in a chariot pulled by two gigantic male goats, he brings rain to germinate the crops and to make the fields fertile. The people believed that the turning of his chariot’s wheels made the sound of thunder.

Even though he may seem a warlike god, Thor is not. His hammer is thought to be a symbol of the god’s beneficence; in fact, the symbol was used to bless both infants and brides. (There are references to Thor blessing a bride by having her hold the hammer in her lap.) Yes, this is a macho-type god of storms and lightning; however, he is also associated with fertility and abundance. Thor is believed to be a guardian for the downtrodden and the frightened. He is both a compassionate friend and a fierce protector. Thor blesses us with stability and helps us to stay strong, grounded, and centered. He is worshiped as a benevolent god, one who protects both the other gods and humanity from evil and destruction. Thor brings fruitfulness to the fields and happiness to marriage.

Jupiter

The Roman sky god and ruler of their pantheon, sometimes called Jove, Jupiter is a god of justice and was originally a god of (believe it or not) agriculture; in that capacity, he was called Jupiter Lucetius. As the god Jupiter brought the rains that the crops needed to thrive, the older agricultural tie makes sense. As Rome developed over time, Jupiter became more of a dignified and stoic protector and the guardian of the city and state of Rome. In this incarnation he was called Jupiter Optimus Maximus, “the greatest god.” The color associated with this Roman god of the heavens is white. Jupiter had a chariot pulled by four white horses, and his priests all wore white robes. The ram and the eagle were sacred to Jupiter. Foreseeing the future was also associated with Jupiter by ways of divining the signs in the heavens and by reading and studying the flight of birds.

Jupiter is often linked with Zeus in Greek mythology; many of the images of Jupiter are stylized after the Greek Zeus. He was later identified by the German people with their god of thunder, Thor. The Roman Jupiter/Jove was associated with hospitality (probably because he always rode herd on the squabbling gods and goddesses). Jupiter Optimus Maximus, as the protector of Rome, was also in charge of laws and social order on earth. Oaths, treaties, and alliances were sworn in his name, which led to the custom of swearing in his name “By Jupiter!” or “By Jove!”

Zeus

The leader of the Greek gods and the head honcho of Olympus, Zeus was the god of the sky, and his weapon was the thunderbolt. Zeus was called the cloud collector and was typically portrayed either sitting on a throne or standing with one arm back, ready to hurl a lightning bolt. He was married to Hera and was known for his weakness for the ladies. Zeus had numerous children by scores of different lovers. His symbols include the eagle, oak tree, and lightning bolt. Zeus’s image appeared on gold coins, and the sculptor Phidias carved a giant statue of Zeus made entirely of ivory and gold. (Though some sources suggest the core of the statue was wood, and it was then covered with ivory and gold.) This statue was built in Zeus’s temple in Olympia. According to legend, the temple was spruced up for the Olympic games, as it was thought that the temple needed to be more grand to celebrate the deity that the Olympics were dedicated to. The statue of Zeus was fashioned to have the god sitting on a throne, holding a scepter of many metals in one hand while the winged goddess Nike (a goddess of victory) stood in the palm of his other hand. The statue of Zeus was believed to be forty feet tall and over twenty feet wide. Apparently the head of the statue almost touched the roof of the temple. The ancient statue of Zeus at Olympia became one of the most famous images in ancient times and was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Juno

Juno was an ancient Roman great mother goddess. The mature and powerful Queen of Olympus, she was a powerful matriarch. Juno was a source of fertility, a goddess of marriage and childbirth, a guardian of women and children, and a goddess of money. She was known by many names, including Juno Augusta, the harvest mother; Juno Februata, the mother of Mars; and Juno Lucina, the mother of light. In this latter aspect, the goddess was pictured as carrying a torch, or scepter, of light.

Juno was associated with the lily, the cuckoo, and the peacock. In processionals, Juno’s priestesses carried fans made of peacock feathers. The many “eyes” on the feathers were thought to watch over women, and they symbolized the fifty priestesses who served at Juno’s temple.

To tie in with our Thursday theme of prosperity and abundance, Juno was also known as Juno Moneta. The word money actually comes from the word moneta. In ancient times, Juno’s temples housed the Roman mint. Coins that were made there were considered to be blessed by the goddess herself.

Thursday’s Witchery

Today is the day for prosperity work of all kinds. It can also be used for healing work, whether that is a physical healing of an illness or an emotional healing. Also remember that you have to follow up your healing work and prosperity magick with physical action.

I can’t tell you the number of times I have met new Witches who complain to me that their prosperity spell or “I need a better job” spell did not work out as they expected. They’ll ramble on and on about how much time and money they spent working their magick . . . but, alas, they had no glorious manifestation of wealth or fabulous job that suddenly dropped out of the sky and landed in their laps.

Then, when I gently ask them, “Did you enchant your résumé or application when you filled it out? Did you do a little confidence-boosting spellwork when you went to apply for the job or went to the interview?” typically they give me a blank, confused stare.

Nine times out of ten, their response is, “You mean I have to go out and actually look for the job too?” Um, yes, my dear, you certainly do. Magick follows the path of least resistance, which means it’s going to manifest along the simplest, quickest route. Get out there and hit the pavement. See what you can find. Times are tough and competition for good jobs is fierce, so you need whatever edge you can get. For folks like us, we’re going to get the edge by using our magick and our spellcraft.

Thursdays have such a rich source of magick for us to draw upon that, honestly, the sky is the limit. This is the day associated with the gods of the sky and heavens, after all. Get to know these deities, and add their wisdom and magick into your days.

Meditation

When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Shakespeare

For today’s meditation, we are going to work with the Norse god Thor. I have found in my research that the Norse gods and goddesses are a friendly and welcoming lot. Actually, I had Odin and Thor pay me visits in my dreams frequently while I worked on the Wednesday and Thursday chapters of this Book of Shadows.

At first, I thought that all the thunder and drama was Zeus or Jupiter trying to get my attention . . . and then I received a clearer impression of the being from my dreams who had been making all the commotion. He was warm, burly, and possessed a big-brother type of vibe—you know, the kind of guy you’d hang out with, drinking beer and watching a football game on television. That’s the best way I can think to describe him. I’ll admit it was a bit disconcerting, especially since he seemed very familiar to me. Maybe that connection is from the German and Danish side of my family tree?

Anyway, to punctuate the dream visit, his loud and laughing parting announcement of “Honey, I am not Zeus” was followed by a clap of thunder, and let me tell you, that woke me right up at three o’clock in the morning.

By the time I got to the actual writing of this meditation, Thor was suspiciously quiet in my mind. Hmmm . . . I started to work on the meditation several times, only to find myself stumped. What I had originally envisioned for this meditation never quite jelled. So, I decided to wait until a Thursday. It’s his day, after all, and then I sat down and tried it again. After all, one of Thor’s magickal qualities is the ability to persevere, and this writing Witch refused to give up.

Eventually, I decided to go for a walk to clear my head. So I bundled up and headed down to the riverfront woods. On a sunny December morning, when it was all of 24 degrees, I went looking for some inspiration. I repeat: Thor’s gifts include perseverance. Walking along the Missouri River and listening to all the birds and squirrels in the woods really cleared my mind. I finally found that inspiration under some huge oak trees in the woods. (As you’ll soon see, the oak is sacred to all of the gods listed in Thursday’s chapter.)

Mission accomplished, I walked out of the woods at a fast clip and bustled back to my car. Amazing how fast you can move when you are freezing your ears off in the winter woods. So, enjoy your visit with Thor in the following guided meditation; just come as you are—you don’t even have to freeze out in the woods like I did—and see what he has to say to you.

Visualize that you are sitting under an oak tree. It’s a pleasant spring day, and you have your back leaning against the trunk of the old, sturdy oak. As you tip your head up to look into the crown of the tree, you enjoy the way the sunlight filters down through the new green leaves. The leaves are not quite to full size yet, and the tree is home to squirrels and various birds. Content, you settle in and let your mind wander as you contemplate the lessons you have learned about the days of the week so far. Now we are up to Thursday, Thor’s day, and you consider how you can add to the healing and prosperity work that you already practice.

Around you are meadows and fields that have a mist of green color on them from the new crops just breaking the ground. Focus again on the sounds of the birds and the chatter of the squirrels. Enjoy the gentle spring breeze, and allow yourself to relax in the arms of nature and to open up your consciousness. Pay attention to the landscape around you and see if you recognize any of it.

A short time later, you start to notice that clouds are unexpectedly rolling in. The sunlight rapidly shifts as these new clouds are deep gray and moving into the area rather quickly from the north. As you watch, the breeze becomes stronger and the leaves on the tall oak are being whirled around as the storm moves in purposefully. You get so caught up in watching the advancing storm that not until some distant thunder rumbles through do you become aware of your predicament.

You realize that sitting under a tree during a thunderstorm is an invitation to disaster, and you decide to head for home before the storm cuts loose. As you rise to your feet, a loud clap of thunder crashes through. You jolt and cringe in automatic response at the volume, and instinctively you take a quick look up before leaving your shelter. Preparing to make a dash for it, you run instead smack into a man who has appeared from out of nowhere. You bounce off of each other, then you overbalance and land on your behind on the soft ground. Where did he come from? Shaken and aggravated, you look up, and your mouth falls open in surprise. This isn’t your everyday type of person.

The man standing there, grinning down at you, has long, red flowing hair and a neat beard. He is wearing dark pants, boots, and a tunic of some type with a large metal and leather belt. Around his wrist are wide metal cuffs. His arms and shoulders are massive. The term “rippling biceps” seriously applies to this guy. He looms over you with his hands on his hips, looking incredibly buff and big as a mountain. He extends a hand out for you to grasp, and automatically you reach out. He hauls you to your feet with one effortless tug. Okay, so add strong to the list.

“Sorry about that. Excuse me,” you say to him, and you begin to leave. He only holds up one hand to signal that he wants you to stay. You stop and look up at him as he asks where you are going in such a hurry. You reply that you need to get out of the storm.

“You are safe here with me,” he tells you.

“Thanks,” you say politely. “But it’s going to cut loose here in a minute, so I’d better move indoors and away from the lightning.” You give him a quick smile, and as you look up into his face, his gray eyes flash in synchronization with the lightning outside. Well, that confirms that.

“You’re Thor, aren’t you?” you ask him with a smile.

“You called, friend?” he says, smiling back.

“Ah, not really . . .” you begin. As you explain to him that you are merely working on getting more in tune with the daily magickal energies, he just stands there grinning at you while you talk. The rain begins to patter down, and he takes your arm and moves you back under the oak tree for some cover from the rain.

You begin to balk and you look up nervously, half-expecting lightning to come crashing out of the sky while you stand under the tree’s sheltering limbs and branches . . . with a god of thunder and lightning.

As if he knows where your thoughts are headed, he lifts a red eyebrow at your impertinence. Maybe I should just shut up now and not interrupt or argue with the big guy, you think to yourself. With that, he throws his head back and laughs. As he does, the thunder booms along with him, and you do your best not to jump at the crash and rumble that it makes. After the noise dies down, you stand attentively and wait to see what he has to tell you.

In a lightning-fast change of mood, he now becomes more serious. “You called to me, and here I am.” He looks at you intensely. You remain silent, so Thor continues. “I am everyman’s god. I am the defender of the weak and comfort for the hopeless. I will bless you with victory and abundance. I am the spirit of courage and the power of perseverance. When you call on me, I bring a surge of strength, vitality, and valor.”

From behind his back, he takes out a large metal hammer. He shows it to you and states that those who swear an oath upon it will be gifted with courage. He allows you to decide if this is something you would like to do at this time. If so, then state in your own words your oath and what you need help with. Listen carefully to his response and to how you feel physically afterwards.

You thank him for his wisdom and his words. He lets the hammer go back over his shoulder, and then he rolls his shoulders and it falls neatly into place. You notice that the rain is starting to lessen and the thunder has faded away.

“I will see you again, my friend,” he tells you and claps a hand onto your shoulder. You do your best to stay upright, and his eyes twinkle in repressed laughter. You two share a smile, and then suddenly a ray of light beams out through the clouds and shines right into your face. You close your eyes briefly and turn your face away from the light so you can see again. Blinking, with your eyes watering, you wait for your vision to clear, then you begin to realize that Thor has left. Take a few moments and recall everything that he had to teach you during this journey. Remember that Thor is a compassionate, loyal, and fiercely protective god. If you ever need him, just call his name, and he will come and assist you.

Now take a few deep, cleansing breaths, and ground and center. Look around one last time at this scene under the old oak tree. See that the sun is now shining through the clouds and that the spring shower is moving on. Everything around you is renewed and refreshed, just as you are. Take in a final deep, cleansing breath, and slowly blow it out. Stretch gently, and return to awareness.

Magickal Plants & Flowers

Honeysuckle

An old folk name for the honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) is the woodbine. The honeysuckle grows wild where it can and is a popular plant for hedgerows. However, in the United States, we do have problems with a certain type of wild honeysuckle referred to as bush honeysuckle—the botanical name is Lonicera maackii, and it is classified as invasive. Bush honeysuckle is a sort of bully in the garden, and it will become a nuisance plant if you are not careful. It is spread by bird droppings and pops up in the garden when you least expect it. Typically camouflaging itself in the branches and foliage of other shrubs, it is easily identified in the late autumn–early winter by its bright green leaves and brilliant red berries. If you find it taking over your shrubs, be ruthless: prune it out of your other shrubs, then dig out the roots. (We had to do that ourselves this year.)

Now, the ornamental honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), a lovely vine variety, is easy to find at local nurseries. It is also, unfortunately, very invasive. This is a hardy and heat-tolerant vine-type of honeysuckle and will easily train along an arbor or fence. This type of honeysuckle will attract many pollinating bees and butterflies as well as hummingbirds to your yard and garden. The foliage and flowers of the honeysuckle have long been used to promote prosperity. This fragrant herb is associated with the planet Jupiter and the element of earth. The scent of honeysuckle is also used to promote psychic abilities and to encourage abundance. According to tradition, if honeysuckle grows outside of your home or business, it is said that prosperity and good luck will always find their way to your door. And flower legends say that by bringing honeysuckle into the home, a wedding is sure to follow. This may have something to do with the old folklore behind the language of flowers, as honeysuckle represented a “plighted troth” and celebrates the ties of love and a deep and generous affection.

Cinquefoil

Cinquefoil (Potentilla anserina) is also known as five-finger grass. The five points of the leaves symbolize love, riches, good health, power, and knowledge. Cinquefoils are a popular garden perennial. A great variety of cinquefoil to try in your garden is called ‘Miss Willmott’. This plant bears strawberry-pink flowers and does very well in sunny gardens. Cinquefoil is associated with the planet Jupiter and the element of fire. Old herbals declared the cinquefoil to be a plant with abundant healing energy, so this is the reason that this blooming herb is often worked into both prosperity and healing spells. In the language of flowers, this plant signifies a loving mother-daughter relationship.

Mint

The mint (Mentha spp.) is actually associated with the planet Mercury and the element of air. Surprise! However, it is a classic prosperity herb and readily available, so we are working with it on a Thursday. Mint is a much-maligned garden plant. The reason for its bad reputation in the garden is that it is classified as invasive—which means it will spread like crazy! Mint comes in an impressive array of varieties and scents: spearmint, apple mint, chocolate mint, peppermint . . . If you want to grow mint in the garden, then keep it corralled by planting it in pots or containers; try sinking that container into the ground so the roots and shoots will stay under control. Magickally, mint is worked into both money and health spells and charms. Add a few fresh mint leaves to a charm bag or tuck them into your wallet to promote prosperity. Also, taking a whiff of fresh mint can alleviate nausea and is thought to refresh you and to help clear your head. Pretty cool, huh?

Maple Tree

The sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum) is often utilized in both love and prosperity work (using its foliage and small branches). It is magickally associated with the planet Jupiter and the element of air. It is classified as possessing masculine energies, which I think is sort of cute, especially when you consider that the maple tree was once considered appropriate for planting in a “gentleman’s garden.” If you are looking for a way to “sweeten up your life,” this is both a readily available and practical magickal tree to work with. Come on . . . think about it: maple syrup, sweetening up your life . . . are you following me here? Try creating a small wand out of a fallen maple branch and use that in your prosperity and loving abundance spells. Oh—and yes, you may certainly use real maple syrup in a pinch for those prosperity and love spells, too. After all, that syrup came from a maple tree!

Oak Tree

The oak tree (Quercus spp.) has a vast and colorful magickal history throughout the world. The oak’s planetary influence is Jupiter, and the tree is associated with the element of fire. Many magickal cultures revere the oak. The oak is associated with the many sky-thunder gods, such as our featured gods Thor, Zeus, and Jupiter. Actually, the rustling of oak leaves in the breeze was thought to represent the voice of Zeus.

The foliage of the oak is celebrated as a happy, protective, and lucky symbol, and folks used to adorn themselves with garlands of its leaves. In modern-day folk art, it is common to see oak leaves in Green Man masks and worked into hex signs for protection and such. The oak tree also plays a major role in the winter and summer solstice celebrations, both in the decorations and in the symbolism of the Holly King and the Oak King.

Work magick with oak leaves and small fallen branches for prosperity, healing, courage, and luck. Try picking up a few fallen acorns and tucking them into your pocket like talismans. (This was thought to boost your fertility as well.) If you want a small natural representation of the god to place on your altar or workspace, then try adding a few acorns or a small twig covered in oak leaves.

Oak and Maple Leaf Spell for Prosperity and Abundance

Here is a Thursday-night spell to try. This is a quick and practical type of witchery that is based on the lore and magick of the trees. As discussed before, the maple and the oak are both linked to Thursdays and to Jupiter’s influences of prosperity, abundance, and good health.

Gather a few leaves from an oak and maple tree ahead of time for this spell. If you can pull it off, this would be a great spell to work while it is thundering outside, but please work this spell indoors if safety is an issue. Arrange the leaves around a green votive candle in a pretty holder. Raise up your personal power and picture yourself vibrantly healthy and your life flowing with abundance. If this is difficult for you at the moment, then do your best to lay your fears aside and to focus on the improvements that you are trying to achieve. Now, repeat the following spell three times:

I call on Thursday’s thunder gods to come aid me in my plight
Leaves of oak and maple tree I add to my spell tonight
Oak for protection and prosperity, and for courage true
Maple leaves for health and bounty, guard me in all that I do
This green candle spell brings abundance and healing galore
With a little help from the gods Jupiter, Zeus, and Thor.

Close up the spell by saying:

For the good of all, with harm to none
By leaf and thunder, this spell is done!

Let the candle burn until it goes out on its own. You may keep the leaves or return them to nature.

Colors, Candles, Metals & Crystals

Colors

The colors associated with Thursday are green and royal blue. Some magickal texts also list purple, as it is a color associated with royalty, leadership, and wealth. Royal blue is the traditional color associated with Jupiter. Green is a popular shade with magick users, as it represents the earth and nature. Today, green in its many shades is often utilized in prosperity and healing spells.

Now, if you take a look at the many different magickal books that are available today, you will see that just about everybody has their own opinion on which colors are assigned to which day of the week—which is why I listed three of them in this chapter. You should go with the color that seems right to you. Don’t panic if the daily colors given here are not the ones that you have been working with. The best magick has personality and is tailor-made to suit your specific needs and tastes. Personalize your witchery! Don’t be afraid to try something new or to experiment and have a little fun while working with color magick.

If you’d like to match up your outfit with Thursday’s abundant and healing energies, then think of shades in blue and green. (Since we have already gone over purple in Wednesday’s chapter, I will focus on our other Jupiter colors this time.) The various magickal shades of blue and green each have their own correlations, and they are just waiting for you to give them a try.

A soft scarf that bleeds from blue to turquoise to green would be a nice choice. Colors that blend from one tone to another invoke a feeling of harmony and well-being. Wear a deep navy suit for leadership and nobility, and a royal blue tie or blouse to correspond with Jupiter’s energy and to get you and your hard work noticed!

How about a forest green T-shirt? That deep tone of green can invoke a little mystery, and it represents the element of earth. Feeling adventurous? How about a bright lime green blouse for energy and to ward off jealousy? Or how about slipping on a soft spring green sweater? That shade of green invokes fresh starts, new beginnings, and harmonizes with the burgeoning power of the spring season. Finally, you could try wearing a vibrant St. Patrick’s Day green for prosperity and for fertility.

Candles

Candle colors for the day can be any or all of the above-listed shades of blue and green. Go with the color you like the best. If you’re more traditional, you may choose to stick with the primary shades of blue and green. If you tend to be a bit more creative, then refer to those colorful suggestions above, and experiment with your candle magick and see how things develop.

If you want to add a bit of aromatherapy to your Thursday candle spells, then try out these bewitching fragrances: honeysuckle-scented candles for prosperity, pine fragrances for healing and abundance, and mint to refresh your spirits and to bring money. If the only mint candles you are able to locate are white, no worries; white is an all-purpose color. Perhaps you could use a Jupiter-colored blue or green candle holder. You know that old saying—adapt, improvise, and overcome! Be a practical Witch and try applying that philosophy to your own personal style of witchery.

An Herbal Candle Spell for Abundance and Health

Let’s combine the herbal information with the color and candle information for a Thursday spell. You will need a few specific supplies for this spell, but the plants are common and easy to locate. You may not have to look very far—maybe not any further than your own backyard.

• 2 deep blue votive candles (you can switch these to purple)
• 2 green votive candles
• 4 votive cups
• A lighter or matches
• A sprig of honeysuckle (flower or foliage)
• A few leaves of fresh mint
• A small cluster of fresh pine needles
• A 6 x 6-inch square of green or blue fabric
• A 12-inch piece of ribbon (try a Jupiter color) to tie the fabric up into a charm bag
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell

Arrange the candles in their holders in a neat circle. Next, lay the foliage on the inside of the candle ring. Take your time and make this look as festive as you can; just make sure to keep the herbal ingredients well away from the flames. Then ground and center yourself, and repeat the following spell three times:

Jupiter’s bright colors are in these candles four
Money and abundance they will bring to my door
Add some mint, pine, and honeysuckle to this Witch’s spell
I call for health and prosperity, and all will be well.

Now, I want you to imagine yourself surrounded by a bright blue-green halo of light. Envision that this light protects you, encourages healing, promotes abundance, and invites prosperity into your life. Hold this imagery in place for a few moments.

Close the spell with this line:

For the good of all, with harm to none
By color and herb, this spell is done!

Let the candles burn until they go out on their own. When the candles are finished, the herbs will be empowered and ready to go. Tuck the herbal ingredients into the center of the blue or green cloth, and then gather up the edges. Tie the bundle closed with the ribbon. Ta-da! Instant charm bag!

Keep the prosperity charm bag with you, in your pocket or purse, for one week. If you care to re-empower the charm bag, repeat the spell on the following Thursday. Just place the bag in the center of the candle ring and you’re good to go.

Metals & Crystals

Tin is linked to the planet Jupiter and the element of air. It has a projective energy and draws good luck and prosperity. Carrying a piece of stamped tin in your pocket is believed to draw money straight to you.

The stones and crystals that are associated with Jupiter and Thursday’s energies of abundance and prosperity are the amethyst, the sapphire, and the turquoise.

Amethyst: Amethyst is a variety of quartz and comes in several shades of violet, from a pink lavender to a deep purple with tones of red. Amethysts attract peace and spirituality. This is the classic birthstone for February. Amethysts correspond to both the planets Neptune and Jupiter. It is also aligned with the element of water. Some texts say that amethysts are connected to the crown chakra and to the fifth element of spirit; if you think about it, that makes sense. If it is a spiritual stone, then why wouldn’t Spirit figure into the magickal mix? The amethyst can also enhance precognitive dreams, boost your witchy talents, and will strengthen any intuitive talents you possess. Amethyst is thought to protect you from drunkenness and is a healing stone. Also, it is thought to protect you from the manipulative magick of another practitioner.

The amethyst is also a great stone to wear or carry with you to help alleviate stress. (I have a pair of amethyst-point earrings that I wear specifically for that purpose.) When I take the earrings off at night, I either set them on my windowsill and let the moonlight fall on them or I run them under water to cleanse them of any residual energy. That way, the next time I wear them, the stones are all refreshed, happy, and ready to go. Amethyst is a popular jewelry stone with magick users, and you can’t beat that gorgeous royal purple gem for all-around practical magick use.

Sapphire: The traditional birthstone for September. This stone was featured in the Monday chapter as well, but I include it here again, as the sapphire is well-known for prosperity and wealth-increasing magick (which makes sense, as this semiprecious stone is pricey). So, if you happen to own any sapphire jewelry, Thursday would be yet another good day to work magick with it. Magickally, sapphires are protective and enchanting stones. This was the stone thought to be worn by powerful wizards and sorceresses in medieval times. Utilized in spells for both prosperity and healing, these deep blue stones pack a magickal wallop when worked into any positive witchery. Try enchanting your sapphire jewelry with this little charm:

Sapphire Charm

Sapphires, magickal stone of the deepest blue,
Aid and empower all charms and spells that I do.
By the power of your blue sparkle and bright fire,
Aid me in my witchery and grant my desire.

Turquoise: Turquoise is an ancient amulet to promote prosperity and to ensure wealth. It increases your intuitive talents and boosts your empathic qualities as well. Turquoise is a symbol of friendship and love, so it makes a great gift for a magickal friend or covenmate. This is a lucky, healing, and money-drawing stone. It also guards against disease and danger. (If the stone suddenly breaks, it’s a warning to watch your back.) In addition, turquoise promotes courage. It is also one of the birthstones for the month of December and is associated with the element of earth. Turquoise comes in shades of greenish blue to a clear sky blue. Turquoise is easy to acquire as tumbled stone and affordable when set in silver rings and pendants, or as loose beads with which to make your own magickal jewelry.

I have a turquoise beaded bracelet that I wear when I feel the need to reinforce my personal protection. You know, when you have to be around folks that simply drive you up the wall? No matter how hard you try to be nice to them, they just give off an uncomfortable vibe? Try wearing turquoise next time you have to be around them; it should help.

Have you noticed anything about our stones for today? They are all the same colors as have been discussed in the color magick section: purple, blue, and bluish green. Don’t you just love it when things fall neatly into place?

A Turquoise and Amethyst De-Stressing Spell

Stress and pressure are a nasty combination. Everybody faces stressful times now and again, even if things are going well at the moment. You know you worked so hard for that promotion or goal, and now that you’ve attained it, your workload increases—and with it comes new pressures, higher expectations (usually from yourself), and stress.

Yuck! Don’t allow yourself to get swept up in the pressure. Stop, ground, and center. Try taking a walk or talking to your family and friends about what’s bugging you. If you don’t, you could wind up with high blood pressure and a lecture from your doctor about stress and what it can do to you physically. (I received that lecture myself a few years ago. And if you haven’t figured it out by now . . . yes, I am a stereotypical Virgo.)

What’s a person to do? Well, this Witch took a good look at herself and her life and dropped from her schedule whatever wasn’t necessary. Next, I made my kids pitch in around the house more. My husband, bless him, picked up the slack, and I taught myself to eat more healthily, started taking walks and working out, and then I began to meditate on a regular basis. So did a miraculous, stress-free change happen overnight? Nope, I had to work for it. What follows below is the spell I created to help me learn to cope with my stress and worries, and then to let them go.

This spell uses a turquoise or amethyst tumbled stone or piece of jewelry. This Jupiter’s day charm will work whether you are programming tumbled stones to keep in your pocket or enchanting jewelry to help keep your stress under control. Hold the stones or jewelry in the palms of your hands.

Take a moment to calm yourself down and to release all of your anxiety and fear. Call on the God and the Goddess to assist you. Now repeat the following spell three times:

A turquoise will bring wealth and luck, this much is true
Good fortune and health from a stone of greenish blue
A purple amethyst for peace and to relieve nasty stress
Now release all my anxiety and lay my fears to rest
Peace, serenity, and health are the order of the day
Help me to relax and let go, and to keep stress at bay.

Close the spell by saying:

I release my stress and fears, they have no more power
I close this spell by wind, flame, water, and flower.

Then tuck the crystals into your pocket or slip on the enchanted jewelry. Take time every day just for yourself, and do something that relaxes you—take a long bath, read a silly romantic novel, or rent a good comedy movie. Try working in the yard, planting flowers, or raking leaves into a big pile, then jumping in. You could take a nice stroll around the neighborhood park, or just sit outside in the fresh air and sip some soothing herbal tea for a bit. Relax in the sunshine and soak up this day’s magickal healing energy.

Potions, Philters & Oils

Abundance and Prosperity Philter

This recipe is designed to increase your cash flow and to bring abundance and prosperity to you in a beneficial way. This is great for adding to sachet or charm bags, or to dress prosperity spell candles with. You could even dab a tiny amount on your business cards, résumé, or a job application. When you use this philter, don’t be surprised if you find yourself suddenly being offered more hours at work. This is practical magick; expect practical solutions to manifest. Basically what I am reminding you of is this:nothing is free; you have to work for your success.

• 1 small decorative glass bottle (green or royal blue)
• Base oil, approximately 1⁄8 cup
• Clean dropper
• 3 drops honeysuckle oil
• 3 drops mint oil
• 1 pinch dried sage or a fresh sage leaf from the garden
• Small turquoise chip
• 6 inches thin green or royal blue satin ribbon
• 1 small metal magickal charm or talisman that you feel coordinates with the prosperity of your choosing
• A label and a pen (to list the ingredients and to decorate and mark the bottle)

Pour the base oil into the bottle, enough to fill it three quarters of the way full. Add the essential oils one at a time. Next, add the crystal and the sage. Close up the bottle with the lid, place your fingers over the lid, and carefully shake up the mixture. Hold the mixture up to the sunlight and allow the light of Thursday’s sun to illuminate the philter.

Wipe off the outside of the bottle. Use the label to list the ingredients and the use of this potion. Decorate the bottle by drawing the sigil of Jupiter () or even a currency symbol. If you have other magickal symbols you would like to use for abundance and prosperity, then add those on the label. Attach the label to the glass bottle, and finish up by threading the metal charm onto the ribbon and then tying the green or royal blue ribbon around the neck of the bottle.

As you finish tying on the bow, hold the bottle in your hands and concentrate on the visualization that the aura around your heart is glowing with a brilliant emerald green color. See prosperity arriving in your life in the best possible way. Now send all that energy from your visualization into the philter bottle that you hold in your hands. Take a deep breath, hold it for three counts, and then blow it out slowly. Now, repeat the charm below:

Potions and philters that are crafted on Jupiter’s day

Will bless me with abundance in many positive ways

Sweet woodbine and mint now combine their enchanting scents

While turquoise and the herb sage lend their bewitching strengths

By Juno, Jupiter, Zeus, and Thor, this spell is spun

To me success and prosperity will surely come.

Using a bit of Thursday’s witchery

As I do will it, then so must it be!

Set aside the philter bottle, and clean up the supplies. Ground and center yourself. Eat a few crackers or do something physical. Make sure to store the philter in a dark, dry place out of the reach of children.

Essential Oils

All of these essential oils are associated with the planet Jupiter:

• Anise
• Cinquefoil
• Clove
• Honeysuckle
• Hyssop
• Nutmeg
• Oakmoss
• Sage

Most of these essential oils are easy to find at a metaphysical, arts and crafts, or home-decorating store. Use any of these essential oils to turn up the volume on the witchery you already practice. Add them to sachets or candles, or use an oil diffuser and let their enchanting aromas fill your home with a successful and prosperous vibe. Be creative, and see what you can come up with. Remember: you are only as successful as you believe yourself to be.

Tarot Card Associations

The cards associated with Thursdays all happen to be from the suit of Pentacles. The tarot suit of Pentacles (or Coins, depending on your deck) is associated with the element of earth, prosperity, comfort, and health.

Ten of Pentacles

Ten of Pentacles symbolizes completion and a group of people, typically your friends and family. This is interpreted as a card of security, spiritual riches, and the affectionate emotional support that comes from close friends and a loving family. This card reminds you to be thankful for your happy home—to be wise and look past the unimportant material things and to focus instead on what is vital: home, family, love, and life. Add this card to any spells concerning family issues or keeping a happy home, or where positive emotional support and encouragement are needed (like in the destressing spell).

Nine of Pentacles

Nine of Pentacles stands for material success and emotional well-being. In some decks, the Nine of Pentacles is portrayed as a woman standing contentedly alone in a beautiful garden. The number nine indicates protection, peace, and serenity. Combining the number nine—three times three—with the element of earth makes for a card that symbolizes beauty, creativity, and achievement that has resulted from your earlier efforts and experiences.

In other words, you have worked diligently to get to where you are standing. Relax; enjoy the benefits of your hard work and take the time to cherish these gifts. This tarot card is excellent to use in spells and charms designed for prosperity, abundance, and health, and also to protect what you have worked so hard to gain.

Ace of Pentacles

Ace of Pentacles signifies the undivided strength of the element that is associated with it. Since the element of earth is associated with material things, fertility, and physical well-being, this is just the tarot card to work with on a Thursday. This is a card of generosity and the beauty of the fruitful earth. The Ace of Pentacles represents new opportunities, security, health, riches, and comfort.

It is a card to use when you feel good about yourself and your past achievements, and when you are looking to add a bit of a financial boost to your life. Are you looking for a better job, a promotion, or are you simply hoping to catch a little overtime? Try working a spell with this card. And in the spirit of the Ace of Pentacles, remember to be generous and giving to others when your prosperity starts to roll in.

Earthy Prosperity Tarot Spell

If possible, work this prosperity spell outdoors. You will be calling on the element of earth and all of its fertile and abundant energies. If weather prohibits you from being outside, then set this up so your work area faces north, because the northern direction is associated with the element of earth.

• A green votive candle
• A votive-cup candle holder
• ½ cup garden soil (you can use potting soil)
• A saucer or small plate to hold the soil
• The following tarot cards: Ace of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles, and Ten of Pentacles (please note: the suits of Coins and Pentacles are the same thing)
• A lighter or matches
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell

Place the green votive candle inside the cup. Snuggle the votive cup securely down into the soil. Arrange the cards next to the dish that holds the soil and candle. Take a few moments to center yourself. When you feel ready, light the candle, and speak the following spell three times:

Element of earth I call, ground and strengthen me tonight
May the gods now bless this green spell candle that burns so bright
The suit of Pentacles and Coins calls for prosperity
They will help to bring health and abundance quickly to me
Now together may all of these elements combine
And create opportunity for wealth at this time.

Close the spell by saying:

For the good of all, bringing harm to none
By the element of earth, this spell is done!

Allow the candle to burn until it goes out on its own. If necessary, move the candle to a safe location so it can finish burning, such as a shower stall, inside an unlit fireplace, or in the empty kitchen sink. Never leave a burning candle unattended, especially outdoors.

Daily Witch Craft

healing wreath

Here is another witchy craft from my Book of Shadows for you to give a whirl. You may decorate this wreath with either fresh or dried botanicals; it’s up to you. Use whatever magickal healing plants you have growing at home in your garden or go to the arts and crafts store to peruse their selection of dried flowers. Should you decide to use fresh roses and allow them to dry naturally on the wreath, make sure you remove the thorns before you work with them.

Please note that I have the magickal attributes of the suggested floral materials listed for you in the supply section. So choose your herbal materials with intention and get to crafting!

• Fresh or dried sage (a Jupiter herb that encourages long life and wisdom)
• Fresh or dried feverfew (a healing and protective plant)
• Fresh or dried chamomile flowers (a healing herb that purifies and protects your health)
• Fresh or dried roses (roses speed up magickal workings and encourage a loving atmosphere in the home)
• Fresh or dried yarrow flowers (a beautiful and readily available “all purpose” magickal herb)
• Small 8- or 12-inch grapevine wreath
• Glue gun and glue sticks
• 1 floral wire paddle (16 gauge)
• 3 yards decorative green ribbon (green is a Jupiter color and one associated with herb magick, life, and good luck)

Gather small groups of your chosen herbs together and wire them into little bundles. Now lay a bundle on top of the wreath base, and start wrapping the wire around the wreath; go over the stems of the herbs as you do this. After you have the first bundle wired on, twist the wire together and snip off the ends, tucking any remaining wire down into the grapevine. Continue on to your left with the process, overlapping the stems from the first herb bundle with the flowers of the next. Work your way around the wreath until it is completely covered. If necessary, add a touch of hot glue to the herbs to make them stick to the grapevine wherever it is needed. Once you have the entire wreath covered, tie up a decorative bow and secure it with the floral wire, then attach it to the wreath. When you attach the bow, say these lines:

Witchy ribbon of green, now be for me
A charm for a life that’s strong and healthy.

Use a twelve-inch length of ribbon for a hanger, if you choose. Once you are finished with the wreath, hold it in both of your hands and charge it full of healing energy. Repeat the charm below three times:

By Jove! This wreath will radiate a healing light

To ward and protect me and mine both day and night

By the power of herbs, this Thursday Witch craft is spun

Bringing healing energy to all and harm to none.

Now hang up your wreath and enjoy it. Clean up your supplies and straighten up your work area.

Custom-Made Daily Magick

Well, let’s see . . . abundance, prosperity, and good health has been our focus for this day. Now how about a little more information and ideas for working practical magick with one of our fascinating featured deities of the day?

Juno was the Queen of Heaven. As the matriarch of the gods, she guarded over women in every aspect of their lives. Juno was thought to have renewed her virginity every year. Similar to other goddess stories, Juno was a triple goddess—a virgin who belonged to no one; a mother and woman in the prime of her life, sexual and mature; and also a crone, powerful, wise, and sometimes vengeful (as she made her husband’s many mistresses’ lives either fairly unhappy or short).

There are references to an early all-female triad of goddesses known as the Capitoline Triad. This triad consisted of Juventas, Juno, and Minerva. To the Greeks, they would have been known as Hebe, Hera, and Hecate. Ultimately the triad became Juno, Minerva, and the male Jupiter. Jupiter, another of Thursday’s gods, was Juno’s consort.

As mentioned earlier, Juno, in her aspect as Juno Moneta, was the patron and protector of the Roman mint. The coins produced at her temples were blessed by Juno and imbued with her powers of abundance and prosperity. In another of her aspects as Juno Augusta, Juno was the goddess of an abundant harvest.

In addition, another of Juno’s magickal correspondences is the semiprecious stone malachite. Malachite is a beautiful green-banded stone that was also called the “peacock stone” in Italy. The peacock was a sacred animal of Juno’s, and the magickal energies of malachite encourage health and prosperity. So, guess where we are going with all of this information? That’s right, a spell for prosperity and abundance.

Ritual for Thursday

juno’s prosperity elemental ritual

This spell calls for some natural magick supplies. Try working with affordable tumbled malachite stones. As for the wheat stalks, look at the dried flowers and fillers in the arts and crafts shops. Ditto for the feather, or peruse a fly-tying store; you can usually pick up a package of feathers for a few bucks. As to the green seven-day candle, if you look around, you can find green jar candles. I actually found some at the grocery store for a dollar apiece. They were in the ethnic food aisle and were called novena candles. I simply peeled the saint sticker off of it, and abracadabra! An instant seven-day candle for my witchery.

As mentioned before, all of these magickal supplies listed below correspond with the goddess Juno in two of her prosperity-drawing aspects, Juno Augusta (the harvest mother) and Juno Moneta (patron of the Roman mint).

• 1 malachite stone (to represent the earth element)
• A few peacock feathers (to represent the element of air)
• 3 small stalks dried wheat
• 1 green seven-day jar candle for prosperity
• 3 drops honeysuckle, peppermint, or clove oil (all of these oils encourage prosperity)
• A clean dropper (to add the oil to the candle)
• A long, thin screwdriver (to put holes in the candle)
• A dollar bill or coin
• Matches or a lighter
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell

Carefully and slowly push the screwdriver straight down into the wax. Now pull it straight back up. Add two more holes for the essential oil. Now set the screwdriver aside; using the dropper, squirt a few drops of honeysuckle oil down into those channels that you just created.

Next, hold the green jar candle in your hands and transfer a little of your personal power and desire for prosperity into the candle. Then place the candle on your work area on top of the currency. Arrange the stone, wheat stalks, and feathers to your liking. Make your work area pretty, and enjoy the process. While you are doing so, you may chant the following (the chanting will help you raise some energy too):

By the power of three times three
Bring prosperity now to me!

When you feel that you are ready, light the candle and repeat the following verse three times:

Juno Moneta, Roman goddess of prosperity
Lend your power to this elemental spell that I weave
Juno Augusta, mother of the harvest, hear my plea
These three golden stalks of wheat are a gift to you from me
A peacock feather for air, and a malachite for earth
Lady, bless me with success, abundance, and rebirth
For the good of all, with harm to none
In Juno’s name, this spell has begun!

Allow the candle to burn until it goes out on its own. It will probably take five to seven days for the jar candle to burn out. When I burn seven-day candles, I tuck them inside of my large cast-iron cauldron, then I place the spell components around the outside of the jar. That way, the candle can continue to safely burn, and even if it gets knocked over, everything stays contained inside of the fireproof cauldron.

Once the jar candle is finished, pocket the malachite stone and the bill or coin. Keep the money with you, tucked in your wallet or in your pocket. Tie up the feathers somewhere prominent where you will see them every day, like the rearview mirror of your car, your dresser mirror, or a chest of drawers’ handle. Every time you see the feather, tell Juno thank you. Take the dried wheat and crumble the pieces apart. Sprinkle the seeds outside as an offering for Juno. Abundance and prosperity will find their way to you soon.

Please note: As I suggested to you in an earlier chapter, if you cannot leave the ritual candle safely burning, then snuff it out when you leave and relight it as soon as you are home. It may take a few days longer, but the magick will still turn out, especially since you are taking the time and energy to tend the ritual candle so carefully. As you relight the candle, say:

As this ritual candle relights, so does my magick once more ignite.

Enjoy your ritual work, and may prosperity come to you in the best possible way!

If you have enjoyed working this final ritual, then take another closer look at the other natural correspondences that were listed in this chapter. What else do you suppose you could create for a little personalized magick? Are you feeling inspired? Flip back to the spell worksheet on page 301 and get busy crafting a spell or charm just for yourself.

Try wearing some honeysuckle-scented perfume to encourage prosperity. Bewitch someone by wearing deep royal blue or brighten up a dreary day by wearing lucky, prosperity-drawing green. Brew up a pot of mint tea to help increase your cash flow. Try adding a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon to an unscented candle to encourage some fast cash. Bake up a loaf of wheat bread for the family, and celebrate abundance and be thankful for all that you have.

Conjure up a witchy craft and create a philter or two for your magickal needs. Work with the deities and the magickal plants featured in this chapter and experiment. How did the energies of the plants of Jupiter enhance your magick? What did you learn by working with Juno, Jove, or Zeus? The truth is that by adding these new techniques and information into your spellcasting repertoire, you will indeed advance your skills, thereby moving up in the ranks to become a more adept magickal practitioner.

Just by believing in yourself and working toward creating abundance, health, and prosperity, you have already begun to transform your outlook on life. Put your game face on; think positively. Work with Thor for perseverance and courage, and apply those qualities to your own prosperity spells and healing witchery. Break out the tarot cards; take a careful look at those images of the three featured cards in this chapter. How could you incorporate that symbolism into other spells of your own design?

Use your imagination, check Thursday’s correspondence list, and see what other bewitching things you can conjure up for prosperity magick all by yourself. Call on the gods and goddess of Thursday and bring some positive change, abundance, health, and prosperity into your life!

[contents]