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Astrology

Astrology, we are told, is the oldest science (as astronomy and astrology were once wed as a single entity), and it has had an incredible impact on human history. Given this information, we can easily assume that both astronomy (the study of the heavenly bodies in defining weight, speed, mass, and how that body interacts with the other bodies of the universe) and astrology (the study of the movements of the heavenly bodies and how these movements relate to human activity and consciousness) have enormously changed over centuries of study because they are no longer seen as one entity.

In magickal studies, having a sense of our history is important as we build for the future. We are living history and the choices we make for our future are often made on the experiences of our past (or on the experiences of someone else’s past). In astrology, a snapshot in time be-comes the living history of the birth of a person, place, or thing. Even though all things are destructible, that point in time will live on. This is why charts of famous people can still be read for present-day occurrences in their personal chronicle of pain and pleasure. For example, the release of the story of William Wallace through the movie Braveheart would be apparent in Wallace’s astrological chart, even though his physical existence passed from this Earth centuries ago. More recently, Princess Diana’s chart will continue to reflect media releases about her life, times, and family. So, too, your natal chart will reflect your past, your present, and your future opportunities for choice.

The study of natal astrology is the contemplation (called delineation) of patterns of energy brought into this dimension by your birth, and the manipulation of that energy by yourself throughout your life. When we view astrology in this manner, we realize that nothing is fixed or fated, save what we make it that through past, present, and future choices. A life lesson can be learned through many approaches. It is our actions and our reactions that will determine what type of experience we will manifest in order to grasp this lesson. Sometimes we must go through several experiences of the same nature until we get it right! Our natal astrological chart is a mystery puzzle, and only we, the individual who massages the energies in the chart through daily choices, are the Chart Master. Indeed, we hold the keys to the secrets of ourselves and the brass ring of our success. An event chart, in the same manner, shows your upcoming energy patterns—and by your own choice, you can be there or be square! (Pun intended.) Your higher self, for all intents and purposes, is still in control, and if you let your conscious mind analyze the data of the chart, you can manifest the best choice possible for you. You have only two main requirements: making the effort to learn the language of astrology and, once integrated into your head, using the information to create a better lifestyle for yourself and those around you. Sounds just like real magick, doesn’t it?

In the occult, the student is taught “the mysteries,” which vary from group to group, order to order, and teacher to teacher; however, many of the building blocks of these teachings have remained the same over the centuries. Astrology is (and always will be) a part of the mysteries. We can trot it out into a new arena, slap politically safe words on it, gussie it up and make it acceptable to even the most discriminating of minds (and I don’t mean minds of good taste), and it will still be a mystery teaching. We can make it scientific, we can make it psychological, or we can make it spiritual. A rose by any other name is still a rose. And a mystery, by the very nature of it, is created with the sole purpose of being solved, and in that resolution comes enlightenment. A mystery teaching is named so not because the information is special, but because the information is not mass taught. Think about it. Christianity and other standard religions began as mystery teachings, but are not considered as such in our current lifestyle.

The guts of today’s astrological study focuses on eight of the known planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto—our moon (which is a satellite), and our sun (which is the only star in our solar system). Although astrologers speak of the ten planets (as listed above, including the sun and the moon), don’t say that to an astronomer or in science class! The sun and moon are not scientifically classified as planets, yet they are seen as such for the purposes of astrology. (You still need to know the difference!) The sun and moon are sometimes called the Greater and Lesser Lights (the sun associated with the “greater” and the moon with the “lesser”). In many ancient religious teachings, the sun and moon were likened to the illumination of god/dess, gracing our world with light and life—two halves of a whole—the will and emotion married to create ultimate, positive energy. Does not our own Pagan spiral dance reflect the birth of the universe? We spiral in to focus, and we move out in a circular pattern to manifest the joy of the human soul as it marries the heavenly divine. From the physical to the spiritual, illumination carries enlightenment.

Religion aside for the moment, most historical accounts of astrology agree on the following:

Various studies of astronomy/astrology birthed out of different areas of the world independently. One of the first to surface was the Chaldeans (then Babylonia, now Iraq), developing around 3000 b.c. By 2000 b.c., the Chinese had their own variety of astrology. Others included India and the Maya of Central America. This affirms my belief that astrology is a gift from Spirit, introduced into the minds of different cultures to make sure everyone got a copy.

Around 500 b.c., astrology became a part of Grecian study, with philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato incorporating their own expertise into the subject. Although condemned by some individuals in the Christian church (not all), astrology continued to be practiced through the Middle Ages and was often used by royalty for planning events and studying the possible ups and downs of favorite notables. Natal astrology was not the favorite study of the day, as few people knew the exact time of their birth (only the rich people or, in tribal times, the sons and daughters of the ruling hand had that privilege); therefore, if you wanted to know something about your life path, you relied on horary or electional interpretations.

Pliny the Elder (23 c.e.–79 c.e.), a Roman scholar, wrote an amazing number of texts, including the great Encyclopedia of Nature and Art (thirty-seven books). The volumes covered a compendium of subjects covering astronomy, geography, human physiology, etc., and it is felt by some that he was the foremost authority on science and history in ancient Europe. Pliny indicates that the Chaldeans were moon worshippers, and that their system of astrology was based on the movements of the moon—a zodiac system known as the houses of the moon (lunar mansions) and of which some information can be found today in the Picatrix. He further stated that the study of the heavens was “traditionally the business of women.”14 There is evidence that the astrology of Babylon and Egypt was moon-oriented and, even in Roman times, the Emperor Augustus used not his sun sign but his moon sign, Capricorn, on his coinage.15

Between 161 c.e. and 139 c.e., a man by the name of Claudius Ptolemaeus (Ptolemy) set about the task of writing down that which had been studied for centuries. Encompassing a four-volume series, the Tetrabiblos was the first material available in book form on astronomy/astrology. He also catalogued over 1,022 stars called paranatellonta, which were first seen as a device for locating objects in the heavens, and then grew into points that carried their own significance. When studying aspect sets (of which there are several), you will find that the Ptolemaic set of aspects is a favorite among modern astrologers, and the starting point for most beginning students. The Ptolemaic aspects also allow experienced astrologers to “get back to basics” when they hit the mind-clutter syndrome after several years of advanced study. (And yes, it happens to everyone.) In a chapter titled “On the Influence of the Stars,” Ptolemy wrote that by using astrology “we may await the future with dignity.”

Astrology was introduced to the Greeks by Alexander, who brought the study from Babylon and Egypt. It soon gained tremendous popularity. Not only was the hour of birth considered important because of its astrological influence, but horoscopes were cast for many important decisions. Chaldean astrologers settled in Athens and won wealth and favor. Berosus, a Babylonian, founded a college for astrology. He was so successful that the Athenians erected his statue in their gymnasium symbolizing divine prophecy.16 In Rome, however, emperors tended to be hypo- critical of magick and astrology. Nero, for example, felt that the common man shouldn’t be able to read the stars because the stars could predict conspiracies (and considering what Nero had in store for them, it isn’t any wonder). As an aside, we see this pattern repeated often by European royalty, including Queen Elizabeth. On the other hand, both Nero and his wife and Queen Elizabeth employed the astrologers of the day, meaning it was okay for the elite few to have astrological foreknowledge, but the common populace could wither and die. In Rome, being an astrologer did not assure fame and fortune. You could read for the emperor and his court, but you’d best keep your trap shut to anyone else. If your predictions were wrong, or found disfavor with a particular project, into the dungeon you would go, or you would perhaps share your evening meal with a passel of lions—you, of course, being the entrée.

The fall of Toledo (Spain) in 1085 placed the richest philosophical library in Europe at the disposal of Western scholars. The work of translation began soon afterward, coordinated by scholars from Italy, Germany, and Britain, but was dependent on the expertise of Spanish Arabs and Jews.17 This bit of trivia is important because it tells us where medieval astrologers gathered much of the astrological information that is still used today in a variety of magickal applications. Although most Witches don’t realize it, the magick they currently practice carries a great deal of medieval and Renaissance influence, including work from Guido Bonatti, Michael Scot, Roger Bacon, the patronage of Cosimo de Medici, Kepler, Newton, Paracelsus, Bruno, Thomas Campanella, Cornelius Agrippa, John Gadbury, William Ramsey, and William Lilly. It is Roger Bacon who said, “There is no fatal necessity in the stars; they incline but do not compel,” which has been paraphrased by numerous astrologers and magickal practitioners alike for hundreds of years—and which supports the concept of free will and the control you have over the energies you brought with you into this lifetime.

The study of astrology and astronomy was considered one practice until the 1600s, when Copernicus blew everyone out of the water by insisting that the Earth was not the center of the universe—that regal spot belonged to our sun. Hence, we now have two types of astrological study: heliocentric (the study of the planets from the position of the sun), and geocentric (the study of the planets from the position of the Earth). Geocentric astrology appears to be the current popular favorite in astrological studies.

Now, why is this history stuff so important? A great deal of the information that astrologers and magickal practitioners use in timing and correspondences still used today comes from the centuries of observations by astronomers/astrologers before them. It is also important to understand the nature of astrology within the framework of ancient religions. There was a good reason why the two were melded together. Naturally, some of the conclusions drawn so long ago were based on superstition, and we are forever grateful to the modern study of astronomy for correcting such errors; however, we are also finding that many of the conclusions postulated by ancient astronom-ers are returning to us through modern satellite transmissions. (See the works of Stitchen, published through Bear and Company, if you are interested in this phenomena.) In late Grecian history, and eventually in Rome, we hear the warning notes of the schism coming between magick and astrology. In the drive to consolidate authority, the Romans, and later the Christian church, would wade in blood and politics, almost obliterating magick and grievously wounding astrology.

Today, many astrologers believe that it was the work of Carl Jung, through his advanced studies of the human mind, which rescued astrology for the modern practitioner, melding the two sciences of psychology and astrology together to bring about healing mechanisms for the human psyche—which restructures the collective unconscious, which in turn breathes new life into the study of astrology, which can be used as a positive healing tool. If he had not done this, it is highly likely that all of the classical texts on astrology would still be moldering in some museum somewhere. Today we are lucky enough to have at least a few.

But what does all this have to do with the study and practice of magick? Most ancient mystery traditions, from what we can tell, were based on the study of nature, human behavior, the chosen religion of the tribe or order, and the movement of the heavens. By bringing astrology back into our lives, we give ourselves another avenue in which to operate, hopefully more efficiently than we did before. By granting ourselves the right to practice magick, we unfetter the human mind and allow our goals to manifest in a positive way. The mind is magick. To me, anyone that denigrates magick is purposefully choosing to destroy the inherent abilities of each and every human.

No longer bound by the fear and control mechanisms of the Middle Ages (you’re not, right?), we can move beyond superstition and into the science and art of positive human development. I have discovered that most, if not all, of the problems we wrestle today are merely illusions of our own perception. How frightening, and yet . . . how simple. Astrology and magick allow us to adjust those self-imposed perceptions and create that elusive win/win situation. Faith is our own construct of a positive energy pattern that allows us to produce a better individual reality. By being the best that we can be, we affect those around us in a positive way, which in turn affects the people around them. If we drop a pebble in the water, the reaction moves outward in a widening circle, creating a different reality (even if it is just a moment in time) for the pebble and the water. You are that pebble. What type of reality are you creating for yourself, and for others?

There are, however, a few stumbling blocks for the magickal astrologer. Without trying to purposefully border on the negative, it is necessary for you to know that there are those in the modern astrological community who have fought long and hard to remove the magick from astrology. I can understand this. We are still, even in this modern age, a superstitious species. Any “woo-woo” stuff and some people run for cover, while others loudly choose to erroneously disclaim the benefits of the system in question (let’s take the attacks on alternative medicine for an example) and do their best to drive the more intuitive among us deep into the bowels of the Earth. These people choose to ignore the magickal history attached to the subject of astrology because they are afraid. I agree that modern astrology is not fortunetelling, but I disagree that the astrologer’s intuitive process is left dormant while analyzing a chart. To me, our intuitive selves are an inherent part of our psychological and spiritual construction. We need only open the door of acceptance to take advantage of such a gift. Whether we admit it or not, every time we look at a person’s chart and begin the process of delineation (or analysis), we are actively applying a mystical energy, just as the ancients did before us. We are employing the building blocks of shamanistic and ceremonial study by seeking this process for the betterment of the human situation. We are the masters to a better future. And if that ain’t positive magick, I don’t know what is.

So what am I trying to tell you? Astrology is open to your interpretation. Yes, you can find guidelines in books, or teachers to help you, or software programs to make the calculations easier and provide pretty pictures at the same time, but in the end you need to formulate how you will use what you learn all by your little lonesome while attempting to keep an open mind. This also means that you are going to make mistakes. What you thought was a “hmmm” might only be a brain fart. That’s okay. This simply means that you are human and have not reached deity status. Join the club. This is also where accurate record keeping comes into play. Over time you will learn how you react to “segments” of a particular energy pattern by watching your own actions (and recording them) while that energy pattern is active, or when you activate that energy pattern through choice. Once you understand your personal astrological profile, you can adjust or improve your behavior to flow in a positive way with any energy pattern. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be any surprises, but planning and understanding how the energy might manifest in your life helps you to work with, rather than against, necessary change (those lessons in life provided by Spirit for our growth and amusement) or guide your actions in a harmonious way to create the changes that you desire. At the same time, by learning astrology and applying what you discover to your own life path, you will also have the added bonus of learning to understand the actions and behavior of those around you. It’s sort of fun to know that even though Aunt Bess is screaming that it’s an earthquake in her life, you’ve seen her chart and you know it’s only a chuck hole.

Natal astrology is so vast a subject that we can’t possibly cover it in this book; however, you will work with the planetary and sign energies throughout this material.

The Heptagram and
the Magickal Days

Although the heptagram (a seven-pointed star, above) is often used by the Faery traditions to represent their spirituality, it appears that its original basis had much to do with astrology, timing, and the advent of the seven-day week used throughout the Hellenistic world of mixed cultures (Egyptian/Greco-Roman). For some, the design represents the magick in the number seven, and various cultural deities, including the Seven Faces of Hathor (Egyptian), the Seven Pillars of Wisdom (Middle East), and the Seven Mothers of the World (Southeast Asia).18 In general magick you can place this symbol on any object as a defense against penetration—for example, private papers (your diary or magickal journal). If your mom or dad is a police officer or construction worker, where they face danger every day, you can write his or her name in the center of the star and empower the drawing as a protective device. Make sure the person puts the paper in a pocket or wallet, or something they wear or carry close to their body.

You will also find the heptagram in several old grimoires, where it is associated with the speed of the planets moving through the heavens, and matches the energies of the planets to the seven days of the week.

The diagram above, on the right, can be read two ways and gives us two interpretations. First, if we begin with the moon and move counterclockwise, we see that the planets are listed from the fastest-moving body in the heavens to the slowest of the known planets in classical times, which are as follows: the moon, Mercury, Venus, sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. If we put our finger on the moon, then trace down to Mars, over to Mercury, up to Jupiter, down to Venus, up to Saturn and down to the sun, we have just traced the planetary energies of our calendar week:

Monday: Moon

Tuesday: Mars

Wednesday: Mercury

Thursday: Jupiter

Friday: Venus

Saturday: Saturn

Sunday: Sun

. . . and this continuous line moves clockwise around the diagram. In some magickal traditions, the heptagram begins with the sun placed at the highest point.

The diagram on the next page works the same way. If we want to remember which planet moves faster, then we start with the moon and move counterclockwise to Mercury, to Venus, to the sun, and so on. If we want to know what rules which day of the week, we start with the sun (Sunday), trace the line down to the moon (Monday), up to Mars (Tuesday), down to Mercury (Wednesday), over to Jupiter (Thursday), up to Venus (Friday), and down to Saturn (Saturday). As with the first diagram, these are the seven classical planets of the ancient world.

To modern magicians, the heptagram stands for the distribution of the planetary energies through the seven days of the week, and is associated with the seven colors of the rainbow, the Egyptian Goddess Isis, and is sometimes called the Symbol of Venus or Star of Venus because Venus is both the rising and setting star (see Pentagram/Pentacle). At certain times of the year she rises at dawn, and other times of the year she rises at twilight—therefore some called her the Gateway to the Stars. The heptagram is also used for calculating planetary hours, a fine-tuning device used in magick and ritual.

The Planets

In Witchcraft, planetary and astrological sign energies are used in making incense, oils, potions, timing, ritual, spellcasting, and numerous other facets. In an effort not to be redundant, you will find the following list includes scientific and general information about the planets. The energies these planets represent and what they can be used for will fall in the weekly associations, and in the planetary hour table on page 197. However, if you are new to astrology, don’t skip over this first list. You may find it incredibly invaluable in the future when reading your planetary guide, astrological almanac, trying to figure out the astrological software program you just bought, or trying your hand at event planning. And if you are very brave, you will need these rough calculations for the study of horary astrology.

Miscellaneous Information
About the Inner Planets

time it takes to circle an astrological chart
(360 degrees in circumference), which also equals
the planet’s orbit around the sun

Sun: 365 Earth days and spends approx. 30 days in each sign.

Moon: 27 days and 7 hours and spends 2.3 to 2.5 days in each sign.

Mercury: 88 Earth days—moves around the chart approx. 4 times each year and spends about 7.5 days in each sign (not including retrograde periods).

Venus: 225 Earth days and spends approx. 18.7 days in each sign (not including retrograde periods).

Mars: 687 Earth days or 1.9 years (almost two years) and spends approx. 57.3 days in each sign (not including retrograde periods).

retrograde periods

Sun: None.

Moon: None.

Mercury: Three times per year for 3 weeks per retrograde period.

Venus: Retrogrades every 18 months for approx. 40 days.

Mars: Retrogrades every 26 months for 10 weeks (70 days).

number of satellites
(moons and asteroids)19

Sun: (blank).

Moon: None, though she does go “void” as she moves from sign to sign. A void period can last from a few minutes to two days.

Mercury: None.

Venus: None.

Mars: Two moons, Phobos and Deimos (diameter of fourteen miles and seven miles, respectively).

degrees this planet moves
on average per day

Sun: Approx. one degree.

Moon: Approx. .5 degrees per hour, or twelve degrees per day.

Mercury: Approx. 4 degrees per day.

Venus: Approx. 1.6 degrees per day.

Mars: Approx. .5 degrees per day, which would be a movement of 30 minutes.

consistency20

Sun: Star ball of incandescent gas of average size and brightness compared to other stars.

Moon: No air and no liquid water. No weather. Landforms are a result of meteoric impact.

Mercury: Less than half the diameter of Earth. No air or water.

Venus: Covered in bright clouds of sulfuric acid. Atmospheric pressure is 90 times that of Earth. Most of the surface is covered by undulating plains.

Mars: Has a 24-hour day, a pattern of seasons, and polar ice caps. Temperatures on Mars rarely rise above freezing. Called the red planet because it is covered by red deserts. Some think Mars is the precursor of Earth and was destroyed by war.

astrological sign rulership

Sun: Leo.

Moon: Cancer.

Mercury: Gemini and Virgo.

Venus: Taurus and Libra.

Mars: Aries and Scorpio (classical).

Miscellaneous Information
About the Outer Planets

time it takes to circle an
astrological chart (360 degrees in circumference),
which also equals the planet’s orbit around the sun

Jupiter: Approx. 11.9 Earth years (usually rounded to 12 years), spending approx. one full year in each sign.

Saturn: Approx. 29.5 Earth years to complete its cycle around the chart. Spends approx. 2.4 years in each sign.

Uranus: Approx. 84 Earth years to complete a cycle. Spends approx. 7 years in each sign.

Neptune: Approx. 165 Earth years to complete a cycle. Spends approx. 13.8 years in each sign.

Pluto: Approx. 248 Earth years to complete a cycle. Spends 20.6 years in each sign.

retrograde periods

Jupiter: Once per year for 120 days or approx. 4 months.

Saturn: Once per year for 140 days or approx. 5 months.

Uranus: Once per year for 148 days or approx. 5 months.

Neptune: Once per year for 150 days or approx. 6 months.

Pluto: Once per year for approx. 6 months.

number of satellites
(moons and asteroids)21

Jupiter: 16 known satellites that fall into three groups: inner eight, including the four Galilean moons; the middle four, and the outer four. The Galilean moons are the largest: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Saturn: 18 moons, of which the largest is Titan and is the second largest moon in the solar system (smaller only than Ganymede). Other moons are Rhea, Tethys, Dione,
Iapetus, Enceladus, and Mimas.

Uranus: 21 known moons. Titania is the largest. Cordelia and Ophelia are shepard moons straddling the Epsilon ring.

Neptune: 8 moons with Triton as the largest, which is actually bigger than Pluto and moves in retrograde motion.

Pluto: 1 moon, Charon.

degrees this planet moves
on average per year

Jupiter: 30 degrees per year, or .08 degrees per day.

Saturn: 12.5 degrees per year, or .03 degrees per day.

Uranus: 4.3 degrees per year, or .01 degrees per day.

Neptune: 2.1 degrees per year, or .005 degrees per day.

Pluto: 1.4 degrees per year, or .003 degrees per day.

consistency22

Jupiter: Largest planet in the solar system, weighing more than any other planet—it spins faster than any other planet and its constantly changing cloud formations form bands parallel to the equator. The planet is made primarily of liquid hydrogen and helium.

Saturn: Second largest planet in the solar system—broad, bright rings made of icy chunks that encircle equator; cloudy atmosphere that covers an interior of liquid hydrogen and helium.

Uranus: Gas giant and third largest planet in solar system. Axis of rotation makes it look like it is orbiting on its side. Covered in methane clouds that absorb red light. Also has eleven rings.

Neptune: Gas giant, faint ring system; atmosphere consists of hydrogen, helium, and methane. Stormy atmosphere. Crust is icy water, methane, and ammonia.

Pluto: Actually a double heavenly body with the other half (sometimes referred to as a moon) known as Charon. Where Pluto is covered with frozen methane, Charon is covered with frozen water.

astrological sign rulership

Jupiter: Sagittarius and Pisces (classical).

Saturn: Capricorn and Aquarius (classical).

Uranus: Aquarius.

Neptune: Pisces.

Pluto: Scorpio.

Magickal Days and Basic Timing

In modern Wicca, the heptagram is one of the first timing devices we learn, although you’ll find a table of correspondences like the one below in most books rather than the geometric symbol (see page 185).

sunday

Symbol:

Planet: Sun.

Basic energy: Will.

Basic magick: Success.

Element: Fire.

Color: Yellow or gold.

Rules: Leo.

Energy keywords: Aggressive, authority, confidence, courage, determination, dignity, egocentric, faith, fortitude, individualism, leadership, loyalty, optimism, overbearing, poise, power, reliance, stubborn, vitality, willful.

monday

Symbol:

Planet: Moon.

Basic energy: Emotion.

Basic magick: Protection, psychism.

Element: Water.

Color: White or blue.

Rules: Cancer.

Energy keywords: Creativity, domestic, feeling, flexible, growth, imagination, impressionable, intuition, kindness, magnetism, masculine, maternal, matter, mother, peace, plasticity, protective, psychism, receptive, sensitive, sympathy, visionary.

tuesday

Symbol:

Planet: Mars.

Basic energy: Action.

Basic magick: War, change.

Element: Fire.

Color: Red.

Rules: Aries, Scorpio.

Energy keywords: Assertive, combative, constructive, courage, defiant, destruction, dynamic, energy, expressive, fearless, force, frank, heroics, impulsive, leadership, passion, self-reliant, spontaneity, violent.

wednesday

Symbol:

Planet: Mercury.

Basic energy: Speed.

Basic magick: Communication.

Element: Air.

Color: Blue or silver.

Rules: Gemini, Virgo.

Energy keywords: Active, adaptable, agility, alert, analytical, articulate, aware, brilliant, changeable, critical, dexterous, diffusive, discriminatory, duality, efficient, expressive, indecisive, intelligent, irresponsible, precise, reason, restless, sensory, skeptical, verbose, versatile.

thursday

Symbol:

Planet: Jupiter.

Basic energy: Expansion.

Basic magick: Money.

Element: Fire.

Color: Purple.

Rules: Sagittarius, Pisces.

Energy keywords: Aspiration, benevolent, charitable, confident, dignity, expansion, extravagant, faithful, generous, growth, gullible, human, humorous, indulgence, kindness, merciful, optimistic, orthodox, philanthropic, poise, pompous, radiance, religious, reverent, understanding.

friday

Symbol:

Planet: Venus.

Basic energy: Socialization.

Basic magick: Love, friendships.

Element: Air.

Color: Green.

Rules: Taurus, Libra.

Energy keywords: Affectionate, art, attractive, beauty, considerate, constructive, cooperative, courtesy, devotion, evasive, feminine, flirtatious, gentle, harmony, impressionable, indifferent, indolent, love, obstinate, original, refinement, responsive, sociable, vacillate.

saturday

Symbol:

Planet: Saturn.

Basic energy: Restriction, authority, crossroads.

Basic magick: Banishing, rewards.

Element: Earth.

Color: Black or midnight blue.

Rules: Capricorn.

Energy keywords: Authority, caution, defensive, diplomatic, fearful, humility, justice, law, old, patience, pessimism, respect, responsible, restrain, rigid, serious, severe, sincere, stern, thrifty, time.

There are a variety of ways that you’ll learn to use magickal days, and their energies are very useful if you can’t (for whatever reason) use the phases/quarters of the moon or the moon in the signs for timing a spell or other activity, or are just looking for a “good” day to do something.

Family members seem to learn the magickal days with more acceptance than any other technique because they are simple, and it doesn’t take long for them to realize that they work! For example, if you need forceful energy to get your point across or need a little confidence, then choose a Tuesday—an action day. If you want to hand in extra-credit homework, work on a term paper, find research information, talk to a friend about something important, take a short trip, or must do several things at one time, Wednesday is the day. If you need to work for money (long-term cash, saving, and investing), then Thursday would be a good choice. Monday is for psychism, children, mothers, feminine interests, and working on your emotions in a positive way, as well as protection. Saturday is the day to throw things away, to banish bad habits, or to put limits or structure to something, to work on manifesting rewards, and to talk to the dead. Friday is for love, parties, shopping, social activities, friendships, and working for fast cash. Sunday has always been the success day—a day of beginnings, joy, and harmony in respect to your will (what you want to do, as opposed to what you have to do). If you mention every Wednesday morning that Wednesdays are good days for communication, your family will eventually realize you are right. If you say often that “Tuesday is the war day,” again your family members will (at some point) notice that people are a bit more active, maybe even more combative, on Tuesdays. After awhile, Mom might say, “I think I’ll wait until Wednesday to talk to my boss about that research project. Didn’t you say Wednesdays were good communication days?”

Seven-Day Spells

Many books on the Craft and magick talk about seven-day spells, where the magickal work is done on a particular day, and then repeated every day thereafter for seven days. These spells are constructed so that you can work with the planetary energies of each day, building to the ultimate completion of the spell that has all the powers of the seven classical planets. To help with visualization, candles are often used, though you can tailor any magickal operation to the seven-day cycle. Taper candles can be marked with seven notches, or you can use a “rainbow” candle, a pillar candle, a seven-day continuously burning glass-enclosed candle, or even an oil lamp with scented, colored oil that matches the overall goal. Some magickal people use seven small candles (votive or tea) rather than a single candle, and burn one of these smaller candles a day for seven days.

The most important choice in the seven-day spell rests on timing and the immediacy of your need. Can you wait for the right moon phase or not? Can you wait for the right flavor of the moon or not? Can you wait for the right day (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) or not? And, even if you can wait, will everything fit together? Maybe the moon phase and the flavor are right, but the day isn’t what you’d normally choose. Perhaps you can’t get the moon phase or the flavor, but you can hit the right day. There will be times that you wish you could just move things around to suit your magickal needs, but you know that you can’t do that—or can you? Laurie Cabot, one of the most famous practicing Witches of our time, often added the following to her spells: “And may all astrological correspondences be correct for this working.” That way, even if you can’t physically work on the right day, or moon phase, or catch that unique flavor of the moon, you can touch the energies you need for that working. Cool, huh? It works. I’ve been doing it for years. However, the more correspondences that match in your magickal workings, such as astrological timing, the faster and more powerful your work will become.

Before we move on to the invocations for the seven-day cycle spells, we should talk about one more piece of timing—you. There will be occasions in your life when the moon isn’t in the right place, the flavor is all off, and the day is the worst, but you will be all fired up to do magick. It just hits you with an exciting rush, and you think, “It’s time to do magick.” Maybe your fingers will tingle or your hands will grow warm. Perhaps there is a tightness in the muscles of your arms or a lightness around the solar plexus. Follow the signals that your body is sending you. Do the magick.

Classical Planetary Invocations

The following invocations are designed to invoke the energy of each of the classical planets separately, along with an invocation that ties them all together. If you begin your spellwork on a Sunday, then start with the Invocation of the Sun, followed the next day (which would be a Monday) with that of the moon, and so on. If you launch your spellwork on a Tuesday, then use the Invocation of Mars, followed by that of Mercury (on Wednesday), etc. Say each invocation three times: first, to declare and summon the spiritual assistance needed; second, to banish any unwanted energies; and third, to infuse the object or person with “the change” and to seal the spell (see part 4, Charms).

Each day before repeating the invocation that matches the day, begin with the following:

1. Breathe deeply three times or more until you feel calm and relaxed.

2. Ground and center.

3. Cast the magick circle and call the quarters.

4. Repeat the following opening, which you can use for opening any spellwork:

Great Mother Goddess, allow me to reach into the vaulted heavens and bring that which is needed for this working into form. Purify all
energies and fill them with harmony so that the Witch and the magick work in divine union and create the pattern that will crystallize into my desire here on Earth.

invocation of the sun
(sunday)