Waxing New Moon enters the Fixed Earth Sign of Taurus

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."


4th Day of the 4th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Artemis
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Fearn/Alder
1st Day of the Celtic Tree Month of Alder/Fearn
Moon Phase: waxing New
Moon rises: 8:18AM EDST
Moon sets: 10:43PM EDST
Moon in Aries v/c 7:22AM EDST
Moon enters the Fixed Earth Sign of
Taurus at 12:29PM EDST
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The gifts of Spring
Sun in Pisces
Sunrise: 7:27AM EDST
Sunset: 7:28AM EDST
Solar Question for the Day: "What do you
need to let go of and how is it impeding you?"
Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Quarter of the Year
March 18th, 2010

It is Thor's Day - Jupiter's Day, a Day of Vision, Spiritual Insight, and Expansion.  There are Major magickal energies for rites and spells regarding Money Matters and Business Success and there are minor magickal energies regarding 'networking.'  With the moon moving into the Fixed Earth Sign of Taurus which is about concerns of money, work, and property we will receive lunar energy to help boost our spells concerning money matters and business success. 
   This lunar transit also concerns home and family, the body, sensuality, building slowly and cautiously, growth, sensitivity, planting and emotional patterns based on security.  After the forceful forward movement of Aries, the energy flow is even, solid, calm and patient.  There is a desire to protect material goods and a strong need for financial security. Emoationally there is stubbornness but yet also great sensitivity to others.  With the awakening of the earth in spring season you might get the urge to work in the garden.

Alder Tree Month - starts today

   The Alder is the shield tree, both on the physical and spiritual levels. Called 'the protection of the heart', it was highly prized. The wood is easy to work, yet very tough and when first cut the sap is red, giving the tree apperance of bleeding. No doubt all these were reasons for its used in shield making. Nearly all parts of the tree can be used in dye making; the bark giving black, red, or yellow, depending on the mordant used. Green comes from the catkins, the wood yields pink, early shoots yellow and later ones cinnamon. The bark is boiled and the resulting liquid is used to alleviate swellings, inflammation and rheumatism.
    The Alder is also a tree of balance, bearing male and female catkins, the male being larger with purple scales and yellow flowers, the female being smaller, somewhat cone shaped, purple and later developing into cones. Also, because the Alder often grows in moist places it is one of the trees that unite all four of the Elements.
     Because of its defensive properties Alder is often carried as protection, and a piece of Alder worn from the neck is said to be a good protection on spiritual journeys, such as meditation and astral travel.
An Alder shield, made on the psychic plane through visualization, is a good addition to your Astral Temple. Male catkins and female cones can be placed on the Altar to represent the God and the Goddess, during workings for balance, or added to a charm bag to bring balance into daily life.
[From: "The Real Witches' Year" by Kate West]

Ostara - Spring's Arrival

   The Sun crosses the celestial equator heading  north, bringing about a magical state of balance as equal day and equal night are manifested in the perfect twelve-hour divisions.  (take note in my heading above that today's sunrise and sunset are about as close to a twelve hour division as we are going to get. Keep track of these times the next few days and you will see what I mean.)  As the sun slowly journeys north along the eliptic, it remains in the sky a little longer each night, setting exactly due west near the time of the vernal equino, which is usually on or around March 20th.
    Ushering in the official first day of spring, the astronomical view of the equinox occurs when the sun is at the exact intersection of the celestial equator and the ecliptic. The vernal equinox marks the beginning of the tropical year. Originally established by Caesar and Sosigenes, the tropical year is 365.242 days long and is determined by the precise interval between two vernal equinoxes. The tropical differs slightly from the sidereal year, which measures the revolution of the earth around the sun and lasts 365.250 days.
     This is second of the solar festivals in the Wiccan year, the arrival of spring is celebrated as the maiden goddess awakens from her long sleep of dreams. The newness of spring is observed in the tender green of the bough and the eminent potentiality of life's reawakening.  The sky, no longer empty, resounds with the joyful song of birds. The equilibrium between polarities brings us awareness of the duality of nature; light balances the dark as life balances death. The snows of winter have melted, leaving the earth supple and moist. The branches of trees that stood stark and bare for so long are now covered with tight buds, soon to erupt in an explosion of color and scent. The world awakens; newness, possibility and purity are in the air.
     There are few things more exciting than something that is on the verge of becoming. At this time, potential is everywhere. We bask in the miracle of the dawning springtime. In regions close to the Mediterranean, the summer crops have already begun sprouting up through the earth. In the north, the time for seeding is at hand. Newborn foals and calves struggle to their feet and begin to romp on shaky legs. The greening of the earth begins.
[Excerpts from "The Wiccan Year" by Judy Ann Nock]

And I just came this article about the equinox and cooking...

http://www.owlsdaughter.com/2010/03/fire-up-your-wealth-in-the-kitchen/