Planetary hours
To determine the planet hour and day, the rotation or order of progression of planets is :
1. Sun Sunday
2. Venus Friday
3. Mercury Wednesday
4. Moon Monday
5. Saturn Saturday
6. Jupiter Thursday
7. Mars Tuesday
The rule of order is the first hour of sunrise, and repeats every 8th, 15th, and 22nd hour. Thus, if I wanted to construct a sword under the hour of Mercury each day, what would be the time of day I could work on the sword on Monday?
First construct a chart for the planetary hours of Monday:
Planetary Hours - Monday
1. Moon
2. Saturn
3. Jupiter
4. Mars
5. Sun
6. Venus
7. Mercury
8. Moon
9. Saturn
-etc.-
With this, it is easy to now determine that those hours would be the 7 th hour, 14 th , and 21 st hours from Sunrise . Of course, the 14 th hour of Sunrise is also the 2 nd hour of Sunset. And the 21 st hour of Sunrise is also the 9 th hour of Sunset, but this counted as the next day when measured after midnight.
The day is therefore determined from Midnight to Midnight, while the planetary hours are determined from Sunrise to Sunset. Often one first determines what time of night the ritual is to occur before the day of the week is declared.
Oh, That Witchy Feeling
This is advice for people who occasionally, or not so occasionally have trouble feeling connected with their witchyness. This gives suggestions that can help to induce those magic moments.
Decorative ideas
If you frequently have trouble connecting with your faith, it may help to redecorate your home, incorporating magical things into the decor. A bit like a drunken Martha Stewart.
- prints of classical art
- mirrors- very cool unless you're a fan of Evil Dead 2 in which case you may want to avoid getting too close
- plants - great for inviting the little people into your home
- vivariums (living plants and animals in an enclosed eco structure) - snakes are great, but newts are good too unless you have a problem with having eye of newt in your home
- statuettes of gods, goddesses, gargoyles etc.- symbolism is great, just don't get into too many phallic symbols or people will think you're a pervert
- snow globes
- pictures of deceased family members - much more attractive than pictures of diseased family members
- charms & talismans - well, duh
- candles & oil lamps
- quilts - both for your bed and as tapestries to hang on the wall.
Household altar
I figure we don't really need to explain this to people who are already witches.
Music
- new age or world music - Enya, Micky Hart's Planet Drum, and nature sounds CDs. If you like traditional Irish music, you can't beat The Chieftains
- classical - Vivaldi The Four Seasons, Yo-yo Ma's Bach, cello, baroque stuff, Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries
- punk rock - The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Misfits.
Clothes
- dressing by color - to bring desired energies to you.
- broomstick skirts
- pagan jewelry - though wearing a pentagram when going out to Walmart with your Baptist mother isn't really recommended and if you wear too much you run the risk of looking like Mr.T
- moccasins - great for anyone whose magic has a Native American bend, but never try to wear water moccasins on your feet - hurts the toes. Snake keepers know!
- poet shirts - but don't wear these to a Nascar race or you're liable to get a pummeling....even if you wear a baseball cap!
- sandals
- vests
Broomstick skirt
A witches' song to the tunes of Amazing Grace.
Text: Verna Knapp
Amazing grace, how sweet the Earth
that bore a witch like me!
I once was burned, now I survive,
was hung and now I sing.
T'was grace that drew down the Moon
and grace that raised the seas.
The magic in the people's will
will set our Mother free.
We face the East and breathe the winds
that move across this earth.
From gentle breeze to hurricane
our breath will bring forth the change.
Turn towards the South and feel the fire
that burns in you and me.
The spirit's flame will rise again
and burn eternally.
We greet the West, our souls awash
in tides of primal birth.
Our tears and blood, our pain and love
will cleanse and heal the earth.
Reach into the North and know your roots
down deep ancestral caves.
We find the wisdom of the Crone,
Of circles we are made.
Amazing earth, enduring life,
from death into rebirth.
T'is earth I am and earth I love
and earth I'll always be.
Amazing grace, how sweet the Earth
that bore witches like we.
We once were burned, now we survive,
were hung and now we sing.
Goddess bless, so mote it be,
Our magic spirals on.
Merry meet and merry part
and merry meet again.
