Moon in Gemini

From August 15 - August 17 at 2:19 p.m. EST the Moon is visiting Gemini.

Now is a good time for magick involving Communication, Change of residence, Writing, Public relations, Travel and Healing for the shoulders, arms and hands. The corresponding color is mauve and the nature spirits of Gemini are the airy Sylphs.

Happy Casting!
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Totem Animals

I always thought my totem animal was the butterfly because they are my favorite but lately I have come to realize that my current totem is the one creature I really don't like: The spider.

I have always been afraid of spiders. Rationally I know they're relatively harmless - nature's creatures, yadda, yadda - but they still give me the heebie jeebies. I never would have chosen the spider for myself but we know how the Universe works!

You will have more than one totem through out your life. Your totems will most likely change as the lessons you need to learn in life change.

After a few too many strange encounters I started to pay attention and got the feeling the Universe was telling me something. Keep in mind this is the Reader's Digest version because I will be here all night. There are too many to list and I see at least one spider every day even though I live in the city.

Last week, I had just arrived at work and sat down when I saw a tiny spider descend on its silk string, floating down, down, down, to land right in front of me. The timing was perfect. If I had arrived just 30 seconds later I would have missed it. And why my desk? Why not Steve's?

An egg sac in a web hatched on the bottom of my screen door when I went out for a cigarette and we had hundreds of spider babies all over the place. Almost like it waited for me to go outside to witness nature in all its creepy glory. More likely the door closing triggered it but still, perfect timing. Thank goodness I don't smoke anymore!

A couple of times using the bathroom at work, a movement caught my eye and I noticed a spider crawling on the bathroom floor, under MY stall door when there are 5 others it could have visited.

Leaving the laundry room I saw a fly which I manoeuvred around but for some reason I looked back and it was actually a spider hanging in the middle of the doorway. I never usually look back after leaving a room so it struck me as strange that I did that time and it was a spider again.

A few nights ago I dreamt I was lying in bed when I happened to look at the far corner of the ceiling as a huge spider descended on its silk string to the floor. This was before any of the totem talk. The dream is what prompted me to start researching.

The next night I got what appears to be a spider bite on my back while I was sleeping. I woke up with a big, red, itchy painful bite. Better now but it totally validated my theory.

The following questions are taken from http://www.animaltotem.com/find-your-totem.html

1. Since we are drawn to that which resonates with us, what animal, bird, or insect are you drawn to?
2. When you go to the park, forest, or zoo what animal are you most interested in seeing?
3. What animal do you most frequently see when you're out in nature or in the city?
4. What animals are you currently interested in learning about?
5. Which animal do you find most frightening or intriguing?
6. Have you ever been bitten or attacked by an animal?
7. Is there a recurring animal in your dreams or do you have one you have never forgotten?

On a less creepy note I've made peace with the face that I have a spider totem and they're less scary after hearing about the Spider Woman and Grandmother Spider legends of the Aboriginals and what spiders symbolize magickally.

Spiders totem teaches us to balance mundane life with spirituality. Don't allow your your day to day life to become your whole self.

Spider appears to us when we should reconnect with our soul's original plan; our true life path and also reminds us that we create our own reality by the choices we make much like weaving a web.

Spiders also symbolize unity, infinity, their webs signify the interconnectedness of all things.

Spider souls are by nature very creative and good communicators; most often via the written word. This creativity should be nurtured otherwise they will feel incomplete.


Become a fan of City Kitchen Witch on Facebook and share your thoughts about Totem Animals on the discussion board!

Some Totem Animal Resources:

http://www.sayahda.com/cyc4.html
http://wolfs_moon.tripod.com/totemspage.html


~Bright Blessings!
City

Waning Moon

The Waning Moon occurs after the Full Moon and is when the moon appears to be getting smaller each day. It lasts approximately 14 days from after the Full Moon to the New Moon.

The Waning Moon is a good time for magick involving: Ending Addictions, Breaking bad habits, Reversing bad luck, Binding, Exorcism, Breaking curses, Overcoming fear, Ending sickness, Liberation, Reversing love spells, Ending war, Banishing negativity, Banishing nightmares, Real estate (to sell), Weather working (to quell), Weight loss.

Corn Moon

On August 5 we celebrate the Corn Moon.

The Corn Moon and the month of August in general is a time for harvesting, gathering, sacrificing unwanted influences, appreciation vitality, relationships and spiritual and physical health.

Corn Moon Correspondences:
Colors: Red, Yellow, Orange
Herbs: Basil, Chamomile, Rosemary, Rue
Gemstones: Tiger's Eye, Carnelian, Garnet, Red Agate
Element: Fire

Corn Moon Ritual

Decorate your altar with a cloth of yellow, gold, orange or red, ears of corn and a chalice of wine. Have a cauldron ready in which you can burn paper and a black candle.
Cast a circle and create sacred space.
Light the candle.
Prepare a list of things you are ready to remove from your life. Focus on letting go of the unnecessary things or habits in your life that you wish to be free of.
Touch the paper to the flame and when it ignites, drop it into the cauldron. Offer the list to the spirit of the first harvest.
Affirmation of the Corn Moon: I sacrifice that which is no longer useful in my life.

(Ritual adapted from Llelwellyn's Witches Date Book)

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