Divination
Astrology Forecast October 18 – 24, 2021
Mercury will resume forward motion today, but because it takes another week or two to get out of the retrograde shadow period, don’t assume we’re out of the woods yet! Continue to back up all your computer work and digital devices; take everything you hear with a grain of salt; tale extra care if you have to travel; and expect the unexpected until the retrograde after effects completely clears.
We have a lovely Aries Full Moon coming up on Wednesday, also called the Hunter’s Moon, which will generate a confidence in our skills and abilities, energetic vitality, mental sharpness, and sense of financial security. It is also a good time to be assertive and take on difficult challenges. Having what we need, as well as receiving something we want, are further positive aspects of this Moon. The restrictions we’ve faced over the past 18 months will now culminate in some solid solutions and relief.
Beware the Taurus Moon square Jupiter in Aquarius on Friday, because there is a risk of conflict and drama in romantic relationships. The Taurus Moon trine Pluto in Capricorn later in the day could also cause us to be emotionally selfish and restless, which could get us into trouble if we act impulsively on our sudden urge for adventure and excitement.
The Sun will enter karmic Scorpio between late Friday and early Saturday morning, which will shift our focus to the possibilities that await us. For the next four weeks, we will feel more in tune with spirit and our divine destiny, releasing the things that no longer serve us and embracing the true wonder of our lives. This is also a time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest, and we can more easily receive messages and guidance from our loved ones on the other side.
With the Moon traveling through Gemini this weekend, it could be an ideal time to try your hand at a channeling session, or connect with someone who can translate important messages from the spirit world for you.
Astrology Forecast October 11 – 17, 2021
We initially could find ourselves more interested in socializing than working today, as the Moon moves through Sagittarius, but later in the day it transits into Capricorn to inspire us to be more productive for the next three days. A Capricorn Moon tends to make us feel more serious and determined and we tend to be more focused and able to concentrate.
Ideally, you may want to tackle as much as you can by Wednesday, as things will start to go somewhat sideways when the Moon moves into Aquarius on Thursday. We can pretty much write off the rest of the workweek after that, as constant interruptions, unexpected work, and a sudden shift in direction are all aspects of this Aquarian Moon. Mercury being in retrograde for another week will not make things any easier either!
Friday promises to be a happy and harmonious day with the Sun in Libra trine Moon in Aquarius. This aspect is also known for a sense of vitality, health and well-being, so make the most of it with an early morning walk or run, and a healthy breakfast. If you have the day off, you might even consider a visit to the spa.
Mercury in Libra sextile Venus in Sagittarius will continue the upbeat trend on Saturday evening with a cheerful lightheartedness and inspired creativity. A good time to get back to finishing that art or craft project you have been procrastinating. The weekend will generally prove much calmer when the Moon travels into Pisces and slows outer movement. Going within, self-care and ‘me time’ will be the theme.
Jupiter goes direct on Sunday, and as the third planet to resume forward motion this month, a sense of order and peace will move us through the rest of October. Remember that Jupiter is all about expansion, growth, and gifts, so practicing gratitude and asking Spirit for direction will go a long way once this planet starts moving forward again.
Do You Believe In Magic?
Do you believe in magic? I certainly do! I have not only experienced it, I have also been told by several different psychic readers over the years that I am descended from a very long line of witches. This does not really surprise me, as it is a well-known fact that people like me were called witches in our time.
People that were labeled witches were often those that others confided in. They were the sages that others went to for advice from spirit, the ancestors, or the cards, runes, bones, and many other divination traditions.
They were also the healers who cured with herbs and tinctures. Most witches had a sense of what plants and food would aid in healing the body and strengthening the mind.
And they were the mystics who blessed the tribe with rituals and ceremonies, and the prophets who guided the community’s warriors and leaders.
When people don’t understand something, it creates fear. The ‘evil witches’ often also knew too many of the local secrets. So, the witches were branded as malicious and wicked, instead of being appreciated and admired.
They were shunned, ridiculed, and even executed. Common methods were hanging, drowning, and burning at the stake. Burning alive was often favored because it was seen to be a more painful way to die.
But the esoteric wisdom and knowledge was passed down to select members of families and communities for generations by word-of-mouth. Not everyone was trusted with their secrets and not much was written down at that time either, for fear of persecution. But some would rather practice alone to avoid harassment, and much wisdom was lost in the process. Continue reading
Astrology Forecast October 4 – 10, 2021
We could feel a bit skittish or anxious this week as four astrological events unfold.
Today’s Virgo Moon has us running on all cylinders, and we could find it difficult to keep up with all that’s on our plates! But beware the Moon’s opposition to Neptune in Pisces later today, because it has a tendency to deflate our drive and motivation, and can also cause some of us to be anxious and overly sensitive.
Luckily the Moon will move into Libra tomorrow to restore some balance, cheer us up and stimulate our desire for harmony. The Libra Moon may also have us feeling romantic today. It is a great time to meet that someone new to sweep you off your feet!
The Libra New Moon on Wednesday gives us the opportunity for a fresh start or a ‘do-over’ if something we’re working on has hit a block. But be patient, as moodiness, restlessness and irritability may be a possibility today for those of us with a fragile temperament.
Pluto will also turn direct on Wednesday, after five months of backward motion. Pluto generates karmic shifts and is more generational than personal, so we may not even notice its influence for a month or more, but it promises to reverse and right some global problems we’ve been dealing with.
Venus will move into the light-hearted and fun-loving sign of Sagittarius on Thursday, bringing six weeks of joyful movement as we move closer to the holiday season next month. Speaking of Sagittarius, the Moon will travel through this fair-minded sign over the weekend, lightening the mood considerably. Saturn will turn direct on Sunday, calling for a restructuring of boundaries and schedules as we move into a cycle of busyness and high activity for the remainder of the year.
Last Quarter Mars Transit Report 2021
The red planet, fiery Mars, rules war, agriculture, competition, defense, our passions, and how we react. The positive side of Mars is bright, energetic, and driven, while the more negative aspects indicate aggression, impulsiveness, and bullying.
Astrologically, Mars cycles through each sign every six weeks unless it’s in retrograde motion where it can stay for a longer period of time. For the rest of 2021, Mars will enter the signs of Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius.
Earlier this month, on September 14th, Mars moved into Libra which is now highlighting our relationships and social connections of all kinds. There is now a desire to create balance and compromise where there has been lingering conflicts and unresolved issues.
Until Mars transits from Libra into Scorpio at the end of next month, a more passive approach is recommended and think twice before making a decision. Being methodical and strategic in a step-by-step fashion will be the best route to take.
On October 30th, Mars changes signs and moves into the watery sign of Scorpio, where the energy becomes more intense and emotional. We will want to experience life on a deeper level, know the truth , and feel more drawn to things that stimulates our senses. People tend to be more dramatic or calculating under the Mars in Scorpio influence. It’s best to avoid any situations that could trigger you or have you wanting to seek revenge.
Lastly, on December 13th, Mars goes into Sagittarius where things can get more exciting and unpredictable. Mars is typically compatible with fire signs, so it feels at home in Sagittarius. We will be craving more adventure and spontaneity towards the end of the year, and some of us may be more prone to impatience.
Astrology Forecast September 27 – October 3, 2021
Today may be the beginning of a somewhat ‘bumpy ride’ for next three to four weeks. With Mercury going retrograde today we also may not get much done this week. If you find yourself stalled on a project, your best bet is to swicth and do something else for a while, until the energy shifts.
Mercury retrograde is associated with confusion, communication issues, delays, technology malfunctions, and lots of frustration. So, until late October we can expect undelivered emails, misunderstandings on social media, computer issues – and if you have travel plans make sure you have good insurance! The good news is that our intuition is increased during this time, so put it to good use. It is also an excellent time to reflect on the past and release what no longer serves us.
Today’s Gemini Moon could cause additional miscommunication under the retrograde influence, so document everything, pay attention, keep your opinions to yourself and stay out of the confusion that abounds today.
Tomorrow through Thursday we’ll glide along more easily under a Cancer Moon, but this could also give us the “I don’t want to” blues, as we won’t feel like doing much of anything.Don’t worry if you feel the urge to procrastinate, as you’ll be able to pick up the pace again on Friday when the Moon moves into energizing Leo.
Thursday morning’s Cancer Moon trine Venus in Scorpio will be a great opportunity to surprise your partner with a surprise gift or a romantic breakfast in bed. This trine is all about courtesy, cheerful moods, love, and harmony, without a very low risk of arguments and conflicts.
Save any paperwork or detailed activities for Sunday, as the Moon will move into Virgo and heighten our attention span and recall, making it easier to access the information or ideas we’re in search of.
Throwing The Bones
Before studying various Western disciplines of healing and divination, I trained to become a sangoma some 30 years ago, on the borders of Mozambique and Kwazulu-Natal in Southern Africa, where I learned among other things the divination method known as ‘throwing the bones.’
A ‘sangoma’ casting the bones is the African equivalent of the Native American shaman, the Old Norse rune reader, or the European Tarot reader. To uninformed Westerners, indigenous African methods of divination are often thought of as ‘witchcraft,’ but just like there is good and bad in all cultures and professions, the true calling of the African diviner or shaman is a spiritual one of seeking advice through the wise ancestors. In the same way modern Western diviners rely on spirit guides, angels or the ascended masters for divine guidance, so the African diviner relies upon the ancestors.
My training came about after I consulted another sangoma and was told it was my calling to become sangoma myself. She also cautioned me that until I took up this calling, I would repetitively become ill – and how right she was!
Eventually I heeded the ‘calling’, as unusual as it was at the time for a young English woman to enter the mysterious realm of African mysticism in the country in those days. Training was harsh and intense with my mentor and included coaching in various disciplines, such as divination, dream interpretation, ritual, indigenous medicines, and herbalism over a two and a half year period.
One of the divination methods I was taught is known as ‘throwing the bones’. Since the beginning of recorded history the notion of throwing tokens, casting the dice or drawing lots to interpret the divine will of spirit and the ancestors has been viewed as symbolically linking the diviner to his or her mission. Casting or throwing the bones is an ancient practice native to many regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, and North America. In Southern Africa it is a long-standing ritual among the sangomas of the Zulu, Swazi, Xhosa and Ndebele tribes.
Each bone or token used for casting is part of a kit the sangoma carefully selects with the guidance of spirit, initially with the help of a mentor. Spirit and the ancestors instruct the seeker as to the symbolism and meaning of each sacred item in the collection, and precisely shows the student where to find it and which one to use in a divination. In Southern Africa, a mentor assists the thwasa (trainee sangoma) in the process of learning to receive information from the bones, and in reading the patterns in which the bones are likely to fall.