Better Late Than Never. Pictures From My Ritual On Litha. Working Was A Simple Fertility Charm. Ask If

Fluorite magical uses:  Purple Fluorite is used to activate the Third Eye Chakra. Use Purple Fluorite to connect with spirit. Wonderful when used to focus meditation, and to protect from evil spirits, and bad dreams. Also helps to relieve stress.

Fluorite, Zeunerite

Locality:

Montoso Quarries, Ortieul, Bagnolo Piemonte, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy

Collection and photo Giuseppe Finello

Everything is growing so nicely.

Wishing you a very happy Saturday, and a very happy weekend, with this picture of Variegated Lemon Thyme (Thymus Citriodora), flowering in our garden. The flowers are so tiny and perfect :).

Medicinal Use: Antibiotic, antiseptic and antifungical. In our Curanderismo tradition, it is known for healing colds and flu, and for being used as a tonic for hair growth. The tea is not very pleasent, but we use it constantly in our cooking.Magical Use: Purification, protection and blessing magic. A powerful warrior against negative energy.

Feel free to share!

www.brujacarolina.com

How to Enchant Items

To enchant an item is to infuse it with magickal energy. This energy can come from a variety of sources, including planets, crystals, herbs, or even yourself. 

Some individuals use the words “enchant” and “charm” synonymously as a way to describe the process of infusing something with energy, but for the sake of this post and due to my own beliefs, you enchant something and it then becomes a charm. Alternately, a charm can be something with its own innate energy, like a crystal or herbal amulet. 

The process of enchanting is extremely versatile and there are many ways to do it successfully, so long as you keep your intent clear in your mind. My personal preference when it comes to enchanting items is to allow 12-24 hours (overnight or a full day) for the item to be infused with energy and become a charm - although, this is completely left up to the individual spell-caster. 

Here are a few ideas on how to enchant items, in no particular order:

Surround the item with crystals of corresponding intent

Surround the item with herbs of corresponding intent 

Place the item in a jar filled with herbs that represent your intent

Place the item in front of a candle and meditate on your intent 

Anoint the item with an oil, charged water, or crystal elixir of corresponding intent 

Hold the item in your hand(s) and visualize it filling with the appropriate energy 

Hold the item in your hand(s) and speak your intent aloud

Craft a sigil or symbol to keep near the item in an envelope or sachet

Write your intention on paper and keep in an envelope with the item 

Pair the item with a corresponding runestone or tarot / oracle card in an envelope 

Take the item and put it in a box with other items that represent your intent such as crystals, herbs, talismans, amulets, etc. 

Bury the item in soil with herbs and/or crystals that match your intent (please don’t put salt on your lawn though, unless you want dead grass)

Pass the item through incense smoke that matches your intent 

by Kyle Bonallo (instagram)

Thank you

Complete list of Magickal uses of Herbs/Plants

A Acacia – Protection, Psychic Powers. Burn with sandalwood to open psychic centers Aconite – *Poison*  Protection, Invisibility African Violet – Spirituality, Protection. Promotes spirituality when grown in the home Agaric – Fertility. Place on the altar or in the bedroom to increase fertility Agrimony – Protection, Sleep Alfalfa – Prosperity, Anti-hunger, Money Allspice – Money, Luck, Healing Almond – Money, Prosperity, Wisdom Aloe – Protection, Luck Aloes, Wood – Love, Spirituality Althea – Protection, Psychic Powers Alyssum – Protection, Moderating Anger Amaranth – Healing, Protection, Invisibility. Used in pagan burial rituals. Mends a broken heart Anemone – Health, Protection, Healing Anemone (Wood) – Healing Angelica – Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Visions Anise Seed – Protection. Purification. Youth Anise, Star – Used in death and dying rituals Apple – Love, Healing, Garden Magick, Immortality Apricot – Love Arabic Gum – Purifies negativity and evil Arbutus – Exorcism, Protection. Protects little children Arrow Root – Increases one’s good fortune Asafoetida – Exorcism, Purification, Protection. Horrid odor. Use with caution Ash – Protection, Prosperity, Sea Rituals, Health Aspen – Eloquence, Anti-Theft Aster – Use in love sachets, or carry the bloom to win love Avens – Exorcism, Purification, Love. Brings protection to the home, kindred, and self Avocado – Love, Beauty, Lust

B Bachelor’s Buttons – Love. Women wear this flower on their breast to attract love Balm, Lemon – Love. Success. Healing, especially for those with mental or nervous disorders Balm of Gilead – Love, Manifestations, Protection, Healing Bamboo – Protection, Luck, Hex-Breaking, Wishes. Excellent for magick wands, representing all four elements. Banana – Fertility. Cures impotency. Use leaves, flowers, and fruits in prosperity and money spells Banyan – Luck Barley – Love, Healing, Protection. Use the grain or barley water in love spells Basil – Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying, Protection Bay – Protection, Psychic Powers, Healing, Purification, Strength Bean – Protection, Exorcism, Wart Charming, Reconciliations, Potency, Love Bedstraw – Worn or carried to attract love Beech –Wishes Beet – Love. Use as an ink in love magick, also as a blood substitute Belladonna – *Poison* Encourages astral projection and produces visions, but belladonna is best avoided. A primary ingredient in flying ointments Benzoin – Purification, Prosperity. Provides focus. Enhances concentration. Useful in astral travel (protects spirit while travelling). Promotes generosity Bergamot, Orange – Money. Put leaves in wallet or purse to attract money. Be-Still – *Poison* Wear beans as a talisman to attract luck Betony, Wood – Protection, Purification, Love Birch – Protection, Exorcism, Purification Bistort – Psychic Powers, Fertility. Carry bistort if you wish to conceive. Burn with frankincense to increase psychic powers or when using divination. Bittersweet – Protection, Healing Blackberry – Healing, Money, Protection Bladderwrack – Protection, Sea Spells, Wind Spells, Money, Psychic Powers Bleeding Heart – Love Bloodroot –  *Poison* Love, Protection, Purification   Bluebell – Luck, Truth. Blueberry – Protection. Blue Flag – *Poison* Money. Carry the root for financial gain. Place in cash registers to increase business Bodhi – Fertility, Protection, Wisdom, Meditation Boneset – Protection. Exorcism. Borage – Courage. Drink a tea for psychic powers Bracken – Healing, Rain Magick, Prophetic Dreams. If bracken is burned outside, rain will fall Brazil Nut – Carry as a talisman for love Briony – Image Magick, Money, Protection Bromeliad – Protection, Money. Grow in the home for protection, money, and luxuries. Broom – Purification, Protection, Wind Spells, Divination Buchu – Psychic Powers, Prophetic Dreams. Drink to foretell the future Buckthorn – Protection, Exorcism, Wishes, Legal Matters Buckwheat – Money, Protection Burdock – Protection, Healing

C Cactus – Protection, Chastity. Calamus – *POISON* Luck, Healing, Money, Protection Camellia – Brings riches and luxury Camphor – Chastity, Health, Divination Caraway – Protection, Lust, Health, Anti-Theft, Mental Powers Cardamom – Lust, Love Carnation – Protection, Strength, Healing Carob – Protection, Health. Wear or carry Carrot – Fertility, Lust. Eat the seeds to become pregnant Cascara Sagrada – Legal Matters, Money, Protection. Sprinkle infusion around your home before going to court Cashew – Money Castor – Protection Catnip – Cat Magick, Love, Beauty, Happiness Cattail – Lust. Carry if you don’t like sex, but want to Cedar – Healing, Purification, Money, Protection Celandine – Protection, Escape, Happiness, Legal Matters Celery – Mental Powers, Lust, Psychic Powers Centaury – Burn to drive off snakes Chamomile – Money, Sleep, Love, Purification Cherry – Love, Divination. Chestnut – Love. Chickweed – Fertility, Love Chicory – Removing Obstacles, Invisibility, Favors, Frugality Chili Pepper – Fidelity, Hex Breaking, Love. China Berry – *Poison* Carry seeds for luck and to bring change into your life. Chrysanthemum – Protection. Promotes mental health. Use in rituals of death and dying. Cinnamon – Spirituality, Success, Healing, Power, Psychic Powers, Lust, Protection, Love Cinquefoil – The five points of the leaves represent love, money, health, power, and wisdom. Citron – Psychic Powers, Healing. Clove – Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money. Burn as an incense. Clover – Protection, Love, Money, Fidelity, Exorcism, Success. Coconut – Purification, Protection, Chastity Coffee – Ritual stimulant. Cohosh, Black – Love, Courage, Protection, Potency Coltsfoot – Use in love sachets and spells of peace and tranquility. Love, Visions. Columbine – Love, Courage. Comfrey – Good for any magickal healing. Worn or carried, it ensures safety during travel. The root is used in money spells. Copal – Love, Purification Coriander – Love, Health, Healing Corn – Protection, Luck, Divination. Cornflower – Patron herb of herbalists. Blue leaves make a lovely ink for Book of Shadows. Cotton – Luck, Healing, Protection, Rain, Fishing Magick. Cowslip – Healing, Youth, Treasure Finding. Crocus – Burn in a censor with alum to see a vision of the thief who robbed you. Love, Visions. Cucumber – Chastity, Healing, Fertility Cumin – Protection, Fidelity, Exorcism, Anti-theft Curry – Protection. Burn the specific plant, not the mixture of spices, to repel evil at night. Cyclamen – Fertility, Protection, Happiness, Lust. Add to handfasting or wedding cake. Cypress – Longevity, Healing, Comfort, Protection. Wear at time of crisis

D Daffodil – Love, Fertility, Luck Daisy – Lust, Luck Damiana – Lust, Love, Visions Dandelion – Divination, Wishes, Calling Spirits Deerstongue – Lust, Psychic Powers Dill – Protection, Money, Lust, Luck Dock – Healing, Fertility, Money Dogbane – Use the flowers in magickal love mixtures Dogwood – Wishes, Protection. Dragon’s Blood – Love, Protection, Exorcism, Potency Dulse – Lust, Harmony Dutchman’s Britches – Love

E Ebony – Protection, Power Echinacea – Strengthening Spells Edelwiess – Invisibility, Bullet-Proofing Elder – Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Prosperity, Peace Elecampane – Love, Protection, Psychic Powers Elm – Love Endive – Love, Lust Eucalyptu – Healing, Protection Eyebright – Mental Powers, Psychic Powers

F Fennel – Protection, Healing, Purification Fenugreek - Money Fern – Rain Making, Protection, Luck, Riches, Health, Exorcism Feverfew – Protection Fig – Divination, Fertility, Love Figwort – Health, Protection Flax – Money, Protection, Beauty, Psychic Powers, Healing Fleabane – Exorcism, Protection, Chastity Foxglove – *Poison* Protection Frankincense – Protection, Exorcism, Spirituality

G Gardenia – Love, Peace, Healing, Spirituality Garlic – Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Lust, Anti-Theft Gentian – Love, Power Geranium – Fertility, Love, Health, Protection Ginger – Love, Money, Success, Power Ginseng – Love, Wishes, Healing, Beauty, Protection, Lust Goats Rue – Healing, Health Goldenrod – Money, Divination Goldenseal – Healing, Money Gorse – Protection, Money Gotu Kola – Meditation Gourd – Protection Grain – Protection Grape – Fertility, Garden Magick, Mental Powers, Money Grass – Psychic Powers, Protection Ground Ivy – Divination Groundsel – Health, Healing

H Hawthorn – Fertility, Chastity, Fishing Magick, Happiness Hazel – Luck, Fertility, Anti-Lightning, Protection, Wishes Heather – Protection, Rain Making, Luck. Heliotrope – Exorcism, Prophetic Dreams, Healing, Wealth, Invisibility Hellebore, Black – *Poison* Protection. Provides an aura or mantle of invisibility. Hemlock – *Poison* Destroys sexual drive. Induces astral projection. Hemp – Healing, Love, Vision, Meditation Henbane – *Poison* A love-bringing herb when worn. Henna – Healing. Hibiscus – Lust, Love, Divination Hickory – Legal Matters High John the Conqueror– Money, Love, Success, Happiness Holly – Protection, Anti-Lightning, Luck, Dream Magick Honesty – Money, Repelling Monsters Honeysuckle – Money, Psychic Powers, Protection. Hops – Healing, Sleep Horehound – Protection, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Healing Horse Chestnut – Money, Healing Horseradish – Purification, Exorcism Horsetail – Snake Charming, Fertility Houseleek – Luck, Protection, Love Huckleberry – Luck, Protection, Dream Magick, Hex Breaking Hyacinth – Love, Protection, Happiness Hydrangea – Hex Breaking Hyssop – Purification, Protection

I Indian Paint Brush – Love Iris – Purification, Wisdom Irish Moss – Money, Luck, Protection Ivy – Protection, Healing

J Jasmine – Love, Money, Prophetic Dreams Jobs Tears – Healing, Wishes, Luck Joe Pye Weed – Love, Respect Juniper – Protection, Anti-Theft, Love, Exorcism, Health

K Kava-Kava – Visions, Protection, Luck Knotweed – Binding, Health

L Lady’s Mantle – Love Lady’s Slipper – Protection Larch – Protection, Anti-Theft Larkspur – Health, Protection Lavender – Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity (with rosemary), Longevity, Purification, Happiness, Peace Leek – Love, Protection, Exorcism Lemon – Longevity, Purification, Love, Friendship Lemongrass – Repel Snakes, Lust, Psychic Powers Lemon Verbena– Purification, Love Lettuce – Chastity, Protection, Love, Divination, Sleep Licorice – Love, Lust, Fidelity Life Everlasting - Longevity, Health, Healing Lilac - Exorcism, Protection Lily - Protection, Breaking Love Spells Lily of the Valley – **Poison to cats** Mental Powers, Happiness Lime – Healing, Love, Protection Linden – Protection, Immortality, Luck, Love, Sleep Liverwort – Protection, Love Loosestrife – Peace, Protection Lotus – Protection, Lock-Opening Lovage – Love Love Seed – Friendship, Love Lucky Hand – Employment, Luck, Protection, Money, Travel

M Mace – Psychic Powers, Mental Powers Magnolia – Fidelity Maidenhair – Beauty, Love Male Fern – Luck, Love Mallow – Love, Protection, Exorcism Mandrake – *Poison* Protection, Love, Money, Fertility, Health. Maple – Love, Longevity, Money Marigold – Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers Marjoram – Protection, Love, Happiness, Health, Money Mastic – Psychic Powers, Manifestations, Lust May Apple – *Poison* Money. Meadow Rue – Divination Meadowsweet – Love, Divination, Peace, Happiness Mesquite – Healing Mimosa – Protection, Love, Prophetic Dreams, Purification Mint – Money, Love, Lust, Healing, Exorcism, Travel, Protection Mistletoe – Protection, Love, Hunting, Fertility, Health, Exorcism. Moonwort– Money, Love Moss – Luck, Money Mugwort – Strength, Psychic Powers, Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Healing, Astral Projection. Mulberry – Protection, Strength Mullein – Courage, Protection, Health, Love, Divination, Exorcism Mustard – Fertility, Protection, Mental Powers Myrrh – Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Spirituality Myrtle – Love, Fertility, Youth, Peace, Money

N Nettle – Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Lust Norfolk Island Pine – Protection, Anti-Hunger Nuts – Fertility, Prosperity, Love, Luck

O Oak – Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck Oats – Money Olive – Healing, Peace, Fertility, Potency, Protection, Lust Onion – Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Money, Prophetic Dreams, Lust Orange – Love, Divination, Luck, Money Orchid – Love Oregon Grape – Money, Prosperity Orris – Love, Protection, Divination. The root is used to find and hold love P Palm, Date – Fertility, Potency Pansy – Love, Rain Magick, Love, Divination Papaya – Love, Protection Parsley – Love, Protection, Purification Passion Flower – Peace, Sleep, Friendship Patchouly – Money, Fertility, Lust Pea – Money, Love Peach – Love, Exorcism, Longevity, Fertility, Wishes Pear – Lust, Love Pecan – Money, Employment Pennyroyal – Strength, Protection, Peace Peony – Protection, Exorcism Pepper – Protection, Exorcism Peppermint – Purification, Sleep, Love, Healing, Psychic Powers Periwinkle – *POISON* Patron herb of Wiccans. Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Money, Protection Persimmon – Healing, Lust Pimento – Love Pine – Healing, Fertility, Protection, Exorcism, Money Pineapple – Luck, Money, Chastity Pistachio – Breaking Love Spells Plum – Healing Poke – Courage, Hex Breaking Pomegranate – Divination, Luck, Wishes, Wealth, Fertility Poplar – Money, Flying Poppy – Fertility, Love, Sleep, Money, Luck, Invisibility Potato – Image Magick, Healing Prickly Ash – Love Primrose – Protection, Love Purslane – Sleep, Love, Luck, Protection, Happiness

Q Quince – Protection, Love, Happiness

R Radish – Protection, Lust Ragweed – Courage Raspberry – Protection, Love Rattlesnake Root – Protection, Money Rhubarb – Protection, Fidelity Rice – Protection, Fidelity Roots – Protection, Power, Divination Rose – Love, Psychic Powers, Healing, Love, Divination, Luck, Protection Rosemary – Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep, Youth Rowan – Psychic Powers, Healing, Protection, Success Rue – Healing, Health, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Love Rye – Love, Fertility

S Saffron – Love, Healing, Happiness, Wind Raising, Lust, Strength, Psychic Powers Sage – Immortality, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection, Wishes Sagebrush – Purification, Exorcism St. John’s Wort – Health, Power, Protection, Strength, Love, Divination, Happiness Sandalwood – Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Spirituality Sarsaparilla – Love, Money Sassafras – Health, Money Savory, Summer – Mental Powers Skullcap – Love, Fidelity, Peace Senna – Love Sesame – Money, Lust Shallot – Purification Skunk Cabbage – Legal Matters Slippery Elm – Halts Gossip Snakeroot – Luck, Money Snakeroot, Black – Love, Lust, Money Snapdragon – Protection Solomon’s Seal – Protection, Exorcism Sorrel Wood – Healing, Health Southern Wood – Love, Lust, Protection Spanish Moss – Protection Spearmint – Healing, Love, Mental Powers Spiderwort – Love Spikenard – Love Star Anise – Psychic Powers, Luck Strawberry – Love, Luck Sugar Cane – Love, Lust Sunflower – Fertility, Wishes, Health, Wisdom Sweetgrass – Calling Spirits Sweetpea – Friendship, Chastity, Courage, Strength

T Tansy – Health, Longevity Tea – Riches, Courage, Strength Thistle – Strength, Protection, Hex Breaking, Healing Thistle, Holy – Purification, Hex Breaking Thistle, Milk – Snake enraging Thyme – Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage Toadflax – Protection, Hex Breaking Toadstool – Rain Making Tobacco – Healing, Purification Tonka Bean – *DO NOT CONSUME. BELIEVED TO CAUSE CANCER* Love. Money. Courage. Wishes Turmeric – Purification Turnip – Protection, Ending Relationships

U Uva Ursa – Psychic Workings

V Valerian – Love, Sleep, Purification, Protection Vanilla – Love, Lust, Mental Powers Venus Flytrap – Protection, Love Vervain – The Witches Herb. Love, Protection, Purification, Peace, Money, Youth, Chastity, Sleep. Healing. Vetch, Giant – Fidelity Vetivert – Love, Hex Breaking, Luck, Money, Anti-Theft Violet – Protection, Love, Lust, Luck, Wishes, Peace, Healing

W Walnut – Health, Mental Powers, Infertility, Wishes Wheat – Fertility, Money Willow – Love, Divination, Protection, Healing Wintergreen – Protection, Healing, Hex Breaking Witch Hazel – Protection, Chastity Wolf’s Bane – see Aconite Wood Rose – Luck Woodruff – Victory, Protection, Money Wormwood – Psychic Powers, Protection, Love, Calling Spirits

Y Yarrow – Courage, Love, Psychic Powers, Exorcism Yellow Evening Primrose – Hunting Yerba Mate – Fidelity, Love, Lust Yerba Santa – Beauty, Healing, Psychic Powers, Protection Yucca – Transmutation, Protection, Purification

by Kyle Bonallo (instagram)

Transitions between the Wheel (For the four seasons)

This is from my personal practice with observing the wheel of the year and my focus on each transition between the sabbats. I honor the current seasons in between. Each transition has it’s importance to self care and managing the home and garden. I will probably add to this later cause some paragraphs I wrote I feel like are a bit vague. Some of these transitions are not meant to be 100% literal and static but I feel like they are good areas to focus on for that moment in the year.

Yule->Imbolc Resting

During the thick of winter when it’s too cold to do anything and always dark, it’s the perfect moment in the year to rest. The focus is on relaxing, taking extra time to sleep and care for the body especially to not get sick. Winter is also ‘spa’ season because the air is so dry and harsh it’s a good time to soak in hot baths and scrub away dead skin and moisturize with protective lotion. Do not try to make new plans, yet sit home, rest and reflect. 

Imbolc -> Ostara Cleansing

When winter thaws it’s a great time to clean the home and prepare for spring. Personally, I also like to do a body cleanse since I tend to eat a lot of processed (yet delicious ;-;) foods all year round. This also makes up for all the heavy foods I’ve been eating since Summer (all the BBQs) to Winter comfort foods. As I clean the home and get rid of stuff that has accumulated over the year, I clean the body. Also the focus is on cleaning the home as well. Breathing in the same air, especially if its full of dust, is really unhealthy and it’s good as the days are getting a little warmer to open up the windows for a few minutes to allow in fresh air to circulate. This is also the time of year I throw out old furniture, accumulated things and rearrange furniture in the room as well.

Ostara -> Beltane Sowing

Spring is a great time to germinate sprouts along with other seeds and clean the backyard or garden to grow plants. If you like to compost it’s a time to start mixing in the vegetable/fruit/plant scraps with the soil. Spring is also a great time to sow bigger changes in life as well. Something about the warm new season brings an air of flirtatiousness and ‘socialness’ that makes it perfect for making new friends or finding a partner. (Probably because people can finally come out of hibernation). It’s also a fantastic time to work on your image and portfolio and apply for long term jobs that begin in the summer or fall. Spring is the season for new beginnings and putting long term plans into action.

Beltane -> Litha Growing

A tradition I like to do on Beltane is repotting of plants and gardening. Repotting plants is a tradition I try to focus on every year because it’s very easy for house plants to die due to dead soil. Plus it makes the inside of the house super vibrant and lively to have fresh new soil in pots. From this point to summer solstice is the point of growth. Growth in the garden but also growth of personal goals. May and June feel like hectic months where there are so many events and opportunities to advance your work or change your social scene, that if I am not personally progressing, I focus all of my attention on my growth.

Litha -> Lughnasadh Thriving

Its the heat of summer! It’s time to get out and feel the intense hot energy and use its power to focus on goals and networking! Where I am there’s usually an exciting event every week where it’s an opportunity to make more connections and meet more friends but also since its warm and nature is so vibrant it’s time to take some days to relax and get away to enjoy the heat and life of nature. Go to the beach, go hiking, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars. Be active since the efforts will pay off. 

Lughnasadh -> Mabon Reaping

This is the time you earn what you’ve sowed both literally and metaphorically. If you have a garden its the time it will start giving back. If you are an active goer of a farmers market you will notice how beautifully abundant the stands are. If in Spring you’ve sent out tons of job applications, and in Summer got the job you’ve wanted and worked hard, then by now you should start seeing some results. If there are no results being seen it’s a time for reflection and re-strategizing. There is a second chance in this time to start again before the cold and the holiday season bulldozes through.

Mabon -> Samhain Harvesting/Gathering

This is the time to gather and harvest. Usually family tends to gather now since it’s the holiday season. There’s not much other than gathering to be done since family and holidays are bombarding you from all sides. Also there is an abundance of food. This is great to store for the next transition which is

Samhain -> Yule Preparation

This is the moment to prepare for winter. My warddrobe completely changes here, I take up knitting projects that were abandoned last Imbolc, and I store food and herbs for the winter to use. Also making preserves from things in the garden or hand knitting clothes make great presents for the winter holidays. This is also a time to prepare the garden for hibernation. Take in potted plants, harvest the last of the herbs and food (that are not potted). Make sure plants you do not want to die have a place to chill in the house.

by Kyle Bonallo (instagram)

A Beginner's Guide to Astrology Charts

Here is a guide that might be helpful when you are interpreting an astrology chart. My favorite place to get a free chart online is Astro.com: http://www.astro.com/cgi/atxgen.cgi?btyp=apx& . The link I provided will have both a drawing of your chart and a list of all your planets and houses. When you are first learning how to read a chart, you might want to look at the list first. As you learn more, you can start figuring out how to interpret the chart drawing. All you have to do is input your birthdate, time (if you know it) and place of birth and it will provide you with a list of which sign is in each planet, and which sign/planet is in which house.

Here are a list of each planetary alignment and what it means for your personality:

Sun Sign - Your sun sign is the most commonly known astrology sign. When people tell you their sign, or when you read horoscopes in magazines or the newspaper, this is the sign they will probably use. The sun sign changes once a month. Right now the sun is in Cancer but is going into Leo soon. Your sun sign is your Egoic personality. It is how you most want to seem to others, and the image you portray in the world. It is kind of an umbrella to the rest of your personality, meaning it is an overall look at yourself. People who identify strongly with their sun sign often have the same sign in other parts of their chart. If you don’t feel like your sun sign fits you, that sign might not show up at all in your chart.

Moon Sign - Your moon sign is your inner self. It’s how you process emotions, and how you are when you are not concerned with outer appearances. Most children act more like their moon sign than their sun sign, and eventually pick up more qualities of their sun sign as they mature. People’s moon signs are a good way to look into their hidden selves. Unless you know someone really well, or if they are comfortable revealing emotions, you might not see any evidence of their moon sign in their personality. If someone’s sun sign is the same as their moon sign, their inner and outer self will be in harmony. The sign the moon is in changes every 3 or so days, so people born the same month who have the same sun sign might have a different moon sign.

Ascendant/Rising Sign - Rising signs are the sign that is coming up on the horizon at your time of birth. This changes every few hours, so you will need to know your exact birth time to find out your rising sign/ascendant (Rising sign, ascending sign, and ascendant all mean the same thing). The rising sign is how you come off to others. While the sun sign might be the image you wish to show to the world, the rising sign is the image you actually show to the world, particularly upon first appearance. In my studies, your rising sign depicts how the world first sees you, and in turn how you view the world. In esoteric astrology, your rising sign shows you where in a cycle of lifetimes you are - if your rising sign is Aries, you are on the first of a 12-lifetime cycle, and if your rising sign is Pisces you are on the last of this cycle. Some esoteric astrologers believe each lifetime you live cycles through rising signs in order. Your rising sign is also the sign that is in your first house.

Mercury sign - Your Mercury sign describes how you communicate with others. It also describes your learning style, and how you talk and write.

Venus sign - Your Venus sign describes how you pay attention to beauty, and how you are in relationships. I find that Venus signs also to some extent show what kind of people you are attracted to, and what your home and possessions tend to be like.

Mars sign - Your Mars sign depicts your amount of physical activity. Those with their Mars in fire signs and earth signs tend to be more active and athletic. Mars also relates to how you deal with anger and if you have a temper.

Jupiter sign - Jupiter is the planet of luck and outer success. Jupiter is an expansive planet, and so the sign is this part of your chart will show you how outward your success will be and how your luck will manifest in life. For instance, someone with Jupiter in Virgo would likely not be globally famous but would achieve luck and success through working on their own (Virgo is represented by the Hermit). On the opposite end, someone whose Jupiter is in Gemini would probably experience more outward fame or at least find luck when dealing with other people, because Gemini is a more social sign.

Uranus sign - Uranus is the mad scientist of the zodiac. It represents ingenuity, novelty and change. Whatever sign Uranus is in in your birth chart will show you what sort of changes will come up in your life.

Neptune sign - Your Neptune sign will show you what area of your life will be shrouded in illusion. Neptune is a psychic planet, but it also represents a fog of confusion wherever it shows up in your chart. For instance, someone with Neptune in Capricorn would have a difficult time saving money or being practical. Neptune doesn’t change signs very often, and so is considered a generational sign. Everyone born in a 10-15 year span will have the same Neptune sign, and so it represents issues within that generation.

Pluto sign - Pluto is another generational sign. Pluto, as the ruler of the underworld, represents the darker part of our subconscious. It is what we are here to work on, our karmic path. For example, the Pluto in Scorpio generation (1984-1995) showed an increase in Scorpion ideology - passion, resourcefulness and new age and occultism on the rise. We are currently in the age of Pluto in Capricorn, which shows a focus on the economy and money related issues in general.

Midheaven - Your Midheaven, also shown as M.C. on many charts will show what path your life will take in terms of career. It is often quite accurate! To a degree it is a little similar to Jupiter’s role, but tends to have more to do with our place in society and less with luck.

North node - North node relates to karma. It is what you are here to learn karmically, the traits you need to acquire in this lifetime. Unlike Pluto which is more generational karma, your North Node is quite personal.

South node - On the converse, your south node is what you have already mastered karmically.

There are countless other things to learn in astrology but we will get to those in time. Here is a list of each zodiac sign and what key words best represent it to help you interpret the above info. Note: if you have a planet in a sign that the particular sign is ruled in, that planet will be more amplified in your chart. For instance, having your Mars in Aries, when Aries is ruled by Mars, will make that more of a facet of your personality.

Signs and key words

Aries (ruled by Mars) - action, impulses, independence, fire, physical activity, ambition

Taurus (ruled by Venus) - home life, beauty, love, loyalty, stubbornness, sensuality

Gemini (ruled by Mercury) - learning, communication, social, writer, inquisitive, curiousness

Cancer (ruled by the Moon) - family, belonging, compassion, domesticity, mother, intuition

Leo (ruled by the Sun) - pride, happiness, giving, creativity, children, optimism

Virgo (ruled by Mercury) - mystery, perfectionism, intelligence, helpfulness, hard work, shyness

Libra (ruled by Venus) - partnership, fairness, aesthetic beauty, indecisiveness, open-mindedness, likability

Scorpio (ruled by Pluto) - intensity, passion, resourcefulness, occultism, regeneration, choosiness

Sagittarius (ruled by Jupiter) - adventure, restlessness, philosophy, outspokenness, cheerfulness, irresponsibility

Capricorn (ruled by Saturn) - tenacity, conservativeness, discipline, wisdom, realism, money-conscious

Aquarius (ruled by Uranus) - innovation, individualism, eccentricism, idealism, humanitarianism, coolness

Pisces (ruled by Neptune) - psychic ability, sensitivity, empathy, impressionability, tenderness, dreaminess

Elements

Fire - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Earth - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Air - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Water - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces