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Trump, the Singapore Summit, and Capella

The public event had plain symbolism for astrologers and non-astrologers alike

Kim Jong Eun and Donald Trump talking at the Capella Hotel during the Singapore summit by Dan Scavino, June 12, 2018, Public Domain.

The United States and North Korea have long been at odds, and the last few years saw tensions escalate. To some extent, President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Eun even got in a name calling tat, until both sides agreed to meet face- to- face at a summit that was held in Singapore in June. The Singapore summit led to warmer relations between the US and North Korea and the two sides reportedly signed a joint statement agreeing to security guarantees, new peaceful relations, the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, recovery of the soldiers remains, and follow- up negotiations between officials. “There is no longer a threat from North Korea,” Trump tweeted June 11. Reactions to the summit were mixed, with critics saying that North Korea had a history of breaking agreements and the statement was non-binding. Though the media covered most angles of the 2018 Singapore Summit, the big news out of the meeting was largely missed by the mainstream media. The fixed star Capella was really the star of the show. The sixth brightest star in the night sky, Capella had synchronistic appearances at the summit. It is is important in Trump’s natal chart, was directly conjoined with the sun at the time of the summit, and even had a connection to the summit’s location. The symbolism of Capella, the result of countless people’s careful study and observation, is an important interpretive tool for understanding the dialogue between the US and the North Koreans. The summit’s issues link to the star’s meanings, as well as the Trump presidency. Continue reading “Trump, the Singapore Summit, and Capella”

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Libation to Aphrodite on Saturday February 9th, 2019

 

Cupid Disarmed by Francois Boucher, 1751, oil on canvas

 

 

There are a number of reasons to worship Aphrodite this week. According to the Hellenion website, which is run by Hellenic polytheists, there will be a worldwide ceremony held in honor of Aphrodite on Saturday, February 9th, 2019. Since many members of the polytheistic community will be holding their rituals on this day, it’s a good time for anyone that does astrological magic or worships Aphrodite on their own to join. February 9th might be the closest Aphrodite gets to a religious festival this year. The fact that many people will also be holding rituals at the same time should increase the connection to the goddess. So, it might be a good idea to perform a ritual on Saturday, and if there is time, to check in and watch the libation online. Also, worshippers or magicians might add offerings, hymns, or other components to there usual rituals, to make them more elaborate and have a greater celebration of the goddess of love, creation, harmony, and beauty.

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Performing Healthy Rituals: The Dangers of Candles and Incense

 

The altar table in Gustaf Vasa church, Stockholm, Sweden by Håkan Svensson (Xauxa) is licensed under CC BY- SA 3.0

 

 

Every ritual has candles and incense at its crux. It seems a time- honored and universal practice. The act of using flames and burning herbs, resins, plants, and woods for the unique smells emitted to accompany religious rituals likely go back before written records and before material culture had advanced enough to do it with competence. However, both ritual accessories can be major health risks due to the toxic fumes they release. In fact, I recently looked up the dangers of incense and candles, and it had a devastating effect on my burgeoning spiritual practice. I want to share my thoughts upon giving up my candle and incense burning, and make suggestions for how to move forward after understanding the risks involved. Continue reading “Performing Healthy Rituals: The Dangers of Candles and Incense”

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Meditation on the Irrational

 

A wolf in the wild by Gary Kramer via Wikimedia Commons

 

The irrational impulse is inevitable. We are not created in a world of perfection. Every move is littered with hypocrisies, falsehoods, contradictions, and the irrational. Irrationality drives us all.

There are impulses that consciousness rides on like a piece of driftwood on the waves. Desirous impulses overcome the soul. Sometimes, in our own bodies, we witness the body behaving in a way that our rational minds can’t fathom. Drives and behaviors occur now and then, and we are helpless against them, regardless of the strength of our rational side. It’s inevitable. Being okay with falling, being okay with the darkness, that’s an important lesson for all of us.

Driftwood on the shore by kajikawa is licensed under CC BY 3.0

 

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Prayer to Hermes

 

Hermes Chiaramonti at the Vatican, by the Vatican Museums

 

 

With every ritual, there should be an accompanying hymn and a prayer. The hymn gets the attention of the god, and the prayer, though of a private nature and entirely up to the worshipper, may contain statements, offerings, and requests. The Orphic Hymns in particular are a good group to work with, though there are others that have survived the ravages of history. I am sharing a prayer I wrote for Mercury, based on some research I did on ancient ritual and the guidance of astrological magic practitioners. I have included various names of Hermes that were used at his temples.  Continue reading “Prayer to Hermes”

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Rituals to Venus and Jupiter

 

An altar to Venus resides in a bookshelf.
A statue of Zeus rests atop the Jupiter altar, after it received many of its pieces.

 

 

The Greek dark ages left one particular piece of wisdom to posterity: worship the gods. The Delphic maxims were a collection of one hundred and forty seven sayings that were attributed to the Seven Sages and paying due attention to the traditional deities was the third maxim. “Honor the gods; revere the gods,“ it read as translated by Melissa Gold.[1] As it was over two millennia ago, worship of the Olympian gods is not exactly popular anymore. So you might be surprised to learn that recently I’ve begun experimenting doing just that. Even a few months ago, if someone had told me I’d end 2018 building altars and performing rituals for Venus and Jupiter, I would have laughed out loud in disbelief. It is the last thing I would’ve expected. But here I am, and I’ve got seven weeks of rituals worshipping the ancient deities under my belt. I’ll tell you how I got involved, my first experiences with altars and rituals, and my observations as a beginner. Continue reading “Rituals to Venus and Jupiter”