Uncle Festers Social Network

I cleaned up thses pages a few weeks back and changed things around so that robot spammers could not invade us so heavily - but what I didnt realize is that nobody else could join up either - I thought that when I set a "entry password" that it would be one of those strange looking letters and numbers thainsgs tht you see and have to type in - instead I now think it is more like a a secret password - that secret password is "real person" - not many people post articles but I gather there is a fair bit of talking amonst different members one on one. - i'll also start reprinting our Magickal Moments "Shop Chats" here - so people can directly respond if they have something to say . . . .

Be aware everyone that some unscrupulous people are setting about trying to lure people in by proclaiming love for you and how desperate they are to get to know you, never trust anyone who is a stranger and suddenly acts so amorously toward you, They begin by trying to establish an emotional relatioship with a person and then seek more, usually money or identity theft ,   Happybaby is one so is Gundy and a few others . Our local police have dealt with this in the past and have informed us they often don't use very good English because they are foriegn  and will not use a profile photo because they are not who they say they are so be on your guard people and don't be fooled.

I am currently in the process of writing down 2012 Sabbat dates and time in my new 2012 Moontime Diary by Iris Detenhoff (which I highly recommend).

As you may know, the Sabbat's are associated with the sun in certain astrological signs. For example, Samhain is traditionally celebrated when the Sun is at 15 degrees Scorpio in the Northern Hemisphere which occurs sometime during the ending of October or the beginning of November.

In Australia Samhain would fall when the Sun is at 15 degrees Taurus, sometime during late April or early May.
According to the 2012 Moontime Diary, May the 5th is the day that the Sun is at 15 degrees Taurus.
However on this day the moon happens to be void off course from 4.02am to 12.20pm ingress into Scorpio.

So my question is, do I do a ritual on this day as the Sabbat falls on this day or do I not do the ritual due to the moon being void.
Should I do the Sabbat ritual the day before or the day after.

If I am also not mistaken, isn't another way that the Sabbats were traditionally celebrated was on the day of the Full Moon closest to when the Sun fell to that Sabbats corresponding sign (Sun at 15 degrees for Samhain).

Lunar Energy Guide Compiled by Sue Bagust

WANING MOON Fourth week of the lunar month (up to Dark Moon)

Dark Moon in Gemini: Thursday 2nd June

Best days for fishing: June 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

This week has only two void-of-course moons, the first on the morning of Friday 27th up to around 10.30 am and the second on Wednesday 1st up to around 10 am when you should avoid business meetings because you may feel a bit spacey and not able to concentrate. Other than those times the week is clear so you should be mentally clear and alert and able to make decisions and long-range plans.

This is the fourth week of the lunar month, the time after the Quarter Moon and up to the Dark Moon, when the moon’s energy is low. The Dark Moon is the time that’s safest for small nocturnal animals and for the hunted, when no sliver of moon appears in the sky. It is the point of transition between waning and waxing.

If you are a gardener, this is a good week for you to rest and to give your garden a rest too. Remember: a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop – and this is just as true for humans as it is for soil. Although this time of the lunar month when the moon is waning or growing less in the sky, is the best time to harvest grains, fruits and roots because they will keep better if you harvest during a dry sign, this week is better still for taking time out rather than being busy. If you can’t take a week off, by all means do garden maintenance if you must, weed, compost, destroy pests and ready the beds for the fertile times of next week.

If you are a fisherman, the three nights of the Dark Moon and the energy for two nights directly afterwards are the best time for fishing, during the magic times of 90 minutes before and 90 minutes after sun rise and sun set, and moon rise and moon set.

If you are a magico, there are two schools of thought about working the Dark Moon. One is to just have a rest and give yourself some time out from magical work. If you’ve had a busy magical month, you are probably in need of a rest just as much as your garden needs rest at this time. However if you wish to work the dark of the moon is a powerful time for going inside, to examine our unconscious and to look at our shadow selves. This is a time of endings and closures and so also offers a new beginning. If you think of the Dark Moon as a doorway, this is a beneficial time to cleanse your home and your environment, to release spent energy and welcome the new.

WANING MOON

Third week of the lunar month

Full Moon: Tuesday 17th

Quarter Moon: Wednesday 25th

Sun moves into Gemini: Saturday 21st

Good fishing days: Possibly 20th (tail end of full moon energy on the 17th)

This is the time (about 14 days) when the Moon is growing smaller, or waning, between the Full Moon and the Dark Moon. It is a good time for work to diminish. For example, if you are a healer you may find it more effective to work with the moon’s energy to decrease the size of a tumour or illness during this time, rather than focussing on “growing” energy or good health because you will then be working against rather than with the natural rhythm of the moon.

The waning moon is also a good time for ritual work such as losing bad habits, releasing negative energy or binding another from doing harm. While it is good to stop those who do harm especially when the harm is to children or animals or others who are defenceless, do remember that as you bind, so you are bound. If you don’t want to decrease your power, don’t try to take power from someone else by binding another. You may prefer to think about finding another way to stop the wrongdoer rather than using your magic to bind. This is a difficult choice and as with everything in magic, it’s entirely your choice.

If you are a gardener, during this third week of the lunar month the moon’s energy sinks into the earth and it is a good time to sow or propagate root crops or to use organic manure. You can also make your plantings and even your fertilizing more successful, if you choose to plant or to fertilize when the moon is in a fertile sign. This week you get a good opportunity when the moon is in semi-fertile Capricorn from just after 6 am on Friday 20th, all day on Saturday 21st right up to just after midday on Sunday 22nd to plant root crops. At this time and depending on your local climatic conditions your root crops could include carrots, parsnip, radish, sweet potato, garlic, leeks, onions, potatoes or turnips and of course any perennials, berries, shrubs, trees and vines.

Choose a time this week when the moon is not in a fertile or semi-fertile sign like Capricorn if you want to wax to remove hair and you will find that your hair does not grow back as quickly.

This week there are void moons all morning on Sunday 22nd, for a brief time in the late evening on Tuesday 24th, and all day on Thursday 26th right up to midmorning on Friday 27th. A void moon occurs when the moon is between signs and not aligned completely with a planet and is a time when you may be a little spacey, so it may be a good idea to put off making decisions or working ritual where you need a clear head or to be able to focus on detail.

WAXING MOON

Second week of the lunar month

Quarter Moon: Wednesday 11th @ 6.34 am

Void-of-course moon: Friday 13th pm

Full Moon: Tuesday 17th @ 9.10 pm

Best fishing days: 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th

This week has a void-of-course moon all afternoon on Friday 13th, but after that is a clear week which means that except for Friday afternoon your mind will be clear and your decision making ability should not be affected by the moon not forming clear relationships with planets as she moves through the sky.

This calendar week falls between the Quarter Moon on the 11th and the Full Moon on the 17th which makes it the second week of the lunar month. During this second quarter or second week of the Lunar month when the moon is in a fertile sign is the best time to plant fruiting annuals. Fruiting annuals are those plants where you prefer to produce abundant seed and in May depending on your local climate could include plants such as beans, corn, tomatoes, pumpkin, squash, marrows, capsicum, eggplant, zucchini, chokos and also those plants that do equally well if planted in the first or second quarter, such as annual flowers, hay, cereal grains, cucumbers, melons, leeks or shallots.

This week not only gives you an abundant choice of crops to plant but a good choice of days where you can plant for a successful harvest. The first is when the Moon is in Libra all day on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th, before moving into the even more fertile sign of Scorpio early morning on Monday 16th and staying there until around midday on Tuesday 17th. When the moon is in Libra or in Scorpio is also the best time this week to cut your lawns or your hair for lush, abundant regrowth, but not so good for waxing to remove hair if you don’t want your hair to grow back quickly.

You can also graft at this time during a fertile sign for best healing and irrigate in water signs for best results. During the waxing moon is the best time to apply foliar or soluble fertilizer. Wait until after the full moon to apply organic manure. Prune on a waxing moon to encourage regrowth and on a waning moon to retard growth.

For the fishermen, the best fishing times are for the three nights of the full moon and for a couple of days afterwards, during those magic times of 45 minutes before and 45 minutes after sunrise and sunset, and moonrise and moonset.

The time of the Full Moon brings special energy, as anyone who has worked with lunar energies will already know and is traditionally a lucky time. The Gaelic word for fortune comes from that which denotes a Full Moon and the Celts believe that when the circle of the Moon is complete, good fortune is given to those who know how to ask for it. This lovely moon lasts for three days and the exact point of transition from waxing to waning is shown on lunar calendars, for those who wish to work powerful magic at this time. This is the time of the Mother, when the moon reaches her full power. Her energy is potent and will help to boost any effort and is especially beneficial for complicated workings or difficult situations. This is the time to thank for blessings received as well as the time when the Goddess grants wishes to her followers, so the monthly meeting of a coven, called an Esbat, takes place at the time of the Full Moon. The word Esbat probably comes from the Old French s’esbattre, meaning to frolic and amuse oneself.

The Full Moon is a good time to acknowledge blessings received, for feasting and celebrations, for giving your crystals and jewellery a moon-bath in spring water or rainwater, to renew your protections, or to drink down the Moon to increase your psychic sensitivity. If a baby is born on the Full Moon, he or she will have a lucky life.

If you have a wart you want to remove, find a tree of power (preferably an Ash tree), and go there under a Full Moon. Rub the wart against the bark of the tree and say: Tree of Power, Tree of Power, Pray buy this wart of me. Make sure you leave a gift for the tree, such as a little ginger or milk at the base of the tree.

And if you grow mushrooms, remember :
When the Moon is at the full,
mushrooms you can safely pull,
but when the Moon is on the wane,
wait ere you think to pluck again

Remember, if you drive by the light of the full moon do drive carefully and be aware of native wildlife. Many of our native Australian creatures will be out and about during the nights of the full moon and are vulnerable at this time, so please don’t add to our roadkill.

Planting, fishing or planning your haircuts by the moon is not a new idea. If you would like to know more read about Rudolph Steiner who published breakthrough ancient ideas on farming as well as on education, or better still, give the moon’s energy a chance in your own life. You may be surprised by your success – no incantations necessary (but they could help).

WAXING MOON

First week of the lunar month

Waxing Moon now in Gemini , moving into Cancer on Saturday.

Quarter Moon: Wednesday 11th

The waxing moon is a good time in the lunar cycle to do magic to bring yourself prosperity or health and you will feel your power and energy growing as the Moon herself grows towards her fullness. This is a good time to focus your energy on growing what you started last week with your New Moon Wishes such as getting money, developing love, or building your career. If you are a healer, this is also the best time to work for growing health, i.e. building energy and good thoughts, or using growth and development symbolism in your meditations for good health.

If you are planning a garden this next week still falls into the first lunar week of the month because it is before the Quarter Moon. This first lunar week is the best time to plant leafy annuals which are those plants where you want to harvest the foliage. At this time of the year and depending on your local climate these could include basil, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, coriander, cress, dill, fennel, lettuce, parsley, silverbeet and spinach. Your best time for this is when the moon is in the fully fertile sign of Cancer, which is from just after midday on Saturday 7th, all the rest of that afternoon, all day on Sunday 8th, and all day on Monday 9th until just after 7.30 pm. Remember that the crops that do well if planted in a fertile sign in either the first or second quarter includes your annual flowers, cucumber, grains, hay, leeks, melons and shallots. This fertile time before the full moon is also the best time if you wish to graft, irrigate or use soluble fertilizer.

Your best time for haircuts or lawn cutting for quick lush regrowth is also when the moon is in Cancer, i.e. the afternoon of Saturday 7th, all day Sunday 8th and Monday 9th. Conversely, this would be your worst choice for waxing to remove hair if you want to discourage regrowth and extend the time between waxes.

The only good day for fishermen this week would be Friday 6th, which should still be getting the tail end of the Dark Moon energy from last week.

There is a void moon for all of the morning of Saturday 7th before the moon moves fully into Cancer and for a short time in the early evening of Monday 9th when the moon leaves the sign of Cancer. There is also a void moon for the afternoon of Wednesday 11th. If you can, avoid making any long-term or important decisions at these times because you could be spacey and not fully connected.

Sue is kindly contributing a new weekly Lunar Guide column  for our Magickal Moments eNewsletter this is her first installment:

Lunar Guide

29^th April – 5^th May 2011

Samhainn in the Southern Hemisphere: Saturday 30^th

Dark Moon in Taurus: Tuesday 3^rd

Best Fishing Days: 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th

Best day for a haircut: 4^th

 

Up to the Dark Moon on the 3^rd is a good time for you to rest and for you to allow your garden to rest too. After the Dark Moon on the 3^rd you’ll get a chance to plant leafy annuals, or those plants where you want to harvest the foliage, such as basil, broccoli, cabbage, etc. Check your local planting conditions to see which leafy annuals will do well at this time.

 

The moon will be in the semi-fertile sign of Taurus nearly all day on Wednesday 4^th which is your best day this week to plant. Some crops do well if planted in a fertile sign in either the first or second quarter, so don’t forget your annual flowers, cucumber, grains, hay, leeks, melons and shallots. The fertile times of the first and second week of the lunar month is also the best time if you wish to graft, irrigate or use soluble fertilizer.

 

If you want to cut your hair to encourage fast, healthy regrowth your best date with the barber is also on Wednesday 4^th when the moon is in Taurus. If you miss this date, don’t worry, because you’ll get an even better opportunity next week when the moon is in Cancer on the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th. These are not good days to wax to remove hair, because of that fast, healthy, regrowth. However, it is a good time to cut lawns to encourage lush growth.

 

The time of the Dark Moon also provides great opportunity for the fishermen, for the nights of the Dark Moon (2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th) and also for a couple of nights after the Dark Moon, during the time of the New Moon. The fish should bite well during this time.

 

After the Dark Moon you should be able to spy the small shining crescent of the New Moon as early as Thursday 5^th, which is a time to ask for blessings for the coming month, and when you can write out a wish list for what you need. Remember, you can only ask for yourself and not for others and you should restrict your wishes to 10 because wishing on the New Moon works better if you focus on what you really want to reduce your list of wishes down to a basic 10 items.

 

This week is heavy with void moons, the first all day Friday 29^th, then one nearly all day on Monday 2^nd finishing around 4 pm, the next starts around 4 pm 24 hours later on Tuesday 3^rd, stays all day Wednesday 4^th until around 3 am on Thursday 5^th. Void moons are times when the moon does not align with any of the planets so you may be feeling spacey and not able to concentrate, a time when you should put off making decisions if you can until you are better grounded.