Today was a mix of good and bad. But I had to navigate through the wads of shit. Quite literally. The first thing that happened was I stepped on a massive pile of dog shit. It looked like a bull had emptied his ass. I had to clean that off my shoe as throughly as possible.
Then later, my damn belt broke in the bathroom of the Olive Garden. And my pants kept falling down afterwards. I felt like I was in a fucking Cantinflas movie. With me needing to make sure I didn’t moon anybody with my fat ass. Then finally, well you don’t need to know what else happened.
Needless to say, this new moon has been kicking my ass worse than a Waffle House employee.
So here in the spirit of the fuckery that is the New Moon in Fucking Aquarius I give you new Astro links. And damn you sarcastic Aquarius sign assholes to Hell.
Oh and I forgot to mention, it’s a fucking Supermoon too. That’s what I get for being a Magus who isn’t up to date on astrology. The original Magi are rolling around in their graves right now. Fucking Hell.
Happy Late Christmas Sunday everyone! Originally this post was made yesterday. But WordPress is being an ass. And it posted my report as if it was an article from last year. So I had to duplicate it for today. My apologies!
That’s the first Sunday after Christmas. So New Year’s specifically finishes with a tone of ending things that need to be ended. Or endings as new beginnings. Which is the same thing we have experienced for the last few years. It seems the Gods and the spirit folk are tired of telling us to do things more than once.
Before going forward, if you haven’t read my New Years Rituals blog you should now. To get on the right path. To clear away all unwanted things. To bring good luck. And to be blessed for the new year.
So they’re going to keep pushing this until we get all our shit together. To emphasize this, our New Year’s Day is a Sunday. The last day of the last week of the old year. And it’s a Christmas Sunday. Now technically we are still in Yuletide.
There are several Christmas in January traditions. Even ranging to the Three Kings Parade we have here in Miami. Which celebrates the Pagan Magi who visited Jesus as a child. And no, they never converted to Christianity. They remained faithful Pagans to the end.
Although the Bible doesn’t say how many Pagan Magicians visited Jesus, there are three who are specifically called Kings. Many thought this meant they were actual Kings. But in reality they were great Mages so wise and so powerful that they were considered witch kings of a sort. Mages who were on another level of magic and thus royalty amongst their brethren.
But getting back to the point, Christmas Sunday isn’t normally a Christmas in January sort of thing. It normally happens while the old year is still in progress. This adds once again, to that tone that this is a year for ending things. And I keep thinking,
“How much more shit do we need to end? Gods, can’t you bring something else to fill the void from all of this loss and reaping of the old?”
And they keep responding the same way,
“We have, you just don’t see it yet,”
To make it stranger, I noticed that barely half an hour after midnight had passed. And everyone went to bed. I can usually tell if a year will be shitty or…..extra shitty based on how long the celebrations are. Everyone went to bed early. Just like in 2019’s New Year.
You remember that year right? It was fucked up and a prelude to 2020. Again I say, how much more shit needs to be “ended”. Unfortunately, I got my answer : People need to get off their asses to change things. That means
* Militant political action, not just voting for the same assholes in both parties who change nothing. Actually stand up and protest and demand fucking change. Until then, we’ll have more years like this.
* Stop dreaming so much and wishing and hoping and praying and go do something. Actually change your life.
* Step out of your comfort zone and grow
* Try new things
* Go on Adventures
* Organize, Unite, and share information and resources
* Reject the model of materialism and self enrichment, and focus on enriching the community and the people as a whole.
I know American Capitalism teaches people the BS about the “American Dream”. And how it’s supposed to be a utopia based on all of us making money and being rich. It’s pretty obvious by now that’s bullshit. If it was true, we’d all be rich by now.
Especially those of us who actually work. Wealth comes from stealing from others and stepping atop their corpses in this country. So we need to remove ourselves from that self destructive tendency. Here we have our current New Year’s Report with all the Gods and spirits I can find. I separated them based on culture and religions.
First, we explore the Chinese pantheon and astrology. We are entering the year of the Water Rabbit. Click on the article to find your Chinese zodiac animal and see the forecast for your year.
Now we explore the Tai Sui for the year 2023. A Tai Sui or Grand Duke of Jupiter is one of 60 Divine Generals under the Jade Emperor. Once a year, one of these Gods will become the Grand Duke in charge of the planet Jupiter. The Ruling planet. What this means is that, the chosen God is the ruler of that year.
In fact, the Grand Duke of Jupiter is so important that whatever direction in Feng Shui is sacred to him needs to be appeased. If you do anything to offend the Tai Sui, it can screw up your year. Even indirectly.
Quote from the article on General Pi Shi at wofs.com
Such as by having your Zodiac animal be in contradiction to him. Or accidentally making too much noise in the direction sacred to the Tai Sui. The Ruling Grand Duke of Jupiter for the year 2023 is General Pi Shi.
General Pi Shi
The year 2023 doesn’t really sound like it’s going to be a peach. But General Pi Shi was a skilled leader in life. Both militarily and politically. And he was able to find solutions to problems very easily. Because of this, the year 2023 will have the right leaders to aid with problems.
Just don’t expect those leaders to always be political. Search for the leader inside yourself. And keep your eyes open for other leaders to work with. In life, this General had military and political commendations since he was very young. He quelled both rebellions and invasions.
And was given key appointments by the Emperor. So appealing to him for improvement and advancements are very good. Especially in making yourself better.
In many cultures, number four has a negative aspect numerologicaly speaking. Even in Santeria we are told to never light four candles in a house. Because it symbolizes death and the dead. This is from the time before electricity was being used in Cuba. When funeral parlors were using candle sticks.
Two at the head of the casket and two at the foot of the casket. However, as in many things, four has positive aspects as well. In Chinese beliefs the number rules over relationships. Whether it’s romance or friendship. Or business partnerships.
The effects will really be felt on the 4th of February. That’s when the number 4 star becomes the dominant force for 2023. This brings both blessings but also curses for the year. Besides symbolizing death, the negative number four also symbolizes betrayal of a relationship. Married couples are in danger the most this year.
If you are in a relationship, you need to proactively resist temptation in all of it’s forms. Arguments. And all other things. This may also mean divisions and betrayals even in political and business alliances. The thing to remember about the negative of any number is look at the positive.
Use the positive force of that number to cancel out the negative. It can’t fight itself. But you can resist and shield yourself with the positive attributes of that number.
Focus on its energy
Focus on it’s powers and energies. And allow it to protect you. Call for it to immunize you against its own negative aspects. Call it’s good energy into every part of your being. You can burn a golden candle with a number 4 you etch into it.
Obatala, the King of the Yoruba Gods or Orishas. And his daughter Oshun. The Goddess of love, lust, prosperity, nature, rivers, and witchcraft among other things. The King of the Gods and the Goddess of love magnify and bless every single one of us. Normally I translate the entire letter of the year but I found out Ashe Pa mi Cuba does it themselves.
The letter of the year is the results of divination for the new year. It’s done by the Babalawos or high priests of Orula. The Orisha of Divination and Magic. They call upon him to see into the future of the year. Then they give all of their predictions on the coming year.
And prescribe rituals for it to get better. The Divination of the year can be found here. Now as beautiful as it is to have Obatala and Oshun rule this year, the predictions are not beautiful at all. Remember what I said about this year being used to finish more shit? Yeah it’s about that. The reigning text or sign of IFA used in this divination is Otura Niko (The Foreman of the Dead). There’s a whole story about how Orula defeated death himself.
And shape shifts into Otura Niko the Foreman of the Dead. In the next few days I will write about that story. But for now let’s get to the Ebbo.
The sacrifices asked for protection and blessing over the New Year
Curujey is a name for the twisted air plant. Usually found in Cuba. In addition to this, Oya in the early hours of midnight asked me for something. I performed a Spanish tradition of putting 12 grapes in my mouth to ask for good luck. I had both green and purple grapes.
I ate the green grapes. But there were 9 purple grapes left. Nine is Oya’s number. And darker colors like purple are usually for her as well. I had no idea this sign was going to come up.
I just did as she asked. I took the purple grapes to a shrine for the dead I have outside. And I found a half empty bottle of Merlot on the way. She likes red wine. So I gave her the grapes and the wine.
Then asked for her and the dead to intercede on my behalf against any dangers in the new year. And to bring many blessings. When I actually took the time to read what the sign was about it left me stunned. That actually speaks to another theme of this sign : listening to your spirit guides and also following instructions. You will find many blessings that way.
There is another Ebbo for protection during this sign that I found during the study of the Oddun. It’s as follows. Warning this is only for Santeros. Don’t try this one if you aren’t, or don’t have sufficient training yet. I added this portion for purely scholarly reasons.
Ebbo (Cleansing) of Otura Niko
So that good comes. (I’ll go Umbo)
Ingredients :
1) Three bottles of brandy
2) A white plate
3) Cascarilla or blessed eggshell powder
4) Otura Niko is tied and prayed
Instructions :
This Cascarilla is poured into one of the bottles of brandy, and given to the dead, the others without the powder, one for Orunmila and the other for Eshu (Elegba). And this is the cleansing offering to ensure protection. And then of course you despose of them in accordance to divination. I have shrines for the dead and the Orishas so I know what to do with them.
It has a mix of good and bad omens for us all. This one I had to translate into English for everyone here. Or rather translate the aspects of it. Not the word for word text.
This sign is the foreman of the Eggun (dead). For which it is written on the tile when sacrifice is going to be made. Wisdom is the most refined beauty of the Babalawo.
* The agitation of the sea
* Corn
* The nervous system in the body
* That death is frightened and respects the living.
* And the Oparaldó
* The disfigurement of the human being at death.
* Eggún’s communication with Olófin
* Good and evil threaten the awó
* Send to prepare things on time
* Speak: kutone
* The country or land of Eggun where Otura Niko is the foreman
* It is an extension ifá
What does this mean?
* Orunmila lived in the Iyesá land
* In Otura Niko you do not eat caimito, zapote, octopus, or squid
* No ants or insects are killed
* It speaks of the human races
* It is an ifá of weariness and loneliness
* The son cried in the mother’s womb
* It was where Orunmila’s jars were hit
It symbolizes
* Oshun hid the money under the caimito bush and Shango his treasure
* Shango stole a thing from Olofin and hid it
* It is forbidden to go to the river
* Elegbá is for good and for bad
* There is a tendency to vices
* The most important thing is the spirit of the father
(This last one is interesting because the Letter of the Year mentions that Godsons and Godfathers should be closer to each other this year)
* It was where the king threw the raffle and Otura Niko took it out
Recommendations of the sign Otura Niko:
The children of this Oddun must be generous, because in this way they will be enriched. They will have to comply with everything, so as not to be accused of being irresponsible. For three days, bring a bottle of brandy and money to your Godfather’s Ifá. The secret of this Oddun is to feed his father’s spirit or his spiritual guide. He is given a white rooster.
The pregnant woman must make sacrifices to ensure a healthy child. Place food with syrup in the corners of the house so that the ants come and with them luck. Bathe with canutillo and other times with French macaw, red fig, and Iworiyeyé.
(Remember these are the rituals of the Yoruba people. No one is actually telling you to do this. The prescribed rituals are the ones in the screen shots I took. This is all part of the Oddun).
Another interesting thing is we are told to not kill ants. Ants are the lucky animal this year. They must be treated well. I will give an offering to the ants where I live for good luck. Also, Ants are an animal associated with Elegua.
Which I found curious. But that curiosity was later answered when looking up the Orixa Regente of 2023.
Sayings of Otura Niko
The iron wanted to fight with the candle. The Sun rises for everyone but you. He who does good in droves, will receive it in droves. The broken jar will never be filled. The broken jar will never be called justice.
The father says: If you are not happy in your house, you better come with me. Good and evil threatened the Babalawo. In the land of the dead, I am foreman. He who wept in the womb is blessed.
Prohibitions of the sign of Ifa Otura Niko
It is forbidden to eat pork. For this is offered to Eggun. No ants or insects are killed. It is forbidden to go to the river.
Ifa Otura Niko says:
“You will do a favor that you will not appreciate. In her house there is a person who has a cast womb, there is also another who is pregnant, and the child who is going to give birth is a boy and will be called a Know-it-all, because that child is going to be a Babalawo. They will send you to find a place forever, take care of your child. Where they live they have had money and today they have nothing to eat. Thank you Shangó. Feed your father’s spirit so that luck comes. If you don’t feed him, he will go where he is,”
It has a bit of Mayombe, be careful, because that slows it down. Don’t put pins in your mouth. Be careful where you eat, don’t get sick. Don’t ask for so much money, as it can be used for your burial. He cannot be stubborn and beware of treason where he can be poisoned.
Be obedient to your elders so that you can live happily. You can’t bathe in the river. You have to beg for your head. In his house there was a brunette woman with a red blanket, if he returns, he immediately gives Shango a ram and two roosters, which will then come with three very large lots.
She left her house in search of money and was introduced by three lovers, clinging to her guardian angel. In order for him to get such money, he must have an apron and buy lottery tickets, which others despised. The day you feed the saints, don’t work. He doesn’t have a son because God is angry with his behavior. Thank you, Oshun and Orunmila You can not get wet in rainwater, let alone bathe in a downpour.
While all three batches don’t arrive, be satisfied with what you have, you have to cover the holes of the mice, for your ashe,”
Characteristics of the sign Otura Niko (Ogbe)
This sign speaks of the person’s lack of awareness because he or she has suffered loss. This is where corn came down into the world, it was born. In this Ifá was born the communication of the Eggún (dead) with Olófin (God) through Oniko, who is the messenger. So Otura Niko represents the messenger of the dead or the foreman of the Eggun. This Oddun marks, the power of evil in the people of lights.
It is an Ifá of evolution for the Awó. They speak:
“The journeys of dualities to ask Ifá for recourse. Evolution to spirits, and evil threatens the Awó. This Oddun says to prepare things with time, because it is an Ifá that does not allow delay. The children of this Oddun must be generous, because in this way they will be enriched, they will have to comply with everything, so as not to be accused of being irresponsible,”
The turmoil of the sea was born. Speak: Kutoné.
“The country of the land of the dead (Eggun). This is an Oddun of life and death. Here was born the Oparaldó, which means (kill behind the body),”
This ceremony called theOparaldó is used to cast out or remove a particular dead person from “behind a person”. It’s a ritual for removing an attachment by a spirit in other words. Especially a dark ghost (eggun buruku). This may also be a sign that we need to protect ourselves from darker energies more so than usual this year. As we may see more attachments than normal.
Diseases that afflict this Oddun (sign/text) but also remedies we may be seeing this in 2023
* Diseases of the throat (tonsdolopathy), spine, nervous system, blood pressure.
* It speaks of the human race. The person lives with the opposite race (racial unity as a cure). This Oddun must receive Odduduwa, for a health problem.
Odduduwa one of the Primordial Creator Gods, one of the sons of GOD.
“There is someone in the family who hanged himself, just as there is someone who was educated in a convent or boarding school for nuns.
Otura NIko is an Odu from Ifá who speaks of boredom. The person gets tired of living. This Oddun is where the child cried in the womb. Bring a gift from nature.
This Ifá sends to bathe with canutillo and other times with French macaw, red fig and Iworiyeyé. This is the Ifá of the schoolchildren, the person grew up together with other children or lived near a school.
Ifá says:
That wisdom is the most refined beauty that Babalawo has. This is where Orunmila’s jars were actually beaten,”
As you can see, the text speaks of a great many things. There’s a mishmash of good and bad things. It feels like it’s saying this year will be a conflict between the positive and the negative.
“This Oddun is where the child cried in the womb. Bring a gift from nature. This Ifá sends to bathe with canutillo and other times with French macaw, red fig and Iworiyeyé. This is the Ifá of the schoolchildren, the person grew up together with other children or lived near a school.
Ifá says:
That wisdom is the most refined beauty that Babalawo has. This is where Orunmila’s jars were actually beaten. Here he was born: He who sometimes dies (Iku) is frightened and respects the living. The Great Power of the Awó. Here death is transformed into bone and shadow that nobody knows, and that is why the human being is disfigured when he dies and transforms,”
So we see another dynamic here : Iku and possibly the Eggun fear the living under this sign. Which means we have some power in our corner after all.
Secrets of Otura Niko
“This was where Oshún hid her money under the caimito bush and Shango hid his treasure that was: ero, obbi, kolá and ozún naború, under the canutillo. That is why the Awó Otura Niko should not miss a caimito branch behind the door and put Shangó erú, obbi, kolá, ozún naború, and cover it with canutillo. Here Shango stole a thing from Olofin from (our) religion and hid it,”
It goes on to mention again that you need to give honor to your religious Masters. With emphasis to a male religious figure. And the importance of a connection between the Godson and Godfather. And giving offerings to The Godfather’s house. The text in relation to love is very bad.
It says that finding love is a pain in the ass under this sign. Because betrayal is right around every corner. You are not to go near rivers. Or get wet by rain. And dogs are seen as special protectors.
But they should also be protected.
Many offerings should be made to your spirit guides for protection. Especially your Guardian Deities and any Eggun you have like the ancestors (thanks for watching out for me Oya). The importance of Ebbos and other special offerings and rituals for protection and blessing.
There’s another missed up story about a farmer, who gave his guardian spirit an offering so that he could gain blessings. But at the end of the story, even though he got his blessings, a sack of money fell from the air on top of him and he died.
“There was a farmer almost ruined because of the great drought that hit the region in which he lived. The plants and their animals were dying. But his guardian angel offered him a chance and said:
‘Give me a goat, but do not work or get wet with rainwater that day,’
The day that the farmer, gave the guardian angel what he asked, soon it began to rain. And the farmer forgot the warning of his guardian angel and left happy to stir the earth, (that is, he worked) at that moment came the luck of Heaven, that is, sacks of money, which fell on him and killed him,”
I’m going to say something that isn’t in that text. Okay? Don’t crucify me now. It’s an observation. He challenged the Osogbos and his own arrogance felled him. An Osogbo isn’t just bad luck.
It’s bad energy. Specifically it’s an Ajogun or demonic spirit. So it’s believed when you are resisting bad luck, you’re literally resisting an evil spirit who embodies that bad luck. So when your patron or matron Deity (guardian angel) is giving you a specific instruction to follow, do not deviate from that instruction. All this man had to do was not work for one day and stay dry.
Easiest thing in the world to do. And by the next day his crops would have been full and his Osogbos gone. What was so hard about following these instructions? Again, obey your spirit guides and Gods. That’s why death comes from disobedience this year. So there’s three things to take from that story :
1) The importance of Apotropaic Magic
Protection from evil spirits. As well as well as properly following rituals and instructions. Don’t fuck around. Follow what you are told. And do not deviate from instructions.
2) The importance of giving offerings to your spiritual guides. Following their instructions to the letter.
3) Be wary of the Osogbos
Just because you are doing a ritual to protect yourself, doesn’t mean it can’t backfire on you. And that the negative forces out there can’t hurt you.
When Orunmila went to see Olordumare
On this road, Orunmila needed to see Olordumare to resolve the situation that existed on Earth. But he could not get to where he was. Because he did not know the way or the enchantment. Faced with this situation, Orunmila divined seeing this Oddun (text, the one for this year), which Ebbó (offering cleansing) marked him with:
A rooster, needles, colored threads, fabrics, a basket, colored ribbons, eggs, little balls of faces etc. and that after he did the Ebbó he went for a walk. Shortly after walking, he met Eshu, who was disguised in torn clothes, Orunmila gave him fabrics, needles and threads to sew his clothes. Then Eshu directed him to a place where they met an old woman, who was Orishanla (Obatala in his Goddess aspect).
Orunmila, seeing her, gave her ten chicken eggs and the old woman was very happy. Because the hens had not laid there for a long time. After this, Orishanla showed him the way that would lead him to Olordumare’s house. When Orunmila arrived at the door of Olordumare’s house, he found it closed and through the bars of a window, he saw some boys, called them and fed them the buns he was carrying. Then he said to the boys,
‘Open the door for me, so you can distribute all the little balls I have in this basket.’
The boys opened the door and Orunmila was able to enter Olordumare’s house and managed to see him and ask for advice to solve the problems on Earth,”
This aspect of the text shows us that by acting honestly and in good faith, no task is impossible. Because the Gods and ultimately fate itself will help us. It again highlights the importance of doing proper magical rituals and making sure we do things correctly.
Who are the Ruling Orixas of 2023?
Oxum and Exu
This information comes from Astro Center .com I just wrote the cliff notes version in English. Umbanda and Quimbanda are both religions based on Yoruba religion. Just like Santeria. They also have Orishas (Portuguese Orixa). But their divinations and some of their rituals are different.
Mostly because Santeria and Umbanda and Quimbanda where influenced by different European cultures. So what the Yoruba practitioners lost or gained during slavery in ritual and culture depended mostly on that. It’s fascinating to see how similar they both are and yet different. That’s why I always pay attention to what all these groups say. I usually find a common theme in both divinations.
According to Umbanda and Quimbanda the Orixa Regente (Ruling Orisha) of the year 2023 are : Exu (Elegua or Eshu). Exu or Eshu is the God of the Crossroads. A messenger of the Gods, and a master of business and negotiation. A bringer of good commerce. Very similar to Hermes in the Greek pantheon.
And the other Orixa in power is, you guessed it Oxum or Oshun. Who is also one of the rulers of the year according to Santeria. As a Goddess of Prosperity as well as love, fertility, and also of good commerce, she adds to this influence. However, here’s the rub : I doubt sincerely that means you and I are going to benefit from all this prosperity. I don’t mean to be so cynical.
I believe the Gods want what is best for us. But prosperity for them and prosperity for us could have totally different definitions. That’s one, two I also sense that most of the prosperity is going to be sucked up by businesses. Not the common person. That’s what I feel.
Not because I believe the Gods favor them more than us. But because blessings are easier to get when you are already blessed. I believe that for the rest of us, we are going to have to fight like hell for those blessings. It’s not impossible. We can do it.
But be prepared to work your ass off.
From a Yoruba Priestess in the Article,
“What you can do to align with the energy of Exu, the lord of the order, is to organize yourself. The organization, discipline and good character will be necessary for you to attract the energy of the movement”, says the expert.
“Now to connect to Oxum’s energy she explains that you need to be kind to people, connect with your emotions and the emotions others, have the patience to understand the life of other people as much as yours,”
The expert adds that
“this will make all the difference in the final result so that you can connect and have a better year”.
In other words, the same thing mentioned above. If you are honest and generous you will ultimately thrive this year. The priestess also adds special baths and magic to achieve this end.
“For Exu, if you want to connect and get closer, the tip is to take prosperity baths. Try plants like Road Opener, leaf of fortune, and pitanga“, says the expert. “If you want to attract defense, take a bath of aroeira to be able to get closer to Exu’s energy and let this movement manifest itself into your life.”
“For Oxum, if you wish to manifest her sweetness and bring kindness to yourself, make a bath of fresh basil. This is a bath in which you will macerate herbs, prepare them, and wash from head to toe with them whenever you want to connect to Oxum’s energy, preferably on Saturdays”, concludes Priestess Iyá Tolomi.
Now, every Greek Temple has their own way of doing things. Our religion is not centralized like Yoruba practice. But I thought I would share what my temple believes are the Ruling Gods and Hero of the year. The two ruling Gods are Hephaestus the Black Smith and builder of the Gods. And his wife Aphrodite, a Goddess of love, wealth, fertility, bringer of good fortunes and things.
You can see some of the similarities. A Goddess of love is the common factor in the Yoruba and Greek Divinations. And the presence of Obatala, Eshu, General Pi Shi, and now Hephaestus all speak to the need for hard work for prosperity to truly come. None of us are getting shit on a silver plate. I think that’s been fairly established by now.
And Herakles was the performer of the 12 Labors. And a master of solving problems using his intellect as well as his strength. Someone similar General Pi Shi. Ultimately those are the themes of this year. I hope this will aid you in going forward this year.
– M
PS : As of 6:30pm EST my friend got into a car accident. So far they don’t know what happened to the breaks. But he crashed with a stop sign and a wall. So………the Babalawos were right as usual
It’s been a long time since I have done one of these. No time like the present. The Hunter’s Moon is the Moon that follows the Harvest Moon. To strengthen its influence, it’s in the sign of Aries in 16 Degrees. From Pandora Astrology we have this.
Negative influences during the Red October that we’re in. It’s an October that is full of warlike energy. That’s probably why everything is so messed up right now. It also causes extreme arguments and conflict between people. So please mind your mouth and your actions.
But also take advantage of this time to do Shadow Work. That is, working with your dark side. Everyone has a Shadow right? What if I told you that it’s literally a part of your mind and your spirit. The darker part. It’s your passion and ambition.
Your charisma and charismatic part of the soul. And it even contains old memories from past lives. Most people only associate it with anger and negativity. But that’s only how it starts out. Eventually when you have a good relationship with your Shadow Self, they cool down and become wise teachers.
The best way to watch the Hunter’s Moon is from a balcony or roof top. At least in Florida. Because it’s rainy and cloudy here. You’ll need everything advantage can get to see it. Next we have Davina’s Predictions on Red October.
I saved some rain water. Then I placed stones inside of it. A Tiger’s Eye to represent the fiery energy. Moon Stone for the Moon and Water. And Lapis Lazuli for the water as well and the blue of the night.
Waiting for the night to fall to place it on the balcony. I’m also charging it with necromantic rites to the Ancestors. Besides Halloween, we’re in the middle of the Jewish high feast of Sukkot. I have already built an altar and am leaving special offerings there. And the Ushpizin or “guests”, the heavenly dead are commemorated.
For seven days they are given offerings and honor. Finally, here’s a link from Purplerays shared to us by Grannymoon. Oh! And one final thing. This one comes to us from Pandora Astrology.
Every time I see somebody post one of those positive blog posts about how positive a retrograde can be, I wanna strangle them. I’m sorry but it’s true. That doesn’t mean that I reject the fact that retrogrades ultimately do help us. But I don’t have to like how the Gods are choosing to help us. In fact if being a part of both the Voodoo and Hoodoo community has taught me anything it’s that I have a RIGHT to say fuck you to whoever is up there ruining my month or months with a retrograde.
Some root workers are even known to use reversal candles to send the retrograde energy back to the planet. So no I have no intention of being positive about it. This is just one giant cluster fuck, from an even bigger cluster fuck of a year. So fuck all you hippies out there telling us it’s for our own good. Because this year was shitty enough without adding to it.
I don’t need someone who looks like they’re high on pixie dust, telling me this shit in a positive Xanax and Weed infused voice. Fuck you!!! I don’t want to hear shit like :
Somebody tell Eobard Thawne I told him to suck it as well.
What all the Retrogrades here have in common?
All three Gods and their planets to a certain extent, have associations with money. Or Systems of authority. Nothing out of the ordinary right? We’re already going through inflation. Well no not exactly. You see, this also has to do with systems of authority.
Which means that there is a greater potential for anger in the streets. As people are tired of the bullshit and will make sure you know it. Especially if that authority is oppressive. And with the recent police execution of Jayland Walker in Akron, Ohio we’re already seeing people defy authoritarianism. Which is a good thing.
What’s bad is that repressive systems tend to be violent and bloodthirsty when they’re being challenged. So expect more police state repression in America. But also expect more rebellion from the masses against the police state. That’s probably one of the few good things about these retrogrades. People are being forced to see reality.
The land of the “free” isn’t quite so free after all.
Jupiter
Jupiter is the King of the Roman Gods. Therefore he’s pretty much is in charge of everything. He can be everywhere and do anything. Like the Christian God. He’s the Great Father of us all.
So when he enters his death aspect, which causes his planet to go retrograde, that means everything is out of whack. The universe almost seems to be in some kind of disorder. He’s mostly associated with : prosperity, destiny, control of your own life, power, magic, order, like I said everything. Usually when Jupiter is in his heavenly state you get a feeling that you have “the golden touch,”. All things can be done by him and through him.
But when things go bad, and the energy turns inwards you get the opposite. Where once there was order, now there is chaos. Where once you had prosperity or at least stability, now all you have are debts and uncertainty. Where before you were powerful and in control of your game, now that potency control is gone. And you can also become petty.
Angry, prone to mood swings almost as if you were bipolar. You become greedy and have a lust for power and all the good things in life. At the expense of others. And the shadowy and darker parts of yourself start to rear their ugly heads. Now there is a silver lining to this.
That’s when you’re being shown the truth about yourself. As with every retrograde, your true motives are being exposed. You’re being shown whether or not you’re acting like a good person or a shitty person. Whether the things you want to do are for the right reasons or not. If they aren’t, don’t expect Lord Jupiter to help you achieve such goals.
You are to take the time necessary to find out what it is Jupiter (the planet and the God) wants you to change in your life. Now this retrograde hasn’t happened yet. Jupiter is slowly moving into his aspect as a God of the dead on July 28, 2022. And will remain in retrograde until November 23, 2022. So you still have some time.
But now is the time to ease into praying to his darker side. And ask for help in changing your life.
Saturn
Next we have his Father, Saturn. There’s a debate about whether or not Saturn is the same as Kronos from the Hellenic (Greek) religion. When the Romans conquered Greece, they started to synchronize some of the Gods together. And don’t get me wrong there are arguments for some of them. But Saturn was originally seen as a peace loving God of abundance and prosperity.
His wife Lua was the one seen as the destructive force. But with time, the story of Kronos was lifted from the Greeks and placed onto Saturn. And he became a bloodthirsty and malevolent God of sacrifice and cannibalism. Where before he was seen as the God of the Golden Age of humanity. Of wealth and of all good things.
Like Jupiter his son, he was also the Supreme Overlord of the Universe. Now regardless of whether you think they are the same person or not, one thing is true. Even if he’s a good and benevolent God, he’s still seen as a God of discipline and karma. Which means his influence can be hard to tolerate. And when he’s in retrograde, he’s in a foul mood.
Retrograde for him actually increases his influence. Saturn is going to influence us in the areas of control over our lives. And whether or not the limits you set on yourself have been restricting you. So this is a time of deep introspection. Find out what is holding you back in life.
And then get rid of it. It went into retrograde on June 4th. And it ends on October 22nd. Of course by then, everything will be on Cthonic power. The dead will rise and what not as the veil starts to thin.
So it kinda cancels it out for me.
Neptune
And last but not least, Lord Neptune. This is a retrograde of head blindness. That means confusion and not thinking clearly. A head fog. It’s a real pain in the ass for getting things done.
Illusions and delusions are also a pitfall of this retrograde.
But there are also benefits. It’s a retrograde of dreams and even shamanic travel. It’s one for grounding and centering and meditating. More so than any other retrograde. For this reason it’s more or less one of my favorites that I can actually enjoy.
Old addictions and repetitive thoughts come out during this retrograde as well. Anything from fantasies and dreams. To painful memories, loss, and I have been told that an addiction or two can be made worse. Or perhaps that isn’t the right word. Obsessions may be a better description.
Things you thought you were over that keep coming back to bother you. In fact that’s one of the bad things (or good depending on how you see it) about this retrograde : To see through illusions and delusions. Even if showing you the truth means forcing you to see it by destroying a false. Obviously it’s good to not have unhealthy delusions. But tearing off the bandaid right away can do just as much harm.
It starts June 28th and ends on December 3rd.
Ritual
Now is the time to also do some clearing rituals and magic to be able to think more clearly. Focus, meditation. The way I would do it is nothing fancy. Low magic and working with the Retrogrades. Mage friends of mine would do a complicated ritual to cut through the Retrogrades.
But I believe in working with them. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a good old fashioned retrograde charm. Something for protection. Maybe a bone charm or a stone. Take care of yourselves everyone.
Tonight is the Blood or Flower Moon. Combined with the Scorpio Lunar Eclipse. Here’s some info for you.
All magic will be stronger during this time. For good and for bad. Good and evil spirits wander the places. So beware. Also, pregnant women and women in their periods should not be outside.
According to my Godmother in Santeria, women who are pregnant and on a period are susceptible to spirits. And indigenous witches in Peru actually state that a woman in such conditions becomes liminal during this time. Like a walking doorway absorbing all energy. Wear red strings to avoid the evil eye and harmful spirits. And only be outside to ask for wishes.
Or to do magical work you know you can handle. This is a lot of power accumulated from just a few days. Don’t let yourself get in over your head.
When will the Eclipse start?
9:32pm EST
When will it peak?
12:11am
When does it end?
At 12:54am and then the moon should be normal by 2:50am
Now is the time to charge charms and holy waters and oils. Necromancy and Astrological magics will be stronger. So will summonings and vanishings. Another good art to practice is divination. But be careful since a lot of nasty spirits will try to mess with you.
Lemures or Larvae. The dark souls of the ancestral dead
As if the festival of the Lemuria wasn’t already chalk full of some strange, and often dark mystical energy. The Gods have chosen to make it more bizarre by making the final day of the Lemuria land on a Friday 13th. I have mentioned this holiday before. But I haven’t really gone into full detail about it started or why. So here we delve into the background.
First I need to apologize. The holiday started on Monday. But I couldn’t find the time to write. It’s on May 9, 11, and the final day being the 13th.
Romulus Haunted by Remus?
The Twin Boys destined for greatness, and tragedy sadly. Here with their adopted mother, the She-Wolf Luperca
The story goes back to Romulus and Remus. After they did all of their great heroic deeds, they decided to build a new city. It was their time. They wanted to prove that as with all things in their life, they built everything with their own two hands. They returned to the Seven Hills and went to work on building what would be Rome.
But soon after they began to quarrel. Romulus wanted to build the city on the Palatine Hill. While Remus wanted to build it over the Aventine Hill. When they couldn’t come to an agreement, they decided to let the Gods choose. Remus saw six birds that represented good luck.
But then his brother saw twelve. Which he claimed was proof the Gods choose the Palatine Hill. When he was creating the walls of Rome (some sources say a trench) his brother Remus criticized the work. Then obstructed the project. And finally, he skipped over the walls to mock his brother and the city.
Romulus entered a rage and murdered Remus.
Romulus killing Remus
By the time he realized what he had done it was too late. He buried his brother. But soon after the first Romans began celebrating a holiday called the Remuria. It’s believed that Romulus instituted the festival himself. Probably on the advice of Oracles.
Now I can’t back that up all of the way. That’s just speculation on my part with what I have read. But it makes sense. The whole holiday is about using an exorcism ritual to drive away dark ancestral spirits. He probably feared the return of his brother.
And as you will soon see, it’s also a holiday about removing guilt.
What are the Lemure?
A Lemure or Larvae is the angry spirit of the dead, every family has at least one. Toxic souls that are upset either because of how they died. Lack of proper funerals, burials, and/or rituals. Or lack of offerings by living relatives. They are similar to the Dybbuk of Jewish lore and the Causas (Causes) of Puerto Rican Sanse.
Or the Eggun Buruku of Santeria. Or even the Hungry Ghosts of Buddhism and the Preta of Hinduism. All of these are just names for the dark dead as we commonly call them in Santeria. Souls that go so deep into the darkness that some of them don’t even resemble humans anymore. The Preta for example are cannibalistic.
You can pretty much find a variation of a dark or mutated soul of the dead in every culture. Under different forms, species, and names.
Also being forgotten or unnamed can lead to them achieving this state. Some even due to the lack of funerary rituals. In Catholicism they have something similar called an Anima Sola (lonely soul). This is a person trapped in Purgatory as an unclean soul. Waiting for God to take them to Heaven. But without the proper rituals that could take an eternity.
In Latin American folk magic, these dark souls are called upon in magic. In exchange for prayers and masses done in their names, they will do favors for the humans who pray for them. It’s said that these purgatorial ghosts can tell you the locations of graves. Lost treasures. And they can grant certain wishes.
It’s not uncommon for women to call on female Anima Solas for love spells and magic. While male Anima Solas are usually called upon for financial security. All you have to do is to burn holy candles and do masses for them. This should be done before and after asking for their help. If you don’t, they will retaliate.
But you should always be careful when asking the spirits for help. Only work with spirits you trust. Who will never screw you up.
Some Anima Sola are violent
And spending so much time in Purgatory is enough to drive them insane. Those who do become insane, turn into the darkest and angriest spirits. And to make it worse, Purgatory is a giant oven of purifying fire to make your sins go away. To clean you before God. And it hurts as if you had gone to Hell.
Purification of the Anima Sola
Only special rosaries and masses can soften the purifying flame and eventually set them free so they can enter Heaven. Such a place would be the perfect grounds for an angry or dark spirit to be. And what all of the stories have in common are that these beings live in a dark world between worlds. A dimension where it isn’t exactly what Christians would call hell, but it definitely isn’t a paradise either. In some cases you could end up there if the wrong rituals are performed.
A fellow blogger had once told me a messed up story about how a Buddhist woman was trapped in a limbo like state. Because her Christian daughter gave her a Christian burial instead of a Buddhist one. The daughter had nightmares of her poor mother alone, in the darkness of an endless labyrinth. Until she spoke to a Buddhist Priest and the proper rituals were followed. Then the dreams stopped.
All of this is to give you a hint and a range of what dark souls are like. And how one can be violent while another is peaceful and scared. Sometimes even looking scrawny and hungry. Looking for help. Of course some of them are just evil bastards.
People who enjoyed hurting others and causing problems or sufferings. And they intentionally stay in places similar to a limbo or purgatory to avoid punishment (if you believe in that). Or maybe not punishment. But to avoid being sealed away in the spiritual world so they can keep haunting or bothering the living. Now as I said before, a Lemure is not always an evil spirit.
Just a dark one. Toxic due to its death or from some circumstance that keeps them in such a state. But each Lemure or dark soul or whatever should be judged according to four things :
1) What kind of dark soul they are?
Maybe instead of a Lemure they are a Jewish Dybbuk or a Preta.
2) Their intentions
Are they good or bad? Do they desire peace and help? Or do they want death and destruction?
3) Their culture
What is normally done to the specific dark souls and what do elders of certain traditions say about them?
And finally
4) The country they are in
If it’s a Preta in a country outside of India, chances are it’s connected to a local family or community. Maybe someone who recently passed away. Or someone who is ancient and follows a family where ever they move to. But either way, they’re in another land. There are rules they must abide by under the local spirits.
Indigenous spirits will always have more power than foreign spirits. And therefore the foreign spirit will have to keep their hauntings or activity in line with whatever local spirit rulers command. That being said, you can call on a local spirit for help battling a dark soul. This should help you gain the upper hand.
When the exorcisms were performed, the Father of the family placed his thumb between his fingers. And washed his hand with pure, clean water (maybe holy water). Then he placed uncooked black beans in his mouth and began spitting them all over the home.
Then in Latin he would chant,
“Haec ego mitto; his redimo meque meosque fabis,”
(With these beans I redeem me and mine)
So this ritual was one part expiation of sins and one part exorcism. He would do this nine times without looking back. The belief was the Lemures would take the beans and thus the sins. But they were in the house already and looking back meant they could attack. The next thing he would do is to beat on pots and pans and say,
“Ghosts of my Fathers and Ancestors, be gone!”
This would also be done for nine times which meant the ritual was complete. Only after the ritual was done could he look back.
The use of beans to confuse spirits or force them to count them until dawn is something still done today. And for more than just ghosts. Vampires and even the hag (demon witches) or werewolves of lore are also warded off by them. In some stories even nature spirits. But this ritual actually used them to remove sins as well. To cleanse away any reason the Lemures would have to be angry at the family.
And the use of noise to scare away evil spirits or spirits in general is another ancient practice. And still used today around the world.
Now, as for Friday the 13th, no one really knows what the origin was. I have written about it maybe once when it coincided when John Dee’s birthday. Since I don’t really have any new information I won’t go into it here.
Plus I have given you an eyeful with this post.
What I will say though, is that many witches consider Friday the 13th to be a day of good luck. And more importantly, a day where our powers are actually stronger. My Godmother in Santeria dedicates this day to prosperity work. As well as to cleansing and removal of curses. I do as well.
Though in my case I do past life healings and other work for clients on this day. My necromancy is also stronger on this day. And I use it as a mini version of Halloween to be able to speak with the dead. And gain information as well as to pass messages on to others. All kinds of magic is done on this day.
I focus on the darker energies of nature for healing. Another great thing to focus on is the use of Magical Oils. Like Lucky Friday the 13th Oil which is used as a talismanic potion for good luck. There’s also Friday the 13th Banish Evil Oil which is used as an amulet against evil. Then of course my favorite : Black Cat Oil.
The ingredients being Black Cat hair, iron fillings, bay leaves, sage, and myrrh. This one is my favorite since it is multi use. And it uses the energy of a black cat for magic. The ingredients are simple. But effective.
Now because the Lemuria falls with Friday the 13th this year, it’s a good time to do karmic cleansing and expiation of sins. The added power of this day will grant an extra kick to all sorts of rituals. But especially to curse removals and negative energy removal. And healing in conjunction with Mercury Retrograde. Which happens for the purposes of correcting problems and mistakes.
Speaking of Astrology, we have some interesting astrological events happening as well.
Super Flower Moon & Lunar Eclipse in the Sign of Scorpio ♏️
Sunday May 15th will be the Super Flower Moon of May. The moon will become visibly red. This symbolizes the blood of the Earth. Fertility, sexual energy, birth, and did I mention sex? Yeah be careful. You don’t want to wake up pregnant.
Or find out you’re gonna be someone’s father before you’re ready to. Fertility is at its strongest now. May is always fertile. But this just adds more power to it. I can’t help but think of a woman’s period.
This is a time of both life and death. Negative energy removed so that life can be possible. To make that theme stronger, we have the Eclipse in Scorpio making an appearance. Eclipses reveal hidden things. Either occult secrets or secrets about ourselves.
Combine that with a Retrograde and the remnants of the Lemuria and Friday the 13th energy. And that’s a lot of occult power that may not entirely be controllable. This is a time for Talismanic magic. I mean that in the original Astrological term. Talismans were originally medals with zodiac symbols on them.
Charged with the signs powers through special ceremonies. That’s where the name comes from. From the Arabic tilsam which means “graven image”. Being the image of the zodiac sign. Those were the original talismans.
You can create your own talismans. Not with images but with charms that will absorb the power and energy of these days. That way you can use them for whatever magic you seek to use later. But beware, don’t over do it. Try doing your magic so that you charm specific items for specific days.
Don’t over do it and then get an over powered charm that will blow up in your face when you try to use it. For Friday the 13th and Lemuria I will charm the bones of my dead familiar spirit. From midnight until dawn the 14th it will soak up all that energy. Meanwhile from the 15th to the 16th I will be charming something else for that energy. What I still don’t know yet.
I’ll probably bless an oil or something. Well, letting you all know ahead of time so that you can plan and do your work now. I hope this was useful. I’m sorry it took me so long to write about the Lemuria. But I have been busy doing the rituals myself.
Plus there’s another Roman holiday that is in May and has to do with the dead called the Rosalia for dead soldiers. So yeah, busy as hell. See you all later.
Negative Forces are around us since before the end of last year
I didn’t want to comment on this. Largely because as someone who believed in the Paranormal, I am trained to debunk everything. I thought it was just me seeing something that wasn’t there. But I have since changed my mind. Last year, my dog Sheldon was attacked by an American Bulldog.
He’s saved my mother from that dog. Fought like a champion to save her life. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just him. There has been an epidemic of attacks on dogs and dog owners since then. When I translated the Letter of the Year of the IFA Priests, I noticed something.
They said “dogs would bring good luck,” this year. And after that I have seen that all over Florida dogs and dog owners are getting attacked. As my mother and dog had been attacked. I began to see a pattern there. And I divined to ask the spirits for guidance.
Near as I can tell, the Ajogún (warriors of evil) which is what the Yoruba people call demons, are all over the place. Feeding off of the chaos of humanity. Most people believe that human activity is all caused by spirits. But sometimes the reverse is also true. What humans do in our world causes spiritual activity.
Like a massive tremor in the spiritual world. The conflicts in different countries, global food prices going up, inflation and political division. All of this is food for the Ajogún. Negative spirits feed off of negativity. It’s like food and steroids for them.
It increases their powers and gives them a larger foot hold in our world. The Ajogún consist of corrupted spirits. Some were once human.
The Ajogún in their world
And others are forces of nature that have become perverted. So these demons are not like the devils with horns you would see in movies. Not saying there aren’t horned versions of them. But they are living forces, or sometimes even nature spirits that have become bad.
Imagine gravity if it were evil. Imagine a force like the Devil, in a million forms at once. And just having this force visit you is enough to bring bad luck and death. One of the ways in which the Ajogún visit is when you have a “bad head”. If you are angry or depressed or generally have a negative attitude, that’s an invitation for them.
The Ajogún can actually see your negative mental energy from their shadowy world. It’s like a beacon to them
And it’s also food for them and other negative spirits. They will feed off of your energy. Increasing the bad luck and making things worse for yourself. It acts as an invitation for them to come visit you and run amok with your life. And because these negative spirits are forces of nature that are so massive, you wouldn’t know you had a spirit messing with your life. It certainly wouldn’t come out in most divinations. Unless you knew what you were looking for, you wouldn’t know what was going on.
These forces are also called Osorbos, Osobos, or Bears. Due to their aggressive and predatory nature. And those words are also synonymous with bad luck. It’s my opinion that based on this violent wave, and other factors, these entities are running amok this year. And one of the ways it’s doing this is by targeting people’s dogs.
This may sound ridiculous. But remember, they are trying to strike down the sources of our luck. That which protects us. And it won’t just be dogs either. Anyone or thing that protects you is up for grabs.
A person in your life who keeps you safe. Charms that protect you. More than likely any other animal that acts as your guardian which would substitute a dog. The Osorbos are on the attack and we must be ready and prepare to strike them down. Now you must be thinking, What the hell can we do? These aren’t even normal demons.
You’d be right. This is the equivalent of trying to use holy water and prayer to attack the Leviathan. It might effect a small portion of his skin cells, but he’ll barely feel it. No. You need to call in someone who can defeat them. These are the specific Osorbos I believe are involved in all of this :
1) Ofó (Loss)
The living embodiment of loss of loved ones, missed opportunities and so fourth.
2) Iku (Death himself)
Not a God of the dead, though he is a Deity of the Dead. He is the embodiment of death. Like Thanatos in Ancient Greece. It is he who is being used the most.
3) Arún (Disease)
Self explanatory.
4) Oran (Problems)
Again, self explanatory. A force that is the embodiment of problems and obstacles.
5) Ijá (hatred and war, conflict in general)
6) Eyo (tragedy) though I think this one is more a by-product or companion to the others mentioned before.
Now I am not a Babalawo. I am not even a full Santero yet. I’m just an apprentice in training. I have used what I do know to identify these things. I see patterns and I try to identify how to alter or stop certain things.
The only way to stop the Osorbos is with their opposite. The Orishas. So I would give a sort of feast to Elegua the Orisha of the Crossroads. A massive feast asking him to get all of the other Orishas involved to fight the Osorbos. It doesn’t have to be anything too ceremonial.
Elegua, the God of the Crossroads, Magic, Guardian of all dimensions. He is the Master of the Keys and Gatekeeper of all.
Just get a lot of food and drink. And offer it to him. And he’ll ensure the assistance of the Orishas in your general area and especially to you. And then your normal ways of protecting yourself should be empowered by them. Made stronger.
The Babalawos usually do their own ceremonies with tons of food and other offerings. But since not everyone can afford those services, I am giving you a simpler version you can use. Elegua loves lots of food. He also loves fruits like mangos and bananas, and he enjoys rum. His number is three.
He eats everything except pigeon. He will not touch that. And while Coconut is sacred to him, I don’t offer it to him because Coconut is supposed to be his head.
Offerings for Elegua
Elegua’s younger, child-like Avatars usually get candies and toys. But the older Avatars love hard candies, toasted corn or popcorn. Eleggua also eats goat, rooster and bushrat, as well as smoked fish. Now you don’t have to kill any animals. You can serve a cooked chicken dinner to him.
Smoked fish is easy to offer. That should be enough. Make sure you put all of these offerings at the crossroads or on a railroad track. Whichever is closer. Start the offering with a libation of rum, and finish with three pennies.
The Orishas
Three of each offering is good. And at your house, you can burn three candles and offer up three Abre Camino (road opener) incense sticks. Ask him fervently in prayer for help. To bring down the other Orishas to battle the Ajogún. And then finish with three pennies.
Then cleanse and bless your home as you normally would. Keep your head down, and your eyes open. And try your best to avoid conflict, negative attitude, or anything else that could screw you up. That sounds like a tall order. But it can be done.
Especially with prayer, focus, fasting, and meditation. May the Divine Powers protect us all.
There’s something very strange this year’s Halloween
To say this year is weird is an understatement. It feels like a bridge between one era and another, Trump and post Trump. The Pandemic and us trying to undo it. Like a slow recovery from a long disease. And it’s fucking annoying.
But it seems to be going on overdrive as our year draws to an end. The energy lately seems poisoned. At least through some of my friends and associations. Something odd is going on. I plan to do a separate divination on that at a later time.
For now I am going to focus on the Full Hunter’s Moon in the sign of Aries. The Hunter’s Moon is a warrior’s moon. So add Aries to the mix and you have a semi violent lunar event. I say semi because I am sure many annoying people out there will talk about how it revitalized their lives. Or they experienced it differently.
Or it gave them energy and blah blah blah you must be morning people so no one gives a fuck what you think. I’m not sleeping well and I am grumpy as hell. Can you tell?
The God of War is kicking my ass right now. So perhaps this is happening to a whole mess of other people. Here are the cliff notes version. The God of war is all about self control and self discipline. Taking control over your own life.
This is something that he and his siblings all have in common with their parents Zeus and Hera. The ability to take control of one’s destiny. Of one’s life. Unfortunately, that also means you have to face the issues in your life that are after you and going at you. And that part is me speaking.
I didn’t get that from any article. My experience with Aries is that sometimes he causes conditions similar to a retrograde that causes turmoil in your life. Nor everyone feels that way. Some people find themselves energized by it and they’re jumping up and down happy ready to take on the world. I hate those people. Those people tend to be sports people or socialites or whatever the fuck.
And they tend to be so damned optimistic that you just want to strangle th- oops sorry. I feel like I’ve entered the dark side of the force. Anyways, I’m doing my best to go through it. Because for whatever reason the higher powers are sending shit my way. And not all of it is mine.
All Hallows
This also happens to be the Halloween full moon. So we have a triple aggressive power here. A chthonic pulse which has been slowly growing since August. And is building up to a magical explosion. Now what that explosion is? I have no idea.
Mostly because everyone has a different path to take. And also cause Aries is a God. So good luck trying to find out his secrets and plans. This is also a time for power reclaiming rituals and ceremonies. Lord Aries wants you to re-examine what does and doesn’t work in your life.
And then, to get rid of it. Burn it in the ceremonial bonfire of the soul. Destroy it so completely and utterly so that you can get out all the things you need to get out.
Let the Fire of the Ancestors burn brightly within you
It’s time to work with Chthonic Aries and the dead. Now, we don’t have any of his old names or titles as far as I know because it has been lost to time. But there are ancient accounts that say he was considered a God of the dead on the battlefield. And that the blood of the dead satisfied him. So in this way we should we honor him.
Lots of Greek Gods had a Chthonic aspect. It would be weird if he didn’t. Because the primary function of a soldier is to kill people in war. Using Bombs for peace is like fucking for virginity as the hippies say. Although I have heard that there is an aspect of him as a God of peace.
So it’s not totally unheard of. As a blood red warrior he takes us down the path of destruction. So that from that destruction we can rise again. This moon is as important as All Hallow’s Eve is. It’s the moon of our ancestors.
The moon of our blood and our kin. Here are some more articles on the moon to read. From Cherokee Billie these two articles. Article 1 and Article 2
It should also go without saying, that all about tough love. So my advise is, enter a deep meditation and actively work with him and this moon phase. And start destroying crap you don’t need and severing ties you shouldn’t have. For that I actually do have two recommendations: Shadow Work, immediately followed by a Hoodoo Cut and Clear Ritual. And maybe a healing and cleansing ritual bath after it.
That way you replace what you have destroyed in favor of something better. With that said, I have articles here on how to do these things.
Now I use the term “Cut and Clear” because it’s popular. But that’s actually a modern phrase that isn’t tied to traditional Root Work. It’s always been called “A Clearance” or something else. All it is, is removing negative ties that hold you back. Bad relationships, bad luck, bad things you may have done etc…So I recommend doing a clearance after each shadow work.
Why? For the same reason you take a bath after a work out. Think of the Shadow work as an exercise routine. And the cleaning up after as personal hygiene. It’s all to be clean of what you are working towards removing. In fact you can actually combine the healing bath with a clearance and do them both at once.
For that I like to use herbal soap. My Godfather in Santeria makes them. I like Rue Soap. Rue has all sorts of magical powers associated with the breaking of hexes. And warding off of evil.
So to me it’s perfect. For you, something simpler or stronger may be needed. It all depends on you. But here is a simple advise on how to do it. You should be good.
Also give Aries an offering of food. Just make sure you have washed your hands in holy water before you do it. And give the first and last part of the offering to Hestia before you give him his portion. That way she will sanctify the offering and bring it to him. Be well my friends.
A Flame Mouth is a Hungry Ghost who cannot eat food because it will turn into fiery coal in their hands. From Best Price Travel’s article
I decided to take advantage of this festival to write about a little talked of subject : Los Muertos Oscuros. The Dark Dead. This is something that is universal amongst all traditions, both old and new. Even Reiki practitioners have talked to me about the use of Reiki to help or aid the dead. Especially those lost in the darkness.
But first, what is this festival about?
Today at Sunset, the Hungry Ghost Festival begins. For those who don’t know, this is when the dark or toxic spirits of the dead are released. Specifically those who died and went to Hell for their sins. Hell isn’t entirely a Christian concept. Many faiths have their own version of Hell under different names.
Or states of hell. Sometimes referred to as “reincarnating into the lower realms.” Although lower realms isn’t always hell. Sometimes it’s limbo or even reincarnation as an animal. Though I personally don’t believe reincarnating as an animal is “lower” at all.
It’s being a part of nature. Humans after all, are animals. Typically, Hungry Ghosts are classified into three groups : Needle Mouths, Flame Mouths, and Corpse Mouths. A Needle Mouth is when a hungry ghost has a throat that is so tiny, it’s like a needle. Which is why they cannot eat food.
Flame Mouths are people that cannot eat food because it will burn up or transform into coal. And Corpse Mouths are the very worst. Those are people who were so evil in life, that they become decomposing corpses. They can’t eat because their mouths rotted away. This is a testament to their very literal rotten character.
For many generations there was very little that could be done for such people. It wasn’t until the Buddha’s two disciples, Maudgalyāyana and Sariputta had to face the fires of hell to save their mothers. Both of them had selfish and greedy mothers, who when they died, went to Hell and became Hungry Ghosts. If you want to read the whole story, go to my 2018 Article on the origins of the Festival. This also covers the rituals needed to appease them and ease their sufferings.
In addition to Buddhism, the same entity exists in Hinduism, known as a Preta. Which becomes a flesh eating undead revenant.
A depiction of a Corpse Mouth
In addition to not being able to eat because of their mouths, Hungry Ghosts have large distended bellies. This is for them to eternally starve to death without starving. Now, most religions also have what I call Dark Ghosts. Toxic spirits of the dead. They aren’t necessarily people who went to Hell.
Not everyone believes in Hell. But various religions have something akin to limbo or purgatory. And in this place a spirit with no light as we Santeros say, or divine energy, just keeps getting darker. And then more violent and nasty. Until they become something far removed from who they once were in life.
A soul that was put into a blender and so messed up that it’s unrecognizable as who it once was. In Santería we call this an Eggun Buruku. Literally the dark dead. In fact I believe the Shadow People mentioned in modern paranormal accounts are these types of spirits. Not demons but really dark souls.
Although at least some of them, do become demons according to certain folkloric beliefs. In Catholicism they are called Anima Solas or “lonely souls” that live in purgatory. In Ancient Roman beliefs they were called Lemures or Larvae. The root word meaning “mask”. Because their visage was so horrible that they were masks of fear to those who beheld them.
And of course we have the Jewish Dybbuk. The soul of a sinner who, unable to become one with God, is hunted and beaten by Angels for sport. So they must come down to our realms in order to escape. They are called Dybbuks because the root word in Hebrew is the word for “attachment”. They attach themselves to the living or outright possess them.
Whether they be animals or humans makes no difference to them. Symptoms of Dybbuk possession include speaking with someone else’s voice (dead person’s voice). Having any ailments or pains they had in life like back pain or anything else they had. Or total personality changes. In certain spiritual circles the belief of a deceased soul doing all of this to a possessed person is identical.
Dark, but not always Evil
Not all of these dark souls are evil or even punished by God through the Angels however. Some Dybbuks are just dark because of how they died. Such as suicides. And they stay in a state of constant purification until they are ready to become one with God, like the Anima Solas in Purgatory. A Rabbi once told me that such a spirit will be attracted to someone who acts like them.
So if a Dybbuk committed suicide, they will go to someone thinking of it. If a Dybbuk was a murderer, they will go to someone thinking of it. Once there, they possess and oppress the person. The person starts getting visions of this dead soul in life. And they relive all the things the deceased went through.
The person in theory, understands that killing themselves or someone else won’t give them peace. So they change their ways and live out their lives. The Dybbuk departs from the human. And they having fulfilled their duty, are fully purified. Thus allowed to enter Heaven.
This is just one of many ways that the dark dead are able to be purified. It’s not always about sin but more often than not, miasma. Negative energy from some event holding them back. And by being unable to release this bad energy, they stop themselves from going forward. Usually, what happens is that a descendant doesn’t remember their ancestors.
There’s this modern belief that the dead are automatically fine. That when they die, they go to God and that’s it. Some go to Heaven, others go to Hell, done. But it doesn’t work like that. Even in Purgatory, there are many different forms and dimensions.
Same with reincarnation. Not all reincarnation is the same either. But I digress. When people forget their ancestors, that’s a nail in their spiritual coffin. When they don’t give them offerings of food and money or drink or incense and candles etc.. the soul becomes like a homeless person.
Alone. Trapped. Always hungry and thirsting. Always cold or hot because they have no home to protect them. Always alone or in the company of spirits that make you feel alone.
This is why on Hungry Ghost Month Hades Money or Hell Money is burned. It’s a kind of fake currency that is charged with prayers or belief. Once it’s burned in honor of a specific person, that person has the spiritual version of it with them. And to them, it’s a real currency.
Here we back our currencies with gold or natural resources. Their, faith, belief, power, energy is what backs such a currency and makes it real for them. I knew one woman, who would burn the paper using a holy candle. The holiness of the blessed candle would be permanently infused into that money. So that the money would appear to the dead person she offered it to as a talisman.
It wouldn’t run out.
Warding
In many traditions we have some kind of altar or idol for the nameless and forgotten dead. In Yoruba practice, we have statues of Babalu Aye and Oro who are Orishas that have power over the nameless and forgotten dead. They are placed outside the house. And offerings are given to them to make sure these spirits are pacified and won’t harm the living. Special idols for Hekate are placed outside of household doors to ensure bad spirits stay away.
Or just plain using sea salt barriers to block anything or anyone from coming in. While everyone is in danger of being effected by them, the sick, the elderly, children, and pregnant women are most at risk. Animals should avoid being outdoors at night as well. If you keep them outdoors, you need to ward your front and backyards. As well as ward their places of sleep.
Bless their food and drink and ask the Gods to fill them with protective grace to ward off enemy spirits. By enemy I mean anything that could harm you, even if unintentionally. Do extra protections. These are some links with information with good advice on what to do during this month.
Finally, if you do decide to give offerings this month you need to be very careful. The Hungry Ghosts congregate all around people giving offerings. You need to charge your food and drink for libations but ask the Gods to put a timer on when the energy can be released. So that once you put it outside, it won’t release the energy until you have left and are safe. And wait until you are outside and far from home.
Pray to the Gods and ask them to charge the food and water. And that even if it is devoured right away in the physical world, it may endlessly replicate into the spiritual world until morning. That way many souls will be free. Or alternatively for the blessings on the food and water to be a gigantic bomb that will liberate an entire night’s worth of spirits when eaten. Cleanse the whole home.
Hungry Ghosts, like most spirits will possess an animal to eat on their behalf. The Hungry Ghost eats the energy inside the food, and the animal eats the physical food. Give your home an extra strength blessing. Do it for your Cars in case you need to be out late. Wear a protective charm with you.
And anoint yourself with oil. Or holy water. Bless any food or drink you have before you eat it and pray for protection. That way you will be given divine grace to protect yourself. Don’t offer the food to them when inside your home.
Because that will be an open invitation to them. And next thing you know, you will have legions over running your house. So when you do this outside, first have protection. Cast a circle, or wear a protection around your neck, have a charm bag etc.. even a salt circle around your car will do. Make it large enough to walk inside of.
Choose a place far from your home. Then what you need to do is pray to the Gods to charge the offerings. Either to ascend or elevate whoever will eat them. And that in exchange for them being crossed, for more good spirits to enter our home instead. That’s my advice.
I wanted to write about something strange. Something that caught my attention the other day. The same day as my last post actually. But I waited to post it because I find it annoying when bloggers post so much almost every day. I can’t catch up.
I waited till today to post this. For me, Friday’s symbolize the marriage of Haphaestus the Black Smith of the Greek Gods, and his wife the Goddess Aphrodite. A day for love. I thought this post was perfect for today.
Eros and Psyche
I think it goes without saying that I believe in the paranormal. But I’m often skeptical of people who let it take over their lives. People who won’t date you based on the astrological date of your birth. I see this a lot with Americans who check star charts. On tv, I remember watching a movie called “Holiday in Goa”.
And in this movie, one character is having a breakdown. His future wife won’t marry him unless it’s on a specific day. A day her astrologer says is auspicious for her and her groom to be based on their charts. I don’t know if that’s true. I’ve never stopped a practitioner of the Hindu faith and asked “hey is that true?” Because I find it to be rude.
I don’t want to be that stereotypical asshole who asks a specific ethnic group if a stereotype is true. Instead I like to observe and have conservations with people. And from there I learn. But I do know that for many people of varying cultures it is true. The stars, certain dates, and even the atmosphere and season determines things.
I must admit even I have fallen into that sometime. When my cousin got married on Mercury Retrograde I flat out refused to go. Everyone I knew said that he was doomed. Well his marriage turned out pretty well so far. So even if one day it didn’t work out, I doubt Mercury Retrograde would have played any part in it.
I try not to fall into religious fanaticism. I admit the supernatural is real. But not everything that goes wrong in your life is due to a curse. Or a demon. Or whatever the fuck.
Though I do believe karma can be a cause and effect kind of mechanism. And that someone else’s actions far, far away can effect someone else unknowingly. But I have never entirely believed in fate. Even though, I have seen strange things that I know only predestination can account for.
And this is one of them. I saw this story and it captured my attention. About a couple who died just hours apart. The headline had my attention because the son said, “God was up to something,”. I noticed they posted the birthdates of the couple in the article.
And I figured, “Let me look up their guardian spirits and astrology,” so I did. One born on March 24th, 1925 (Wanda Wold, age 96). The other on June 1, 1927 (James Wold) 94. I looked at both of their birthdays. This is Wanda’s small bit of information, her sign was in Aries.
And she was born on a Tuesday. Now James, was born years later the day after the week Wanda was born. On a Wednesday. So far nothing out of the ordinary. But I get the sense that she was the one who was in charge of the relationship.
At least based on the information. She was the leader per say. He was born in the sign of Gemini and in the year of the Rabbit. I looked up their comparability and they had as many pros as well as cons. Basically, as long as they worked hard at their relationship it would be well.
If not their differences would drive them apart. That sounds like every relationship. But let me tell you that’s not true at all. Some relationships are easier or harder than others. To have a relationship that works as long as you work at it is actually very rare.
And for there’s to have lasted as long as it did is also rare. Of both their charts, she was the one that fascinated me the most. She was born and also died in the year of the Ox. And she was born and died on a Tuesday. The husband departing just hours later.
He followed her to the other side soon after. Maybe there is such a thing as a soul mate. They were born right next to each other in the week. Which also makes me think he was born to follow her to this world as well. So what do I think? In Yoruba religion, we’re taught that the Orishas (Gods) pact with us before incarnation.
That we come down to Earth with our destiny already mapped out. But it’s not like the predestination of the West. Olofi (GOD) doesn’t control our lives like in predestination. There are many Gods. And each of them have special missions for us before we come down to Earth.
But those missions are specially attuned to who we are as people. If you are a fighter, they might ask you to come down and become a military leader for something. If you are a healer, you might become a modern doctor or a folk healer. No one reincarnates without a mission. Even if you think you are useless and don’t have a special reason for being, that’s not true.
Often times, people are like that if they have been ignoring the pact they made in Orun (spirit world, heaven). But for those who go to their charges head on with a smile, life can be good. And eventful. Clearly it was for these two.
Adventures of A Mage In Miami 