I have been doing a bit of thinking about the concept of planetary hours and planetary correspondences lately.  I do so love renovating my old Victorian house - it gives me lots of time to let my mind wander along such delightful fascinations.

I have come to appreciate the planets and the planetary hours in a sort of academia - a collegiate sort of way.  So, I drift back to my college days and I consider the gods of the planets as the faculty staff of Cosmos University. 

The Moon can be found most likely in her office/studio when she is not running a class on the fine arts or divination. From her, one can learn poetry, painting, and song, and how to delve into the depths of the soul in her studio by the riverside.

The Sun is out teaching in the noontime, running Yoga classes outside. rt When he's not doing that, he's got his regular classes in leadership and health, all in his open-air theatre office space.

Mars is usually found in the field, teaching the ROTC classes and the physical education classes. On his off-time, he's out coaching the sports teams.

Mercury has no office.  He's usually running about this way and that, and usually it's best to wait at the crossroads, where he'll be sure to pass soon.  But when he's not there, he's helping out at the college radio station, or teaching investigative journalism.

Venus is teaching the dance classes, the theatre arts classes, and the design arts classes, sharing her love of beauty and passion with the school. 

Jupiter is the head of the business department, of course.

And Old Saturn teaches the laws and the history, in the dark old expansive hall, where his voice echoes.

So this idea of the Universe as a University goes nicely in line with the oft-heard notion, "The Universe is your teacher.  The Universe is your University."

Now, as a student in this University, we are expected to work hard to better ourselves, to study our chosen major, but to always explore the other classes offered.  We are expected to do most of our work on our own, but with the guidance of the staff - the Planets.  We learn from all of them, and as we take the time to take their classes repeatedly, we graduate into their higher level courses, where there are fewer students and more attention from the professor.

As a student works more and more with a professor, they start to develop a rapport.  When it comes to an important and prestigious research opportunity, the professor is going to look to the students he knows and likes the best first.  And likewise, if you, as a student, need help with your own projects, then it would not be much of a stretch to drop that professor a line and ask for a bit of assistance.

Now, our professors do have other things to attend to and other things to do.  Venus has to make sure that beauty is appreciated in the world, and the Moon does have some Witches to visit tonight, this full moon.  The Sun has to be there when all the Yogis go out first thing in the morning for the Sun Salutation. 

So, the professors each have chosen a day when they will be on call at the University, teaching classes, helping out with the students.  They have designated a few specific time slots in which they will be available, in their office, ready to grant you an audience with their full undivided attention.  When you approach the professor on her office hours, you are going to get the best out of the professor.  Now, do call them anytime during the day, though, if you can't make it to the office hours.  The Moon will be available to help you all day Monday.  She'll also be in her office occasionally throughout the week - three times a day - though she might be slower to respond on those days.

In other words, if you are an artist who needs some inspiration with your latest work, then it is best to call on the Moon on Monday, during one of the planetary hours.  Calling on a planetary hour of another day will still get some results, but there may be delays.  Calling during the prof's off time might get results, but only if you already have a good established relationship with the professor.  To any other student, approaching out of the blue, they'll likely only get told to call back on the professor's office hours.

This Planetary Hours Calculator may prove to be helpful, if you choose to explore this concept further.

Clouds of heady incense fill the room, the curling smoke lapping against the flesh.  A low bassline rumbles through the floor as a woman's voice sings to the angels of love.  The breath fills the belly and the chest, deeply inhaling of the universal energy current which is there for all to swim in.  The sparkling air fills me, invigorates me, and ripples through the body, alighting the glistening skin.  A wailing violin courses through my veins, and the energy flows out my arms which create a mysterious sine wave, snaking through the incense.  The bass brings one hip to roll and another, arcing my hips into a hypnotic figure eight. 

Visions of ancient temples begin to overlay the tackily-posh living room and makeshift hookah lounge where I dance.  The last long rays of the daylight  duskily illuminate the sand, and I step out onto the portico around my temple, and give farewell for the day to the Mighty Sun, by offering Him a dance to kiss Him Goodnight.  My bare feet sink a little into the sand as I settle myself firmly upon Her, she who is Mother to all.  With each crescendo of the violin, my body rolls a wave of energy upwards in gratitude, love rising from my feet and bursting upward from my heart, the flow of the Eternal coursing through my veins.  My beautiful round hips languidly slide, and then burst into a flurry of shimmies.  Visions overlay upon myself as well - ancient priestess embodying the Goddess in prayerful dance, holy dance.  She who is Love, incarnate, enters my body, and my body moves according to Her wishes.  Through me, She kisses her lover in the sky.

The endorphins work their magic, my sweating body's heart rate racing them to every nerve in my body.  My flesh tingles, and feels so very alive, prickly and delicious with the passion of the dance.  The Goddess and I are one when I dance.

In all my decade and a half of being on the path of studying the Craft and magical arts in all of their many forms, I would think that by now I would have a great grasp on the basic concept of centering.  However, just a few short weeks ago, I came to an entirely new appreciation for centering.

"Ground and center." That sentiment is at the top of rituals and practices, from the British Traditional circle casting to the LBRP to hatha yoga.  In my tradition, grounding means to connect solidly with the earth beneath your feet.  Your energy body is connected to the energy body of the earth.  You are one with the earth, a tree rooted firmly upon the soil. 

In magic, this gives us solidity in the real world, which yields real world results - after all, if our heads are constantly in the clouds, how can we be doing anything upon this earth? In ceremonies in which we honor the Goddess as Mother Earth, this helps solidify our connection with her.  In all practices, it helps us because we have a place to put our extra energy after a rite or a working. 

Centering, though, is somewhat more elusive.  In rituals such as the Middle Pillar ritual, chakra-aligning rituals, yoga and kundalini work, centering is talked a lot about.  However, I never really got the depth of the importance until I started back with belly dance classes, and started working out with a Wii Fit.

I have been doing a lot of training to build myself up to be a better belly dancer.  It has been my new years' resolution to drop the extra fat, to tone the muscles, and to better my body so that I can live more vibrantly.  So far, so good - it's almost February, and my momentum is still going.  Part of what has kept it going is the fascination with centering.

The Wii Fit is a delightful little device.  You stand on the board, which has four weight sensors - one for the front and back of each foot.  It measures how far you are leaning to any side, thus helping you see, visually, problems with your posture.  Having your center of balance not too far to the front, back, left or right is optimal for the best health.

I'd been walking sideways, leaning to the left for all of my life and never knew it.  My lower back was constantly being needlessly strained because I wasn't supporting myself properly.  A hip injury that I had about 6 months ago might have healed a lot faster if I had not been working against it.

The direct feedback given by the Wii Fit helped me to find where my center of balance is, and what it feels like to stand in perfect alignment.  It takes a bit of work, as the lower abs, glutes, and thighs need to tone up to keep your body properly supported and centered.  It wasn't easy the first few days as my body was working muscles that I let get far too lazy.

The most amazing thing I noticed was the proper stance for a neutral stance in belly dance is by being supported by strong lower abs, glutes, and thighs.  Proper belly dance posture - what they teach you in your first belly dance class - is all about being properly centered, perfectly aligned between front, back, left, right, up and down. Again, no wonder I was having so much trouble with certain moves - I was leaning to the left and my muscles were improperly balanced.  Once I trained myself to drop immediately into a centered position, my dancing came much more readily to me, and the dance itself became much more graceful and beautiful as I flowed more naturally.

The lesson here is this: when you're centered, things just flow more readily.  When we do rites that involve invoking aspects of the six directions (north, south, east, west, up and down), we are psychically centering ourselves.  We are putting ourselves neatly between the push and pull of the logic of the east and the emotion of the west, the stillness of the north and the passions of the south.  When we place ourselves firmly in the center of Up and Down, we live in the here and now, standing firmly and proudly upon our memetic and genetic heritage, and aspiring ever toward the infinite possibilities that our futures hold.

By putting myself in my body's center as a bellydancer, I have access to the widest range of motion - my body can move left, right, forward, back, up and down and back to center again.  By putting myself in the center of the circle, I have access to the widest range of abilities, tools, and realms - my mind can go to the west, north, east, south, up or down, and back to center again. 

This is important, because when we are faced with challenges to which the answer is not obvious, we can look in another direction and draw strength from there.  Not able to complete the difficult mathematical task?  Step away from the east, as Archimedes did, and go to the west.  Take a bath, let the mind relax, and go back to the east again when your mind is ready.  Is the heart heavy with depression and stasis, feeling in a rut?  Then turn on the music and let the fires of dance, sex, or an invigorating workout light you up again.  Feeling nostalgic and homesick?  Aim toward the skies, and start planning out a future endeavor.

The mind and body are inherently linked.  When the body is centered, the mind becomes centered.  When the mind becomes centered, the body becomes centered.  Learning how to properly center myself has been an immense help to me in both the physical world of bettering my health, and in the psychic world of bettering my mental and emotional abilities.  As above, so below.

In my extensive reading and research into all matters arcane, I am always delighted when I come across a book that manages to brilliantly balance simplicity and depth.  Advanced Magick for Beginners by Alan Chapman, published in 2008 by Aeon Books, is one such book.  Following along in the Chaos Magic current ("post-modern magic," as the author refers to it), Chapman strips away all of the cultural and personal pretenses placed upon magic, and pares down to the bare bones of the underlying theories of magic.

The author describes his approach to magic as an art, a science, and a culture of experiencing truth. As an art, a magical act is an experience that we ascribe meaning to. As a science, a magical act is a technique which we refine through an experimental practice and observation of results.  As a culture, a magical act is a means of working with a cultural framework, a set of ethics both personal and cultural, to achieve results which are relevant to the life and world in which the mage lives.

That is it, as far as Chapman believes the complexity of magic should be taken.  The techniques he outlines are more guidelines than anything else.  They are a methodology of how to approach magic.  This is no book that will tell you what to say or do; Rather, this book will help the reader discover for him or herself the style of magic that flows best with his or her own personality. The author cares not which gods you work with, worship, or pray to (if any at all), nor does the author care which tradition, style, or culture you borrow your elements from (or whether you have invented them all on your own).  Instead, the author cares that the reader develops an understanding of magic which will be able to answer the questions of why things work. 

As such, there is no art, no poetry, no romantic language.  Chapman wants to make certain that you really get a solid grasp on the theory, and that you decorate it as you see fit.  The book's starkness is both a blessing and a curse. While maintaining its no-nonsense tone throughout the read, it can feel a bit dry at times and one can get lost in some of the more complex ideas he weaves. Thankfully, the author does have a sharp sense of humor, which he does pepper up the book with.  Even when the theories get thick with layers of metaphysical concepts, the author keeps the reader there with his clear and thoughtful presentation.

This book is not so much a curriculum for learning the magical arts as it is a catalyst to get the reader thinking on deeper levels about his or her magic.  Chapman places a strong emphasis on technique.  In many of his chapters, he has laid out spreadsheets in which he examines the core aspects of a magical working, and cross-references many different approaches to magic against those core elements.  Thus, he distills the steps of all magic down to 5 simple steps: deciding what you want to occur, making sure it is possible for the outcome to occur, choosing an experience and equating that experience to the desired outcome, and finally performing or engaging in the experience.  Last, the mage observes his or her results, and modifies methods as needed.  It is against these five steps that he examines sigil magic, sympathetic magic and magical links, nonsensical styles of magic, as well as magic involved with working with Gods, entities, or created servitors.

The author likewise explores facets of magical culture, such as the usage of magical names and mottoes and aeonics, with the same forthright manner.  He addresses the need for a mage to choose, or not choose, a magical name, and the potential importance of doing so.  He speculates upon the concepts of the kind of world the mage lives in, and the evolving consciousness of humankind, and where magic fits in.  Ultimately, his wanderings in various topics magical culture augment his explorations into magical methods and puts them into a greater framework where magick that is self-sufficient, self-driven, and ultimately, the most satisfying to the self can thrive.

What appealed to me most is that this book helps those who seek to know the magical arts to get to the heart of how and why they work.  Chapman's work transcends cultural, stylistic, and traditional boundaries in an intelligent way that can help the dedicated mage intelligently develop a system of magic that is unique to the one using it.  As I hold true that every mage must find his or her own path, I find that this book can offer some good information about the terrain.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

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The process of initiation is a firmware upgrade to the hardware of the mind, body, and spirit.  Certain changes are impressed upon the initiate, which are the exact same experience as all other initiates of that tradition.  The firmware upgrade is the same, so all initiates of that tradition can have the same reference point to start with, and thus are all on the same page.  The firmware upgrade allows the initiate to run certain programs (or, rather, do certain kinds of magic) which were previously inaccessible. If I were to try to explain the secrets of my initiation to a non-initiate, they would remain a secret because the non-initiate would not have the expanded awareness that one gets as a part of initiation to understand that which lies beyond.  It would simply be like trying to explain "blue" to a person who has been blind from birth.

The initiation is a process which transforms the initiate into something more.  It is a process which can only be experienced by being initiated by someone who is experienced and knowledgeable.  Though many of us are privy to spontaneous bursts of personal evolution, the process of initiation is a focused, guided transformation which takes the initiate on a well-trod path.  The path would not be well-trod if it were not impressive enough upon others to pass it along, so initiation stands on a grounding of many generations' trial and error, honing and shaping. 

When we initiate, we understand what it is like to undergo a magical transformation - an upgrade - to become more than we were before.

I feel that atheists are often quite malaligned. OK, some of my atheist friends think what I do is a little wacky. That's cool. I think they often don't see the bigger picture and are needlessly limiting their perceptions. That's cool, too. However, I find that on about 85% or more topics, I am in complete alignment with the way they view and approach things. That's WAY better than anyone else!

I think in a way, they appreciate having a thinking, skeptically-minded theist (eh, I don't know if theist is the right way to describe me, but I'm not atheist. I have a philosophic explanation that I am seeking which reconciles both.) However, so much of that relies upon the freedom to question, to make a fool of yourself (so that you can learn from the Trickster!), to accept and then to deny after re-assessing the acceptance. Freedom to express, to blaspheme, to question, to mock, to celebrate, to exalt anything and everything which comes from your own connection with what you see as Divine (or if you're a non-theist, what you see as Pretty Awesome But Not Divinely Inspired Whatsoever.) - these are all as important to me and my seeking as they are to the atheist.

Atheists often only pick on Christians (and often Islam, for the same reason) because they seek to deny that freedom to everyone - their followers included. So with that, they're my best friends politically and socially speaking. I often invoke Dawkins' quote, "We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further." I add, "and I just go a few gods less." I don't often see atheists griping about Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, or Sufis... or Pagans, or Witches, or Chaos Magicians, or Hermetics or Thelemites or even Satanists! That's because they typically don't cause any trouble... they're happy to live and let you live as you see fit. Again, I have a very moral fit. Like them, freedom is one of my most treasured virtues.

I often find myself thankful to the conversations I have with them because they keep me on my toes. They point out my nonsense. Sometimes I say, "Well, that's my mystical nonsense, and you just wouldn't get it because you don't accept the power of belief. So we have to agree to disagree on that." And the conversations go on. I realize that certain things I do will not ever be a part of a conversation we can have to any depth. That's fine - I do have theist friends too. Sometimes they point out my nonsense and I realize that what they are saying makes great sense... and I grow as a result of it.

It's typically the hard-headed ones they don't care for - who start referencing some ancient text as the ultimate guide for truth, completely unwavering. I think that as a magician, it is very important to keep attacking my own beliefs. "If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him." To keep questioning and examining - that is the great work.

I have recently discovered two charges of the Dark Goddess, both of which are beautifully written and inspiring to the Goddess who I am.  They speak of the depths of spirit and the wellsprings of passion.  Beautiful.

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Charge of the Dark Goddess.

Wisdom and empowerment are the gifts of the Dark Goddess of Transformation. She is known to us as Inanna, Kali, Hecate, Cerridwen, Lilith, Persephone, Fata, Morgana, Ereshkigal, Arianhrod, Durga, Tiamat, and by a million, million other names:

Hear me child, and know Me for who I am. I have been with you since you were born, and I will stay with you until you return to Me at the final dusk.

I am the passionate and seductive lover who inspires the poet to dream. I am the One who calls to you at the end of your journey. After the day is done, My children find their blessed rest in my embrace.

I am the womb from which all things are born. I am the shadowy, still tomb; all things must come to Me and bare their breasts to die and be reborn to the Whole.

I am the Sorceress that will not be ruled, the Weaver of Time, the Teacher of Mysteries. I snip the threads that bring my children home to me. I slit the throats of the cruel and drink the blood of the heartless. Swallow your fear and come to me, and you will discover true beauty, strength, and courage.

I am the fury which rips the flesh from injustice. I am the glowing forge that transforms your inner demons into tools of power. Open yourself to my embrace and overcome. I am the glinting sword that protects you from harm. I am the crucible in which all the aspects of yourself merge together in a rainbow of union.

I am the velvet depths of the night sky, the swirling mists of midnight, shrouded in mystery. I am the chrysalis in which you will face that which terrifies you and from which you will blossom forth, vibrant and renewed. Seek me at the crossroads, and you shall be transformed, for once you look upon my face, there is no return.

I am the fire that kisses the shackles away. I am the cauldron in which all opposites grow to know each other in Truth. I am the web which connects all things. I am the Healer of all wounds, the Warrior who rights all wrongs in their Time. I make the weak strong. I make the arrogant humble. I raise up the oppressed and empower the disenfranchised. I am Justice tempered with Mercy.

Most importantly, child, I am you. I am part of you, and I am within you. Seek me within and without, and you will be strong. Know me. Venture into the dark so that you may awaken to Balance, Illumination, and Wholeness. Take my Love with you everywhere and find the Power within to be who you wish.

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Invocation to Lilith

I am the Night Star that rises from the dark and twilight Sea, the depths of the mind.

Dark Bringer of dreams, awakening of Manes.

Though I am known by many of a thousand names,

Yet the whole Earth doth venerate Me and lust unto Me.

I am Nature and the beauty of the Green Earth, but also the blackest sea.

Mistress to all the elements.

Sovereign of the Shadows.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,

Queen of the dead.

Queen of the blessed dark immortals.

The Single Manifestation of All Gods and Goddesses that Are.

Hearken unto My Words and look unto Me!

That I call unto thee and become a vessel for thy being, do become again unto my very body!

And thus shall thy Spirit attain

To the deepest Mysteries of Life and Death.

And thus shall thine Inmost Divine Self be enfolded in the ecstasies of the Infinite!

These things have I made Law by Will alone.

Enduring for the ages of time.

Chainmaille is one of my favorite hobbies.  I've recently completed a number of new jewelry pieces, and added them to my gallery.  Go take a look at them here:

Original Chainmaille Jewelry


I do custom work (jewelry, clothing, and accessories) in gold, sterling and fine silver, and a variety of other metals in a variety of colors.  I also teach classes and workshops on creating beautiful chainmalle jewelry of your own.

If you are interested, please contact me.

As I feel as if I have been going through a lot of internal changes, I have been wanting to make some external changes as well.  I cannot focus on the future while focusing on the past.  A lot of my tools I feel I have outgrown, and have been feeling the urge to make new ones - ones that represent who and what I am, and who and what I am becoming.

My wand is my latest project.  The wood is from a holly tree behind my house, and it has been infused with hazelnut oil, bringing in the strong fiery aspects of Holly and the airy wisdom of hazel. 

It feels just /excellent/ in the hand.  The smooth texture, the shaping of the wood, the warmth of the spirit of that tree within it.  The natural shaping of the wood lends itself to being a nice contour to my hand - especially if I were to hold it in a pistol grip.  It's perfectly shaped to Take Care of Business. 

I think that as soon as I figure out what word is to name this wand, I will inscribe that, my magical name, and nothing more upon it.

I am really starting to fall in love with this wand.  There is a great satisfaction I get out of crafting my own magical tools.  I have actually been considering buying a lathe so that I can make some beautiful wands like the ones at Acme Wand Supply.  My lust for beautiful things aside, I was reminded today of how important crafting is to my magical work - the act of making the wand itself was a magical one.  Though I will ritually purify, charge and name the tool, as I always do, I have already begun with this, having started charging it from the minute I cut it from the tree. 

In working with the wood as well, I got to know the exact feel of the textures of the wood, the scent, the moisture, the way it felt under my fingers.  I got familiar with every bump, knot and wiggle in the wood, as I worked them into a pleasing shape.  In creating something, especially something which involves shaping with your hands, you become intimately familiar with the materials which create it - that familiarity will help with naming it.

And naming it is the last step.  It is, through this familiarity with its qualities in the act of creating it, that we can learn that word which awakens the power within the object. 

T Thorn Coyle's Podcasts

Is anyone else a fan of T Thorn Coyle?  I am.  Her podcasts make for such wonderful listening when I am working on things around the house.  She is such a wonderful woman who is warm and intelligent, and has so many insights.  I also love her voice.  It is just so easy on the ears.  The subject matter is always thought-provoking and her guests are always very interesting people with very interesting insights.  I highly recommend her podcasts.