Working with Astological sigils

This weekend I spent the Samhain feast amongst the warmth of some new friends and the glow of some unusually kind heart's. The scene was set the feast was had enjoyed and I had myself one or two unusual experiences within the inner planes – which although wonderful and much prized later got me thinking.

The inward eye may always see but what exactly does it be looking at most of the time? And how can someone as ranty and symbol obsessed as myself channel beyond the superficial clutter to that deeper resonance of truth.

So as I clambered onto the train today, begrudgingly carrying weak tea in one hand and a newly purchased copy of one of Valerie worths master pieces in the other all ready to enjoy the journey home when I remembered back to when I first started scrying – and the advice that made its way to me.

Tradition holds that planetary symbols can be used to test the intentions of the spirit/ entity/ accuracy of a personal revelations.

It's a technique I used to use when I first started scrying (awh, they were the days!) and attempting to interpret charts. Although like all things it isn't perfect with challenges and flaws of its own (which you'll hopefully, like myself, quickly come accustomed too after you start using them) but was once a very mighty tool among my small arsenal of trikes of the trade. For a reason unknown I hadn't used it in some time – but I now plan to change all that :)

An example of this would be the other night, with Samhain in full swing and the arms of the dusk held me as I snuggled up in a camping bag on a deliciously soft sofa, during which the movement and trotting of those unnamed were heard coursing up and down outside the house.

Sleep had me in that lulled sense of space that only a warm fire and perhaps a dream or two of a young jude law can conjour up but I managed to drew with my mind the Sigil of Tested Imagination – that of the Planet Mercury while vibrating it's Hebrew corresponding letter of Beth. The noise continued and according to the voices shared over a very enjoyed brekkie was heard by others in the house – which on the very basic level of a craved realism (the father would be as proud!) is proof enough for me :)

However those of you other there who want a more elegant array planetary gestures for testing spirits and intuitions should give Planetary Magick by Melitta Denning and Osborn Phillips a look into.

These are some of the Sigils and Letters of the planets:

The theory and practice is that if you suspect that one of these factors may be influencing your vision, chart interpretation or scrying session you can project an image of the corresponding Hebrew letter into the scene.

It will cause the scene/thoughts to darken or diminish, or even disappear if the scene is in fact the sort of projection you suspect it to be.

There is of course a wariness of introducing extraneous powers into a vision/thought-form in this way as it could very well cause more problems than it might solve and is in no way a replacement for common sense of a good banishing. (Just had to say that)

Here's hoping you enjoy and find some use:)

January's Astrological guide to keeping the New Year Resolutions

It's being twenty days since many of us have made declarations and promises to reform an old habit, change life style, get fit, grow, quit smoking... and the list go on. But how many of us have actually kept these very same promises we held so dare to ourselves at the dawn of the new year.

That's the very same question I asked myself as I chomped down on my first chocolate bar this morning, after throwing all thought of such a thing to the winds of change and affirming that this year, the year of 2009 would be a good healthy one, one with fruit and salads, long walks and blissful morning runs...

Now while I won’t pretend to know the answers, I can share five of my own goal setting astrologically in-tune tips (what a tongue twister!) on how to keep New Years resolutions... or at least, like my own experience, prolong the dedication to the goal and guide the ship back on course if by chance the captain happened to fall victim to a deliciously inviting, drool worthy, heaven in a wrapped... ok ill stop there, but by god that chocolate was worth it :)

Venus conjuncts Uranus on January 23, 2009

Such an aspects made between Venus and Uranus emphasise the spheres of social and intimate relationships, with the energy and intention focused towards exploring the external world through an extroverted personality, reflecting that while it is healthy to ask the big questions about where your life is going, what your truly doing and where you really are, to ask them too often often results in ending up in a twirl of directionless (its a word now!) despair. This reminds us to take the pressure off from constantly changing the goals and chosen path of achievement, as while small adjustments are to be expected a constant rehash of the initial plan will only erode any sense of progression once you meet a conflict. Stick to the essence of the goal and there is far more of a living possibility of success.

Venus opposes Saturn on January 24, 2009

With Venus opposition to Saturn, we are most often inclined to regard our experiences as being almost useless and without aid to our current situation. With this aspect in play, we will be challenged by our distractions, a process that will continue until you realize how important our success or failure really is to us. We must be wary of underestimating our self-worth. Reminding ourself that we can match our competitors, and do not need to give then more control over our lives than we deserve.

In order to succeed we must stop hiding the truth from ourselves, after all there were legitimate reasons for such resolutions – and most likely that hasn't changed, but by drawing to a direct focus the emotional intention and the cold resistance to change we can at the very least be far more prepared for our own self disillusioning acts.

Annular Solar Eclipse on January 26, 2009 in the 13th degree of sidereal Capricorn.

This degree is symbolized as “A tripod with flames of fire blazing froth from a braziere”, it is the degree of Aspiration and Higher goals. Practical and productive actions will be needed to be taken in order to find fulfilment of the wish. Although this is a sign of war or struggles it is quiet adapt for such a situation – as we often fight and war with such change. One way in order to overcome this is to apply Capricornian strengths, such as a logical practical plan, like a chart, created as a physical reminder of the mental aspiration.

Such a alignment suggest that to keep New Years resolutions it wouldn't help to write our goals in enough detail for everyone to understand and agree with what's meant. An example would be, if my goal was to buy a house, I would need to put some flesh on the bones by saying my goal is to buy a three bedroom house, with garden, near my place of work, for no more than three times your salary. Allowing the idea to be far more intense, observational and focused.

Mercury conjuncts mars on January 27, 2009

A Mercury conjunct Mars indicates that at this time our minds will be far more restless and eager to gain new information, and may feel that the progression we make will somehow not be final. Our creative ideas at this time will be more intensely imaginative, something that could be exploit energetically but it also has a warning itself suggesting that too much imagination and macrocosmic view will only increase a sense of apathy and anxiety – instead if we break down the main goal into smaller more manageable goals we are far more equipped to achieve them.

Jupiter sesquiquadrates Saturn on January 31, 2009

This is a sign of guidance stemming from others, and the reminder that much light can be born from darkness, which makes quite allot of sense when applied to a new year resolution – going it alone may have it's glory but as the song goes with a little help from my friends...”
Here's an unusual game to stir the insight of those around you. Start a conversation with a friend, family member or someone who's guidance you trust in.

Explain your New Years resolution to then. If we used the new home resolution (not one of mine by the way... one mortgage is enough thank you!) Tell them what it's like in the house, the decorations, the layout, get them to ask you questions about how you got there e.g. how did you get the initial viewing, who spotted it first etc.

This is where you will be put on the spot and have to come up with plausible answers. Aim to "keep it real" with your answers, as it's probably best not to rely on winning the lottery to fund the plans, as after all this is a resolution in a achievable goal. Keep this conversation going as long as possible, with as much detail as you both can muster.

This might sound like complete madness, telling fantastic fibs and wild rants about how we can achieved our New Years resolution. The truth is that the questions we ask forge links in our minds, creating a map that make it easier for us to achieve your long term goals.

I hope this stirs you as half as much as it has me, as this is one year that has all the markings of those that echo on for many years to come!