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As I was studying the sign of Sagittarius, I couldn't help but think of the mythological archetypes of Centaurs and Chiron; The Wounded Healer.  Most people wouldn't instantly think of Centaurs as Fire Elementals - so let's examine Sagittarius energy traits alongside the personality traits of Centaurs and you'll see why I feel like they are definitely Fire Elementals!! SAGITTARIUS Sagittarius is the masculine, mutable fire sign of the zodiac: energetic, ambitious, generous spirits who love and value freedom, enjoy challenges and intellectual pursuits. Ruled by Jupiter - the planet of expansion, higher education, growth and travel. Sagittarians are generally open to new ideas, exploration and seeking knowledge. Sagittarius energy is active, ambitious, passionate and sexual - embodying the element of Fire.  Positive traits are: optimistic, outgoing, expansive, ethical, freedom loving, exploratory, and honest or being straight forward. Negative traits can include: domineering or controlling, opinionated, judgemental, blunt, competitive, and overindulgent.  Sagittarius' fiery passion combined with a strong intellect and quest for knowledge creates an energy signature that is constantly seeking balance between wisdom and instinct. They will fight when necessary (and even be overly aggressive if their goal is slipping away from them) but in turn they can also be that intellectual and spiritually wise person you know. This balance between competitive instinct and rational intellect is evident in the stories and legends of Centaurs. [photo: Temprance from "The Celestial Tarot" by Kay Steventon] CENTAURS Centaurs are half man, half horse, representing the marriage of animal instinct and strength with human intellect and wisdom. (Some may say that the horse aspect is what represents their kind, gentle, and wise nature while it is their human side that brings in the aggressive nature. Food for thought). In Greek mythology, Centaurs were a wild and unruly lot; who liked to drink and fight, what we would call today a "macho man". They have a lot of passion, a strong sexual energy, and are certainly interested in conquest of all kinds. (Look out ladies, the Centaur will probably flirt with you and try to show off his strength to get your attention!) Can you begin to see why they are Fire Elementals?!? However, legends also revere Centaurs as great teachers, healers, and guardians - so they've got that Sagittarian balance between instinct and intellect. On the Illustration of the Centaur card from the " Mythical Creatures Oracle", Sky Cybele has depicted the Centaur holding both a club and a scroll - symbolically the Sword and the Pen. She says if you were to ask a Centaur, "Which is mightier, the pen or the sword?" Centaur wouldn't know the answer as he sees them both as equally powerful and necessary. (Pictured below) If you choose to work with Centaurs, you can ask them to help you achieve balance between instinct and intellect. There are times when energy, action, and assertiveness is necessary - and times when those traits are certainly not appropriate! Alternatively, there are times intellect, wisdom, and learning are necessary - and times when instinct and gut feelings are better than "book smarts". Centaurs love to teach and guide others, and can help you know when it is best to be seeking the route of wisdom and learning, or when it is best to be active and assertive or follow your passions. [Photo: Centaur from "The Mythical Creatures Oracle" by Sky Cybele] CHIRON It is also important to know about the King of the Centaurs - Chiron.  Chiron was known as a very wise leader and teacher - perhaps not as prone to aggression as his fellow Centaurs. Son of the Titan God; Saturn, and teacher of the God Apollo, Chiron was friend and confidant to both Gods and Men. (Again, a strong connection of balance between the Higher Realm of consciousness and the Lower Realm of physicality) Chiron learned about hunting, medicine, music, and prophecy - and in turn Chiron taught these things to both Gods and men. Among Chiron's famous pupils were Hercules, Achilles, Jason, and the twins Castor & Pollux. Here is the story of Chiron's injury and how he became a constellation. Some say he was hunting a wild boar with Hercules, others say he was with Hercules (his friend) when a battle broke out among some other Centaurs. Either way, he was accidentally struck on the leg by Hercules' poisoned sword. Since Chiron was immortal this wound did not kill him, but the poison made the wound very painful and impossible to heal.  Chiron's suffering was great, and he set himself to the task of searching for a cure - or to find a way to die to escape his suffering. Hercules went on a quest to help his friend find a way to die, while Chiron studied medicine and healing. During this time, Chiron discovered many cures and healing practices (none of which cured him) and he passed those cures and the healing wisdom on to others.... So here we see Chiron as the archetype of the Wounded Healer - a powerful archetype for healers to work with, especially those who are chronically ill or disabled and yet drawn to the path of healing others. Hercules, on his journey found the suffering Prometheus who was chained forever to a rock where an eagle tore at his eyes, kidneys, and liver every day. Jupiter had cursed Prometheus to suffer until someone of their free will offered to take his place. Hercules told Chiron of Prometheus. Chiron was already suffering in anguish every day, and had all but given up on his search for a cure, so he agreed to take Prometheus' place. Thus, Prometheus was freed from his curse. For his sacrifice, Chiron was awarded by the Gods and allowed to die - Thus relieving his suffering at last too. Jupiter further awarded Chiron by placing him among the stars -  as the constellation now known as Sagittarius. Within Chiron's story we find the traits of a great healer, a teacher, and a compassionate self sacrificing, and loyal friend. This is Sagittarius energy in it's most balanced and enlightened form - one who has mastered the competitive and macho energy of fire and masculinity, and transmuted it into generosity, ethical ambition, and knowledge seeking - not just for the self but for the greater good of all. TEMPERANCE In the Tarot, Sagittarius is embodied in the Major Arcana card Temperance. Key words for this card are: Blending, Balance, Timing, Discipline, Self-Control, Compromise, Moderation, Alchemy, Healing, Distillation, and Flexibility. You can see how the meaning of the Temperance card relates to the story of Centaurs, Chiron, and Sagittarius energy. You can meditate on this card or journal with it to help you connect with Centaur and Sagittarius energy. Also, if this card comes up for you in a reading, perhaps it is a sign that the Fire Elementals Centaurs are near and want to work with you to teach you moderation and balance. Working with Centaurs as Spirit Guides You can connect with these powerful fire elementals any time you want to. Make sure you ground and center yourself, and set up protections - though Centaurs aren't malevolent or mean spirited, they can be strong-willed and they like to play rough. You can call on Archangel Michael for protection, as well as setting clear boundaries about what you will and will not allow (this is a good idea for working with any of the elementals and fairies) You do this by simply and clearly stating your intention at the beginning of your ritual or meditation. One way to invoke a Centaur is to have a fire (in a safe fire pit in your back yard or campground), play some upbeat music or drum beats, and leave an offering of wine or alcohol (the centaurs enjoy drinking) and invite the Centaurs to join you while you meditate on their lessons. You can set up an altar - this can be placed near the outdoor fire, or indoors to be used if you can't have a fire outdoors - as a place to honor them, work with them, and meditate with them.  Some suggestions for your altar: candles for the fire element, a picture or small figurine of a centaur, an image of the constellation Sagittarius, pictures or figurines of horses, a book and pen to represent wisdom & learning, a knife or sword, or bow and arrow (or small figurines or pictures of these) to represent their battle skills and hunting abilities, the tarot card Temperance, and symbols or representations of health, healing, and medicine. You can meditate at this asltar to meet your Centaur guide, or ask for their assistance in your life. The centaurs can help you in manifesting a dream to go to school or get a scholarship, or to help you study and get good grades in school. They can help you manifest a good doctor or help you in finding a healer, energy worker, or medical practitioner to help you with healing. They can help you attain your goal of becoming a healer and assist you in your healings of yourself and others. And most of all, Centaurs can help you find balance, be more assertive, bring passion to your sex life, and help you in challenges and competitions. Try out this Centaur Tarot Card Spread to help you connect with the lessons of Centaurs. Here is a picture of an altar I set up when I was working with Centaur energy: Links: Centaur Tarot Spread: https://www.hestiasmuse.net/blog/the-centaur-tarot-spread Jupiter in Scorpio: https://www.hestiasmuse.net/blog/jupiter-and-the-metoo-movement Jupiter in Sagittarius: https://www.hestiasmuse.net/blog/jupiter-in-sagittarius-aiming-for-growth Jupiter / Sun Conjunction: https://www.panegyria.com/single-post/2018/11/23/JUPITER-SUN-CONJUNCTION-IN-SAGITTARIUS-WITH-FULL-MOON-IN-GEMINI #Astrology #Sagittarius #Temperance #Chiron #Magick #Meditation #SpiritGuides #Centaurs

The planet of optimism, growth and expansion will travel through the sign of Sagittarius from November 10, 2018 to December 2, 2019. Jupiter has returned "home" to the sign of it's domain - Sagittarius! Over the past year, Jupiter has traveled through Scorpio, something that I often referred to as "Zeus tearing shit up in the Underworld". It was an intense and transformational transit as the planet of growth and expansion moved through the sign of Death, Sex, and Mysteries. You can read more about it HERE in a previous blog post. Sagittarius is the sign Jupiter rules over, and it is the sign of The Archer - representing one who has trained in a specific skill (advanced education) and can now set his aim directly at what he seeks. When I think of the energy of Sagittarius, I picture an archer on a mountaintop. He is wise and knows exactly when to use his arrows and when to save them. He has traveled far and learned many things, giving him a wide world-view instead of a narrow view, which actually helps him set his goals and know exactly when to loose his bow. Sagittarius represents higher education, travel, seeking out masters or gurus, and eventually becoming a master or a teacher of others. With expanded knowledge and experiences, the world opens up for us in new ways. It is the sign of the seeker, the student, and the teacher. From the mountaintop we gain perspective through the bigger picture, a world view that is not limited to our own experiences but also accounts for the experiences and wisdom of other cultures and societies. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, growth, luck, justice, and wisdom. We can easily liken him to Zeus in Greek Mythology as this planet operates as a wise ruler, visiting each realm of our lives through the archetypes of the zodiac signs and bringing expansion and understanding to our world in new ways. Zeus (Jupiter) has traveled around the zodiac wheel visiting each of the signs over the past 11 years, returning now to his throne atop Mount Olympus to reign again; holding court, teaching, and giving out blessings. Io Zeus! "When Jupiter is in Sagittarius it is free to express its true self and true form. Jupiter is the planet associated with expansion, abundance, benevolence, and opportunity. Jupiter expands whatever it touches, and has the ability to open minds, open hearts, and get us to see the world with a new found perspective." - Tanaaz at Foreverconscious.com Jupiter in Sagittarius is sure the inspire us to expand our minds and open our hearts. Thinking globally should be a theme that comes up as this planetary transit urges us to step back and look at the bigger picture and things that effect people outside of our normal realm of awareness. Tolerance should also be a big theme, and we'll collectively continue to expand up on what we learned through the #metoo movement, now taking that trauma to a new level of understanding as we seek justice and lasting social change. On a personal level, this Jupiter transit will effect everyone differently, though it should bring feelings of starting fresh, seeking higher education, optimism, and the ability to see potential in everything. The more we recognize blocks or challenges as opportunities for growth, the more we can step into those challenges with optimism and trust - allowing the Truth to lead us. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU? There are several ways to determine if this transit of Jupiter through Sagittarius will be especially relevant for you. (Some transits are more prominent for certain people than for others, depending on your natal chart) Sagittarians - If you are a Sagittarius Sun, or your Moon or Ascendant is in Sagittarius, Jupiter's transit through this sign should have you feeling particularly expansive. You may embark on quests for Higher Education, long distance travel, or seeking out a teacher or guide of some kind. You may have a significant number of "Lucky Days" or expand your life in some way through a change in career or just a change of view. Embrace the feelings of optimism you have, and don't be afraid to follow through with things that feel expansive but exciting to you! Jupiter Returns - If Jupiter was in Sagittarius when you were born, you will be having your Jupiter Return this year. Jupiter takes 11 to 12 years to pass through all Zodiac signs, so we all experience a Jupiter return every 11 or 12 years. These years are often lucky years that signify personal growth and new levels of wisdom as we step out and explore our world in new ways. While a Saturn Return is known to be "heavy" or challenging, the growth that comes from a Jupiter return generally feels more victorious, lucky, and enlightening. If you were born in the following years, you will be having your Jupiter Return: 1947/48, 1959/60, 1971/72, 1982/83, 1994/95, 2006/07 Jupiter Transits Other Planets - If you have other planets in Sagittarius in your Natal Chart, Jupiter will pass over those points sometime in the next 13 months. A transit like this can catalyze some personal growth, as Jupiter sets off some expansive energy related to whatever planet he is passing by in your Natal Chart. Here are some examples - Jupiter transits Mercury - Expands the Mind, Communication, Learning Jupiter transits Venus - Expands the Senses, Love, Romance Jupiter transits Mars - Expands the Willpower, Drive, Passion Jupiter transits Jupiter - Expansion & Growth Maximized - Height of your Jupiter Return Jupiter transits Saturn - Expansion of Structures, Career, Rules Jupiter transits Neptune - Expansion of the Subconscious, Dreams, Fantasy Jupiter transits Uranus - Expansion of Awareness, Higher Consciousness, Revolution Jupiter transits Pluto - Expansion of Mysteries, Transformation, Soul Purpose Jupiter through the Houses - Finally, check and see what HOUSE Sagittarius is in on your Natal Chart. Even if you don't have any planets in Sagittarius, the House that it is in will show you what areas of life will be most influenced by Jupiter through this transit. What area of life might you experience some luck, optimism, and expansiveness? 1st House - Self Identity, Self Awareness 2nd House - Home, Belongings, Money 3rd House - Education, Communication, Ideas & Thoughts 4th House - Family, Home, Emotion 5th House - Self Expression, Fun, Art 6th House - Health, Service, Details 7th House - Relationships, Marriage, Business Partnerships 8th House - Sex, Death, Magic & Mysteries 9th House - Travel, Education, Mastery & Wisdom 10th House - Career & Public Standing 11th House - Friendships, Community, Inventiveness, Inspiration 12th House - Spirituality, Creativity, Emotion, Fantasy Some Key Dates of the Jupiter in Sagittarius Transit There are few dates to be aware of through this transit of Jupiter through Sagittarius. * November 25, 2018 - Sun and Jupiter Conjunct. As the Sun passes over the same degree of Sagittarius, Jupiter's influence here will really be intensified. * November 27, 2018 - Mercury Retrograde conjuncts Jupiter. Jupiter's realm will be highly influenced by Mercury's retrograde, slowing down some of the growth and perhaps dulling some of the optimism while we try to get the details just right. * December 21, 2018 - Mercury conjunct Jupiter again, this time Mercury is direct and perhaps some of Jupiter's luck and growth will shine through more directly. * January 21, 2019 - Venus conjunct Jupiter. As Venus and Jupiter meet, there may be bright times in the realm of love and the senses! * April 11th - August 12, 2019 - JUPITER RETROGRADE - Jupiter's lessons and energies become more subtle and internalized Jupiter in Sagittarius will form TRINES (harmonious aspects) to any planets Moving through Aries and Leo. It will form SQUARES (challenging aspects) to any planets traveling through Gemini, Virgo, and Pisces. I hope you enjoyed this post and are excited to see what Jupiter brings us through Sagittarius! May it bring blessings to you and Justice, Wisdom, and Growth to the world as a whole. Blessed Be

As Samhain approaches people across the world who identify as Witches and Pagans begin thinking of their ancestors and Those Who Have Gone Before Us. We enter the dark half of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere) as the vegetation dies and the leaves fall - we pause to think about Death. I find it an appropriate time to reflect upon The Burning Times when our ancestors were persecuted for honoring the seasons in ways deemed "heretical" by those who held power. A recent homework assignment from my History of Wicca course at school asked me to research The Burning Times and create a timeline of key events through that time period. I decided to share the results of that assignment here on my blog. Besides my assignment being timely and appropriate for the season, a recent news story caught my eye. The Newsweek article was titled; "Women For Trump Founder Says GOP In Danger Because Witches Put A Hex on Brett Kavanaugh". With the history of The Burning Times and Anti-Witchcraft Laws fresh in my mind, I thought about how easy it becomes for a society to become gripped by fear and find a minority group to persecute as a scapegoat. We see this happening with our current political climate already as blame and misinformation abound. While it is true that some witches have publicly claimed to place hexes on public figures, not all witches believe in hexing. Do you think that will matter when the real "Witch Hunts" begin again? Do you wonder what might happen if witchcraft becomes associated with terrorism? They might not end in public executions, but keep in mind there are still parts of this country where people fear losing their jobs and facing public harrassment if their community found out that they were a witch or Wiccan. We're not that far in years from a time when people believed that Witches were devil worshippers intent on bringing harm and mayhem to the world. I now share this history, not to spread fear or divisiveness, but so we can remember that there is still work to do in mending these bridges and overcoming centuries of misinformation and fear. I now share this timeline, so we SHALL NOT FORGET. A Timeline of The Inquisition Era and Burning Times “The Burning Times” are an era of Human history during which people were accused, persecuted, and even executed for suspicion of practicing Witchcraft. The Burning Times were historically recorded as taking place between 1450 and 1750 AD, though I have included some important events before that which show the attitudes leading up to The Burning Times. Most of these trials seem to have taken place in Germany, France and England, but spread to other countries throughout Europe and eventually to the European colonies in North America. It is important to note that the definition of "witchcraft" through these times was a loose definition often left up to the translation of the local government and church leaders. As superstition and fear took hold, many people were accused for a variety of reasons. Many of the accused were probably not "witches" at all, but perhaps practicing some folkloric herbal medicine or even a cultural tradition that predated Christianity. The Burning Times were a powerful tool of patriarchal colonization as they had a large influence on the destruction of or suppression of native and folkloric traditions. 787 AD - The Second Council of Necea formed under Byzantine Empress Irene. The Council declared the worship of of icons and 3-dimensional statuary forbidden and acts of heresy. The Council works to unify Christianity by removing controversial books from the Bible, and Christianity continues to spread through the world. [1] 900 AD - Canon Episcopi - a Medieval text of canon law that condemned witchcraft and urged all ministers of Christian faith to “by all means make great effort so that they may thoroughly eradicate the pernicious art of divination and magic, invented by the devil, from their parishes, and if they find any man or woman adhering to such a crime, they should eject them, turpidly dishonoured, from their parishes." [2] (This text gained popularity after it was translated in 1140 AD) 1080 AD - While Witchcraft was forbidden by the church, it was not yet punishable by death or torture, as outlined in a letter from Pope Gregory VII to Harald III of Denmark forbidding witches from being put to death due to accusations of creating bad weather or disease. Generally, acts of witchcraft, sorcery, or divination were “corrected” with Confession, community service, and excommunication in extreme cases. 1227 AD - Pope Gregory IX creates the papal Inquisition - an order of friars and bishops of the Catholic church who could act as investigators and judges in cases of heretical behavior. [3] 1450 - 1750 - The Witch Trials or “Burning Times” throughout various regions of Europe and North America result in an estimated 80,000 trials and up to 50,000 executions. Some suspect the number of deaths is up to 1,000,000. [8] More details of these Witch Trials are listed below. 1484 - Pope Innocent VIII writes the “Summis desiderantes affectibus” which outlined the church’s current views on Witchcraft and Sorcery as forbidden, and supported churches sending “Inquisitors” as official church representatives to investigate allegations of Witchcraft. The letter gave the approval for the Inquisitors to correct, imprison, punish and chastise practitioners of Witchcraft in whatever way they saw fit. The letter also encouraged local government authorities to cooperate with the Inquisitors at risk of excommunication if they did not cooperate. [4] 1478 - The Spanish Inquisition begins. The Catholic church seeks to unify Spain under one religion and the Monarchy uses the papal Inquisitors to seek out and uncover any non-Catholic sects and convert them to Catholicism. This era of Inquisition was not limited to witchcraft but included persecution of Jews and Muslims and was known for its brutality. It continued through 1834 AD. [5] 1487 - Heinrich Kramer publishes the “Malleus Maleficarum”. Kramer ( a Catholic church clergy member in Germany) was unsatisfied with the “Summis Desiderantes Affectibus” as he felt witchcraft was a serious threat to civilization. The Malleus Maleficarum elevates sorcery and witchcraft to criminal status and heresy - punishable by death, and urges secular courts to adopt inquisitorial procedures and bring Witches and Sorcerers to trial. The writing outlined witchcraft as a “Pact With The Devil” and insisted that witches flew at night to secret meeting places to have sexual encounters with the Devil. Heinrich Kramer was later discredited by the Catholic church and excommunicated, but the publication remained popular and was a “best seller” for another 200 years. The popularity of this book is accredited for widespread fear of witchcraft and strengthening of the Inquisitional practices across Europe. [6] Witchcraft was very loosely defined and thus began the Witch Trials which came and went in waves across many European countries through the 1700’s. Burning at the stake was a common method of death penalty for offenders, though drowning and hanging were also used. 1542 - The Witchcraft Act of 1542 was created in England by King Henry VIII and decreed that witchcraft was a federal crime punishable by death and forfeit of property owned by the accused. [7] 1563 - “The Act Against Conjurations, Enchantments, and Witchcraft” was created by Queen Elizabeth I as an updated version of The Witchcraft Act in England. This update had less severe punishments, as it only called for the death penalty if the act of Witchcraft had caused harm or death to another. [7] However, there was an increase in witchcraft related homicide trials during this time as unexplained deaths or death by illness were often attributed to acts of Witchcraft. 1604 - The Witchcraft Act of 1604, created by King James, broadened the definition of witchcraft to include communing with familiar spirits or conjuring evil spirits. [7] Burning at the stake was largely eliminated at this time in England (though the practice continued in other countries) and punishment for witchcraft was generally one year in prison for the first offense, and death by hanging for the second offense. It should be noted though, that torture was still used to extract confessions of witchcraft, and many did not survive their trial or imprisonment. 1644 - 1647 - a peak in Witch Trials in England attributed to a book published by Matthew Hopkins, self appointed expert on witchcraft who called himself “The Witchfinder General”. His book, “The Discovery of Witches” included the methods he used for extracting confessions and proving acts of witchcraft such as looking for the “Devil’s Mark”, pricking the skin, and “the swimming test”. Hopkins himself oversaw as many as 300 trials and executions in just a few years, and his book influenced many more trials and executions throughout Europe. This book was even used in early American colony witch trials including the execution of Margaret Jones, one of the first recorded witch trials in the colony of Connecticut. [8] 1692 - 1693 - The Salem Witch Trials in the American colonies of Massachusetts. In a single year over 200 people were accused of Witchcraft and Conjuring in the Salem area and 19 were tried and executed. [9] 1735 - King George II repeals the Witchcraft Acts of England. Industrialization and Scientific advances over the years had led to the belief that Witchcraft or Supernatural powers were not real.[8] There also now existed separation of Church and State and the church no longer influenced laws of the government. It was now considered heretical to even believe that witchcraft existed, finally putting an end to the Inquisition and mass accusations of witchcraft throughout Europe. This final Witchcraft Act made it a crime to claim that any human had magical powers or supernatural abilities. However, the final Act of 1735 redefined acts led to persecution for Fraud as it was now a considered fraudulent act of Con Artistry to practice Divination, Spiritualism, Mediumship, and assorted other religious practices outside of Christianity. [10] 1899 - Charles Godfrey Leland publishes his book, “Aradia, or Gospel of The Witches”, that Leland claimed was an interpretation of religious texts of a group of witches in Italy. This book influenced other scholars and anthropologists to study the existence of pagan cults that had survived The Burning Times. [11] 1921 - Anthropologist Margaret Murray publishes her book, “The Witch Cult in Western Europe”, claiming that Pagan cults still exist in Europe and theorized that the Witch Trials were a conspiracy by the Catholic church to eradicate a pre-Christian religion existing throughout European countries. [12] 1939 - Margaret Murray’s theory of Pagan Cults existing in Europe is widely accepted when Occultist and Anthropologist Gerald Gardner claims to have encountered and been initiated to a secret group called The New Forest Coven. Gardner later forms the tradition of Gardnerian Wicca and becomes known as “The Father of Modern Witchcraft” [13] 1951 - The Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951 repealed the Witchcraft Act of 1735 in England and replaced it with a law that made it illegal to charge money for profit from being a psychic, medium, or spiritualist. Individuals could charge money for “entertainment only” as it was still seen as an act of fraud to claim that psychic abilities were real. [14] This marked the beginning of a new era as now Spiritualists, Pagans, and Occultists could openly practice their religion without fear of legal repercussions, as long as they only charged any money for services as acts of “entertainment value only”. Thus began the Neo-Pagan movements to revitalize and reimagine Pagan beliefs and practices after nearly 2,000 years of hiding and secrecy. 1954 - Gerald Gardner published “Witchcraft Today” and coins the term “Wicca”. SOURCES: [1] - 8th Century Christianity & The Second Council of Necea - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_8th_century 9/29/18 [2] Canon Episcopi - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_Episcopi 9/29/18 [3] Creation of the Inquisition - https://www.britannica.com/topic/inquisition 9/29/18 [4] - Summis desiderantes affectibus, - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summis_desiderantes_affectibus 9/29/18 [5] The Spanish Inquisition - https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spanish-Inquisition 9/29/18 [6] Malleus Maleficarum - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malleus_Maleficarum#Elaborated_concept_of_witchcraft 9/29/18 [7] Witchcraft Acts - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_Acts 10/1/18 [8] Witch Hunts - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt#Early_Modern_Europe 10/1/18 [9] Salem Witch Trials - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials 10/1/18 [10] Final Witchcraft Act of 1735 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft_Act_1735 10/1/18 [11] “Aradia, or Gospel of The Witches” by Charles Godfrey Leland - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aradia,_or_the_Gospel_of_the_Witches 10/1/18 [12] Margaret Murray - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Murray 10/1/18 [13] New Forest Coven & Gerald Gardner - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Forest_coven 10/1/18 [14] Fraudulent Mediums Act - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraudulent_Mediums_Act_1951 10/1/18 --------------------------------------------------- Inkubus Sukkubs - "Burning Times" Lyrics: (video at top of this post) "Forget not the days of old And recall the stories told Of the burnings and the screams Do they ever haunt your dreams? There was a time when freedom died It was an age of genocide The Inquisition at the door The Church of Rome in a holy war They broke children on the wheel In the madness of their zeal In the shadow of their wake The innocent burning at the stake [chorus] Children resist a return to the burning times People be wise to the power of their lies Be not fooled as those who were fooled before Children, oh children, be free, be wild They came to bring the good news To burn witches, pagans, Jews Said they were the Shepherds sheep Whipped old women through the streets Then the turning of the tide From the truth they could not hide Now the darkest age has passed The Goddess has returned at last! "

Jupiter - the gas giant of our solar system! In Astrology, Jupiter rules the sign of Sagittarius and is associated with the Greek God Zeus. Jupiter rules over expansiveness, growth, knowledge, wisdom, morality, law, hope, honor, and justice. As this planet moves through the zodiac signs, he brings his expansive nature to different aspects of life, shining a bright light and lifting concepts high into our collective awareness. It takes about 11 years for Jupiter to transit through all 12 zodiac signs. TW: discussion of sex, sexual assault Scorpio is the sign of the secrets and mysteries of life - such as death, sex, occultism, taboo subjects, and the deepest darkest desires of mankind. Scorpio is the Underworld; ruled by Pluto (Hades - the God of Death & The Underworld), and Mars (Ares - the God of War). I've been watching Jupiter's transit through Scorpio this past year with great interest. Jupiter entered the sign of Scorpio on October 10, 2017. I was wondering to myself, "Hmmm, what is Zeus gonna do in the underworld? What taboo things or secrets are the King of the Gods going to pull out of the darkness for us to explore?" On October 15th, #metoo started trending on social media after actress Alyssa Milano and other celebrities posted on Twitter, "If all the women who have been sexually assaulted wrote "Me Too" as their status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem". The movement went viral within days and really set the tone for the transit of Jupiter in Scorpio. When I witnessed the #metoo trend alongside the Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby cases I couldn't help but think about Zeus tearing it up in the underworld, so to speak. It's like the God of knowledge and expansion shows up in the closet where we've stuffed all the secrets we just don't want to talk about. He said "how can you expect to fix this if no one will even look at it?" and he brought all that musty, dusty crap to the top of a mountain and turned a big bright spotlight on it. As Jupiter progressed through Scorpio the topic of sexual abuse became a regular theme on the news and through social media. We collectively reached a breaking point and said, "yeah this is a sickness in our society and we need to talk about it NOW." Thank you, Jupiter. Things got even more refined when Jupiter went retrograde in the spring and early summer of 2018. Retrograde planets take whatever lesson they are teaching you and refine it. The lesson gets internalized and more subtle, or sometimes turned upside down and inside out for full examination. During this period we shifted the conversation. No, it's not just women who are victims of sexual abuse. All Genders. And sometimes women are the perpetrators. (Remember Katy Perry kissing that guy on live tv without his consent? That was early in the Jupiter retrograde period) We also did a lot of work collectively on what type of language is acceptable to use when talking about these intensely emotional topics, and the importance of Trigger Warnings. Many spoke up about how the whole subject was just emotionally exhausting and some people were reliving trauma every time they logged on to Facebook or Twitter. We learned a lot together. . . mostly that we still have a lot of work to do. Jupiter ended his retrograde in the summer, just before the madness of the eclipses and most of the other planets all retrograding together. The theme continued and progressed in different ways, but here as Jupiter enters the final month of its time in Scorpio it has intensified with the #whyididntreport trend and the Brett Kavanaugh hearings. This coincided with Venus entering Scorpio around the full moon; so now Aphrodite (Goddess of Love) is kicking around in the underworld with Zeus - he's hovering near the back door eyeing the exit while she's making her glamorous entrance through the front. Normally I would say that Venus in Scorpio is here for a good time (The sign of magnetism, intensity and sex gets a visit from the planet of attraction? Que the 70's love ballads and leave your keys in the bowl by the door . . .) However Jupiter has really stirred things up here in Scorpio, all our deepest secrets and fears have been prodded and poked a bit so we're a bit tender. Venus' arrival here could be a bit emotional as she jumps in on the #metoo movement just as she turns retrograde! See, Venus sauntered in that front door ready for fanfare and a kickin' party, but instead found this clusterf*ck of a mess Jupiter stirred up. Wait, what is going on here? Time to backtrack a bit, Venus retrogrades back into Libra, maybe there's something there in the sign of balanced partnerships we need to review with Venus before we come back to this! Needless to say, we live in Interesting Times. Jupiter exits Scorpio and enters his home sign of Sagittarius on November 10, 2018. Will that be the end of these movements? I doubt it. Jupiter is concerned with Justice, after all. Sagittarius is the sign of the Teacher, The Archer, The Philosopher and the Truth Seeker. Jupiter will be operating at his highest ability while he travels through the sign of his rulership, and he won't quickly forget about what he found when he visited the underworld. This is Zeus returning to his throne on Mount Olympus to reign as the wise king. However, it is up to us what happens next. Clearly we have A LOT of collective trauma to work on. Certain unspoken values in our society (ahem...Patriarchy and toxic masculinity...) have contributed to this generational trauma and obviously it can't be fixed overnight. As much as we might want an easy fix, The Archer knows that it takes time, patience, and persistence before you hit the target effectively and consistently. Things will get frustrating and there may appear to be a "one step forward, two steps back" dynamic happening at times. It may at times seem futile and it is then we need to remember to step back and look at the big picture. Take that view from Zeus' throne on the mountaintop. Look, we are changing the world. Do you see it?

Continuing with my Astrology Basics series, I thought it would be fun the deconstruct the Zodiac Wheel for you a bit! After first looking at the basics of the Elements and the Modalities, [take time to read those first if you haven't yet] we can now take a deeper look at the Wheel and how it works. I remember beginning my journey of studying Astrology and looking at charts feeling a bit confused or overwhelmed - what does it all mean? Why do the signs start with Aries but go Counterclockwise around the wheel? What is the ascendant? How does this wheel actually represent the sky? So many questions! I hope that this post will help you in your understanding of the Zodiac Wheel and why it is arranged the way it is. First, a note about the graphics included here. I couldn't find any stock pictures that broke the wheel down in the way I wanted to, and I'm not very good at making my own graphics. So I hand-drew these and took the pictures with my phone. What can I say, I'm not much of a technology-witch, but this was more fun anyways! Also, this post will be long, and possibly confusing! Feel free to come back to it as many times as you need to. First, let's just divide the circle in half so there is a top half and a bottom half. Here we see the two main ways that we experience life - through the Self, and through Others. The bottom half of the chart is where we find our self-identity, our Ego, our inner life, and the basic structure of our reality. When I say "Ego" I don't mean it in a negative way - the Ego is simply the part of you that identifies as you, an individual. What you have, how you think, your home life, your self-expression, and what you devote your time and energy to. In the bottom half of the chart are the first 6 signs through which we explore our basic identity and individuality. (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo) The top half of the chart is where we expand our self-identity through various relationships with others. Our self identity changes and grows through our relationships with others; romantic partnerships, business partnerships, teachers, mentors, community, friendships, and spirituality. The top half of the chart contains the 6 signs through which we explore the world around us through others. (Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces) You can further divide the circle into quarters by drawing a vertical line dividing it in half again. The exploration of Self and Others continues to apply here, and it's easy to look at this in terms of cycles. I have added both the cycles of a year (seasons) and the cycles of an average human life*. In the first quarter of a year (Spring) OR in the first quarter of a life (Early Childhood) we energetically explore our world with the sense that everything is new and fresh. There is a lot of fertile and potent energy here in the first three signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini) as these signs embody the energy of youth and spring through their curiosity, passion, and drive. In the second quarter of the year (Summer) or the second quarter of a lifespan (Youth), the self identity-deepens through intensity and depth of emotions and experiences. Here the fertile and potent energy of spring is put to use to grow the fruits of summer, and the youth further defines their self identity as they enter early adulthood. (Cancer, Leo, Virgo) This is the journey from childhood to adulthood where we learn the balance between work and play, and begin to take care of ourseves rather than depending on a parent's care. You can see how Spring and Summer relate to the bottom half of the circle in terms of Self-Identity and the experiences you have that define your sense of Self. With the 3rd quarter of the year (Fall) and also common in the 3rd quarter of life (Adulthood) our self-identity has been firmly established but now we begin to seek different layers of self-identity through others as we enter the 2nd half of the wheel. Partnerships are needed in the fall to harvest the crops and preserve the bounty. Once the harvest is completed, there is more time to explore the deeper mysteries of life. It is time to explore relationships, secrets, the unknown, and philosophy through the signs of Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. Finally, with the 4th quarter of the year (Winter) we explore more layers of identity through others and mature adulthood through the energies of Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Social status and structures become important, as do community and inventiveness. In the final part of the cycle, we release need for self-identity at all and return to the ideal oneness of the All. And then the cycle can begin again! You can see how the Fall and Winter relate to the top half of the circle in terms of how your self-identity shifts and changes through outer experiences influenced by Others. * Please note that the average cycles of life are meant as representations of stages in our human expeience that may or may not occur in any particular order or at a particular age. It is like the archetypical Hero's Journey, which we use as a map of our common shared human experiences. The wheel now begins to represent both a macrocosm and microcosm of the cycles we experience. It is one year. It is one person's entire life. It is a generation, or an entire Age. It is also just one day, as all 12 zodiac signs pass above us each 24 hours because of the earth's daily rotation. Here I added the Elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth to each of the four quarters just to add another layer of understanding the energy. While each quarter contains three elements (remember the post on the triplicities) each season is still associated with one main element. I also added the suits of the Tarot, mostly for fun, but to add another layer of energy for those of you who are tarot card readers. See if you can find how each suit of the Tarot goes along with the season of the quarter of the wheel it resides in as well as the top half or bottom half. Now a little fun! Stand up face the east. Imagine you can see the horizon. The point in the east where the sun would rise each day is the Ascendant. Each person's Ascendant (or rising sign) is determined by what astrological sign is rising over the eastern horizon at their time of birth. Now look up. The highest point in the sky is where the sun would be at noon or mid-day. This is the MidHeaven point on the chart. Whatever sign/costellation was at the highest point of the sky above you when you were born is your Midheaven, or MC. Look down.... of course you just see the ground below you, but try to imagine that you can see through the planet. If it is daytime when you do this, you can imagine that when you look down through the earth to the sky on the other side of the planet, it is night time there. And vice-versa, if it is night time where you are then it is daytime on the opposite side of the planet. This is the Nadir point, the one opposite from the Midheaven. Look to the Western Horizon. The point where the sun will set at sundown is called the Descendant. Whatever sign was descending (setting) at the western horizon at your time of birth is your Descendant. Now you can also see that the top half of the chart represents the sky above us, from horizon to horizon. The bottom half of the wheel represents the part of the sky that is below us, or on the other half of the globe where we cannot see it. The earth turns, so we do have each sign above us once every 24 hours. With this in mind, again face the East. Look at the sky and slowly turn to the west. Imagine that from Horizon to Horizon, the sky is divided into 6 equal parts. Imagine the sky below the horizon, on the other side of the planet is also divided into 6 equal parts. This is the Zodiac Wheel and the Houses of Astrology. The houses are like "areas in life" in which we experience things. On the lower half of the chart, where we experience The Self and most of our self identity are houses 1 through 6. The upper half of the chart (the part of the sky we see above us no matter what time it is) are the Houses 7 through 12. The houses remain fixed in place - no matter what time of day or season it is, the Houses remain in the same position. So, if you look to the east again, the section just above the horizon is the 12th house. Whatever sign or constellation was in that part of the sky the moment you were born, will be your 12th house sign. There is a lot to talk about with the Houses, so I will save that for another post but here is another graphic which helps outline the meaning of each of the houses (the areas of life that each house influences) Finally, we can add in the signs. For this outline, and because it is best to learn about the signs and houses as different parts of each other - the signs are written in their Natural House. Each sign has an area of life that it naturally rules over, or where it is "at home". Though because of the seasons and the earth's rotation, we witness the signs travel through each of the houses every 24 hours. Each sign will rise in the East, travel across the sky towards the west, and then set below the horizon and travel "Under" us back to the East. Here we see the clockwise turn of the wheel and understand that even though the order of the signs appears to be backwards (counterclockwise) around the wheel, they actually travel in the clockwise direction. Furthermore, the planets (including the sun and moon) travel through these signs as well. When we look at someone's Sun sign, we find out what sign the sun was in when they were born. During the daytime, we cannot see the stars or constellations of each sign above us, because the sun is the brightest star in the sky and prevents us from seeing the other stars. Thus, during Aries season (March 21 to April 20) The sign of Aries rises over the Eastern horizon at dawn with the sun. At noon during Aries season, the constellation is above us with the noon sun. And then at dusk each day during Aries season, the Aries constellation sets below the western horizon. During each season, the visible constellations at night will be those signs that are opposite the sun. When the sun in Aries sets at the Descendant point, the sign of Libra will be rising at the Ascendant point. At midnight during Aries season, Libra will be directly above you in the sky at the midheaven point, and the sun will be "below you" on the opposite side of the earth at the Nadir point. For each season, the sun will rise in the sign that it is in and together the sun and sign will travel across the sky each day. (As I write this, it is Virgo season and the sign Virgo has been rising with the sun each morning and setting with the sun each night. Virgo's opposite sign is Pisces, and the Pisces constellation is currently the most prominent through the night sky. ) For a natal chart, you will see that the signs are in different houses. This relates to the time of day a person is born. A person born during daylight hours will have their Sun sign in the top half of the chart. A person born during night will have their sun sign in the lower half of the chart. To use the example of Aries again... though Aries rules the first house, the sign brings that first house energy with it to whatever house it travels through during the day but does not remain in the 1st house all day. Say a person is born just before noon during Aries season. The sun (travelling with the Aries segment of the sky) will be approaching the Midheaven point, in the 10th house. So you have a person who has an Aries personality (Cardinal Fire, Spring, Birth, Starting New Things) but they experience this all through the 10th House - house of status, profession, structures. So here is an Aries who directs their Fiery energy in a more mature (winter season) mode, focusing their energy expression through career or social status. It blends the energy of Aries with the lessons of Capricorn (the ruler of the 10th house). This 10th house Aries person would have either Gemini or Cancer as their Ascendant (Rising Sign) as one of those signs would be right at the eastern horizon during the time before noon when the sun was almost at the Midheaven point. For another example, imagine a person was born during Aries season a couple hours after sunset. The sun in Aries would have set below the horizon and be in the 5th house - the House of Self Expression, creativity, and children. This type of Aries would probably be a more playful Aries compared to the 10th house Aries mentioned before - as the 5th House is the part of life associated with Summer, Youth, and playfulness. This Aries would be influenced by some Leo energy (Fixed Fire) as Leo is the natural ruler of the 5th house. The 5th House Aries individual would have either Libra or Scorpio as their Ascendant (Rising sign). Okay, we covered a lot here this week! Thanks for joining me and I hope that this post has brought some clarity and understanding to both how you see the Zodiac Wheel and the sky above you!

Autumn Equinox I have survived the fiery kiln of summer baked and purified under life-giving Sun - that light so bright and strong I craved it all winter, yet somehow found it stifling and harsh during those strong summer days. Now I find crisp cold mornings balanced by hot cider and warm evening blankets. Busy active days balanced by quiet stillness of night. I am finding balance again at the equinox as I stand here on tip-toe at the precipice between life and death, equal day and night will find me - dancing between consciousness and dream. Looking behind, I gather my harvest. Looking ahead, I gather my harvest. It all somehow feels simultaneously too small, and too BIG. I take this hardened shape of my spirit purified in the fires of summer and I paint it all the gold and red and orange shades of fall. I glaze it with the cool rains of autumn. Dying leaves fall from trees, and old fears fall from my hair like dandruff; I brush it all aside and prepare a bed for myself to welcome the coming dark nights of dreaming. I dig down deep into the sleeping clay of next year's creation. W.J.M "Hestia's Muse" September 19, 2015

I'm inspired to write a series of blog posts covering some basics of Astrology. I have found the language of astrology to be so relevant for explaining and understanding many qualities of life experiences - and see this language of myth, energies, and archetypes as a tool that has helped me (and many others) see the world with greater clarity. My hope is that I can create a series of posts that help you understand the words and symbols of this astrological language in a deeper way, and perhaps you'll find some relevance and clarity here as well. In the previous post we looked at the Elements or Triplicities of Astrology. Now we'll look at the Modalities - also known as Modes or Quadruplicities. With the Elements we learned that each sign is one of the four elements; Fire, Earth, Air or Water. The zodiac signs are also divided up into three Modalities; Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable. There are four Cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn. Four Fixed signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. And four Mutable Signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces. Notice that there is one of each Element per modality grouping. The Modalities reflect Modes of Operation - that is to say that there are three different modes of operation or ways to interact with the world around us. While the Element of a zodiac sign shares with us its root elemental nature, the Modalities show us a distinction in how each element can have different ways it interacts with the world. The astrological view of these interactions is based on the ever-changing nature of the Universe. Everything is always in a state of change. Within that process of change in nature we find three different states; Initiating Change, Resisting Change, or Flowing with Change. None of these are "better" or "more natural" than others - though the words "Resisting Change" may seem to carry some negative connotations. But what I mean here is similar to stages of rest, hibernation, or stillness - all of which are important steps in the process of change and growth itself. Let's take a look at each of these Modalities and how they reflect each sign's natural mode of operation. Another way to look at the Modalities is through the seasons. If we divide the horoscope wheel into four equal parts, we have a yearly cycle with one season per quarter. Each season has a beginning, middle, and end so each season itself is divided into three parts (Now we've got 12 zodiac signs in the horoscope wheel) So for Spring there is a beginning (Cardinal), a middle (Fixed) and and end (Mutable). The Cardinal Signs: Aries (Cardinal Fire) Cancer (Cardinal Water) Libra (Cardinal Air) Capricorn (Cardinal Earth) The Cardinal mode of operation would be that of Initiating Change. In the zodiac wheel of the year, these signs are found at the beginning of each season and either at a Sostice or Equinox. These times of new beginnings reflect the nature of the Cardinal signs - initiators, leaders, enterprising, creative, assertive, direct, and sometimes aggressive. The words "Force of Nature" come to mind with Cardinal signs as they bring across the energy of each sign's element in such a strong and direct way. The way a change of seasons can seem to rush in full throttle as if the weather has something to prove is relevant here - Cardinal signs have a point to make and a job to do, try not to get in their way! Cardinal signs reflect the nature of the beginning of each season; Aries is early spring, Cancer is early summer. Libra is early Fall, and Capricorn is early winter. The Fixed Signs: Taurus (Fixed Earth) Leo (Fixed Fire) Scorpio (Fixed Water) Aquarius (Fixed Air) The fixed Modalities come in the middle of a season. The season isn't becoming the season anymore, it just IS that season. These signs are reliable and stable, primarily because they are predictable in how they act or respond. Once they set their mind to something, the Fixed signs prefer to stick to the plan with dedication. They are more resistant to change, operating best through routines and familiarity. Less pushy but a bit more stubborn, notice how each element can behave differently through the Modalities. Cardinal Earth (Capricorn) is quite different in behavior and habits than Fixed Earth (Taurus) - though they are both Earthy by nature - they interact with the world in different ways. Fixed signs represent the energy of middle of each season; Taurus is mid-spring, Leo is mid-summer, Scorpio is mid-fall, and Aquarius is the middle of winter. Here, each season is just solidly being that season. Leo season is undoubtably Summer. This is the nature of the Fixed signs. The Mutable Signs: Gemini (Mutable Air) Virgo (Mutable Earth) Sagittarius (Mutable Fire) Pisces (Mutable Water) The seasons are changing again and here are the Mutable signs; adaptable, flexible. ever-changing. The mutable signs can see things from all sides and are therefore less likely to stick to just one way of being or doing. All things change and the Mutable signs accept that - neither pushing for change the way a Cardinal sign tends to, nor resisting the change the way a Fixed sign might. Just going with the flow, these signs can take on the traits of those around them and adapt easily from one situation to the next. However, notice how each element has a different style when it comes to this adaptability and flow. Mutable energy is that of the end of a season. Gemini is the end of spring, becoming summer. Virgo is the end of summer, becoming fall. Sagittarius is the end of fall, becoming winter, and Pisces is the end of winter, becoming spring. Here we easily see how the Mutable signs' mode of operation lies in changeability. Geometry and Aspects Now we're starting to understand the basic structure of the chart's geometry through the Triplicities (Elements) and Quadruplicities (Modes). Pictured above the first image shows the geometry of the Elements and how each grouping creates a triangle. (Four groups of three signs). These create aspects known as Trines. In the second image you see the geometry of the Modalities and how each grouping creates a square (Three groups of four signs). These create aspects known as Squares. Excersize: Now you can examine the blend of Elements and Modalities in your own natal chart (or for others) with a simple process called Chart Delineation. Make a chart like the one above, with three columns labeled with the modalities. There will be four rows labled with the elements. In the boxes, find the proper placement for each planet in your natal chart. For example, my Sun is in Capricorn so I write "Sun" in the box that connects Earth and Cardinal signs. Here's what mine looks: ******* CARDINAL FIXED MUTABLE FIRE Neptune EARTH Sun, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter Saturn AIR Pluto Venus WATER Moon, Uranus Here you can see I have three planets in Cardinal signs, three in Fixed signs, and four planets in Mutable signs. I have five planets in Earth signs, two in Air, two in Water, and only one planet in a fire sign. However, some planets have more "weight" or influence on the chart than others do - escpecially the sun, moon, and chart ruler (the ruling planet of your Sun sign) You can also add the Ascendant, Midheaven, and Asteroids to this to get a more precise delineation - keeping in mind though that the purpose of this excersize is the simplify the chart into a basic view of the Elements and Modalities. What can you find about yourself or others by simply looking at the balance of the Triplicities or Quadruplicities? Is someone heavy in Fixed energy and lacking in Mutable energy? Is someone mostly Air and Water, with little or no Earth or Fire? How do the behavior patterns of an individual become more apparent when you break down the chart and look at their life in terms of their basic nature (elements) and natural modes of operation? Have fun with this excersize! When I was first learning astrology, I spent some time playing around looking at the delineated charts of my friends and family members and I really feel this gave me a good understanding of the basic structure of astrology which helped me greatly in moving forward to learn more. ----------------------------- Want to have a fun place to discuss astrology and learn with others? Join my Facebook group - Unwinding The Universe With Hestia's Muse !

You may have heard the phrase, "I need to get grounded" when someone is talking about feeling off-kilter or out of balance. With our stressful modern lives it is common to be living too much in the head by worrying about the future that we forget to take time to just exist in the moment. Being "Grounded" means that one can release the excess energy of worry and just settle into the peace of being in the here and now. Another reason people refer to needing to get grounded is because of sensing others' anxieties through empathy. I often have people ask me how they can protect themselves from being overwhelmed when sensing other people's emotions or energies.  Many people identify as Empaths - persons who are highly sensitive to the moods and feelings of people around them.  Going out in public or crowded places can be overwhelming and anxiety inducing to these people - as they can feel others' grief, anxiety, or anger as if it were their own.  I wanted to compile a list of different techniques for Grounding that have helped me and other people. If you are more grounded you will be much more able to let these energies you sense "slide off" rather than latching on and affecting you negatively.  The goal of an empath should not be to block these sensations, but to simply be able to notice and acknowledge them without being dragged down or trapped by the feeling.  We have this gift that enables us to help people and be better friends, healers, and counselors so we don't want to block the ability to feel others' emotions.  Yet at the same time we need to be able to function and go about our own lives! If you are not properly grounded you will have a much harder time doing this. Grounding "Grounding", "Centering" or "Earthing" is a simple process that we use to connect with the earth, our body, and the here & now.  You can practice grounding in any position - sitting, standing, or laying down.  Most people prefer putting the feet flat on the ground, which is helpful but not 100% necessary.  Grounding is just simply being more connected to the earth, your body, and the present moment. Being more connected to the present moment and the body is important for Empaths, who have a tendency to experience more on the astral or etheric realms, or "out there".  But we are still physical beings and need to be able to ground ourselves to release excess energies we tend to collect, and also to replenish our "batteries." Here are a couple quick methods I use for Grounding: #1 - Five senses excersize Connect with your breath.... that means to simply bring your attention to your breathing for a few moments.  Next, simply notice your body, in particular the 5 senses of touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste. Notice your posture, the temperature of air touching your skin and the feel of the clothing you are wearing.  Notice any smells or scents.  Look around and simply take notice of the things you see around you.  What do you hear?  Try to notice sounds individually and identify where different sounds are coming from.  Finally notice the taste inside your mouth.  If you wish, take a small drink of water or eat a bite of something and try to just fully notice the sensation of taste.  As you go through each of the 5 senses try to keep noticing your breathing too.  Now you have brought your awareness simply and fully to your body and the present moment.  This practice alone can help relieve some anxiety and bring us back to our own senses rather than the senses projected outward from others.  The more you practice this technique of breathing and noticing each of the 5 senses, the easier it will become... until it becomes something much more second nature. With frequent practice you will be able to eventually bring yourself fully into this state of awareness within your body by simply setting your intention to do so.  This is especially helpful if you use a key phrase as a trigger.  For example, say "Here and Now I am Breathing" as you focus on the breath.  Then, "Here and Now I can smell...." as you focus on the sense of smell.  And then, "Here and Now I see...." as you focus on the sense of sight, etc.  With consistent use of this key phrase "Here and Now" you can create a trigger for the relaxed state that is aware of all the senses.  When you have done this often enough, and you find yourself out in public and needing to quickly ground and center your energies, you can just take a deep breath and say "Here And Now" and you will find yourself automatically connecting to the senses and the breath. #2 - "Breathing Through Your Roots" This is a combination of breathing and visualization that helps you connect with Earth Energy and feel more grounded and centered.  Place feet flat on the ground if you are in a chair, or you can sit cross-legged on the floor.  Connect with your breath (noticing your breathing and slowing the breath down to smooth, deep and steady pattern)  Visualize that you have Roots growing down out of the bottoms of your feet (if you are seated with feet flat on the ground) or roots growing out of your hips and sitting bone (if you are seated on the ground in cross- legged position.) Take some time simply breathing and feeling your roots extend down into the earth.  Notice how it is darker, cooler, and quieter down there in the earth.  Recall the smell of soil and other pleasant sensations of nature.  You don't have to be outdoors to connect with mother nature in this way simply use your intention and visualization. Once you have established your roots, think of how the roots of a tree draw water and nutrients up from the earth into their trunk and branches.  Now when you inhale slowly, feel that you are breathing from your roots and that as the oxygen fills your lungs you are drawing energy up from your roots into your body.  (Picture the way a straw draws water up from the bottom when you drink with it.  You inhale and "suck" the energy up through your roots, into feet, up the legs, and then up the spine and outward to arms and fingers.) As you exhale, you release any "extra" energy you didn't absorb - visualize and feel this energy emptying out of you back down your roots and into the earth.  You can also breathe out any negativity or anxiety, down those roots and into the earth. Don't worry about harming the earth by emptying these negative energies in this way.  Simply set your intention that you are releasing these energies to be healed.  Energy itself is neither good or bad, it just needs to be returned to it's natural state where it doesn't hold any vibrations of fear or pain.  Just focusing on breathing up through the roots - breathing in love.... and then emptying out the stress or worry out through the feet or sitting bones back into the earth for healing.  Practicing this a few minutes a day makes it come much easier and eventually you can very quickly connect with your roots and earth energy at any time. #3 Earthing Earthing is the simple act of walking on the ground (outdoors) barefoot.  Feeling the sand, grass, dirt, leaves, etc directly touching the soles of your feet can relieve stress, improve circulation, lift your mood, and bring you closer to Mother Nature.  When you combine Earthing with intentional grounding excersizes like the two listed above, the experience of grounding is more empowered.  However, due to weather, location, or physical disabilities, this may not always be an option which is why I listed the other two methods first... they can be done even when you do not have access to the outdoors.  I do recommend trying to go outside and get fresh air and sunlight even if you are unable to walk barefoot on the ground.  Studies have shown that spending more time outdoors (even if it is just sitting on your porch and looking at the sky or a tree) is beneficial to your health and mood. Crystals and Gemstones to Assist with Grounding Carrying, wearing, or meditating with these crystals or gemstones may help you as you practice getting grounded and centered.  Hematite, Smoky Quartz, Black Tourmaline, Obsidian, Onyx, and Green Moss Agate all can help you feel more grounded and connect with earth energy more readily. Remember Basic Self Care Getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and eating healthy foods with plenty of fiber is essential for an Empath to feel grounded and centered.  The world of emotions and feelings is so richly and deeply felt by empaths that the physical realm can seem less important or like a less valid part of our human experience.  This is simply not true, and taking care of ourselves physically is a big part of being an Empath, a Healer, an Intuitive or a Light Worker. Seek Help From Other Healers If you feel like you are "getting grounded" but the feeling doesn't last or dissipates as soon as you leave the meditation area or enter a room of crowded people, there may be some deeper spiritual and energetic work that needs to be done.  You may benefit from energy work such as Reiki to help remove blocks.  You may wish to seek out a Shaman, therapist or another sort of healer to help you work through past trauma or insecurities.  There is nothing wrong with seeking out help from others! I hope that these ideas have helped you and given some ideas to help you with grounding! Feel free to leave a comment with feedback or your own tips for grounding. #Magick #Meditation #EnergyWork #Healing

I'm inspired to write a series of blog posts covering some basics of Astrology. I have found the language of astrology to be so relevant for explaining and understanding many qualities of life experiences - and see this language of myth, energies, and archetypes as a tool that has helped me (and many others) see the world with greater clarity. My hope is that I can create a series of posts that help you understand the words and symbols of this astrological language in a deeper way, and perhaps you'll find some relevance and clarity here as well. When learning Astrology, a good place to start is with the Elements. The zodiac wheel is divided into 12 signs and houses, and each of these signs is divided into four groups of three signs each. These groups of three are also known as Triplicities and they are divided into the four elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Each element symbolizes a fundamental characteristic that each grouping shares, though the expression may vary from sign to sign. We all have the four elements within us at all times, yet our personality and the core of who we are may sway more easily towards one or two of the elements while struggling to interact with the others. The elements can be seen as a core foundation of the archetypical role that one is here to play and interact with, and this can give us great clues about the types of experiences we have and what we need to learn from them. The Fire Signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. Fire signs are active, enthusisatic, explorational, inspired, confident, fun-seeking, and passionate. Fire represents the spark of life; the willpower, drive, passion, and motivation that pushes us forward towards movement and growth. Fire can represent both safety and danger; as we all know both the comfort and light of a warm fire as well as it's destructive potential to burn out of control The Earth Signs - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn. Earth signs are practical and stable, patient, grounded, physical, hard-working and goal-oriented. Earth represents the stable and strong ground which we can use as a foundation to build or grow things. It is the structure of our embodied experience, the basis of which we experience life on this planet. The Air Signs - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Air signs are intellectual, analytical, thinkers, communicators and idea generators. Air represents the mental aspects of life; how we think, talk, and socialize. When we speak, our words travel through the air creating vibrations that others hear. Our thoughts and ideas fluctuate and change as easily as the wind - sometimes a soft breeze and at other times a harsh gale. The Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. Water signs are emotional, intuitive, artistic, empathic, expressive, and nurturing. Water represents our moods and feelings which are always fluctuating with tides and currents while also representing the source of nourishment and life for all on Earth. Water connects us to the moon (the tides) and therefore connects us to the mysterious, unknown, intuitive and psychic abilities as well. Here is another list of some qualities and associations of each element: Try not to think of these elements as seperate things - take time to recognize how they all interact and work together in unique ways. Through history, alchemists and philosophers understood that the blending of these different elements created different results and outcomes. Through understanding the way the elements interact we can get a clearer picture of all interactions and circumstances around us being . . . "Elemental, dear Watson". Examples: Air supports Fire. Without air, a fire will go out. However, apply too much air and either the fire can be blown out, or become too large and fierce. Water supports Earth. All of life on earth needs water to flourish and survive. However, apply to much water and the earth can lose it's solid quality - it becomes muddy and flooded. Earth directs or holds water. Water is not a soilid, it has no shape but takes on the shape of whatever container is holding it. The earth provides structures for the water - oceans, rivers, mountainsides that the rain flows down, etc. Without earth, water can be directionless, formless. Air can sometimes hold water too... the clouds that form in the sky are water in the form of vapor. When the conditions are just right, these clouds of Air and Water can create friction which makes fire - lightning! Fire can boil or evaporate water, and water can douse a fire. Air can move water around with wind (waves or rain). Earth can block or direct the air with its shapes and structures, and Air also plays a role in shaping the Earth. Granted this is all an over-simplication of science which is a lot more complex and refined in our current understanding - but I have found that looking at the way the elements interact has also given great clues as to how the signs interact with each other in Astrology. In general, Water and Earth get along well, as do Fire and Air - yet there needs to be a balance as demonstrated by nature. We can learn to balance these energies both internally and externally with some awareness of how these elements interact with each other in both harmonious and non-harmonious ways. Taking things a little further I'll talk more about Aspects in another post but the photo above does a great job showing how the Triplicities create Trines. A Trine is a harmonious aspect between two planets who occupy signs in a Triplicity grouping. For example, I have Mercury in Capricorn (Earth) and Mars in Virgo (Earth) and these planets create a Trine as they are 120 degrees apart. While they are in different signs, the shared element (Earth) gives these planets a common mode of operation and therefore they are generally supportive of eachother in the natal chart. The opposing signs (Polarities) are two signs on the opposite side of the zodiac wheel. In many ways they are opposite by nature, but the opposition is a harmonizing and balancing force between the two signs. You will notice that all the opposing signs are either in Earth-Water pairs or Fire-Air pairs. This is another general example of how Earth and Water tend to compliment or support eachother, and the same for Fire and Air. The Polarities may have different signs, but they share an energy expression that is best known as Yin or Yang. Water and Earth Signs are considered Yin polarity, while Air and fire are considered Yang polarity. All the signs are either seen as Yin (receptive) or Yang (expressive) and when you look at the polarities (opposing signs) you find that both signs of the pair are either Yin or Yang. For example look at the Opposition between Virgo and Pisces. Virgo is Earth and Pisces is Water, both signs are considered Yin. "The elements have traditionally been divided into two groups, fire and air being considered active and expressive, and water and earth considered passive, receptive and self-repressive. These two groups are the same as the basic divisions of chinese philosophy: yin (water & earth) and yang (fire & air). They are also identical with the Greek conception of two expressions of energy: Apollonian (fire and air, which actively and consciously form life) and Dyonisian (water and earth, which represent forces that manifest more unconsciously and instinctively)" --Stephen Arroyo, M.A. from the book "Astrology, Psychology and The Four Elements". Activity Examine the Elements in your own Natal Chart. Make a list with four columns - Fire, Earth, Air, Water. Under each element write down what planets you have in that element through signs in your chart. Here is mine: FIRE EARTH AIR WATER Neptune Sun Venus Moon Mercury Pluto Uranus Jupiter Mars Saturn Ascendant As you can see, I'm earth-dominant in my chart. Some Air and Water, and very little fire. I like stability and structure, but sometimes lack the willpower or motivation to get moving . . . especially if it involves changing my routine! ( As seen by low fire energy in my chart) Expressing emotions or communicating is sometimes a challenge as can be seen by lower air and water presence in my chart. You can see how just looking at the elements has given a basic groundwork or foundation to begin reading the chart and understanding the language of astrology. It can even help on a day-to day basis. As I track the moon and other planets moving through signs each day, my first thought is to what element they are in. This gives me a broad-scale basis for understanding the energies at play each day and how I might best interact with those. Today the moon is in an Air sign, no wonder I'm motivated to write and share! Thank you, moon for boosting a little extra air energy my way! I look forward to bringing you more in this Astrology 101 series right here at Hestia's Muse! If you're interested in a more detailed one-on-one session I am happy to walk you through the basics of your natal chart with an Astrology Reading. Make sure to subscribe, or follow me on Facebook and Instagram so you don't miss any updates to the blog! Have a blessed day ~ Hestia's Muse

A poem [Trigger Warning - Suicide, Self Harm, Loss] Gravity Frozen in this moment, three days have passed and I didn’t even feel a single rotation of the planet. One shot and I was pulled back by a force stronger than gravity to a time that left me reeling in his wake A blinding flash A heat of a love that burned too hot for either of us and threw me to my knees with a great resounding percussion of drums that silence a beating heart. Three days I’ve been stuck in a time that never truly belonged to us, yet shaped us. Three days frozen by a pain that held him captive for thirty years. Frozen, yet I know I will rise again and find myself moving forward on wings he showed me I had. ~ wjm Sept. 2011 Another poem pulled from the archives at my old blog. This one was written 7 years ago this week. The first few days of September I still think of him, my friend who ended his own life. My first experience of deep romantic love, back in high school, was with this amazing individual who taught me so much. From my sheltered naivety, he brought me an awareness that would set me on a path quite different than what I had imagined for myself. Shane, I miss you. 7 years have passed, but you're still a part of my life. Forever. If you want to read more, this is the blog post I wrote 7 years ago while in mourning. I share more details about my own story, and Shane's role within it. It's not an easy read. Trigger Warning for mentions of suicide, depression, r*pe, and self-harm. http://tarotmom.blogspot.com/2011/09/in-remembrance.html and this blog post written by my brother (in relation to the above link) http://tarotmom.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-brothers-letter.html . . . and, one more poem I wrote that week Wrung Out A twist, my heart is wrung like a dishcloth, Squeezed dry. A pain too strong and real, much more than expected… But it purifies. …twist and squeeze and drain the dirty water away. And then I can dry out in the sun, remembering the moon. ~ wjm sept. 2011

I'll admit it - like many people, clutter is a problem for me.  Last year I moved, and many of my belongings are still in boxes. Sharing a home with others, it can seem like clutter is a constant battle.  Things just seem to accumulate.  Yes, a lot of things are useful, helpful, convenient to have.  But it's amazing how things just add up, multiply, pile up, and become a mess. I've realized and accepted long ago that clutter can be a source of stress in any environment.  Have you noticed that after you clean up a certain room, the energy in that space will just feel better?  Clearer.  Like you can breathe easier and just relax better?  That's because everything has an energy to it.  Just like your crystals and gemstones or magickal tools carry a certain vibration, so does everything else in your home.  When you enter a room, you will pick up these subtle vibrations and it will immediately effect how you feel. With the Sun in Virgo, I feel the drive and longing to get my household in order. I want to get organized. I want everything in it's proper place, easy to find - and less "stuff" around me in general. Virgo is the Mutable Earth sign of the Zodiac - ruled by Mercury and the 6th House of Health & Service. Mutable Earth is willing to change and move things around in the physical environment in ways that Fixed Earth (Taurus) might not be as open to, and the analytical thoughtful mind of Mercury as the ruler here brings in the critical nature that will allow us to re-think and re-design our home or office to be more functional. The polarity-point or balancing point of Virgo in the zodiac wheel is Pisces. When Virgo is too critical and analytical, it needs the faith and non-attachment of Pisces. When Pisces is too aloof or caught up in escapism, it needs the focus and realistic nature of Virgo. I find this relevant now as I am writing this under the Pisces full moon and thinking both about getting rid of clutter (Virgo) and creating Sacred Space in my home (Pisces). We all have heard of having a "Sacred Space" in our home... it may be an altar, a meditation area, a yoga room, etc.  It is good to have a place devoted to a spiritual practice; a place that you go just for meditation or prayer.  If we use the same space repeatedly for that purpose, and keep it clear of clutter and decorate it with things that bring us peace - it becomes a Sacred Space and will amplify our ability to meditate, pray, or focus on spiritual matters in that area.  But really, why keep it to just one part of our home?  Shouldn't our entire home be a place of spiritual respite?  We should be able to feel safe, relaxed, and spiritually fulfilled no matter what part of our home we are in! Make Your Clutter Clearing into a Spiritual Experience I find that usually when I'm inspired to start getting rid of clutter in my home (again) it usually coincides with an internal need to remove blocks and move forward.  As I work on the physical clutter, I experience the removal of internal blocks.  It can be a powerful time of personal healing, and a wonderful "active meditation" that serves a dual purpose of healing my home and my inner being.  As I approach an area or task, it helps me to call upon Goddess to help me make the act of cleaning into a spiritual practice.  Keeping a mindful awareness is key.  You'll have to ask yourself as you pick up each item; what purpose does this serve?  What energy do I feel when I see or touch this item?  Have I used it in the last 6 months?  Does it remind me of a person or a time in my life - and does that memory trigger positive feelings or negative ones?  If I keep it, is there a better place to keep it? It can be easy to get overwhelmed in this process!  Try to break down each room into smaller areas and just focus on one area at a time.  Pick something you can complete in one hour or less.  So instead of thinking "I need to clear the clutter out of my bedroom closet", make a goal of one box or shelf in that closet. Before you begin, set your intention.  You might want to light a candle and say a prayer or affirmation before you begin.  You can call upon a specific Deity to help you with the process.  There are many household Deities who love to help you do anything that blesses your home.  You can devote your work into an offering to them, or just ask them to assist you with your goal.    You may want to research some household Deities to see which you are called to work with (or just try working with the Deities you already work with for spiritual purposes).  You might find you're called to work with a different Deity for a different room or part of the home depending on the type of energy in that space or what you want to attract to that space. A short list of Household/Hearth Deities; Hestia (Greek Goddess of the Hearth & Home) Vesta (Roman Goddess of Hearth) Brigid (Celtic/Irish Goddess of the Home) Tsao Wang (Chinese God of the Home & Kitchen) Kamui-fuchi (Japanese Goddess of the Hearth) Kamado-no-kami (Japanese God of the Kitchen) Gabija (Lithuanian Goddess of home protection) Ertha (Domestic Deity of Norns / Northern Europe) Frigga (Norse Goddess of Domestic Life and Household management) Bes (Egyptian God of Household protection) Artemis (Greek Goddess - protection, goal setting, manifestation) Kuan Yin (Chinese Goddess of Compassion & Protection - especially for Mothers & Children) Lakshmi (Hindu Goddess of Blessings and Abundance) Archangels that can be called upon to help with Space Clearing Jophiel - "Beauty of God" - helps to beautify space, clears away negativity to help us see beauty in all things, supporter of artists. Michael - "Warrior of God" - protects lightworkers from lower energies - will help protect the home and escort away any negative energy. Raphael  - "Healer of God" - heals physical and emotional pains and ailments, also helps remove negative energies to promote healing in that area Message from Archangel Jophiel ; "Your home and work environments affect you on many levels. Clutter can erode your energy, creativity, and prosperity. I'll help you find the time and motivation to clear interferences from your physical environment. Together, we'll release anything thats not serving you. We'll donate, recycle, or discard unused items. We'll open the windows to circulate fresh air in the rooms. And I'll escort lower energies away. You'll notice huge improvements in all areas of your life as a result of this endeavor." Are you feeling drawn to remove clutter and create more sacred space in your home? No matter what time of year it is when you discover this post, the balancing point between Virgo and Pisces is a great one to tap into for this process! And if you're really drawn to work more closely with Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth & Home, I invite you to come check out the Hestia & Vesta Devotion Course!

Spica; Virgo’s Light My eyes search the darkened cosmos Searching for a light to lead me Orion, he is always there, and Ursa Major dominates the night sky I recall an ancient phrase; “Arc to Archturus, then speed on to Spica.” Following the Arc of the Great Bear (once the pure and chaste Callisto, princess of Arcadia; Raped by Zeus and cursed by Hera) Past her protector, Archturus To find Spica, brightest star of Virgo - A yellow sheaf of wheat, Golden ear of corn White Spark of light Fire of Hearth, In the hands of a something so Pure That one name will not suffice. She is the Virgin, Virgo Astraea; Goddess of Purity and Innocence who clung to hope for human kind longer than any other Shala, Goddess of Grain Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Home Vesta, Keeper of the Flame The Blessed Virgin Mary Father Time has watched her transform, Watched her name change, Watched as Man’s study of Spica Brought the knowledge of the Equinoxes. What other secrets may she hold? Father Time, the Hermit only nods and winks As if to say “Time Will Tell,” And he turns to walk away “but don’t give up the search”. And suddenly I know I am beautiful I am pure You are beautiful You are pure And Astraea can return; Through us. ~~ WJM @Hestia's Muse written Sept 1, 2010 I first wrote this poem in 2010, just as I was beginning to learn about and work with Hestia. I was also learning more about astrology, and had recently aquired this beautiful tarot deck called 'The Celestial Tarot' in which each card is related to a specific constellation or star. Virgo season had just begun and I was inspired by The Hermit card to explore more depths of the sign Virgo - a sign associated with Hestia (The Virgin). Through that study and my meditations, this poem emerged. The constellation Virgo represents a Virgin female form holding a sheaf of wheat. She is associated with Hestia (Greek), Vesta (Roman), Dike (Greek), Shala (Sumerian), Isis (Egyptian), and Astraea (Greek). Astraea means "Star Maiden" or "Starry Night" and she was the daughter of Astraeus and Eos. She was a maiden goddess of purity and light, and was the last of the Olympian Gods to remain dwelling on the Earth with humans through the Golden Age. Mythology tells that she loved mankind deeply and wanted to stay as long as possible, but could not stay and also maintain her purity. Finally during the Iron Age it was said she ascended to Olympus, fleeing the growing wickedness of Humanity and became the constellation Virgo - to shine her light of purity on us from a distance. Legend also holds that one day Astraea will return, ushering in a new Utopian Golden Age. Spica is the brightest star of the constellation Virgo, and 15th brightest star in the night sky. It was through observation of this star that the Greek astronomer Hipparchus discovered and proved that the stars move across the sky in a phenomenon we now know as the "Procession of The Equinoxes". The appearance of Spica in the night sky is also related to the Spring and Fall Equinoxes - as Spica is only visible to the Northern Hemisphere from March to the end of July and not visible to the Northern hemisphere during fall and winter. The name "Spica" means "Ear of Corn" or "Sheaf of Wheat" in Latin. Spica is actually a binary star system, with it's primary star about 10 times bigger than our Sun. The secondary star is slightly smaller (7 times bigger than our sun), and in such a close distance to the primary star that we cannot optically separate the two. They orbit around each other every 4 days. I find it fitting that the brightest Star in Virgo is a binary star- as Virgo is ruled in Astrology by the planet Mercury; the Dual Minded. As we enter Virgo season, (August 23 - September 22) the Virgo constellation and Spica are no longer present in the night sky - but rising with the sun in the mornings and following the sun across the sky all day. The sun's rays now bless the earth through The Virgin's sector of the sky. Apollo (The Sun) is visiting the Temple of the Virgin, learning and transmitting the lessons of Purity, Devotion, Service, and Sacrifice as written on the temple walls by Goddesses like Hestia, Vesta, Astraea, Dike, Isis, and Shala. Carrying the sheaf of wheat or ear of corn and guiding us through our time of Harvest. Hail the Virgin! Hail the Harvest! Io Astraea! Io Hestia! ---------------------------------------------- Interested in learning more about the Goddess Hestia? Check out the Hestia & Vesta Devotion Course - now open for enrollment! #Astrology #Virgo #Hestia #GreekMythology