Pointer Finger Magick

I received Llewellyn’s 2021 Witches’ Spell-A-Day Almanac as a Xmas present and am loving it. In addition to the daily spellwork it’s also a daily calendar, showing what phase the moon is in that day and noting important holidays (traditional and Wiccan).

Today’s Moon is in the sign of Virgo which, according to the Almanac: “Favors cooperation, compromise, social activities, beautification of surroundings, balance, and partnership.” The color for Janury 31, 2021 is yellow and the Incense of the Day is almond. But it’s the Daily Spell that I thought was pretty cool and simple enough that anyone can do it! It also reminded me of the “finger-pointing” scene in Practical Magic:

Courtesy of Estha McNevin

Throughout the day, use your pointer finger to charge, bless, and otherwise designate objects as auspicious. Feel the intended energy and forcefully project it forward. Cast luck on a fountain you admire, or cast love on an elevator button. Fill a parking meter for the day to share pointed blessings of wealth, or enchant any other object you’d like. As the energy of the sun wanes, make your final blessed castings and seek to dream of all the luck and opportunities yet to come to you. Try to point them out even in your dreams.

(Of course, this is a beatific spell and can be performed any day of the year.)

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1.28.2021 ~ Howling at the Moon

The first full moon in January is called a Wolf Moon but I’m renaming this one a Werewolf Moon. This is a powerful Full Moon. Today you have permission to HOWL and embrace your Other.

January 28, 2021’s Full Moon enters the sign of Leo at 9° and the Sun is in Aquarius which indicates the Moon is in detriment to the Sun.

In astrology, a celestial body is said to be in detriment, or exile, when it is positioned in the zodiac sign opposite the sign it rules (over which it has domicile). When a celestial body is in detriment it is said to be not comfortable in that sign and to tend to operate with the least strength.
[source]

Like the Werewolf, we have two opposing energies pulling at us and compelling transformation. It’s time to embrace your Shadow Self in order to achieve a balance between the essences of the Visionary (Aquarius) and the Ego (Leo).

The Revolutionary Archetype is linked to Aquarius whose motto is: “I know…therefore I am.” while Leo’s Archetype is The Performer (“I will…therefore I am”).

“The Moon in Leo, or High Priestess in Strength’s clothing is potentially a time of emotional power. Something beautiful that’s usually under-wraps can finally be revealed.”
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Full Moons are a time to let go of negative energies by performing banishing rituals. During the January Full Moon, traditional pagans also carry out purification and protection magic, but today I challenge you to create something beautiful and inspiring. Where do your passions lie and how can you take them to the next level of creation? How might you transform your sense of self (Ego) into becoming more of a Visionary? When you combine The Revolutionary with The Performer what do YOU come up with?

An interesting factoid:  All three of these well-known werewolves were played by AQUARIAN actors! Lon Chaney Jr. was born on February 10th with both Oliver Reed and David Naughton born on February 13th.

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Amoral Sociopaths

We are surrounded by amoral sociopaths and narcissists. They seem to be EVERYWHERE. In fact, they ARE everywhere. The time it would take me to write Posts about every well-known sociopath/narcissist would take me the rest of my life. I prefer to concentrate my energies elsewhere. HOWEVER, since these two are linked to the abuse and exploitation of animals – especially big cats – it hit a nerve.

KTNV Las Vegas

January 22, 2021
Federal court crackdown forces ‘Tiger King’s’ Jeff Lowe to surrender cubs
Judge seeks to prevent further suffering, death

On Friday, a federal judge forced Jeff and Lauren Lowe to surrender all big cat cubs that are a year old and younger, as well as the cubs’ mothers, for temporary placement at reputable facilities.

[…]

The forced animal surrender comes amid a pending federal case over alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act and Animal Welfare Act.

The court has also ordered the Lowes to immediately stop exhibiting animals without a license, hire an attending veterinarian, provide proof of veterinary care, and provide records of what happened to animals authorities say have been missing since June 2020.

Court records say 60 of 200 animals are unaccounted for.

immoral
adj. describes people who can differentiate between right and wrong but intentionally do wrong anyway.

amoral
adj. having or showing no concern about whether behavior is morally right or wrong” — compendiously, “without morals.”

sociopath
n. a person whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience

Amoral? Sociopaths? Unquestionably. (Lowlifes? Definitely!)

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A Trip to the Local Nursery

While we were out and about yesterday we stopped by Summerwinds Nursery in Cupertino. Since I’ve been back in the South Bay, I’ve visited both this one, the Summerwinds in Campbell, and of course Yamagami’s. While Yamagami’s has a track record of unusual outdoor plants, the Cupertino Summerwinds has THE BEST selection of indoor plants – some of which I’ve not seen anywhere but online – and the prices are very reasonable. (Thumbs up to both their Houseplant Buyer AND the nurseries!)

• The Crocodile Fern (aka Microsorum musifolium) is something I’ve been on the lookout for since seeing one at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco. Until yesterday I could only find them online. This was a real SCORE!!!
• Having recently lost a Bird’s Nest fern (My bad – don’t ever let them dry out.) I was looking for one this size to replace it.
• I had a beautiful Tillandsia xerographica but it died up north (A lot of things died up there…) and this one came at a great price.
• Baby Tears groundcover (aka Soleirolia soleirolii) is a staple in my houseplant pantry and I couldn’t find it anywhere up north. Another score!
• Finally, I absolutely love Selaginella mosses, but they can be tricky to keep alive. This one is hardier than most and at $2.99 I could afford to take a chance on it.

I was heartbroken that I had to leave my Epazote (“Emilio”) behind when I moved north. It died while I was gone. (It probably would’ve died up there, too.) Serendipity shone upon me when I happened upon a gallon-sized Epazote – the only one in the nursery. BIG SCORE!!! I rounded-out my purchases with a 4″ lemongrass. (One more plant that perished in Hootersville.)

I’m in heaven when I’m around cats and plants. BUYING plants brings that to a whole other level. Happy Happy Joy Joy.

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A Continued Middle-Finger Salute to CA

And the FUCK YOU Awards keep piling up…

Added: January 24, 2021

Santa Clara County blames CV-19 for not fulfilling public records requests

Santa Clara County is refusing to release records related to CV-19 because “it is not in the public interest” for county employees to divert their time from the pandemic to collect and review public documents. (So they’re blaming the Jinn for them not releasing information relating to the Jinn. Talk about double-speak. This is straight out of 1984.)

[…]
Although Gov. Gavin Newsom loosened some of the state’s open meeting laws due to the pandemic, he has not suspended the public records act or modified any of its requirements.

This means counties and cities still have to follow the state law, regardless of the pandemic.

Government agencies can use CV-19 to delay the release of public records, experts say…

[source]

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California keeps key virus data out of public sight

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has from the start said his coronavirus policy decisions would be driven by data shared with the public to provide maximum transparency.

But with the state starting to emerge from its worst surge, his administration won’t disclose key information that will help determine when his latest stay-at-home order is lifted.

State health officials said they rely on a very complex set of measurements that would confuse (Because we’re all feeble-minded children to them.) and potentially mislead the public if they were made public…

[source]

As you can see by the chart below, Califonia is the only that state where hair salons are still shuttered. THE ONLY ONE. (and some wonder why people are high-tailing it out of here…)

Chart courtesy of behindthechair.com

Jan 13, 2021 Update

California
Salons and barbershops in the Greater Sacramento Region can open today after meeting the ICU capacity criteria for exiting the Regional Stay At Home Order. This includes the following counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba. These counties will move back into the color-coded, tiered system “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” which allows salons and barbershops to operate indoors, with restrictions, in all tiers.

(Please note that the Bay Area is NOT included. Salons remain CLOSED to servicing customers both indoors and outdoors INDEFINITELY.)

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