Julia Halina Hadas - The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology: Your Complete Guide to Empowering Your Magick with the Energy of the Planets

The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology

Your Complete Guide to Empowering Your Magick with the Energy of the Planets

Julia Halina Hadas

For all the mystic dreamers, staring up in wonder at the cosmic blanket of the night sky.

To my amazing friends, colleagues, and teachers from The Mystic Dream (now known as Datura Trading Co.): Storm, Devin, Chas, Paul, Ana, Lia, and Jessica. The Mystic Dream was the perfect nebula to birth this cosmic witch. Learning from and working with all of you in that magickal space brought me to be the witch and healer I am today. Special thanks to Paul Bogle for guiding me on my astrological path and supporting my exploration of the stars as they pertain to my soul.

I want to thank all at Adams Media who have made this book possible, especially Rebecca and Laura for your guidance and insight. Writing this book has been a celestial dream, and thank you to all of Adams Media for the amazing work you do.

And most of all, thank you to the lucky stars in my life, Ryan and Baxter, who continue to mesmerize me and keep me centered in your steady gravitational pull.

Our vast night skywhich cradles the earth and the celestial gems that dance upon ithas guided humankind since the dawn of time. The practice of astrology is both an art and a science that has helped people all over the world find meaning and purpose. You can inform your witchcraft practice and supercharge your magick using these astrological energies with The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology.

Astrology and witchcraft are a natural pairingthey both promote self-discovery, celebrate the natural world, and empower you to fulfill your dreams. Whether youre well versed in witchcraft and astrology or just beginning to learn about these fascinating topics, The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology will help you combine the wonder of astrology and the magick of witchcraft. In Part 1, you will learn about the planets (plus comets and other celestial bodies) and houses; their meanings, myths, and associations; and how to use them to empower your magickal work. Then you will explore the hidden power of each zodiacal sign.

In Part 2, you will find spells of all kindspotions, crystal grids, talismans, meditations, and morethat are infused with astrological principles. Youll take advantage of the timing of planetary movements, the traits of each sun sign, and the power of each element. Start the zodiacal year off on a strong foot with an Aries Celestial Spark Meditation, which can harness Ariess power to initiate new beginnings. Add some Leo Solar-Spiced Creativity Syrup to your morning caffeine during Leos new moon to spark your creativity. Try the Gaia Grounding Meditation when the Sun passes through Taurusthere is no better time to focus on connecting to the earth and recentering yourself. Youll also uncover ways to be flexible with your astrological timing, and youll even learn how to layer spells and rituals together to create the ultimate divine magick.

There are endless ways that astrology can honor and celebrate your unique position within the universe. Your witchcraft practice will thrive when you are in sync with the movements and insights of celestial bodies around our beloved planet. Tune in to that special power and discover how the meaning and magick in the night sky can support your healing, encourage your growth, and initiate the manifestation of your dreams.

F rom ancient prophets mapping the planets movements in the night sky to divine a gods will to the modern witch watching the lunar eclipse out her window as she lights a candle, the blending of witchcraft and astrology is a time-honored tradition. While their roles in society have certainly shifted over the centuries, astrology and witchcraft continue to provide valuable insight to anyone wishing to learn more about themselves and unravel and use the magick and power of the stars.

In this chapter, you will uncover astrologys ancient origins, not just as a spiritual practice and mystical art but also as an integral part of society that inspired the sciences and development of civilizations. You will also learn how you can begin to make astrology a powerful and integral part of your magickal practices in meaningful and accessible ways.

Astrology combines the mathematical calculations of movements of the stars; the study of astronomy and deep-sky objects; and the spiritual art of myth, meaning, and determining why we are here. It was an integral, central part of ancient society. From calculating the seasons and when to plant or harvest crops, to forecasting the weather or interpreting the ideal day to celebrate a god, astrology was ingrained in every aspect of life. Even as far back as ten thousand to eighteen thousand years ago in the Lascaux caves of France, ancient peoples appear to have painted the bull of the Taurus constellation in hues of white, red, and brown, marking the importance of the stars to our earliest ancestors. Astrology helped people uncover the secrets of the galaxy and understand their place in the universe (spiritually and literally), and still does to this day.

In ancient times, the stars were not just symbols of the will of the gods; they were also the very calendar that marked the rhythm of life of ancient peoples. The ever-changing positions of stars in the night sky marked the coming and going of seasons. Key stars, like Regulus of the Leo constellation, once marked the coming of summer when it greeted the horizon just after sunset. To understand why the stars change position, you have to go back even further in time, to the conception of the solar system.

Due to our unique position within the solar system and the universe, we experience a rotation of the night sky throughout the year. The earth orbits the sun on an axis that leans at an angle of 23.5 degrees. Even as the earth revolves around the sun, the earths axis always points at the same direction in the night sky. And the earth itself spins as it makes the larger orbit.

To visualize this, you can hold an orange (a symbol of the sun not just in color but in energy too) in one hand. Then, tilt the index finger of your other hand at a slight angle. Rotate your index finger around the orange, always keeping the finger pointing in the same direction. Imagine that your finger is also rotating as it orbits the orange. Visualizing solar rays shining from the orange, you can see how different parts of the earth are exposed to more sunlight during different times of the year. We also experience different views of the night sky throughout the year as the earth makes its orbit around the sun. So, whichever stars were visible at different times of night and different times of year was linked to the coming and going of seasons.

To make matters slightly more complicated, the earths axis has a very slight wobble to it (balanced in part by the moon), and so while it is mostly stable, the positions of the equinoxes and solstices, and therefore the start of the seasons, actually shift zodiac sign every 2,160 years, for a 26,000-year cycle.