Gemstone of the Day for August 4th is Azurite

Azurite

A popular crystal for its beautiful deep blue colour; this stone has a startling blue edge, which is the key to its healing powers. Azurite forms when copper ones oxidize. It is associated with the green mineral malachite, with which it shares a similar chemical structure. In the Middle Ages, powdered azurite was used as a blue pigment in paints and dyes. As it absorbed atmospheric moisture, it used to oxidize to malachite, which explains why the sky is green in some early Renaissance paintings. The two minerals can be found in a form called azurite-malachite, which is excellent, for “cleaning out” deep-rooted emotions. The finest large azurite crystals come from Namibia.

Identification and care

  • Small crystals appear a powdery blue and are often small, round nodules.
  • Large crystals are often very dark and shiny, with an electric blue edge.
  • Crystals are soft, so need careful handling.
  • Do not clean nodules in water.

Magick

  • Helps you to achieve swift, results
  • Reveals mysteries
  • Transmits messages from the unknown

Healing functions

  • Accesses deep levels of body-consciousness
  • Draws out memories or old stress, allowing them to be released in healing
  • Improves communication and creative flow

Practical ideas

  • To encourage expansion of consciousness, place four pieces of azurite on and around the body; one above the crown, one either side of the head and one at the solar plexus.

 

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Herb of the Day for August 4th is Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal

Folk Names:  European Pennyroyal, Lurk-In-The-Ditch, Mosquito Plant, Organ Broth, Organs, Organ Tea, Piliolerian, Pudding Grass, Run-By-The-Ground, Squaw Mint, Tickweed

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mars

Element: Fire

Deity: Demeter

Powers: Strength, Protection, Peace

Magickal Uses: Pennyroyal placed in the shoe prevents weariness during travel and strengthens the body in general.

Stomach problems can be alleviated by stuffing a green poppet with mint and annointing it with healing oils

When worn it acts against the evil eye and aids in making business deals.

To rid a place of evil, sprinkle salt water with a sprinkler made of fresh sprigs of mint, marjoram, and rosemary.

When given to quarreling couples it will cause them to cease their fighting, and so pennyroyal is a herb of peace. Pennyroyal is kept in the home (away from pets and children) for protection. It is also carried on board ships to prevent seasickness.

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal

Folk Names:  European Pennyroyal, Lurk-In-The-Ditch, Mosquito Plant, Organ Broth, Organs, Organ Tea, Piliolerian, Pudding Grass, Run-By-The-Ground, Squaw Mint, Tickweed

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mars

Element: Fire

Deity: Demeter

Powers: Strength, Protection, Peace

Magickal Uses: Pennyroyal placed in the shoe prevents weariness during travel and strengthens the body in general.

Stomach problems can be alleviated by stuffing a green poppet with mint and annointing it with healing oils

When worn it acts against the evil eye and aids in making business deals.

To rid a place of evil, sprinkle salt water with a sprinkler made of fresh sprigs of mint, marjoram, and rosemary.

When given to quarreling couples it will cause them to cease their fighting, and so pennyroyal is a herb of peace. Pennyroyal is kept in the home (away from pets and children) for protection. It is also carried on board ships to prevent seasickness.

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

Saint of the Day for August 4th is Pope Saint Gregory III

Pope Saint Gregory III

He was just standing there, not doing anything special. As a Syrian priest he must have felt a little out of place among the Roman people mourning that day for the dead Pope. As a good preacher, he must have wanted to speak to the funeral procession about Christ’s promise of resurrection. As a learned man, he must have wondered who would follow the holy Saint Gregory II as Pope and where he would take the Church. As a holy man, he must have been praying for Gregory II and for all the people around him to find their place after death in God’s arms. But he was just one of the crowd.

Not to God. And not to the people who recognized the well-known holy man in their midst. Right in the middle of the funeral procession they singled him out. They swept him away and clamored for him to be named the next bishop of Rome. Then suddenly, unexpectedly, without his even lifting a finger, his whole life changed and he could no longer just stand there and do nothing.

After he was proclaimed Pope Gregory III, Emperor Leo II attacked the veneration of holy images. Because Leo II thought the honor paid to Jesus, Mary, and the saints by keeping statues and icons was idolatry, he condemned them and wanted them destroyed. Gregory III didn’t just stand there but immediately sent a letter to Leo II. He couldn’t get the letter through because the priest-messenger was afraid to deliver it. So instead, Gregory called a synod that approved strong measures against anyone who would try to destroy images of Jesus, Mary, or the saints.

Gregory took his stand and Leo II apparently thought the only way to move him was through physical force. So Leo sent ships to kidnap Gregory and bring him to Constantinople. Many people in Rome must have tried to get Gregory to move — but he just stood there. And once again God intervened. A storm destroyed Leo’s ships. The only thing Leo could do was capture some of the papal lands.

So Leo got a few acres of land and we kept our wonderful reminders of the love of God, the protection of Jesus, the prayers of Mary, and the examples of the saints. All because Gregory knew when to take a stand — and when to stand there and let God work.

Gregory III was Pope from 731-741.

In His Footsteps: Where in your life do you need to take a stand? Take a stand: The next time you here someone say something that indicates religious, racial, gender, or any other kind of prejudice, take a stand and make it clear that such prejudice is not tolerated by God or God’s people.

Prayer: Saint Gregory III, it’s hard to stand still and wait for God to do his work. Sometimes I doubt God’s providence. I’m afraid that God’s plan won’t work out unless I push it along. Help me, when I’m confused, to stop, pray, and wait for God. Amen

Catholic Online

Deity of the Day for August 4th is Loki

Loki

God of Hokey Pokey and one of the world’s major Trickster Gods.

In his early days LOKI was a rascal; crafty, sneaky, silly and malicious — a Loki The Lad. The son of two Giants, he was so outrageously mischievous that he even sneaked his way into becoming a God. He was the first Anti-Hero, quick-witting his way out of the tight corners and confrontations caused by his misdeeds. But as time wore on he became increasingly nasty.

His first escapade was a very rampant romp. When the Gods were struggling to build ASGARD, they found they’d run out of funds. Which is not surprising as money and banks hadn’t been invented yet. All the basic construction had been completed but they needed a large protective wall to keep the riff-raff out.

LOKI came up with the plan of contracting a Giant to do the job. As payment, the Giant asked for the Sun and Moon and also the Goddess FREYA if the work was completed to schedule. The Gods were not too sure. “Don’t worry,” advised LOKI. “He’ll never manage it on his own, even if he works night and day — and the deal will be off. We’ll let him keep the wheelbarrow or something.”

Alas, the Giant was not on his own. He had a huge stallion called Svadilfari, which could haul boulders like there was no tomorrow. With three days to go, FREYA was in distress and the Gods aghast.

Now LOKI, like fire and smoke, was a shape-changer from the word go. A talent he’d developed to make him the shiftiest transmogrifier of all time — from flea to fish to fast flying feathers in 0.3 seconds. So he changed himself into a mare and seduced the Giant’s stallion. By whinnying and prancing off into the woods, Svadilfari was led far away from the stone pile.

With his horse missing, the Giant didn’t quite make the schedule. Seething with rage, he tried to take FREYA by force — until THOR cracked his skull with his hammer.

Meanwhile LOKI was having a fine old time frolicking in the fields. In fact he became pregnant, and decided to sample the joys of motherhood. He gave birth to a fine baby boy stallion with eight legs. He gave this as a gift to ODIN and it was called SLEIPNIR.

LOKI was now well in with top God ODIN and his son THOR, with whom he shared numerous adventures. THOR, the perfect fall guy, was persuaded to appear in drag as the prospective bride of a giant and other embarrassments. THOR could always be relied on to supply the muscle when corners became too tight for trickery.

LOKI had many run-ins with the dwarves, which he cheated at any opportunity until they stitched him up. Literally. They stitched his mouth shut, which kept him quiet for quite some time.

LOKI never missed an opportunity to take advantage of any Goddess, despite already having had three wives. The first not many folk know about, and it is only by assiduous research we have discovered GLUT, who bore two daughters EINMYRIA and EISA.

Next was ANGRBODA, a giantess who spawned FENRIR the Giant Wolf, JORMUNGAND the Earth-encircling Serpent, and HEL the Underworld Goddess. Finally there was his wife SIGYN, who produced their ill-fated sons NARVI and VALI(2).

For further LOKI adventures, click your way to ANDVARI, FAFNIR, GEIRROD, THIASSI and BALDUR. And check out our Loki Trickster Wearables! We are still investigating the mysterious theft of FREYA’s precious necklace Brisingamen when a flea was seen to flee the scene. As a well-known God of bed-hopping, fingers of suspicion are already pointing at you-know-who.

As the most scandalous God of all time, LOKI was seldom out of the Nordic News or the Sunday Runes. But his tricks came to an end after causing the death of BALDUR. Now he’s trapped in eternal punishment until RAGNAROK rolls around.

Your Daily Influences for August 4th

Your Daily Influences
August 4, 2011

Tarot Influence

Rune Influence


Charm Influence
Four of Wands Reversed
Peace and prospertiy will be had, yet something may still seem missing.
Raidho
Raidho may mark the coming of a physical or spiritual journey. Whichever the case, changes in your life are soon to come. Spiritual or material goals may be attained.
The Gnostic Talisman
This aspect will be tested morally. This test is may be well hidden and the solution a mystery to you. You will have to make your way through it blindly. Have faith in yourslef and you will do fine.
Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.

Today’s Chakra Levels for August 4th

The Chakras represent the seven primary energy hubs in the body. Life force energy is constantly flowing in and out of these centers. Just as the cosmos is constantly changing, so too are the levels of energy absorbed and radiated by our Chakra centers. The graph below is a representation of the quantities of Chakra energies available today.

Sahasrara:
   
41%
 
   
6%
Vishuddha:
   
98%
Anahata:
   
39%
Manipura:
   
95%
Svadhisthana:
   
51%
Muladhara:
   
38%

Legend:
Sahasrara – The Crown Chakra represents energies associated with cosmic consciousness, spirituality, knowledge, wisdom and inner peace.
Ajna – The Third Eye Chakra represents energies focused on both physical and spiritual vision. Psychic powers resonate from the Ajna Chakra, as well as your image of the Cosmos as a whole (the big picture) and the many nuances that make your journey unique.
Vishuddha – Throat Chakra is the energy center associated with communication and creativity. Your energy to express yourself verbally and creatively are derived from the Vishuddha Chakra.
Anahata – The Heart Chakra’s energy is concentrated on issues concerning your emotions. This energy fuels your power to love, feel compassion and maintain balance between disparate aspects of your being.
Manipura – The Power Chakra provides the energy that fuels our strength of will, individuality and sense of self-worth.
Svadhisthana – The Spleen or Sacral Chakra supplies the energy we use emotionally and sexually. This is the energy used to connect to others.
Muladhara – The Root or Base Chakra furnishes the energy used to create and maintain our foundation. This is the energy that keeps us on firm ground and provides us with the basic skills to uphold a place in the world.

The Planets Now for August 4th

Position of the planets based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Sun:
12° 07′
in Leo
Moon:
20° 31′
in Libra
Mercury:
01° 04′
in Virgo
Venus:
08° 54′
in Leo
Mars:
00° 59′
in Cancer
Jupiter:
09° 11′
in Taurus
Saturn:
12° 37′
in Libra
Uranus:
04° 22′
in Aries
Neptune:
00° 12′
in Pisces
Pluto:
05° 02′
in Capricorn
Aspects:
Conjunction: Moon Saturn 7º
Conjunction: Sun Venus 3º
Opposition: Mars Pluto 4º
Opposition: Mercury Neptune 0º
Sextile: Mercury Mars 0º
Sextile: Neptune Pluto 4º
Sextile: Sun Saturn 0º
Sextile: Venus Saturn 3º
Square: Mars Uranus 3º
Square: Sun Jupiter 2º
Square: Uranus Pluto 0º
Square: Venus Jupiter 0º
Trine: Jupiter Pluto 4º
Trine: Mars Neptune 0º
Trine: Mercury Pluto 3º
Trine: Venus Uranus 4º
The Sun in Leo
Courage and the force of will are primary influences while the Sun visits Leo. In some, a need for recognition may increase dramatically. An air of friendliness should be pervasive. Socializing and enjoying the good things in life are major themes during the Sun’s time in Leo. Those who are willing to assume leadership responsibilities and risks are likely to be richly rewarded during this period. Those with more aggressive personalities should be wary of becoming too domineering.

Sun Conjunct Venus
Optimism and kindness are likely to be strong. The desire to be liked by others may be quite powerful as well. Some will exude unusual amounts of charm at this time.

Sun Opposition or Square Jupiter
Ambition may swell at this time, which may lead some to over-estimate the power of their position and length of their reach. The need for personal freedom is likely to be high.

Sun Sextile or Trine Saturn
Responsible actions based on a realistic view of circumstances and your own abilities.

Moon In Libra
The need for tranquil, conflict free environment is likely to be high. Many will be wrestling with what direction to take their lives in.

Moon Conjunct Saturn
Life may be taken a bit more seriously than usual. Detachment, a lack of decisiveness, and the inability to express oneself could cause problems.

Mercury In Virgo
Paying attention to details will lead to sound, efficient solutions. Practical approaches to challenges are favored. Actual progress may be a bit slow in coming, because there will be a tendency to not put plans into action until every possible consequence is weighed.

Mercury Sextile or Trine Mars
Persuasion through verbalizing sound ideas is a key to success during this aspect. Be wary of becoming dogmatic and verbally domineering.

Mercury Opposition or Square Neptune
This aspect favors those with a rich imagination. Those possessing psychic abilities are likely to be at the peak of their powers.

Mercury Sextile or Trine Pluto
Seeking answers to “hidden truths” is likely to produce positive results during this aspect.

Venus In Leo
Doubts about the validity of “true love” are likely to be stirring one’s private thoughts. Making connections with others could be challenged by creating unrealistic expectations that others cannot possibly meet.

Venus Opposition or Square Jupiter
This aspect is likely to bring out the giving side of many. Tolerance of others as well as the need for a great deal of personal freedom are prominent themes at this time.

Venus Sextile or Trine Saturn
Matters of the heart should be taken very seriously during this aspect. Now is not the time for pointless flings and indiscriminate flirtation.

Venus Sextile or Trine Uranus
Be wary of unusually strong emotions that develop during this aspect. It’s likely they will pass quickly.

Mars In Cancer
Focusing energies on family and friends is favored during this period. Ambition and the drive to succeed may be lacking. Protecting what one has already is likely to be more of a motivator than attaining new goals.

Mars Opposition or Square Uranus
Physical and mental energies are likely to be high during this aspect. The drive to attain goals will be so strong in some that their behavior will become obsessive. Short term projects are favored.

Mars Sextile or Trine Neptune
This aspect favors transforming lofty ideas into useful realities.

Mars Opposition or Square Pluto
This aspect favors those who put the full force of their will into reaching their goals. During this time it would be wise not to share one’s plans and ideas with a broad audience.

Jupiter In Aries
Material gain and lifestyle security will be strong influences during this period. Many may take life much more seriously than they usually do. Tackling challenges from a practical approach is likely to yield positive results.

Jupiter Sextile or Trine Pluto
Visions of what is possible on a grand scale are likely during this aspect. Those who set their goals according to their current vision are likely to do well.

Saturn In Libra
Intimacy may be more of a chore than a pleasure. Some will find their progress towards strengthening intimate bonds and attaining goals muted by feelings of inadequacy.

 

Uranus In Aries
The astrological influence of Uranus is measured in increments of 7 years. What this means is that the effects of Uranus influence an entire generation. Day to day the Uranian influence may be imperceptible, but when the period is viewed as a whole the impact of Uranus is likely to be strikingly apparent.

Iconoclasm, independence and self-sufficiency are likely to be major themes during this period. Traditional values will be challenged. Those with a pioneering spirit will flourish.

Uranus Square Pluto
A mental restlessness and the need for complete personal freedom are possible influences of this aspect. In some the need for total autonomy may be so strong that they will challenge any attempt to subdue their independence.

Neptune In Pisces
Because Neptune takes approximately 14 years to move across Pisces its day to day influence may be imperceptible, but when the period is viewed as a whole the impact of Neptune in Pisces is likely to be strikingly apparent.

Gentleness, creativity, and the pursuit of spiritual truth are strong influences at this time. Many may find mysticism and unorthodox religions very attractive.

Neptune Trine Pluto
The exploration of spiritual issues is favored during this aspect. Introspection should lead many to better understand the underlying motives behind their behavior.

Pluto In Capricorn
Because Pluto takes approximately 15 years to move across Capricorn its day to day influence may be imperceptible, but when the period is viewed as a whole the impact of Pluto in Capricorn is likely to be strikingly apparent.

Strong economic gains can be made during this period. Pluto in Capricorn favors those who are able to make logical decisions and devise pragmatic solutions to the challenges before them.

Your Deck of Ancient Symbols Card for August 4th is The Ancestors

Your Deck of Ancient Symbols Card for Today

Ancestors

Ancestors represents the ongoing influence and remarkable contributions those who came before us have made to our state of being. Ancestors also reminds us that sometimes old wisdom is the best wisdom–especially when events are moving in ways we do not understand. Ancestors can bring comfort to a shaken spirit. It is a card of warmth in the sense that it reminds us that the spirit of past generations remains with us and can be called upon for guidance at any time.

As a daily card, Ancestors suggests that you may be well served to by exploring your family tree to find solutions to current dilemmas. When searching for solutions to conflicts in your life, you might do well by asking yourself what a grandparent or great grandparent would do in your current situation.

Today’s Runes for August 4th is Wunjo

Today’s Runes

Spirit Runes are most commonly used for questions about mysticism, spirituality, and religion. Wunjo is the rune of Joy. Since joy is least frequently a solitary emotion, this rune often represents mutual or communal bliss. Wunjo is also seen as a rune of the gods and a rune of perfection, carrying with it the elation that blazes from the creation of a perfect work – perhaps this is the true joy of the gods, that they can create perfection. That aside, this rune does not focus on the struggle for perfection or on our inevitable imperfections, but rather on a job well done and the satisfaction that comes from it.