Friday, August 16, 2013, 11 Pyanopsion, 11, first day of the Thesmophoria. This festival of Demeter, from which all men were banned, involves bringing up from a gully or chasm pig and other sacrifices which had been allowed to rot there for months. This compost was thought to have been endowed with special properties by its contact with subterranean powers, and as such was mixed with seed corn before being sown in the fields. This first day involved the women leaving home in procession, and setting up camp. 11th night of the Waxing Moon, starting in Sagittarius, going Void of Course 1:32 A.M. to 11:24 P.M., then entering Capricorn, starting in the 20th Mansion, Al Nalaim/Nahaym, good for compulsion, underhanded dealings, good for travel, then entering the 21st Mansion of the Moon, Al Bal’dah/ Elbelda, good for acquiring material possessions, around 1:00 A.M. Planetary Hours of the Day begin with Venus at 6:06 A.M., and last 68.9 minutes. Planetary Hours of the Night commence with Mars at 7:53 P.M., lasting 51.1 minutes. Sun in Leo, Mercury in Leo, Venus starts in Virgo then enters Libra 11:37 A.M., Mars in Cancer, Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn in Scorpio. The dominating aspect of today is, thankfully, the Moon being trine the Sun, which should lubricate and of the contentious behaviors which have plagued these last few days, aided by the move of Venus into Libra. Magically, a day for most any positive work, especially dealing with relationships.