Friday, August 01, 2014, 7 Pyanopsion, dedicated to Apollo, honored here in a special festival, the Pyanopsia, where a porridge of beans, grains and vegetables was shared, and the Eiresione was created, carried, and displayed. This was a wool bound Laurel branch, decorated with cups, lyres, decorative pastries and fruits.This was carried from house to house by boys (with living parents), who begged for treats in song. Those who gave would have the luck and prosperity conveyed by the Eiresione transfer to them. These would often be hung by the door (near to one’s Herm and/or Hekate for the ensuing year. In Roman rites, dedicated to Juno, also to Spes (Fortune). Today is also the first harvest, Lughnassah/Lammas. Today is the birthday of the Emporer Claudius 10 BCE, of John Dee,1555AD, the death of Mark Anthony 30 BCE. Today is the 7th night of the Waxing Moon, in Libra, going Void of Course from10:58 P.M. through the rest of the day, overseen by the 13th Decan, Craumonis, ruled by the Sun, starting in the 15th Mansion (Al Ghafar/Algafra); a good day for treasure hunting and sleuthing, causing friction between people, dealing a blow, entering the 16th Mansion, Al Zubana/Azubene, good for dealing with hindrances and reversals, around 11:15 A.M. Planetary Hours of the Day begin with Venus at 5:51 A.M., and last 71.75 minutes. Planetary Hours of the Night commence with Mars at 8:12 P.M., lasting 48.25 minutes, Sun in Leo, Mercury in Leo, Venus in Cancer, Mars in Scorpio, Jupiter in Leo, Saturn in Scorpio. Today provides one with a great deal of energy to do exactly the wrong thing. The Moon and Venus are badly aspected to the outer planets, which can lead to some fairly bizzare thought processes being given a chance to come to light. The desire to focus on those near and dear to you is fueled by Venus being trine Saturn. A move to action, rather than planning, is supported by the Moon being sextile the Sun. The danger in coming up with these new visions of how you should interact with those close to you, and acting on them, comes from Mars square Jupiter. This has a tendency to make one think that whatever plan they come up with must be right (because you thought of it, naturally), and that it must be implemented (because you’re right). The Moon squaring Mars late in the evening assures us that these manipulations will not be well received). So, in short, the state of your relations with others will be on your mind. If you come up with new and creative ways to move these relations along, they will not work, and you will make things worse. Avoid serious relationship conversations today. That’s all. While your magicks can’t sort out the tangled state of your relationships, it’s a great day to use them to order things to your liking, to take the upper hand in business situations.