Tuesday, December 02, 2014, 11 Anthesterion, dedicated to Dionysus, first day of the 3 days of the Anthesteria, the Pithoisia, “Opening of the winejars’, Napoleon crowned Emperor 1804, first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction produced at the University of Chicago 1942, EPA created 1970, death of St Francis Xavier 1552, of the Maequis de Sade 1814,11th night of the Waxing Moon, in Aries, going Void of Course from 9:42 P.M. throught the rest of the evening, first overseen by the 25th Decan, Eregbuo, ruled by Mercury, the oversight moving around 5:30 A.M. to the 26th Decan, Sagou, ruled by the Moon, starting in the 2nd Mansion of the Moon, Al Botein/Alboitan, good for finding treasure, capturing things, exciting situations, achieving things, then entering the 3rd Mansion of the Moon, Al Thurayya/Alzoraya, good for career support, general good luck, and to help or hinder judicial matters, around 5:00 P.M. Planetary Hours of the Day begin with Mars at 7:01 A.M., and last 47.25 minutes. Planetary Hours of the Night commence with Saturn at 4:28 P.M., lasting 72.75 minutes, Sun in Sagittarius, Mercury in Sagittarius, Venus in Sagittarius, Mars in Capricorn, Jupiter in Leo, Saturn in Scorpio. Today is primed to make all of us the good family member, neighbor, or friend, thanks to the combination of the Moon being trine both Venus and Jupiter before Noon. Of course, some of the outreach may be for the cameras, as it were, but this is only to be expected when Jupiter inflates one’s self-importance a bit. The result is what counts. Try to not promise all possible aid to everyone, or you will run yourself ragged; the Moon squaring Mars around 9:45 P.M. can deplete one’s inner resources and weaken your constitution. Magickally, the day is set up to engage in most all positive work. Sagou is portrayed as a seated woman, her face covered, weeping. This Decan oversees difficulties and sorrows. Three days marked the Anthestia festival, which took it name from the flower wreaths (and their first wine) being presented to 3 year olds. The “blood” of Dionysus was taken out of its fermentation jars, on Day 11, being shared out equally to be drunk by all the citizens from individual jugs, in silence on Day 12. This new wine carried the taint of sharing in a polluting (human) sacrifice. All the temples except for a more rural one of Dionysus were sealed shut during this period, and no other sacrifices could be offered. During this period, the spirits of the departed were felt to be present in the city, and were warded off by chewing Hawthorn leaves and pitch being applied to the doorposts. On day 13, meals of cooked grains and vegetables were prepared and deposited to Hermes of the Underworld, and an offering of wheat, honey, and water were poured in a chasm. As a holiday, it functioned in a way similar to Samhain and the time just preceding Passover. From a magical standpoint, it shares with Samhain in being a time when the barriers between realms is thin, thus allowing easier passage and communication.