FAQ: How To Use Astrology

FAQ: how to use astrology

artwork by frederic edwin church

disclaimer: there are, of course, many branches of astrology going back many hundreds of years, all with many uses depending on who you ask. location matters hugely too! different cultures and areas have, and do, use astrology differently. i have no experience outside of the uk so can't comment on this however. in this post, i'm talking about modern tropical astrology. as always, take what works and leave the rest <3

traditionally, astrology has been used for everything from academic research, medicine, informing politicians and farmers alike, and was considered an important science. nowadays, it has a poor reputation in some circles but is still a useful tool for lots of people, if used very differently. these days, it's mostly used on a personal level; astrologers still study carefully and make predictions about various sectors and generational changes, but the 'general user' is more likely to see astrology as some of the following:

a tool for psychoanalysis and self-development: this is how i got into astrology properly, as someone with a budding interest in psychology and a desire to improve my self-knowledge. learning about your natal chart, what the placements mean and how they interact with each other (and even with the placements of other people in your life) can be a really valuable tool for introspection and reflection, and ultimately, self-development and growth.

a tool for divination: this could be a post in and of itself, but to keep it quick, using astrology as a divination tool can be really helpful. keeping track of certain transits, like retrogrades, lunar transits, returns or just the daily movements of the planets and points around us can help us plan our time better, perform more effective rituals, be aware of when the time is (and isn't) right to make a big move, and feel more confident in our decisions.

part of a spiritual practice: this could be witchcraft, a religious or spiritual path you're on, or you just like to work with the moon. for example, you might want to incorporate elements of your placements in a spell, or perform a ritual during a certain lunar transit. you might use astrology in more of an 'old-fashioned' way in the form of an almanac, or avoid certain practices during mercury retrograde.

how i use astrology myself: i use it daily, as both a divination and a psychoanalytical tool. every month i consult my transits and jot down all the major/interesting ones in my planner, along with lunar transits as i love the moon lol. i use those transits to plan out certain activities, for example, a house clean every new moon, allowing extra travel time during mercury retrograde, carving out some time to relax and rest during certain lunar transits. i also feel i 'know what to expect' a bit, having done this (not as consistently as i'd have liked) for years, so for example i'm aware of how mercury retrograde affects me personally and can tailor my advice to myself a bit by now. i also consider astrology an integral part of my own spiritual practice, and i use it 'academically' to inform my tarot studies. never mind using it for this blog and for readings etc... it's definitely an important part of my daily life :-)

at the end of the day, whatever works for you, is what works for you. how do you use astrology day-to-day, if you aren't an astrologer? is it a big part of your life, or a bit of fun? how did you get into astrology, and was it a 'gateway' for you?

clearing negative energy (a twitter thread):

cr: wetneptune on twitter

WITCH TIP: use that ugly ass jar for making moon water. Tools don’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be effective. Buying unnecessary things that you already have a version of is pushed too much in witchcraft.

I’ve fallen victim to this very mindset!

For the witches and pagans who need to hear it, connecting with nature is supposed to be about like, actually observing nature over long periods of time, not doing stuff like hoarding endangered bird feathers and beach sand, or just meditating out in aesthetically-pleasing locations. Can you tell me exactly when your wildflowers and weeds start blooming? When do your bugs come out of hibernation? When do migratory birds come and go? How does the air feel during different times of year? If you can't do stuff like that, you aren't connecting with nature.

Sturgeon Supermoon - August 19 2024

Buckle up, witches - we've got supermoons on the horizon and August begins the wild ride!

Sturgeon Supermoon - August 19, 2024

The Sturgeon Moon is the name given to the first full moon in August. The name comes from the plentiful numbers of sturgeon which appear around this time of year.

Sturgeons are living prehistoric relics, examples of which appear in the fossil record as far back as 200 million years ago. Today, they are endangered due to overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss, but giant sturgeons growing up to 12ft (3.65m) long were once a common sight in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain in North America.

Other North American Indigenous names for this moon include Flying Up Moon (Cree), Corn Moon (Algonquin and Ojibwe), Harvest Moon (Dakota), Dry Moon (Catawba), Mountain Shadows Moon (Tlingit), and Black Cherries Moon (Assiniboine). European names for this moon include Haymaking Moon (Norse), Lightning Moon (English), and Grain Moon (Anglo-Saxon).

It's also interesting to note that in China, the seventh full moon of the lunar year is called the Hungry Ghost Moon, during which spirits of departed ancestors visit their relatives and homes, and trickster spirits may cause mayhem among the living if not properly appeased. Food offerings and incense are put out for ancestor spirits, families visit gravesites to offer prayers and site maintenance, and festival dances and floating lanterns celebrate the honored dead.

What Does It Mean For Witches?

The August full moon is the first of FOUR CONSECUTIVE SUPERMOONS for the 2024 calendar year. So if you've got a lunar magic inclination and the patience for a long-term working, this a great time to start making things happen!

Peak illumination will occur at 2:26pm EST so tonight's moon will be big and bright and full of potential.

August's full moon is technically both a supermoon AND a seasonal blue moon. A blue moon is the second full moon occurring in a calendar month. A seasonal blue moon is the third full moon in a season when four full moons occur. September's full moon falls before the autumn equinox this year.

Both blue moons and supermoons are particularly advantageous times for spellwork, especially that which involves the fulfillment of goals, desires, and wishes, or the culmination of long-term plans. It's also a great time to start new projects and set new goals for the fall and winter.

Supermoons carry your magical workings forward with a little dash of extra strength and vigor, and may provide extra clarity during divination or reflection. It's also the perfect time for spells related to wishmaking and abundance, drawing in the appearance of something long-awaited or extra bit of luck or prosperity you've been needing. And with three more supermoons coming our way in September, October, and November, this is a particularly advantageous time to begin a long-term working that will culminate toward the end of the year.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

In August, we harvest one set of crops and sow another, reaping the rewards of our previous efforts and planting the seeds of future success. Look back on the magical workings you've done so far this year - how are they working out? Have any of your spells produced especially notable results? Go back and add to your notes, making sure to record anything that worked particularly well. (And also anything that DIDN'T work well. Remember that failure is a learning experience too.)

Evaluate your progress and reflect on what you want to carry forward and what you might need to put on hold or just let go for the time being. If you're partial to divination, a reading may help to provide some additional clarity on your current status, as well as some perspective on the possibilities for the near future.

Celebrate the harvest of grain and corn with your favorite recipes or a summer picnic. But don't just limit yourself to corn and wheat! Late summer fruits are also ripe and make a tasty addition to any table.

Set your intentions and your goals for the latter part of the year and start preparing for the autumn and winter. It may seem silly to prepare for the cold when the weather is still blazing hot, but it will be here before you know it. Take time for one more summer beach trip or camping excursion before the hustle and bustle of the fall sets in.

The observation of blue moons and supermoons as magical occasions are a modern addition to witchcraft, but the lack of antiquity doesn't mean there's any shortage of metaphysical potential!

Prepare for a bountiful fall season with lots of opportunities to make things happen. Set yourself up for success by making your wants and needs clear in your spellwork. Attend to practical matters to remove whatever obstacles you can and clear the way for your hard work and magical endeavors to pay off.

Set out a big jug of potable water each month to catch the light of the supermoons between now and November - it will be great for cleansing, protection, wish-making, and drinkable potion bases later! If you've got wildcrafted or garden-grown herbs with a lunar alignment, or which correspond to prosperity, success, and strength, harvest a few this evening and keep them specially labeled for future workings. And remember to put out your moon jars!

All in all, this month's full moon is supercharged with lunar energy and primed for magical workings, so make your spells count!

Happy Sturgeon Moon, witches! 🌕🐟

Further Reading:

Additional Lunar Calendar posts by Bree NicGarran

2024 Witches' Calendar post by Bree NicGarran

Supermoon in August 2024: The First of the Year!, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Hooked on the Magic of August’s Full Sturgeon Moon, The Peculiar Brunette.

Hungry Ghost Festival, China Travel, June 20 2023.

Sturgeon, Wikipedia Article.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Image Credit: "Leaping Gulf Sturgeon," by Dawn Witherington

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Do you ever go for a walk and everywhere you look you see God? In the leaves, the gravel, the clouds, the grass. In the people walking by, and in their dogs who strain their lead trying to greet you. In the puddles left by rain, in the lingering petrichor, in the cool air flowing into and out of your lungs. Everywhere, everything- all Him.