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During the time of April showers, the watery month of the Willow Moon teaches you to release pent-up emotions and experience your grief. Tears are linked to healing and as you express difficult and painful feelings, you are able to purge yourself of subconscious fears, which would otherwise prevent you from reaching your dreams.

The Willow Moon offered a healing month to the Celts who literally spring-cleaned themselves in steamy saunas, known as sweat lodges, in readiness for the Beltane Festival at the start of May.

  • Dates: April 15 – May 12
  • Celtic Name: Saille
  • Color: Silver
  • Themes: Healing, growth, protection, women, nurturing.
  • Language of Flowers: Mourning
  • Qualities: Healing, Flexibility, Grace, Compassion

This month is the month for spells and rituals for growth, healing, nurturing, and magick related to the mystery of women.  It is also associated with fertility, inspiration, protection, binding, and creativity. The willow tree was sacred to Crone aspect of the triple goddess in Celtic lore, and closely associated with the Cailleach (“old woman” in Gaelic).

The Willow Moon provides the perfect time to harness lunar power and energy for wishing, divination, healing, and protection.

Linked with the energy of the moon, the willow takes on a feminine-type energy of flow, flexibility and balance as well as gentle compassion and emotional sensitivity.

This month is the perfect time to perform lunar magic and to let go of the past. Cast energy to restore and nurture during the Waxing Moon and to release problems during the Waning Moon. Drinking more water will also help you to attune to the Willow Moon, and so enable you to connect to the tree’s watery magic.

Because the Willow is imbued with the power of the Moon, it has always been particularly linked with witchcraft. The traditional witches’ broom is bound with a Willow branch and lunar wands used specifically for Moon magic are made of Willow wood.

The Willow’s close ties to the Moon and tides also connects it to affairs of the heart. An old English tradition involved jilted lovers wearing a sprig of Willow in their hats, which originated from an ancient Willow charm to heal a broken heart.

Willow the Observer

According to the Celtic horoscope, people born under the sign of the Willow hold many aspects of the lunar realm. They tend to be highly creative and intuitive and often possess higher IQ. Willow signs understand cycles and know very well that everything that happens in your life can teach you a lesson. This Celtic tree astrology sign is patient and down to earth. Ivy and Birch signs can be a good match for the Willow sign.

Willow people have a lot of imagination, sometimes they like to daydream and they are able to understand exactly how other people feel. They are very good psychologists and they can use this ability for their advantage.

People born under the rule of Willow can enjoy life to the fullest; they know exactly what they need in their life and where to find it. From time to time these people become restless without reason and this restlessness forces them to change jobs, frequently move from one place to another and to make various other changes in their lives.

Despite their instability, they are very honest and principled under any circumstances. They literally shock others with courageous and honest acts that do not benefit them. Their adaptability and tolerance allows them to eat at one table with beggars or kings without having to pretend anything.

Willow people usually live a long life and they become respected elders. When they get old, the settle down and because of their rich life full of changes they become a rich source of inspiration for other people.

Willow Magick and Lore

Willows are often seen as gateway or boundary trees – the trees of the ‘in-between’ liminal places – on the banks of rivers and streams, between water and dry land. In ancient Celtic times, watery places were seen as sacred places – so willow trees were viewed as able to connect the world of humans with the mystical Otherworld.

Bees are very attracted to all kinds of willow trees for the pollen and were seen as messengers from the Otherworld.

In ancient Tibet, the willow was revered as the ‘world tree’ or ‘tree of life’. Because of its healing use by the wise women, the willow became known as the ‘witch’s tree’ and later as ‘witch’s aspirin’.
The willow is often linked to the Celtic ‘Morrigan’ or Morgana le Fay of Arthurian legend.

As well as healing, willow traditionally protects. Goat willow (Pussy willow) was known as Palm Willow and was commonly cut for Palm Sunday celebrations and carried to church. The Palm Willow was then kept through the year to protect the home against thunder, lightning, disease and other dangers.

Willow twigs would be placed around the hearth of the home and around crops or animals in garden and fields to protect these for the coming year. It is thought that the ancient Celtic Druids would use goat willow to make wands to give protection against evil.

The saying “knock on wood” or “touch wood” may have come from ancient customs of knocking on or touching a willow tree to bring good fortune and avoid bad fortune.

The Celts would use willow wood for coracles and boats and travelers and adventurers would set out with the protection of being in willow boats ‘over the ninth wave’ to seek their destiny.

Druids would sleep beneath willow trees to involve dreams of divination and Celtic priests would use cut willow for the same purpose. In Celtic tales of Manannan mac Lir, willow rods were used for divination.

Willows grow vigorously in spring and even a small twig or cut branch of willow, stuck into the ground, will quickly take root and grow into a young sapling. As such, the willow is seen to represent rebirth, new life, and vigor – including fertility. In fact, ancient Chinese tradition sees the willow as a tree of immortality for this very special ability.

Willow Moon Ritual

This Willow tree ritual should be performed outside and can be used to make a wish. or heart’s desire, come true.

At the time of the full Moon go to a shallow river or stream where willow trees grow. Stand with your feet in the water and hold your arms up towards the Moon. Visualize moonlight flooding your aura, filling your body with each breath. Recite this incantation:

“Lady Moon of wax and wane,
bring my wish and take my pain”

Perform an act of ritual purification by washing your hands in the water by the roots of the tree, Focus on your wish and tie a knot with string around a willow branch to seal it. When your wish comes true, untie the knot.

Sources:

According to the English poet T.S. Eliot, April is a turning point, at which the past and the future are seen as one; when, in northern climes at least, Lilac bushes burst into bloom on dusty waste ground or beside railway tracks as the rain brings to life new growth.

  • Theme: Beginnings
  • Plant Energy: Daisy – for a fresh start and new projects.
  • Crystal Power: Diamond – for clarity and empowering goals.

The month was named Aprilis by the Romans, but the origins of the name are still obscure. The traditional belief of its origin stems from the Latin verb aperire, “to open,” an allusion to trees and flowers beginning to open or to flower from buds.

Since some of the Roman months were named in honor of divinities, and as April was sacred to the goddess Venus, it has also been suggested that Aprilis was originally Venus’s mouth, from an ancient combination of her Greek goddess name, Aphrodite, to arrive at her springtime aspect as Aphrilis.

As the sun continues to make its way through the zodiac, it stays in Aries until about the 20th. The first part of the month is still about a feisty, “let’s get things done” energy. This period is about action and is filled with self-motivated people who are as self-centered and conceited as the fiery influence of Mars.

But as the sun moves across the cusp of Taurus, the energy changes to that of Venus. Venus rules Taurus, complementing this earth sign’s symbols of beauty, vanity, good looks, attraction, seduction, feminine wiles, and the concerns of the body and sexuality.

In the late Middle Ages throughout the fashionable European courts, favored sorcerers and witches concocted aphrodisiacs, potions, poisons, particularly in Aprils as it was thought to be a month auspicious for providing male heirs.

The tradition of celebrating virility, along with the magickal generation of sexual stamina and subsequent fertility, were themes based on the ancient fertility festivities of pagan Europe as the first of May approached.

The first few weeks of April were ruled by the virile Ram God, followed by the fertile Cow Goddess, both symbols of various pagan cultures and still invoked by modern day witches. This is why April is a month when desires quicken, the heat rises, and the tonic is needed to leave memories behind and start afresh.

Spells and rituals for April, therefore, tend to be all about moving on and beginning a new way of living, loving, or just being.

From: Spells For A Magical Year

There is a lot to celebrate in April. This is a list of pretty much everything that goes on during the fourth month of the year. Many of these dates change from year to year. The days that change are marked with this » symbol.

April Lore and General Info

Astronomical Events

Astrological Events

Depending on which astrological system you adhere to, these are the signs that show up in April of 2021. Be aware that some of these dates will vary from year to year. Unlike the Sun signs which might just shift by 1 or 2 days, the dates of the various Moon signs will vary widely from year to year. The same holds true for the Chinese Zodiac. The Celtic Tree Signs are based on an arbitrary system and stay the same from year to year.

Western Astrology

The April Sun begins in Aries and finishes up in Taurus:

The 2021 April Moon cycles through the signs as follows.

You will notice that the Moon might begin the day in one sign and by the end of the day may have moved into another sign, so timing matters if you are wanting to be precise.

The Celtic Tree Signs in April:
  • Mar 18 to Apr 14 – Alder Tree Month
  • Apr 15 to May 12 – Willow Tree Month
The Alternative Celtic Zodiac is as follows:
  • Rowan: April 1 – Apr 10
  • Maple: April 11 – Apr 20
  • Walnut: April 21 – Apr 30
The Chinese Calendar and Zodiac

We are currently in the year of the Ox (sometimes referred to as the Cow).  Each Month is also assigned a specific animal. Here’s what shows up in April 2021.

  • Rabbit: Mar 5 – Apr 3 (Chinese Zodiac – Stem Branch Calendar)
  • Rabbit: Mar 13 – Apr 11  (Lunar Calendar – 2nd Lunar Month)
  • Dragon: Apr 4 – May 4 (Chinese Zodiac – Stem Branch Calendar)
  • Dragon: Apr 12 – May 11 (Lunar Calendar – 3rd Lunar Month)

Note: The traditional Chinese Astrology birth chart is built by the Chinese Stem Branch Calendar, not the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which I think is really confusing.  Because of a difference in time zones, the lunar months will have different pattern between China and the USA

Lucky and Unlucky Days

You might want to plan moving, traveling, major purchases, court dates, and weddings around these dates, avoiding the unlucky days and utilizing the lucky ones.

  • These are the lucky days in April:
    6, 15, 16, 20 and 28.
  • These are the unlucky days in April:
    10, 17, 18, 24 and 25.

Fatal Days

The tenth and the eleventh too,
Are ready death’s fell ‘work to do.

Holidays and Holy Days

Many of the holidays begin on the eve of the night before and end on the eve of the day of. It’s also important to remember that the dates of archaic festivals and feast days may vary widely depending on the source.

April 1

  • 1: April Fool’s Day – All Fool’s Day
  • 1: Loki’s Day
  • 1: The Veneralia – the festival of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty
  • 1 » Maundy Thursday

April 2

  • 2 » Good Friday
  • 2 » Lord’s Evening Meal

April 3

  • 3 » Lazarus Saturday

April 4

April 5

April 6

April 7

April 8

April 9

April 10

April 12

April 13

April 14

  • 14: Look Up At The Sky Day
  • 14 » Galungan (Bali) –  Represents the victory of Dharma (virtue) over Adharma (evil).
  • 14 » Samjinnal – Korean holiday announcing the arrival of Spring

April 15

April 17

  • 17: Mahavir Jayanti

April 18

April 19

April 20

  • 20 » Grain Rains (Chinese Farmer’s Calendar)

April 21

April 22

April 23

April 24

  • 24 » Kuningan (Bali)- At the holy spring temple Tirta Empul, people partake  in a ritual purification, bathing in the spring.

April 25

  • 25: The Robigalia – the festival of Robigus, a Roman corn god.

April 26

  • 26 » Boat Blessing – See also Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (June 14)

April 27

  • 27 » Hanuman Jayanti – Birthday of the monkey God

April 28

April 30

Saint Days

There is a surprising amount of magick associated with Saint days. This is a very short list of the Saint days in April, there are many many more. As time goes by I may end up listing them all, but for now, this is what I have.

Recipes For April

Many more seasonal recipes, including recipes for new and full moon ceremonies, ancient Greek and Roman holidays, Asian festivals and etc can be found here: Seasonal Recipes.

Notes:

Any April lore, almanac, astrological, and celebration dates that have been shared after this post was published can be found by searching the April posts to see what’s new.

A lot of work went into this post. It was compiled from various sources by Shirley Twofeathers for The Pagan Calendar, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.

The fifteenth lunar day is generally counted as the fifteenth day from the new moon. More information on the Lunar Days can be found here: The Thirty Lunar Days.

The European and Vedic traditions view today as an unbiased day that favors physical and romantic activities. According to the Vedic books, today can be a great day to begin new endeavors but for Globa, it marks a Satanic day with grave effects.

  • Symbol: Fiery serpent
  • Other Symbols: Snake, Winged Jackal (a winged communicator between Isis and Osiris). In the Indian tradition – Cobra.
  • Old Names: The “Fire Serpent” and “Jackal with Wings”.
  • Stones and Minerals:  Agate, Morion, Jet, Agate, Emerald, Selenite.
  • Aromatherapy: Cinnamon
  • Chakra Activation: During the 15th lunar day the Anahata chakra and chest are active.

Overall Forecast

Today is a full-moon. This is a high energy day. There is a large chance of giving way to temptation, persuasion or laziness. According to some traditions, it is advisable to suppress emotions, control your passions and strengthen self-discipline. Behave quietly and peacefully. Alternatively, it might be a great day to indulge in pleasures of the body.

Symbolism

A free soul experienced in astral battles and carnal temptations. In some traditions this day is considered satanic, during which there are astral battles, the temptations of the flesh. It is necessary to protect justice. The dream that day will be prophetic for a whole month. You can not succumb to temptations on this day, there are apples and quarrels. A good sign is a dog.

Recommendations

It is recommended to:

  • Perform simple actions and not overexert yourself.
  • Buy, sell or trade.
  • Hang on to curious ideas, these may become helpful in the future.

It is not recommended to:

  • Overload yourself.
  • Demonstrate ambitions.
  • Do any important projects.
  • Shift responsibility to other people.
  • Work with finances.
  • Make any important negotiations.
  • Give into impulsive risks.
  • Dental treatment.

A haircut in the 15th lunar day will negatively affect the mental state of a person, probably an increase in pressure, the appearance of headaches and incomprehensible fears.

According to some traditions the full moon is not the time for water, and it is best to refrain from the bath. Other traditions recommend a moonlight swim.

Influence on Health

Pancreas and diaphragm are active. It is good to fast or keep a healthy diet. Avoid strong tea, coffee, alcohol. For memory improvement use viburnum. Japanese kitchen is recommended.

  • Nutrition tips: Take only fresh and quality food. Spicy, hot and lenten food, fresh vegetables and fruits, porridges and herbal tea are very good. Take beans, barley and kidney bean. Do not take apples, cabbage, garlic, eggs and long vegetables. Paprika, cranberry, red ashberry, nettle and home-made jams are allowed.

Rejuvenation procedures are favorable today; ideal places for them are natural bodies of water where you can swim in the moonlight.

On this day it is better not to get sick. In general, hormonal and regulatory functions, may be overloaded, hysteria and/or phobias can intensify. The fifteenth lunar day is also considered traumatic. It is recommended to pay attention to the diaphragm and the operation of the pancreas.

Dreams

Dreams this lunar day might have a very different character, everything will depend on your current state. If you had a bright, good dream it may come true, but only if you keep it a secret. If your dream was heavy it means your current state is imbalanced, take care of yourself.

Light or dark – you may use this information to determine what energy is dominant in your subconscious now.

Dreams today might be prophetic and provide information about the next lunar month. They show the most pressing problems, but symbolically, so you have to work hard at deciphering the symbols. The result will be within 30 days. You can even “order” a dream, and spy on the future of any person.

Aromatherapy

Fragrance of Cinnamon improves the well-being of a person, tuning to an optimistic mood. Develops optimism, personal integrity, faith in oneself and self-esteem. The fragrance creates a cozy atmosphere of trust and goodwill. It improves memory and increases efficiency.

Cinnamon warms, increases and thickens the aura. Helps to get rid of feelings of anger and envy, self-pity and fixation on past problems and mistakes. It eliminates depressive conditions and emotional coldness.

Housework

Due to the fact that the fifteenth lunar day is this difficult day of the month, it is better to deal only with household chores that do not cause stress or special strain.

On this Lunar day one may feel joyous and uplifted while others may become depressed. It is very important to understand your condition and plan your day accordingly. Don’t do any big projects or difficult work around the house today; airing out, humidifying and burning candle and incenses will be sufficient. Thus the energy of the full moon will show you its bright side and bring with it peace and calmness for your soul.

Often this exact day is the day of a Supermoon. If this is the case be extra attentive to the atmosphere at home; guard it with your inner intention and you quiet interactions with your family. Avoid painful topics with your relatives, better to keep silent and be appreciative of their individual choices. Don’t give into any irritation if someone decides to show a lot of energy and activity with house chores. Observe yourself.

Weddings and Relationships

This is a very complicated lunar day. Only adult and experienced partners have a chance to constitute a family. Young couples which are not ready for family constitution can have disappointments. This is unfavorable day for rendezvous.

All the romance meetings and appointments scheduled for the fifteenth lunar day are best postponed until a more appropriate time. This is one of the most difficult days of the month, and there is no place for romance in it. Even if you are married, it may be better to avoid intimacy.

Also on this day there may be a sudden desire to tell a person harsh and offensive words. If a person is dear to you, this is not the most correct line of behavior. People tend to give in to provocations, or commit rash acts.

In addition, there is a strong desire for carnal pleasures, short-term bliss, which may result in shame, or unfortunate consequences and disappointment. People are often prone to deception: they deceive themselves and deceive others without any reason.

To conclude a marriage in this lunar period is favorable only for mature people, who know exactly what they want. In order to withstand the power of the moon, you need to be strong within yourself. But young couples and emotionally weak individuals should pick a different day for a wedding, as this is not a favorable day to  create a family. For them, such an alliance, as a rule, will end in divorce. Such families can not withstand the rapid and powerful energy of the Moon.

Conception of a Child

This is a critical day for conception. Parents should not lie on this day, instead they should be extremely honest. The child, conceived on the 15th lunar day, will fight against evil, love and hatred will own it. Feelings and suffering will overwhelm him, and the support of the earthly and heavenly powers is assured.

A child, conceived on this day will either be a great scoundrel, or a great teacher. He can reach both transcendental heights, and fall into the deepest abyss.

Born on this Day

People born this day are able to achieve success in trade. They are helped by remarkable working capacity and highly developed intellect. In study and work, they highlight the main thing and are only interested in it, not exchanging for trifles.

In any situation, those born on the 15th day feel themselves internally free. They feel their independence, and strive for spiritual harmony. They do not tolerate pressure and coercion. They are also great lovers and lovers of the opposite sex.

  • Tip: Avoid heavy physical activity, limit communication with unpleasant people.

On their journey through life they meet a lot of temptations and often can not resist them. It is useful for such people to restrain their passions, as they are apt to act destructively, and undermine their health. The main problem of these people is negative emotions. These must be kept under strict control.

Business and Money

Despite its complexity, this day forms the foundation for the rest of lunar month and you may already see the results of your efforts from the first part of this period.

The first half of this day is rather complicated and considered unfavorable. During these hours, various difficulties in work and personal life can arise. After noon you will have a chance to execute your plans but only if you use your creativity.

In the first half of the day there may be difficulties in professional and family relations. The main problems will be created because of ambition and the desire to shift all responsibility and part of their work to someone else.

The second half of the fifteenth lunar day is less unpleasant. During this period, it is even possible to implement a plan, though, most likely, in a completely different way. Do not make any financial transactions, do not listen to advisers. Do not conduct important negotiations.

It is undesirable to start important business today . The only exception is the legal sphere: it is possible (and necessary) to sue, but only if you are 100% sure of your rightness and the legitimacy of your case. If injustice is committed against you, you need to accept the challenge and fight for justice. It is impossible to avoid fighting this day. If you are not sure of the method, do not do anything, insure yourself.

At the same time, there is a chance to find new acquaintances. Successful events or promising new acquaintances are possible.  Curious or interesting ideas might pop up. Pay attention to them, they are worth it. Today, luck is on the side of those who work related to trade.

It is possible to realize everything conceived, but through other people and by other methods. New ideas and thoughts may arise.

This is a favorable day for all types of shopping. But if you have the slightest hint that someone is trying to cheat you, asking an inflated price or selling a poor-quality product  – immediately refuse to buy. This is a sure sign that the thing you want to buy now will not bring you joy. Wait a couple of days and try again. The fifteenth lunar day is the time to buy unambiguous goods – those that do not cause you a shadow of a doubt either in the product itself, in its price, in quality, or in warranty service.

Moon Day 15 Meditations

  • Key words: Silence, Emptiness, Placidity.

The Moon is in its maximum power. The best meditation for this day is silence. Either early in the morning or in the evening time, sit in a comfortable pose and listen to the silence of your mind. Try to stop your thoughts, so they won’t disturb you anymore. Your thoughts are like clouds, flying by the clear sky of your mind. Try to keep this balanced feeling as long as possible and don’t strain your body.

Magick for Moon Day 15

This is the “Day of influence of the Spirit of the flesh of Ahriman.”

From ancient times in all cultures, the fifteenth lunar day – the full moon, was considered the best day for any magickal action, any ritual and ceremony. This period was actively used by all sorcerers, witches, healers, black and white magicians.

The full moon is the peak of the lunar and, consequently, of the astral energy. For this reason, the connection between the human world and other dimensions is particularly subtle, so that all predictions will be extremely accurate, and you will have additional forces to penetrate the essence of things.  An excellent day for sex magick.

Sources:

The fourteenth lunar day is generally counted as the fourteenth day from the new moon. More information on the Lunar Days can be found here: The Thirty Lunar Days.

Major traditions contradict each other when it comes to the 14th Moon Day. The Vedic tradition advises against beginning a new endeavor especially if it is linked to financial and traveling aspects in your life. Meanwhile, Globa states that it is perfectly fine for business dealings whereas the European tradition maintains that today is a generally joyous day.

  • Symbol: A pipe, a hunting horn.
  • Other Symbols: Crown.
  • Meaning: This is the day of the call. Trumpet calls to start matters of great importance.
  • Flowers: Hyacinth.
  • Stones and Minerals: Sapphire, Lapis lazuli, Graphite.
  • Aromatherapy: Lavender.
  • Chakra Activation: During the 14th lunar day the Manipura chakra is active.
  • Body Part: Underbelly.

Overall Forecast

This lunar day is well suited to start a lot of new important things, to use information and various appeals for anything. Projects started on this day will succeed on their own. Today has a strong connection to the usage of informational sources.

This lunar day, or rather its first half, will be favorable for the promotion of your ideas to a whole new level. The bosses may note that your endeavors and aspirations to improve the business, new partners, new connections may appear. The second half of the day can be dragged into unnecessary business and worries, and this will lead to loss of energy and time, and perhaps to overeating. On this day, you can also spend a lot of sexual energy.

Also on this day, melancholy, sadness, and grief are possible. It is counter-indicative to be engaged in magick, to strain vision, to use spirits and to be seen in a mirror.

Recommendations

Onn the 14th lunar day, any manipulation of hair is good. All of them will lead to an increase in the material condition, strengthening of the social situation, perhaps the chance of a profitable acquisition of real estate.

It is recommended to:

  • Get active and take decisive action.
  • Start any important or serious affairs.
  • Have no doubts about forthcoming successes.
  • Go slow, elaborate each step.
  • Communicate with all your various contacts: friends, relatives, colleagues, partners, bosses, etc; you may possibly meet new profitable acquaintances.
  • Publicly announce your ideas during the first half of day; share your plans.
  • Consolidate family relations, straighten out relations with elders.
  • Carry on career and business.
  • Solve financial matters.

It is not recommended to:

  • Be idle.
  • Waste energy for insignificant events.
  • Interfere with someone else’s problems or needless affairs during the second half of day.

It is also better to refrain from the bath.

Influence on Health

Intestines are active. It is better not to drink a lot of fluids; dry fasting is also favorable. Stomach and intestinal cleaning are useful. Physical exercises will be helpful. Take care of your vision.

  • Nutrition tips: Freshly prepared food plays an important role today.

Today it is good to cleanse the body with liquids, eat almonds and salty foods. Discard bitter and sweet foods. Diseases that began on this lunar day, as a rule, quickly pass. But the psyche can be overloaded and the mood swings can affect the affairs. It is good to use fluids to cleanse toxins, poisons and waste.

Dreams

Dreams this lunar day are not significant, but they may show hidden abilities which should be developed and this is the only reason why they deserve your consideration. Typically, these dreams don’t come true; so, if you woke up with any sad or unpleasant memories, don’t fret.

Aromatherapy

The scent of Lavender provides full energy relaxation. Protects against negative energies. A wonderful remedy for overwork, overexcitement, irritability and aggression. Eliminates tearfulness and hysterical reactions. Restores sleep.

Housework

Try to cleanse your living space today and do any type of purification for your home: try and free it from negative energy which can be attributed to the activity of evil spirits. This is especially important on the eve of the full moon.

Magickal cleansing of the house should be done with the help of the four elements:

  • Earth is symbolized by salt.
  • Air by incense.
  • Water by a bowl of holy water.
  • Fire by a burning candle.

Salt should be thrown into corners and incense should be carried throughout the entire house; sprinkle water everywhere as well and with the candle one must also go clockwise around all living areas while praying aloud. If you want to make things more simple just mop the floor with slightly sea-salted water and burn candles and incense.

Also a very good day for repairs. The 14th lunar day is ideal for cleaning your home. Spend a general cleaning in the house, and you will free up space for new living energy. Think of purity in all its manifestations. It is very good to clean up your space with energy.

Weddings and Relationships

This is favorable day to create a family for those partners who have had long premarital relations. Also it’s a good time to create a family for divorced persons. There is a chance to change your life to better and try to start a new family relationship having the benefits of previous experience.

On a date, you may find that people are usually shy and tend to equivocate. So listen carefully and don’t miss the details.

On the fourteenth lunar day, people often feel apathetic and depressed, due to the fact that the lunar energy is strong, and not yet available for use. Remember this, and do not give in to the sad mood.

Many people may drop hints on this day. So listen carefully to everything that you are told. Do not miss the details, it’s possible the person really wants to tell you something.

This is a day for strengthening family relationships, relationships with relatives.

A characteristic feature of this day from the point of view of marriage is that, figuratively speaking, it is a day of free flight, that is, the Moon gives a new family a huge energy reserve, it seems to lift it high into the sky and release it to freedom. And now everything will depend only on the spouses – whether they will be able to continue their “heavenly flight” or again return to earth. Therefore, it is considered not very successful.

Conception of a Child

A child conceived on the 14th lunar day will have powerful support from its ancestors. Such a person has the opportunity to maintain contact with another world.  He is a man (or woman) with a strong intuition. But whatever heavy forebodings he is tormented by, in even the most difficult circumstances, he will not lose protection from above. He will not lose it in the difficult life situations that will occur with him, as with any other person.

In addition, when it comes to the voice of conscience, he will always act accordingly. The help of ancestors will allow him to cope with everyday worries, and with moral feelings.

Born on this Day

People born on the 14th lunar day are considered “elected.” They still in childhood realize their vocation in life, find the only correct way and start to follow it early. They are peculiar: intuition, insights, providence. They are purposeful and volitional in nature, internally ready for accomplishment.

People of the 14th day are important to listen to for advice, and “signs of fate.” They can often dream prophetic dreams. Despite their directness, they are flexible people, easily adaptable in any situation. Achievements are expected in medicine, management, pedagogy.

The main danger for people of the 14th day is mood swings. It is necessary to to keep yourself in hand and not give in to laziness.  Be sure to give yourself daily physical activity.

Business and Money

In business, this can be one of the luckiest and most powerful days of the lunar month. There is a high possibility for advancing office, a raise in salary or receiving a deserved honor.

An excellent day for careerists and businessmen. As already mentioned, the fourteenth lunar day is the strongest and most powerful day of the month, and in business it is the happiest. It is a time for decisive action.

Particularly favorable is the first half of the fourteenth lunar day. At this time, you can make some idea, idea or proposal to the public. This will lead to a transition to a qualitatively new level. For example, it is possible to increase in service, receive an increase in salary, a reward in short, and well-deserved recognition. And also new profitable acquaintances, new interesting connections, etc.

Direct energy to important matters. One of the best days for solving financial issues. The fourteenth lunar day is a good time for signing contracts, opening accounts, interviewing about work, etc. Do not focus on little things that are not worth it, dedicate this day to the main goal.

The best day for attending a refresher course. A great day to do your favorite hobby, develop your talents and abilities. An interesting day for business, as there is an opportunity for the success of the most seemingly hopeless enterprises. A good day for business meetings and trips, subject to careful and thorough analysis of the situation.

This period is the best time to buy what you have long dreamed of. If you saved money for a long time, worked hard to acquire a coveted thing, now is the time to do it. And it does not matter if it’s big or small, it’s a car, a house or just some bauble. The main thing is that it personifies the fulfillment of your dreams. If there is no such purchase, then it is advisable to refrain from buying, as in the end you may be waited by very unpleasant surprises.

Moon Day Fourteen Meditations

  • Chanting mantras.
  • Sacred sounds.

Meditate on “OM” and “AUM” sounds. Try to sing it by yourself, or you may use a recording. This day is favorable for starting any cycle of mantras or 40-day practices.

On the 14th lunar day the Moon gets to its maximum power, so women have the best chance to perform rejuvenation procedures.

Magick for Moon Day Fourteen

  • Full moon rites.
  • Love spells.
  • Rites and magick for money and luck.

When practicing divination, ask only questions related to your inner state or the state of mind of someone who addresses you.

It is also a wonderful period for the transition to a new stage in the development of extrasensory abilities.

Sources:

The Birthday of Zarathushtra, one of the most important Zoroastrian festivals. Regarded as one of the most significant festivals of the Parsis, it is also referred to as Navroz-I-Khas. Although the actual date of his birth cannot be accurately identified, the festival of Khordad Sal symbolically celebrates the birthday of Prophet Zarathushtraz on the 6th day of the first Parsi month, Farvardin.

This date, however, falls on different days depending upon which of the three religious calendars are followed, and on those dates will vary from year to year, here are the dates for 2021:

  • Fasli (Iranian): March 26
  • Qadimi (Kadmi): July 22
  • Shenshai: August 21

Who is Zoroaster?

Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra, was the founder of Zoroastrianism. Some accounts place his birth in western Iran, perhaps near Tehran, however based on the dialect of his poetry, it seems likely that he was born in the east. He is credited with the authorship of the Yasna Haptanghaiti as well as the Gathas, hymns which are at the liturgical core of Zoroastrianism.

There is no consensus among scholars about when he was born. The estimated dates of his birth range from 6000 BC to 100 BC. The majority of his life is known only through the Avestan texts. It is possible that Zoroaster was a purely mythological person or that the writings attributed to him are actually the work of multiple authors who wrote under the same name. All of the details have been lost in antiquity.

Legend says that when his mother was five months pregnant, she had a nightmare about the ending of the world. But then an angel appeared to her, and told her that her unborn child would become a great prophet who would be able to reverse the impending destruction.

It is said that his face was shining at the moment of his birth, and that it is on account of this that he was named Zarathustra, which according to one translation means ‘golden (zara) light (ushas)’; according to another it means ‘yellow (zara) camel (ushtra)’, a translation perhaps more in keeping with the pastoral society into which he was born.

Celebrating The Day

Khordad Sal is the equivalent of Christmas for Christians, and it is a day of great festivities and celebrations.

Khordad means perfection, and it is customary on this day to visit the Fire Temple to give thanks to Ahura Mazda, the Persian name for the one God, for giving humanity the ideal gift of the Prophet Zarathushtra. His followers participate in a jashan or thanksgiving ceremony; listen to stories of his miraculous birth and life; and then celebrate with a lavish community meal, a drink and a dance.

On this day people get busy with cleaning their homes and decorating them with rangoli, colored sand spread on the floor in different patterns. Fragrant flowers are used for further beautifying the homes. People get up early on the day of the festival and don their newest and finest clothes. They prepare traditional foods as part of the luxurious dinner that forms a major part of the celebrations.

The tables are decorated in a special fashion as part of the festivities. Foods and flowers are the main highlights at the table. They are accompanied by dishes of nuts and candies. The different delicacies prepared include kebab, chelo, fish and seasonal fruits, such as melons, nectarines and apples.

The Parsis also visit fire temples or places of worship to offer thanks to Ahura Mazda and remember the birth of their prophet. A special ritual followed is Jashan, or thanksgiving prayers to give thanks for and celebrate the soul that evinced a philosophy of life that is both giving and fulfilling, which is performed in the agiaries. A grand feast follows this ritual in the temples.

Because this is a time to unite and mingle with near and dear ones, Khordad Sal gives the Parsis an opportunity for togetherness and to make resolutions for the upcoming year ahead. People exchange gifts and salute each other with the greeting: Khordad Sal Mubarak!. Prayers are offered and are followed by festive parties

Typically a day for family gatherings, however, if families are unable to be together then prayers are offered for those who are not in attendance. It is an important celebration for the Parsi community, and because family (and community) is central to the themes of Zoroastrianism, guests are invited to participate in the festivities.

Parsis also take the time during Khordad Sal to be introspective. They look at ways in which they can improve the lives of others and themselves.

About The Zoroastrian Faith

Zoroastrianism, also commonly known as Mazdaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the history of humanity. Very little is known about it. The religion is pillared on the belief in the existence of heaven and hell, the Golden Rule (do unto others what you want to be done unto you), messianism and free will.

Zoroastrianism was for ages the world’s most powerful religion, termed by some as ‘The Supreme Religion.’ The 7th century saw a rise in the suppression of the religion. The suppression was a result of the victory by the Muslims in conquering the state of Persia. The Zoroastrian faith has endured many hardships, the most significant being the invasion into Iran by Alexander and later, the Arab conquest of Iran.

The three tenets of the religion include good thoughts, good deeds, and good words. Zoroastrianism believes there is only one supreme, universal and transcendent God, the Ahura Mazda, “Wise Lord.” They believe that Ahura Mazda discovered the world and then passed on all the teachings through the Prophet Zoroaster.

Though greatly diminished in numbers, Zarathustra’s followers have continued to honor his revolutionary teachings for over 3000 years. Most modern Zoroastrians live in India, although smaller communities exist around the world.

As Zoroastrian numbers continue to dwindle, courts battle ancient rules in the 21st century. Tradition forbids women who marry non-Parsi Zoroastrians from ever again entering fire temples, and as more and more followers enter interfaith marriages, leaders question the religion’s ability to continue in the world.

Sources:

The thirteenth lunar day is generally counted as the thirteenth day from the new moon. More information on the Lunar Days can be found here: The Thirty Lunar Days.

According to European tradition, you should avoid undertaking most activities including health related endeavors today for it is not an optimal time to do so. Vedic traditions say otherwise, and you can expect to enjoy a lucky day especially when it comes to new beginnings, renewed relationships with people around you and generally a satisfying leisure time ahead.

  • Symbol: Wheel.
  • Other Symbols: A  circle, a snake biting its tail. A wheel with a swastika inside.
  • Meaning: Wheels rotate, movement continues.
  • Stones and Minerals: Labyrinth stones, Hematite, Selenite, Opal, Ruby.
  • Aromatherapy: Neroli
  • Chakra Activation: The Hara chakra is active.

About The Swastika

The Swastika mentioned here symbolizes movement, primarily – blood, intestinal peristalsis, circulation of qi (prana) energy through the channels of our body. The swastika, going clockwise, symbolizes the eternal movement, for example, the movement of the sun, blood circulation, intestinal peristalsis, movement of energy through the channels of our body.

Overall Forecast

This is a day to renew the vital energy of your life. This is a good day for group work, acquiring new information and initiating new training cycles. Use today for accumulation, acquisition and making of household items; baking bread is suggested.

The first part of the day will be very unfavorable. It will preserve the negative trends of the past day. But if a person can overcome the test of pride, then he will have new opportunities, which are associated with the strengthening of his aura. For this reason, in the second half of the lunar day, new perspectives for the manifestation of creativity will open. The possibility of achieving new goals is increasing.

Recommendations

This is a very good lunar day for a haircut. It will refresh the appearance, give beauty and happiness. It is also recommended to:

  • Extend the sphere of your influence.
  • Correct your business policy.
  • Sign agreements.
  • Hire new employees.
  • Organize public events.
  • Get new information, improve education and increase knowledge.
  • Create groups or teams.
  • Work in a team and discuss urgent problems with colleagues.
  • Solve financial matters.

It is not recommended to:

  • Start serious projects, especially by yourself.
  • Quit any previously started projects.
  • Take long breaks or rest too much.

Weather Forecast

Three days before the full moon look for a change in the weather.

Influence on Health

Pancreas and hara (energy center) are active. Filling up on food is recommended. Energy and blood circulation is increased. Procedures for body rejuvenation are recommended. It is possible to clean the liver.

Medicines and various cosmetics today are very susceptible to the body. Therefore, today it is good to take medicine, decoctions and infusions. It is good to carry out procedures for rejuvenating the body.

  • Nutrition tips: Vegetables and fruits are irreplaceable as usual.

It is favorable to take seafood and experiment with food. Digestion of solid grain porridge is very good. Bake and take bread. The best day for cosmetic and rejuvenating procedures in the bath. A good day for good company.

Dreams

The energy of this lunar day shows, if you are spinning in a circle, shooting yourself in the foot, or if something is changing and you are moving up the spiral staircase. Dreams hold the key to the door, which hides things we don’t want to change or are difficult to overcome.

Sleep is the main clue on the way of this understanding. He can reveal to us, where we do not want to change. On this day in dreams, life itself is knocking at your door, and shows you the way to go in the direction of change. It is important not to ignore these directions, and in life to begin to follow them, then you will free up some of your energy for further action.

On the 13th lunar day, dreams can carry new information about old problems, but not directly, but in the form of symbols, and one should try to understand and decipher them in order to begin solving the problem as soon as possible. Decipher the message of your subconscious, it can serve as a guide and give you a clue.

To properly analyze your dreams do not forget to record them immediately upon waking. Dreams today might be warnings; they could come true fairly soon, some say in eight days.

Aromatherapy

The scent of Neroli eliminates neurotic, asthenic-depressive and hysterical reactions. Objectivizes the psycho-emotional state. Helps with insomnia. The aroma of Neroli harmonizes the emotional and energy plans of man. Promotes the manifestation of noble features of man. Prevents the appearance of envy and protects against bad deeds and thoughts. It encourages high and bright aspirations.

Housework

On this magical and mystical day it is very favorable to bake round bread. Pleasure yourself and your loved ones with a delicious, crispy crust of homemade loaf. The thirteenth lunar day is a wonderful time for repairs and major household affairs, fruitful and extensive work on the improvement of the house and the backyard.

The energy of this day has a dualistic character. The first half of it is especially difficult and demands of us some effort in order to maintain inner balance. Therefore if starting any projects measure carefully their level of importance. If you can’t delay a project, use all possible love and care while completing it, and whatever you do don’t rush. Any hurried behavior is sure to cause blunders today.

The 13th lunar day is favorable for beginning to build any round objects, such as wells, fountains or cupolas. It is also advantageous to spin threads, make round talismans or bake round breads and pastries.

Weddings and Relationships

The thirteenth lunar day is good for marriage to people connected with science – scientists, researchers, academics, students and so on, as well as those whose profession consists in discovering a new one – to travelers, seafarers, geologists, etc. Due to the fact that these lunar days are the time of transition, they are also favorable for marriage to those who by age enter a new period of their lives into a new social status.

The coincidence of these two events will bring a positive result – the family created in this period will coincide with the natural rhythms of nature, which will enable it to develop in the right direction, bypassing many cataclysms. Such marriage, as a rule, is characterized by stability and harmony between spouses.

Some astrological schools believe that the thirteenth lunar day is also suitable for creating a family after the age of thirty. This is because people at this age become mature, and the Moon in a sense also becomes “mature”, that is, as close as possible to the peak of the full moon.

It is advisable to refrain from new acquaintances and contacts. It is very likely that you will meet people with whom you break up, and not in the most joyful way. This is a day of reviewing relations. During this day you can discuss sensitive issues and start a new way of living.

Do not be surprised if, today, suddenly, for no apparent reason, your ex-husband or lover will appear on the horizon. And, having reconsidered your old mistakes, you can understand that it was not so bad, and the reasons for which you broke up may seem to you both trifles and trivial things. If you still have feelings for this person, then do not miss the opportunity that the moon gives, try to start everything from the beginning, “from scratch”.

On the thirteenth lunar day, rarely do proposals, and even less often, marriages occur, since it is a day of revising old relationships, a time when it’s time to look back, and not make plans for the future.

This is the time when you can talk about painful issues and situations. It is a most suitable day to finally figure out what’s what. Very often it turns out that everything that was secret, becomes obvious. Sometimes a person did not intend to say something, but it happened to come out.

Today, old problems can appear. Not only what you suspected, but what you already forgot. This can be unpleasant.

Conception of a Child

The main role in the life of a man conceived in the 13th lunar day will be played by the case. It will be a happy or unhappy event, depends on both fortune and karma. Happiness or unhappiness? Complete freedom or total dependence on circumstances? What is the karmic load that an incipient soul will bring with it to this world, so is the answer.

Born on this Day

On the 13th lunar day, restless, very sensitive people are born. They are easy to rise, sociable, receptive to information. They have a wonderful memory, so they learn everything “playfully”. They can do several things at once, have versatile abilities. But they are inclined to “walk in a circle” throughout their lives, making the same mistakes.

  • Advice: use your potential abilities, because you are given a lot.

In the energy plan, these people work well with time. If you want to program your future, you will succeed. The people of this day are well aware of the relationship between cause and effect, between long-standing events and what is happening now. The main thing is to draw conclusions. Those born on the 13th lunar day can easily make a career in any chosen area.

Business and Money

All initiatives are unfavorable. The function of this day is revision, revision and completion of old cases. The most successful day for a thorough review and analysis of contracts and projects and their correction. Go back to the very beginning, and follow the whole chain until today. This practice will help to see all the shortcomings and shortcomings, to find the “weak link” and strengthen it. It is good to finish the enterprises that are scheduled for this day.

In the 13th lunar day, try to act together. In addition, today you can deal with money matters, material issues. The day is especially fortunate for scientific and creative work, social events, group contacts. An excellent day for getting new information, improved education, replenishing the knowledge of a subject of interest to you.

As for purchases, the main thing is not what you buy, but how you buy, or rather, what quality you choose. It is very important in the thirteenth lunar day not to rush, but to approach with all responsibility to the thing that you are going to acquire. Carefully study it, inspect the entire range and choose the best.

  • Priorities in purchases on the thirteenth lunar day are distributed as follows: quality, style, originality.

In this period, you need only get the very best, and only in this case it will bring you benefit and pleasure. If you yourself can not assess the quality of what you get, then invite an expert to help you. Certainly, it is better to give preference to expensive purchases in such a careful approach, so that the time spent for the choice itself justifies itself.

Moon Day Thirteen Meditations

  • Wheel.

The 13th lunar day is the day of energy renewal and cleansing of old mental blockages. You may notice, that some situations are repeated in your life. To change these patterns and renew your life, you may run the “Renewal Wheel” today.

Magick for Moon Day Thirteen

  • This is a magickal day.

Energy magick on this day prevails, the day is good for working with karma, there is a correction of the past, the accumulation of information and contacts. Contacts can be made with other worlds. A good day to make round talismans, for spinning threads, and baking bread.

Any spellbinding rituals are especially strong especially those utilizing spells using menstrual blood. Also a recommended day for rites to bring money and good luck.

Divination practices should be focused in the direction of clarifying questions concerning the future. It is not recommended to seek clarification of the present state of affairs or the past.

Sources:

art by DiVeena Sheshetta

art by DiVeena Sheshetta

The festival calendar of ancient Egypt, as it appears to us now, spans three thousand years of Egyptian history and probably was being recorded, observed, and manipulated many thousands of years before that. In those three millennia a great many political and religious changes affected the designated feast days. Some feasts fell out of favor, others were renamed, a few were entirely forgotten.

Many Egyptian feast days are moveable feasts, that is, they are lunar festivals timed to phases of the moon. Thus their occurrence might slip around from one year to the next. This is similar to how Easter Sunday, (the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox), falls on a different date every year.

The Calendar

In any true sense it would be impossible for us to know the actual recurring dates of many of the festivals. We can, however, approximate the ancient dates. The Gregorian Calendar dates given here should not be taken as arbitrary or fixed, I think of them as a suggestion instead.

This particular calendar is from the book Feasts of Light. You may find that the dates of these various festivals are listed differently on other calendars. When planning a celebration in the Egyptian manner, use your intuition and your own understanding of the Lunar Calendar and the Wheel of the Year.

Season of Inundation – Akhet – Winter

During the Season of Inundation more major public festivals occurred than at any other time of the year, most of them related to fertility rites and abundance rituals. The feasts tended to occupy the general public during this time because the land was so flooded that little real work could be done.

Thuthi – The first month of winter

  • 1 – The Rise of Sothis as Isis – July 19
  • 1 – The Opening of the New Year – July 19
  • 7 – The Feast of Anket – July 25
  • 20 – The Inebriety of Hathor – August 7

Paopi – The second month of winter

  • 5 – The Feast of Hathor and Min – August 22
  • 15 – The Opet Festival – September 1
  • 21 – Neith Goes Forth to Atum – September 7

Hethara – The third month of Winter

  • 1 – Hathor’s Birthday Feast – September 17
  • 17 – The Lamentations of Isis – October 3
  • 21 – The Feast Day of Ma’at – October 8
  • 30 – Opening the Bosom of Women – October 16
  • 30 – The Feast of Isis in Busiris – October 16

Koiak – The fourth month of Winter

  • 17 – The Plucking of the Papyrus for Hathor – November 2
  • 27 to 29 – The Osirian Mysteries – November 12 to 14
  • 27 – Isis Seeks the Body of Osiris – November 12
  • 28 – Isis Grieves the Loss of Osiris – November 13
  • 29 – Isis Rejoices as She Finds Osiris – November 14
Season of Sowing – Pert – Spring

Once the waters receded and work in the fields began, the Sowing season was the busiest time of the year.

Tybi – the first month Spring

  • 19 and 20 – The Voyage of Hathor to Nubia – December 4 and 5
  • 20 – Bast Goes Forth from Bubastis – December 5
  • 28 to 30 – The Voyage of Hathor to Egypt and Her Father – December 13 to 15

Mechir – the second month of Spring

  • 1 to 3 – The Voyage of Hathor to Egypt and Her Father( continued) – December 16 to 18
  • 6 – The Feast of Isis the Black Cow – December 21
  • 6 – The Festival of Raising the Djed of Osiris – December 21
  • 10 – The Birth of Ra, Child of Nut – December 25
  • 10 – The Birth of Horus, Child of Isis – December 25
  • 19 – Isis Returns from Phoenicia with Osiris – January 3
  • 21 – The Voyage of Hathor to See Her Seven Sisters – January 4
  • 24 – Isis Greets Min in Coptos – January 8

Pamenot – the third month of Spring

  • 5 – The Brilliant Festival of the Lights of Neith – January 19

Parmuti – the fourth month of Spring

  • 20 – The Blessing of the Fleets by Isis – March 5
  • 28 – Isis Births Horus the Younger – March 13
  • 28 – Hathor Births Ihy – March 13
Season of the Harvest – Shemu – Summer

The growing season was quickly followed by the Harvest season. But during the final months of the year, when the harvest had ended and the land was dry, the festivals began again, mostly in anticipation of the coming Inundation.

Pachons – the first month of Summer

  • 1 – The Feast of the Hand of the God – March 16
  • 6 – The Pregnancy of Isis / Nut – March 21
  • 15 – The Festival of Renenutet – March 30
  • 19 – Isis Finds Osiris – April 3

Payni – the second month of Summer

  • 1 – The Great Festival of Bast at Bubastis – April 15
  • 26 – The Going Forth of Neith along the Water – May 10

Epiphi – the third month of Summer

  • 1 – The Hierogamos of Hathor and Horus – May 15
  • 4 – The Conception of Horus – May 18
  • 5 – Hathor Returns to Punt – May 19
  • 7 – The Sailing of the Gods after the Goddess – May 21
  • 30 – The Festival of Mut: Feeding of the Gods – June 13

Mesore – the fourth month of Summer

  • 3 – The Feast of Raet – June 16
  • 3 – The Feast of Hathor as Sothis – June 16
The Epagomenal Days

The Egyptian year was divided into twelve months of thirty days each, which means that each year was about five days short of the astronomical year. To compensate for this difference, five extra days were added to the year, and (according to this particular calendar) are designated as follows:

  1. The Birthday of Osiris – July 14
  2. The Birthday of Horus the Elder – July 15
  3. The Birthday of Seth – July 16
  4. The Birthday of Isis (The Night of the Cradle) – July 17
  5.  The Birthday of Nephthys – July 18

The Babylonian calendar was a lunisolar calendar with years consisting of 12 lunar months, each beginning when a new crescent moon was first sighted low on the western horizon at sunset, plus an intercalary month inserted as needed by decree.

The year begins in spring, and is divided into reš šatti “beginning”, mišil šatti “middle”, and qīt šatti “end of the year”. The word for “month” was arḫu. The chief deity of the Assyrians is assigned the surplus intercalary month, showing that the calendar originates in Babylonian, and not later Assyrian times.

During the 6th century BC Babylonian captivity of the Hebrews, the Babylonian month names were adopted into the Hebrew calendar. In Iraq and the Levant, the Gregorian solar calendar is used with Arabic names of the Roman months replacing the Latin names.

The Days of the Month

Counting from the new moon, the Babylonians celebrated every seventh day as a “holy-day”, also called an “evil-day” (meaning “unsuitable” for prohibited activities). On these days officials were prohibited from various activities and common men were forbidden to “make a wish”, and the 28th was known as a “rest-day”.

On these days, offerings were made to a different god and goddess at nightfall to avoid the prohibitions:

  • 7th – Marduk and Ishtar
  • 14th – Ninlil and Nergal
  • 21st – Sin and Shamash
  • 28th – Enki and Mah

Tablets from the sixth-century BC reigns of Cyrus the Great and Cambyses II indicate these dates were sometimes approximate. The lunation of 29 or 30 days basically contained three seven-day weeks, and a final week of eight or nine days inclusive, breaking the continuous seven-day cycle.

The Monthly Calendar

Until the 5th century BC, the calendar was fully observational, but beginning about 499 BC the months began to be regulated by a lunisolar cycle of 19 years equaling 235 months. After no more than three isolated exceptions, by 380 BC the months of the calendar were regulated by the cycle without exception. In the cycle of 19 years, the month Adaru 2 was intercalated, except in the year that was number 17 in the cycle, when the month Ulūlu 2 was inserted.

Season – Reš Šatti – Spring – The Beginning – 𒊕𒈬

During this period, the first day of each month (beginning at sunset) is the day when a new crescent moon was first sighted—the calendar never used a specified number of days in any month.

1st Month Araḫ Nisānu 

  • Known as: Month of beginning
  • Symbol: 𒌚𒁈
  • Presiding Deity: Bel
  • Zodiac Sign: Agru (Aries)
  • Current Equivalent: March/April

2nd Month – Araḫ Āru

  • Known as: Month of the Blossoming
  • Symbol: 𒌚𒄞
  • Presiding Deity: Ea
  • Zodiac Sign: Gu (Taurus)
  • Current Equivalent: April/May

3rd Month – Araḫ Simanu

  • Symbol: 𒌚𒋞
  • Presiding Deity: Sin
  • Zodiac Sign: Maštaba (Gemini)
  • Current Equivalent: May/June

4th MonthAraḫ Dumuzu

  • Known as: Month of Tammuz
  • Symbol: 𒌚𒋗
  • Presiding Deity: Tammuz
  • Zodiac Sign: Alluttu (Cancer)
  • Current Equivalent: June/July
Season – Mišil Šatti – Summer/Fall – The Middle – 𒁇𒈬

During this period, the first day of each month (beginning at sunset) is the day when a new crescent moon was first sighted—the calendar never used a specified number of days in any month.

5th Month Araḫ Abu 

  • Symbol: 𒌚𒉈
  • Presiding Deity: Gilgamesh
  • Zodiac Sign: Nēšu (Leo)
  • Current Equivalent: July/August

6th Month Araḫ Ulūlu

  • Symbol: 𒌚𒆥
  • Presiding Deity: Ishtar
  • Zodiac Sign: Sisinnu (Virgo)
  • Current Equivalent: August/September

7th Month – Araḫ Tišritum

  • Known as: Month of Beginning (start of the second half-year)
  • Symbol: 𒌚𒇯
  • Presiding Deity: Shamash
  • Zodiac Sign: Zibānītu (Libra)
  • Current Equivalent: September/October

8th Month – Araḫ Samnu

  • Known as: The Eighth (month)
  • Symbol: 𒌚𒀳
  • Presiding Deity: Marduk
  • Zodiac Sign: Zuqaqīpu (Scorpio)
  • Current Equivalent: October/November
Season – Winter – Qīt Šatti – The End –  𒌀𒈬

During this period, the first day of each month (beginning at sunset) is the day when a new crescent moon was first sighted—the calendar never used a specified number of days in any month.

9th MonthAraḫ Kislimu

  • Symbol: 𒌚𒃶
  • Presiding Deity: Nergal
  • Zodiac Sign: Pabilsag (Sagittarius)
  • Current Equivalent: November/December

10th MonthAraḫ Ṭebētum

  • Known as: Muddy Month
  • Symbol: 𒌚𒀊
  • Presiding Deity: Papsukkal
  • Zodiac Sign: Suḫurmāšu (Capricorn)
  • Current Equivalent: December/January

11th Month –  Araḫ Šabaṭu

  • Symbol: 𒌚𒊭𒉺𒌅
  • Presiding Deity: Adad
  • Zodiac Sign: Gula (Aquarius)
  • Current Equivalent: January/February

12th MonthAraḫ Addaru / Adār

  • Known as: Month of Adar
  • Symbol: 𒌚𒊺
  • Presiding Deity: Erra
  • Zodiac Sign: Zibbātu (Pisces)
  • Current Equivalent: February/March
Intercalary or 13th Month

In year 17 of the 19-year cycle, the intercalary month was named Araḫ Ulūlu – 𒌚𒆥 – Adar II

  • Name:  Araḫ Addaru Arku or Araḫ Makaruša Addari
  • Symbol:  𒌚𒊺𒂕
  • Presiding Deity: Assur
Note:

My source for this calendar is Wikipedia. It is based on a Sumerian (Third Dynasty of Ur) predecessor preserved in the Umma calendar of Shulgi (c. 21st century BC).

The precession of the equinoxes has moved the astronomical beginning of spring back four days to March 21, but its previous date of March 25 became identified with the Virgin Mary, who was told by the angel Gabriel on that day that she would become the mother of Christ.

Lady Day, as this day was commonly called, was one of the great quarterly dividing points of the year (the others being Midsummer Day, Michaelmas, and Christmas). It was traditionally the day for paying rents, signing or vacating leases, and hiring farm laborers for the year.

The flower cardamine, or lady’s-smock, with its milky white flowers, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and appears about this time.

The Christian New Year’s Day

For centuries the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 25, not Jan. 1, marked the first day of the New Year.

“Happy New Year!” is what we would have celebrated along with the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25 if we were living some centuries ago. Back then, the Annunciation also marked the start of the New Year.

The choice was well thought out and gives us lots to contemplate. Let’s begin at this point: when reforming the calendar in 45 B.C., Julius Caesar made Jan. 1 New Year’s Day. Celebrated with non-Christian festivities, of course.

Naturally, after Jesus life, death and resurrection, the Christians wanted to celebrate New Year’s Day in a spiritual way.

One early thought was to begin the year in springtime, a natural “new beginning.” And around the time of his Resurrection. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, what also came into play was the Jewish month of Nisan, which coincides with March and April on the Julian and Gregorian calendars and opens the sacred year.

But then arose the question, on which day should the New Year begin for Christians?

That answer really narrowed down when in the sixth century there came along the monk and abbot named Dionysius Exiguus, who lived in Rome. His name isn’t familiar today, but his work certainly is, especially in the use of B.C. and A.D. He established this way of dating from the birth of Jesus Christ — Before Christ and Anno Domini (the Year of Our Lord). Dionysius wanted to start the Christian era in order to reform the Roman calendar and way of calculating events. One of his great concerns was coming up with the date of Easter.

Naturally, the first day of the New Year had to fit somewhere in the new calendar. But where?

“Since March 25 was calculated as the date of the crucifixion of Jesus, there was a belief that one died on the same day that one was conceived,” writes Father John Fields, vice chancellor and director of communications for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. “If Jesus died on March 25 — the 14th of Nisan — then he was also conceived on the 14th of Nisan — March 25.” The date we celebrate the Annunciation. And the Incarnation.

But everyone didn’t adopt it immediately because the Julian calendar was still in widespread use. Besides, here and there in Europe, at times Dec. 25, the Nativity, was being celebrated as New Year’s.

Then along came the Council of Tours which in A.D. 567, put an end to Jan. 1 as New Year’s Day and adopted March 25 as the official first day of the New Year. Soon, yet slowly, countries in Europe were using that date to begin the official New Year. By the 8th century England had adopted this way of reckoning the year. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that Charlemagne is believed to be the first Christian sovereign to use it.

Father Fields and other sources also point out that March 25 also had other implications. There was a general belief coming from early martyrologies and the early Church Fathers’ writings that March 25 was also the date on which Adam was created and which marked his fall, as well as other major events — the fall of Lucifer; Moses and the Israelites flight through the Red Sea; and Isaac offered in sacrifice by Abraham.

In 1582, along came Pope Gregory XIII who reformed the calendar. Doing so, for the calendar we now use, he placed New Year’s Day, the first day of the year, back to January 1. As he reformed the liturgical calendar also this became the Feast of the Circumcision.

But the Protestant countries weren’t so fast accepting the new Gregorian calendar. The British Empire continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on March 25 until finally adopting the Gregorian calendar on January 1, 1752.

“Until 1751, March 25 was also celebrated as New Year’s Day in the American colonies, since they were under British rule,” adds Father Fields.

Is March 25 still celebrated anywhere as New Year’s Day?

It sure is. In Tuscany in Italy. This year marks the 270th anniversary of the city of Pisa celebrating New Year’s Day on March 25. Florence does likewise (both celebrate the “other” New Year too). The event, begun in 1749, is quite colorful with concerts and festivals. Pisa has a procession to Pisa Cathedral which is dedicated to the Blessed Mother, while in Florence a local pilgrimage proceeds to the Basilica dell’Annunciazione.

So this March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, remember that for centuries this feast day was the Christian New Year’s Day.

On March 25, instead of thinking of a weepy Auld Lang Syne sort of song, pray or recite with the greatest of joy the Magnificat. For through the Annunciation and Mary’s Fiat, Our Lord Jesus was incarnated and then crucified for our redemption. Now that’s something to really wish someone a Happy New Year about!

God Becomes A Man

The central focus of the Annunciation is Incarnation: God has become one of us. From all eternity God had decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human.

Now the decision is being realized. The God-Man embraces all humanity, indeed all creation, to bring it to God in one great act of love. Because human beings have rejected God, Jesus will accept a life of suffering and an agonizing death.

Mary has an important role to play in God’s plan. From all eternity, God destined her to be the mother of Jesus and closely related to him in the creation and redemption of the world. We could say that God’s decrees of creation and redemption are joined in the decree of Incarnation.

Because Mary is God’s instrument in the Incarnation, she has a role to play with Jesus in creation and redemption. It is a God-given role. It is God’s grace from beginning to end. Mary becomes the eminent figure she is only by God’s grace. She is the empty space where God could act. Everything she is she owes to the Trinity.

Together with Jesus, Mary is the link between heaven and earth. She is the human being who best, after Jesus, exemplifies the possibilities of human existence. She received into her lowliness the infinite love of God. She shows how an ordinary human being can reflect God in the ordinary circumstances of life. She exemplifies what the Church and every member of the Church is meant to become. She is the ultimate product of the creative and redemptive power of God. She manifests what the Incarnation is meant to accomplish for all of us.

Sometimes spiritual writers are accused of putting Mary on a pedestal and thereby, discouraging ordinary humans from imitating her. Perhaps such an observation is misguided. God did put Mary on a pedestal and has put all human beings on a pedestal. We have scarcely begun to realize the magnificence of divine grace, the wonder of God’s freely given love. The marvel of Mary—even in the midst of her very ordinary life—is God’s shout to us to wake up to the marvelous creatures that we all are by divine design.

Sources:

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