KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

November 8 through November 14, 2021

With most all planets in direct motion now (with the exception of Uranus and Neptune) there's nothing standing in the way of us reaching for our dreams! We'll be able to power through anything still waiting for our attention under Monday and Tuesday's Capricorn Moon, as well as setting the wheels in motion for new goals. Expect a change of heart, mind, or direction as the Moon dances through Aquarius on Wednesday and Thursday. No worries though, as the changes are just what we need to finalize and secure our dreams for the future. A more spiritual tone overtakes us on Friday and Saturday, so let's give ourselves permission to step back for a few days and let things settle in our minds and hearts. Regrouping is always important to be sure we're operating at our best, so take advantage of this lull in the action to do just that. Sunday's Aries Moon will revive our energy, but the focus should be on home, family, and finances. Schedule in time to take care of the things that have been left on the back burner and restore some order to your personal world!

How to Create Water Shrines and Altars, by Lilith Dorsey

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Some of us are fortunate enough to live near special bodies of water that are used as sacred sites for water magick and ritual. Even if we do, we may still see the need to create our own water altars and shrines in our homes or outdoor spaces. This way we will always be able to access the sacred power of water wherever we are.

In my new book Water Magic I talk about some of the amazing sacred water sites throughout the globe. From Niagara Falls to Snoqualmie Falls, or Lake Manasarovar to Lake Ponchartrain, each have their own special unique power and sacred energy. Even if you are unable to travel to sites like these you don't need to worry. Hopefully the water altar or shrine you will create will be a place where your own magick will flow freely.

Even though you will be creating a Water Shrine, you will make sure to include items from each one of the elements—earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. This will help it be balanced and able to assist your workings in every possible way.

In the hopes of representing the element of earth you may wish to include a crystal that is ruled by the element of water. Some of these look watery, or are actually formed in water. Probably because of its color, Turquoise is one of the crystals associated with water. It is said to grant luck, healing, and protection from harm. If you would like to take a different tactic you may wish to include a small amount of actual dirt from a riverside, swamp, beach, or somewhere similar.

If you're like me, you will want to include some flowers and other botanicals. Some of these grow in water or swampy conditions. You might wish to include:

• Sea Holly: This pretty and prickly plant grows at the seaside and is used for love and safety.
• Coconut: Technically this isn't a fruit or even a nut, but instead a drupe. Whatever you call them, coconuts contain their own water, and can be used in your incense or directly on your water altar as an elemental offering.
• Eucalyptus: This watery herb is said to grant health, focus, and psychic ability.
• Gardenia: This delicate white bloom is one of my favorite flowers. Gardenia is used in magickal workings for love, devotion, and spiritual connection.

The most common way to represent the element of Air on an altar or shrine is to use incense. You can choose a blend crafted for one of the astrological water signs (Pisces, Scorpio, or Cancer). Or you might choose to use any of the botanicals mentioned above in your own combination, which will then be burned on charcoal.

The fire element can be welcomed onto your altar in the form of a candle. This could be a blue candle blessed with oils or incense dedicated to the water element. Alternatively, it could be a candle dedicated to one of the water Gods or Goddesses, such as Tiamat, The Morrigan, or Neptune. Each one of these has their own special likes and dislikes, so please do your research to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Water is the most essential component for your altar or shrine. Every different type of water carries its own special blessing. Depending on your intent you may choose to include:

• Spring water for new beginnings
• Storm water for powerful change
• River water to help with twists, turns, and obstacles you may be facing
• Ocean water for deep and meaningful work
• Any other water you see fit

You can choose to place the water in a bowl, glass, bottle, or even something more traditional like a chalice. You may even want to include a fountain, since moving water is seen to have special benefits across many different cultures.

To represent the element of spirit you could incorporate one of the Water Gods or Goddesses, or you can add a special item that represents your own connection to water. Shells, sand, or actual water you may have collected may also be used here. It can even be something as simple as tap water to represent the spirit of place that is your home. While it is often overlooked, tap water is the water that we drink most often, bathe in, and very often comes from a local body of water. It is powerful in its proximity, so try not to ignore it. You may even wish to add items from water animals that hold a powerful significance for you. This could be a statue or piece of artwork, or even a responsibly harvested bone or feather. The only limits are dictated by your own imagination.

When you have all your elemental items gathered together you can then begin to put together your altar or shrine. An altar is a space that will be set up temporarily and will be used to bring about a specific result. For example, you may wish to capitalize on water's ability to help with emotions, and setting up an altar like this during a difficult emotional time can be a glorious undertaking. Shrines, however, are set up as permanent spaces where one goes on a regular basis to leave offerings or perform rites and rituals. No matter which type of magickal space you are creating, you will need to put it in a space that is easily accessed but also away from pets, children, haters, or anything that might distract from your workings there. Many people like to prepare their water altar or shrine space by laying down a blue cloth. You can then place each of the elemental items on top. Traditionally Water goes in the West, Earth in the North, Air in the East, and Fire in the South. Spirit can be placed in the center.

This article is full of a lot of suggestions and instructions, but remember that making your own altar or shrine is a powerful experience that should be fun. It allows you to use your creativity to craft a space for magic.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2020. All rights reserved.

I am often amazed by how people really do exhibit the nature and traits of their zodiac signs, myself included. My question is, how can it be that people born in a certain sign all seem to act the same way? Why do our sun signs influence our behavior? How does this work?

Don

Susyn:

Astrology is a fascinating science. The fact that the Sun and surrounding planets in our solar system influence a personís nature has been apparent for centuries; it was even studied by the ancients thousands of years ago.

When babies are born, they are highly sensitive to light, sound and everything around them. At the exact moment of their birth, they are imprinted by the details of the experience and absorb every influence present. The location of the Moon and other planets at the time of a person's birth thus has a profound impact on that individual.

Because the sun is the largest body within our solar system, our sun signs have a great impact on our personalities. Just as our environments affect our development, the signs we're born under exert a powerful influence on us. For instance, if we had both been born in Hawaii, we would be more likely to take up surfing than dog-sledding and would naturally gravitate toward summer clothing over winter wear. Though the influence of the sun and planets is more subtle than this, it often shows up in direct correlation to the thoughts, behaviors and preferences associated with each sign of the zodiac.

I think of an astrological natal chart as being similar to an LP or CD. The position of each planet creates a permanent skip or marker in the chart that is activated each time another planet crosses over it. This is the reason some of us are more sensitive to the changing phases of the moon or other aspects that land on our natal markers.

If you keep track of which sign the sun is in at any given time, you will notice that it affects everyoneís actions - even if they were not born under that sign. For example, people tend to buy real estate, focus on financial issues, or gravitate toward physical activities more when the sun travels through an earth sign (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). During the sunís journey through a water sign (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), people tend to turn their focus to more spiritual and emotional pursuits.

Of course, there are some people who don't act like their sun signs. When this happens, it's usually because the sun was in a hiding position when they were born. People who are born with the sun located in the twelth house of their chart or during a solar eclipse will tend to take on the traits of their rising sign instead. Because all the planets and their locations have a direct impact on a person's nature, it's helpful to have an astrological natal chart drawn up to get the full picture.

*****

Oceania:

In Chinese astrology, we supposedly share traits with everyone born in our year - how is THAT possible?!

Of course, just because I bring healthy skepticism to astrology doesnít mean I donít enjoy reading my horoscopes! I find them to be sources of wisdom and inspiration, often carrying meaningful and thought-provoking spiritual messages. I appreciate Susynís horoscopes here at Kajama and I receive Rob Brezsnyís free will astrology by email. Heís the author of one of my all-time favorite books: Pronoia is the Antidote for Paranoia: How the Whole World is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings.

I am not a professional astrologer, so I will try to answer your questions from the perspective of my own field of expertise: psychology. In my view, you could say that all people fit all of the astrological sign descriptions, and you could also say that no one fits any of the astrological sign descriptions.

All people fit their own sign description and every other sign description because all traits are human traits. To make my point, I will create a simplified version of the Zodiac: Leos breathe, Capricorns sleep, and Virgos tend to enjoy eating. Iím being silly, of course, but if I use the traditional descriptions, it still works: Cancers value family, Libras seek balance, and Taurus folks enjoy earthly comforts. We all fit ALL of the descriptions at least some of the time!

There is another phenomenon at work here. When we approach a task with the preconceived notion that there could and should be a match, we are much more likely to find that match. Weíll ignore items that DONíT fit and notice those that do. The human mind is suggestible and is prone to create order from chaos and find meaning in randomness.

There are four Sagittarians among my circle of friends and family. If I pick any one of them and look at the list of Sagittarian traits, I would have to say: yes, yes, yes and yes! Of course, though we share general human traits, each one of us is also unique. If I wrote a detailed description of each of them, they would all sound very different, for each one of us is as unique as a snowflake.

You mentioned sun signs, which are what daily horoscopes are based upon. I understand that professional astrologers also prepare more specific, personalized horoscopes as determined by the date, time and place of your birth. While this ancient art may seem to be remarkably insightful and accurate, I believe my psychological perspective is just as valid.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.