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February 17 through February 23, 2025

The week starts out under a fair-minded Libra Moon, asking us to devote more time to our loved ones and most personal relationships. The first of two important astrological shifts takes place on Tuesday as the Sun moves into Pisces. For the next four weeks, our thoughts will turn to more spiritual pursuits, as we look beyond the obvious to explore the deeper reasons behind current events in our lives. As we enter the last month of the astrological year, integrating all we've experienced will be a theme. This is also one of three cycles where the veil between the spirit world and ours is the thinnest, enabling us to receive signs from those who've crossed over as well as our spirit guides. The Moon will travel through Scorpio on Tuesday and Wednesday, adding to our heightened awareness of the ethereal energies that guide our worlds. Things lighten up on Thursday and Friday as the Moon cruises through Sagittarius, encouraging more fun and social activities. We probably won't get much work done, but that's okay - it will be waiting for us next week… The Moon spends the weekend in Capricorn, grounding us and giving us a chance to regroup. The second astrological highlight of the week occurs on Sunday when Mars resumes direct motion after two months of backward movement. Make no mistake, once it gets a foothold, we'll enjoy forward movement once again!

How and Why to Create Your Own Spellbook, by Deborah Blake

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

For many witches, casting spells is a part of their practice of Witchcraft. It may be a large part, used for anything from prosperity to love to healing, or something that is only pulled out during times of great need. Either way, most witches have at least a few books that contain spells. They might even have a few of mine. (If so, huzzah!)

But there is something to be said for creating your own personal spellbook. This might be a small notebook, or a fancy journal, or even a section in your Book of Shadows if you have one. In this day and age, it might even be a file on your computer, although I find that most of us prefer to have an actual book we can hold in our hands.

Some people are intimidated by the idea of writing their own spells, but I assure you, it isn't that difficult. If you really aren't comfortable doing so, however, you can compile a set of spells written by other folks, whether they are friends you practice with, or witchy authors like me. Pick and choose from all the spells you come across in your journey, and select the ones that you find the most useful, or that you think you might need in the future, or that resonate particularly strongly with your own spiritual inclinations.

Definitely write down any spells you've used that have worked well for you, so you will have them handy if you need them again in the future. I have one particular prosperity spell that I wrote years ago and have reused many times. Although I have written a few others since then, that one is still my favorite.

As wonderful as it is to have a collection of spells written by others, there is something to be said for creating your own. For one thing, a spell you write will say exactly what you want or need it to say. You may have a specific situation or issue that is difficult to find just the right prewritten spell to solve. For instance, there are plenty of spells that help you to find love (although I'm not personally a fan of love spells). But what if you need to find the perfect housemate? Or a new friend? In that case, you might need to write your own spell, or at least modify one you found in a book to suit your own needs.

Writing a spell isn't really difficult, even if you're someone who doesn't like writing in general. After all, they can be short, as simple or as complicated as you wish, and they don't have to rhyme unless you want them to (although it can be fun to do so). Writing a spell yourself also puts that extra bit of your own energy into it, which is never a bad thing when you are doing magic.

I talk all about the basics of writing and casting spells in my book, Llewellyn's Little Book of Spellcraft, because while it isn't hard, you do want to get it right. A spell is a powerful tool, after all, and you don't want to have it go sideways. There are plenty of things to consider before writing or using a spell, including making sure you know what your goal is, whether or not you want to use tools or items to help you focus, deciding if the spell is something short-term or one that you want to repeat every day for a certain span of time, and so on.

There are a few basic dos and don'ts that you want to keep in mind, too, although as with everything else in Witchcraft, not everyone agrees on what these are. For me, the most important aspect of a spell is that it is done for good—to create a positive and beneficial outcome—and that it doesn't interfere with anyone else's free will. As I said, there are those who disagree, and that's fine. But especially if you are just starting out, you will be a lot safer if you stick to this guideline.

You also want to consider your own preferences, needs, and limitations. For instance, if you are really busy and can't spare much time for magical work, you will probably want to stick to spells that are simple and fast to perform. If you are still in the broom closet and share your space with others, you may want to choose spells that don't require anything obviously witchy. Not to worry, though, you can forgo the extras altogether, or simply light a candle. (If you happen to carve magical symbols on the bottom, then stick it into a holder, who is going to know?)

If you are creating your own spellbook and you are relatively new to magical work, or even if you just like to keep all the information you need in one place so it is easy to find (like me), you may want to add a few basics to your book, either with the spells themselves, or at the back or the front. This might include things like quarter calls or god/goddess invocations, magical correspondences for various goals, or even just notes to yourself on what works for you and what doesn't.

Or, if you don't want to make your own book, you can find one that already has those things included, so you don't have to go looking for them. Of course, you can do both—make your own spellbook, and also collect a few written by other people that you can use when you don't have the time and energy to come up with something on your own. Kind of like being a great home cook, but also occasionally getting take-out when you're not in the mood to make something yourself.

The most important thing about a spellbook is that it works for you. Whether you are writing spells or using those written by others, integrating spellwork into your magical practice should help you achieve your goals, empower you, and of course, make you feel like the kick-ass witch you are.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2024. All rights reserved.

Recently I was talking with some friends, one of whom is a novice astrologer, and she suggested that a person's sun sign may reflect their level of spiritual development. According to her, Aries and Taurus people tend to be young souls, Leos and Virgos are somewhere in the middle, and Aquarius and Pisces people tend to be "old souls." What do you think of this idea? Is it possible to determine one's level of spiritual development from a sun sign or from a full astrological chart? You guys are awesome!

- Brenda

Dreamchaser:

Well, you did ask for MY opinion, so I am going to give it to you. For me, the key word in your question was "novice."

I have heard all kinds of versions of this "formula." My mother called one day and told me she'd heard that Virgos are on their last life on Earth. She was so happy for me, as I am a (Recovering) Virgo.

Personally, however, I do not believe a word of it. I have seen all sun signs in various stages of "evolution" - or whatever you want to call it. Although I think your friend means well and is really trying to learn, she's way off base with this theory.

I don't believe it's possible to chart a person's spiritual evolution based on their sun sign or even their full astrological chart. You can evaluate a person's placement in the universe by how they live, act, speak, etc. - a person's essence can be seen in their daily life.

There are some basic spiritual lessons we all have to learn. One is unconditional love, not only for others but also for ourselves. Patience and faith are two more.

Now, I will say that I feel a person's life will help mold who they become. For example, I have carried anger throughout this entire lifetime as a result of not dealing with things that happened to me when I was younger. (For the record, I am continuing to address and heal this issue.)

None of this, however, has anything to do with the fact that I am a Virgo. It has to do with the choices I make, the lessons I allow myself to learn, and the actions I take while walking this journey called life.

I know where and when we are born is crucial to an astrological chart. It is basically a blueprint for what to expect in this life. For example, the majority of my stuff is going on in the lower half of the chart. That means that most of my lessons in this life are about internal stuff, and not about what happens on the outside or in the physical world.

Anger, as I used as an example earlier, is INSIDE of me. I have to deal with it on an internal level. However, I am not convinced that it points to my evolution/growth level. I believe that it shows what my soul chose to learn in this lifetime.

In my belief system, if we follow the Native American "Good Red Road," we will develop wisdom and move toward Ascension. The attributes of the Good Red Road include patience, knowledge, integrity, courage, determination, loyalty, experience, leadership, sacrifice, sharing, justice, compassion, kindness, morality, honesty, meditation, reverence, reflection, moderation, respect, cheerfulness, humility, appreciation and understanding.

I wish you continued growth.

*****

Astrea:

I've always been fascinated by astrology. I learned the signs of the zodiac when I was three, and I remember making my first calendar when I was about six. No one I showed it to knew what the heck it was! The months were all messed up because they started on day 21 or 22, and the names of the months weren't recognizable to many people. I even drew all the symbols for the signs.

Your Sun Sign signifies where the Sun was in the Heavens when you were born. Your Rising Sign, or Ascendant, is said to be the personality you present to others, and the only way to tell that accurately is to have the EXACT time and place of your birth.

The Ascendant usually tells me the most about your personality. While your actual birthday and Sun Sign are helpful, the time and place are more revealing. When I combine your Sun Sign and your Ascendant, I get a good window into who you really are.

As for spiritual development, my teachers weren't as concerned with the Sun Sign as they were with where the other planets were at the time of birth. Traditionally, the Sun does NOT show a person's spiritual development. That comes more from the position of the Moon and Pluto in someone's chart.

The Moon shows a lot about someone's emotional world, and Pluto shows (among other things) a person's attitude towards Death and the Afterlife. To me, these are more important in evaluating someone's spirituality than where the Sun was when he or she was born.

To determine past lives, I absolutely need to know where Pluto was when that person was born this time around, and where the Sun was at the time will usually tell me that. Pluto moves so slowly around the Sun that it's usually easy to determine where it was if I have a person's birth date. Unlike the Ascendant or the Moon Sign, this doesn't depend on the hour of someone's birth. Since Pluto stays in a sign for many years, it's usually easy to find its location.

As for your friend's "old soul" and "young soul" theory, I can see where she might get that as a beginner. Aries people can seem like very young souls, while Earth signs can appear to be older spirits, but I've seen lots of past lives and experiences in all twelve. Aries and Taurus are the first two signs at the BEGINNING of the astrological year, so your friend's conclusions are probably just unconscious assumptions.

In summary, one's Sun Sign does not usually indicate the age of their soul. Tell your friend to take a closer look at the other planets in the charts she's reading, for she'll find that using the Moon and Pluto is MUCH easier than trying to determine soul age from the Sun!

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.