Solar Eclipse

On Monday, 8 April, there will a nearly total solar eclipse visible across much of the American Midwest. People are already tweaking about it – keep pets indoors! Don’t let your kids go to school! Call out FEMA!

None of this hyperbolic panic is necessary. Just don’t stare into the sun.

We went to the best visible place for the August, 2017 eclipse, near Murphysboro, IL. Here are photos.

Left, 360 degree sunset.
Right, crescent-shaped shadows

Left, weird light. Right, 360 degree sunrise.

In April, 2015, there was a near total lunar eclipse visible in the dawn hours over Lake MI. Here are photos.

What you can expect from a total solar eclipse:
*Crescent-shaped shadows on the ground beneath bushes and trees
*Weird light – it almost resembles a Van Gogh painting
*Sunset / sunrise 360 degrees, meaning all the way around the horizon
*For it to get dark!
*Yes, some animals might be confused. Nocturnal animals awaken. Birds begin to sing like it’s sunrise. 

​Times for Michigan:

Things you can do:
*Look up the exact times that the eclipse begins, its peak, and its end.
*Use a hole-punch to make a round hole in a piece of cardboard. Hold it over a second flat piece of white cardboard. You’ll be able to see the eclipse progress on the paper.
*Take pictures!
*Look at the eclipse through welders’ goggles. Or look at the surrounding area – NOT directly at the sun – with special eclipse glasses.

*Enjoy, because it won't happen again for 21 years.

*Use this occasion for working magick!


This rite will take place at "A Day of Magic", sponsored by Goddess Grotto and Sanctuary of the Winds. Cost is $30 person for the whole day, classes, food, and eclipse  viewing. Proceeds support the Grand Rapids Pagan Pride day on Sept. 21 in Richmond Park, GR. 


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​The rite:

As the moon occludes the sun, visualize with intent the removal of undesirable conditions and unwanted situations. These can include your own faults – anger, fear, jealousy. It can mean getting rid of untenable things such as a binding or roadblock to your success. It is a good time to lift curses and cut unwanted ties. Word your request to eliminate baneful or difficult circumstances – NOT people – for example, “My annoying boss has no effect on my life, his irritating traits are nullified,” without doing harm to the person themselves. Write these undesired conditions down. Draw pictures, use sigils and images to represent the situation.

Burn the paper while speaking your will into manifestation. Use words like banish, eliminate, remove, cleanse, cast out, change, expel, vanquish, eradicate, dismiss, draw away. Be very specific about what you want to remove.

During the time the moon is moving away from the sun, and the light is revealed, write down desired situations and beneficial conditions to replace the things you just banished. Or, write down some brand new things you wish to summon. These can include traits within yourself: courage, tenacity, good health. They can be material things: Financial well-being, a new car. These desired conditions can also be things like friendship, doing well in school, happiness.

No, it is NOT true that eclipse magic does the opposite of what you want. We have used it several times during the last three solar eclipses – finding these astronomical events to be very powerful! This is also a new moon, the time for beginnings, the inception point.

Again, be specific in your working, and talk about how and when you want the conditions to improve. Speak in positive terms, such as “I want a new job that is perfect for me in every way.” Again, draw pictures, use sigils, make images to reflect the ideals you wish to manifest. Call upon magickal helpers such as deities, ancestors, the Sun himself. Use herbs representing the sun such as heliotrope, or burn “Sun” incense.

Again, Visualize with intent what you want the desired conditions to look like. Keep this paper with you or in your sacred space / altar until the condition has manifested to your liking. Use words like invoke, manifest, call forth, bring into being, summon, activate, entreat, evoke, create, improve, bless. Ask nice and say please. Remember to thank helpers for their aid.

Your rite should end before the sun is completely restored in the sky. 

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