Welcome to Stepping Aside…Where Magick Begins

©2025-2026 Jan Erickson 

The Week Ahead: Astrology, Runes, & Energetic Insights 8-14 November 2026

The Week Ahead is a compendium of information that includes a weekly forecast, current astrological information, correspondences, and recommendations for working magick, as well as weekday rune and tarot readings that help you navigate the coming week. Love and Blessings to all!

Quick Reference

Retrograde Planets

• Mercury in Scorpio; SD (11/13/2026)
• Venus in Scorpio (detriment); Libra; SD 11/13/2026
• Uranus in Gemini; SD 2/8/2027
• Neptune in Aries; SD 12/12/2026
• Saturn in Aries (fall); SD 12/10/2026
• Chiron in Aries; SD 1/6/27
• Pallas in Aries; SD 11/30/2026
• Vesta in Aries; SD 11/28/2026

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Moon Sign/VOC/Phases

• 1/8/2025 – Sunday: Scorpio (fall); Void of Course: Not today; Phase: Waning, Balsamic
• 11/9/2025 – Monday: Scorpio (fall); Void of Course: 3:24p-EOD; Phase: Waning, Balsamic; New at 11:03p, 16°Sc53
• 11/10/2025 – Tuesday: Scorpio (fall) until Sagittarius at 12:35a; Void of Course: Until 12:35a; Phase: Waxing, New
• 11/11/2025 – Wednesday: Sagittarius; Void of Course: Not today; Phase: Waxing, New
• 11/12/2026 – Thursday: Sagittarius until Capricorn (detriment) at 12:27p; Void of Course: 3:28a-12:27p; Phase: Waxing, New
• 11/13/2026 – Friday: Capricorn (detriment); Void of Course: Not today; Phase: Waxing, Crescent
• 11/14/2026 – Saturday: Capricorn (detriment); Void of Course: 10:55a-EOD; Phase: Waxing, Crescent 

Additional Planets in Sign

• Mercury – Scorpio
• Mars – Leo
• Venus – Libra (dignity)
• Jupiter – Leo
• Saturn – Aries (fall)

Out of Bounds

• Moon (11/10-14)
• Pluto (all week)
• Ceres (all week)
• BML (all week)

© 2025-2026 Jan Erickson

General Astrological Insights

Your health is important during the week, and you need to avoid relationship drama while remaining an honest and resourceful partner. Leave time to rest and recuperate at the beginning of the week. Pay attention to your dreams and intuition, and engage in what inspires you. Attending to goals can happen when your balance returns.

Although Mercury and Venus end their retrograde on Friday, there is still a shadow period that occurs for a week or so before and after Mercury retrogrades, and two weeks to a month for Venus. So, issues with communication with partners may continue for a while longer. 

Truth may be more important for you this week than maintaining harmony. Just be certain that you know what that is before asserting something that isn’t real.

The Moon’s influence this week:

At the beginning of the week, you reflect on your emotional intensity and how that creates drama in your life. You may also be cautious when embracing new ideas and choices. As the week continues, changes in your life (career, home, etc.) can bring changes in your finances. Stay flexible and control your temper. You may need to take time for yourself to regain your emotional balance. However, if you’re tempted to spend money while doing so, make sure it doesn’t impact your material responsibilities.

Daily Readings

Sunday, 8 November 2026

It’s fine to take time away from others today to enhance your creative potential; however, if you’re doing it because you mistakenly believe no one is there for you, you may be engaging in self-sabotage. Don’t sacrifice your inner wisdom to an emotional imbalance. Remember that striving for success may also mean that you do so in collaboration with others.

For the magickally inclined: Tiwaz ᛏ, from the Elder Futhark, invokes Tyr, the god of justice, and the spiritual warrior within, faith, ideals, oaths, and sacrifice on behalf of others. However, sometimes you also need to sacrifice for yourself. Carrying Tiwaz in some fashion on your person can help you align with that higher energetic purpose, whether it’s as an amulet or a talisman, incorporated in a charm bag, or drawn on a piece of parchment and rolled up as a scroll you place in a pocket. Drawing it with your finger over a chakra such as the 3rd Eye, Throat, Heart, or Solar Plexus can also align with the spiritual warrior within. 

Influences: Universal numerology/Day: 2/8; Runes: Tiwaz, Albus; Tarot: 4 of Cups; Human Design Gate/Line 1.4 Aloneness as the Medium of Creativity 

Monday, 9 November 2026

Overreacting to criticism today could backfire, leading you to ignore what was said or what you already know to be true. You shape your experiences, whether for good or for ill, so let go of the ego and be mindful of input from others, which oftentimes can be quite transformative.

For the magickally inclined: Uruz ᚢ from the Elder Futhark, Conjunctio 𜻦 from geomancy, and The Hanged Man from the Major Arcana in the Rider-Waite Tarot provide a useful study to understand how alignment in Higher Consciousness and letting go of the ego’s hold on your perceptions can transform how you collaboratively shape your experiences. Sometimes going it alone can be the right choice, but you risk the possibility that your ego takes over and is unwilling to accept criticism as positive. The inner strength suggested by Uruz helps you remain open to input from others. If that suggests a different path, Conjunctio and The Hanged Man may indicate the need to let go of the choice to do it all yourself. 

Influences: Universal numerology/Day: 3/9; Runes: Uruz, Conjunctio; Tarot: The Hanged Man; Human Design Gate/Line: 43.3 Expediency (detriment)

Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Although it may be tempting to ask others to shoulder responsibilities that are actually your own today, in the long run, doing so could make you lose their respect. A different approach may be necessary, one that is grounded and, therefore, more reliable. You have a level of mastery that others don’t, so if delegation is something that needs to happen in the future, use this moment to collaborate on what that looks like. That way, you’re more likely to respect the talent and skills others have to offer.

For the magickally inclined: The Hierophant from the Major Arcana in the Rider-Waite Tarot can be seen from a religious standpoint, but it also suggests a master/student or authority figure/employee relationship, and the respect that is due each person. It acknowledges a potential relationship between people who have more knowledge and those who seek that knowledge. Another aspect of the card may involve the growth of a student into a master, and the understanding and mercy involved when teaching others. It suggests that you might be, in the role of master or teacher, the one to show divinely oriented mercy to someone who is learning from you. Also, if you’re the student in the relationship, it suggests the humility necessary to learn from someone with more experience. Lastly, the expression of grace on both parts is inherent in the relationship. In short, The Hierophant is a powerfully resonant card to contemplate.

Influences: Universal numerology/Day: 4/1; Runes: Dagaz, Puella; Tarot: The Hierophant; Human Design Gate/Line: 4.5 Seduction

Wednesday, 11 October 2026

Be careful not to lose sight of the greater good today, or you may express conflict for its own sake. Today’s Master 11 numerology invokes awakening to a higher truth, so don’t become caught up in anything that involves a limited awareness or following along with something you instinctively know isn’t right.

For the magickally inclined: Algiz ᛉ from the Elder Futhark describes elk protection. The elk forages in grassy areas where their antlers can be hidden, yet they still can see what’s around them. Spiritually, Algiz represents the connection between physical and astral realms, and the rune itself can be demonstrated physically by standing and raising your arms in supplication to higher consciousness. You can visualize the upper three points as Air, Fire, and Water, with the bottom point representing Earth. Raising your arms this way, you can visualize Air and Water energy vortexing downward through your hands and down into the Earth, and Fire energy vortexing downward into the Earth through your head/Crown chakra. It’s a nice way to align in higher consciousness and move the elemental energies through your body in a healing ritual.

Influences: Universal numerology/Day: 5/11; Runes: Algiz, Populus; Tarot: 10 of Wands; Human Design Gate/Line: 28.4 Holding on (detriment)

Thursday, 12 November 2026

Be persistent when assessing a situation today. You could be on the threshold of something new beginning in your life, and you want to understand it with clarity instead of jumping in without knowing all the facts. If this is a business opportunity, you may want to consult an attorney or another advisor. With all that said, ask for what you need, and listen to your inner voice if something doesn’t feel right.

For the magickally inclined: Laguz ᛚ from the Elder Futhark describes energetic flow (spiritual, etc.), intuition, clairsentience, and harmony. It’s useful in meditation and visualization, especially for empathic individuals, to draw energy back to you after dissolving energetic connections. This is particularly useful if you didn’t initiate the connection and it is vampiric in nature. Essentially, you visualize the energetic connections, and then see them dissolve. When complete, you can use Laguz as a hook to draw back your own energy without bringing any outside energy into your awareness. Softly chanting Laguz can also be used in a purification or cleansing ritual to achieve emotional balance.

Influences: Universal numerology/Day: 6/3; Runes: Laguz, Caput Draconis; Tarot: Justice; Human Design Gate/Line: 29.2 Assessment 

Friday, 13 November 2026

Allow a situation to settle out, if possible, today before making any decisions. Take time to observe to determine if the factors are truly in line with your goals. While you don’t necessarily want to micromanage anything or anyone, pay attention to what your gut is telling you, so you protect your investment in a positive outcome. 

For the magickally inclined: Nauthiz ᚾ from the Elder Futhark can be paired with Fortuna Major 𜻣 from geomancy to help shape achieving an intended goal. Nauthiz asks you to invoke the inner will to overcome challenges or restrictions, while Fortuna Major provides more specific details when manifesting that goal. Fortuna Major describes greater fortune and, considering how you define success, the involvement of ego in the process, perfectionistic attitudes, the impact of micromanaging others, as well as self-reinforcing behavior. You begin with the will to do something, but how you get there is just as, if not more, important.

Influences: Universal numerology/Day: 7/4; Runes: Nauthiz, Fortuna Major; Tarot: The Hermit; Human Design Gate/Line: 32.3 Lack on continuity 

Saturday, 14 November 2026

Success and abundance that stem from shared ideas and collaboration inspire future efforts. The ideals and leadership you offer to a group today foster the freedom to innovate with clarity and confidence. What you create from this point forward is entirely up to you.

For the magickally inclined: The rune Tiwaz ᛏ from the Elder Futhark can, for example, be carved or woodburned onto a piece of wood to use as an altar item or hang on the wall to represent the spiritual warrior within, faith, justice, ideals, and oaths. It can be carved into a gate post or beside a door to indicate that integrity is present in the home or building. 

Influences: Universal numerology/Day: 8/5; Runes: Tiwaz, Acquisitio; Tarot: The Empress; Human Design Gate/Line 17.5 No human is an island

©2025-2026 Jan Erickson

Weekly Correspondences

Below are the corresponding astrological and other energies for working magick for the week. ~  et incipit magia

Sunday, 8 November 2026

Magical focus: The Sun governs; clarity, truth, healing, courage, removing barriers, leadership

• Universal Numerology: 2 – Collaboration, Closeness, Kindness, Harmony, and Assistance, balance, decisions/Day: 8 – Materialistic Approval, Achievement, Striving for Success, leadership, and Acknowledgment
• The Sun in Scorpio
• The Moon in Scorpio (fall)
• Moon Void of Course: Not today
• Lunar Phase: Waning, Balsamic
• Planetary governance: The Sun ☉
• Governing Planet Ray – 2nd (love/wisdom): Strongest Ray: 4th
• Favorability: Neutral
• Polarity: Masculine
• Elemental Balance: In order of strength: Water, Fire, Air, Earth(0)
• Strongest Sign Mode: Fixed
• Mansion of the Moon: 17th – Alchil (Al-Iklil) 25°Li42; crown of Scorpio; reverses destitution, strengthens love and buildings and assists sailors; at 7:00a, 18th – Alchab (Al Qalb) 8°Sc34; heart of Scorpio; creates discord, conspiracy; revenge against authority and from enemies, releases prisoners, helps structures  
• Retrograde planets: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Chiron, Pallas, Vesta
• Planets Out of Bounds: Pluto -23°35; Ceres +24°18;  BML -27°12

General Correspondences

• Element: Fire
• Color: Gold, yellow
• Direction: South
• Energy: masculine/projective
• Power: To Will
• Deities: Sol, Apollo, Helios, Och (Olympic Spirit)
• Crystal: emerald, topaz, bloodstone, chrysolite
• Resin: mastic, frankincense, copal, saffron, red sandalwood, cinnamon, honey
• Herbs: Angelica, juniper, calendula, hyacinth, rosemary, mint, ivy, pepper, vine, sunflower, cedar, marjoram, bay, vervain, gentian, Dittany, ginger, peony, balm, marigold, heliotrope

Monday, 9 November 2026

Magickal focus:  The Moon governs; feminine magicks, healing, intuition, cycles, reincarnation, astral travel, balance, change

• Universal Numerology: 3 – Self-Expression, Entertainment, Optimism, Imagination, and Friendliness; reason, mental acuity, detail-oriented; Day 9 – idealistic, generous, and kind; Altruism, Humanitarianism, Generosity, Sympathy
• The Sun in Scorpio
• The Moon in Scorpio (fall)
• Moon Void of Course: 3:24p-EOD
• Lunar Phase: Waning, Balsamic; New at 11:03p, 16°Sc53
• Planetary governance: The Moon ☽
• Governing Planet Ray: 4th ray (harmony through conflict); Strongest Ray: 4th
• Favorability: Excellent
• Polarity: Masculine
• Elemental Balance: In order of strength: Water, Fire, Air, Earth(0)
• Strongest Sign Mode: Fixed
• Mansion of the Moon: 18th – Alchab (Al Qalb) 8°Sc34; heart of Scorpio; creates discord, conspiracy; revenge against authority and from enemies, releases prisoners, helps structures; at 7:50a, 19th  Exaula (Al Shaulah) 21°Sc25; tail of Scorpio; fosters attacking cities and towns, forces people to leave their homes, destroys sailors and prisoners  
• Retrograde: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Chiron, Pallas, Vesta
• Planets Out of Bounds: Pluto -23°35; Ceres +24°21;  BML -27°11

General Correspondences

• Element: Water
• Color: Silver, white
• Direction: West
• Energy: feminine/receptive
• Power: To Dare
• Deities: Diana, Luna, Selene, Artemis, Mani, Phul (Olympic Spirit)
• Crystal: Pearl, moonstone, selenite, beryl, marcasite
• Resin: mastic, frankincense, copal, saffron, red sandalwood, cinnamon, honey
• Herbs: almond, mugwort, moonwort, yellow ranunculus, palm, lily, willow, violet, poppy, fennel, iris

Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Magickal focus: Mars governs; passion, manifestation, creativity, self-assertion, reducing conflict

• Universal Numerology: 4 – grounding, foundation, practicality, reliability, patience, structure/Day – 1 –  Uniqueness, Freedom, Talent, Governance, Leadership, and Revolution
• The Sun in Scorpio
• The Moon in Scorpio (fall) until Sagittarius at 12:35a
• Moon Void of Course: Until 12:35a
• Lunar Phase: Waxing, New
• Planetary governance: Mars ♂
• Governing planet in sign: Mars in Leo
• Governing Planet Ray: 6th ray (devotion and idealism), Strongest Ray: 4th
• Favorability: Very good
• Polarity: Masculine
• Elemental Balance: In order of strength: Fire/Water, Air, Earth
• Strongest Sign Mode: Fixed
• Mansion of the Moon: 19th – Exaula (Al Shaulah) 21°Sc25; tail of Scorpio; fosters attacking cities and towns, forces people to leave their homes, destroys sailors and prisoners; at 9:01a, 20th – Nahaym (Al Na’am) 4°Sg17; a beam; tames wild animals, fortifies prisons, destroys the wealth of societies, compels someone to a specific place 
• Retrograde Planets: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Chiron, Pallas, Vesta
• Planets Out of Bounds: Moon -25°39; Pluto -23°34; Ceres +24°24;  BML -27°10

General Correspondences

• Element: Fire
• Color: Red, rust
• Direction: South
• Energy: masculine/projective
• Power: To Will
• Deities: Ares, Mars, Tyr, Phaleg (Olympic Spirit)
• Crystal: Amethyst, bloodstone, lodestone, diamond, jasper
• Resin: Juniper, dragon’s blood, red sandalwood
• Herbs: Absinthe, cayenne, basil, asafoetida, rue, garlic, black pepper, nettle, wormwood, onion, mustard, leeks, ginger, wolfsbane, thorny trees (Hawthorn)

Wednesday, 11 November 2026

Magickal focus: Mercury governs; communication, interactions, balance, justice, revelation

• Universal Numerology: 5 – protection, pentagram, travel, innovation, freedom versus restriction/ Day – 11 – Master number, awakening, enlightenment
• The Sun in Scorpio
• The Moon in Sagittarius
• Moon Void of Course: Not today
• Lunar Phase: Waxing, New
• Planetary governance: Mercury ☿
• Governing planet in sign: Mercury in Scorpio
• Governing Planet Ray: 4th (harmony through conflict); Strongest Ray: 4th
• Favorability: Excellent
• Polarity: Masculine
• Elemental Balance: In order of strength: Fire/Water, Air, Earth
• Strongest Sign Mode: Fixed
• Mansion of the Moon: 20th – Nahaym (Al Na’am) 4°Sg17; a beam; tames wild animals, fortifies prisons, destroys the wealth of societies, compels someone to a specific place; at 10:35a, 21st – Elbeda (Al Baldah) 17°Sg8; which is a desert; increases gain, harvest, building strength, and successful travel, causes divorce 
• Retrograde Planets: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Chiron, Pallas, Vesta
• Planets Out of Bounds: Moon -27°18; Pluto -23°34; Ceres +24°28;  BML -27°09

General Correspondences

• Element: Air
• Color: yellow, purple
• Direction: East
• Energy: masculine/projective
• Power: To Know
• Deities: Hermes, Mercury, Thoth, Odin/Woden, Ophiel (Olympic Spirit)
• Crystal: Agate, emerald, fluorite, topaz, citrine, red marble
• Resin: benzoin, gum arabic,  frankincense
• Herbs: marjoram, horehound, bergamot, cinnamon, lavender, caraway, cloves, licorice, mullein, peppermint, star anise, hyssop

Thursday, 12 November 2026

Magickal focus: Jupiter governs; social justice, healing, abundance, income, growth, achieving goals

• Universal Numerology: 6 – assistance, shared path, empathy, love, guidance/ Day – 3 – Self-Expression, Entertainment, Optimism, Imagination, and Friendliness; reason, mental acuity, detail-oriented
• The Sun in Scorpio
• The Moon in Sagittarius until Capricorn at 12:27p
• Moon Void of Course: 3:28a-12:27p
• Lunar Phase: Waxing, New 
• Planetary governance: Jupiter ♃
• Governing planet in sign: Jupiter – Leo 
• Governing Planet Ray: 2nd Ray (love and wisdom); Strongest Ray: 4th
• Favorability: Neutral
• Polarity: Masculine
• Elemental Balance: In order of strength: Fire/Water, Air, Earth
• Strongest Sign Mode: Fixed
• Mansion of the Moon: 21st – Elbeda (Al Baldah) 17°Sg8; which is a desert; increases gain, harvest, building strength, and successful travel; causes divorce; at 12:27p, 22nd – Caadaldeba (Sa’d al-Dhabih) 1°Capricorn; head of Capricorn; encourages prisoners and servants to flee; cures disease 
• Retrograde Planets: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Chiron, Pallas, Vesta
• Planets Out of Bounds: Moon -27°40; Pluto -23°34; Ceres +24°31;  BML -27°09

General Correspondences

• Element: Fire, Water, Air
• Color: Blue
• Direction: South, West, East
• Energy: balanced
• Power: To Will, To Dare, To Know
• Deities: Zeus, Jupiter, Thor, Bethor (Olympic Spirit)
• Crystal: sapphire, jasper, emerald
• Resin: balm of Gilead, ambergris, saffron
• Herbs: basil, agrimony, mints, dandelion, borage, bugloss (alkanet), wood betony, hyssop, henbane, poplar, oak, plum, fig, meadowsweet

Friday, 13 November 2026

Magickal focus: Venus governs; compassion, love, harmony, attracting a partner, partnership issues, female sexuality, fertility, healing, friendship

• Universal Numerology: 7 – observation, balance, justice, the scales, magick, spirituality/ Day- 4 – grounding, foundation, practicality, reliability, patience, structure
• The Sun in Scorpio
• The Moon in Capricorn
• Moon Void of Course: Not today
• Lunar Phase: Waxing, Crescent
• Planetary governance: Venus ♀
• Governing planet in sign: Venus in Libra (dignity)
• Governing Planet Ray: 5th Ray (concrete knowledge and science); Strongest Ray: 4th
• Favorability: Excellent
• Polarity: Feminine
• Elemental Balance: In order of strength: Water, Earth, Fire, Air
• Strongest Sign Mode: Fixed
• Mansion of the Moon: 22nd – Caadaldeba (Sa’d al-Dhabih) 1°Capricorn; head of Capricorn; encourages prisoners and servants to flee, cures disease; at 2:32p, 23rd – Caadebolach (Sa’d Bula) 12°Cp51; swallowing; divorce, freeing of prisoners, healing 
• Retrograde Planets: Mercury (SD), Venus (SD), Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Chiron, Pallas, Vesta
• Planets Out of Bounds: Moon -26°44; Pluto -23°34; Ceres +24°35;  BML -27°08

General Correspondences

• Element: Water
• Color: Green, rose
• Direction: West
• Energy: feminine/receptive
• Power: To Dare
• Deities: Venus, Aphrodite, Freyja, Hagith (Olympic Spirit)
• Crystal: Turquoise, lapis lazuli, beryl, rose quartz, coral
• Resin: sandalwood, ambergris, musk, orris root
• Herbs: apple, rose, myrtle, bugloss (alkanet), burdock, feverfew, lilac, marshmallow, vervain, valerian, thyme, coriander, pears, elder, pomegranate, passionflower, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, vanilla, yarrow, violet, plantain

Saturday, 14 November 2026

Magickal focus: Saturn governs; restriction, bindings, summoning, harvest, purification, protection

• Universal Numerology: 8 – Materialistic Approval, Achievement, Striving for Success, leadership, and Acknowledgment; Day – 5 – protection, pentagram, travel, innovation, freedom versus restriction
• The Sun in Scorpio
• The Moon in Capricorn (detriment)
• Moon Void of Course: 10:55a-EOD
• Lunar Phase: Waxing, Crescent
• Planetary governance: Saturn ♄
• Governing planet in sign: Saturn in Aries (fall)
• Governing Planet Ray: 5th Ray (concrete knowledge and science); Strongest Ray: 4th
• Favorability: Excellent
• Polarity: Feminine
• Elemental Balance: In order of strength: Water, Fire, Earth, Air
• Strongest Sign Mode: Fixed
• Mansion of the Moon: 23rd – Caadebolach (Sa’d Bula) 12°Cp51; swallowing; divorce, freeing of prisoners, healing; at 4:41p, 24th – Caadacohot (Sa’d al-Su’ud) 25°Cp42; star of fortune; increases compassion between married people, military victory, obstructs government 
• Retrograde Planets: Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Chiron, Pallas, Vesta
• Planets Out of Bounds: Moon -26°36; Pluto -23°34; Ceres +24°39;  BML -27°07

General Correspondences

• Element: Earth
• Color: Brown, black
• Direction: North
• Energy: feminine/receptive
• Power: To Keep Silence
• Deities: Chronos, Aratron (Olympic Spirit)
• Crystal: Onyx, jet, jade, emerald, sapphire, smoky quartz, marcasite, lodestone, brown jasper
• Resin: alum, sulfur,  benzoin, balm of Gilead, myrrh
• Herbs: asafoetida, cypress, dragonwort, black hellebore, mandrake, opium, garlic, hemlock, ivy, mullein, nightshade, skullcap, St. John’s Wort, Solomon’s seal root, comfrey, boneset, pine

©2025-2026 Jan Erickson

Spellcasting Tips and Recommendations

Timing

• Dawn: healing, new beginnings, study, purification
• Noon: strength, opportunity, success, protection, wealth
• Sunset: letting go, release
• Night: spirituality, aligning with Spirit, healing, dreamwork, visions

Cosmic Rays

• 1st – will/power 
• 2nd – love/wisdom 
• 3rd – active intelligence
• 4th – harmony through conflict
• 5th – concrete science and knowledge
• 6th – devotion/idealism
• 7th – ceremonial magic and order

Polarity

• Feminine: compassion, empathy, and understanding 
• Masculine: motivation, initiation, and expressions of creativity
• Balanced: compassion, empathy, and understanding are balanced with motivation, initiation, and expressions of creativity.

Moon Phases

• Waxing (Magicks of Increase)
  • New (focused on opportunities with a tendency toward impulsiveness; time to look inward and make plans for the future)
  • Crescent (self-assertion is strong and you embrace challenges)
  • 1st Qtr (leadership skills are strong with high expectations of others)
  • Gibbous (seeking knowledge, working toward achieving goals, discovering one’s purpose)
• Waning (Magicks of Decrease)
  • Full (relationships are an important part of your life; a powerfully creative time for goals and projects)
  • Disseminating (motivated to share knowledge and wisdom with others)
  • 3rd Qtr (action from a place of strength with adaptability challenging at times)
  • Balsamic – (your destiny or future factors into life decisions, with leadership a potential role for you to play)

Recommendations

• Candles can be scribed, anointed in ritual oil, and then rolled in crushed herbs for additional effect
• Essential oils can be added to a carrier oil such as grape seed or almond to create a ritual oil
• When using planetary squares or seals, whenever possible, draw them out during the ritual itself
• If summoning anyone or anything to assist in the working, be sure to include the license to depart to thank and release the entity from your service
• Tarot cards and runes may be used to further enhance a working or to provide a focus
• Runes can be drawn in the air above workings for additional impact and to further define your intention

Areas of power

• Crossroads (the dirt can be used, also dirt from footprints)
• Graveyards (crushed mullein can be used in place of graveyard dirt)
• Outside altars/established sacred space
• Doorways, windows
• Boundaries of all kinds
• Sacred spots, especially ancient stone ruins

Times of power – Moon phases, planetary hours, eclipses, storms, equinoxes, solstices, charging water/crystals/mirrors/tools can be performed under a full moon

©2025-2026 Jan Erickson

References

• Erickson, Jan. Herbal Magicka. 2021
• Erickson, Jan. Witch Notes. Kindle. 2019.  
• Erickson, Jan. Shifting Perception. Draft2Digital. 2020.

If you’d like to support my blog, you’re welcome to do so by shopping at A Witch in Store, my Amazon affiliate storefront. Thank you

©2025-2026 Jan Erickson

Special Note: Unapproved Use of My Work

So, once again, another website is posting my work from Stepping Aside. This is upsetting, and although I understand that there are people out there who do this because it’s been done to me before, it’s completely unacceptable. My website has been up since 2012, and I’ve worked incredibly hard to publish work that I believe others might be interested in. I tried to contact the website in question, but the email address doesn’t appear to be valid. So, I’m doing what I can to deal with it. ~ Jan Erickson

©2025-2026 Jan Erickson