​Jupiter is still in Pisces until July 28, but stationing retrograde later this week.
Several nights ago, the Moon was in its domicile of Cancer, applying to a conjunction with Venus, both receiving a superior whole-sign trine from Jupiter. It was a night for ritual and reverence, connecting with these celestial bodies and inviting their support.
May abundance and ease find each of you in the midst of all of that we are struggling for.

​Today we come to the final day of our journey through the days of planetary magic: Saturday, the day of Saturn. Attuning with Saturn can sometimes bring up difficult feelings—of limitation, constraint, scarcity, or even fear. But in my practice, I’ve found that even these difficult feelings have important lessons to teach us, and Saturn is one of our great teachers.
 
In Hellenistic astrology, Saturn is described as the malefic of the diurnal (day) sect. Saturn rejects and excludes. It is the planet associated with limits, boundaries, structures, the passage of time, and the wisdom that comes from age and solitude. Saturn teaches us discipline and patience. If you’ve heard of—or been through—your “Saturn return,” this is when Saturn returns to the place it was in the sky at the time you were born. This happens approximately every 29 years or so, and each cycle, Saturn comes back around to hold us accountable to difficult, life-long lessons. Saturn rules the signs of Capricorn and Aquarius, and is exalted in the sign of Libra.
 
For today—or any Saturday—you might make a small altar for Saturn with the things you have available. You can look to the list of correspondences below for the kinds of colors, stones, numbers, and tarot cards you might incorporate. Add things that you associate with Saturn—maybe a clock or an hour glass, perhaps photos or objects that have been handed down to you from your ancestors, things that are old or antique, or things that intimate solitude. Once you build your altar, take some time to be with it as an aesthetic experience. Notice how being with this altar makes you feel. Drop your attention down into your body and observe what sensations arise as you spend time with the objects that you’ve gathered for Saturn.
 
Saturn is currently visible in the night sky. It has a dull, brownish/yellowish glow. I usually locate it in relation to Jupiter—Jupiter is bright and shining in Sagittarius, and Saturn is around 30º to the east of Jupiter. If it’s a clear night, perhaps you might go for a walk and try to spot Saturn, observing what it feels like to stare into its light.

Whether you’re working with or without an altar, whether you go out to see Saturn in the sky, I invite you to take some time to meditate with Saturn. It could be five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. Visualize Saturn in your mind’s eye (you can look up pictures of the planet if you don’t know what it looks like), or visualize the glyph for Saturn. Notice what your body feels like as you imagine Saturn. Remember or call up experiences in which you felt acutely aware of the passage of time. Remember experiences in which you felt challenged to take responsibility, to act with maturity, and to be disciplined in your choices. Recall times when you have felt limited or restricted by circumstances you couldn’t control, structures that resisted any attempt to change them. Notice what these memories feel like in your body, not just as thoughts in your mind.

In meditations like this, I also work with mantras coming from the yoga tradition. For working with Saturn, I use the mantra: “Om Sri Shanaishwaraya Namaha.” I use a mala and repeat the mantra 108 times. I also sometimes use mudra, described below.
 
However you spend your time meditating with Saturn—repeating a mantra, recalling experiences that you associate with Saturn’s significations, gazing at Saturn in the night sky, or sitting at your alter—tune in to the sensations that begin to accumulate. These could be physical, emotional, or more subtle energetic shifts in your awareness. The practice is for Saturn to become more than just an abstract symbol or something that you think of as “out there” in space. As you begin to notice what Saturn feels like within your body, this becomes a state that you can return to and work with in your magic, and how you understand Saturn astrologically—in your birth chart or in its transits—will begin to take on more embodied significance as well.
 
Saturn
Day: Saturday
Number: 3
Colors: black and grey
Metals: “Iron and part of gold” (Picatrix)
Stones: “diamond, onyx, cameo, and azebehe that is black and clear, and iron ore and magnesia and ruby in part, and yellow mascasite, and also hematite” (Picatrix)
Chakra: Muladhara, the Root Chakra
Mantra: Om Sri Shanaishwaraya Namaha
Mudra: The middle finger is associated with Saturn, so I use Shunya Mudra—folding the middle finger toward the center of the palm, bringing tip of thumb to the top of the middle finger together, with other fingers extended.
Tarot: The Hermit (In the Golden Dawn tradition, Saturn was associated with The World card.)

On our journey through the days of planetary magic, Friday brings us to the day of Venus.
 
Venus is the benefic of the nocturnal sect. Venus unifies and reconciles. It is the planet associated with love and relationships, beauty, attraction, the arts, aesthetic harmony, and our values. It is a planet that draws us together and connects us, puts us in touch with our tastes and our pleasures, and offers us the joy of being held in supportive and life-affirming relations. Venus rules the signs of Taurus and Libra, and is exalted in the sign of Pisces.
 
For today—or any Friday—you might make a small altar for Venus with the things you have available. You can look to the list of correspondences below for the kinds of colors, stones, numbers, and tarot cards you might incorporate. Add things that you associate with Venus—maybe love letters or objects you associate with loved ones and lovers, adornments like perfume and jewelry, artworks, or objects that bring you pleasure. Flowers are always appropriate for Venus. Once you build your altar, take some time to be with it as an aesthetic experience. Notice how being with your altar to Venus makes you feel. Drop your attention down into your body and observe what sensations arise as you spend time with the objects you’ve gathered for Venus.
 
Venus is currently too close to the Sun to be visible in the night sky, but she will return to the western sky around dusk from October 10 through December 31. When the time comes, I hope you take an evening walk to witness the sparkling beauty of Venus as the Sun sets.

Whether you’re working with or without an altar, I invite you to take some time to meditate with Venus. It could be five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. Visualize Venus in your mind’s eye (you can look up pictures of the planet if you don’t know what it looks like), or visualize the glyph for Venus. Notice what your body feels like as you imagine Venus. Remember or call up experiences in which you felt truly loved and connected to sources of love and care. Remember experiences when you felt so moved by beauty that you were transported into a world that was more like the world in which you want to live. Recall times where you felt intimately attuned to your own pleasure. Notice what these memories feel like in your body, not just as thoughts in your mind.

In meditations like this, I also work with mantras coming from the yoga tradition. For working with Venus, I use the mantra: “Om Sri Shukraya Namaha.” I use a mala and repeat the mantra 108 times. I also sometimes use mudra, described below.
 
However you spend your time meditating with Venus—repeating a mantra, recalling experiences that you associated with Venus’ significations—tune in to the sensations that begin to accumulate. These could be physical or they could be more subtle energetic shifts in your awareness. The practice here is for Venus to become more than just an abstract symbol or something that you think of as “out there” in space. As you begin to notice what Venus feels like within your body, this becomes a state that you can return to and work with in your magic, and how you understand Venus astrologically—in your birth chart or in its transits—will begin to take on more embodied significance as well.
 
Venus
Day: Friday
Number: 7
Colors: Emerald green and pastels
Metals and Stones: “ruby and part of silver and glass and blue stones and coral and malachite and has part of quarts and lodestone” (Picatrix)
Chakra: Anahata, the Heart Chakra
Mantra: Om Sri Shukraya Namaha
Mudra: For Venus, I use Padma Mudra (Lotus Mudra) because of its association with anahata—the heart chakra. I also sometimes use Shukra Mudra, which comes from Indian dance traditions (pictured below). Form a fist with both hands with the thumb on the outside of the fingers, palm-side of the hands facing the heart with the left hand higher than the right.
Tarot: The Empress—although The Lovers would make sense to me as well.
 
Kaitlin Coppock of Sphere + Sundry also has several beautiful series of talismanic offerings dedicated to Venus: 
Venus in Libra: https://sphereandsundry.com/product-category/series/venus-in-libra/
Exalted Venus: https://sphereandsundry.com/product-category/series/exalted-venus/
Venus in Taurus:​ https://sphereandsundry.com/product-category/series/venus-in-taurus/
I work with offerings from all three of these series, and I highly recommend them as companions in your journey with Venus.

I also recommend Dori Midnight’s Pleasure Activist Potion as a companion to support you in connecting to your own pleasures: https://dorimidnight.com/apothecary/pleasure-activist/

​Today our journey through the days of planetary magic brings us to Thursday, the day of Jupiter.
 
Jupiter is the great benefic of the diurnal sect. Jupiter stabilizes and affirms. It is a planet associated with abundance, expansion, and growth, as well as faith, belief, wisdom, good fortune, and justice. It is a profoundly optimistic and supportive planet. Jupiter rules the signs of Sagittarius and Pisces, and is exalted in the sign of Cancer.
 
For today—or any Thursday—you might make a small—or maybe large—altar for Jupiter with the things you have available. You can look to the list of correspondences below for the kinds of colors, stones, numbers, and tarot cards you might incorporate. Add things that you associate with Jupiter—maybe objects you associate with your teachers and sources of wisdom, plants that grow, or objects of spiritual and religious significance. Once you build your altar, take some time to be with it as an aesthetic experience. Notice how being with this altar makes you feel. Drop your attention down into your body and observe what sensations arise as you spend time with the objects you’ve gathered for Jupiter.
 
Jupiter is currently visible each night, a bright diamond in the dark of the night sky. You may consider going for a walk just after sunset to catch a glimpse of the great benefic.

Whether you’re working with or without an altar, whether you go outside to see Jupiter in the sky, I invite you to take some time to meditate with Jupiter. It could be five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. Visualize Jupiter in your mind’s eye (you can look up pictures of the planet if you don’t know what it looks like), or visualize the glyph for Jupiter. Notice what your body feels like as you imagine Jupiter. Remember or call up experiences in which you felt abundance and more-than-enough. You may feel into experiences when you felt a wide open expanse of possibilities or when you felt connected to a reliable source of wisdom or enlightenment. Notice what these memories feel like in your body, not just as thoughts in your mind.

In meditations like this, I also work with mantras coming from the yoga tradition. For working with Jupiter, I use the mantra: “Om Sri Gurave Namaha.” I use a mala and repeat the mantra 108 times. I also sometimes use mudra, described below.
 
However you spend your time meditating with Jupiter—repeating a mantra, visualizing the planet or glyph, recalling experiences that you associate with Jupiter’s significations—tune in to the sensations that begin to accumulate. These could be physical or they could be more subtle energetic shifts in your awareness. The practice here is for Jupiter to become more than just an abstract symbol or something that you think of as “out there” in space. As you begin to notice what Jupiter feels like within your body, this becomes a state that you can return to and work with in your magic, and how you understand Jupiter astrologically—in your birth chart or in its transits—will begin to take on more embodied significance as well.
 
Jupiter
Day: Thursday
Number: 4
Colors: Yellow, indigo, purple, and white
Metals: Lead (Picatrix)
Stones: “precious stones that are white and golden and part of carnelian and emerald and quarts and crystal and all stones that are white and clear and shining, and also gold” (Picatrix)
Chakra: Swadisthana, the Sacral Chakra
Mantra: Om Sri Gurave Namaha
Mudra: The index finger is associated with Jupiter, so I work with Jnana Mudra (Seal of Wisdom) or Chin Mudra (Gesture of Consciousness)—bringing the tip of the thumb and index finger together, with other fingers extended. There is also Guru Mudra, which is used to signify Jupiter in Indian dance traditions (pictured below).
Tarot: Because of Jupiter’s many significations—abundance, expansion, growth, faith, wisdom, justice, good fortune, fertility, etc.—I find that depending on the deck I’m working with, different cards feelmore like Jupiter. So, for example, when working with some decks, the High Priestess card resonates with Jupiter’s significations of faith and wisdom. In other decks, the Teacher feels more like Jupiter’s wisdom and growth. In other decks, Justice stands out more for me. (In the Golden Dawn tradition, Jupiter was associated with the Wheel of Fortune card.)

Kaitlin Coppock of Sphere + Sundry also has a beautiful series of Jupiter's Bounty talismanic offerings that provide "a classically uplifting, benefic and juicy Jupiterian charge, ideal for prosperity magic, luck increase, Jupiter remediation, and the promotion and preservation of All Good Things": https://sphereandsundry.com/product-category/series/jupiters-bounty/​
I love Kaitlin's work, which has been a huge support to me as I have developed my own astrological magic practices. I work with Kaitlin's Water of Jupiter's Bounty each week.

​As we move through our days of planetary magic, we come to Wednesday, the day of Mercury.
 
Mercury is a planet of ambiguity and ambivalence. It belongs to neither the day nor the night, but can belong to either. It is the fastest moving planet other than the Moon, and it changes speeds and directions more than any other. It is associated with argumentation and destabilization, but also the precise, detailed work of critical thinking and communication. Mercury is also associated with travel, commerce, and trade. Mercury was the messenger of the gods, moving between the upper world and the underworld, and as such, is associated with in-between-ness, crossing over, changing directions, and sharing information. Mercury rules the signs of Gemini and Virgo, and is exalted in Virgo.
 
For today—or any Wednesday—you might make a small altar for Mercury with the things you have available. You can look to the list of correspondences below for the kinds of colors, stones, numbers, and tarot cards you might incorporate. Add things that you associate with Mercury—maybe coins or notebooks, letters and correspondences or postcards. Once you build your altar, take some time to be with it as an aesthetic experience. Notice how being with this altar makes you feel. Drop your attention down into your body and observe what sensations arise as you observe the objects you’ve gathered for Mercury.
 
Sometimes, Mercury is visible in the night sky. Sometimes it rises before the Sun as a morning star, sometimes it sets after the Sun as an evening star. Right now, because of how close it is to the Sun, it is not currently visible, but around September 23 through November 3, it may be visible in the evening sky after the Sun sets. After Mercury’s retrograde period this fall, it will be at its brightest in the morning sky before the Sun rises, from November 19-December 13.

Whether you are working with or without an altar, I invite you to take some time to meditate with Mercury. It could be five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. Visualize Mercury in your mind’s eye (you can look up pictures of the planet if you don’t know what it looks like), or visualize the glyph for Mercury. Notice what your body feels like as you imagine Mercury. Remember or call up experiences in which you felt in-between places, in liminal spaces, moving between one world and another. You might call up what being in transit feels like for you—on planes or trains, commutes or relocations. Consider returning to experiences in which you received good news or messages from afar. Feel into experiences where you felt like you were communicating clearly and being understood. Notice what these memories feel like in your body, not just as thoughts in your mind.

In meditations like this, I also work with mantras coming from the yoga tradition. For working with Mercury, I use the mantra: “Om Sri Budhaya Namaha.” I use a mala and repeat the mantra 108 times. I also sometimes use mudra, described below.
 
However you spend your time meditating with Mercury—repeating a mantra, recalling experiences that you associated with Mercury’s significations—tune in to the sensations that begin to accumulate. These could be physical, emotional, or they could be more subtle energetic shifts in your awareness. The practice is for Mercury to become more than just an abstract symbol or something that you think of as “out there” in space. As you begin to notice what Mercury feels like within your body, this becomes a state that you can return to and work with in your magic, and how you understand Mercury astrologically—in your birth chart or in its transits—will begin to take on more embodied significance as well.
 
Mercury
Day: Wednesday
Number: 8, and also 2 and 3
Colors: Orange and multi-colored
Metals: “quicksilver and part of tin and glass” (Picatrix)
Stones: “emerald and all stones of this type and has part of asumbedich” (Picatrix)
Chakra: Vishudha, the Throat Chakra
Mantra: Om Sri Budhaya Namaha
Mudra: The little finger is associated with Mercury, so I use Bhudi Mudra—bringing the tip of the thumb and little finger together, with other fingers extended. There is also a mudra from Indian dance traditions used to signify Mercury—Budha Mudra, illustrated below.
Tarot: The Magician

Kaitlin Coppock of Sphere + Sundry also has a beautiful series of Exalted Mercury Cazimi talismanic offerings to "aid in the forms of productivity which rely on mental rigor and analytical processing": https://sphereandsundry.com/product-category/series/exalted-mercury-cazimi/
I love Kaitlin's work, which has been a huge support to me as I have developed my own astrological magic practices.

Sources:
 
Kaitlin Coppock, “Planetary Magic: A Beginner’s Guide,” WellBeing Astrology 2020, editor Kelly Surtees, Universal Media Co, 2019: 92-95.
 
Austin Coppock, “Intro to Planetary Magic,” https://austincoppock.com/shop/intro-to-planetary-magic-course/[online course].
 
Richard Fish and Ryan Kurczak, The Art and Science of Vedic Astrology: The Foundation Course (Asheville Vedic Astrology, 2012).
 
Cain Carroll and Revital Carroll, Mudras of India (London: Singing Dragon, 2013).
 
Gertrud Hirschi, Mudras: Yoga in your Hands (York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser, Inc, 2000).
 
Thomas Ashley-Farrand, Healing Mantras: Using Sound Affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity, and Healing (New York: Ballantine Books, 1999).
 
Richard Palmer, “Delving Into Tarot and Astrology in the Golden Dawn Tradition,” Biddy Tarot, https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-astrology-golden-dawn/.
 
Joe Rao, “When, Where and How to See the Planets in the 2019 Night Sky,” December 27, 2018, https://www.space.com/39240-when-to-see-planets-in-the-sky.html.

If you missed the previous posts in this series, you can find them here:
The Sun
The Moon
​Mars

​Today we continue with our series of short practices for connecting to each of the traditional planets on each of the days that they rule. Tuesday is the day of Mars. Attuning to Mars can be energizing and activating, and also sometimes challenging. It can bring up harm, frustration, or rage, which are difficult emotions—but those are places that we need to feel in order to heal.
 
Mars is considered the malefic of the nocturnal sect in Hellenistic astrology. Mars severs and separates, the planet of action and taking charge. It is associated with aggression, conflict, and war. As a malefic planet, it can present difficulties, specifically denying, refusing, or challenging the significations of the other planets. It is associated with the warrior. Mars rules the signs of Aries and Scorpio, and is exalted in Capricorn.
 
For today—or any Tuesday—you might make a small altar for Mars with the things you have available. You can look to the list of correspondences below for the kinds of colors, stones, numbers, and tarot cards you might incorporate. Add things that you associate with Mars—maybe red candles or things made of iron or steel, like nails or knives, even miniature soldier action figures. Once you build your altar, take some time to be with it as an aesthetic experience. Notice how being with this altar makes you feel. Drop your attention down into your body and observe what sensations arise as you observe the objects you’ve gathered for Mars.
 
Sometimes, Mars is visible in the night sky. It has a dull, red-ish glow. Right now, because of how close Mars is to the Sun, it is not currently visible, but later in the year, you might consider taking time to go outside and see Mars in the sky. It will be visible in the morning before sunrise from October 16 through the end of the year.

Whether you’re working with or without an altar, I invite you to take some time to meditate with Mars. It could be five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. Visualize Mars in your mind’s eye (you can look up pictures of the planet if you don’t know what it looks like), or visualize the glyph for Mars. Notice what your body feels like as you imagine Mars. Remember or call up experiences in which you have felt stirred to action, motivated to charge ahead, even if that meant conflict or separation. Consider returning to experiences in which what you wanted was denied, and it felt like the only way forward was a fight. Notice what these memories feel like in your body, not just as thoughts in your mind.

In meditations like this, I also work with mantras coming from the yoga tradition. For working with Mars, I use the mantra: “Om Sri Angarakaya Namaha.” I use a mala and repeat the mantra 108 times. I also sometimes use mudra, described below.
 
However you spend your time meditating on Mars—repeating a mantra, recalling experiences that you associated with Mars’ significations—tune in to the sensations that begin to accumulate. These could be physical, emotional, or they could be more subtle energetic shifts. The practice here is for Mars to become more than just an abstract symbol or something that you think of as “out there” in space. As you begin to notice what Mars feels like within your body, this becomes a state that you can return to and work with in your magic, and how you understand Mars astrologically—in your birth chart or in its transits—will begin to take on more embodied significance as well.
 
Mars
Day: Tuesday
Number: 5
Colors: Red
Metals: “red copper and all kinds of sulphur” (Picatrix)
Stones: “part of glass and premonada, and bloodstone and part of carnelian and onyx and in all stones that are red and tawny or speckled” (Picatrix)
Chakra: Manipura, the Solar Plexus Chakra
Mantra: Om Sri Angarakaya Namaha
Mudra: Because the thumb is associated with Mars, and because of Mars’ active quality, I use prana mudra for stimulating and focusing energy, bringing the tip of the thumb to the tips of the ring and little finger, with the index and middle finger extended. There is also a mudra called angaraka mudra which is used to depict Mars in Indian dance traditions, pictured below. 
Tarot: Knights, especially the Knight of Swords, but I will often meditate on different Knight cards depending on what triplicity Mars is located in. So, for example, as I write this, Mars is in Virgo—and earth sign—so I might spend time meditating with the Knight of Pentacles. (In the Golden Dawn tradition, Mars was associated with The Tower card.)

​Continuing with our series of short practices for connecting to each of the traditional planets on each of the days that they rule, today, Monday, we will focus on the Moon.
 
The Moon is the nocturnal luminary. The Moon receives and reflects the light of the Sun. It signifies the body, emotions, feelings, and our basic instinctual needs for safety and security. The Moon is also associated with change and fluctuation as the light of the Moon changes throughout the lunation cycle, and as the ocean tides rise and fall and change in relation to the gravity of the Moon. The Moon is also associated with the mother or maternal figures. It rules the sign of Cancer and is exalted in the sign of Taurus.
 
For today—or any Monday—you might make a small altar for the Moon with the things you have available. You can look to the list of correspondences below for the kinds of colors, stones, numbers, and tarot cards you might incorporate. Add things that you associate with the Moon—maybe white candles or white flowers, things that calm and soothe and make you feel safe, or objects that come to you from your matrilineal line. Once you build your altar, take some time to be with it as an aesthetic experience. Notice how being with this altar makes you feel. Drop your attention down into your body and observe what sensations arise as you sit with the objects that you’ve gathered for the Moon.
 
If it’s nighttime and the skies are clear, depending on the Moon phase when you’re reading this, you might go outside and take a walk in the moonlight. See the Moon in the sky and feel that there’s actually nothing between you and the Moon other than open space.

Whether you’re working with or without an altar, whether you are walking or sitting in the moonlight or whether you are indoors, I invite you to take some time to meditate with the Moon. It could be five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. Visualize the Moon in your mind’s eye, or visualize the glyph of the Moon. Notice what your body feels like sitting beneath the Moon or imagining the Moon. Remember or call up experiences in which you have felt safe and secure, where you felt your emotions were validated and supported. Consider visualizing or imagining moonlight filling your body—cool, luminous, glowing, and soft.

In meditations like this, I also work with mantras coming from the yoga tradition. For working with the Moon, I use the mantra: “Om Sri Chandraya Namaha.” I use a mala and repeat the mantra 108 times. I also sometimes use mudra, described below.
 
However you spend your time meditating on the Moon—repeating a mantra, visualizing or imagining moonlight throughout your body, recalling experiences that you associate with the Moon’s significations—tune in to the sensations that begin to accumulate. These could be physical, emotional, or they could be more subtle energetic shifts in your awareness. The practice here is for the Moon to become more than just an abstract symbol or something that you think of as “out there” in space. As you begin to notice what the Moon feels like within your body, this becomes a state that you can return to and work with in your magic, and how you understand the Moon astrologically—in your birth chart or in its transits—will begin to take on more embodied significance as well.
 
Moon
Day: Monday
Number: 9
Colors: White, grey, and silver
Metals: “silver and silver marcasite” (Picatrix)
Stones: “seed pearls and part of crystal and blue stones and onyx and quartz” (Picatrix); I also strongly associate moonstone and selenite with the Moon
Chakra: Ajña, the Third Eye Chakra
Mantra: Om Sri Chandraya Namaha
Mudra: I use Padma Mudra (Lotus Seal) in association with the Moon because it brings the lunar mount of both hands together at the base, and all ten fingers radiate out from that root. There is also a joint-hand Chandra Mudra that comes from Indian dance traditions. Both are pictured below.
Tarot: The Moon (In the Golden Dawn tradition, the Moon was associated with the High Priestess card.)

If you missed the post on planetary magic practices for the Sun, you can find it here.

Over the last year, I have begun to explore more astrological and planetary magic. Witchcraft and astrology have both been part of my life for a long time, but coming from primarily Wiccan and earth-centered pagan traditions, for the most part, the lunation phase and sometimes the sign of the Moon have been the extent of astrological influences on my rituals and spellcraft. Sometimes I would pay attention to planetary days and hours—which I had read about in medieval grimoires like The Key of Solomon the King in high school and college—and I learned about planetary correspondences to chakras, mudras, and mantras in my yoga training, but these rarely shaped my witchcraft. However, the deeper I have come in my study and practice of astrology, the more I’ve come to appreciate the meaningfulness that can emerge from working with astrology as a system of timing and an assemblage of temporalities. Most of all, exploring planetary magic has given me more of a felt experience of astrology, tuning into the subtle sensations and felt sense of each planet and sign.
 
This week, I’m going to post a series of short practices for connecting to each of the traditional planets on each of the days that they rule. Rather than complex or elaborate operations for working with planetary magic to make things happen, I’m approaching these practices more from the definition of magic that comes to us from Dion Fortune: “Magic is the art of changing consciousness at will.” For each day, I will offer a brief table of correspondences and a few suggested practices for shifting awareness to the sensations of each planet, for tuning into how each planet feels to your body. We’ll start today, Sunday, with the Sun.
 
The Sun is one of the two luminaries, along with the Moon. It is the life-giving star at the center of our solar system. The Sun emits, it illuminates, and thus is associated with our faculties of perception, with seeing and being seen. It is often associated with the ego or identity, that which persists—because of its steady, continuous motion and because in comparison to the Moon, its shape remains constant. It can also be associated with recognition and honors, achievements, and the father or paternal figures. It rules the sign of Leo and is exalted in the sign of Aries.
 
For today—or on any Sunday—you might make a small altar for the Sun with the things you have available. You can look to the list of correspondences below for the kinds of colors, stones, numbers, and tarot cards you might incorporate. Add things that you associate with the Sun—maybe sunflowers or photos from the beach or bright lights or candles. Once you build your altar, take some time to take it in as an aesthetic experience. Notice how being with your altar makes you feel. Drop your attention down into your body and observe what sensations arise as you observe the objects you’ve gathered for the Sun.
 
You might go for a walk in the Sun and feel its light on your skin. This is a wonderful way to experience directly how the Sun feels within your body.

Whether you are working with or without an altar, whether you’re walking or sitting in the Sun or whether you’re indoors, I invite you to take some time to meditate with the Sun. It could be five minutes, ten minutes, or longer. Visualize the Sun in your mind’s eye, or visualize the glyph of the Sun. Notice what your body feels like sitting in the sunlight or imagining the Sun. Remember or call up experiences in which you have felt seen and recognized for who you are; notice what that feels like in your body. Consider visualizing or imagining that sunlight is filling your body—bright, glittering, golden, and warm.

In meditations like this, I also work with mantras coming from the yoga tradition. For working with the Sun, I use the mantra: “Om Sri Suryaya Namaha.” I use a mala and repeat the mantra 108 times. I also sometimes use mudra, described below.
 
However you spend your time meditating on the Sun—repeating a mantra, visualizing or imagining sunlight throughout your body, recalling experiences that you associated with the Sun’s significations—tune in to the sensations that begin to accumulate. These could be physical or they could be more subtle energetic shifts in your awareness. The practice here is for the Sun to become more than just an abstract symbol or something that we think of as “out there” in space. As you begin to notice what the Sun feels like within your body, this becomes a state that you can return to and work with in your magic, and how you understand the Sun astrologically—in your chart or in its transits—will begin to take on more embodied significance as well.
 
I will be posting similar practices for each of the planets for the rest of the week, so please follow along as much as you like!
 
Sun
Day: Sunday
Number: 6
Colors: Yellow and gold
Metals: “Egyptian glass and azernec (cupric oxide)” (Picatrix)
Stones: “albezedi and diamond and red pearls and stones that are sparkling and clear and part of hematite and azumbedich and ruby and the balassus ruby and gold marcasite” (Picatrix); I also strongly associate citrine and other yellow, golden stones with the Sun
Chakra: Ajña, the Third Eye Chakra
Mantra: Om Sri Suryaya Namaha 
Mudra: The ring finger is associated with the Sun, so I use Surya Mudra (seal of Sun/life)—bringing the tip of the thumb and ring finger together, with other fingers extended
Tarot: The Sun

Kaitlin Coppock of Sphere + Sundry also has a beautiful series of Sol in Leo talismanic offerings for supporting you in nourishing the light of the Sun in your life: https://sphereandsundry.com/product-category/series/golden-sol-in-leo/
I love Kaitlin's work, which has been a huge support to me as I have developed my own astrological magic practices.

​Sources:
 
Kaitlin Coppock, “Planetary Magic: A Beginner’s Guide,” WellBeing Astrology 2020, editor Kelly Surtees, Universal Media Co, 2019: 92-95.
 
Austin Coppock, “Intro to Planetary Magic,” https://austincoppock.com/shop/intro-to-planetary-magic-course/ [online course].
 
Richard Fish and Ryan Kurczak, The Art and Science of Vedic Astrology: The Foundation Course (Asheville Vedic Astrology, 2012).
 
Cain Carroll and Revital Carroll, Mudras of India (London: Singing Dragon, 2013).
 
Gertrud Hirschi, Mudras: Yoga in your Hands (York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser, Inc, 2000).
 
Thomas Ashley-Farrand, Healing Mantras: Using Sound Affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity, and Healing (New York: Ballantine Books, 1999).
 
Richard Palmer, “Delving Into Tarot and Astrology in the Golden Dawn Tradition,” Biddy Tarot, https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-astrology-golden-dawn/.
 
Joe Rao, “When, Where and How to See the Planets in the 2019 Night Sky,” December 27, 2018, https://www.space.com/39240-when-to-see-planets-in-the-sky.html.