Astrology

Astrology and powwow

The Pennsylvania Germans have been using astrological information for centuries to plan things like planting, harvesting, weeding, animal husbandry, fixing fenceposts, bailing straw, and any other number of things. Astrological timing is important in powwowing because it can fine tune your work to take place during compatible astrological conditions. The subject of astrology can be extremely complex, but on this page you will find the very basics that can get you started with adding this extra depth to your powwowing.

The planets

In Astrology, there are seven planets that we are concerned with. They are:

The Sun (I know, it’s not really a planet.. but in astrology, it is considered one)
The Moon (same explanation as the Sun)
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn

You might notice that I did not mention Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. These three are considered “higher octaves” of the planets Mercury, Venus, and Mars respectively. For the purpose of planetary hours, we don’t worry about those three planets.

The energies of each planet

Each planet has specific energies that go along with it. They also each govern different parts of the body and different agricultural activities.

The Sun — rules the head. The sun will burn longer and better. Success, fortune, fatherhood, and happiness are energies associated with the Sun. Our pride, our will, our purpose, our goals, all fall under the rulership of the Sun. A favorable day/hour for healing and protection work or uncovering the identity of a witch or powwowing for men’s troubles.

The Moon — rules the breasts and womb. Seeds planted during the day or hour of the moon germinate quickly and ensure an abundant yield. Make sure all gardening is done before full moon. If done from full to dark moon, blooms may be abundant but there will be little yield of fruit or vegetable. Motherhood, the home, children, family, things that make us feel safe, and secrets are energies associated with the Moon. Favorable day/hour for divination or powwowing for women’s troubles and children.

Mercury — rules the arms, lungs, and hands. Fertilize the ground during the day or hour of Mercury. Best time to plant above-ground vegetables. Communication, breathing, travel, thoughts, writing, speech, siblings, education, and technology are energies associated with Mercury. Favorable time for divination, powwowing for babies’ troubles, and distance healing.

Venus — rules the throat and neck. Will do well for all root crops of quick growth. Plant potatoes during the waning moon in the day/hour of Venus for best yield. Venus rules such things as giving, sharing, compromise, beauty, love, value, art, money, and the things that bring us happiness. Powwow for throat and neck issues. Make talismans for finance or love.

Mars — rules the head. Seeds planted in this sign produce vines or stalks. All crops that grow above ground should be planted in the day/hour of Mars during the waxing moon. Energy, activity, leadership, survival, courage, battles, war, enemies, all fall under the influence of Mars. Powwow for burns and cuts or bleeding wounds. Anti-hex work can be done in hour/day of Mars.

Jupiter — rules the thighs. Plant during the day/hour of Jupiter for good overall yield. Expansion, growth, generosity, luck, abundance, and higher wisdom are energies associated with Jupiter. Favorable time for healing, prosperity work, and protection.

Saturn — rules the knees, joints, and bones. Plant during the day/hour of Saturn for stronger roots. Restriction, discipline, boundaries, limitation, and endings are energies of Saturn. Favorable for banishing, binding, and removing influences.

Moon phases and powwow

The phases of the moon are important to the PA Dutch for both agricultural work and healing.

Generally speaking, the moon’s energies ebb and flow with its phases. The New Moon is when the moon is not visible in the sky. From this point to approximately 7 days later, the moon is in its First Quarter. This is a time of building and beginnings and powwowing for the increase of something is empowered at this time.

From 7 to 14 days after the New Moon the moon is in its Second Quarter. It culminates in a Full Moon. This phase of the moon is for empowering your healing, increasing something, building something, making paper talismans, etc.

From the Full Moon to 7 days after is the Third Quarter. This is a time of decrease; a time of things fading and going away. Hex removal and protection charms are empowered at this time.

From 7 to 14 days after the Full Moon is the Last Quarter. This is a time of banishing, binding, curse removal, combating witchcraft and elimination.

Zodiac signs and the body

The moon travels through each of the Zodiac signs. It stays in a sign for approximately 2.5 days (give or take). During those times, conditions for the parts of the body ruled by that sign are more favorable.

The head and face — Aries
Neck — Taurus
Arms — Gemini
Breast — Cancer
Heart — Leo
Bowels — Virgo
Reins — Libra
Reproductive organs — Scorpio
Thighs — Sagittarius
Knees — Capricorn
Legs — Aquarius
Feet — Pisces

Remember: when in need, do the powwowing. Don’t wait for proper moon phase or sign. Do what you need to do, when you need to do it. However, the moon’s energies can add something extra to your work, so if it’s possible to wait, then do so.

To get the most benefit from working with astrological correspondences when healing, a good rule of thumb is to pick up a good Farmer’s Almanac. For the past three hundred years, the PA Dutch have been using almanacs to keep track of the Moon’s phases and signs. Almanacs are also invaluable for their weather predictions, funny stories and even favorite recipes.

The Astrology Rhyme

The Pennsylvania Germans were story tellers and song singers and famous for their rhymes. Many of the poems surviving are in English, and perhaps the rhyme is not quite as obvious as it was in its original German. Still, there are plenty of examples of rhymes or cute phrases created in order to remember something important. We know astrological associations are important to the agricultural Pennsylvania German, so it’s only understandable that a rhyme would be created to remember the signs. This particular rhyme was for those who utilized astrological associations in the healing arts. The rhyme was designed to remember the order of the zodiac associations.

Der wider der staised,

Die kinner sin base

Der labe, der brilled,

Die woke die gilt.

Der shits der sheesed,

Using astrological correspondences in conjunction with healing

So that a Magician is no other but divinorum cultor interpres, a studious observer and expounder of divine things; and the Art itself is none other quam Naturalis Philosophi absoluta consummatio, then the absolute perfection of Natural Philosophy. Nevertheless there is a mixture in all things, good with evil, of falsehood with truth, of corruption with purity. The good, the truth, the purity, in every kinde, may well be embraced: As in the ancient worshipping of God by Sacrifice, there was no man knowing God among the Elders, that did not forbear to worship the God of all power, or condemn that kinde of Worship, because the devil was so adored in the image of Baal, Dagon, Astaroth, Chemosh, Jupiter, Apollo, and the like.

Neither did the abuse of Astrology terrify Abraham, (if we believe the most ancient and religious writers) from observing the motions and natures of the heavenly bodies. Neither can it dehort wise and learned men in these days from attributing those vertues, influences, and inclinations, to the Stars and other Lights of heaven, which God hath given to those his glorious creatures.

—Arbatel De Magie Veterum, 1575