My Favorite Reads: Witch Edition

Welcome, fellow spellbinders and curious readers! I've always been drawn to the enchanting world of fictional witches, those captivating characters that populate the pages of suspenseful thrillers, magically realistic tales, epic fantasies, and cozy mysteries. 

For me, reading is more than just an escape; it's a source of inspiration. I often find myself incorporating the spells, rituals, and beliefs woven into these stories into my own real-world magical practices. 

Join me as I delve into some of my absolute favorite fictional books about witches and witchcraft, exploring the magic that leaps off the page and into our lives.

The Chocolate Series, Joanne Harris

• Chocolate
• The Girl With No Shadow (Alternate Title, "The Lollipop Shoes") 
• Peaches for Monsieur le Curé
• The Strawberry Thief 

The Deliverance Dane Series 

• The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
• Daughters of Temperance Hobbs

The Practical Magic Series, Alice Hoffman 

• Practical Magic 
• The Rules of Magic 
• Magic Lessons 
• The Book of Magic 

The Eastwick Series, John Updike

• The Witches of Eastwick 
• The Widows of Eastwick

The Secret History Series, Louisa Morgan 

• A Secret History of Witches  
• The Witch's Kind  
• The Age of Witches  
• The Great Witch of Brittany  
• The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird 

Carolina Dean 

List Maker Supreme

Twelfth House Books 

Fu Ritual for the Lunar New Year

Preliminary: Before the ritual, thoroughly clean your home to remove bad luck and in good fortune. 

The Ritual 

For this ritual, you should wear red clothing, if possible, as red is a lucky color in Chinese culture. Arrange three red candles on the altar for luck, wealth, and protection. Place sandalwood incense in front of the candles. Light the incense and smoke the area. Prominently display a red envelope with any amount of paper money that you can afford. 

Next, light the candles one at a time saying: "For Luck. For Wealth, For Protection" as you light each respective candle. Spend a few minutes contemplating the candles and mentally invite these blessings into your life.  When you are ready, chant:

"Spirit of the old year fade and cease

Make way now for luck, joy, and peace

By the Might of fire and the Grace of Air

I ward my hearth and home with this prayer 

Red Envelopes, a lucky plea 

Wealth and Fortune come to me! 

Leave the candles and incense to burn. Gather the incense ashes into the red envelope and keep it in a safe place until next year. The following year, take the money out of the envelope the day before the Lunar New Year and spend it on something that brings you happiness. Burn the old envelope and replace it with a new one for that year's ritual. 

Carolina Dean
Lucky Stiff 
Twelfth House Books

Slithering into 2025: Embracing the Wisdom of the Wood Snake

 

Note: The Year of the Snake begins on January 29th, 2025 at 4:35 am (New Moon in Aquarius)

The Chinese New Year, occurs the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice, is a vibrant celebration of lunar cycles. This year we usher in the Year of the Wood Snake. This enigmatic creature, known for its grace, wisdom, and intuition, promises a year of introspection, transformation, and profound growth.

The 12-Year Animal Cycle:

At the heart of Chinese astrology lies the 12-year cycle of animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal embodies unique characteristics that influence the year's energy. The Snake, with its serpentine movements, symbolizes adaptability, flexibility, and the ability to navigate complex situations with grace.

The Cycle of Five Elements:

Intertwined with the animal cycle is the cycle of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. These elements interact and influence each other, creating a dynamic and ever-changing energetic landscape. In 2025, the Wood Snake brings a blend of nurturing energy, growth, and flexibility. Wood symbolizes vitality, creativity, and new beginnings, while the Snake's wisdom encourages a measured and thoughtful approach.

What to Expect in the Year of the Wood Snake:

• A Year of Introspection: The Snake's introspective nature encourages deep self-reflection and a focus on inner growth. It's a time to cultivate mindfulness, connect with your intuition, and understand your deepest desires.
• Focus on Creativity and Growth: The Wood element fosters creativity, innovation, and new beginnings. Embrace your passions, nurture your talents, and allow your creativity to flourish.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: The Snake's serpentine nature emphasizes the importance of adaptability and flexibility. Be prepared to navigate unexpected turns and embrace change with grace.
• A Time for Transformation: The Wood Snake year is a time for transformation. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and let go of what no longer serves you.

Tips for a Prosperous Year of the Wood Snake:

• Cultivate Mindfulness: Practice meditation, yoga, or other mindfulness techniques to connect with your inner wisdom.
• Nurture Creativity: Engage in creative pursuits such as writing, painting, music, or gardening.
• Embrace Flexibility: Be open to new experiences and willing to adapt to changing circumstances.
• Focus on Health and Wellness: Prioritize healthy eating, regular exercise, and sufficient rest.

The Year of the Wood Snake offers a unique opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. By embracing its energy with mindfulness and intention, we can navigate the year with grace, wisdom, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Carolina Dean 
Confirmed Ox 

Links:

• What's My Chinese Sign and Element? 
• Chinese Astrology (12th House Books) 
• Chinese Astrology

The Astrology of Hoodoo & the Moon

 How to Maximize Your Magic with Moon Power 

The relationship between magic and the Moon is an ancient one.  Other than the Sun, the Moon is the only luminary, or planet, that humans can easily see with the naked eye; and given that the moon goes through eight phases it is easy to see how the moon became associated with change and transformation --- which is the ultimate goal of magic. 

Observing Times 

In the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1 it states that "to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." In rural communities, farmers were known to plan different activities such as planting, castrating bulls, harvesting, etc... by signs. In like fashion, some workers have interpreted this scripture to mean that certain times are efficacious for spiritual workings as well.  This belief works on the principle that certain energies of the Sun, Moon, and Planets are in sympathy with one’s goal.  Considerations include

• Moon Phase
• Moon's Sign
• Day of the Week
• Time of Day

However, I will only focus on the moon's phase and moon sign in this blog entry.  

Moon Phases 

Although the moon can be divided into 8 distinct phases, most Rootworker's focus on the more well known five. They are:

• Dark Moon- A dark moon occurs when there is no moon at all in the sky. This is a great time for efforts  of retribution, to bring down your enemies, and throw curses. 
• New Moon- The new moon occurs when the first sliver of the moon is visible in the night sky after a dark moon.  It is a great time to manifest anything new, begin new products. 
• Waxing Moon- The time between the new moon and the full moon is called the Waxing Moon. During a waxing moon, the moon will appear as a reverse C shape with the light side on the right and the dark side on the left.  The waxing moon phase is used to draw things to us. 
• Full Moon- A full moon occurs when the moon is completely lit up and round. Any type of spell can be done when the moon is full. 
• Waning Moon- The period between the full moon and the new moon is called the Waning Moon . During a waning moon, the moon will appear as a C-shape and the light side will be on the left and the dark side on the right. This period is used to move things away from us. 

Moon Sign

In earlier days, people named Signs for the areas of the body that they ruled, rather than the signs themselves. Many country folks gave a great deal of consideration to the area of the body the moon occupied before doing anything of a practical nature or even a magical one. For example, you would never have a tooth pulled when the Moon is in the Head (Aries) as it runs the risk of hemorrhaging.

• Aries, the Head- Initiating action, new beginnings, confronting things, getting in other people’s head, controlling and dominating people and situations, breaking habits.
• Taurus, the Neck- money matters, planning long-range goals, public speaking, dental work, putting up preserves
• Gemini, the Arms- intellectual Pursuits, juggling task, travel, protection
• Cancer, the Chest- attending to family and home matters, weddings, signing agreements.

• Leo, the Heart- creativity, protection, love, children, self confidence, good for making large purchases, and doing that that you want to last

• Virgo, the Bowels- organizing, analyzing, getting a job, healing, breaking bad habits, buying medicine, healing pets.
• Libra, the Kidneys- partnerships of all kinds, marriage, creativity, socializing, diplomacy, writing, contracts.
• Scorpio, the Genitals- research, investigation, psychic development, divination, seduction, lust, buying antiques.
• Sagittarius, the Thighs- expanding the mind, freedom beginning a diet or exercise program, spiritual pursuits.
• Capricorn, the Knees- pursuing ambitions, self-control, protection, organizing, focusing on your career.
• Aquarius, the Legs-  friendship, volunteering, originality, art, socializing.
• Pisces, the Ankles- banishing negativity, psychic development,

Tips & Tricks of the Trade Concerning the Moon 

It is a known that when you are working a spell meant to have an effect on another person, such as a love spell or a curse, the best time to do it is when the moon is in their sun sign. 

In addition, each of the 12 signs of the zodiac are associated with one of the four elements. The sign that the moon occupies on a certain day is favorable for working with that sign’s element. For example, when the moon is in a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), it is good for working with the element of fire, candle magic, and fiery herbs (cinnamon, ginger, etc…). When the moon occupies the earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) it favors working with the element of earth such as dirts, footprints, doll babies, lodestones, talismans and mojo bags. Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) is for working with the element of air in the form of incense, prayers, mantras, and the like. Finally, Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) are beneficial for working with the element of water in the form of spiritual baths, foot washing, head washing, and spiritual waters like Florida Water, Peace Water or War Water.

Finally, you can track your lucky and unlucky days according to the moon sign. When the moon is in your sun sign this is considered an auspicious day for good luck and personal power. However, when the moon is in the sign opposite your sun sign, this is an unlucky day. The signs and their opposites are as follows:

Aries         Libra

Taurus        Scorpio

Gemini       Sagittarius

Cancer        Capricorn

Leo        Aquarius

Virgo        Pisces    

Again, these are just a few factors to consider when timing your spells and rituals. I will cover the days of the week and astrological hours in a separate blog entry at a future time. 

Carolina Dean 
Hoodoo Supreme 
12th House Books 

Links:

• Secrets of a Sissy Boy, Carolina Dean
• The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook, Denise Alvarado
• Hoodoo & Conjure Quarterly Magazine 
• The Hoodoo Almanac 2012
• The Hoodoo Almanac 2013
• The Hoodoo Almanac 2014 2015

Consensual Hex or How NOT to Write a Book

This novel, with its premise of queer witches battling warlock frat boys over a magical grimoire, initially piqued my interest. However, the execution falls short.

The author's alleged exploitation of real-life individuals and their trauma casts a significant shadow over the work. While the book attempts to address social issues, it unfortunately stumbles into problematic territory, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and phobias.

The portrayal of witchcraft within the narrative feels superficial and lacks depth, particularly for readers with personal experience in magical practices. The coven's magic comes across as overly simplistic and lacking in any grounding in tradition or real-world understanding.

Furthermore, the story suffers from pacing issues, feeling meandering and lacking focus. The protagonist advisor, Sienna, proves to be an ineffective teacher, and the narrative itself struggles to maintain a clear and compelling direction.

The ending leaves the reader feeling disoriented and unsatisfied, mirroring the protagonist's own confusion and questioning of reality. While the book may resonate with a specific audience, it ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying or meaningful reading experience. The cover art, however, is visually appealing.

My Rating: 1 out of 5 Grimoires 

Carolina Dean  
Official Book Reviewer 
12th House Books 

Links 

Do yourself a favor, skip Consensual Hex and consider one of these books instead 

• The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Katherine Howe  
• The Book of Magic, Alice Hoffman 
• The Witch's Daughter, Paula Brackston 
• Daughter of Darkness, J.R. Lowell 

I Ching, Therefore I am

In this article, I will walk you through the process of generating one of the 64 Hexagrams of the I Ching using the Yarrow Stalk method.  You will need the following 

• 50 Yarrow Stalks
• A flat surface to work 
• Pen and Paper 

Before You Begin 

Set aside at least a half hour to complete the process from beginning to end. When you start it should take you around 20 minutes to generate your hexagram and then about another 10 to meditation on it's meaning. Ensure that you won't be disturbed or interrupted during this process. Once you start, don't stop until you are finished generating your hexagram. 

When consulting the I Ching, you should have a question or issue in mind about which you would like the oracle to provide insight. Meditation on your question or issue as you go through the process. 

Step One

Start out with 50 yarrow stalks, which is traditions, but for my purposes I am using 50 specially prepared wooden dowels. 

Step Two

Remove one stalk from the pile and place it horizontally at the top of your work space. This stalk is called the Observer. 

Step Three:

Divide the remaining stalks into two random piles. Place one pile on the left and another on the right. 

Step Four

Remove one stalk from the pile on the right and place it between your pinky and ring finger. Then pick up the pile on the left and place it in your left hand. 

Step Five 

Take the stalks in your left hand and remove them four at a time until you have four or less remaining. 

Step Six 

When you have 4 or less remaining stalks, place these between your ring and middle finger. 

Step Seven 

Pick up the pile on the right and place them in your left hand. Count them off by four again until you have four or less stalks remaining. When you are done, you should have a total of either 5 or 9 stalks -  place these vertically across the Observer. 

Step Eight 

Perform steps 3-7 again until you have three piles laid vertically across the Observer. 

Step Nine:

In this step, you will calcualte your values. As you can see from the image above we have three groups of stalks. The first group contains 5 stalks, the second has 4, and the third has 8. Keeping in mind that a sum of 4 or 5 has a value of 3, and a sum of 8 or 9 has a value of 3 we will convert these numbers to the following values:

3 = 3 + 2 = 8 

Even numbers are represented by a Yin or unbroken line   _____ while Odd numbers are represented by a Yang or broken line __ __

You will now draw an unbroken lines on the bottom of your paper. This is the first line of your Hexagram. 

Step Ten

Repeat all these steps until you have six lines in total.

Example 

For the purpose of this blog entry, I have gone through all the steps to create a Hexagram. You can see the results of each division of the yarrow stalks below. 

6.  3 + 3 + 2 = 8 =  __ __ 

5.  3 + 3 + 3 = 9 =  ____   *

4.  3 + 2 + 2 = 7 =  ____

3. 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 =   ____   

2. 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 =   __ __ * 

1. 3 + 3 + 2 = 8 =  __ __ 

You'll notice that lines 2 and 5 have an asterisk next to them. This asterisk indicates a Changing Line. A Changing Line occurs when your sum adds up to either 6 or 9. These Changing Lines add an extra dimension to the interpretation of the Hexagram. 

Our final hexagram looks something like this 

__  __ 
_____
_____
_____
__  __
__  __

I have created a worksheet to assist the diviner in recording their hexagrams. You will find a link to this worksheet below in the links section.  

Using a cheat sheet such as the one below, we can quickly determine the number of our Hexagram.

As you can see, the top three lines represent the trigram for Lake and the bottom three represent the trigram for Mountain. This would be expressed as Lake over Mountain. These two symbols intersect at number 31. Therefore, the Hexagram is number 31. 

Using a good reference book (see link below), we can look up Hexagram 31, which is invariably called Influencing, Wooing, or Mutual Attraction - although there are many other names depending on the translation you use. You would then read the interpretation for the Hexagram as well as the Changing Lines. Meditating on the meanings of these lines you would then arrive at a synthesized interpretation. 

Below is one possible interpretation

While you have the power to influence others, now is the time for a humble and restrained approach. Avoid arrogance and focus on building genuine connections through active engagement. Show sincere interest in others, communicate thoughtfully, and invest time and effort in cultivating meaningful relationships. This balanced approach will be more effective than forceful tactics in achieving your goals.

Finally, you would then apply the interpretation to your original question or issue that about which you asked the oracle. My take on this is that "you can get what you want, but you are going to have to work for it. However, it is important that you take a gentle approach over a more aggressive one."

Carolina Dean 

12th House Books 

Links: 

• The I Ching Bookshelf 
• Blank I Ching Worksheets
• Yarrow Stalks  

My Favorite Reads: Astrological Fiction Edition

My love of both reading and astrology has led me to a strong interest in Astrological Fiction, a genre that blends fantasy with ideas about the influence of astrology on human life. These stories often explore how celestial events, like our birth chart or planetary alignments, might shape our destinies. And in several of these stories, they are used to unravel mysteries of a more serious nature. Here are a few of my favorites in this genre. 

The Starlight Detective Agency Mysteries, Mitchell Scott Lewis

Mystery series featuring astrologer detective David Lowell - set in New York

Book One: Murder in the 11th House 

Astrological detective David Lowell must use his chartsand knowledge to solve the murder of a state judge in a New York City parking garage. At the urging of his daughter Melinda, a young defense attorney, Lowell tries to prove the innocence of Johnny Colbert, a loud-mouthed bartender wrongly accused of the crime. Lowell's hacker sidekick Mort, his vivacious assistant Sarah, and their bodyguard Andy join them in their race against time. With birth charts and street smarts, Lowell sorts out a cast of characters, from the judge's clerk and her lawyer boyfriend to the judge herself, and traces the reason for the crime back to a surprising source.

Book Two: Death in the 12th House 

Someone is bumping off rock's wrinkled royalty. The latest victim? Freddie Finger, 63-year-old lead singer for Rocket Fire. Seeking answers, Freddie's daughter, movie actress Vivian Younger, retains astrologer detective David Lowell to help catch her father's killer. Freddie wasn't well liked, and Lowell has plenty of suspects. Among them are Freddie's ex-wives, who seem more intent on killing each other than anyone else. And his disgruntled band members, angry because Freddie's solo career was threatening the band's future. Then there is his greedy manager, busy promoting the death of a rock star. Or could his killer have been the musician whose career Freddie sabotaged many years ago? With the help of his red-haired assistant Sarah, master hacker and psychic Mort, and his driver and bodyguard Andy, Lowell sifts through the birth charts of the characters and follows the clues to a surprising ending

Book Three: Evil in the First House 

Astrologer detective David Lowell's most difficult case begins with a man, a briefcase, and a challenge. Dr. Edgar Williamson promises a briefcase containing one million dollars if Lowell can find the twin brother of the doctor's teenage son in time for a live-saving kidney transplant. Thanks to an exceedingly rare blood type, there are no other viable donors and time is running out for the doctor's son. Aided by his staff—spitfire assistant Sarah, psychic hacker Mort, and bodyguard Andy—Lowell sets out to find the twin and the mother, who have been missing since the birth of the boys. As Lowell digs deeper into the investigation, it's evident he needs legal advice in a case that's shaping up to be an ethical quagmire. Lowell enlists the legal counsel of his daughter Melinda, an attorney and prize astrology student.As more comes to light, will Lowell be able to find the missing twin in time to save Williamson's son? Or do the stars foresee a more tragic end for this case?

The Zodiac Mysteries, Connie Di Marco 

Julia Bonatti, a San Francisco newspaper advice columnist and astrologer uses astrology to solve murders. All the while she is haunted by the unsolved hit and run death of her fiancé, Michael Sefton years earlier. 

Book One: The Madness of Mercury

San Francisco Astrologer Julia Bonatti’s life is turned upside down when she becomes a target of the Reverend Roy of the Prophet’s Tabernacle. The Reverend, a recently-arrived cult preacher, is determined to drive sin from the city, but his gospel of love and compassion doesn’t extend to those he considers an “abomination unto the Lord.” Julia’s outspoken advice in her newspaper column, AskZodia, has put her at the top of the Reverend’s list. While the powerful Mercury-ruled preacher woos local dignitaries, his Army of the Prophet will stop at nothing to silence not just Julia, but anyone who stands in his way. Driven out of her apartment in the midst of a disastrous Mercury retrograde period, she takes shelter with a client who’s caring for two elderly aunts. One aunt appears stricken with dementia and the other has fallen under the spell of the Reverend Roy. To add to the confusion, a young man claiming to be a long-lost nephew arrives. The longer he stays, the more dangerous things become. One aunt slides deeper into psychosis while the other disappears. Is this young man truly a member of the family? Can astrology confirm that? Julia’s not sure, but one thing she does know is that Mercury wasn’t merely the messenger of the gods—he was a trickster and a liar as well.

Book Two: All Signs Point to Murder 

Rob Ramer was the perfect husband until he committed the ultimate family faux pas – he shot his sister-in-law to death. Believing himself under attack by an intruder in his home, he fired back. However, when e-mails are discovered between Rob’s wife, Brooke, and her sister plotting his murder, Brooke is charged with conspiracy and manslaughter in her sister’s death. Geneva, a third sister, seek out Julia’s help. Geneva’s never believed in astrology, but she’s desperate for answers. She’s lost one sister and now it seems she’ll lose the other. Was this a murder plot or just a terrible accident? Is there more to this family than meets the eye? Julia finds the answer in a dark sun.

Book Three: Tail of the Dragon

San Francisco Astrologer Julia Bonatti never thought murder would be part of her practice. Julia loves the freedom of working for herself as a professional astrologer, but when her former boss and current client, David Meyers, asks for her help she agrees to go undercover at his law firm. David is desperate. Three People at his firm have received death threats. Julia soon discovers the only common denominator between the three is a long-settled case—the infamous Bank of San Francisco fire. Julia’s astrological expertise provides clues but no one wants to listen. Before she can convince the authorities of what she knows, two people are dead and her own life is in danger. Julia must unmask the killer before he, or she, takes another life.

Book Four: Enter A Wizard Stage Left (Kindle Only) 

Julia Bonatti wasn’t always a crime-solving San Francisco astrologer. She was a young woman, engaged to the love of her life, preparing for a teaching career when tragedy struck. Her fiancé was killed in a hit and run accident. As Julia struggles with her loss and attempts to find meaning in her life again, she takes refuge with her grandmother Gloria. But there’s little time for grief or rest because Gloria, a retired seamstress, needs Julia’s help. Gloria’s been hired to create costumes for a production of Agatha Christie’s Appointment with Death at the newly opened Theatre Mars in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. Theatre Mars is a stunning jewel, the cast is supremely talented and the script is brilliant. What could go wrong? Julia gets the first hint of trouble when her new friend, the owner of The Mystic Eye bookshop, warns that all might not go well. Opening night will take place during the dark of the moon, the last three days before the new moon, a time that bodes disaster for any new project. The dire prediction comes true when the lead actress is murdered before the final curtain, echoing the play itself. Julia discovers a vital clue to the murder, but a clue that puts Gloria’s life in grave danger. Can Julia rescue her grandmother before it’s too late? And will a black cat play a leading role?

Book Five: Serpent's Doom 

As San Francisco's Chinatown prepares for the Lunar New Year festivities in the fogbound month of February, astrologer Julia Bonatti finds herself with three new clients, all in desperate straits who don’t seem to heed her advice. Tracy is the victim of a brutal husband with nowhere to run, and Jeanette is worried sick about her son, whom she suspects has fallen in with a bad lot. But most frightening to Julia is Frankie Chang’s dilemma. Frankie’s only eleven years old, and he’s terrified. His mother is missing, and no one will help him. Julia’s heart goes out to him, but her hands are tied. Frankie won’t let her talk to the police and neither will his family. Julia eventually discovers that the three worlds of her clients intertwine. Those lives inevitably collide exposing a dangerous smuggling cabal. Julia knows too much and becomes a victim of both a ruthless environmental group and criminals who will stop at nothing—including murder.

The Christy Bristol Mysteries by Sunny Frazier

Christy Bristol is an office worker who moonlights as an amateur astrologer. In each story, she gets pulled into a murder mystery and is forced to solve the crime. 

Book One: Fools Rush In

On a blazing July day in California’s San Joaquin Valley, snitch Johnny Blue is murdered by a lethal heroin injection. Undercover narcotic detective James Wolfe, the operative who handled Blue, goes to the sheriff’s department substation seeking ex-girlfriend Christy Bristol. In the past, he ridiculed her hobby of casting horoscopes. Now he needs her expertise to catch the man he suspects is behind Blue’s murder, a drug dealer named Lloyd Parr. Stuck on the lowest rung of law enforcement, Christy becomes first a victim, then a hero, in the high-stakes game of narcotic trafficking. Through her eyes, the drug world is reduced to individual players, lost values, and discarded dreams. The reality of what goes on in the fertile land of the San Joaquin Valley is far more disturbing than the Hollywood version of drug lords and a wealthy lifestyle fueled by drug money. In the drug world of the Valley, there are no winners. Only losers.

Book Two: Where Angels Fear

Amateur astrologer Christy Bristol and her best friend Lennie Watkins find themselves on the fringes of Kearny society and a “members-only” sex club as they reluctantly take on a missing persons case. A prominent business man has disappeared and his wife says she can’t go to the authorities. Armed with only a prescription bottle and matchbook as clues, the two young woman infiltrate the Knights of Sensani sex club and run head first into more than their own sexual inhibitions. Convinced that the missing man is a victim of the same perp who killed three other men, Christy and Lennie—using nothing more than guts, determination, and an astrological chart of the victim—start an investigation that could not only land them in hot water…it could get them killed.

Book Three: A Snitch in Time

When sheriff’s department office assistant Christy Bristol takes a long weekend to visit her friend, Lennie, in the Sierra Nevada foothills, it’s not the vacation she anticipated. A murder has just occurred and Christy is conscripted by the homicide team to handle the reports. To add to her frustration, she gets in a fight with Lennie over her friend’s arrogant boyfriend and has no place to stay. The detectives put her up in a forest ranger's cabin while he is away fighting fires. As the body count grows, it becomes apparent the killer is targeting undesirables in the town of Burlap. One victim’s girlfriends calls Christy and accuses a deputy of the murders. Christy doesn’t know whether to believe the snitch or not. Could a killer really be hiding behind his badge? Using astrology, she casts a reverse horoscope to profile him, but puts her own life at risk. And time is running out.

Honorable Mention 

Horoscope: The Astrology Murders, Georgina Frontier

Dr. Kelly Elizabeth York has spent her life helping people solve their problems. A celebrity astrologer and psychologist with a devoted following, she now finds herself in the unlikely and terrifying position of helping the police and the FBI determine the identity of a serial killer—who just may be targeting her. No matter how careful she is, Kelly knows that she will have to confront darkness, an energy so black it could challenge everything she believes in.

Note: Horoscope is a well-crafted, intelligent mystery. Unfortunately, the author died before she could write or publish any future installments. However, she did leave behind outlines for future storylines should the publisher find a qualified ghost writer to continue the series. Given that over a decade has passed since this book was published, it seems unlikely. 

Carolina Dean
Senior List-Maker 
12th House Books 

Understanding the Slice and Angle of Aspects in Astrology

 What Are Aspects?

aspect lines 

An aspect is a term that refers to the relationships between planets or how two planets (or points) interact with one another. They are formed between points and planets in a chart according to the distance between them. While there are many types of aspects, this article will focus on only five of them. They are conjunctions, sextiles, squares, trines, and oppositions. 

Identifying Aspects 

Aspects are divided into two types. They are hard, or difficult aspects, and soft, or easy aspects. Hard aspects are represented on most charts with red lines while easy ones are represented by blue lines. In addition to the red and blue lines, you will often see a green dotted line. These lines represent minor aspects such as quincunx and semisextiles.  (see image at top left). 

The red and blue aspect lines help you to quickly recognize aspects between planets. Depending on the program you are using to generate your charts, there is also usually an aspect grid detailing the aspects between planets in a chart. If you are unsure if two planets form an aspect, you can double check the aspect grid (see image below under Orbs) 

Trines and Sextiles are soft, while conjunctions, oppositions, and squares are hard.  Soft aspects typically occur quickly and easily with little effort. Hard aspects bring challenges that help push us past our own personal boundaries and give us the impetus to achieve our goals. 

Understanding  Aspects 

• Conjunctions- A conjunction occurs when two planets are 0 degrees apart (i.e. in the same degree). For this reason, two planets that are in conjunction will be in the same sign and elements. The keyword for conjunction is blends, that is, the energies of the planets are fused together and it may be difficult to tell them apart.
  
• Sextiles- A sextile occurs when two planets are 60 degrees, or 2 signs apart. Planets that are sextile are usually in supportive elements (fire with air; earth with water). The keyword for sextiles are coaxes, and this type of aspect is thought to bring opportunities. 
  
• Squares- A square occurs when two planets are 90 degrees, or 3 signs apart. Planets that are square are usually in opposite elements (fire and water; earth and air). They keyword for squares is strains. When two planets are square each other, tensions form. 
  
• Trines- A trine occurs when two planets are 120 degrees, or 4 signs apart. Planets that are trine one another are usually in the same elements. The keyword for trines is supports. 
  
• Oppositions- An opposition occurs when two planets are 180 degrees or 6 signs apart. Planets that are in opposition to on another are usually in support elements (fire with air; earth witih water).  They keyword for oppositions is divides. When two planets are in opposition their energies are divided. You may feel that someone is doing something to you or something is happening to you and you can't do anything about it. 

A Note About Orbs 

Aspect Grid 

Aspects can be applying (approaching exact), exact, or separating (moving away from exact). These are often noted on Aspect Grids as A, E, and S.  An aspect builds strength when it is applying, strongest at exact, and weakens as they separate.  For example, if you look at the aspect grid above, you'll see that Mercury is Conjunct Pluto (applying), meaning it is getting stronger. 

The Orb of an aspect is a term that refers to the degree of exactness. For example, two planets can be 123 degrees apart and still be considered trine. If these planets are getting closer the aspect is applying; if they are moving apart, it is separating.  

Astrologers disagree on what they consider to be the orb of any given aspect. As you study and practice you will  figure out what works best for you. Personally, I use an orb of 8 degrees in Natal Charts and 2 degrees in Transit Charts. 

Interpreting Aspects: A Step-By-Step Guide 

Your first consideration when it comes to interpreting an aspect is to determine the meaning of the aspect being formed itself.  For example, squares often introduce tension to a situation and represent obstacles to be overcome or opportunities for growth. 

The next thing you'll want to contemplate is the meaning of the two planets which are forming the aspect. This might be easier if you make a list of the keywords of the planets concerned and place them side by side. For example. let's look at Mars Square Jupiter 

                                                      Mars                           Jupiter 

                                                      Action                         Expansion

                                                      Aggression                  Optimism  

                                                      Passion                        Growth 

                                                      Energy                        Success 

                                                      Drive                           Generous

                                                      Will Power                  Luck  

Looking over these keywords you might surmise that the combined meaning of these planets could mean bold and aggressive speculation or passionately optimistic. This aspect could point to someone taking a huge risk desite overwhelming odds against him or her. 

Next you will want to look at the signs that each planet occupies and this will color how the energy of the planet expresses itself. Again, you might want to use your keywords to better understand the meaning of the aspect. Let us extend our previous example and suppose that Mars is in Gemini and Jupiter is in Virgo (4 signs apart). A square between Gemini and Virgo can point to distracted thoughts disrupting your health or routine. 

Then you will look at the houses occupied by the planets. Again, let us suppose that Mars is in the 5th house and Jupiter is in the 9th house. A square between the 5th house and the 9th house can be an indication of creativity and pleasure conflicting with your higher ideals. 

Finally we will put all that we have surmised together and form a cohesive interpretation of the aspects

• bold and aggressive speculation 
• distracted thoughts disrupting health or routine 
• creativity and pleasure conflict with higher ideals. 

Interpretation # 1 

You may be feeling somewhat distracted now and unable to focus on the details of any matter leading you to stray from your usual routine. This can have a negative affect of your physical or mental health. You have more energy now and need to have some type of creative outlet. You may be used to playing it safe, but now you are more likely to throw caution to the wind and take big chances despite that odds being against you. 

Another way would be to write out the aspect and then list all your keywords out in order like so... 

Mars in Gemini and the 5th House Square Jupiter in Virgo and the 9th House  

Mars             Gemini         5th House     Jupiter           Virgo      9th House 

Action           Versatile        Creativity       Expansion     helpful     higher mind

Aggression    Adaptable      Pleasure         Optimism      humble    ethics 

Passion          Curious          Hobbies         Growth          detailed    foreign

Energy           Restless         Talent             Success         critical      philosophy 

Drive              Indecisive                            Generous      practical

Will Power    Talkative                               Luck             worrier

You can then string together your keywords to create a sentence such as 

Restless (gemini) action (mars) in the area of creativity and pleasure (5th house) conflicts (square) with practical (virgo) expansion (Jupiter) of the higher mind (9th house) 

Interpretation # 2 

For the short period that Mars is squaring Jupiter, you may experience a sense of restlessness and indecisiveness along with an abundance of energy. You are driven to start many creative tasks or projects and yet accomplish little to nothing because you jump from one project or idea to another and fail to complete anything.  Such restlessness and inattention to details creates a certain tension in any efforts to grow and expand the higher mind in any type of practical or useful way.  In short you are allowing your passions to override your better senses and so fail to find any satifaction from your efforts.  

The interpretation of aspects is an art and a science in and of itself which often confuses the student of astrology. However, once you collect your keywords and learn to disect them in an organized manner all it takes is a little practice to master the art of interpreting them. 

Carolina Dean 
Official Astrologer 
12th House Books 

Links: 

• Aspects and Personality
• The Yod Book