Ancient Calendar & Pagan Holidays: June 27th: Aestas & Arrhephoria

 

In Ancient History, Rome would have had a festival called Aestas, which happened to be their fabulous Summertime Goddess. It seemed fitting enough since today, on their calendar, was the first day of Summer. And the beginning of Summer didn’t lack its own superstitions either. In fact, if it was raining today, then that meant it would be a very wet season.

Rome rarely does anything without Greece adding its own touch. So while Romans do their thing, the Greeks will be having their own festival called Arrhephoria. This was all about their Goddess Athena, who supposedly brought about the dew of night. The observance, though, was really all about whom Athena sent to deliver the dew, which were four young girls of Noble decent called Hersphoroi which meant ‘dew bearers’. Now these ladies didn’t really deliver the dew but they were sent to the temple of Athena in Acropolis to join in during the services of the Goddess.

 

Magical Moon: June 27th, 2016

On June 27th, 2016, the night shall bring forth the Last Quarter Moon, otherwise known as the Waning Moon.

This, again, is another Crone Moon, which can be used for any magic of decrease.  (Remember, that the New or Waning Moon is used for magics of increase.)

While the New Moon moves from Dark to Full, the Last Quarter moves from Full to Dark.

This is a good time to banish things you no longer need or want in your life. This is also a great time to reverse anything you may need to rework or to end things that need put to an end, like friendships, projects, relationships with those who are toxic or for lovers that are no longer needed in one’s life.

This is a time of retribution and a time to thank the Mother for all that she has given us—gardens, blessings and gifts.