Since ancient times, witches, magicians, and healers have looked to the sky for guidance. The stars, planets, and moon have long been seen not as distant celestial bodies, but as living forces — mirrors of the cycles and energies that flow through our lives and our magic. Understanding astrology doesn’t just deepen your knowledge of the heavens — it grounds your spellwork in cosmic rhythm.
This isn’t about memorizing every aspect or degree; it’s about learning how the language of the stars can align your timing, intention, and energy for more powerful results.
A Brief History of Astrology in Magic
Astrology’s roots stretch back over 4,000 years to Mesopotamia, where priests observed the skies to predict floods, harvests, and omens. From there, the practice evolved through Egyptian, Greek, and Arabic traditions before becoming a core component of Western occultism.
By the Renaissance, astrology was inseparable from alchemy, medicine, and magic. Grimoires like The Picatrix and Three Books of Occult Philosophy (by Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa) outlined planetary correspondences and timing for spells, sigils, and talismans. Even cunning folk in early modern Europe used astrological almanacs to guide healing and divination work.
Today, many modern witches continue this tradition — timing spells by lunar phases, planetary hours, or zodiac placements to harmonize their intentions with cosmic currents.
The Core Components of Astrology
You don’t need to be a professional astrologer to use astrology in magic — just a basic understanding of how the major players influence energy.
1. The Planets: Energies in Motion
Each planet represents a specific archetype or force:
- Sun – vitality, power, purpose
- Moon – emotion, intuition, magic
- Mercury – communication, learning, movement
- Venus – love, beauty, attraction
- Mars – drive, courage, conflict
- Jupiter – growth, abundance, luck
- Saturn – discipline, structure, lessons
- Uranus – innovation, liberation
- Neptune – dreams, mysticism
- Pluto – transformation, shadow work
In magic, these energies can be consciously invoked. A Venus Friday might favor love spells, while Mars Tuesday supports courage, protection, or energy work.
2. The Zodiac Signs: The Flavor of the Energy
The twelve zodiac signs are expressions of those planetary forces. Aries energy differs from Taurus, even under the same Moon. Understanding sign qualities helps fine-tune spell intention:
- Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): Passion, initiation, and creativity
- Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Stability, materiality, and grounding
- Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Intellect, connection, and communication
- Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotion, intuition, and healing
For example, a Pisces Moon enhances divination and dream magic, while a Capricorn Moon supports career or long-term manifestation work.
3. The Moon Phases: The Witch’s Calendar
If you practice magic, you’re already an astrologer in miniature — every witch knows the Moon matters. Each phase carries a distinct energetic signature:
- New Moon: Beginnings, intention-setting, planting seeds
- Waxing Moon: Growth, attraction, momentum
- Full Moon: Power, completion, illumination
- Waning Moon: Release, banishing, reflection
- Dark Moon: Rest, shadow work, divination
This lunar rhythm forms the foundation for many spellcasting traditions, often paired with planetary and zodiacal timing for greater nuance.
Practical Ways to Use Astrology in Your Magic
You don’t need an advanced natal chart analysis — simple timing and awareness can bring cosmic precision to your craft.
✨ Planetary Days and Hours: Each day of the week aligns with a planet. For example, Sunday (Sun) is ideal for empowerment or success spells, while Saturday (Saturn) suits protection and boundary work. Planetary hours — smaller windows of time governed by specific planets — can further refine timing.
🌙 Moon in the Signs: Track where the Moon is each day. When it’s in Taurus, work for stability and prosperity. In Scorpio, dive into deep transformation or ancestor veneration.
📜 Electional Magic: For more advanced practitioners, “electional astrology” involves choosing the ideal moment to launch spells, rituals, or projects — aligning celestial conditions with the desired outcome.
🪶 Journaling and Reflection: Keep a magical planner or astrology journal. Record your workings, moon phases, and transits. Over time, you’ll notice how cosmic cycles echo your experiences — and how your results improve when you work with those tides instead of against them.
Tools for Astro-Magical Practice
To begin integrating astrology into your witchcraft, you might include:
- Astrological planners or calendars to track planetary movements and moon phases
- Planetary correspondences candles or oils for ritual timing
- Incense blends matched to planetary energies (e.g., cinnamon for the Sun, myrrh for Saturn)
- Crystal allies like moonstone (Lunar), carnelian (Mars), or lapis lazuli (Jupiter)
- Astrology-themed altar cloths or journals for working visually with the sky’s patterns
At Thrice Round, these tools are chosen not for aesthetic alone but for their symbolic and energetic value — helping you align with the same rhythms that guided witches for centuries.
Closing Thoughts
Astrology reminds us that magic is not separate from nature — it is nature, expressed through time and pattern. When you time your spells with the stars, you’re participating in a tradition that spans millennia: the dialogue between Earth and Sky.
So next time you cast, look up. Ask:
“What are the heavens doing today?”
You might find the answer shapes not just your ritual — but your understanding of magic itself.