Lunar Mansion Report, May 5, 2025 to May 11, 2025

 This is an entry in a continuing series of posts looking at the Moon's position and condition in the week ahead with an eye to the Mansions of the Moon. This is an exercise to help track the speed of the Moon, organize my thoughts on the Mansions, and think about the practical applications. 

All times are for me locally, United States Pacific Time. I will be making note of the Moon's phase, speed, and Mansion position in my assessment. Currently, I'm not considering aspects with other planets.

Lunar Mansion Report, May 5, 2025 to May 11, 2025.

Monday, May 5th, 2025. Monday, May 5th begins with the Moon in Asarfa, the Lion’s Tail. She will remain in this Mansion until 8:59pm and will then move into the next Mansion, Alawway, the Barker. The phase is Waxing Gibbous which supports works of strengthening and improving. 

The Moon will be in Asarfa from 8:11pm on May 4th to 8:59pm on May 5th. This is a period of 24 hours and 48 minutes. This is slow for the Moon  and it is 44 minutes longer than the previous Mansion so she is slowing down. A slow Moon may make magic take longer to manifest but the effects may be more enduring. 

The beneficial powers of Asarfa are increasing farms and newly planted trees, promoting the welfare of partners as well as for reconciling differences between them for improved work conditions and product, improving conditions for successful hunting (Gayat al Hakim), increase harvests, the improvement of allies, officials, captives, and servants that they will be steadfast and honest (Latin Picatrix), and brings help and benevolence (Celestial Magic).

In the Latin Picatrix the image for this Mansion is a dragon fighting a man made in black lead. It is described as an image of breaking and separating. In its beneficial form this image could be used to break from addiction or unhealthy situations or relationships. 

The Moon ends May 5th in Alawway.

Tuesday, May 6th, 2025. The Moon is in Alawway, the Barker, when May 6th begins. She continues through this Mansion until 10:19pm when she enters the next Mansion, Azimech, the Spike of Virgo. The Moon's phase is Waxing Gibbous in which works of growth and supplement are improved.  

The Moon will travel through Alawway from 8:59pm on April 5th until 10:19pm on April 6th. This is 25 hours and 20 minutes so she is moving slowly. It is also 32 minutes longer than the previous Mansion so she is slowing down. A slow Moon may delay the effects of magic but may also prolong those effects. 

 The beneficial powers of Alawway include promoting trade and farms, enhancing the welfare of a traveler, the consumption of marriage between spouses, for releasing captives, to contact kings and dignitaries (Gayat al Hakim), for the excitation of sexual intercourse (Ibn Hatim), increase of trade and profit, increase of harvests, completion of buildings, for the liberation of men who are not able to come to women, to put love between a man and a woman, to dissolve binding that a man will be able to perform with a woman (Latin Picatrix), for benevolence, gain, voyages, harvests, and freedom of captives (Agrippa), for learning every kind of thing (Shams al Marif). 

The image in the Latin Picatrix for this Mansion is a red man embracing a white woman. This is an image of oppisites joining into a harmonious whole. The sexual overtones of this image suggest that each of the opposites desires unity with the other and the power dynamic is more or less equitable. 

The Moon is in Azimech when May 6th ends. 

Wedensday, May 7th, 2025. The Moon is in Azimech, the Spike of Virgo, when May 7th begins and she stays in that Mansion for the entirety of May 7th. The phase is Waxing Gibbous and so is best for works of increase and ripening. 

The Moon will be in Azimech for 25 hours and 47 minutes between 10:19pm on May 6th until 12:06am on May 8th. This is slow for the Moon and it is 27 minutes slower than the last Mansion. A slow Moon can add longevity to magical works but may also slow the realization of those effects. 

The beneficial powers of Azimech include reconciling differences between spouses, recovery from illness (Gayat al Hakim), for the love of man and wife, heal the sick, for the benefit of kings thatchy might ascend to their reign, the safety of sailors, the friendship of allies (Latin Picatrix), attract friendship, improve personal fortune, empowers bowl divination and scrying operations (Celestial Magic). 

The image of Azimech in the Latin Picatrix is a dog biting its own tail. This may be a symbol of futility but it may also be some kind of ouroboros. Nigel Jackson's Celestial Magic includes an ear of wheat in the image of this Mansion. Its connotations of fertility, growth, and bounty cannot be overstated. The dog turns in its cycle, ever striving to its goal.

The Moon ends May 7th in Azimech.

Thursday, May 8th, 2025. The Moon is in Azimech, the Spike of Virgo, when May 8th begins. She only spends the first 6 minutes in that Mansion, however, before making ingress into the next Mansion, Algafra, the Covering. The phase is Waxing Gibbous which lends strength to works of building and gathering. 

The Moon will stay in Algafra from 12:06am on May 8th until 2:06am on May 9th. That is 26 hours exactly and is very slow. It is also 13 minutes longer than the previous Mansion so she is still slowing down. A slow Moon can make magical works take longer to happen but may also make those effects last longer. 

The beneficial powers of Algafra include digging wells, retrieving buried treasure (Ghayat al Hakim), ending of enmity and hatred (Ibn Hatim), acquisition of friendship and goodwill, the joining of friends and lovers (Latin Picatrix), helpful for all activities in this world or the next, antidote to poison (Shams al Marif). 

The image for this Mansion in the Latin Picatrix is a man writing a letter. The specialty of this Mansion is agreements, pacts, and contracts.

The Moon ends May 8th in Algafra. 

Friday, May 9th, 2025. The Moon is transiting across Algafra, the Covering, when May 9th begins. She moves into the next Mansion, Azubene, the Horns of the Scorpion, at 2:06am. The phase is Waxing Gibbous which is best for works of increase and improvement. 

The Moon will travel across Azubene from 2:06am on May 9th to 4:13am on May 10th, a period of 26 hours and 7 minutes. This is very slow for the Moon and is almost as slow as she gets this cycle. It is also 7 minutes slower than the previous Mansion and so she is still slowing down. A slow Moon may delay the effects of magic but may also make this effects last longer. 

The beneficial powers of Azubene include releasing captives (Ghayat al Hakim), making money [through commerce] (Latin Picatrix), to gain much merchandise (Agrippa), liberate bound energies (Celestial Magic). 

The image for Azubene in the Latin Picatrix is a man holding scales and weighing. The Horns of the Scorpion became the claws of the scorpion which became the cups of a scale. Discernment, judgement, and valuation are the keywords for Azubene. In its wrathful forms, it can obscure the value of things like relationships and ruin business deals. In Nigel Jackson's Celestial Magic this Mansion is given the power of enhancing sciomancy and necromantic operations to communicate with the shades of the dead. 

Azubene is the first half of the Via Combusta, the Fiery Way which is detrimental to the Moon. This detriment tempers the beneficial powers of Azubene. 

The Moon remains in Azubene when May 9th ends. 

Saturday, May 10th, 2025. As May 10th begins the Moon is in Azubene, the Horns of the Scorpion. At 4:13am that day she then moves into the next Mansion, Alichlil, the Crown of the Scorpion. The phase is Waxing Gibbous which is good for works of amplification and expansion. 

The Moon will be in Alichlil from 4:13am on May 10th until 6:21am on May 11th at 6:21am. This is 26 hours and 8 minutes and is the slowest the Moon travels across a Mansion this cycle. It is one minute longer than the previous Mansion so she is decelerating. A slow Moon can prolong the effects of magic but may also make them take longer to come about. 

The beneficial powers of Alichlil include expelling thieves (Ibn Hatim), improvement and increased of livestock, the safety of a traveler at sea, to make unbreakable friendships (GHayat al Hakim), to improve deception, to make buildings more firm and stable, for lasting love, so that thieves may not enter a house (Latin Picatirx), for the improvement of unjust fortune, useful for sailing (Agrippa), to help those laboring under delusions and aid those who have been deceived (Celestial Magic). 

The image of Aliklil in the Latin Picatrix is a monkey holding its hands up above its shoulders. I imagine this gesture to resemble a criminal putting their hands up at being apprehended. The monkey and its ability to imitate is a symbol for deception. 

Aliklil is the second half of the Via Combustua which is difficult for the Moon and tempers the beneficial powers of this Mansion. 

The Moon is in Alichlil when May 10th ends.

Sunday, May 11th, 2025. At the beginning of May 11th the Moon is in Alichlil, the Crown of the Scorpion. At 6:21am she then moves into the next Mansion, Alcalb, the Heart of the Scorpion. The phase is Waxing Gibbous which is best for works of building and strengthening. 

The Moon will be in Alcalb from 6:21am on May 11th until 8:19am on May 12th. This is a period of 25 hours and 56 minutes, which is slow for the Moon, but it is 10 minutes less than the previous Mansion so she is beginning to accelerate. 

The beneficial powers of Alcalb include for pledging loyalty to kings to help them overcome their enemies, for stabilizing buildings, for marrying a widow, for the growth of newly planted trees, for the safety of a voyager (Ghayat al Hakim), taking away fevers and infirmities of the belly, and that no serpent or hurtful beast may enter a house (Latin Picatrix).

The image for Alcalb in the Latin Picatrix is an adder with its tail above its head. A venomous snake is dangerous enough but with its tail above its head it takes on the defensive qualities of a scorpion and so cannot be attacked from in front or in the rear.  

The Moon is in Alcalb at the end of May 11th.