:sun_moon_star: WITCH CHALLENGE - Sun, Moon & Stars: An Exploration of Your Signs

[BryWisteria]

Merry meet,

Thank you once again to all those who joined in for the previous Witch Challenge - New Beginnings

2026 is already flying by, and so are we - flying right up into the cosmos! We’re looking into the celestial heavens with a deep dive into our personal galaxies

The theme for this challenge is…

Sun, Moon & Stars: An Exploration of Your Signs
A cosmic dive into zodiac and celestial magick

Astrology! Some witches love it, others despise it, and others feel lost in it - which is understandable, as the cosmos sure is huge! Astrology is as vast as the universe and just as overflowing with possibilities. It is an area of spiritual, magickal, and intellectual study that provides insights by reading the celestial heavens.

When it comes studying the stars, astrology can be as simple as learning your sun sign, or as complex as reading the stars to divine the past, present, and future or exploring medical astrology. It can be used for a wide variety of magickal purposes on its own or combined with other forms of magick (divination, spells, etc) to enhance your practice.

How you choose to study, explore, or utilize astrology is up to you. For this challenge, you’re invited to give it a try - consider this a friendly nudge to reach for the stars!

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This challenge is about exploring signs and zodiac influences - how you choose to take on this theme is up to you. So are you ready? Because it’s…

CHALLENGE TIME!

Spells8 Free Printable Page: Zodiac Wheel

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Reading Your Skies

This challenge is about your sun, moon, star and other signs - as always, feel free to explore the theme in a way that aligns with you and your unique practice.

Still not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are a few suggested spells and other ways in which a witch might approach this challenge.

Please make sure you are logged into your Spells8 Account so you can view all of the resources shared!

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Studying Astrology

Stellar Foundations: Astrology Course for Beginners

How to Get and Read Your Natal Chart [with quiz!]

The 12 Zodiac Signs: Origins of Symbols

Additional resources and related discussions:

• What's your Sun Sign? - The Zodiac ⭐
• Beginner Astrology - Guide to the Signs
• Retrograde Planets in your Birth Chart 💫
• Black Moon Lilith in Your Natal Chart - Weekly Witchy Challenge
• Where is Your Chiron? - Weekly Witchy Challenge
• And much more in the Astrology 🌌 Master Post

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Celestial Magick

Guided Zodiac Moon Meditations

Adding the Zodiac to Your Magick

Your Personal Horoscope: Zodiac Tarot Spread

How to Make Moon Water

How to Make Solar Water

Additional resources and related discussions:

• 🍵 Zodiac Tea Blends
• Astrocartography: Exploring your zodiac on the map

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Zodiac Fun & Games

What Type of Witch are You Based on Your Zodiac?

Which Zodiac Signs Like (or Don’t Like) Astrology?

Additional resources and related discussions:

• Identify the Zodiac Signs Quiz
• Zodiac Signs as Movies
• The Zodiac Signs as Cuisines
• Zodiac Signs as Dog Breeds
• Your Sun Sign as a World City
• 🎩 Fashion by Zodiac Sign

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…And More!

The suggestions above are just a few ideas to help kickstart your creativity. If you feel called to explore the challenge theme in another way, you are welcome to do so.

Picture by @Cosmic_Curiosity, shared in Astrology of the Body

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How to Join the Challenge

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!

Where Do I Share My Entry?

Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new post in the forum (this is good for when you have a lot to share and/or would like to discuss aspects of your entry not related to the current theme)

Note: If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!

Click here for a note for our lovely lurkers

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge. For those who would like the challenge prizes, please know that you will need to share your experience if you want to receive a prize and a public shout-out.

Don’t feel comfortable sharing? No fear! For lurkers and those who are shy, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge on the sidelines. At the end of the day, these challenges are here to help you help yourself by expanding and enhancing your personal magickal practice. I hope they can be helpful for you!

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Deadline

This challenge will close in 13 DAYS

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00 AM EDT (Eastern US Time)
2026-01-27T12:00:00Z

(Note that the time zone is ET- if you don’t see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)

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Prizes

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize!

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums the day the challenge closes.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.

Pictures from Herbal Cafe and Horoscope Tea

A warm reminder that the challenges are designed to be very open - everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice

If you’re not sure whether or not something is acceptable to post, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team.

And for those new to challenges - welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities. The challenges hope to bring together the Spells8 forum family in ways that inspire and support one another. I hope you have fun with them!

Picture from Canva

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Sun and Saturn, Moon, Chiron and Mars
Our celestial guides among the stars
By Zodiac and sacred signs
We walk a path celestially divine

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Blessed be!

[BryWisteria]

Pick the Challenge Badge

The tradition continues! Let us know - which title do you like the most?

(Poll is anonymous)

• Star Watcher
• Celestially Guided
• Chart Reader
• Blessed From Birth
• Astrology Fan

The title with the most votes will be awarded to all challenge entrants.

Thanks for sharing your vote - blessed be!

[Jess]

~ Challenge Entry ~

I downloaded the ap Co-Star a couple weeks ago and have done my best to keep up with it everyday. It’s honestly fascinating. It has the be the most in-depth astrology reads I have come across so far.
I have since learned that it goes beyond my birth month sign. I’m Leo-Sun, Scorpio-Moon and Aries-Acendant. I’m really glad I got back into astrology this year.

[Eira_of_the_Living_Hearth]

Oh, this is exciting! This is right up my alley! I love astrology! Time to research what to do!

[julie8]

This topic is awesome and the timing is perfect.

Pisces sun
Cancer moon
Aquarius rising

I have been studying astrology with the Sydney astrology school last year, level 1 and 2, and I’m just about to start level 3 next week. I am still getting my head around understanding how everything interlinks, but they’ve encouraged me to push on and that it will fall into place.
I finished a tarot diploma with the centre of excellence last year also and now practising what I have learnt.
I am also right into crystals, tarot, and the moon cycles, so all of this meshes beautifully. Now to work out what my challenge entry will be

[Amethyst]

I just got a book called The Aquarius Witch! Guess I know what I’ll be reading this weekend!

[Greenbriar]

I’ve never really been into astrology but I’m a Cancerian, and a Moon baby, so my challenge entry will have something to do with the Moon, I’m sure. Just don’t know what yet

but… there is a full moon coming up…. and coinciding with Imbolc…. puts on thinking cap…

[Ostara]

Challenge Entry

I have loved astrology since I was little (dad used to read our horoscopes out of the newspaper every Sunday). I usually just read everything about Aquarius (and I’m a true Aquarius)! You know @Amethyst that one of our negative traits is being scatter brained? Anyway, I purchased an astrology deck a few years ago and never used it until today. I have learned so much about all the signs in the last 2 hours! I took out one of my Book of Shadows that has a few blank pages and wrote down all 12 signs and what their positive and negative traits. I would highly recommend this card deck if you are new to astrology.

Please excuse my messiness. This book is full of scribbles even though I try to be neat.

[Amethyst]

@Ostara

You know @Amethyst that one of our negative traits is being scatter brained?

I did not know that, but I feel it every day! Nice sounding card deck!

[Ostara]

I do too!!!

[Amethyst]

I spent two days looking for an envelope in the drawer I keep them in. Kept on moving stuff to look in there more. Turns out, I had the box in my hand, and was picking it up to look under it. Which I didn’t figure out until I bought more envelopes. Sigh.

[MeganB]

I might have a book I can explore for this challenge… Now, I just have to find it!

[Ostara]

I was looking on my neatly organized bookshelf knowing I had a deck on astrology thinking it must be hiding in the back. After 5 minutes I gave up and moved the deck that was in front of me (astrology) to put the other decks back (neatly) and realized it was in front of my face. See what happens when I get organized? My ADD brain goes into shock!

[Ostara]

Just be happy your not a Aquarius!

[MeganB]

haha well, it’s a digital copy, so I just needed to remember where I stored it on my computer I did find it, though!

[Artemisia]

Challenge Entry - Sun, Moon & Stars: An Exploration of Your Signs

Full disclosure: astrology doesn’t resonate with me, nor do I incorporate it into my practice. I decided to interpret this in a way that fits my practice. If it’s too far off topic, please let me know, and I can remove the post!

I am an Aquarius birth so I decided to use characteristics common to Aquarius and apply those to native trees in my are.

I was looking for 2 local trees:

• those that do things differently, that stand out, that have a unique approach to survival. Trees that don’t follow the crowd.
• with distinctive architecture. Trees that teach through their structure and behavior.
• that serve the ecosystem in notable ways - wildlife hubs, nitrogen fixers, soil builders. Trees that give back.
• that break the “rules” somehow - odd growth patterns, unusual bark, unexpected timing, survive in strange places.
• with a strong presence and distinctive character that persists through changing conditions.

The first tree that lept immediately to mind is the American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

The bark that peels off higher on the trunk, revealing white and grey wood, is stunning and very distinctive.

The second also fits well, as it is one of the few trees in the Piedmont that holds its dead leaves throughout the winter, dropping them in the spring. It also produces a seed crop that’s important to the wildlife. American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

As the challenge period coincides with my birthdate, I plan to do bark rubbings from each of these trees and spend some time meditating with them.

[Greenbriar]

Challenge Entry - Sun, Moon & Stars: An Exploration of Your Signs

As someone born under the sign of Cancer, I have always felt a strong connection to the Moon, even before I knew that the Moon is the ruling Celestial body for Cancerians in astrology.

The Moon’s energy is deeply tied to intuition, emotions, and cycles of change, all of which resonate with Cancer’s nurturing and sensitive nature. I find that working with Moon energy—especially during rituals or meditations—helps me tap into my inner wisdom. The phases of the Moon guide my practice, reminding me to honor my feelings and embrace transformation as a natural part of life.

I recently worked with Co-Pilot to create a ritual to honor the next full moon, the Snow Moon, specifically as a Cancerian Witch.

Created by Greenbriar on Jan 15, 2026 using the Z-Image Turbo AI image generator model.

Wiccan Ritual for the Full Snow Moon

Honoring Lunar Energies as a Cancerian Witch

Introduction

The Full Snow Moon, typically occurring in February, symbolizes endurance, introspection, and renewal in the heart of winter. As a Cancerian witch, you are naturally attuned to lunar energies, emotional healing, and nurturing magic. This ritual will help you honor the Snow Moon, harness its power for personal transformation, and deepen your connection to both the Moon and your water element.

Ritual Preparation

• Herbs: Chamomile, lavender, and rosemary for calm, purification, and insight.

• Crystals: Moonstone (natural lunar connection and intuition), selenite (cleansing and clarity), and aquamarine (Cancer’s water element and emotional healing).

• Candle: White or silver to represent the Snow Moon, and blue for Cancer energy.

• Bowl of water: Symbolizes Cancer’s elemental power.

Step-by-Step Ritual

1. Cleansing the Space: Begin by burning a bundle of rosemary or sprinkling chamomile petals around your altar. As you do, visualize white light washing over your ritual space, clearing away stagnant energy.

2. Setting the Altar: Arrange your crystals and herbs around the bowl of water. Light the white or silver candle, placing it at the center to represent the Snow Moon, and the blue candle beside it to invoke Cancerian energy.

3. Invocation: Stand with your hands over the bowl of water, feeling its coolness and your connection to the Moon. Close your eyes, breathing deeply, and envision moonlight streaming down, filling you and your space.

4. Chant:

"Snow Moon shining, winter’s light,

Guide me gently through the night.

Cancer’s tide, my soul’s embrace,

Bless me now, with lunar grace.

Herbs and stones, by water’s flow,

Heal and nurture, let me grow."

5. Meditation: Hold a moonstone in your hand, gaze into the bowl of water, and reflect on what you wish to release or nurture during this lunar cycle. Let any emotions rise and flow, knowing the Moon supports your healing.

6. Closing: Thank the Moon, the element of water, and your spirit guides. Snuff out the candles, and return the water to the earth, offering it as a blessing for renewal.

Aftercare

Keep the moonstone or selenite on your altar or carry it with you for continued connection. Journal your feelings, dreams, and insights received during the ritual, allowing Cancer’s intuitive wisdom to guide you in the coming weeks.

[Amethyst]

@Ostara

See what happens when I get organized? My ADD brain goes into shock!

Yeah, I can’t find anything if I put it away either.

[BryWisteria]

Gorgeous entries and fun brainstorming - it’s exciting to hear about everyone’s celestial connections and see how you incorporate them into your magick!

@Artemisia

I decided to interpret this in a way that fits my practice.

Just popping in to say this is a beautiful and creative way to explore the theme in your practice - it definitely counts!

[Medea]

Challenge for this, Witch challenge is an understatement. I was looking through all the information Spells 8 has on astrology … O.M.G

I don’t know this is going to be a tough one. I’ve been putting astrology off, and now I remember why LOL.

Good luck to everyone!

Medea