Calendar of the Sun
24 Lithemonath
Fortuna's Day
Color: Purple
Element: Air
Altar: Upon a purple cloth lay nine purple candles, a great cup of wine, the figure of a ship, deck
of Tarot or other divinatory cards, and the figure of a Wheel of Fortune.
Offerings: Take a chance.
Daily Meal: Potluck, with everyone contributing one dish, which is not discussed beforehand.
Fortuna Invocation
Lady of the whirling wheel
That throws some up and flings some down;
Lady who both wounds and heals,
Lady who spins us round and round,
We beg you, Fortuna, for your bounty,
And pray you will not cast us aside,
For we cannot let go of your magnificent wheel,
But we all must hang on for the ride.
Maker of chances and opportunity,
Tradition says you are bald behind,
That seizing you by the oncoming forelock
And hoping that you will be kind
Is the only way to win your favor,
But we know what they do not.
You are never kind, yet many times
You will give the slow ones a second shot.
Stormy lady, sailor's mistress,
Tormentor of the ship at sea,
You come to us like a gypsy's laughter
And leave us almost silently.
We spin the wheel, we roll the dice,
We patch our wounds across the rift,
We call for you once, we weep for you twice,
We honor you and your ambivalent gift.
(Each comes forth and draws a card; it is a message from Fortuna. Unlike other divination
sessions, on this day each must reveal to the others what card was received, and it can be
discussed among the House members. Such is luck.)
[Pagan Book of Hours]