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On October 27 at 12:58 am (PDT), the Moon conjoins the Sun at 4 degrees
Scorpio. A new cycle starts near the traditional holiday of Halloween.
Also known as Samhain (pronounced sow-wen), this holiday marks the midpoint
between the fall equinox and the winter solstice. In pagan lore, Halloween
is seen as a time when the veil between this world and the world of the
spirits and the dead lifts. This mingling of the light and the shadow
worlds creates a time of great magic and power.
The
Veil Lifts...
As a child,
I fondly remember dressing up as Batman, a robber, Charlie Chaplin and
a mouse for Halloween. Half of the fun came in the dress-up, the other
half in getting the candy form the neighbor’s homes. For one time in the
year, we were allowed to be someone we were not, to take on a role and
play a part. We could be sweet angels, rock stars or the most villainous
and evil monsters. For a few moments, we could be someone we could never
be in real life. We could literally change our identities.
As we grow
older, we wear the costumes and disguises less and less and our personalities
begin to become more established and defined. All the goblins, wizards
and clowns become internalized as we try and play a role that is safe
and likeable in the world. This lunation is a good time to play with some
of those characters nestled deep in our psyche and bring them to light.
When we see ourselves as multi-dimensional people, we broaden our experience
to include a wider panorama of possibilities. Perhaps there’s a monster
inside of us that needs to say something. Perhaps there is a famous movie
star inside us who needs some attention and laughter. As we play with
roles, we lift the veil between the mundane world and the world of fantasy,
imagination and possibility.
Scorpio:
Habits and Addictions
Scorpio has
always been associated with death, rebirth and transformation. With the
Sun, Moon and Mercury in that sign, we have a chance to remold and forge
new identities as adults during this lunation. Many of us live habitually,
going through the same routines day in and day out. The way we walk, talk,
make our oatmeal, brush our teeth and shop at the market can stay the
same for years.
These habits
can help us stay grounded and help define our personality. But if these
habits are destructive, eventually they wear on our health and damage
our stability. For example, I have a habit of brushing my teeth in a certain
way that seems to miss the backside of my lower teeth. Every time I go
to the dentist, he notices my lack of attention to that spot and spends
a few extra minutes scraping up the plaque build up. He always warns me
of the dire consequences of my bad brushing: the cavities, the root canals
and eventually...the dentures.
My bad dental
habits are only one small problem, but when I include it under the larger
category of my impatience, I see where I cause myself problems in a number
of areas. For me it may be impatience, but for others it may be a drinking
problem due to fear, a weight problem due to suppressed frustration and
so on and so on. Eventually, these habits and their underlying cause become
part of our regular experience and part of our identity.
This Scorpio
New Moon presents a perfect time to look at our routines, our habits and
our addictions. We can try to change them superficially by disciplining
ourselves, but I suggest looking a little deeper during this lunation.
Scorpio asks us to dig and uncover the darker elements of our personality
and bring them to light and consciousness. When we do, we begin the process
of unfolding our full selves, both the pain and the joy. We may need to
work with a depth counselor, write in a journal or have long talks with
friends in order to see ourselves clearly and begin the process of unraveling
ingrained habits and addictions that damage us.
Supporting
the Transformation
When going
through any deep transformations, it is helpful to nourish ourselves physically
to support our work. If you are trying to develop new and healthier patterns,
begin with your water supply. Scorpio is a water sign, and good, pure
water is essential for our growth and health. If you live in a city, it
is highly likely that your tap water contains pollutants and chemicals
that you don’t want to drink. Begin with buying yourself a water purifier
or getting your water from an unpolluted source. Next, try drinking six
to eight glasses of water (non-diuretic herbal tea is a great substitute)
a day to flush out toxins and maintain your health. Another way to improve
your health with water is by swimming in nearby (unpolluted) lakes or
even rinsing off with cold water at the end of a shower. The cold water
helps enliven your skin and vitalize your spirit.
Tending
Sexual Health
When looking
at the sign of Scorpio, it is helpful to look at its ruling planet, Pluto.
Pluto has been transiting through the sign of Sagittarius for a number
of years now. This New Moon, Venus will be conjoining Pluto in Sagittarius.
This powerful configuration emphasizes intense connections between partners
and lovers. In medical astrology, Scorpio is linked to the sexual organs,
so this is an important time to tend to your physical and emotional health
in terms of sexuality.
Certain herbs
are tremendously nourishing for the female reproductive system, including
raspberry leaf and dong quai. Chasteberry is specifically helpful for
regulating the hormones and normalizing the function of the endocrine
glands. This helps women in all aspects of menstrual dysfunction and illness.
For men, there may be a need to focus on the prostate for good health.
Saw palmetto is a gonad gland tonic and helps reduce any infection in
the prostate area. If there is a urinary tract infection, yarrow, uva-ursi
and juniper berries will help reduce the symptoms. Reducing sugar intake
and eating a diet low in acid-forming foods will also help with infections
such as these. By nourishing and tending the physical aspect of our sexual
life, we can invite healthier emotional and spiritual connections with
our partners. The Scorpio New Moon is a powerful time to transform this
area of our life. Good health to you!
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