This new moon is cloaked in the mysterious and seductive qualities of Scorpio. In the Northern hemisphere, Scorpio season aligns with the descent into the darker, colder winter months. It is a time of slowing down, taking stock, and turning inward. By consciously withdrawing from the world of external stimulation, we prepare the body and mind for the austerity of the winter season. The colder temperatures are mitigated by turning instead towards the inner flame of our passions. The darker skies, once dreaded, are instead honored by investigating the our shadow sides. It is a vital time to viscerally experience the Hermetic Principle of Correspondences--As above, so below--and understand that the Great Mystery of Life which surrounds us, also pulses within us.
The variety of representations of this sign reflects the depth of its canon of expression. Among these, Scorpio has a unique trinity of symbolism--Scorpion, Eagle, and Phoenix. Starting at the fundamental level with the Scorpion, we find themes of relating to the subconscious mind and ancient instincts. Next is the Eagle, representing the sublimation of these internal forces towards a higher purpose--the animal which once lived underground (in the subconscious) has now transformed into one able to take flight (the inspired mind). The third in this set is the Phoenix, which symbolizes the transformative force itself, the process of allowing “ego death” to unveil one’s inner divinity.
To account for the discovery of the outer planets (which were as yet unseen at the time the archetypal wheel was first established), three signs have two planetary rulers--one “traditional” and one “modern.” Scorpio is among this group, with its two rulers being Mars and Pluto, respectively. The rulership by Mars speaks to the primal and dynamic aspects of Scorpio, while that of Pluto indicates the powerful yet cryptic nature of the sign. Taurus, its opposing sign, represents the fertility, abundance, and beauty of the surface world that captivate our senses. On its end of the polarity, Scorpio represents the richness and fecundity hidden from our direct sight. It is the decaying compost that feeds the plants, the oil and minerals we mine to create our technologies, and the secret desires within us that drive us to follow our passion. Fittingly, Scorpio rules the sex organs in the body, and therefore is aligned to the sexual nature of the human being--the compelling, creative force within each individual that is at once taboo in our society, and essential to our survival. Existing within this paradox contributes to the intensity characteristic of this sign.
Scorpio season aligns with the ancient celebration of Samhain, a pagan holiday of Gaelic origins. Translating to “summer’s end,” Samhain is the midpoint between the fall equinox and the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere. The modern Halloween tradition takes its spirit from Samhain, which is mirrored also in other celebrations in different parts of the globe. There is a stark truth, a Scorpionic paradox, which underlies these traditions--the recognition of death as a part of life. The celebration of this transition, avoided by many modern societies, affords a holistic perspective to the internal psyche. The celebration of our ancestors creates connection of consciousness through the generations, and suggests humility to the individual ego in the realization that each life reaches back to before its birth, as each of us is linked in the chain of our personal lineage within the web of cultural history. Each individual emerges from the love and trials of our ancestors, who deserve that we honor their efforts by paying it forward. By dignifying death, we engage with the Mystery in a way that is personally meaningful and socially cohesive.
Scorpio is more than mystery, however. Scorpio is magic. Magic is actively engaging with the mystery through directing our willpower. Scorpio’s motto is I desire. Both the realization of our desires and the practice of magic require actively participating in co-creative effort by properly applying energy (Mars) and resources (Pluto). In the process of harnessing and yielding power with the natural and social forces surrounding us, some things die, some are born, and some transformed. Thus the engine of evolution moves ever onward.
Scorpio is big news this year, and this is because the biggest planet in our solar system--Jupiter--has recently transitioned into this sign. Jupiter, as the planet of expansion, amplifies the energy of the sign it occupies. At the time of the new moon, the two most benevolent planets--Venus and Jupiter--will also be in Scorpio, having met in conjunction a few days prior. Venus and Mars, meanwhile, are in mutual reception. This means that each planet is in a sign the others rules, lending its attributes to the other in a hidden, yet harmonious way. Themes of love and desire are heightened this moon, as are those of power and control. A note of caution, the two rulers of Scorpio (Mars and Pluto) will be squared, a potentially explosive--or worse, violent--combination. This disharmonious aspect indicates a tension in regards to how we hold and wield our power in relationships, whether that relationship is between self and other, or simply the surface and shadow sides of the single individual.
At this time of year, the veil between the realms is thin. The trees losing their leaves is symbolic of the stripping away of the masks of our ego. Aligning our personal efforts with the Universal Will allows us to perform the magic of manifesting our desires. This cannot happen until we first find an inner transparency, and are honest with ourselves about how we are internally aligning our intentions and externally directing our actions. Through this practice, we discover that progress on our path moves more easily when we are coming from a place of vulnerability and humility, allowing some parts of ourselves to die, so that others may be born and/or transformed. This new moon, find the magic in letting go of that which is not meant for you, so you may be free, like the Phoenix, to follow your heart's truest desire.
