The Cosmic Story: Scorpio New
Moon, October 30, 2016
Entering the Cauldron of
Regeneration
The Sun entered the sign of
Scorpio on Saturday, October 22, 2016. Leaving behind the airy
social realm of Libra, we now plunge into the dark watery realms of
the Unconscious. As we worked to balance our inner and outer lives
in Libra, now we come to the point where we have to let go of what no
longer serves us. This requires that we turn within and look at
those emotions which keep us imprisoned in our pasts.
As we face our inner darkness,
the world outside is also growing dark. The Sun moves lower into the
southern hemisphere, bringing them the warmth of Spring and coming
Summer, while leaving us in the North with fading light, shorter days
and colder weather.
Nature is letting go of
its
life as the year dies.
Just after this intense New
Moon we'll be celebrating Samhain, the last Gate of the Wheel of the
Year. At Samhain, the old year dies so the new year can be born.
The veils between the world are very thin, and the spirits of the
dead are very close to us. We celebrate Samhain,
Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, the Day of the Dead, All Saints Day and
All Souls Day to honor our ancestors at this transitional time.
Hecate ~ Katlyn Breene
The great goddess who embodies
the energies of Samhain is Hecate, most ancient Goddess of the Triple
Crossroads, Queen of the Witches and Guide and Protector on the road
to the Underworld. She stands at the Crossroads with her two torches
and her black dog at her side. She can see the past, the present and
the future and while we each have to choose our path, she lends us
one of her torches and sends her faithful companion to guide our
steps into the mystery of our future selves. For more about Hecate:
http://ladywisdomchronicles.blogspot.com/
Scorpio New Moon
Scorpio
is often considered the most powerful sign in the Zodiac, and those
who incarnate as Scorpios, some of the most powerful souls. For
Scorpio's initiation is pivotal to our soul's growth, which is to die
to be reborn again.
For anyone living under patriarchy, where we have been disconnected
from our feminine, soulful consciousness, death is the ultimate test
to
our unconscious Ego.
We have been taught to fear death as a punishment or an end, rather
than as
a transition, a change that will give us back eternal life. And so
FEAR is the Gatekeeper we have to face as we sink into the dark,
murky emotions from past lives which keep us stuck in old patterns of
disconnection, betrayal, horror and hurt.
Charon & Psyche ~
John Roddam Spencer Stanhope
John Roddam Spencer Stanhope
It's interesting that the
American elections are always held during the Sun's transit through
Scorpio, signaling a transition of power, a transformation of our
collective lives. Indeed, that's also what Scorpio is about. Power.
The ruling planets of Scorpio are Mars and Pluto. Pluto, or Hades,
is the Lord of the Underworld, ruling the unconscious depths within
us. These depths can lie quiet when we live by ourselves, but they
get stirred up when we relate to others. And that's why Scorpio also
rules intimacy, the emotional sharing that's necessary for a deep,
rich life. And Mars the Warrior is what is needed to give us the
courage to face those emotions.
Scorpio
is concentrated emotional power which propels
the energy of evolution, and so it is the repository
of
unconscious instinctual drives, old emotional patterns and
attachments and the compulsive tendencies that we bring with us
personally and collectively from other lifetimes as well as from
our early childhood. These old emotional wounds keep us stuck in
fear and suspicion. Jung
called them the Shadow. They are the parts
of us that we can't see about ourselves and which we tend to project
onto others instead of taking responsibility for ourselves. The
Shadow is alive and well in our culture at the moment. Perhaps the
very obvious examples we see in the news
will help us deal with our personal Shadows.
When
we operate out of these unconscious patterns, we tend to use
emotional manipulation, defensiveness and vindictiveness to get our
way. This is the lowest form of Scorpionic energy, the unconscious
energy of survival at all costs. The Snake often symbolizes this
aspect of Scorpio, although its
transformation
is possible with the shedding of its
skin—or our unconscious Ego drives. In
many ways, snake is best seen as our instinctual wisdom so
perhaps
the better symbol is the Scorpion,
which will sting itself in its frenzy to sting the other. We've
seen this kind of lower Scorpio energy in some of Donald
Trump's attacks on women and minorities instead
of admitting his own mistakes.
Scorpio
has three symbols because it
concerns
the process of transformation, and
three is the number of process.
The unconscious residue from other lifetimes which eats away at us
is symbolized by the scorpion. Once we begin to recognize our Shadow
and can name it, the symbol shifts to an Eagle. And Eagle is the
highest flying bird, able to see far and wide. Like Great Spirit, it
gives us an overview of our lives. Eagle
Scorpios can look at and name their Shadows, but they can also
repress those shadowy instincts and certainly not talk about them!
They use their will power to keep those negative instincts in line.
But
that's just a step to the third part of the process: the
death
of old habits and complexes. The
re-integration of those repressed emotions and instincts then give
rise to
a new birth, which is symbolized by the phoenix, who burns up old
karma and arises out of the ashes with a new, spiritual vision. This
is the initiation of Scorpio. To
go through all the tests that life brings us and learn from our
mistakes and find the meaning of what it is we are sent here to
learn.
The
two ruling planets of Scorpio are Pluto and Mars. Pluto, as Lord of
the Underworld, contains the raw primal power of evolution, the
unconscious urge to be more than we believe we can be. We can't stop
Pluto's energy of transformation—we have to give over control and
roll with it. Pluto exposes what is dead and decaying within us as
well as within our society. And then he wants to throw it in the
cauldron of transformation so we can use that energy for new life
once
it's cooked enough.
Mars
is our desire nature, our ability to go after what we want, our will
to achieve. As Aries' ruler, he goes out into the world to conquer
it, to become 'somebody'. In Scorpio, Mars becomes a tightly focused
laser with the ability to turn within and use its willpower to
achieve its goals. This is the energy we need to face our Shadows
and dance with them until they yield the golden energy within them.
So
with this Scorpio New Moon, we have a chance to plant a seed of
power, the power to transform what is dead into soil for new growth.
It is a time of letting go and shedding our old skin (that Scorpio
Snake).
Scorpio New Moon
October 30, 2016
The
Scorpio New Moon occurs on Sunday
October 30th
at 10:38am PDT/ 1:38pm EDT/ 5:38pm GMT.
The
Sabian symbol1
for the Sun and Moon at 8* Scorpio is: A
dark lake bathed in Moonlight; a powerful dragon slowly rises from
the water.
This
beautiful and intense symbol speaks of
the power of the unconscious to inspire us through
the imagination.
It reminds me of the dwarf king's initiation in Guy Gavriel Kay's
magnificent Fionavar
Tapestry
trilogy. In this story of the end of an age and the defeat of an
ancient evil, Matt Soren,
the true king and Kaen,
who has ruled the dwarves in Matt's absence and who has gone over to
the dark side, must throw their creations into the magical lake on
Full Moon night. The guardian spirit of the lake is a Dragon of
great antiquity and power, who arises to choose which candidate is
worthy to be king. Like Matt, we too must give our offerings to the
Collective Unconscious and see what arises from that exchange.
Mercury,
which entered Scorpio on October 24th,
is conjunct this New Moon. Mercury in Scorpio has strong emotional
intelligence, able to see below the surface and strategize its next
moves. There's a strong will here and an ability to communicate its
vision to others. The Sabian symbol1
for Mercury at 10* Scorpio is: Dinnertime
at a beautiful old home; the father says a prayer and breaks bread.
This image of gathering together, sharing food and blessing the
meal helps us remember what is important in life. The blessing
unites us with higher consciousness, shaping the mundane into the
magical.
Both
rulers of this Scorpio New Moon are in Capricorn, the sign of our
collective culture. While Pluto has been swinging his cosmic wrecking
ball back and forth, bringing down rotten structures and dead weight,
Mars is working to preserve what is still useful. Mars
in Capricorn is happy to focus on what needs to get accomplished and
does it. Mars here exhibits leadership and experience, taking
responsibility for his actions.
On
the day before this New Moon, October 29th,
Mars in Capricorn will square Uranus in Aries, perhaps setting off
some unpredictable chain of events, especially regarding the US
election. Personally, watch out for accidents because this energy is
intense, dynamic and erratic. Freedom to be you clashes with the
need to take responsible action. Mars has set off the Uranus in
Aries/Pluto in Capricorn square throughout
this past
month,
so
if you've been feeling the Bern again, try to find ways to turn your
ideals into action.
On the day of the US elections, Mars is at 29+* Capricorn,
signaling a responsibility to act thoughtfully and conscientiously
before Mars slips into Aquarius at 9:52pm PST. That
means, “Go
vote!”
Whether or not you're happy about your presidential choices, voting
for members of Congress is even more important.
The
Sabian symbol1
for
Mars at 23* Capricorn is: A
soldier receiving two golden medals for bravery.
When we stand up for our principles and do the right thing, people
take notice and we become examples. This is the perfect time to
stand up for our ideals, even without getting those medals!
The
Sabian symbol1
for Uranus at 23* Aries is: A
woman in a summer dress is carrying a precious veiled burden.
New life is possible when we know what's important and precious.
This is a great image for the protesters against the Dakota Pipeline.
They are holding the space for the Water. Water is Life!
Also
on Saturday, October 29th,
look for the Venus/Saturn conjunction in Sagittarius, making this day
even more intense. When Saturn and Venus join together, we often
feel unloved and unappreciated, as well as frustrated that we can't
connect to what we love. (Donald Trump has a natal Venus/Saturn
conjunction in Cancer, so he might be feeling this one very strongly,
since it also is near his Moon and South Node in Sagittarius.) It
may feel like you can't get what you want—as the Rollings Stones
sing it, You
can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you find you
get what you need!
The
Sabian symbol1
for both Venus and Saturn at 15* Sagittarius is: Ground
hog, out of its winter sleep, looks for its shadow.
This is a image of prophecy, the foreshadowing of events and the
willingness to believe in the possibilities presented to us. So put
your intuitions to the test today and trust yourself!
The
New Moon, and most especially Mercury, trine Neptune in Pisces,
opening us to the Collective Unconscious and its deep stories and
ancient songs. Meditate and listen to your imagination today to
discover what deep soul longings want to be reborn within you. The
Sabian symbol1
for
Neptune at 10* Pisces is: The
aviator sails across
the sky, master of the high realms.
This seems to echo the energy of the Scorpio Eagle, the ability to
see further and deeper than usual. So attune yourselves to higher
wisdom and find that new perspective that will give rise to a better
future for yourself and for all of us. Don't doubt yourself!
It's
time to step into personal as well as our collective Darkness with courage and a willingness to
'take Death as your adviser' as don Juan advised Carlos Castaneda.
Have
a blessed Samhain/All Hallows. Ask advice from your ancestors and
face the unknown with courage.
Bright
Blessings!
Cathy
Sweet
Darkness -- David Whyte
When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.
When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.
Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.
There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.
The dark will be your womb
tonight.
The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.
You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.
Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.
Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn
anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.
~ David Whyte ~
(House of Belonging)
When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.
When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.
Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.
There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.
The dark will be your womb
tonight.
The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.
You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.
Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.
Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn
anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.
~ David Whyte ~
(House of Belonging)
1. Steve Eardley, The Revised Sabian Symbols.
Copyright 2016 Cathy Pagano. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2016 Cathy Pagano. All rights reserved.
