Journeys into the new moon in Scorpio, 13th November 2023

For years I have been gathering groups of people together at the new moon each month, to dive into the natural rhythms of the time and to journey into the spirit realms to work on the various themes of the month. These groups led to the creation of the yearlong course in shamanic journeying, as it became clear that knowing how to journey was important for the deep dive needed in the monthly group.

Journeying is only part of the purpose of this group though. Indeed, journeying is simply a tool, a way to help to connect with the real intention of the group – to align with the natural energies of the Earth which move within us very deeply, as we are Earth’s children. This is something we often seem to forget as we move within our busy modern lives.

Yet, as we learn how to live in greater alignment with the Earth’s energies, our nervous systems relax and we can find the dramas of life somewhat easier to bear. Learning to live according to the seasons therefore can be a great compliment to a wider healing journey and, perhaps most importantly of all, can help us to reconnect with the natural world, of which we are a part but are often so disconnected from.

Before the monthly group, I meditate on the energies of the time and capture little nuggets to aid the work within the group. These monthly blog pages are the results of my meditations, written down in a more public format for the first time.

They are designed to be worked with for at least a full yearly cycle and they are primarily suitable for people living within the Northern hemisphere, as that is where I am based.

I hope that working with these meditations helps you to align your life within the natural world and helps you to reconnect. If you would like to join the monthly group, you will find information on how to do so within the website under “groups” or send me an email.

This month we are focusing on both Samhain and the energies of Scorpio, which are interlinked. The themes are of death and shadow work.

Meditations

We are deep in Scorpio season now and the new moon on the 13th of November will bring in a whole lunar cycle of Scorpio, so the energy will be with us a while yet. Scorpio is tied with the season of Samhain, the old Celtic festival which is still, to some degree, celebrated today and is commercially the inspiration for Halloween.

Samhain was historically linked with the farming cycle, where animals were ritually slaughtered around this time because there wasn’t enough crops to feed them (and people) over winter. The festival of Samhain therefore had an energy of death about it. Interestingly in many other countries around the world this period has also been widely celebrated, with the theme of death at its core.

Clearly death is what this period of time signified to our ancestors and, if we tune into the energy, we can feel that too. As an energy, death is about transformation, a liminal phase with potential for profound growth.

Many people associate Samhain with ancestors and a thinning of the veil between worlds. For those who know how to travel the spirit realms, the veils are always thin. However, for others the energy of death clearly triggers memories of departed loved ones. And, giving energy to the dead invites them in. Particularly earthbound spirits - the ones you really don’t want to attract. The ones who are unhealthy and lost. Which means there are more earthbound spirits around than usual. Often by invitation. Those photos of your ancestors that you and your relatives have in their homes won’t all be “well” in spirit, so have a care if you choose to spend more time with them now. Earthbound spirits are the real inspiration for Halloween.

However it IS a good time to think about our ancestral roots at this time and feel our deep connection to the wheel of life. As the realm of death is so close, thoughts may arise around our own mortality & the whole mystery of life and death & where we have come from. Just take care not to dwell on those that have passed. In many traditional cultures there are rules around mourning the dead, giving consideration to their soul and the sometimes difficult passage to the afterlife. It’s wise to take heed of such rules, regardless of what you may see others doing at this time.

So why is the old festival of Samhain even relevant for us today? Well, the aim of this blog is to follow the natural cycles of the Earth, deepening our harmony with all beings and inviting an older, more connected way of living and being human. Prior to a farming culture, this time of year would have been significant for the people who lived on the land and perhaps some of them were your ancestors.

Connecting with some of our ancestral pathways through life, especially some of those practices that were more connected with the natural rhythms of the Earth, may be helpful to us.

Pre-farming people, those living as hunters and gatherers, would have moved inland from the coast this time of year, perhaps following herds of deer. The present raging storms are a good indicator of the necessity of leaving coastal areas in winter - better to move to sheltered safety.

Living amongst the deciduous woodland, the falling leaves would have marked an obvious change in season to our ancestors. Around now this is readily apparent, alongside the darker days and the plummeting temperature.

Amongst pre-farming communities, the emphasis would have been on preparing for the cold of winter. Whilst they may not have stored food like the later farming communities, the emphasis would have been on a changing diet from seafood and greens to a focus on meat.

The energy of death, therefore, would have been ever present at this time as increasing hunting parties deep within the wildwood brought real danger to human life.

In our modern era, we too can feel the change in the weather, turning towards our homes to shelter from the biting cold of the wind. The long nights make us tired and more reluctant to venture out. As winter pulls us inside, it invites us to delve into inner work and processing, whether we choose it or not. Samhain gives us the opportunity to assess where we are. To prepare for whatever winter brings, including death.

It’s time to embrace endings; like the leaves falling from the trees, there is a grace in letting go.

Scorpio aids us to accept the energy of death and transformation that Samhain brings by bringing our attention to shadows - particularly what lurks within ourselves. The energy of Scorpio is relentless at excavating the deep places of the psyche to get to the truth. Are we burying anger about something? Are we holding our tongue? Are we disempowering ourselves unintentionally? Are we pretending we are something we are not? Are we martyring ourselves?

The invitation is to cross the threshold into the darkness and feel your wounds, feel your deepest fears and insecurities and see how they are playing out in your life. There is real gold in the energies of this time if you choose to ride it. The veil has been lifted. It’s not about the veil between the living and the dead. This veil is the one that prevents you from seeing yourself fully. The masks we wear to the world we also wear to prevent us from seeing ourselves.

The dark thoughts come to us when there is fear around something in your psyche, something you haven’t wanted to look at, something buried. However usually, when you allow yourself to process that and actually go there, what you find isn’t as scary. Yes, we all have traits we are uncomfortable with but when you face that and accept these things as part of you, you come to a better understanding of yourself and all that you do and bring to the world. You’re not as clumsy. You’re much more empowered and can shine much more brightly.

The invitation this Samhain period then is to dance with Scorpio!

Be gentle with yourself but use the time wisely as it gives opportunity for the most transformative and healing period of the year. This is all about your healing path, your inner processing work and your journey through life and death.

As you travel through the Samhain portal you will become clearer about your winters work, the inner processing this period of time may offer you. Therefore it will be a less bumpy ride if, as ever, you ride the wisdom of the seasons. The invitation is there. 

Samara