Above is a photograph of the stone circle in my backyard, taken at about 4pm on November 4, just shortly prior to the beginning of our Samhain ritual. You can see that it's getting dark already. Most of the leaves are gone now, blown into the wetlands beyond the stone circle by the winds of waning Hurricane Noel that came through here, accompanied by heavy rain the day before. The moisture remaining can be sensed in the colors of the still green grass in the growing darkness contrasting with the bright points of fire that surround the circle and burn in its center. It both looks and feels to me very much like Scorpio, and I'll leave it at that...see if you, too, can feel it intuitively.

We are in the eighth and final phase of the solar-seasonal Wheel of the Year, a period that has been called Chaos. It's a time of transition from death to rebirth. We remembered those who had passed into the world beyond, and for me this year, the rite of remembrance was especially poignant, since both my mother and our good friend and neighbor, Jessie, were among those who had passed over since last Samhain. Candles for them and for others we loved burned through the night, little points of light that could still be seen at dawn.

New Moon, 17 Scorpio 10, Nov. 9, 6:03 pm EST
New Moon, the conjunction of Sun and Moon, forms a square to Neptune, giving extra emphasis to the watery nature of the sign, but more than that. Neptune has such a wide range of potentials from the heights of spiritual idealism, intuitive flow and beauty, to the depths of self-deception and dissolution, and of ways we might seek to escape from realities we'd rather not face. It's notable, too, at this New Moon, that Ceres, the largest asteroid recently promoted to "dwarf" planet, is opposite New Moon, thus creating with Neptune, a T-square. Mythologically, Ceres is an Earth Mother, Goddess of the Grain, which could mean that agriculture and our food supply might figure prominently in the news of this lunar phase cycle, perhaps around the time that Mercury, messenger of the gods, enters Scorpio on November 11. Whether or not that turns out to be true in the news, maternal concerns are somehow emphasized.

The Goddess we'd associate with Scorpio is a dark and complex Goddess imagery, even at New Moon. In Moon Tides, Soul Passages, I associated myths of Ishtar or Inanna with the water signs, and Scorpio with the story of Ishtar's decent into the underworld to confront Eriskigal, the dark sister who I see as representing Istar's own dark side—we all have one. Scorpio Moon can symbolize the challenge to meet and confront your dark side, and through that experience, acquire a higher level of self-mastery. If there are any uncertainties about feelings, direction or what new things we'd like to create in our lives, this could be the right New Moon cycle for a ritual not for just one New Moon day, but instead to begin a process that extends to a month-long commitment to self-discovery. I can tell you from personal experience, that making such a commitment can lead to either a significant new direction in life, or a renewed sense of purpose in your current path.

Ritual for New Moon in Scorpio
Select a new blank notebook to serve as your journal, and a pen to write in it. Write this on page one:

Open am I, in faith and trust
Through the dark I go
Fearlessly, as Spirit guides,
I seek the truth that I must know.

Before going to bed on the evening of New Moon day, bring a candle or candles near your bath or shower. You might also play recorded meditation music. Dim the electric lighting and light your candle, as you ask the Goddess, in your own words and thoughts, to be your guide throughout this lunar phase cycle. Make the commitment to spend some time each day journaling your thoughts and dreams. Then, speak the rhyme above as you disrobe and go into the water of bath or shower. As you do this, think of Ishtar descending into the dark realm, removing each garment, jewel and crown, until she stood naked before her Eriskigal. Wash away all attitudes, fears and unproductive thoughts as you open yourself to new knowledge and growth. When you go to bed, take your journal and pen to leave at your bedside. Repeat the rhyme with the thought that you will remember your dreams. When you awaken, write into the journal whatever you remember, even if it's only a small snatch of a dream. Often the very act of beginning to record will bring more of it back into your mind. Then, either now or later in the day, write at least one page of your thoughts, whatever comes to mind. Don't question or analyze it—just write, stream of consciousness. Don't read over what you've written now. Just leave it alone and go about your day. Continue this same routine of setting yourself to remember dreams each night, record whatever you remember in the morning, and writing at least one extra page in the Journal each day. Don't read it now—that's for later.

Crescent Moon, 6 Capricorn 17, Nov. 13 at 8:36 pm EST
Mars turns retrograde (apparent backward motion) during this phase, on November 15 at 3:24 am EST, to be precise, at 12 degrees of Cancer, thus forming a one degree conjuction to the Sun of the United States birth chart. So, one might wonder what national news this will reflect. Meditation for calm could be helpful, if you find a higher level of frustration and impatience rising within you, within others around you or within world events.

First Quarter Moon, 25 Aquarius 12, Nov. 17 at 5:32 pm EST
This phase of Moon is the "crisis of action" phase, although soon after the phase begins, Moon passes into dreamy Pisces, a sign more inclined to be passive...and then, there's the retrograde Mars. Still, I'd consider this to be potentially an active and positive time for work within the creative arts

Gibbous Moon, 13 Aries 42, Nov. 21 at 5:05 am EST
A grand trine in water (Mercury in Scorpio, Mars in Cancer, Uranus in Pisces) is notable in this phase of growth toward Full Moon. Creative ideas emerge intuitively, feelings flow harmoniously. Be thankful—happy Thanksgiving!

Full Moon, 1 Gemini 55, Nov. 24 at 9:30 am EST
I think the Full Moon is also suggestive of creative inspiration, and the consequent activity that can then emerge. Mercury, ruler of Gemini is square Neptune and trine Uranus. Uranus, retrograde since June 23, turns direct today at 5:16 am EST. Changes "in the air" that have seemed to be on hold now move forward.

Ritual for the Full Moon in Gemini
For a Group: Full Moon In Gemini, sign of communication, really seems like one that's best shared with others. So, my best suggestion is get together a group of friends for a Full Moon party and ritual. After creating sacred space, you might, for the magical working within your rite, use an idea that I included in The Witch's Circle. It's a game where a group tells a story around the circle. You could relax on the floor, lying down with all heads to the center, or sit in a circle holding hands. One person starts a story (just a sentence or two), then each person in succession, adds to it. There are no rules. Everyone is free to say most anything, from logical to totally fantastic. This may turn out to be just for fun, and that's OK, but it may also reveal some surprising truths that will be of value, for some or maybe even all of you. It also seems to me to be a good way to use some of that Mercury square Neptune & trine Uranus energy!

For solitary ritual: For the magical working, you could write your desire on paper, then with focued intent, tear it into tiny pieces so that it can be an offering to the Four Winds, that they may carry your desire into Spirit to be fulfilled. Whether you an entire ritual indoors or outside, you will want to go beneath the Full Moon, and hopefully with some wind blowing, to complete this working. Divide your little pieces of paper into four, and present 1/4 to each direction on open hand. Either blow the paper out of your hand toward the direction, or allow the winds to take it, saying to each:

Winds of the East, quick and light, aid me in my magic rite!
Winds of the South, fiery bright, aid me in my magic rite!
Winds of the West, of fresh insight, aid me in my magic rite!
Winds of the North, of strength and might, aid me in my magic rite!

Disseminating Moon, 20 Cancer 13, Nov. 27 at 3:35 am EST
Moon in her home sign of Cancer, the sign she rules will appear still nearly full. Her final aspect before leaving the sign is a trine to Mercury. This could be a good day to choose for communicating your ideas or showing that project you've been working on.

Last Quarter Moon, 8 Virgo 56, December 1 at 7:44 am EST
Waning Moon comes to the "crisis of consciousness" phase when it is well to consider what we are thinking, doing or have that may have outlived its usefulness such that is time to let it go and thus make room for something new to come in when waxing time begins again.

Balsamic Moon, 28 Libra 04, Dec. 5 at 9:35 am EST
And, the eighth and final phase has come once again. From Last Quarter through this Balsamic phase are optimum for rituals of banishing. So, let go of the old and outworn to then be open and prepared for the waxing moonlight to begin on December 9, and the waxing Sun to be reborn at Yule.

This is the time when you can center yourself, and then in a mediative state, read over all the journal entries you've made during the month past. At this point, you will most likely notice patterns of thinking (and dreaming) from which you can learn a good deal about yourself and where you are going, or hoping to go, and how you might best go forward. Give thanks for Spirit's guidance.