Two new moons, with pretty big effects and yoga events related to them, have come and gone between early October and now. I’ve been in the depths of Scorpio season darkness kicking myself for not writing a blog about it all sooner, while also trying to practice self love and care. The struggle has been REAL, you guys.
Well, here I am. Back at it. Work has been crazy and I recently authored a huge biological analysis that left little room in my brain for any sort of creative thought. I’m currently coming out of my catatonic Scorpio/work-related stupor to share some thoughts on these two moons before my draft comes back and I need to enter said stupor again (So. much. math).
There have been high points and low points, as is often the case with any chunk of time, but particularly salient while diving deep within the underworld of the soul as Scorpio calls us to do. I try to embrace the “darkness” and ride it out., but sometimes it’s a difficult, and lonely path. The only way out is through, right?
Back in early October I had the honor and privilege to co-lead a weekend retreat in the White Mountains with my lovely friend, yogini, and studio owner, Kathleen Pizzello of the Moon + the Mat in Beverly, MA. She’s amazing and running a retreat with her (my first, I might add) was nothing short of magick. In addition to the trust we put in the universe, the Dragonfly Yoga Barn in Sandwich, NH (we highly recommend them!), and our students, we put that same trust in each other and without very much actual class planning or sequencing, flowed with the energy conjured by the sangha who came with us on this journey. UNreal. As you can see from the photos below, its an amazing space, and the prana flowing through and emanating from every single person on this retreat was palpable. There were times while I was teaching, or assisting while Kathleen taught that I could feel the pulse so profoundly that I thought it might knock me over.
The new moon is all about making space to cultivate new intentions, so as is the case with most yoga practices and in lunar magick, a release is encouraged in order to make room for new intentions, wishes, and universal asks. My teacher always said “nobody likes a flabby ask!” I love that. The retreat was during the Libra new moon. Very apropos as we had just passed equinox and were experiencing equal day and equal night, feeling the warmth of summer cling, but the coolness of winter begin to creep in. There was a lot in the way of “balance” to work with. In addition to “balancing the scales” the true work of full integration of the self was experienced. It was a powerful AND empowering weekend where women shared their experiences, stories, and support for one another. That, to me, is a form of medicine, and a form of magick. The medicine part is the healing quality of the experience, the magick is the transformation it brings forth.
Keep reading after the photos for Moon #2. :)
Dragonfly Yoga Barn. MAGICK.
My dude Shiva.
<3
ANNNDDDD the second moon: the new moon in Scorpio. Post-Samhain shadow work to the MAX. Without death there can be no rebirth. We all know this, but man, does it feel REALLY dark sometimes. To honor this cycle and the magick associated with it, I once again reunited with my dream team of The Chaos Factor (my herbalism business with my superpal and bandmate Lauren Recchia), and Dark Moon Tarot, operated by the Supreme Being and Intuitive Goddess, Kris Gurky. Thus far, we have held events at the Witch House and the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA, but were given the opportunity to host this new moon event at the brand new Hive & Forge! Hive & Forge is new to the Salem community, but fits RIGHT in with its eclectic mix of art, herbalism, crafts, and jewelry.
Again, with a new moon, this workshop focused on making space, while exploring the underworld of emotions, habits, and old wounds. The shadow work we do is just as important and powerful as what we do in the light. Without the shadow, we cannot appreciate the light. Holding space together at Hive & Forge was easy. The participants, owners, and physical surroundings made my job as a yoga teacher quite simple. And during the sacred circle and meditation, the combined intuitive powers of myself and my collaboration mates led the way. Easy. When you trust and flow, things are just SO easy.
As a result, new moon in Scorpio was pretty kickass. In circle, I could feel the energetic release come from these women letting go of what was not serving them, and from allowing themselves to go into the dark underworld with Hecate as their guide, and to sift through the roots and weeds that lie on their paths. They were all FULL IN with the process. I am happy to have held space with my sisters for them.
To seal the circle after our yoga practice and meditation, each person had written down something they were ready to let go of in order to plant a seed of intention with the new lunar phase, and we invited them to burn the release in the cauldron. There was some serious fire action there for a moment. Energy that needed to leave in order for the new seeds to grow.
All in all very successful and worthwhile.
Following the new moon in Scorpio, I had my final herbalism class of the season in Western Mass. I’ve learned so much over the turning of the wheel this year. The herbal knowledge has expanded my yoga practice, my teaching, my connections to the earth through green witchcraft. Come to find out (which makes total sense) that Scorpio season is the PERFECT time to forage roots for medicine making. We harvested yellow dock and dandelion in class. It was so cold out, but absorbing the few short hours of sunlight while contemplating the “underworld” I was digging into the harvest the plants, felt right. When you think about it, harvesting roots is taking the whole life of that plant. I left a little root and returned some seeds and other plant material as a sign of reciprocity. Its appropriate that the “death” occurs during Scorpio (for she is the queen of death), and “rebirth” is planted beneath the ground and will re-emerge in spring.
The beauty is in the cycle.
The cycle of life and death, of the seasons, and of the moons we journey through.
Namaste.
Hive and Forge under the watchful eye of Randy!
New Moon in Scorpio—into the underworld we go!