Planetary Alchemy: Astrology News by Sarolta

Samhain /  All Hallow’s Eve Ritual
Traditional date: Tuesday, October 31st, 2017
Astrological date: exact Tuesday, Nov. 7th, 2017 at 12.26 am est

A note on the Sabbats:
Sabbat rituals are seasonal, so exact timing is not necessary; it is possible to perform the ritual usually a week or so after the traditional date of the Sabbat. The cross-quarter holidays  are exact when the Sun is at the middle degree [15 degrees] of  the fixed signs [Imbolc: Aquarius, Beltaine: Taurus, Lammas: Leo  and Samhain: Scorpio] and are often exact many days after the  traditional date, so many practitioners perform their rituals when the Sun is at 15 degrees of that sign [exact dates/times  listed with each ritual]. 

Autumn is upon us; as the winds change again, I look forward to the messages of Samhain. This night, so sacred to Grandmother Moon, promises gifts of prophecy to those who seek her wisdom  through divination. 

This is the Sabbat when we honor our ancestors, and knowing that  “the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest", we can commune with other worlds through scrying or invocation, and show our gratitude for the teachings that the ancient ones willingly share. They can speak to us through astrology, tarot cards, scrying mirrors, or a bowl of consecrated water; they can whisper to us in our dreams, or speak to us through symbols we encounter every day. 

They can take the form of an animal, making their presence felt at times of need or upheaval, reminding us of our connection to all beings. In whatever form they choose to communicate to us, if we are open to the signals, this season of vision can grant us the messages we most need to hear.

As an astrologer, I look to the sky. By meditating on planetary themes, I found it added greater depth and focus to my spiritual practices. 

The planets come alive during ritual; I listen for the archetypes to tell me a story, to find personal meaning in global themes, applying the lessons of the ancients to my personal myth. 

The best part of it is that the drama is going on continually, and all we have to do is tune in to to their energies, and focus on how we'd like to interact with them!

I want to share my observations on the astrological energies that will be present this Samhain (pronounced “Sow-in”), followed by a ritual designed to focus, strengthen, and direct the energies within you. 

SAMHAIN HERBAL LORE
Acorns: symbolic of the promise of life contained within

Apples: the fivefold star of rebirth; use bark in incense

Benzoin: clearing, wisdom; anoint candles with Benzoin oil

Cedar: purification and protection; add a few drops of cedar wood oil to incense

Cypress: immortality, eternity

Dittany of Crete: manifestation of spirits: throw on bonfire

Hyssop: aura cleansing and balancing

Mugwort: scrying, divination, lucid dreaming, astral projection, psychic development

Mullein: protection, courage, exorcism; mix powdered mullein with salt for banishing powder

Myrrh: protection, healing; grind resin to a powder for incense

Rosemary: remembrance, immortality

Sage: purification; burn as “smudge”

Wormwood: summoning spirits

These herbs can be utilized in ritual by making an incense, or anointing candles with essential oil. They can be sewn into a charm bag and consecrated (dedicated to a single purpose), and worn when needed.

NOTE: You don’t need all of these ingredients - just use what you have on hand! Imagination and intention are much more important than getting all of the “right” ingredients. Use your intuition to feel what you need! Also, this is a seasonal ritual, so it's not restricted to an exact time or date. 

RITUAL BATH

Burn incense and light candles for purification. Mugwort, Hyssop, and Lavender for mental clarity. Make a strong infusion and strain before adding to the bath water, or wrap the herbs in cheesecloth and let them sit under the tap as the bath fills. Use no soap. As you bathe, imagine yourself purified for your ritual, infused with the magical properties of the herbs. Imagine that what you are ready to release in your mind is washing down the drain. Air dry, allowing the energy of the herbs to remain on your skin.

THE ALTAR

Traditionally decorated with pumpkins, apples, oak leaves and acorns, you can choose to be creative! Allow the altar be a physical representation of the energies you want to embody and bring to the world. You can bring the candles from your bath to the altar. Do whatever feels genuine and true to your instincts. 

This is traditionally a time to honor your ancestors, and special altars are created with photos and mementos. Spiritual or other mentors can be honored as well, when you can call upon their wisdom to direct you through divination. If you don’t have runes or tarot cards, you can ask them to send you a message to a question through a dream, or by a sudden insight. 

You will need three candles: red, silver, and pink. If you don’t have these colors, white candles will work just fine.

RITUAL

Visualize a circle being created as you walk around the ritual space in a clockwise motion, and that the energies you raise during your ritual will be concentrated within that “container.” For that reason, I try to “charge” objects that I can wear, like amulets and jewelry, during my rituals, so that I can carry the ritual intent with me when I wear them out into the world.

INCENSE

Cedar, Myrrh, Sage. Bring any or all of the herbs into your ritual circle and add each herb, one at a time, while grinding by hand with a mortar and pestle and focusing on the properties of each herb as it is added. Once your incense is prepared, burn some on a charcoal as you focus on your intent.

CANDLES

The red candle represents the the Saturn / Uranus trine in FIRE signs.
- What vision of the future are we excited about creating?
- What will it take to bring that vision into form?
Create an affirmation to support your intention, and write it down on a small piece of paper; place it under your candle, anoint it with oils, and imagine your intention being released to the universe as you light your candle. 

Repeat with the following: 

The silver candle represents the Moon / Uranus sextile.
- What are the big questions you are contemplating now?
- What are you ready to let go of emotionally, looking ahead with clarity and vision?
Create an affirmation to support your intent; write down your goal and repeat the process as before. 

The pink candle represents the Venus / Vesta conjunction in Libra.
- What is your heart truly dedicated to?
- How can you add more beauty, magic, and ritual to your life?
Create an affirmation and repeat the process as before and then light your candle.

At this point I like to create some kind of amulet bag (see herbs, above); I like to use mostly mugwort for divination purposes; you can add a piece of moonstone for receptivity, frankincense for purification and protection, and hematite for grounding. 

This is where you want to connect with your chosen form of divination, to contemplate the insights you received during the ritual. 

After the candles have burned down, you can add the affirmations you have written to your amulet bag, or bury them outside in a special place. 

You can keep the amulet bag with your favorite divination tools, and wear it around your neck on a chain whenever you consult your oracle. 

- Planetary Alchemy: Astrology New by Sarolta. c. 2017

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c. 2017 Sarolta Gabriella DeFaltay
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