We entered into Scorpio season on October 22nd, a time marked by the themes of death, rebirth, and transformation.
It is no coincidence that the holidays of Halloween, Samhain, and Dia de los Muertos - all celebrations honoring those who have died - fall within this season.
It is a time to...
Honor that which is no longer with us - whether that may be loved ones, or parts of ourselves that we have shed over the years.
Emulate the trees - how they gracefully let go of their leaves and trust that they will grow new ones in the spring.
Go inward, reflect deeply, and sit in stillness
What are you being called to let go of in this season of your life?
Some examples of things that it might be time to let go of include:
A limiting thought pattern that is making you feel stuck, small, and dissatisfied with life
A relationship that does not respect your needs or boundaries
An aspect of yourself that developed because it may have served you at one time, but now it is simply holding you back from reaching your full potential
Habits or routines that do not feel supportive to you
Putting others needs before your own so often that it leaves you feeling sick and depleted
Take a few moments, and write down anything that you are sensing that it is time to let go of right now.
As you do this, notice how it feels to consider letting go of these things. Does it make you feel anxious, scared, or unsure? Do you wonder what life would be like without it? Or does it make you feel excited, liberated, or open?
Remember - deep down you can feel ready to release something, and also be sad to see it go.
There are two common feelings that come up when we let go of things in our lives:
We can want to cling even more tightly out of fear of what will happen when we let go
We can feel ready to let it go freely, and at peace with the decision
If you currently find yourself more in the first category, connect with your soul knowing.
Does letting this thing go feel like it connects you more deeply to your true self, your greater calling, and your biggest potential? Listen to the signals of your soul and let them guide you.
If you currently identify more with the second category, feel into your process of releasing. We often fall into this category when we feel clear on whatever we need to let go of and confident that releasing it will improve our life.
However, before simply letting it go, it’s important to truly honor it and it’s place in your life. Reflect on the ways in which that thing, identity, relationship, or situation served you for where you were in your life at that time. Then, you can release it with love, understanding, and trust in the timing of all things.
What a perfect time to be reflecting on these themes.
This weekend is Halloween, Samhain, and Dia de los Muertos - three holidays that honor the cycles of life and death.
Here is a little bit of background around each of them.
Samhain - a Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker part of the year. It is a recognition and celebration of the space that exists between light and dark.
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - a celebration originating in Mexico where family and friends gather to honor and remember loved ones who have passed.
Halloween - a tradition originating in Western Christianity to mark the beginning of the season Allhallowtide, a time to remember and honor the dead, especially martyrs and saints.
It is also a blue moon, the second full moon in October. The time around a full moon typically shines light on themes that are occurring on both an individual and collective level. This weekend, the light is shone onto all the holidays and celebrations that honor those and that which has passed.
One way we honor that which has passed is by giving ourselves time to fully grieve it. We have all been through a lot of change this year and have had to let go of things - whether by choice or not. Give all of this room to breathe and space to mourn.
All of these holidays emphasize honoring and remembering loved ones who have passed.
We can apply this same idea to our own personal journeys.
Honor the parts of yourself and things within your life that you are letting go of, the same way you would honor, revere, and hold space for the passing of a loved one.
The parts within you are your own personal loved ones.
Pema Chodron describes it beautifully:
“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man's-land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again. ”
Create space this week and weekend to sit in the stillness, and reflect on the space between light and dark, life and death, holding on and letting go.
This is a wonderful time for introspection and going deep. Meditate on or journal about how these themes are playing out in your life right now.
Leave a comment below telling me how you will embrace your inner darkness this spooky season.
With reverence for your darkness,
