Wheel of the YearOn November 6, 2020 by Priestess Dawn

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November 6, 2020   3:14pm PST
(commonly assigned to October 31)

As the mystic veil grows thin,
Let the hallows dance begin!

WHEEL OF THE YEAR
We have come to the final Sabbat on our journey through the Wheel of the Year – the Witch’s New Year – Samhain. 
Remember, Respect, Release… and Renew.

The God at Samhain
The Sun has reached the peak of Scorpio, the water sign of death, transformation, and the occult.  After his sacrifice at Lughnasadh and his descent through Mabon, the God has reached the Underworld and taken up his position as Lord of the Dead, Pluto (planetary ruler of Scorpio).

The Goddess at Samhain
As for the Goddess, the Earth has reached the peak of the earth sign, Taurus, where She fully embodies the grieving earth mother, experiencing the pains of loss and death.  The earth is dying with Her grief, but part of the Goddess also understands the necessity of death as a gateway to new life. 

The theme of the Taurus-Scorpio axis is attachment and release… and sharing.  Mythologically, this is represented by Persephone, the aspect of the Goddess that is “shared” between Demeter (Taurus) and Hades (Scorpio).  Taurus likes to grow, possess, and contain resources (Demeter’s need to keep her daughter, Persephone, safe and close).  Scorpio, on the other hand, likes to spend, release, and experience resources (Hades’ desire of and intimate relationship with his queen, Persephone).  At Samhain, Demeter experiences grief and anger at Hades, while Persephone embraces him.  Together they represent the cycle of life and death… the Eleusinian Mysteries. 

On a personal level, the main theme of Samhain is acknowledging and connecting with the Dark Goddess, the Shadow.  At this time of year, the veil is thin and it is easier to connect with the dark aspect of the Goddess.  While the God has arrived in the Underworld, the Dark Goddess is always there.  He becomes a co-ruler for a portion of the year, but Ereshkigal is always there.  She receives the dead and allows rebirth.  Look beyond the later adaptations and seek the Dark Goddess at Her source.  (See my post ERESHKIGAL for a better understanding of the Dark Goddess as the true ruler of the Underworld.)

With our modern disconnect from natural and cosmic cycles, it has become common practice to celebrate Samhain on Oct 31 (Halloween).  However, I suggest that the seven days of darkening between Halloween and Samhain be treated as a personal descent and journey beyond the Veil.  Connect with the dead – ancestors and spirits of the Otherworld(s) – and commune with the Dark Goddess.  Let Ereshkigal help you remember, respect, release… and renew.

THEODOMY
In the language of Theodomy, the 12 signs of the zodiac are further divided into 36 primordial energies of the divine feminine, called the Girdle of the Goddess. 

At the time of Samhain, the sun is in the 23^rd primordial energy activating Ereshkigal, the Queen of the Dead and Goddess of the Underworld.

See my ERESHKIGAL post for more information.