Portals Between Worlds

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The hollowing and the withering away of life has been ritually celebrated  for thousands of years in civilizations throughout the world as diverse as the Celts and the Aztecs.  In each of these cultures the first of November is a time of opening the portals between worlds allowing for connections to flow freely between the living and the dead. I live in Mexico a culture of indigenous rituals morphed into catholic devotion; and November 1 and 2, in syncopation with All Saint’s and All Soul’s Day, is celebrated as El Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Each year at this time families picnic in graveyards sharing in the favorite foods of departed loved ones, and alters consecrated to the dead are adorned with marigolds, candles, a special bread, favorite foods, and objects that captivated the spirit when alive.

The astrological equivalence of November 1 and 2 is the hollowing and withering of a cherished aspect of ourself.  This month we are called upon to suffer a death to our individuality if we want to grow more whole within. The death I am speaking of may be a long cherished dream from our past preventing us from enjoying who we are and what we have in the present. It might be our fantasy of the perfect relationship, our desire to acquire great wealth, our wanting to achieve VIP prestige, or our need to receive world recognition for our creativity. It may be the death of our crippling self-doubt, our shame, our mistrust of ourself and others, or our dependency on others to define who we are. It is not important what dies. What is important is knowing what aspect of our individuality is dying and what aspect of our individuality needs nourishing.

Imagine your friend Rick who is mourning the recent death of his mother has just met a woman he hopes will bring love into his life. The timing of the two events suggest that the loss of his mother will nourish the growing of a new relationship  in his life. Rick needs to honor the death of something precious from his past and his need for love in the present.

At the dawning of today Mercury was on the horizon awakening our perception of what was, what is, and what will be. In the sign of Scorpio it has to do with our appreciating the emotional value of sharing ourself with others. Self trust and honesty are literally rising with the new dawn. And what better offering than an Aries Moon opposing Venus in Libra to help each of us discover peace and harmony  in our relationships by giving us the courage to share our authenticity openly and honestly with each other.