The Gathering Place ( Modalities of Divination )
Blessed Samhain and Happy Halloween, a bridge between cultures and worlds.
While it's widely known for the Christian holiday preceding All Saint's Day, Halloween is actually the result of combining the Celtic observance of Samhain with the Christian church's All Saint's Day. The result was a new religious holiday that could be embraced by both groups; however, the Christian church's intent was to incorporate Pagans into their fold for conversion.
This type of 'mirroring' ( using established Pagan holidays ) was prevalent in the Christian church was to project unification as an attempt to attract other cultures, hoping that newcomers would ease into membership. While All Hallows Eve is still recognized as a church holiday, the modern non-religious observance has evolved into 'Halloween'.
History of Samhain is an interesting one. The ancient Celts believed there were just two seasons to the year: Beltane ( spring and summer ), and Samhain ( autumn & winter ); therefore, the Celtic culture celebrated October 31 as their New Year's Eve.
There was a great feast and a time to reflect on the previous months as well as plan for the future. Part of this tradition was honoring their dead, whom they believed ( on this night ) the veils between worlds were thin, enabling their departed loved ones and friends to return and feast with them.
Thus, table settings with plates of food and drink were laid out for them. Legend dictates spirits visited until sunrise before returning to their graves for another year. Visiting from house to house to share a drink was popular, and visitors would wear disguises as part of the celebration. However,
not all spirits were welcome; therefore, a gourd was carved with a scary face to ward off evil spirits. This became known as the Jack-O-Lantern in modern observances. Scrying was also very popular, as it was believed Samhain reached beyond the boundaries of time, making it a fortuitous night for seeing the future.
As previously stated, the Christian Era attempted to absorb Samhain ( as well as other Pagan observances ) for the specific purpose to converting the observance into a new one that would still honor the departed ( All Saints Day ) in a more 'Christian-like' and acceptable manner.
Because divination was strictly forbidden in the bible, honoring Christian Saints as a prelude to All Saints Day was encouraged. Instead of visiting homes to fellowship, the church encouraged people to remain in their homes and use the evening as one of reflection and preparation for the following day.
The Christian church attempted to fully replace Samhain traditions; however, the history of All Hallows Eve reverberates through the modern name of Halloween. For most, the celebration is secular in nature while retaining many of the original traditions in the evening: Trick-or-treating, wearing costumes, and Jack-o'-lanterns.
Then there are those who choose to remember the old ways to perform rituals to commune with the spirits of their ancestors as well seeking future knowledge.
The history of All Hallows Eve is much like the United States of America, a melting pot of cultures and observances under one roof of a nation. If nothing else on Halloween night, we should honor the historical bridge between cultures, the past, and the future.
Image: October by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman
#inspiritualservice #spiritualservice #spiritual #service #spiritualservices #allhallowseve #halloween #samhain #allsaintsday
Aspecting the Cosmos, Wed, Nov 01, 2023: Today, seeing the Light in everyone and everything transforms our perspective.
All Saints Day: inspiritualservice.com/beleifs-1
Late morning Mercury in Scorpio inconjunct Chiron in Aries. Limitations, frustrations in love or romance, creativity blocks. We are our own self-undoing by our thoughts unless we can discover our hidden strength to rise above.
Early afternoon, Jupiter in Taurus trine Lilith in Virgo. Awareness expands beyond what we currently believe religiously or philosophically. Long trips and amusements favored. Love/romance can be darkly delicious.
Late afternoon Moon in Gemini will semisquare Pluto in Capricorn. Take care of bad habits. Focus on health and wellbeing. Good time to start a healthier regime. Late afternoon Moon will sesquiquadrate Mars in Scorpio. Karmic. Shaking of foundations of beliefs. Religion. Philosophy. Law. Allow our minds to expand.
Early evening Moon in Cancer trine Saturn in Pisces. Open flow of communication. Our conscious minds turn to our dreams, goals, and friends. Later tonight the Sun in Scorpio sextile Lilith in Virgo. Dark desires. Love and romance. Creativity and furthering education.
Degrees, Aspects, Time ( EDT ):
Mercury: 16SCO44
Chiron: 16ARI44
Aspect: Inconjunct ( Adjustment )
Time: 11:45 AM
Jupiter: 10TAU42
Lilith: 10VIR42
Aspect: Trine ( Flow )
Time: 12:46 PM
Moon: 20GEM00
Pluto: 28CAP00
Aspect: Semisquare ( Irritating )
Time: 1:46 PM
Moon: 29GEM07
Mars: 14SCO07
Aspect: Sesquiquadrate ( Karmic. Abrasive )
Time: 3:53 PM
Moon: 00CAN31
Saturn: 00PIS31
Aspect Trine
Time: 6:28 PM
Sun: 09SCO23
Lilith: 09VIR23
Aspect: Sextile
Time: 10:24 PM
Image: Lilith by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman
#inspiritualservice #astrology #astrologer #planetary #aspects #Halloween #energy #EnergyForecast
This is my three-card spread for the day. The first card is for the morning, the second for the afternoon and the third for the evening.
I was quite pleased to see these three cards come out in the order that they did, with none reversed. I understood them as follows:
The morning card, the Wheel Of Fortune, means that Life is going to present me with a certain situation, a situation concerning which I'm going have to decide on the right course of action. The coiled snake in the centre of the card is the bad thing that's going to uncoil itself and come into being if I make the wrong decision. However, the owls in the card represent wisdom, showing me that I have the capability to make the right decision.
The afternoon card, the Seven Of Pentacles, shows a spider, its webs complete, waiting. That spider is me, the webs are the course of action I've decided to take, to deal with whatever situation the morning Wheel Of Fortune card showed the day would present me with. The spider, me, is waiting to see if his plans will turn out to be successful.
The evening card – and I was really pleased when this one came out – shows the Lion, the King of the beasts, wearing a crown. Obviously this signifies that the decisions I made earlier in the day, to deal with Life's vicissitudes, were the correct ones, and I am now King of the day, relaxing at peace with the world.
Today will be a good day.
(Deck: The Guardian of the Night Tarot.
M. J. Cullinane.)
🏹🐏
I LOVE that spread, Ajay! Morning, afternoon, and evening! This is why I love the combination of tarot/oracle cards so much. They allow for a broader interpretation. I also enjoy M.J. Cullinane's decks. I love that one and also have her Curious Cats Tarot. MASSIVE 80 card deck I can barely hold in one hand to shuffle! Thanks for joining in and sharing! My posts mainly revolve around EDT - so we needed someone from across the pond to start sharing.
Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, acknowledges the symbiotic relationship of life and death. All Saints' Day is dedicated to the saints of the church, who are in heaven. All Souls Day is set aside for those who have died but have yet to attain heaven. All three are being marked on Nov. 1 and 2.
Dia de los Muertos: inspiritualservice.com/beliefs-1
All Saints' Day is a holy day of the Catholic Church marked annually on Nov. 1. The day is dedicated to the saints of the church — all those who have attained heaven.
All Saints' Day is traced to Pope Boniface IV, who consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs in 609 AD. Boniface IV also established All Souls' Day, which follows All Saints.
The Catholic Church marks the day with a Mass. All Saints' Day is also commemorated by the Eastern Orthodox Church as well as some protestant churches, such as Lutheran and Anglican denominations.
Image: St. Francis of Assisi by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman
#inspiritualservice #astrology #astrologer #history #allsaintsday #diadelosmuertos #allsaintsday #AllSoulsDay #AllSoulsDay2023
The practice of Moonology involves, at the very least, processing your feelings - at Full Moon and again at Dark Moon. How are you doing with that? Drawing this card suggests you have some feelings you need to release, for your own good as well as for the good of anyone else involved in the situation.
Now is the time to let your feelings show, too. Bottling them up so that no one knows how you really feel isn't heathy, obviously. If you're doing that, stop! Consider working on your throat chakra with chanting, breathwork, or singing.
Literally go out and howl at the Moon. You're not at the end of this story yet, so this card can't tell you what the end will be - it's up to you to create it. But part of that journey toward your answer involves you releasing your throat chakra and expressing yourself. If the situation or your life feels blocked now, processing you feelings could be the key to unblocking. Feel them and deal with them. Negativity blocks your powers.
Additional meanings for this card
• Don't insist on having everything your way.
• Music will be healing to you.
• Do shadow work.
• Face your fears.
(Card and message are from the Moonology Messages Oracle deck by Yasmin Boland.)
Ahavati said:I am so happy you are enjoying that deck. I loved it but Spirit said, "Send it to [Luna]." The moment I did, I was gifted Yasmin's "Moonology Manifesting" deck! See how that works? <3
I use it almost every day - the artwork is beautiful and the deck is so intuitively created! It’s a prized possession, thank you again 🥰❤️
I use it almost every day - the artwork is beautiful and the deck is so intuitively created! It’s a prized possession, thank you again 🥰❤️
Aspecting the Cosmos, Thu, Nov 02, 2023: We are only undone by our own thoughts and beliefs. Not actuality.
Jupiter at opposition November 2-3, 2023, 1:00 AM EDT: Jupiter reaches perigee ( closest point to Earth ). It has been occupying the early evening eastern sky.
All Souls Day: inspiritualservice.com/beliefs-1
Dia de los Muertos: Spirits depart
Just after noon, the Sun in Scorpio trine the Moon in Cancer. Emotional resilience. Partnerships, friends, hopes & dreams. Public relations. An hour later Moon sextile Jupiter in Taurus. Expansion. Creativity. Amusements. Relationships - love and romance. Children, the love we give.
Late afternoon, Sun sesquiquadrate Neptune in Pisces. Karmic endings are never just endings, but beginnings though we may feel limited and frustrated. Regeneration through discovering the hidden strength of the 12th house. We are only undone by our own thoughts and beliefs.
Tonight, the Moon trine Mars in Scorpio. Wonderful time to map out a healthier regime. Focus is on physical appearance. Creativity highlighted. An hour later, the Moon sesquiquadrate Saturn in Pisces. Another karmic aspect. Beginnings. Higher minds and legal matters provoking our outlook on religion and/or philosophy to change.
Degrees, Aspects, Houses, Time ( EDT ):
Sun: 09SCO58' -11th
Moon: 09CAN58 - 7th
Aspect: Trine
Time: 12:22 PM
Sun: 10SCO11 - 8th
Neptune: 25PIS11 -12th
Aspect: Sesquiquadrate
Time: 5:33 PM
Moon: 15CAN00 - 1st
Mars: 15SCO00 - 5th
Aspect: Trine
Time: 10:01 PM
Moon: 15CAN30 - 1st
Saturn: 00PIS30 - 9th
Aspect: Sesquiquadrate
Time: 11:00 PM
Image: Anais Nin, Nearer the Moon by Lisbeth Cheever Gessaman
#inspiritualservice #astrology #astrologer #planetary #aspects #Halloween #energy #EnergyForecast
Offrenda Prayer
God of the living and the dead,
Today we remember our ancestors who have gone before us in death.
Their lives added to the richness of ours. Their gifts were gifts to us.
Grateful for the enduring treasures of our memories and
Mindful that our love and relationships continue into the next life,
Draw us near to our ancestors in faith and love.
Let us remember them with sweetness and happiness this night.
Keep from our hearts the bitterness of our parting and
Replace it with the joy of anticipating eternal life with you and all your saints.
Amen and it is.
Ahavati said:Offrenda Prayer
God of the living and the dead,
Today we remember our ancestors who have gone before us in death.
Their lives added to the richness of ours. Their gifts were gifts to us.
Grateful for the enduring treasures of our memories and
Mindful that our love and relationships continue into the next life,
Draw us near to our ancestors in faith and love.
Let us remember them with sweetness and happiness this night.
Keep from our hearts the bitterness of our parting and
Replace it with the joy of anticipating eternal life with you and all your saints.
Amen and it is.
Such a beautiful sacred space 😍
God of the living and the dead,
Today we remember our ancestors who have gone before us in death.
Their lives added to the richness of ours. Their gifts were gifts to us.
Grateful for the enduring treasures of our memories and
Mindful that our love and relationships continue into the next life,
Draw us near to our ancestors in faith and love.
Let us remember them with sweetness and happiness this night.
Keep from our hearts the bitterness of our parting and
Replace it with the joy of anticipating eternal life with you and all your saints.
Amen and it is.
Such a beautiful sacred space 😍
Moon Circles
Support
When this card comes up, it's time to call in your people. Find the people who matter the most to you - to whom you also matter - and spend some time with them. There is wisdom to be found in gathering together with others and right now, you could use that wisdom. You just need one or two close friends or relatives - the first ones that spring to mind are probably right. Let them know how you're feeling. Seek their advice and support. Sometimes we put on such a brave face that the rest of the world has no clue that we're going through something.
Remember the old saying: A problem shared is a problem halved. It's OK to be vulnerable with the people who care for you. Depending on when you draw this card, getting together with friends for a New Moon or Full Moon circle could be just what the cosmos ordered.
Additional meanings for this card
• You need to get someone on your side,
• Seek out like-minded people.
• Life goes in cycles; be patient.
• Ask a female friend for help.
• Take responsibility for your actions.
About this symbol
A Moon circle often refers to a group of women who come together every New or Full Moon to celebrate the lunation. These circles are filled with love and loyalty. A Moon circle could be exactly what you need right now.
(Card and message are from the Moonology Messages by Yasmin Boland.)
Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, acknowledges the symbiotic relationship of life and death. All Saints' Day is dedicated to the saints of the church, who are in heaven. All Souls Day is set aside for those who have died, but have yet to attain heaven. All three are being marked on Nov. 1 and 2.
All Souls Day is a holy day set aside for honoring the dead, primarily celebrated in the Catholic Church.
According to Catholic belief, the soul of a person who dies can go to one of three places, heaven, hell or purgatory. Purgatory is believed to be a place where souls can be cleansed and perfected before they enter into heaven. Catholics celebrate All Souls Day, praying for souls in purgatory to be purified.
Image: Psyche Goddess of the Soul by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman
#inspiritualservice #astrology #astrologer #holidays #observances #beliefs #DiaDeLosMuertos #allsaintsday #AllSoulsDay
