A Happy Halloween To All!

This is a brief history of Halloween from History.com:

Halloween, celebrated each year on October 31, is a mix of ancient Celtic practices, Catholic and Roman religious rituals and European folk traditions that blended together over time to create the holiday we know today. Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity and life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. Halloween has long been thought of as a day when the dead can return to the earth, and ancient Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these roaming ghosts.

The Celtic holiday of Samhain, the Catholic Hallowmas period of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day and the Roman festival of Feralia all influenced the modern holiday of Halloween.

In the 19th century, Halloween began to lose its religious connotation, becoming a more secular community-based children's holiday. Although the superstitions and beliefs surrounding Halloween may have evolved over the years, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people can still look forward to parades, costumes and sweet treats to usher in the winter season.

In Wiccan and Pagan circles, Samhain, pronounced SOW-in, is one of the four Greater Sabbats which are celebrated on the cross-quarter days, the mid-way point between the corresponding Equinox and Solstice.  Of the four, Samhain is considered to be the most important. It is the third and last harvest of summer, and the time when darkness increases in the northern hemisphere until the Winter Solstice on December 21, the shortest day of the year and the day which marks the rebirth of the Sun and Light again as the days slowly begin to increase in length.

The four Greater Sabbats are celebrated on historically traditional days which do not necessarily match the exact mid-point between the corresponding Equinox and Solstice, however they all fall around the 15th degree of the Fixed Signs. In Scorpio, the Sun is in the 15th degree on November 7, and many Wiccans and Pagans use that day for their rituals, though most observe the public holiday also. 

The Tarot cards which represent Scorpio are Major Key 13, Death and Minor cards the Queen of Cups and the 5, 6 and 7 of Cups. 

The 6 of Cups represents 10 to 20 degrees of Scorpio, and the time span of November 2 to November 11, corresponding with the time when the Sun is in 15 degrees of Scorpio on November 7. The astrological association for the 6 of Cups is the Sun in Scorpio, an appropriate card for the Halloween holiday since the Sun actually is in Scorpio on these dates.

The veil between the worlds is said to be very thin during this time and rituals and celebrations often include communing with the dead and departed souls, as well as leaving offerings of food outside. Divination is also a common practice such as tarot readings, scrying, astrological planning and prediction, just to name a few.

In this card from the Halloween Tarot the Ghosts of the departed do seem to be having a very pleasant and possibly nostalgic time as they gather together to commune with the living, enjoy the offerings put out for them and recall and share past times gone by.

In this ‘spirit’ I wish everyone a warm and happy Halloween filled with costume parties. haunted houses, eerie sounds and noises, trick-or-treating and the simple enjoyment of the company of friends and loved ones, both living and departed.  Enjoy!

Micki

Mars Enters Sagittarius

 

Mars moves into Sagittarius today, where he will stay until December 7. The corresponding Tarot Cards for this combination are The Tower and Temperance.

Now there's a combo for you!  Try to wrap your head around that!   The energies of these two cards couldn’t be further apart. 

 

Some interpretations for this combo in a tarot reading might be:

Sudden and unexpected change and upheaval, which results in picking up the pieces and combining them into a new state of affairs.

A sudden release of pent-up energy which results in flashes of insight and revelation about how to combine extreme circumstances into new and harmonious conditions.

The ability to stay centered and calm in the midst of unexpected change and upheaval.

However, in Astrology the fiery nature of Mars is right at home in all three of the Fire Signs: Aries, his domain, Leo and Sagittarius. 

As the ninth sign of the zodiac, Sagittarius rules philosophy, religion and spirituality, higher education and long-distance or foreign travel.  Mars represents our energy and the drive to accomplish our goals, and filtered through Sagittarius this can indicate an increased interest in education, travel and/or religious and spiritual practices. This is a good time to focus on your wider and long-range goals, or to take some new courses in an area of special interest.  Travel and exploration are also emphasized so you might want to take that trip abroad that you’ve been planning for awhile,  

Mars in Sagittarius also represents the spiritual warrior, as shown in this corresponding Symbolon card.

These days our spiritual quest may not require that we ride off to the Crusades, but this is a good time to put your passion into getting the word out about your own pet crusade or charity, or you may find yourself feeling a desire to renew your own spiritual practice.

Whatever your special quest is, this is a time of high energy when it’s possible to get lots done toward the realization of your goals, whatever they may be

Micki

Illustrations are from the Hanson-Roberts Tarot and the Symbolon deck.

The Pentacles and Timing

The suit of Pentacles represents the three earth signs in Astrology, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.  The King represents the Cardinal Earth sign Capricorn, the Queen represents the Fixed Earth sign Taurus, and the Knight represents the Mutable Earth sign Virgo.

Capricorn - December 22 to January 20

The four cards shown here represent Capricorn in the Minor Arcana.

The King of Pentacles represents the whole sign of Capricorn and the time span from December 22 to January 20.  The 2, 3 and 4 of Pentacles represent 10 degrees each of Capricorn and span these days:

2 of Pentacles – Dec. 22 to Dec. 31 
3 of Pentacles – January 1 to January 10
4 of Pentacles – January 11 to January 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taurus – April 21 to May 20

The four cards shown here represent Taurus in the Minor Arcana.

The Queen of Pentacles represents the whole sign of Taurus and the time span from April 21 to May 20.  The 5, 6 and 7 of Pentacles represent 10 degrees each of Taurus and span these days:

5 of Pentacles – April 21 to April 30
6 of Pentacles – May 1 to May 10 
7 of Pentacles – May 11 to May 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virgo – August 23 to September 22

The four cards shown here represent Virgo in the Minor Arcana.

The Knight of Pentacles represents the whole sign of Virgo and the time span from August 23 to September 22.  The 8, 9 and 10 of Pentacles represent 10 degrees each of Virgo and span these days:

8 of Pentacles – August 23 to Sept. 1 
9 of Pentacles – Sept. 2 to Sept 11  
10 of Pentacles – Sept. 12 to Sept. 22 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This concludes the timing system for the Minor Arcana.  Every day of the year is represented by one of the 36 Minor Arcana numbered (Pip) cards, providing us with a very workable timing system for those of us who wish to use it. 

Micki

The Swords and Timing

The suit of Swords represents the three air signs in Astrology, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.  The King represents the Cardinal Air sign Libra, the Queen represents the Fixed Air sign Aquarius, and the Knight represents the Mutable Air sign Gemini.

Libra – September 23 to October 22

The four cards shown here represent Libra in the Minor Arcana.

The King of Swords represents the whole sign of Libra and the time span from September 23 to October 22.  The 2, 3 and 4 of Swords represent 10 degrees each of Libra and span these days:

2 of Swords – September 23 to October 2
3 of Swords – October 3 to October 12
4 of Swords – October 13 to October 22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aquarius – January 21 to February 19

The four cards shown here represent Aquarius in the Minor Arcana.

The Queen of Swords represents the whole sign of Aquarius and the time span from January 21 to February 19.  The 2, 3 and 4 of Swords represent 10 degrees each of Aquarius and span these days:

5 of Swords – January 21 to January 30
6 of Swords – January 31 to February 9
7 of Swords – February 10 to February 19 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gemini – May 21 to June 21

The four cards shown here represent Gemini in the Minor Arcana.

The Knight of Swords represents the whole sign of Gemini and the time span from May 21 to June 21.  The 8, 9 and 10 of Swords represent 10 degrees each of Gemini and span these days:

8 of Swords – May 21 to May 31 
9 of Swords – June 1 to June 11
10 of Swords – June 12 to June 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the next post we’ll cover the suit of Pentacles and the signs and time periods the Pentacles cards represent.

Micki

The Cups and Timing

The suit of Cups represents the three water signs in Astrology, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.  The King represents the Cardinal Water sign Cancer, the Queen represents the Fixed Water sign Scorpio, and the Knight represents the Mutable Water sign Pisces.

Cancer – June 21 to July 22

The four cards shown here represent Cancer in the Minor Arcana.

The King of Cups represents the whole sign of Cancer and the time span from June 21 to July 22.  The 2, 3 and 4 of Cups represent 10 degrees each of Cancer and span these days:

2 of Cups – June 21 to July 1
3 of Cups – July 2 to July 12
4 of Cups – July 13 to July 22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scorpio – October 23 to November 21

These four cards represent Scorpio in the Minor Arcana.

The Queen of Cups represents the whole sign of Scorpio.  The 5, 6 and 7 of Cups represent 10 degrees each of Scorpio and span these days:

5 of Cups – October 23 to November 1
6 of Cups – November 2 to November 11
7 of Cups – November 12 to November 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pisces – February 20 to March 20

These four cards represent Scorpio in the Minor Arcana.

The Knight of Cups represents the whole sign of Pisces.  The 8, 9 and 10 of Cups represent 10 degrees each of Pisces and span these days:

5 of Cups – October 23 to November 2
6 of Cups – November 3 to November 12
7 of Cups – November 13 to November 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the next post we’ll cover the suit of Swords and the signs and time periods the Swords cards represent.

Micki

The Wands and Timing

The suit of Wands represents the three fire signs in Astrology, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.  The King represents the Cardinal Fire sign Aries, the Queen represents the Fixed Fire sign Leo, and the Knight represents the Mutable Fire sign Sagittarius.

Aries – March 21 to April 20

The four cards shown here represent Aries in the Minor Arcana.

The King of Wands represents Aires and the time span from March 21 to April 20.  The 2, 3 and 4 of Wands represent 10 degrees each of Aries and span these days:

2 of Wands – March 21 to March 30
3 of Wands – March 31 to April 10
4 of Wands – April 10 to April 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leo – July 23 to August 22

 

These four cards represent the sign Leo.

The Queen of Wands represents Leo and the time span from July 23 to August 22.  The 5, 6, and 7 of Wands represent these days within the the sign Leo:

5 of Wands – July 23 to August 1
6 of Wands – August 2 to August 11
7 of Wands – August 12 to August 22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sagittarius – Nov 22 to Dec 21

These four cards represent the sign Sagittarius. 

The Knight of Wands represents Sagittarius and the time span from November 22 to December 21.  The 8, 9, and 10 of Wands represent these days within the sign Sagittarius:

8 of Wands – Nov 22 to Dec 1
9 of Wands – Dec 2 to Dec 12
10 of Wands – Dec 13 to Dec 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the next post we’ll cover the suit of Cups and the signs and time periods the Cups cards represent.

Micki