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3 Rituals for this Rare Halloween Blue Moon

By Dana Gerhardt

Despite the cliche, full moons on Halloween night are relatively rare.  They occur once every 19 years or so.  Blue moons (typically defined as the second full moon in a calendar month) are more common, occurring every 2 and a half years, but on a Halloween night–well, that hasn’t happened since 1944.

Yet to be honest, blue moons aren’t really an energetic thing. That’s because they’re created by the human calendar,  not the cycles of nature.  Plus their origins are suspicious. Same-month blue moons were accidentally invented in 1946 by a confused writer for Sky & Telescope magazine. He misread the Maine Farmers’ Almanac which had  invented their “blue moons” in the 1800s, describing the 3rd full moon in a 4-full-moon season.

Even so, the error has persisted and therefore earned some archetypal credibility in the collective unconscious.  Perhaps it’s the poetry in the name.  A “blue moon” sounds wistful, melancholic, solitary and reflective–like that haunting Elvis Presley song of the same name.  This is a moon that can carry us inward, into our depths.

Yet the real energetic potency of this moon draws from the pagan calendar.  It coincides with the cross-quarter holiday Samhain (pronounced “sow-wain”), widely celebrated around the northern hemisphere as Halloween, All Souls Day, and Dia de los Muertos.   This is  a true “holy day,” a “Sabbat,” one of four doorways into mid-seasonal power on the wheel of the year.  And its blessings are in the air from Halloween through November 7 (when the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Scorpio, astrology’s timer for this holiday).

Samhain takes us into the energetic heart of autumn.  As the days shorten, the air cools, and the geese fly south; as we take ourselves indoors, wear warmer clothes, and eat heartier foods, we can resist or go willingly into nature’s plan for us–to go inward now and renew our souls, clearing the way for future joys. As the trees are shedding their leaves,  if we likewise release what no longer serves–what limits us–we too can unleash new potency in our core.  The veils are thin on this special night.  We can also cross more easily into other worlds, just as other-worldly beings can cross into ours.

Rituals performed at this time are simply more powerful.  Here are three great ways you can tune into the magic of this night.

Release: The Green Fire Ritual

Release is one of Samhain’s superpowers.  Perhaps like me you have a startling memory of magic arising after you let go of something you didn’t want to release.  One November long ago, I was at the tail end of a painful divorce, when I discovered  how powerful a Samhain purge can be.  What occurred was a co-worker accidentally broke the last gift my husband ever gave me—a little desk terrarium.  I collapsed into such overwhelming grief, even I was surprised.  Wasn’t I done with this yet?  After so many months of anger, loneliness and tears, I was still holding on to that marriage.

With a friend as support and my shoulders shaking with grief, I performed a simple ritual of letting go.  I threw my ex-husband’s last gift into the parking lot dumpster.   The next day brought a startling event:  I met somebody new.  I fell in love!  I met the man who five years later would father my son.  Room for new futures is made whenever we let go.  All waning moons invite us to clear space and release attachments that don’t serve, but this work is especially significant now.

My all-time favorite release ritual is “Green Fire,” which you can read about here.  But first, an important tip about spiritual rituals.  In truth, the magic is inside you–not in the ritual props or recited words. The Green Fire release is driven by authentic desire, from your heart.  People often organize their rituals with their heads–but minds, supple as they are, have a strong capacity to cling.   The most auspicious time for this ritual is when your mind is exhausted. when you’re done with trying to control things to go a certain way.  Green Fire is designed to work on a surrendered mind; the ritual theater helps to keep it focused.

Connect: Commune with departed souls or difficult peers

You know how sometimes you suddenly think about someone you haven’t thought about in a while, and then a few minutes or a couple hours later you actually hear from them?  This often happens to me with clients.  Someone suddenly pops into my head for no reason, and then maybe a day or a week later, I receive an email from them wanting to schedule an appointment. I don’t think I’m a psychic reading the future. More likely, the connection between us is triggered when they begin thinking about scheduling; there’s usually a delay between that moment and when they’re ready to take action.

You don’t need to wait for Samhain to realize that we’re all connected–to the living and the dead.  I know many otherwise sane people, including myself, who’ve had a clear sense they were receiving messages from the other side–from dreams, voices in the head, odd coincidences.  If you don’t dismiss these events, they’re evidence of a spiritual truth. The great Anima Mundi, the World Soul in which we’re all immersed, transcends time.  It can connect us with the past, present, and future.

Samhain is a wonderful time to play consciously inside this web of inter-connection, reaching back to your ancestors or forward to significant people in your future.  That’s what is meant by the “veils are thin”–you can more easily dissolve yourself into the timelessness of the World Soul.

Simone Harrington, my beloved psychic teacher, also taught me how to use this vast soul space to communicate with difficult people in the present.  Of course to do so from your ego would be violating boundaries.  What Simone taught me was to simply ask your guides to talk to their guides–and if the matter was worth reaching them, it would get there.   Once I used this with a potential business partner–who had kept me on pins and needles for two months while he was considering my proposal.  After I asked my guides to make the connection, he called the next day.

Here are more ways to connect with others inside the Anima Mundi at this special Full Moon:

Dana’s Simple Samhain Ritual

Meditation to Connect with Your Spirit Guide

Empower yourself: Your 3rd and last chance for potent Jupiter/Pluto magic

Any ritual that invokes Pluto is perfect for this season–but it’s even better this year, when the last of 2020’s three J/P conjunctions occurs on November 12.  I’ve performed this ritual twice this year–both times with such astonishing results, it goes to the top of my list of all-time favorite rituals.  Since we have to wait 12 years to do it again, I plan to use this third opportunity!

I typically recommend doing this ritual on a Thursday (Jupiter’s day) under a waxing Moon, but I think it’s perfectly appropriate to do it on this rare Halloween Blue Moon too.  Always, the most auspicious day for any ritual is the one on which you’re ready to whole-heartedly throw yourself into it.  At the least, you might use this special Full Moon to start attuning yourself to these two archetypes.  The three posts below can help to fuel your connection with these planets.  Once you know what you’re getting into, gently inquire, where could you use the assistance of these marvelous gods?  Let that be your aspiration. Then watch, as Jupiter and Pluto do the rest.

It’s your second chance for Jupiter/Pluto magic

Making 2020’s Jupiter/Pluto Superpowers work for you

2020’s Mind-Blowing Jupiter/Pluto conjunction: Shadow & Light

And always, with ritual, it’s important to have fun. The power of play is often underestimated. Yet it’s crucial to inviting the magical forces, who also like to play.

Filed under: Home Full Moon Featured Article

About Dana Gerhardt

A popular columnist with The Mountain Astrologer since 1991, Dana Gerhardt is an internationally respected astrologer. She has lectured extensively and written for astrology publications on several continents. Her ongoing passions are the moon and living the intuitive life. Dana worked for many years in the corporate sector, where she observed the undeniable influence of natural cycles. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude from Occidental College in Los Angeles and did graduate work in literature at Columbia University and CSULA. Dana can be contacted by email.

Comments

  1. Sousou says

    Nov 2, 2020 at 5:39 am

    Thank You god bless

    Reply
  2. Lynda says

    Oct 30, 2020 at 6:03 am

    Hi Dana, the link to your Simple Samhain Ritual is broken. Happy Halloween to you.

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Oct 30, 2020 at 8:48 am

      Sometimes computers are so aggravating–I’ve had to re-post and publish this page three times before the link would work. Mercury and Mars are still retrograde. 🙂 But you should be able to access it now.

      Reply
  3. Flo says

    Oct 30, 2020 at 1:31 am

    Dear Dana, this is magic… Sometimes your writing is just magic!! Have a lovely Halloween!

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Oct 30, 2020 at 12:23 pm

      Thanks, Flo–you too, have a wonderful Halloween!

      Reply
  4. Charlotte says

    Oct 29, 2020 at 9:55 pm

    Hello Dana,

    Thank you for your words which always bring me insight and a feeling of being a truly active part of life’s magic.
    I am going to connect to jupiter and Pluto for the second time through your wonderful ritual 🙂

    Today I have a problem trying to follow this link : Dana’s Simple Samhain Ritual
    It says the page is not found. Could you please check if the link is active on your side ?

    Thank you very much for all those sharings of yours !
    Charlotte from France.

    Reply
    • Dana Gerhardt says

      Oct 30, 2020 at 8:49 am

      You’re welcome Charlotte, I just fixed the link!

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
Balsamic Phase

in the
Sign of Gemini


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
(subtract: PST -8 hours, PDT -7 hours, EST -5 hours, EDT -4 hours)

  • Moon conjunct Venus, 7:03am  Jun 26 2022
  • Moon sextile Jupiter, 1:26pm  Jun 26 2022

Venus is currently
The Morning Star

in the sign of Gemini


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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.