Through Scorpio’s eyes, a sudden disaster is just an efficient way to start over. That’s the message of its Phoenix— the mythical bird who, when cremated on a funeral pyre, rose from its ashes into new life, colored by shimmering rainbow feathers. It’s good to let go of things! Life improves. Release is the central gesture of the Scorpio New Moon.
The Green Fire ritual is a powerful way to signal to your subconscious that you’re ready, willing, and eager to release the past and move on, into a better version of your life. The woman who introduced me to this practice likes to do it four times a year, once each season. I was feeling particularly stuck the year I learned of it, so I bought salt, alcohol, a large cast iron pot, and dutifully performed the ritual on a dark Moon, for three months in a row. The results were oddly spectacular. Without much drama or fanfare, my inner world began rapidly shifting. I was inspired to make new decisions that ultimately transformed my outer world. Changes I’d needed to make for what seemed like a lifetime, suddenly got easy.
Do the Green Fire practice whenever you’re feeling stuck or burdened, but it’s especially powerful now, during the Scorpio season, when the Moon is waning (from Full Moon up to the next New Moon). The ritual is simple to do. First finagle some solitude and focus on what you’d like to release. This can be specific (“I’d like to release my anger at Jim”) or general (“I’d like to release whatever is holding me back.”). You can aim to let go of a lot or a little, whatever feels right for you. Just be sure to write down each thing you’re releasing. (I like to write each item on a small piece of paper; this makes for excellent kindling to throw into the fire.) Then get a cast iron pot, line it with foil, add two cups of Epsom salts, and cover the salt with rubbing alcohol. When you’re ready, light it with a long match and stand back. One at a time, throw in the pieces of paper on which you’ve written what you’re letting go of.
Of course, do this safely! I place my pot in the center of an outdoor fire pit, with lid and water at the ready. If you like your rituals more theatrical, you can dress up, recite poetry, bang drums, or dance while the fire is burning. If you want additional power, call in the ancestors, protectors and archetypal powers before you begin and thank them when you’re done. I like my ritual simple: just the fire, the pieces of paper, and all the energy that’s being released.
It works.
Support yourself with the symbolic vibrance of my monthly Moon workshop . You’ll develop your archetypal eyes and learn how to dance with the gods artfully.
Sounds like just what I need! I have a large stone mortar I can use. Very cool! Is the fire actually green?
Thanks,
Lana
Yes–where the alcohol meets the salt, you see green flames (although you also see the usual yellow flames too).
Hello!
My women’s ritual group and I have used this many times – indoors! The epsom salt and rubbing alcohol fires are smokeless. As far as I know, there is no chemical danger involved, and the woman who showed us this in circle is a highly sensitive-to-food-and-chemicals woman. We put it in cast iron without the foil but I like your idea of the foil because it left too much sticky sediment on the small cauldron I used for the green fire. I had not thought of it as a green fire. I like that! Thank you. I have friends coming for dinner Saturday and I am going to do this small ritual for us after dinner!
Sincerely,
Melissa
Sounds great! Could I sub the cast Iron pot for a coffee can and pass on the alcohol? Just fill up the can half way with foil and toss the papers in and then light? I ask because I live where there is a lot of foliage and pine trees and don’t want to do something wreckless in that environment.
Substitutions are always allowed! It’s never the “things” that make the ritual; it’s the energy and intention of the practitioner. The things are just stage props that help to focus the inner magician. The alcohol makes for a more dramatic fire, but yes, safety first!