Toward the end of his illustrious career, psychiatrist Carl Jung shared the story of a young female patient who had been to two doctors prior to him with no relief. She suffered from what Jung termed “animus possession,” (he defined the animus as the “deposit” in a woman of her ancestral experiences of men). After working with Jung for some time with no progress, the patient dreamt she was given a golden scarab. While she was relating this dream to him, Jung heard a tapping on the window behind him. He turned and saw a flying insect knocking against the pane. As he opened the window, he caught the creature as it flew in.
“It was the nearest analogy to a golden scarab that one finds in our latitudes,” Jung writes in Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle. Contrary to its usual habits, the beetle had felt an urge to enter the dark room at that exact moment. Why? Jung concluded that something irrational was needed to trigger a breakthrough in the case. “The dream alone was enough to disturb ever so slightly the rationalistic attitude of my patient,” he said. “But when the scarab came flying through the window, her natural being burst through the armor of her animus possession and the process of transformation could at last begin.”
The scarab, an ancient Egyptian symbol of eternity, was said to appear at a crossroads – signaling that psychic renewal was at hand. And the upcoming Scorpio New Moon (Oct. 27, 8:38 p.m. PDT) certainly qualifies as such a moment. This lunation features four planets in subterranean Scorpio, sign of depth psychology and transformation – the Sun and Moon, Venus and Mercury. The Winged Messenger is extra strong in its trickster mode, as it prepares to turn retrograde on Samhain, the Celtic holy day we now call Halloween, when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. And, as they join, the Sun and Moon exactly oppose Uranus – the planet of awakenings, breakthroughs and unexpected twists of fate. Watch for seemingly irrational events that bust things open so new life can fly in!
The spooky vibe will definitely be strong, as will deep feelings. Those who like slipping into other dimensions and connecting with the ancestors won’t be disappointed. It’s a good time to search the Underworld of your being and excavate any places where your power and resources may have been hiding. At the very least, expect to see some incredible Halloween costumes! You may want to craft a meaningful one yourself, to embody what you’re evolving into or showcase a darker side of yourself that’s begging for recognition. Extra points for being a golden scarab this year!
Adding another layer of meaning to this New Moon, Mars (ruler of Scorpio) will square Saturn that day, putting the kibosh on anything that’s not for your highest good – especially pertaining to relationships. This aspect is like the karmic police, banging on your door demanding to know what old pattern you’re ready to bring into greater awareness. Maybe you’ve been feeling this already as something ends before it begins, or perhaps you’ve been grappling with the inevitable closing of one door so another can open.
Now is the time to summon those on the other side for help. Create an ancestor altar if you don’t already have one, perhaps just a picture of Grandma on a doily that was once hers. Or, you could invoke someone who isn’t a blood relation but who you feel a deep connection to. You can also feature anyone who has recently passed and may still be close at hand. Name the qualities you need from them, such as courage, strength, wealth, patience or willingness to face something painful. If there’s an ancestral pattern you’re feeling called to transform, ask for their aid with that. You can also say prayers for the Earth herself. If tears or anger arise, let them flow. This is a watery moon, after all! Put on some intense music to help dance these emotions out of your body. Then leave the altar up at least through early November, as you’ll likely want to keep working with it.
In Astro Feng Shui, Scorpio is a Wealth New Moon. So why not light candles at your Wealth altar in the far left corner of your home too? Add a bowl of coins or a large-denomination bill to invoke the law of correspondences, which tells the Universe what you want more of. See my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, for more ideas.
You can also learn more about Astro Feng Shui and how to work with the Scorpio New Moon in my recent spirited discussion with the fabulous Christine Blosdale on her podcast Out of the Box with Christine.
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