New Moon in Scorpio — Consciously Choosing the Light
This Scorpio new moon on November 18, 2017 calls us to initiate ourselves into the watery depths of our unconscious. Whether it be through occult practices, transformational rituals, psychotherapy, shadow work or anything that ushers us “beyond the veil,” now is the time to walk into the underworld. Most of us strive to stay in the light, ignoring the dark and repressing that which needs to be addressed for us to be truly free. We can no longer resist the change that is upon us, and ignore the power of the shadow within. 

The lesson of Scorpio is that what we try to hide away and leave in the dark rarely remains there for long. Either we bring it forth ourselves with our own depth work, or it comes forward on its own as our struggles, triggers, and negative patterns.

What we leave in the darkness destroys us, but what we bring into the light ultimately saves us. The darkness of the new moon in Scorpio means that we cannot hide anymore, we must make friends with the darkness—our darkness—if we yearn for personal freedom.

A tight relationship to Uranus at this times suggests that we must listen carefully to any flashes of intuition or insight that come our way. Especially in terms of our spiritual progress, messages from our higher self hold the key to what steps must be taken. This may be counter to the steps you want to take, because the steps that are necessary are often the most challenging. Walking through our shadow requires tapas, the burning desire to know thyself. Your higher wisdom holds the key. Listen to its messages, and make sure that what you move toward at this time is in alignment with your soul’s purpose, as this is a new beginning for you that signals a great step toward it. 

Chiron (the wounded healer) is also in the mix with this new moon, further encouraging us to do our shadow work as it may result not only in personal transformation, but also in change that inspires others to walk the shadow path. If you are destined to be a mentor, you can only lead people as far as you have gone yourself…make sure you do the work required to dig through your own darkness in order to bring to light the gold that is so valuable to you, and those around you.

Alchemical Ritual for the Scorpio New Moon 
As a water sign, Scorpio often soaks in the watery depth of emotion. On the high side, Scorpio revels in deep transformation and shadow work and loves blending energy—whether through intimate partnerships, sacred sexuality or joint finances or business ventures. On the low side, Scorpio’s energy turns to moodiness, brooding, and a tendency to play the victim and lash out with others. This new moon ritual for Scorpio helps to accentuate the high side of Scorpio which transfigures our shadow into powerful healing energy.   

Scorpio’s modern ruler is Pluto, the king of the underworld, who also respects those who can escape the darkness. Our work here is to get to know our own underworld so we can undergo a resurrection and once again see the light. Scorpio is not afraid of the challenge, so our challenge is to move toward what is uncomfortable in the ritual, in the hope of shedding some light on it.

Gather a black stone (onyx, lava, kyanite) or a red stone (malachite, red hematite, rhodochrosite) and place it in the center of your ritual space. If you have some ginger, you can place it in a bowl nearby, or sprinkle it around your space. Ginger essential oil also works, and you might anoint your solar plexus with it before and after your ceremony. Use sage, sweet grass or palo santo to cleanse yourself and the space by casting the smoke over yourself and encircling your own body three times. Light a few candles and dim the lights. Place a pen and paper nearby and come to sit quietly inside the circle. Close the eyes and contemplate a current challenge in your life.

What is the belief system that this triggers? What negative thought patterns swirl around? Finally, what do you feel? 

Do not immerse yourself in the emotion, simply observe and witness it like a silent bystander. Locate it in your body. Place your hands on the part of the body that you feel activated and simply watch. Breathe into that space, the emotion, and the body. Stay here, silently witnessing, until the emotion transforms, dissipates, changes shape, or shifts quality. Once it does, say the following invocation out loud:

Scorpio and Pluto, please allow me to feel what is necessary in order to invoke the source of empowerment and healing.

Spend a few moments in quiet contemplation. Clear the mind of thoughts completely. Feel the sensation of healing in the body. Allow a new thought or belief to arise that replaced the old one that you started the ceremony with. When it arises, write it down on your piece of paper. 
When complete, chant Om three times, and snuff the candles. Place the piece of paper in prominent view and whenever you see it, feel the sense of empowerment in the body you discovered in this ritual.

This ritual catalyzes the unconscious into deep shift and transformation. In doing so, a part of you is resurrected and brought into the light where you shine for all to see. 
 

By Alanna Kaivalya

Alanna believes Yoga is for everyone and each student can develop the self-empowerment needed to embark on a personal journey to meaningful transformation. On this principle she founded The Kaivalya Yoga Method, a fresh take on yoga emphasizing the individual path while honoring tradition. Teaching students since 2001, teachers since 2003, Alanna has written and developed teacher trainings worldwide for top studios and independently. In January she debuted a comprehensive 200hr-online teacher training with YogaDownload. She holds a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, has authored numerous articles and two books: Myths of the Asanas, an accessible practitioner’s guide to stories behind beloved poses; Sacred Sound, a yoga “hymnal,” illustrating the role of chant and mantra in modern practice. Look for her third book, Yoga Beyond the Mat. She lives in New York City with Roxy the Wonderdog.

Alanna is also the head teacher of Yoga Download's 200-hour Online Teacher Training Program. Learn more and enroll here!