Full Moon in Scorpio

I'm so excited about this full moon! It's my Witchiversary! It was on the full moon in Scorpio that I dedicated myself to Witchery at age 13. It was that night that I performed the Rite of Self-Initiation. This means that is was the official beginning of my life as a Witch. Initiation literally means "beginning" and it is a way of formerly marking a transition into a new lifestyle. This ceremony can be performed by a group, lead by a High Priest and High Priestess. It can be performed within a family, with mother or father conducting the rite. It can be performed as a couple, between husband and wife. It can also be performed by a solitary individual. In each case, there is potential for the rite to be highly effective, or to be merely a masquerade. You know that it has been effective when you feel a real change within, a real spark of energy lit up inside you. That is the true meaning of initiation.

Dion Fortune explains: “There are two Paths to the Innermost: the Way of the Mystic, which is the way of devotion and meditation, a solitary and subjective path; and the way of the occultist, which is the way of the intellect, of concentration, and of trained will; upon this path the co-operation of fellow workers is required, firstly for the exchange of knowledge, and secondly because ritual magic plays an important part in this work, and for this the assistance of several is needed in most of the greater operations. The mystic derives his knowledge through the direct communion of his higher self with the Higher Powers; to him the wisdom of the occultist is foolishness, for his mind does not work in that way; but, on the other hand, to a more intellectual and extrovert type, the method of the mystic is impossible until long training has enabled him to transcend the planes of form. We must therefore recognize these two distinct types among those who seek the Way of Initiation, and remember that there is a path for each.” Esoteric Orders and Their Work and The Training and Work of the Initiate

Annie Besant also wrote on the subject: "The mystic seeks to work from the emotional to the intuitional, and thence to the Monad, or Spirit. The occultist works from the physical to the mental, and thence to the atma or Spirit. One works along the line of love; the other along the line of will. The mystic fails in the purpose of his being - that of love demonstrated in activity - unless he co-ordinates the whole through the use of intelligent will. Therefore he has to become the occultist. The occultist similarly fails and becomes only a selfish exponent of power working through intelligence, unless he finds a purpose for that will and knowledge by an animating love which will give to him sufficient motive for all that he attempts." Letters on Occult Meditation 

Whether you are working from the inside-out or the outside-in, the aims are the same. You may find that the work is easier when performed with the support of a coven, or you may find that it is easier to go it alone. Only you can know what really works for you. It's at this time in my life that I reflect upon the progress I have made over the years. I have worked as part of a group and by myself. I have been aided by books and websites and email correspondence, but there is one voice which we must all learn to hear, and that comes from within. This is all about discovering the core of your being, to "know thyself".

The full moon in Scorpio invites us to dig deep into our soul passions and inner wisdom. The focus is on what feels right for us, and acting upon those feelings . Whereas the sun in Taurus encourages us to indulge ourselves in beautiful things, collecting all the shiny rocks and all our favourite incenses and oils, and placing them into insta-worthy arrangements - Scorpio reminds us not to get too caught up in the surface image, and instead focus on what those things really mean to us. Stop worrying about whether your altar is going to photograph well, and concentrate more on how that space makes you feel. Don't follow the fashion trends just because you want to be liked... Follow your heart and do what is most fulfilling for your soul! Scorpio withdraws from publicity, into quiet solitude, for some private spiritual practice.

The tarot card I drew for this full moon was the Nine of Wands, which reminds us that although we may face certain challenges, and we may feel worn out by this point, we can persevere. The clouds of confusion are clearing and we can see a guiding light before us. This is the light of the full moon in Scorpio, reminding us not to lose sight of what feels truly right for us. Next I pulled an oracle card, the Dragoness. This reminds us that life is not a popularity contest, and you don't need to drag other people down in order to build yourself up.  There are people who can behave ferociously, attacking others, and preying on their weaknesses. Be careful not to become cold hearted like them. 

This has actually been a very challenging week for me. And I am feeling very exhausted by it all. I feel like it's giving me the push to clear out anything that was misguided or unhelpful, and think about how I can keep myself on track, focuses on my soul purpose and everyday wellbeing. I hope you enjoy the full moon. Many blessings,

 Annika