Halloween

What has Halloween got to do with Astrology?

As Halloween rolls around this year, the air is charged with more than just the crisp autumn breeze and the scent of cinnamon-spiced candles, or in my household, the smell of the pumpkin soup that I force my furious vegetable-averse children to eat before they are allowed out trick or treating...

This year the stars are cooking up a particularly special night of mystical alignments and intense energy which promises to make this Halloween a night to remember.

Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, has become a widely recognized holiday in the Western world, characterized by costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky decorations. Its origins, however, are deeply rooted in ancient history, blending pagan rituals, astrological symbolism, and mythological narratives. From the Celtic festival of Samhain to Christian influences, and astrological connections with the cycles of nature, Halloween's story is rich with layers of meaning.

Halloween's history begins with the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "Sow-in"), which marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Celebrated around November 1st, Samhain is a significant event in the Celtic calendar and represents the time when the boundaries between the physical world and the spiritual realm were believed to be at their thinnest.

Samhain is a time of transition when the barrier between the living and the dead is porous. It is believed that during this period, spirits, both good and bad, can enter the physical world. Historically people would light bonfires and wear costumes, often made of animal skins, to ward off malevolent spirits. This tradition of wearing disguises evolved into modern-day Halloween costumes.

With the spread of Christianity, pagan traditions like Samhain were often adapted into Christian observances. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as 'All Saints (or Hallows) Day'. The Night before then, October 31st became known as 'All Hallows Eve', shortened to 'Halloween'.

The blending of Celtic traditions with Christian customs created the foundation of what we now know as Halloween.

Despite the Christian influence, many of the practices associated with Halloween—such as honouring the dead, lighting candles, and wearing costumes, are rooted in ancient pagan beliefs. The idea of honouring ancestors and appeasing spirits during a time of seasonal change remains a core element of this Calendar Event.

A Lunar Cycle of Darkness and Light

From an astrological perspective, Halloween falls within Scorpio Season, a time ruled by themes of death, transformation, and mystery. Scorpio, a water sign, is associated with depth, the underworld, and the hidden forces of life. It is ruled by Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld and embodies the cycle of death and rebirth. Pluto's Greek Counterpart, Hades has a deep connection with this festival. Halloween or Samhain is the midpoint between the Equinox and the Solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is a liminal time when the world is transforming, through decay and darkness, to undergo change to be reborn. The light is fading, Leaves are falling, days get shorter and darkness grows. As the landscape around us changes we become more aware of our inner world and have time, after busy harvest time, to focus on feelings. This time of year is associated with the thinning of the veil between worlds, a concept directly tied to the ancient belief that the spirits of the dead are closer to the living.

Scorpio's influence on Halloween is significant because the sign governs the mysteries of life, death, and regeneration. As the days grow shorter and colder, nature itself is preparing for a metaphorical "death" with the onset of winter. Scorpio's energy reflects the deeper psychological processes of facing fears, embracing the unknown, and finding transformation through letting go of what no longer serves.

This year, the New Moon in Scorpio falls exactly on the 1st of November.

New Moons are always associated with the veil between the spiritual and physical world being thinner because the Sun is in conjunction with the Moon - their energies are combined and though they can't "see" each other, the presence of each of these celestial luminaries is undeniably close.

Scorpio, deep feeling, conscious of everything under the surface and ruling sign of truth and what is hidden, makes the psychic senses stimulated under this New Moon especially potent. Scorpio is not afraid to confront what is lurking and to bring it up to the surface. Scorpio isn't content with surface-level answers; it wants to get to the core, even if that means digging through some emotional muck along the way.

This New Moon is significant because it occurs just after Halloween, but its energy will be building on Halloween night, making the veil between the worlds even thinner than usual. In many cultures, Samhain/Halloween has long been considered a time when spirits walk among us, and the presence of the Scorpio New Moon only amplifies this connection to the unseen.

You can expect to feel a little more sensitive, to have vivid dreams and to experience strange coincidences or deja vu moments. A sense of greater forces at work and mysterious movements. This is not just your imagination. This Scorpio Moon invites us to trust our intuition, embrace the unknown, and maybe even sit with the uncomfortable emotions that bubble up to the surface. The key here is not to fear what's hidden but to explore it. This is shadow work and it offers us the ability to make profound transformations which can empower us.

Paradox and Power: The Mystic Rectangle

When you view the Astrological chart of the evening of the 31st of October 2024 there are several alignments which make 'Aspect Patterns'. These are supercharged alignments which combine energy between the planets involved and focus them in a particular way. When we have several going on at once, like at the time of this year's Halloween, things can feel a little chaotic and complicated. The first pattern in this chart is something called a "Mystic Rectangle." This unique astrological pattern is made up of Pluto in Capricorn, Mercury in Scorpio, Mars in Cancer, and Uranus in Taurus. These planets are engaging with each other, working together but in a strange and somewhat paradoxical way. Paradoxes appear to be absurd. They don't make any sense. But they are, counterintuitively at times, true.

So, what does that mean for you? Well, apart from being more likely to experience weird or unexplained paranormal activity around this time there are also different paths being made available. Pluto in Capricorn leads you towards any long-coming transformation whilst a sudden burst of insight of revolution from Uranus in Taurus lights up another way forward.

Meanwhile, Mercury in Scorpio brings messages from the depths, perhaps even from the great beyond, and Mars in Cancer asks you to defend what matters most, emotionally speaking.

But here's the paradox: While this sounds like a tug-of-war between conflicting forces, the Mystic Rectangle creates an opportunity to find harmony in the chaos. It's a cosmic reminder that, even when life feels upside down, there's always a way to bring balance. And, oddly enough, there is a reassurance now of inevitability. What will happen, is bound to happen. If you've been wrestling with big decisions or strange, intuitive nudges, this alignment encourages you to trust the messages you're receiving, even if they seem a little out there. Halloween is the season of the supernatural, and who says those strange messages from beyond can't be a helpful guide?

The Kite and the Grand Trine: Intuition in Full Flow

If you are someone who's been trying to tap into your psychic side, or if you've always had a knack for picking up on energies that others seem to miss or refuse to see, then the Kite formation and the Grand Trine in the water signs on Halloween night will feel like a gift from the cosmos. These patterns make it easier than ever to access your intuition and receive those subtle, psychic messages from the universe.

The Grand Trine involves Neptune, Mercury, and Mars, all in emotional water signs, creating a smooth flow of energy between the realms of communication, action, and the ethereal. If you've been feeling stuck, unclear, or disconnected from your inner wisdom, this alignment opens the floodgates. Dreams, symbols, and signs will be pouring through with ease, so keep your journal or just a good old-fashioned pen and paper handy and be ready to decode those otherworldly messages. Neptune, the planet of dreams and spirituality, has its hand in this too, so you can expect your psychic senses to be especially heightened. Remember, intuition doesn't always come with a loudspeaker; sometimes, it's more like a whisper in the wind. So, listen closely.

Meanwhile, the Kite formation suggests we may feel pulled in different directions as if the universe is asking us to fly high and embrace our full potential but to also stay grounded in reality. It's a balancing act, much like trying to enjoy Halloween's spooky thrills while keeping your feet firmly planted on Earth. Let yourself soar with your imagination, but don't forget to ground yourself with practical, earthy routines. Rituals like carving pumpkins, lighting candles, or simply enjoying a warm drink by the fire, simple as they may seem, can help you stay connected to the present moment while the cosmic currents swirl around you and stimulate psychic energies which can feel a little overwhelming.

Saturn's T-Square: Don't Let the Spooky Energy Overwhelm You...

Retrograde Saturn in Pisces leads a T-Square involving Venus and Retrograde Jupiter. This alignment is a bit like Saturn pulling the reins on the festivities, saying, "Hold on a minute, don't get too carried away!" Saturn, ever the cosmic taskmaster, is reminding us to stay grounded, practical, and realistic, even when emotions run high.

You might feel this as an underlying tension throughout Halloween like you're trying to enjoy the magic of the night, but there's also a nagging sense of responsibility or a fear of going too far. Maybe you're worried about what's lurking in the shadows, not just metaphorically but in your personal life as well. But don't let fear freak you out! This is a time to stay calm, grounded, and remember that not every bump in the night is a ghost or somebody out to get you. it might just be the wind. Or your cat.

To balance this intense energy, we can look to Virgo, the sign opposing Pisces. This energy reminds us to stay practical, organized, and connected to the earth. It is focused on healing, and improvement, as efficiently as possible. Whether it's through cleaning, organizing, or simply grounding yourself with mindful routines, or physically touching the earth itself, Virgo energy offers a way to bring some calm to the chaos. After all, we don't just carve pumpkins to ward off spirits we don't believe in; we do it because these little rituals connect us to something greater than ourselves. They remind us that even when the veil is thin and the energy feels intense, we have the tools to stay rooted in the here and now.

Mars, Pluto, and the Moon: Emotional Intensity at its Peak

Finally, as if all that wasn't enough, we come to another T Square. Let's talk about the big emotional climax of Halloween night. The dark Moon connects with Mars and Pluto, two of the most intense and powerful planets in astrology. This combination can bring a surge of emotional energy that can feel overpowering. You might find yourself feeling everything, but so intensely that you don't know how to process these emotions. In fact, the emotions might be so strong that they leave you feeling numb like you've been hit with a tidal wave of intensity and now you're just trying to catch your breath.

Sometimes, when emotions run that deep, they're not meant to be understood immediately. This T-Square is like a cosmic detox, clearing out old emotional baggage and making room for something new. It might feel uncomfortable, but it's also deeply transformative. And remember, there's no need to solve all your emotional puzzles in one night. The Scorpio Moon encourages us to sit with our feelings, even when they're intense, trusting that they'll reveal their wisdom in time.