November was originally the 9th month of the year, but was changed to the 11th in the Julian calender. (Latin “Novem”= 9) If you follow the Wiccan calender, November 1st is New Year, as Samhain marks the transition between the old and the new. I like New Year in January, however, and so this month feels like The Crone to me. She’s at the end of the year, at the end of her life, and she’s gathering family and friends for a big feast.
Here in Georgia, it’s still in the upper 60s- mid 70s. I remember as a kid that this was definitely sweater time, so global warming has really made some changes that are noticeable in October and November. The leaves are just barely starting to change, and my husbear gets to hear my exclamations of joy when I notice some new tree or shrub is beginning the change. Our drives are filled with excitement. For me- not him.
The geese are back in droves, and last night I heard/saw more of them flying overhead than I’ve ever seen in one place before. It was incredibly cool, and it just felt like Autumn washed over me. We’re beginning to think of how to make shelters under our house for the stray kitties, and we’re feeding them and the opossums every night. It’s also cool enough to go into the yard and cut back some things that I noticed in the Summer, but it was too hot to deal with them then. Yard cleanup is going to be a big theme for us in the coming weeks. And what a great way that will be to procrastinate as the NaNoWriMo bug bites me. At least it’s cool enough to drink hot coffee and tea again.
I also go into a bit of a hibernation this time of year. I sleep more, read more, and fibro tends to take my life back over. It’s just one of the tides of the year that must be endured. To everything, there’s a season.
Birthstones: Topaz and citrine
Lunations:
November 12- Full Moon in Taurus, 8:34am EDT
November 26- New Moon in Sagittarius, 10:05am EDT
Astronomy:
November 7- Northern Taurids meteor shower begins
November 7- Southern Taurids meteor shower begins
November 18- Leonids meteor shower begins
November 20- Mercury goes direct
November 22- Alpha Monocerotids meteor shower begins
November 27- Neptune goes direct
Celtic Tree Month:
Reed (October 28- November 24): Introverting, withdrawing, connecting with the past and with spirit, ancestors, messages from the spirit world, culling that which doesn’t serve us, dreaming- but not planning. Seeking basic truth, finding direction, giving meaning and purpose to your journey, skill and direction, secret strength and secret motivations, seeing beneath the surface.
Elder (November 25- December 23): Endings and new beginnings, completion of the cycle, focusing on greater happiness and your heart’s desire, evaluating what you’ve learned over the last year, cutting loose ends, thinking about your dreams for the new year, judgment, transformation, death and regeneration, fate, the inevitable, exorcism, banishment, prosperity and healing, leaves and berries can be used for protection and breaking spells cast against you.
Holidays (non-Pagan):
November 1: All Saint’s Day (Christian)
November 2: All Soul’s Day (Christian)
November 10: The Prophet’s Birthday (Muslim)
November 11: Veteran’s Day
November 28: Thanksgiving Day
Holidays (Pagan):
November 11-17: Anglo-Teutonic fast commemorating Hod killing Balder and Nanna subsequently dying of a broken heart- a festival of the dead.
November 27-28: Poseidon Noumenia- Greek festival honoring all the gods.
Themes for the month: Gratitude, family, warmth, food, celebrating bounty, gearing up for the upcoming Winter holidays, changing leaves, transformation, embracing everything that makes you feel cozy.
General activities for the month: Getting started on Yule presents (making or buying), cooking huge meals to share with family and friends, Winterizing the garden, reading and studying, writing (if you follow NaNoWriMo), any kind of crafts (the cozier the better), researching your family line.
Herbs I’m using: Sage and rosemary in stuffing, mugwort and wormwood for scrying while the veil is still thin.
Stones I’m using: Obsidian to clear away anything I don’t want to take with me into the long Winter, scapolite for goals/planning/self-discipline (great for NaNoWriMo), dendritic agate for grounding and to represent leafless trees.
Goddess of the Month: Mama Quocha (water) So this is a good month to step back from overwhelming emotions and empathy. If we can detach from those feelings, we can let them flow through us like water and wash us clean of the dirty water that seeks to drown us.
3 card reading:
First, we start with the 2 of Wands. So while this is usually a time of turning in and calming down after a long, busy Summer and Autumn, we’re not going to be doing that this year. There’s a lot of work still to be done! We’ll be building something, making something big, and we’re going to have enough excitement to see us through in that endeavor. This could be a creative project, a business venture, or anything else that we’re really excited and passionate about.
Next, we have the 4 of Swords reversed. So even if we do need a break, we’re just too manic to really get that rest that we need. So the message here is to enjoy the energetic push that will happen in November, but to also try and carve out moments of self-care. It will be really easy to overdo it and burn ourselves out this month.
Finally, we see the 10 of Wands reversed. So we’re going to be laying down a burden, whether it’s our idea or not. Again, I feel like the message here is to really spend time thinking about what we can handle, and what would be better to lay down for now. We can’t do everything, and if we don’t make the difficult choices about what to pursue and what to put on the backburner, we may have life events that make that choice for us, like illness, tech problems, or other distractions that take us down a few notches.
Our special guidance card is Broom. So this card is telling us to get our homes (literal and figurative) in order. While it can be seductive to go tilting at windmills this month, make sure that you’re keeping an eye on your health, loved ones, and yes, your home. Don’t lose sight of what’s important!
The First Snow
By Philip M Raskin
Fairy-like on earth advancing,
All transforming, all entrancing,
Playing on their way and dancing,
Soil-untarnished yet,
Silver stars from sky are dropping,
Little fairies skipping, hopping,
On the roofs and turrets popping,
Crowns with diamonds set.
Greeting nature’s silver wedding,
Argent splendor they are shedding,
And a bridal veil outspreading,
Like a silver net;
Till town-alleys, foul and tainted,
Turn cathedral-aisles ensainted,
Carved with gorgeous, ermine-painted,
Ornamental fret.
How all changed by elfin power!
Every house a magic tower,
Every tree with lilac-flower
Lures like a coquette.
Following in their magic traces,
Hidden joy each heart embraces,
Sparkling eyes and brightened faces
Everywhere are met.
How I love you, white-robed city,
Maiden-pure, and maiden-pretty!
But my love is—what a pity!—
Tempered with regret.
Truer lover you would find me,
If you were not to remind me
Of a cold land left behind me
That I’d fain forget.
My personal tides: Let’s be honest. November is NaNoWriMo and Thanksgiving. That’s mostly it for me. I never seem to finish NaNo, but I definitely get some good writing done, and that’s important too. And I can’t wait to start spending the holidays with family, both biological and chosen. <3
My personal goals: I’d like to finish NaNo this year, though I don’t know if I have enough writing projects to make that happen. I also really want to get most of the Xmas/Yule shopping done this month so that I can relax into December and just enjoy the season. I hate leaving everything until the last minute!