November 2022

November is the month of last leaves, of sunsets that seep into late afternoon, of quickening cold borne by blooming shadows. The spirits brought forth by October have left their indelible mark on our world. Look up at nearly bare trees and witness the remaining paper-like leaves fluttering in the cooling wind of deep fall. This is a season of magic, when we remember most clearly that we are alive. Our breath—the embers of our soul—becomes visible. This is a time to hold close the rituals that give us purpose, and the spells that lend us clarity. Performing a ritual is to mark a space in time, to honor what came before us and pay tribute to what lies ahead. To utter a spell is to have faith that we are capable of playing a hand in the forces that shepherd our world. We are as much a part of the unfolding of life as the orbit of the moon around the earth, as the migrations of monarch butterflies westward, as the last dandelion seeds carried by the wind. When we ask the goddess of fortune to bring us luck, the air spoken from our lungs is released into the world, left to dissipate as sacred mist to be swallowed by the animals, plants, and spirits that bind us. We urge you to treasure that breath, and to cherish the power that each of us has to guide the path of the present into the future.

TOPAZ

The Seeker

Topaz contains the golden radiance of the sun, an amber fire that serves as a light in the pursuit of spiritual alignment. Few minerals are harder than topaz, and it swallows light. What makes a precious gem so remarkable is that it is a stone that glows from deep within, translucent and airy but unmistakable in its weight. Each of us hold that contradiction within us, both bound by bodies that cast a deep shadow and illuminated by the spirit within. Our lives are defined by the reconciliation of those qualities.

INSIGHT - OPTIMISM - HAPPINESS

BEECH

Although most deciduous trees drop their leaves in the fall, some plants retain their leaves, a phenomenon known as marcescence. Beech trees are particularly striking—as the green drains from their leaves, a brilliant yellow is revealed. Dry leaves cling to dormant branches throughout winter, seemingly frozen in time. Their leaves persist until they finally fall in spring. To come across one in otherwise colorless woods feels like witnessing a defiance of the natural order. These trees appear otherworldly and incandescent. Although we don’t understand why this happens, there’s a humbling nature to an organism that resists natural progression. They operate at a pace out of step with time, and serve as a reminder of the perpetual mysteries of nature.

FULL MOON

November 8

BEAVER MOON

The full moon of November—the final full moon before the solstice moon—is named for the beaver, a humble creature capable of transforming landscapes. Their dams create wetlands that prevent drought, providing fertile environments for biodiversity. This year’s Beaver Moon is also a Blood Moon, when a total lunar eclipse shrouds the moon in the shadow of the earth. What light seeps from the edges of our planet stains the moon red. Step outside this Sunday evening to witness our presence touch the ghostly spectre of the moon.

NEW MOON

November 23

POEM

High on the vast blue canvas,
clouds curl, float

Taking a deep breath, I gather myself.
I bring what I am.

- Pat Mora