Full Hunter Moon October, 2013

Descent into Light – Full Hunter Moon 2013

THE HEROINE’S JOURNEY

The full glory of the Hunter’ Moon signals the fading away of the Harvest Season. The beautiful leaves are falling in droves from the trees. The last of the harvest crop is collected and stored. The final preparations for the cold, dark winter ahead are being completed.

Ideally we have integrated the resources found in the time of balance that we explored in our last Full Moon Mystery. We have begun the process of turning inwards while remaining active in the bustle of preparations.  We have felt the early morning frost and brisk winds and nourished with the fall harvest of sweet root vegetables and grains.

We are ready to let go.

This Full Moon heralds the arrival of Samhain which graces us on the New Moon ~ November 3rd ~ the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and the Winter Solstice.  Samhain is the festival that marks the end of the Harvest Season and the beginning of the Winter. It is known as the time of the year when the veils are the thinnest and the presence of our ancestor’s are most easily felt. Throughout the world Samhain is also celebrated as The Day of the Dead or All Soul’s Day. Our modern tradition of Halloween has its roots in Samhain. We explore the gift of death, of recognizing our own darkness, of honoring what has past and of surrendering into the unknown.

It is an auspicious Full Moon as well in that we are entering an Eclipse Season. Every six months there are two eclipses (at least) that come within fourteen days of one another in opposing signs of the Zodiac.  On October 18, 2013 we experience a Full Moon Eclipse that falls into the opposing signs of Aries/Libra at 25 degrees 45 minutes.  Then on November 3, 2013 there will be a New Moon Eclipse at 11 Scorpio 15. Authenticity, courage and taking risks for new self-direction are supported and encouraged at this time. Read more about the significance of the eclipse here.

Innana’s Journey: Descent into the Underworld

inannaIn the time of ancient Sumer, as early as 3,500 BCE, Innana was worshipped as the Great Goddess. She was lovingly invoked as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, the Goddess of Love & Fertility, the First Daughter of the Moon, the Goddess of War, and the Goddess of the Morning and Evening Star, among many other titles.

She was worshipped by many names throughout the lands of the Near East, including Ishtar, Ishara, Astarte, Ninanna, Irnini, Asherah, Anahita, Ninsianna, and Ma.

The story of Innana’s descent into the Underworld comes after the myths of her initiation as queen, wife, mother and heroic leader of her peoples. Having already acquired “all of the glories of heaven and earth”, she now hears “the call from below” and voluntarily chooses the path of spiritual initiation.

In her choice to seek a deeper wisdom and shed her illusions she embarks on the journey of ultimate empowerment.

In preparation for the journey, Innana gathers seven attributes of civilization to serve as her protection – her crown, gold jewelry, royal robe, etc.  She instructs her faithful servant, Ninshubur, to go to her fathers to rescue her in case she doesn’t return.

When Innana arrives at the gates of the Underworld she finds it bolted against her “seven attributes of feminine allure.” Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld says, “Let the holy priestess of heaven enter bowed low.” So as Innana passes through each of the seven gates she must remove one of her royal garments, one by one.

She is stripped naked, vulnerable, essential.

  1. Her crown ~ her connection to heaven, the crown chakra.
  2. Her lapis bead earrings ~ her sense of magic and ability to manifest, her third eye.
  3. Her double strand of beads necklace ~ her rapture of illumination, her throat chakra.
  4. Her breastplate ~ her emotional heart, her heart chakra.
  5. Her golden hip girdle ~ her ego, her solar plexus.
  6. Her lapis measuring rod and line in her hand — her will, at the level of her genitals.
  7. Her breechcloth — her sex role, her root chakra.

At the throne of the Underworld the Annuna (judges of the underworld) surround Inanna.  Ereshkigal sentences Innana to death and turns her into a corpse and she is hung from a hook on the wall.

Inanna’s death lasted for 3 days.

Inanna had prepared for such an outcome, and her Higher Self and divine intervention were ready to take action. Ninshubur, her faithful servant who stayed above ground, implores the help of her fathers and Enki comes to magically revive her.

But the demons of the Underworld do not let her go unless someone takes her place. They seize her lover Dumuzi and it is agreed that he be taken for every half of the year and his sister, Geshtinanna for the other half (many myths say that Geshtinanna is another form of Innana herself). Thus the cycle of death and rebirth are created.

The Descent symbolizes the Crone archetype of journeying deep into the dark shadows of the psyche to gain insight, wisdom and healing. It expresses the empowerment gained in consciously and voluntarily choosing to let go of the attachments of illusions and to trust in the Divine to restore the Soul.

Letting Go Practice

We can invoke the empowerment of Innana by consciously choosing to face our darkness and let go of what holds us back from more fully expressing our Soul’s truth. Create a death altar and place on the altar representations of what you are now letting go of. Sit with your altar, meditating and praying for the ability to surrender fully into your Descent into Light.

Ankh Labyrinth Walk

Ankh-Labyrinth-at-Isis-Oasis-Sanctuary

Shannon walking the newly rebuilt Labyrinth, June 2011

If you would like to create an Ankh Labyrinth outside on the earth, go ahead and do this practice by physically walking the labyrinth. Otherwise the same power in the experience can be achieved through closing your eyes and visualizing the walk from inside your mind’s eye.

Imagine you are entering in the East, the path to the right of center. With your eyes, trace the shape of the labyrinth. In your mind, begin to walk the ankh counterclockwise. Remember your past and all that you are preparing to let go of. As you enter the center of the labyrinth you circle around the heart 7 times, and as you do so you let go of all that you are carrying from the past, arriving in the present. Let yourself take your time and linger wherever you feel called. Finally, begin to walk out, turning clockwise. As you walk envision what you are calling in for the future.

Please read this article about the building of the Anhk Labyrinth at the Temple of Isis by Lady Loreon Vigne, High Priestess of the Temple of Isis in Geyserville, CA.

Priestess Convocation 2013

We just returned from the beautiful 2013 Temple of Isis Convocation and Priestess Ordination. Read our review and view pictures here.

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