Hello Friends,

The darkness is here and most the leaves have fallen along with flower petals and the buzz of bees. The Reed (Ngetal) Moon is a time where we cut the fluff and release that which no longer serves us. Some modern pagans have replaced the reed moon with a more recognizable “tree”. This feels like they are missing the whole point. What we see above ground is only a glimmer of the trees network…roots and families connected underground in the rhizosphere with mushrooms and vibrations. The reed moon is about our root system. That what keeps up warm when the sun is away. So let go of what no longer serves you and start focusing on what keeps you warm when the nights are long. Your root system. You are Releasing.

The Earth has entered the Ophiuchus (OFF-ee-YOO-kuss), a constellation the Babylonians revoked 3000 years ago, but a constellation the earth orbits through just the same. Looking into what the new sign could mean was impossible and so I decided to go back in time and see what history has to report. Asclepius/Asklepious, was the Greco-Roman god of healing. An old tale tells how he learned his craft watching snakes and could bring the dead back to life. Zeus was not amused by his talents and had him killed and then put in the sky as Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer. He is often shown with a staff that has a serpent entwined around it.

I found out in high school that the best way to find what was once, is to read the warning put forth by the Authority. And the Bible has plenty of warnings against listening to the serpent. The garden of eden, where the serpent temps Eve with the knowledge of good and evil (something a snake is renown for) and Eve offers the tasty fruit to Adam.

The Minoans worshiped the Mother Goddess with snakes, symbols of Wisdom, creation, eternal life, and spiritual powers. In Crete, where the Minoans lived, there are snake goddess figures found, bare breasted with coiled skirts, snakes in each hand and a cat on her head. Could the cat have been the protector as cats move faster than snakes? (Cool videos on the internet shows this cat magic).
The cat was left out of the Chinese Zodiac, just as Opiuchus was from astrology. Egyptians worshiped Cats and Snakes. In Egypt the snake was a symbol of Royal Divinity. Serpents have a dualism of good and evil, so powerful it is best to worship them and ask for favors.

Two thousand years ago in ancient Greece, a hand puppet names Glycol and his handler, Alexander the false, created a cult where Glycol was worshiped as a god. Some people to this day still claim him!
In the Americas there was the snake Goddess Cihuacoati or snake woman; a multifaceted Aztec earth goddess who wore coiled skirts, and created and destroyed in epic manner. Snakes symbolized that which shapes the world: fertility and war. The “woman serpent” was a title much like prime minister that was held by a man in Aztec time. I can’t help but think this was originally women’s work. Just as I believe menstrual magical blood inspired men to cut themselves to fulfill this rank… but I digress. 🙂
Modern snake cult use the venomous bites to see or hear god. I believe this communion is far from modern.

Ophiuchus, the snake bearer, I concluded is dark, mysterious, with the powers of destructions and

creation, but mostly and constantly: Healing powers. I also believe Ophiuchus is a woman. The goddess brings us the healing magic we so need during this point of our cycle. Embrace it. You are Healing.

I chose Fluorite this moon because it is the perfect stone to transform spirit. This silicon based gemstone, transforms nearby minerals into a multiple of shapes and colors, taking the best that there is to offer and transforming the rest. It has long been used to take negative energy and transform it into positive. Lately I have been taking my fear to a quiet place with in and trying to transform the negative energy into solid lessons I can take strength from, as a tree takes strength from it’s roots in a storm.

Fluorite comes in a rainbow of colors and is recognized by smooth transparency, which also represents Spirit. So sit with some Fluorite and let it serve you. You are Transforming.
KINDNESS IS MAGIC

Blessed Be, Dian Mali – Funky Fiber Witch