Auspicious Festival of Light (Diwali) Dispersing the Most Profound Darkness.
The Sun has entered Scorpio, moving humanity in the northern latitudes deeper into the dark half of the year. We hold the images of Persephone taken to the underworld by Pluto and Demeter (her mother, Ceres) in search of her daughter, held in such grief at her loss that all the trees dropped their leaves. Sorrow has taken hold of the plant kingdom. We know this story to be ancient; the tale told to early humanity by Teachers of the race to explain the growing darkness of autumn and the approach of winter.
In order to keep the spirit of hope alive in the increasing darkness, festivals of light were inaugurated to ease early humanity’s fears (our minds were not developed enough to understand seasons) and to instill hope until the Sun turned northward and the new light began.
As we experience more and more darkness each day, we focus our thoughts on colors orange (pumpkins and persimmons) as well as the Festivals of Light – even the scary one (Halloween). This week, all over India, the most important and significant festival is occurring (Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist in Nepal). It is the festival of Diwali (lighted lamps), a five-day Festival of Lights. In Sanskrit, “Deepavali” means “rows of lamps” lit to stave off darkness. It is a festive time in India. Houses and shops are decorated with candles and colorful lights, and fireworks explode everywhere. These signify a victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
Diwali also honors Lakshmi, goddess of hope, beauty and wealth. New businesses are begun during Diwali and prayers are recited to the goddess for a prosperous year ahead.
Before Diwali, homes are cleaned and painted bright colors. During the festival, homes, temples and workspaces are illuminated with diyas (oil lamps), candles and lanterns. Geometrical and flower designs are painted on floors and feasts are prepared. Diwali is like a harvest festival in India. The festival signifies the triumph of knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and the light that dispels darkness.
And so – the Festivals of Light we celebrate in autumn – Diwali, Halloween, Santa Lucia’s Day, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice and Christmas. Participating in the festivals of light, illuminating the darkness, we decorate with lights and light our candles – a season of light to disperse the profound overpowering darkness (autumn, winter and the Kali Yuga).
ARIES: You’re especially sensitive at this time as life’s responsibilities press upon you. Many things are coming and going now, including you. The keyword to understanding your life is adaptability – a deeply spiritual term. The animal kingdom always “adapts” to humans. We are now to learn adaptability to bring about understanding and a deeper spiritual order of things. We are to stand in the sunlight, which, when circulating through our bodies, cultivates and increases life vitality and adaptability. At dawn and at sunset. This is esoteric.
TAURUS: Certain work and health issues arise. Their presence makes you more aware, conscientious, and dutiful, knowing your responsibilities to first, self-care, then to others, and never avoiding them. Serious and proper when it comes to health, you find yourself tending to the animal kingdom, even when the tasks are almost overwhelming. You worry sometimes, change is slow so in between all tasks, it’s time to eat chia seeds, drink whole raw milk, swim and be in warm waters. For health’s sake.
GEMINI: It is difficult to mentally relax in order to enjoy yourself so that ease, comfort and pleasure can be experienced. Everything seems very serious for you, even love and friendships and romance. This is a situation that will pass but not for a while. Love and romance (and creativity) can be serious business. If children are involved, tending to them brings happiness and joy. Play with them more. Discipline – kind, gentle, neutral, Montessori is best for you and the children. Allow no financial risks to be considered.
CANCER: How is your house and home these days? You might consider preparing it for the holidays ahead. Bringing flowers and bells and greenery into every corner of each room. Nature eases one’s sense of responsibility for family, especially when supporting them through unknown and unexpected situations. Tend also to your security, being conservative with money, providing for future well-being. Are you getting enough sleep, exercise, correct food, nurturing and privacy? What is in your garden?
LEO: Increasingly you become practical and disciplined in areas previously not considered practical or even interesting. Be sure that resources held in common with others are balanced and equitable. While change appears in your thinking, don’t allow feelings of inadequacy. If depression begins, remain in nature, walking through the plant kingdom, calling upon its green color and light to surround you. Listen to your speech. It slows down, becomes considerably useful and substantial, cautious, legal and truthful. You are the Sun.
VIRGO: Although you seem to want change, what’s most important now and for several years is security for self and those close to you. You have worked hard to obtain a sense of security, accomplished and accumulated hours of service, and are practical when it comes to financial, home, relationship and work security. It’s important to recognize your achievements even as you think you want something different. The past is very present. What is it telling you?
LIBRA: In the next several years your personal identity, how you see yourself, expands, deepens, matures, transforms and changes. At first there may be disorientation, not knowing who you are anymore or even what you want. You’ll seek ways to be more confident, feel discouragement at times, signs that something’s undergoing a deep shift. You will eventually feel stronger, confident, having an inner strength, allowing nothing superficial or illusory in your life. People may think you’re too serious. No, you heard the “calls” and you’re simply becoming a Disciple.
SCORPIO: Sometimes impressions appear, and significant words are heard (even our name called) when pondering our lives. Sometimes occurring in dreams. The words emerging for you may be reflection and contemplation – reflecting upon the meaning of your life at present and what it meant beforehand. Cycles (Mercury/Mars) are ending in your life, new realties and structures will be introduced. It’s good to have a consistent Nightly Review (where we review our lives and make things right and create Right Relations each night). This clears the path for the next day. It also purifies and prepares for good things yet to come.
SAGITTARIUS: Study, analysis, enquiry, inquiry, scrutiny – these are words about examining one’s life, a situation that may be occurring within prior to an Initiation (change). They have roots in ancient spiritual practices (the Scrutinies). Questions such as what are your morals, ethics, what is your faith in? These are also asked when electing a Pope. It’s valuable to ask these of yourself at this time, along with the quality of your associations, circle of friends, networks and groups. You seek a deep and close friendship. You seek the rightness of relationships. What you seek, also “seeks” you.
CAPRICORN: It’s good to observe yourself so you can constantly improve, a trait all Capricorns seek as they climb the ladder to the top of everything to assume their divine tasks of Right Leadership and Right Mentorship. There is no glass ceiling for Caps. The ladder keeps going beyond clouds in the heavens. It’s good to review what you’ve been building, how hard you’ve been working and the many duties and responsibilities assumed. Perhaps there can be a time of slowing down because you need rest and tending. Rest and slowing down is a radical approach for you. Consider it carefully.
AQUARIUS: There are the questions, “What am I doing, what am I going toward, what is my future, what are my needs, how do I have clarity, what are my belief systems, what do I stand for, what is my personal philosophy, where is my adventure and have I any confidence left amidst all these questions?” It would be good to ponder upon and then answer each one carefully, in order to create and define a pathway that you are to travel upon. Allow all that is not essential to fall by the wayside for another traveler to pick up. It will be what they need. Not you.
PISCES: The Dweller (Saturn), disciplinarian, the one who structures, teaches us, helps us slow us down and brings us to our knees, is in your house of self-identity and over time you become careful, cautious, seek to enter a phase of stability and endurance. You become older, meaning more responsible, accountable, serious and dependable, trustworthy, reliable, sensible and mature. Considering seriously, the Bodhisattva Vows and the Laws of the Soul.
Risa – writer, editor, educator, teacher, psychological-spiritual counselor, mentor, astrologer & esotericist, home chef. Founder & Director of The Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute/College, a contemporary Wisdom School (center for spiritual discourse & study) for the Ageless Wisdom teachings. Foundations of the Teachings are the study & application of exoteric & esoteric Astrology, the Seven Rays, Theosophy, Esotericism, all religions, art, science & Raja Yoga meditation. risagoodwill@gmail.com nightlightnews.org