Working with the magic of November; gratitude, introspection, and preparation

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November is a time to honor and remember our ancestors while enjoying the comfort and compassion of our loved ones in a cozy home full of cheer. It’s a month to express gratitude for the abundance of the harvest season, and prepare for the quiet introspection of winter just ahead. As the last month of autumn we can focus on connecting with our roots and the wisdom of those who came before us while also planning and prepping for the future ahead. November is a month that reminds us of the cycles of life and death in nature around us with the leaves changing and falling from the trees creating a blanket of death on the forest beds. This month’s magic is a time that creates a beautiful mix of energies for us to receive abundance, gratitude, good health, and blessings to our home and hearth. Along with allowing us to sit in silent introspection alongside our passed away loved ones as we reflect on the year that just ended to prep for the brand new turn of the wheel.

History of November

The name November means “ninth month” as it was the Ninth month of the ancient Roman calendar. It is the 11th month of the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

Zodiac Signs For The Month Of November

Those born in October are said to be born under either the sign of the scorpion Scorpio and the archer Sagittarius.

First, Scorpios are born between October 23 and November 21. They are known for being passionate, intuitive, sensual, and emotional. Scorpios are known for their intense passion and magnetic presence. They are also said to be fierce and enigmatic.

Second, Sagittarius are typically born between November 22 and December 21. Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the zodiac, and is represented by an archer. They are known for being self-sufficient, independent, free and are a one-of-a-kind, and wise beyond their years. Sagittarius, is the learned healer whose higher intelligence forms a bridge between Earth and Heaven.

Sacred Days And Celebrations In November

Every Single month has sacred and important days and celebrations to help you connect to the energies of the month. Plus they usually are a lot of fun to take part in! Below you will find a list of the sacred days and celebrations for the month of November! The common theme you will find is connection to family, our homes, gratitude, and preparation for the long winter months some of us may already be nestling into. Don’t forget Samhain took place on the 31st of last month so, you can still connect to the energy of the veil being pulled back that hollowed night. But, first we are going to talk about the one that is front and center this month for pagans, and witches, especially those of latine heritage; Dias de los muertos. This day brings in the essence of family, home, and hearth we feel during November by having a jovial day of remembrance with the dead.

Dias De los Muertos aka day of the dead

Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s. The holiday, which is celebrated mostly in Mexico on November 1 and 2, is like a family reunion, except dead ancestors are the guests of honor. Día de los Muertos is a joyful celebration that is more about healing than feeling bad. It is also a time to face mortality and not be afraid of it. It’s a time when families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.

To learn more about Dias de los Muertos you can learn all about it on Divination Academy’s YouTube channel today!

Diwali ( Date changes each year)

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, or Deepawali, is a festival that holds a profound place in the heart of India’s cultural and religious heritage. With a history spanning thousands of years, this ‘Festival of Lights’ is rooted in ancient Hindu traditions and mythology. Diwali, at it’s heart, celebrates the victory of light over darkness, “good over evil”, and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is typically celebrated over a period of five days, following the darkest day of the month after the new moon. Each day of the five day festival has its own significance and rituals. Diwali is a time of profound significance and delightful customs. Families come together for prayer, feasting, and the exchange of blessings, while the night sky comes alive with fireworks, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. I personally make sure to celebrate this festival every year especially day 3 when you connect and honor the goddess of abundance and prosperity; Lakshmi. She has really transformed my life many times when I light those candles guiding her to my home that night. Don’t be afraid to seek her out all month long either to remind of the gratitude this month brings to you through abundance.

Other sacred days and celebrations

All Soul’s Day
All saints day
Samhain
Guy Fawkes Night
Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours
Shichi-Go-San, also known as the “Seven-Five-Three” festival in shintoism
Remembrance Day, known as Veteran’s Day in the USA
Thanksgiving day celebrated in the USA
First month of witches new year

Magical And Witchcraft Themes For November

November is a time to honor and remember our ancestors, express gratitude for the abundance of the harvest season, and prepare for the quiet introspection of winter. As the last month of autumn we can focus on connecting with our roots and the wisdom of those who came before us. The festival of Samhain’s continuation this month, where the veil between the worlds is thinnest, makes it easier to communicate with spirits and ancestors through many forms of divination. Take this time to work with healing magic of some sort as well, like going into the depths of your soul with shadow work and confronting the unknown. It’s also a great time to work with release rituals and finally be able to truly let go and let something die following the cycles of nature you see outside. This time of the year also marks the first month of the witches new year which means it’s a month to really hunker down and plan ahead. To play with our dreams and our deepest desires to begin our new year with an inner flame of power that is burning bright all year long. Lighting the way for a year to manifest all that we truly desire.

The gods and goddesses of November

With every season and month there are certain themes, magic, and energies we have the ability to connect to including deities. Everyone works with and views deity energy a little differently. Whether you view them as archetypes of the human consciousness, representations of the source energy, or as being entities on their own, there are certain deities that now is the time to connect to and honor them in the most sacred and amplified way.( Don’t forget to grab my eBook in the shop to help you explore this)

During this month a few deities take center stage because they have festivals or sacred days during this month to help you connect with them in a very intimate way. The deities that are going to be the best for you to connect to right now are deities connected to the fall, gratitude, reflection/ the shadows, hearth/home, abundance, and seeking wisdom. Below we will talk about some of the deities you can work with this month. Plus take note how most of them are goddesses and ones considered dark at that. Because, even thought this month is about gratitude it also is one of the most potent times to go within following the creative force from where we all begin.

Hestia

The first deity I want to talk about I personally feel is overlooked far too often especially during the cold winter months. Even though November is the month to welcome the last few days of fall, in some regions of the world, like mine snow will also begin to fall. Which means we need warmth and heat for us to survive and thrive. Which is why I always feel pulled to her during this time. Especially living in Minnesota I need her to bless my hearth with continuous heat during the long winter months. Not only that, but she can make your home extra cozy during this month while you spend more quality time with your family. Hestia is the sole attendant to the celestial hearth of the gods. As the goddess of the hearth, she personified the fire burning in the hearths of every home in Greece. On a very tangible level, Hestia rules the domain of fire. This means that she is directly responsible, at least according to the Greeks, for the fire, the stove, and the heat in your home. Honoring her during November, the last month of fall when the temperatures begin to drop, will bless your hearth as she stokes and fuels the flames all winter long. Don’t forget all month long to present her and your hearth with the first offering sacrificed to keep those flames burning strong.

To learn more about and meet Hestia, you can come join me in my upcoming class all about her with Divination academy on Sunday December 15th @ 2:pm CST

Cerrunous; The horned god

Cernunnos was the Gaelic (Celtic) god of the harvest, beasts and wild places. Often called the Horned One or the green man, Cernunnos was a mediator of man and nature. He was the god and energy of the hunt and the wild. cernunnos the Celtic god of the harvest is the heart of Samhain celebrations which reverberate into the month of November as well. Often depicted with antlers or horns upon his head, he is a symbol of the untamed wildness of the natural world. As the god of life, death, and rebirth, cernunnos perfectly embodies the cyclical nature of existence that Samhain celebrates and the cycle we go through during the month of November. During November ,cernunnos’ energy is palpable. He represents the harvest’s end and the descent into winter’s slumber, a reflection of the fading light and the approaching darkness during the last days of fall. Work with him this November to connect your heart back to the wild parts of who you are. While giving thanks for the harvest that will keep you alive during the long cold and dark winter months ahead.

Cailleach

Cailleach stands as a prominent figure in Celtic mythology, embodying the essence of wisdom, transformation, and the cycles of nature. Her presence is deeply rooted in the folklore and traditions of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. She is a divine figure often depicted as a weathered, old woman wielding a staff or a wand. This staff is said to have mystical powers for when she slams it on the ground winter will freeze all the land. She represents the embodiment of winter, sovereignty, and the primal forces of the natural world. Since, the ancient Celts celebrated two seasons only, her reign bringing cold all over the land began the night before this month began on, Samhain. So, take your time this month to connect to her allowing you a smoother and blessed transition into the long cold winter months ahead.

Baba Yaga

The next goddess we have gives me a very similar energy and feel when I work with her as the goddess we just talked about above; Calileach. To modern witches and Slavic pagans, Baba Yaga is a witch goddess who lives deep in a birch forest moving from place to place among the trees in her hut she calls home on top of giant chicken legs. From time to time when she needs to gather more supplies you might catch a glimpse of her flying by up in the sky from her magical mortar and pestle. She’s a wild and untamed old woman, often seen as a hag or crone, but can transform herself into a beautiful woman to manipulate or trick someone if she desires. Baba Yaga is a goddess of wisdom, healing, transformation, death, rebirth, renewal and autumn/winter. When healing is needed, whether it’s from colds/flu or emotional healing, Baba Yaga can offer healing often in the form of herbal teas brewed by herself. Calling on her during this November can lead you through the forest now littered with dead leaves, to her skull fenced lined home. To peer into the darkness of her cauldron and gain the most ancient ancestral wisdom she guards.

To learn more about her you can read my previous post here.

Artemis

The last deity I want to bring up is one associated with a common activity we have done since ancient times for survival during this month, hunting. The month of November is known as the month for hunting season. When we go to the woods to stalk our prey getting us a stockpile of fresh meat for the long winter months ahead. Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting and nature, was born as the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Artemis, was the twin sister of Apollo. Their mother, Leto, faced numerous struggles during her pregnancy, as she was relentlessly pursued by the jealous Hera. Artemis helped her mother give birth to her brother Apollo, earning her reputation as the goddess of childbirth. Artemis would establish herself as the revered goddess of hunting, protector of young girls, and a powerful force in Greek mythology. Depictions of Artemis show her with sacred symbols like the bow and arrow, a quiver, and her sacred animal, the deer. Stories of her wrath, such as the myth of Artemis and Orion, highlight her powerful vengeance and the level of her protection. Work with her this month to help guide the bows in your quiver for the hunt and bring forth the wrath needed to protect those who need it especially women and the young.

Correspondences For The Month Of November

First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy, the zodiac energy the moon is currently or for time of the year like a month, which I will list below for you to use. Remember this is just a start to the list for you. You can use any correspondences that connect the magical themes and energies of November. Just follow your intuition on what you choose to work with!

Planet- Pluto
Animal- scorpion, owls, goose, jackal, raven, beaver, deer, hawk, snake
Element- water and fire
colors-Orange, yellow, brown, white, black
Symbol-Marigolds, sugar skulls, candles
Herbs- hops, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, mugwort, Patchouli, rosemary, star anise, marigold, peppermint, sage, wormwood, dragon’s blood, chrysanthemum
Stones/ crystals- Obsidian, smoky quartz, topaz, onyx, apache tear, tiger’s eye, amethyst, lapis lazuli,
Deities-Cailleach, Astarte, artemins, Circe, Cybele, Nephthys, baste, Lakshmi, Cerridwen, baba yaga, Freya, holda, Sekhmet, the horned god, lady Hel, Lakshmi, Kali, hestia
Zodiac- Scorpio and Sagittarius
Themes- gratitude, harvest, new beginnings, health, home and hearth, release, ancestors, death, cycles of life, remembrance, prep for winter, last days of fall, divination,

How to connect to the magic of November

We’ve talked a lot about all the different types of energies the month of November has and gives us access to work with. So, how can you specifically connect to those energies? In your everyday life you can make sure your affirmations , intentions, and manifestations align with the energies of gratitude, abundance, home/hearth, family, reflection, and preparation for the long winter months ahead. Make sure to also grab onto the energy of the witches new year setting manifestations right now that are very clear. You can celebrate and honor any of the sacred days and holidays this month like the final harvest, Dias de los Muertos, and Diwali. Don’t forget you also still have the energy of Samhain and the veil being pulled back dancing around for us to connect to and honor as well.

Some Rituals and spell workings during this time that will be really intensified will be based on cycles of the seasons, gratitude, abundance, reflection, coming winter months, and the darkness of the shadows surrounding us. Other spells that will have some significant meaning right now and help you connect to the energy of November should be centered around your home and family. Creating a home that is cozy, caring, and full of gratitude for the time you all share there. This month is another month when you can really get some clear and transformative messages from your guides. through any means of divination you prefer but, fire gazing or apple peel reading are some to think about to align with the correspondences of this month.

November creates a very potent liminal pocket of time that is teeming with duality, balance, and the power of transition from one season to the next. It’s a month that really pulls us to go deep within ourselves for introspection, reflection, self awareness, and growth. This makes it a great month to do any work on transformation, reflection and preparation for dark times through shadow work. Allowing the energy of death in the final days of fall to prep you for the long introspective months of winter ahead. If you would like to learn more about shadow work you can purchase my eBook here; you can book me for a 1:1 session as your guide here; and you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here.

Spell and ritual ideas

Write a gratitude list, read it out loud to the multiverse and burn it in a fire to release it
Elemental magic with the element of water or fire
Shadow work based on transformation, transition, the cycles of nature, and your feeling of self worth to abundance
Kitchen magic adding compassion, and peace to your meals during family gatherings
leaf magic – one of my favorites is gathering up leaves and writing wishes and manifestations on them and than letting them go on the breeze OR using them to create a wreath and placing it over my hearth all month long
Simmer pot for gratitude and abundance
Transformation and transition spells and rituals
Pumpkin magic- protection, abundance, love
Herbal magic-brew teas especially
Apple magic-prosperity, protection, love, manifestation
Use pumpkin seeds for fertility magic
Protection magic– most potent right now will be banishing, hexing, binding, and cord cutting rituals
Abundance and gratitude magic- one of my favorites this month is using drinks like hot chocolate and apple cider to call in abundance daily to my life
Bake fresh loaves of bread and add sigils to the dough for good health and prosperity
Candle magic
Leave an offering for Hestia at your hearth to bring warmth into your home during the winter months
Take a mindful walk in nature and find pockets of liminal space to work with during the last days of fall
Set SMART goals and intentions for your manifestations for the witches new year
Cleanse your home, altar, and tools
Ancestral magic like graveyard magic
Create a symbol of the harvest, gratitude, and abundance; the cornucopia and place it in your kitchen, near your hearth or on your altar
Journal reflecting about the past year than take the piece of paper and burn it in a fire
Add sigils for protection and good health to the lids of your jars as you prep your winter food stores
Work with deities of the underworld and darkness or deities of the fall and the harvest
Divination- apple peel reading, water scrying, fire gazing, runes, and throwing bones will be potent right now

Duality and the month of November

Since, I am a grey witch I look for the duality in every single energy I work with including sacred times like a month of the year like the one we are currently in November. November, for me seems to get overlooked when it comes to amount of duality this month has. Most of us, especially in the United states spend this month focused on gratitude and our families while we prep and look towards thanksgiving. That is if we even pay attention to this month at all and don’t just skip right to yule season after Samhain. While this month is a month that draws us into the cozy warmness of our homes and the closeness of family near. Reminding us of all the little things we have to be grateful for as our tables overflow with food from the harvest. It is also a month when nature is blanketed in the reminder of the cycles of life and death with leaves fallen to the ground. In some areas like mine you may even begin to experience the stillness, silence and dark introspection that comes with the first snowfall. This blend of gratitude, happiness, and reminiscing the past mixed with the darkness, stillness and dreaming of the future is a potent duality.

Wrap up

We talked about many things in this blogpost including the history, some celebrations, the different energies and magical themes we can work with during this month. Along with how to connect to those energies, deities we can honor and worship, and how to work with the magic of November. November is a time of abundant blessings, good health, and making cheerful memories around a warm hearth. From the quiet introspection of Samhain lingering to the cozy celebrations of the family gatherings celebrating this years harvest. This month reminds us of the ongoing cycle of life and death, and offers a chance for reflection of the past and preparation for what lies ahead. Use this month to express gratitude for the abundance of the harvest season, and prepare for the quiet introspection of winter just ahead.

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