Scorpio New Moon Reflection

Death is ALIVENESS.

Spoiler Alert: For those that have not been watching Agatha All Along and plan to, you might want to avert your eyes.

If you have been watching Agatha All Along, you’ll probably understand why I have a massive girl crush on Aubrey Plaza’s Lady Death. She’s mysterious, complex, has a sardonic sense of humor that I find so alluring, and she’s sexy as hell.

She embodies the classic “bad girl” villain archetype. But is she really bad? Or is she feared because she’s misunderstood?

Lady Death makes her first Marvel franchise appearance in Agatha All Along as Agatha’s long-ago past flame. In one scene, Death described herself as “less A green witch, more THE Green Witch.” I have been reflecting on this concept ever since.

Death is the original green witch.

Death allows life to happen.

Death is ALIVENESS.

We often think of death as the extinguishing of life. The cessation of embodied living. But I’m starting to see her very differently as I have been continuing on my medicine path as a deathworker. I’m deep in my walk on the Witches’ Road, you might say.

Without death, there is nothing to compost.

Without compost, there is nothing to nourish growth.

Without growth, there is nothing to sustain life.

The decay of death provides the space for new life to sprout, and the nutrients for that life to sustain and grow, to become, to BE.

To EXIST.

To allow Death to claim her chosen is to allow new life to flow in. It’s allowing the breath to be breathed into a body, individual or collective, physical or energetic.

The allegorical wisdom woven into Agatha All Along is expressed through the story of this makeshift coven walking the Witches’ Road together, encountering the deadly tasks that forced each witch to face their deepest wounding and fears – ultimately, to face Death, and allow the inevitable to happen. Lady Death kept showing up, hovering around this coven, claiming body after body, task after task. Each successful completion claimed a life.

To continue moving forward on the Witches’ Road, Death’s toll needed to be paid with a body.

Scorpio season invites us to sit a little closer with Death. She tends to claim many lives during this time of year. My dad’s death anniversary is October 22, and through many conversations, I’m realizing how many of us have lost loved ones in this season.

As I write, it is Samhaim, a Celtic celebration of death and rebirth. It’s All Hallow’s Eve, a day to remember the dead. And this Scorpio New Moon on November 1 falls right on Dia De Los Muertos, a celebration that reunites the living with the dead.

I’m cataloging all the deaths of outdated definitions that I’m experiencing through the invitation of this Scorpio New Moon. My limited definition of death as the diametrical opposing force to life rather than an essential aspect of life itself. Believing death to be its own isolated cycle of painful contraction rather than recognizing contraction as the necessary force that induces birth. Death and birth are simultaneous and an aspect of each other. They are conjoined twins. No, they are two parts of one being.

I feel the definition of my role as daughter dying with my mom’s progressing short term memory loss, giving way to a new definition that includes caregiving…as much as my very proud and stubborn mom will allow me to.

The hard edges of how I define my wealth legacy are dissolving and softening, stretching to hold not just assets like money and property, but wisdom that I am learning to embody, that I desire to pass onto the future generations as an ancestor-in-training —

A well-rested body.

A somatic literacy that enables me to show my body more consistent love and care.

Spaciousness to allow for spontaneity and magic.

Choosing quality and depth of heart connection over the pseudo-intellectual dueling of egoic minds — impressive only at the surface.

The allowance of divine guidance through trust and faith. (aka learning when to let go and receive.)

A compassionate, patient acceptance of others, particularly when they are acting out of their woundedness, and a resigned belief that they have the capacity to expand their consciousness in their own timing, just as we all do.

An unwavering trust in my divine essential wisdom and intuition to guide me, even when it feels like I’m standing alone.

Recognizing that I’m never meant to clearly see the path in front of me if I’m truly creating my own and not following someone else’s.

Following my bliss is how I will best serve the collective in this lifetime. It might sound selfish but it allows my heart to stay open and soft, so that energy can flow freely.

Maintaining an easeful and respectful relationship with Death and Grief, allowing them space to be my intimate travel companions, always walking arm-in-arm throughout my life.

Death is ALIVENESS.

To fear Death is to fear Life.

And to live freely, you must learn to die freely, too, repeatedly.

Death was never the bad guy. She’s the friend that looks you dead in the eyes (pun intended) and is mercilessly honest, never holding back. She’s the reason you’ve come to be who you are right now.

She’s responsible for your sense of aliveness.

Honor her on this Scorpio New Moon. Give her the respect she deserves. Let her walk a little closer to you.

We have a lifetime of wisdom to receive from Death.