Wormwood, the green faery of the Scorpio dark moon

The dark moon, where the Moon and Sun conjunct, is at 9 degrees of Scorpio on the 1^st November 2024. The traditional ruling planet of Scorpio is Mars.

Scorpio is known for its deeply penetrating and dark intense watery depths and Mars is the fire that smoulders within its undercurrent.

All new moons are ideal for initiating new plans or activities, and what is started now can be seen in development in the following full moon in two weeks time, and possibly also on May 12^th 2025 with the full moon at 22 degrees Scorpio, thus completing a Scorpio New to Scorpio Full moon sequence.

So what should be initiated now for best result when harnessing these energies?

Within medical astrology Scorpio is associated with male and female genitalia, reproduction and excretory systems, colon, anus, bladder, nose and sweat glands. Scorpio is a fixed water sign and is associated with stagnant and toxic waters and condensed water, ice.

The traditional ruling planet of Scorpio is Mars and is considered hot and dry. Its current location this new moon is in the anaretic 29^th degree of Cancer. Although not comfortable in this placement and in ‘Fall’, as Cancer is a cardinal water sign, the attributes of Mars change slightly, becoming hot and wet, and make a combination perfect for excreting toxins, through lymphatic and parasitic cleansing.

With the seasonal celebrations of Samhain or Halloween at this time; a time connected to the ancestors and the spirit world where the veil between the worlds is thin, there maybe need to clear any psychic parasites from one’s personal sphere also. This can be a deep and transformative cleanse, a very Scorpionic process.

With all this being said, the green faery of wormwood is most suited to this time, type of activity and need.

Wormwood: Artemisia absinthium of the Aster family is otherwise known as the green faery.

Within folkloric tales, wormwood has been used for defence of psychic attack, protection from bewitchment, sorcery and the evil eye. It is said to guard against bad faeries and is used in many apopotraic charms.

When made into a salve or balm and smeared upon ones person it is used to protect against unwanted sexual relations with incubus and succubus, and keeps goblins away, or so it is said.

For this reason and this season it seems a fitting wort, a herb, to use at the dark of a Scorpio moon.

Within materia medica wormwood is a digestive bitter tonic, excellent for a parasite cleanse and for use with in a detox treatment. However it is not to be taken in large doses, over a large period of time (ideally 1-3 days only), not to be used if pregnant, lactating or when trying to conceive, as it is also used to encourage delayed or sluggish menses and for releasing retained placenta following childbirth.

A vinegar infusion of wormwood can be used as a hair rinse for lice, for swabbing skin with fungal infections such as athletes foot, and taken as a cold and flu tonic. It has been made into a balm and used as a muscle relaxant. It has been used as an antidote to mushroom poisoning. The pulped leaves or compress of wormwood can be used to alleviate the pain of spider bites and, very fittingly, scorpion stings.

I feel therefore that Scorpio season and the green faery wormwood must partake in Samhain-Halloween together, hand in hand.

Elizabeth offers online (skype or Zoom), phone and in-person astrology readings and medical astrology and herbal consultations. She draws on her years of experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine and her eclectic training related to the childbearing years. http://www.faeryofthestars.com

EDIT Some referenced authors: J Hill, D Hoffman, D Buchman, M Grieves, J Richardson.

Photo by Elizabeth Worley