Photographed by Chiron Duong
As the veil thins and Scorpio season arrives, here are some astrological practices to try this Halloween season.
In Northern Europe, the Celts believe there is a “veil,” a metaphysical barrier between the living and the spiritual world. From October 31 to November 1st, it is believed that this veil “thins,” allowing more interaction between the two worlds. “There’s this idea that it’s easier for us to go into darkness, into our shadows, this time of the year,” says Chinggay Labrador, author, tarot reader, and founder of Practical Magic.
In addition to the veil thinning, Scorpio season began last October 22, a sign that represents mystery, darkness, and digging deeper into yourself. On November 1st, there will also be a new moon in Scorpio, fit for manifesting things related to the zodiac sign. This will be followed by Mercury entering Sagittarius on November 2nd and Mars entering Leo on November 3rd, an optimal time to explore themes such as travel, moving forward, and self-expression.
With all these astrological and spiritual events happening, the time is ripe for connecting with the spiritual self. Using the Tarot and birth chart, Labrador recommends some astrological practices to try out this Halloween season.
Turning to Tarot for introspection and growth
“Tarot is a mirror, so it serves to reflect who you are,” Labrador says. “If you can’t put words to your feelings, Tarot is a tool that can help you verbalize and figure out what is going on inside.”
During this season, she suggests exploring the shadow self or the parts of us (personality traits, emotions, thoughts) that are difficult to accept. “I think Tarot is a way to deal with these things in a way that’s safe. They’re a reminder that you’re not alone when you go through these things or when you deal with these shadows,” she says.
In any kind of tarot spread, Labrador stresses the importance of the questions that you ask. For confronting shadows, she recommends pulling three to four cards: one or two to ask about the shadows, one for how to deal with these shadows, and a final one to ask about the breakthroughs you’re about to encounter.
She also advises using the same spread for reflecting on growth. “When you’re thinking about growth, go into more specifics, such as what kind of growth you’re looking for or what area of your life requires growth,” she says. “You can incorporate questions like, ‘What can help me grow?’”
She also recommends channeling the energy of The Tower, Death, and Moon cards this season. All three cards reflect a form of transformation: The Tower shows the destruction that comes before healing; Death represents the things we need to bury before experiencing growth; and The Moon calls us to be mindful of the cycles we’re in.
Whichever reading you choose, she reminds us that using Tarot is only half the work. “The Tarot readings are there to help, then the next part of the equation is really doing something or taking mindful action,” Labrador says.
Connecting with your ancestors
If you want to connect with a deceased loved one, an ancestor, or with spirits, Tarot can also be a tool to channel their energy. “Setting the intention of remembering them is already meaningful in and of itself. So bringing the Tarot in brings a different kind of energy to that whole intention,” Labrador says.
To do this, she recommends building an altar to call their energy in. Using the Tarot archetypes such as the Emperor and the Empress (representing father and mother figures, respectively), you can display a card that best represents them along with photos and trinkets to connect with them.
Navigating your birth chart
Like Tarot, birth charts are a jumping-off point for Labrador. “The birth chart is just one way of categorizing certain areas of your personality so that you can start to think about who you are in relation to everything that’s going on in the world and your life,” she says. She suggests examining your birth chart and reflecting on the things that resonate with you and don’t, and then inspecting patterns within your life to see what you want to change within yourself.
“Just because that’s how stars looked X number of years ago, that doesn’t mean that they’ve set your future in stone,” she says. “You’re still evolving as a person.”
