Scorpio ~ Cheshvan (October 23 - November 21)
Sign: Scorpion - Scorpio Desires Mode: Fixed Water, Feminine Planets: Mars and Pluto Tissue State: Damp Stagnation Energetics: Cold, Wet
Season and Earth Expression
Late Autumn and Early Winter bring the energy of establishing depth, secrets, and both unconscious and conscious desires. This is the time of going within, of transformation and regeneration.
Body Correspondences
Scorpio rules the reproductive and eliminative systems: Genitals and groin area, colon, prostate gland, sex organs, gall bladder, rectum, sphincter muscle, uterus, cervix, clitoris. Also the coccyx and pelvis, urogenital system, appendix, nasal bones and nose, glands, excretory systems, orifices, thyroid and thymus glands.
The processes of catabolism and anabolism - breaking down and building up - are Scorpio's domain.
Cell Salt: Calc Sulph
Herbal Actions
- Diuretic - Herbs that support the kidneys and elimination of fluids
- Demulcent - Herbs that soothe and protect mucous membranes
- Lymphatic - Herbs that support the lymphatic system and deep cleansing
Herbs for Scorpio
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) - A powerful herb for the female reproductive system, addressing stagnation and supporting hormonal balance. Its dark roots reach deep into the earth, reflecting Scorpio's depth.
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) - This transformative fungus that grows on birch trees embodies death and rebirth, supporting deep immune function and acting as a powerful adaptogen.
Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota) - Traditionally used for reproductive health and as an emmenagogue. Its wild carrot root supports the urogenital system.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - Named after the warrior Achilles, yarrow addresses bleeding, supports the blood, and has traditional associations with divination and accessing hidden knowledge.
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) - Supports the liver and digestive system, helps with stagnation, and has traditional use in women's reproductive health. Bitter and cleansing.
The Energy of Scorpio
Scorpio's fixed water goes deep - this is not the flowing water of Cancer or the dreamy water of Pisces, but the still, profound water of underground rivers and transformation.
This is the sign of death and rebirth, of letting go in order to transform. The herbs of Scorpio support this process - helping us release what no longer serves and regenerate from within.
Spiritual Themes
Cheshvan is known as Mar-Cheshvan (Bitter Cheshvan) because it has no holidays. Like Scorpio itself, it asks us to find meaning in the darkness, to do the deep inner work without external celebration or recognition.
This is the month of the Flood in the Torah - a time of destruction and purification that ultimately led to renewal. The herbs of this season support our own processes of deep cleansing and regeneration.