[caption id="attachment_20383" align="alignright" width="150"]
Durga (Right)[/caption]9/29 to 10/8: Navaratri/Durga Puja--Hindu festival of Great Goddess Maha Devi as Durga, Protector of the Powerless; celebrates Her destruction of evil and restoration of cosmic order.10/2: Birthday of Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi (1869), Hindu advocate for human rights and self-reliance, who practiced active non-violent resistance to injustice. Gandhi envisioned a world where women and untouchables would be empowered and respected, and where members of all faiths would live harmoniously together.10/4: Christian feast of St. Francis of Assisi (d. 1226), and Animal Blessing Day.10/4 eve to 10/5 eve: Proerosia--Old Greek festival in which fruits of all the harvest were offered to Goddess Demeter.[caption id="attachment_20386" align="alignleft" width="150"]
Tewa Deer Dance[/caption]10/4 to 10/7: Tewa Deer Dance--celebrating the cosmic duality of feminine and masculine. The Tewa recognize gender equality and honor both male and female ancestors.10/5: Mindfulness Day--Zen Buddhist day for being mindful that fear and hatred of others results from ignorance of interconnectedness.10/5: Day honoring Zen Buddhist philosopher Bodhidharma (470-543), who believed one could attain Buddhahood by realizing one’s own Buddha nature.10/6: Day Tibetan Buddhists meditate on and emulate Bodhisattva Goddess Gold Tara’s conquest of desire for excessive wealth.10/8 eve to 10/9 eve: Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement--Jewish day of fasting, prayer, reconciliation, making reparation for harm done, and helping those in need.10/9 eve to 10/12 eve: Thesmophoria--Old Greek festival commemorating Goddess Kore eloping to Elysium with God Dionysos, accompanied by Goddess Hekate and spirits of the dead.[caption id="attachment_20361" align="alignright" width="150"]
Aries Full Moon, Art by Roberta Orpwood[/caption]10/13 (5:08 p.m. EDT): Full Moon in Aries (Indigo/Wise-Crone Moon).10/13: Final appearance of Our Lady of Fatima, Lady of Oracles and Miracles (Portugal 1917). 10/13 eve to 10/20 eve: Sukkot/Feast of Ingathering--Jewish thanksgiving for the fruit harvest. Originally, a dance procession was made to vineyards and wine was offered to Elohim.10/14 to 10/28 (I 10/26): Old Norse Winter Nights Feast--The ancestors were remembered and offerings were made to the Deities (particularly the Norns, Freyja, and the Disir) to survive the season.10/17: Shukaku Matsuri--Shinto rite offering thanks and first fruits of the rice harvest to the Kami.10/17: Chinese Buddhist festival of Goddess Kuan Yin; celebrates Her attainment of Bodhisattvahood.10/17 eve to 10/20 eve: Apaturia--Old Greek festival in which newcomers and children were welcomed into the community.[caption id="attachment_20384" align="alignleft" width="150"]
Orionid Meteor Shower[/caption]10/18: Old Egyptian feast of Neteret Hathor, Goddess of Fate.10/18 eve to 10/26 eve (10/22 peak): Orionid Meteor Showers.10/20 eve to 10/21 eve: Shemini Atzeret/Feast of Assembly--Jewish festival of praise and thanksgiving for life-giving rain.10/23: Beginning of Scorpio (the Scorpion)10/25 to 10/28: Diwali/Lunar New Year/Festival of Lights--Hindu festival for Goddess Lakshmi (source of health, fertility, and prosperity) and Her consort, God Vishnu (the preserver); focus is on peace-making and new beginnings.[caption id="attachment_20362" align="alignright" width="150"]
Scorpio New Moon[/caption]10/27 (11:38 p.m. EDT): New Moon in Scorpio10/28: Kali Puja--Hindu festival honoring Great Goddess Maha Devi as Kali - decay, death, and transformation.10/28 to 11/3: Isia--Old Romano-Egyptian festival recalling Set (God of Destruction) killing God Osiris; Goddess Isis mourning Him, resurrecting Him, and conceiving God Horus with Him; and Osiris becoming Lord of Amenta, realm of the dead.10/31: Day to mourn the women tortured and killed as “witches” because of their independence, wealth, wisdom, or religion.
10/31 eve: Halloween--Night that the dead return to visit their families; celebrated by children, dressed as spirits, going door to door for treats.10/31 eve to 11/2 eve: Samhain--Old Celtic/Welsh New Year and feast of Cerridwen (Goddess of Death) and Beli (the Holly King - God of the Waning Sun).10/31 eve to 11/7 eve: Mid-Autumn/Day of the Dead/Hallowmas--Festival marking the transformation of life to death - the end of the agricultural year, departure of migrating and hibernating animals, and decay and death of vegetal and animal life. Observed by remembering departed ancestors and contemplating one’s own mortality.Excerpted fromTHE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2019A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality© 2018 Marija Miovskiwww.WheeloftheYear.com
