November illustrated almanac
the month of letting go
This is an illustrated digital almanac of the internal emotional climate, as influenced by the external natural and astronomical events. I wanted to capture visually the shared experience of how it feels to be alive as a tiny human, enveloped in the greater cyclical movement of this planet, throughout one calendar year. Welcome to November!
The origin of the name
The name November comes from novem, which is latin for “ninth”, as it’s the ninth month in the early Roman calendar.
The month of letting go.
November is all about transition. It’s the liminal period marking the end of this calendar year and we are invited to reflect and assess the symbolic harvest of everything we experienced and created. Just like nature in the Northern hemisphere wraps up its natural cycle, November symbolises the death of the old, and prepares us to let go.
In Roman mythology, November was dedicated to Neptune, the god of the sea and water, representing the depths of the subconscious mind and the mysteries of life and death. In Native American folklore, November is linked with the Bear, which retreats into its den in November, symbolising a period of introverted self-reflection and inner growth.
Sun in Scorpio (October 23d to November 22nd)
Those with Sun in Scorpio are known to be intense, very emotional and demanding. The constellation known as Scorpio goes back to Babylonian times, where it was called "the creature with the burning sting."
In Greek mythology, the Scorpion is associated with the death of Orion. Orion was a hunter who bragged that he could kill all of the animals in the nature’s kingdom. To stop him, the earth goddess Gaia sent a Scorpion to defeat Orion, whom Scorpion stung in the head. The Scorpion was placed in the heavens as a reward from Gaia for his service, and Zeus placed Orion there as well to honour his fight. Orion the Hunter is a very noticeable constellation in winter that rises on November evenings.
Diwali
Diwali is Hindu festival of lights, an annual celebration of the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, or Dharma over Adharma. It is held for 5 to 6 days sometime between mid September to mid November, depending on the region.
All Saints’ Day & All Souls Day
Since the 4th century, All Saint’s Day on November 1st celebrates all Christian martyrs, especially those who do not have a day of their own. It’s also a family day to honor the memory of family members by visiting their graves and lightning candles in remembrance. Following the next day is All Souls’ Day, also known as the Day of the Dead in the Celtic folklore. It was once the custom to leave doors open and food on the table to nourish the souls of recently departed family members. Both days are widely celebrated in Mexico as part of Día de (los) Muertos.
November 11th / Saint Martin's Day
Historically called Old Halloween, the feast of St. Martin of Tour is celebrated on the 11th of November. In the Middle Ages it was an important festival in many parts of Europe, particularly in German and Dutch speaking regions. The celebration marks the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter, and usually include feasting on Martinmas goose, drinking the first wine of the season, as well as processions of children with lanterns.
The Full Beaver Moon & other names
November’s full moon is called the Beaver’s Full Moon. The name originates from setting beaver traps before the swamps froze in colonial era in the US. In parts of medieval Europe, November’s Full Moon was linked to the practice of slaughtering livestock for winter meat preservation and was referred to as Blood Moon. Other names for this month’s full moon is Frost Moon, marking the onset of colder temperatures and frost; as well as Mourning Moon, to symbolise the mourning for the losses experienced during the year, both of loved ones as well as livestock and crops.
