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November

November always seemed to me the Norway of the year.

Emily Dickinson

Our eleventh month is November, named from the Latin novem meaning nine. Like those months surrounding it, it kept its name from the original ten-month calendar. Nine represents enlightenment, it is a completeness with a nod toward perfection.  It is November, and gratitude is front and center.  The resources of the earth are receding, as autumn gives way to winter.  All that was so recently abundant, prepares for its winter sleep.  From the same letter I quoted above, Emily says, “I winced at her loss because I was in the habit of her.”  Let us be more than ‘in the habit’ of all that we value.  Let us be truly grateful.

Birth Customs for November

November Flower

November mums continue blooming,
Though the winter sky is looming.
She will be the last to fall,
Our garden’s final curtain call.

November Zodiac

Scorpio brings us together
In November’s autumn weather
Then we meet the gifted archer
At this gusty month’s departure

November Stone

Who first comes to this world below
In drear November’s fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.

The Magic of November

Correspondences

Herbs: Sage, Ginger
Totems: Owl
Stones: Goldstone, Amber
Birthstone: Imperial Topaz
Birth Flower: Chrysanthemum
Celtic Trees: Birch & Rowen
Nature Spirits: Subterranean Fae

Spellwork

Balance
Renew
Prosper
Appreciate
Justice

Aromatherapy

Woodland Wanderer

3 drops Sandalwood
3 drops Cypress
1 drop Pine

Meditation

The secret to having it all is knowing you already do.

Unknown

Science of November

Astronomy

Name: November
Length: 30 Days
Full Moon: November 12th
New Moon: November 26th
Zodiac: Scorpio & Sagittarius

Full Moon

Colonial American: Beaver Moon
Celtic: Dark Moon
Chinese: White Moon
Cherokee: Traders Moon
Old English: Snow Moon

Poetry for November

November Comes

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.

Clyde Watson

November

There is wind where the rose was,
Cold rain where sweet grass was,
And clouds like sheep
Stream o’er the steep
Grey skies where the lark was.
Nought warm where your hand was,
Nought gold where your hair was,
But phantom, forlorn,
Beneath the thorn,
Your ghost where your face was.
Cold wind where your voice was,
Tears, tears where my heart was,
And ever with me,
Child, ever with me,
Silence where hope was.

William Cullen Bryant

An Orphan’s Lament

She’s gone — and twice the summer’s sun
Has gilt Regina’s towers,
And melted wild Angora’s snows,
And warmed Exina’s bowers.
The flowerets twice on hill and dale
Have bloomed and died away,
And twice the rustling forest leaves
Have fallen to decay,
And thrice stern winter’s icy hand
Has checked the river’s flow,
And three times o’er the mountains thrown
His spotless robe of snow.
Two summers springs and autumns sad
Three winters cold and grey —
And is it then so long ago
That wild November day!
They say such tears as children weep
Will soon be dried away,
That childish grief however strong
Is only for a day,
And parted friends how dear soe’er
Will soon forgotten be;
It may be so with other hearts,
It is not thus with me.
My mother, thou wilt weep no more
For thou art gone above,
But can I ever cease to mourn
Thy good and fervent love?
While that was mine the world to me
Was sunshine bright and fair;
No feeling rose within my heart
But thou couldst read it there.
And thou couldst feel for all my joys
And all my childish cares
And never weary of my play
Or scorn my foolish fears.
Beneath thy sweet maternal smile
All pain and sorrow fled,
And even the very tears were sweet
Upon thy bosom shed.
Thy loss can never be repaired;
I shall not know again
While life remains, the peaceful joy
That filled my spirit then.
Where shall I find a heart like thine
While life remains to me,
And where shall I bestow the love
I ever bore for thee?

Anne Brontë

Calendar of November

November 1st: Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead is an ancient Mexican celebration to remember and honor of those who have died. Feasts are held, altars are decorated, and we take the time to remember. Celebrations are festive and happy, bringing light to the darkness.

November 11th: Origami Day

Origami is the art of paper folding. Originally it was a craft only for the elite, as paper was very expensive. Now that paper is readily available, people make origami out of all kinds of products. This beautiful art is easy to learn but takes a lifetime to master. Try your hand at this ancient tradition or branch out to napkin folding. It is a lovely addition to the Thanksgiving dinner table.

November 13th: World Kindness Day

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we can sometimes overlook the obvious. Kindness is defined as “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.” This is a natural fit for November. The whole world has set aside this day to remember and indulge in the simple gestures that bring us all closer together.

November 15th: National Philanthropy Day

My parents went through times when they had some money and some times, well not so much. Regardless of their status, they would dress up in their finest and make their yearly donations as part of an elegant evening at home. Philanthropy day gives us a chance to do just that. Because giving to others, always makes me feel rich.

November 23rd: Fibonacci Day

Much like Pi Day (see March), Fibonacci Day marks the famous sequence of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones, starting with 0 and 1. This sequence then leads us to the golden ratio, a set of patterns that exist in nature all around us, bringing a balance and visual harmony to our incredible world.