Rav Berg said that the portion of Noach always coincides with the month of Cheshvan, the month of Scorpio. Why? How did the sages know that by reading the portion of Noach, we could receive the power and support we need at this time? And why is this month called Mar Cheshvan (the month of Scorpio)?
The common answer is because there are no feasts during this month. But this, of course, is a little too obvious; there must be a deeper reason behind this. There must be a lesson hidden here for us to learn. Another thing Rav Berg taught was that if we look more closely in the portion of Noach, we encounter one of the most difficult periods in our history: that of the generation of the Great Flood when the world was destroyed together with all its inhabitants.
What was so bad with the generation in Babylon at that time? The answer is that the people struggled with egotism and were considered evil and wicked for their extreme concern for themselves alone. Because of this, the flood appeared, wiping out an entire people. The ultimate purpose of their actions was to satisfy their desire to receive for themselves alone, which is completely opposite of the essence of the Light.
This week, we also celebrate the New Moon in Scorpio. It is tightly conjunct Venus, which challenges our value system. There can be situations in which we feel pressure to bring more harmony to our relationships. It’s interesting to note that a partial solar eclipse occurs in Scorpio aligned with Venus on October 24th. In the sign of Scorpio, matters related to intimacy, control, power, money, and sharing will be a strong focus in the weeks (and even months) after this solar eclipse. This time is all about strengthening ourselves from the inside out.
Just as the people of Babel felt overcome with selfishness, this New Moon and solar eclipse combo can push us towards selfish desires. Circumstances may be such that we are encouraged to see the value in others and have appreciation for them rather than have high expectations of them. On the other hand, now is the time to reach out and get the support we need. Ultimately, we are in a position to understand that changes or endings are necessary for our own growth and that we can handle it.
The word Noach (Noah) means “to be comfortable.” This is the time to step out of our comfort zone. People become unhappy, bored, or mired in negativity because our souls need to expand more. Once we allow our souls to expand, once we view our spiritual work in this way, then excitement, understanding, and happiness come our way. Transform desire for oneself to the desire to share. We may want to pinpoint the things in our lives that make us feel out of control, such as addiction. Work on freeing yourself of these emotional burdens. Explore what is missing in your life that leads you to engage in self-destructive behaviors, like in the generation of Noah.
This partial solar eclipse will be visible from Europe and Asia. This is also a South Node eclipse, so it’s concerned with karmic, fated new beginnings. South Node solar eclipses often come as something is ending, followed by a new beginning. The solar eclipse is exactly conjunct Venus, suggesting a rebirth of the heart that will set us on a completely new path. This week, we have the ability to go outside of the boxes we create for ourselves and take the first step into a big, beautiful new world. All that is required of us is that we move out of our comfort zones and walk in the direction of our spiritual growth.
READ: A Monthly Guide for Parents: Scorpio 2022
