The new moon is upon us once again. On October 19th, at 12:12pm PDT, nature invites us to ignite new beginnings, as our ancestors have done for ages, feeling the excitement of new intentions and possibilities stirring within us. My dear ones, there is great hope and fertility in this womb of darkness! I am holding a new moon ritual on 19 October where we gather together to set our intentions for the lunar month ahead; I do hope you’ll join me live in person or online.
New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon align in the sky. Metaphorically, we imagine the Sun impregnating the Moon with its light and consciousness. The Moon will then distribute this light to the Earth and all its creatures. The New Moon is dark, because she is between the Earth and Sun, and the side of her that is illuminated by the Sun’s rays faces away from us. She is still there, but we cannot see her. When we cannot see with our eyes, we are pushed to use our other senses…especially our feelings. The New Moon is associated with new beginnings, but we don’t know how they will emerge, grow and come to fruition. At least not yet.
I encourage everyone to set intentions at the New Moon because the energy naturally aligns with, and supports, initiation. It’s the start of a brand new cycle, and the inherent potent life force is bursting with the will to live. Anything set forth at this time has a real fighting chance. New Moon phase is associated with fire energy in its most raw and primal form – the vitality that sparks birth. With a great burst of strength and spirit, tender infant seedlings push through the cold, tough earth at springtime – this is the power activated by the New Moon. And this fire, in its full instinctual potency, is yours, if you choose it!
October’s New Moon will be in the sign of Libra – Libra who loves to love. Libra is a social air sign, surrounding itself with others, and trying to keep the peace. I have amazing Libras in my life, and Libra is my rising sign, so I know it well. Associated with grace, beauty and symmetry, Librans are generally physically attractive – often downright gorgeous. One of the most beautiful qualities of Librans is their incredible relatability. They truly can relate to others with an amazing ability to see the “other side”, and to put themselves in someone else’s shoes.
I always teach the light and shadow of the astrological signs. The Libran shadow can manifest as obsession with the opinions and actions of others, often leading to the inability to make decisions or stand on one’s own two feet, alone. Libra can become dependent upon relationships, appearances, and social standards. Naturally skilled in the art of compromise, Libra can adapt like a chameleon, without recognizing that without an equal, contributing partner, compromise can quickly turn to sacrifice. And sometimes, you may feel like you don’t really know the Libras in your life as well as you think you do. The reality is, they often don’t know themselves that well. Coming to know oneself is the lifetime achievement for Libras.
The New Moon will contact (by conjunction) Jupiter and Mercury, triggering the “master” and the “pupil”, heightening environmental receptivity for teaching and learning, especially regarding interrelatedness, and the balance between self and others. Jupiter expands what it touches, and cozying up with the Moon will likely trigger dramatic and emotional reactions that are blown out of proportion. We may also experience people, including ourselves, demonstrating behavior that is over-confident and overly optimistic. Positively, Jupiterian intuition and Mercurial logic come together with the Sun and Moon, in a powerhouse of intense energy we can use to transform ourselves through integration. Jupiter represents the contextual right brain, and Mercury, the mechanical left brain. Perhaps this New Moon is asking that we form a new relationship with our whole brain?
With all of these energies swirling around with the New Moon, there is sure to be focus on social connections, business, popularity, and trends. Setting new intentions in these areas will have the potential for great success. Love and partnership is an art. Harness the artistic talent of Libra within yourself to create the partnerships and relationships you desire. You deserve it!
If you are seeking a ritual tool for the upcoming New Moon, I highly recommend labradorite. Labradorite is my go-to stone of new beginnings, and for cosmic and spiritual rebooting. If you need a do-over, or if you’re setting intentions in the darkness of the New Moon, this is your gemstone ally. Like the Hermit in the Tarot, labradorite helps light the path by illuminating the night sky and helping you see your way through the darkness and the challenges it brings.
The New Moon is so important to my practice, so central to my own process of manifestation, that beginning with August, I decided to hold monthly free, live rituals for the New Moon just like I do for the Full Moon each month! Same format, but with a focus on setting intentions and anchoring space for new beginnings. If you would like to join our FREE New Moon ritual, RSVP on our online and in-person event pages! I would *love* to see you there.