There’s a New Moon in Virgo at 8:26pm PDT (UTC -7). She sits just outside eclipse season and finds herself among a slightly different cast of actors. Mercury, the ruling planet of this new moon, will have just left the sign of their exaltation, so the messenger is no longer in their perfect state of flow. They’ll have just missed Venus too, as she exits Libra, her domicile, and enters Scorpio; the lover leaves her lounge to enter the underworld (but don’t worry, she’ll stroll on back when she retrogrades next month). Then, there’s Uranus, the change bringer, stationing retrograde in Gemini, the sign of the trickster.
Overall, it’s a very mutable and shifting set of energies. So what do we do with it?
First, I invite you to consider what may have been revealed in the past month. Eclipses tend to expose what’s been hidden, so think back to what you have discovered during August.
For example, in the astrological community, an “elder”‘s racism was revealed and lots of rotten apples came out of the woodwork (just look up “Steven Forrest racism”!). The industry/community/environment is changing and there’s still so much work to do.
On a personal scale, I’ve been having quite a few revelations about the kind of work that I want to put out in the next few months (some of which is completely new and mostly unrelated to what I’ve been doing up until this point!).
But then how do we begin? Well, thankfully, now that we’re out of range from the Lunar Nodes (and therefore out of eclipse season), we can treat this new moon like we usually do: as a time for planting seeds.
However, with so many new elements in play, the second thing I invite you to do is to take stock and get your bearings before embarking on something new. Take the time to tend to your body and get grounded in the time and place you’re in. Take a bath, have some nourishing food, take a nap if you’re able to, and clean your home (at least fold your laundry).
Virgo is the sign of the virgin maiden and goddess of the harvest. She is dedicated and does not entertain distractions. She is devotion at its finest. She tends, tills, and understands the land like no one else. As a mutable sign, she sits between seasons and pinpoints what it is necessary to bring us into the next part of life.
So, you gotta be present and pay attention. If you don’t know what you’re working with, how can you proceed?
The Moon is getting a boost from Mars via a supportive sextile, so there should be a bit of energy to buoy you through your task list. But again, you need to map out the terrain before you can start to move across it.
If you need some extra guidance, read on for some quick pulls from my Refract & Reflect Oracle.
As always, ideally, read for your rising sign, but if you feel called to another prominent planetary placement like your Sun, Moon, or Venus, listen to that siren’s call!
Aries: armor
How do you feel in your body and appearance? This new moon puts the focus on your 6th house of health and obligations, so it’s a great time to zero in on your routines and relationship to “wellness.” Do you have a workout routine you enjoy enough to stick to? Is what you’ve been eating adherent to your overall well-being and respectful of any sensitivities and goals? Are there any lingering health concerns you’ve been meaning to address? Prioritize those this month.
Taurus: masks
Protect your joy. For the next month, be selective about your pleasures, both in what you’re engaging with and what you share with others. Not everyone needs to be privy to what you’re up to because, unfortunately, not everyone has your best interests at heart. Your ruling planet, Venus, will be going retrograde soon and she’ll be concerned with the people you keep close and the obligations you maintain. Don’t stretch yourself thin.
Gemini: aversion
It’s time to lock tf in. You have to stop letting yourself get distracted! In the Smith-Waite* Major Arcana, Virgo corresponds to The Hermit, so don’t be afraid of the archetype! This doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself, but it does mean you probably have to shore up your boundaries, especially the physical ones (the secret is that they’re the easiest!). Treat your spaces with devotion. Your home, your workspace, your bedroom are all sacred, so clean, organize, and set them up to help you succeed.
* While I’ve traditionally referred to the popular Pamela Colman Smith-illustrated deck as the “Rider-Waite-Smith” (as most people have), I’ve realized it does a disservice to the artist. From here on out, Pixie (as she was affectionately nicknamed!) gets first billing! I’m not the first to do this and I’m not sure where it started, but I will from here on out.
Cancer: burning bridges
Establish a new routine for yourself. Overhaul your dailies so that they actually excite and facilitate your desires. Switch out what has felt stale. Maybe try a new morning coffee or tea (even if you make it at home!)? If that feels daunting, add something new instead. Maybe it’s carving out 30 minutes to read at night or lighting a candle and meditating.
Leo: receive
Allow the people in your life to help you. For some of you, the lesson here could be to simply open up to the people you trust. Let them if something’s weighing on you. For others, you may feel called to be more explicit in letting them assist you (whether it’s with tasks or financially). I love a lion’s pride and don’t think it’s a bad thing, but it’s not the only thing, ya know?
Virgo: patron
Who and what in your life reaffirms your sense of self? As a Mercury-ruled person, there’s always a bit of a sociability needed. Even if you’re not the chattiest and/or extraverted person, there’s a part of you that will always want to be connected to the world at large. Honor your curiosity. Take stock in the who/what/when/where that’s felt aligned with you at your core and actively engage with them.
Libra: rituals
For this new moon and in the weeks following, I encourage you to rest. Prioritize your sleep and your mental health. Honor the time at the beginning and end of the day as yours to reclaim. Try to spend at least 5 minutes after you wake up just doing a body scan and/or meditation before looking at your phone or going about your day. Do something similar at night to wind down. Give it at least a week (preferable three!) and check in to see how it makes you feel.
Scorpio: explore
Get out of your comfort zone and learn something new this month. If something sparked your interest in the past month, did you follow up on it? This new moon puts your ruling planet in the 9th house, so use that extra energy for some research and exploration. Interact with new people, even if it’s just online.
Sagittarius: anchor
It’s never hard for you, sweet Sagittarius, to find a port in a storm… but do you feel anchored in your own life? The Virgo New Moon puts the focus on your legacy, career, and reputation; it highlights the biggest ways in which you’re known. Do you know what that looks like from the outside? This month is a good one for hunkering down rather than wandering around. Enjoy your immediate surroundings as much as you would a foreign terrain.
Capricorn: bold moves
What’s the wildest thing you want for yourself in 6 months’ time? Where would you like to see yourself? Who do you want by your side? Write out your biggest desires and act on at least one of them this month. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot on a plane ticket right away. What it COULD mean is researching possible locales. Browsing the library for some books or watching a documentary. Or just messaging a friend for a hangout. With your ruling planet, Saturn, in the 4th house, there’s something worth examining about your roots that will help you better understand where you want to be branching out. Consider what’s been a little underwhelming and what’s been exciting to determine the best course of action.
Aquarius: patience
If you’ve been trying to make progress on something (especially something big and transformative!) and hit a wall, this month is a reminder to stay the course but to loosen your grip. Good things take time! You may also want to consider tending to your inner world to help you make the most of the waiting period. Booking a [n extra?] therapy session (maybe trying EMDR?), journaling, meditation, or pursuing a different physical fitness practice are all possibilities that could help you (and maybe even help move things along if you’ve been blocked).
Pisces: mend
How are you feeling in your relationships (both personal and professional)? The Pisces/Virgo axis is inherently about healing and this month asks you to focus on what can be mended. Is there anything “broken” between you and someone else (or multiple someones)? Is that relationship worth mending at all? You don’t have to fix everything all at once either. Sometimes, just throwing a little message out goes a long way.
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