Become more aware of Moon in the sky—and feel her flow!
Seek guidance from Goddess in her changing face.
Experience the magic of Moon within!

Our new lunar cycle begins with New Moon in Libra.
New Moon at 24 Libra 59, October 18 at 1:33 am, EDT
Ceres illustrated my prior column for New Moon in Virgo. So, I'll use Eris for New Moon in Libra, since the more I've thought about it and tried out Eris positions in various charts, the more I think she ought to be considered the modern ruler of Libra. For one thing, there's a precedent: when each new planet has been so designated, it has gradually become accepted as the modern ruler of one of the two signs dually ruled by one of the original seven "classical" planets. The first, Uranus, became co-ruler of Aquarius, the second sign of the two ruled by the most distant from Sun planet of the original seven. Then Neptune became co-ruler of Pisces, the second sign of the two ruled by the next most distant classical planet Jupiter. Next was Mars, and when Pluto came onto our planetary scene, he got Scorpio, the second sign of the two ruled by Mars. If the pattern holds, Eris should then get Libra and Ceres Virgo.
Besides the reality that the Libran Scales are not always in balance, such that "discord" (Eris main keyword) can and does happen at times, there's another interesting part of the Eris mythology that fits this pattern. Eris is said to be the sister of Ares, so we could add sibling rivalry to the other 1st-7th house potentials of seeing house 7 as not only marriage and partnership, but also competitors, and in mundane astrology, even the enemy in war!

New Moon is Void-of-Course!
It's intriguing that New Moon is void-of-course (final aspect of Moon in the sign). New Moon opposes Eris (21 Aries) and trines Chiron (21 Aquarius) and Neptune (23, almost 24 Aquarius). Jupiter at 17

Aquarius is widely conjunct Chiron-Neptune. In a New Moon chart set for the USA (Washington DC), Moon-Sun are in House 3 (news media, public opinion), which with Libra on the cusp, is co-ruled by Venus and (I think) Eris. Venus also rules House 10 (Taurus on the cusp), the President & party in power, and is in House 2 (money, taxes, etc.). Eris is in House 9 (law, communications, incoming storms) and she sextiles "wounded healer" Chiron right on, which is problematic. Eris in sextiles or trines (perhaps "bearing gifts" like that sizzling apple) could be deceptive—nice on the surface, but not in intent. Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune are in House 7 (public opinion & reaction to the state, war & foreign affairs). Does this not sound like current news?
In more personal terms, the void could relate to a general frustration, of being at sea, without clarity on how to procede in an area likely related to where these planets fall in one's personal chart.
In any case, the void ends before this New Moon day even gets past the morning hours: by 10:23 am EDT, Moon enters Scorpio. So for this New Moon in Libra, I'm going to suggest skipping past Libra for a ritual theme that I'd originally written for Scorpio:

Ritual for New Moon in Libra (after she enters Scorpio!)
Within sacred space, probe for your truth that must be brought to light in order to understand what must be done, changed, eliminated or all three during this month's lunar cycle. What is tangled in confusion or frustration much be understood. What is in the dark must be brought into clear light. Prepare a black and a white candle, salt, water, incense and oil, and a candle carving tool, plus whatever tools you need for a work project that will symbolize the larger issue on which you need clarity. Clearing up an area of physical confusion can free your mind for clearer thinking. Choose a focus for your work such as something you've lost but know is in your home somewhere to be found, if you make the effort... or to clear up that cluttered area you've been ignoring but is threatening to overflow...or maybe a pile of necklace chains that seem hopelessly tangled. Ask Goddess to guide you, light the black candle and then begin the task at hand. As you work with your hands, probe your mind and feelings for insight into your internal frustration or confusion. With spiritual guidance you'll find that what you are doing takes on symbolic meanings, and as the work progresses, insight will grow. When you've finshed the physical task, you'll be well on your way to understanding the truth of what you must do about the problem it symbolized.

Cleanse the white candle in consecrated salt water and charge it in incense smoke. Carve on it symbols or words that represent your truth and intent. Then with focus and the following charm, light the white candle from the black one, then extinguish the black. The light is waxing. Time to move forward with what you have learned:

From dark to light, from blind to sight
My truth is clear to me.
From this New Moon, by waxing light
I'll do what's right, so mote it be!

Crescent Moon, 13 Sagittarius 40, October 21, at 6:45 pm EDT
During this waxing Moon, Sun will enter Scorpio October 23, 2:44 am, then conjuncts Pluto at 4:51 am, a potentially transformative passage. Energy shifts toward deeper feelings, and perhaps a deeper commitment to what you began with New Moon rite. If you didn't do the rite suggested then, it would be well to do it now.

First Quarter Moon, 2 Aquarius 44, October 25 at 8:42 pm EDT
It's the "crisis of action" phase, an innovative Moon sign, and a string mostly cooperative aspects including Moon's conjunctions to Jupiter and Neptune on the 27th. Here's myy suggestion for a Jupiter Creative Energy spell that could be a good one for some time while Moon is applying to conjunct Jupiter.

Jupiter Creative Energy Spell
Visualize yourself growing so tall that you can look down on your world, scanning all that goes on there at once. You have super eyes that can not only see the "big picture," but also zoom in at will to any part of it for detail. Enjoy the view, relax and play, imagining that you can rearrange things and try them out in different ways, just for fun, with no consequences until you definitely choose them to become reality. Look for opportunities—ways that you could make creative changes of benefit within your life. Allow yourself to dream and stretch a bit beyond present reality, but at the same time, make note of viable possibilities that occur to you. Zoom in on the one that interests you the most, and choose to take action on it, affirming your commitment to the action with this charm:

Ah ha! My goal I clearly see!
Yes, this I'll do, so mote it be!

Holding that thought, return gradually to normal size and a normal state of consciousness. Find a picture or symbol that reminds you of the action to which you've committed and put it in a prominent place where you will see it often, and repeat the charm until your goal is reached.

Gibbous Moon, 21 Pisces 48, October 29 at 10:22 pm EDT
Sensitive Pisces lunar energy could feel bruised today. If you're feeling any sense of that, you may be able to stay above the fray by focusing on an activity expressing Piscean helpfulness, artistry or spirituality. Sun in Scorpio squares Mars in Leo early this morning and Saturn passes into Libra, closing in on a square to Pluto in Capricorn, exact on November 15. The symbolism of this major aspect is one of the breaking down of old structures and rebuilding new ones. Power and control issues are also prominent. We'll see this happening in news about the larger world. For each of us, the theme is more or less dramatic depending on whether significant factors in our own charts are on or close to the earliest degrees of Libra or the other cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Capricorn. The theme for this phase is to keep moving ahead, despite any temporary or perceived obtacles. Full Moon is just ahead. Keep focused on your goals.

Full Moon, 10 Taurus 30, November 2 at 2:14 pm EST
Though Taurus is a solid and steady symbolism, the planetary aspects on this Full Moon Monday (Moon-day), right up through the close of the aspect string with Moon square Neptune on Tuesday, look rather harried and potentially confusing—and Taurus energy can also be stubborn about whatever is going on. Be patient with yourself and others. Talk things over calmly, remembering that listening is just as important as expressing your own thoughts. Stablize your own energy by grounding and centering spiritually:

Ritual for Full Moon in Taurus
Go outdoors where you can stand on Mother Earth and if at all possible, also see the Full Moon overhead. Stand strong with both feel planeted firmly on the ground—no slouching.
Close your eyes, take a deep breath, release it and continue to breath slowly with awareness as you focus your mind on reaching down into the Her body as if with psychic roots from your feet. Send that energy down through all the various strata of soil, clay, sand, water and stone, down and down until you feel the growing warmth of the molden heart of Mother Earth. Draw on that energy and bring it back upward with you, slowly moving it up through all the layers again until you feel energy entering your body through your feet. Feel the energy flowing upward through your entire body, filling you with peace, strength and calm.
Look around you for a small token, a gift form Mother Earth such as a stone, a leaf or a stick that you can keep as a reminder of this experience. Place the token immediately in front of you on the ground.
Now lift up your arms to the Full Moon and feel Her energy pulsating between your outstretched hands. Hold some of that energy and slowly bring it downward, gradually turning your hands so that energy spills into your body through your head. Keep moving your hands downward over your aura as you feel the lunar energy flowing through you, blending with the energy of Mother Earth. Bring the energy over your token too, then ground it. Stand, holding your token and feel connected, Earth and Moon, calm, peaceful, strong. Give thanks for what you've achieved and have been given.

Disseminating Moon, 28 Gemini 57, November 6 at 12:57 am EST
This is the lunar phase to "spread the word"—to present what what you've accomplished, to promote your idea. Moon starts out early today with a square to Saturn and opposition to Pluto, thus reminding us again that the generational aspect of Saturn square Pluto approaches (Nov. 15). Past the opposition at 5:09 am EST, though, there are only trines of Moon until she is void of course Saturday afternoon at 5:26 pm. So, disseminate!

Samhain, Sun at 15° Scorpio, November 7 at 1:56 am EST
Although more often celebrated as Halloween on October 31, Samhain is the solar-seasonal Sabbat that is the 8th "spoke" of the 8-fold Wheel of the Year, the semi-square between Fall Equinox and Yule. Since astrological themes have always beeen a key part of my Circle of the Cosmic Muse, we choose to celebrate the cross-quarter Sabbats as closely as feasible to their actual positions on the Wheel, at 15° of each fixed sign: Imbolc at 15° Taurus, Beltane at 15° Taurus, Lammas at 15° Leo and Samhain at 15° Scorpio. Here are links to my article & ritual for Samhain.

Samhain Lore
A Personal Samhain Ritual
Samhain Incense

Last Quarter Moon, 17 Leo 23, November 9 at 10:56 am EST
Energy winds down at this phase, so it's time to wind up projects, if you can, or deal with the potential you may have do some restructuring. "Crisis of consciousness" is a key phrase for this phase. With various Neptune aspects in the mix, some confusion or deceptive influences may be in the mix, so be aware.

Balsamic Moon, 5 Libra 54, November 12 at 10:40 pm EST
During this, the final phase before New Moon, we'll move through Libra back into Scorpio and on Nov. 15, just prior to next New Moon on Nov. 16, we'll experience, with the rest of the world, the square within the long-term cyclical aspects of Saturn-Pluto. Saturn is at 1° Libra; Pluto at 1° Capricorn (as mentioned above under Gibbous Moon). How important this aspect may be to each of us personally likely relates to our own birth charts. The good news is that, with awareness of the themes and their potential, we have a greater amount of personal control over how we handle our own reactions. Here is a simple ritual for release during this final phase:

Ritual for Balsamic Moon
Free your mind to visualize future potentials without vesting immediate action on them. Release your problems or irritations to the elements. When Moon is in Libra, release them to Air, naming a fallen leaf for each thing to release and blow it away. When Moon has moved into Scorpio (5:24 pm EST Nov. 14), release by Water. Name a small stone for each thing to release and call out its name as you throw way from you into any natural body of water—ocean, pond, stream or puddle.

PAST COLUMNS

Cycle of New Moon in Capricorn, January 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Aquarius, February 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Pisces, March 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Aries, April 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Taurus, May 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Gemini, June 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Cancer, July 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Leo, August 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Virgo, September 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Libra, October 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Scorpio, November 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Sagittarius, December 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Capricorn, December 26, 2008
Cycle of New Moon in Aquarius, January 24, 2009
Cycle of New Moon in Pisces, February 24, 2009
Cycle of New Moon in Aries, March 26, 2009
Cycle of New Moon in Taurus, April 24, 2009
New Moon in Gemini, May 24, 2009
New Moon in Cancer, June 22, 2009
New Moon in Cancer, Solar Eclipse, July 21, 2009
New Moon in Leo, August 20, 2009
New Moon in Virgo, September 18, 2009


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