Libra New Moon Newsletter🔮

Happy New Moon in Libra!

In my corner of the world, the leaves are just starting to change as Mother Earth commences her annual return to a state of dormancy, treating us to spectacular hues of red, gold and purple. We’ve just celebrated the Autumnal Equinox in my household, the second one in our new home (but, as I discussed in this month’s newsletter to the VMP community, modern Equinox celebrations continue well throughout October so feel free to keep the festivity going!) and in just a few short weeks, we’ll celebrate the sacred day we met our beloved Cassie (October 14th is when she found us — three times, despite the odds — and claimed us as her people! It’s truly a long story and one for another day, but the circumstances of her introduction were quite magickal. Not that we’ve come to expect anything less in our household!)

A few of Cassie’s favorite things: Warm salt lamps, soft blankets, long naps & gentle whistling

Two-Week Astrology Report:

Sunday, September 25th: The yearly New Moon in the sign of balance and partnership is perhaps the best annual lunar moment for manifesting specific people; particularly as women, we celebrate each other for our independence and self-sufficiency (and yes, these are fabulous and necessary qualities to develop!) but Libra energy reminds us of the importance of interdependence, and the fact that we simply can’t thrive without occasionally outsourcing and allowing in support from others whether in business partnerships, friendship alliances or even intimate relationship dynamics. Whether you’d like to enrich and diversify your friendship circle, call in a highly responsible and mathematically-minded bookkeeper or manifest the perfect personal assistant or an attentive therapist who gets you, this is the moon to conduct that spell-work (and you can look below for an outlined ritual idea!) The New Moon in Libra also initiates a four-week cycle where we’re invited to recalibrate and come back to center: if something in our life has fallen out of balance, it might be brought to our awareness during the time of the Libra New Moon (the best way to invite this wisdom is to give yourself the time and space to do what you love and realign to your authentic self which, for me this time of year, realignment usually involves a computer and/or a book, a mug of something hot and at least one cat beside me.) The strongest aspect influencing the New Moon is an opposition to Jupiter which amps emotions, intuition and psychic abilities — feedback loops are also strengthened with Mercury Retrograde and Jupiter still opposite one another, so if you are conducting spell-work to attract other people, anticipate quick results but be discerning about who you actually allow in (not everyone attracted to your vibe under this moon is actually right for the position you’re trying to fill — lean on your strong instincts to help you decide!)

Monday, September 26th: Mercury Retrograde conjuncts the Goddess of Love in the sign of Virgo, and while this highlights the possibility of miscommunication or conflict within relationships, turbulence is not necessarily imminent. Tense discourse can be avoided today by not nit-picking others or succumbing to your own specific insecurities or areas of neuroses; even well-meaning or meant-to-be-funny criticism at the wrong time or worded slightly off could alienate others or injure feelings. In love, Venus in Virgo’s infatuation with the micro-details could leave us overthinking a romance or looking for evidence of a problem which doesn’t actually exist — rather than manufacturing proof of a limiting belief, get into your body with physical movement or exercise and before opening dialogue with the other party, clarify and organize your thoughts. Thankfully, Venus also trines Pluto in Capricorn today which is highly opportunistic — this aspect favors authenticity and genuine attempts at connection or success, so feel free to lead with your intensity and focus (Pluto never rewards petty attempts to downplay our true feelings or miscommunicate intentions for the sake of appearances.) The Goddess of Love and the Lord of the Underworld have somewhat of a natural affinity already and when they synergize, the groundwork is laid for real intimacy to deepen or develop and for financial opportunities to materialize; an eye for opportunity combined with this auspicious astrology could advance us closer to our long-term financial, career or relationship goals today, and with both of these planets in grounded Earth signs, the results could be long-lasting and sustainable, even if not necessarily immediate. Simply put, align to the vibe of integrity and vulnerability and anticipate good results!

Tuesday, September 27th: Mercury Retrograde trines Pluto for the second time in a series of three (the first occurred on August 22nd, and the Messenger God will trine Pluto once more after stationing direct on the 8th of October — essentially, this energy is in play right up until then though is especially active today.) At the sociopolitical level, Mercury alignments to Pluto are notorious for muckraking — mistresses come out of the woodwork armed with scandalous screen-shots, the silent start talking and the behind-the-scenes dealings of political scandals reveal themselves or become outed — but at the individual level, this gentle trine isn’t likely to shake things up too dramatically and if information is revealed, wait until October 8th for the full story or greater clarity. Otherwise, Mercury trine Pluto is awesome for mental excavation work in the form of talk therapy or tapping; especially with Mercury retrograde, attempts to better understand or transform your own psychology are likely to yield powerful results. This contact rewards vulnerability and authenticity with intimate communication and profound (even if casual) interpersonal connection — if rooted in authenticity, even casual banter with the barista can suddenly feel more truly intimate than most sex you’ve had.

Wednesday, September 28th: Mars in Gemini trines Saturn in Aquarius, and while this contact remains relevant throughout Mars’ historically long seven-month journey through the sign of the Twins, it’s especially in play throughout this week. While Mars and Saturn are slightly antithetical energies — the Ruler of Time tends to err on the side of slow-and-steady-wins-the-rice, while fast and furious Mars remains laser-focused on the finish line — but when these two opposing energies synergize, we can more effectively gauge appropriate timing, pushing our own limits while also respecting them and remaining committed to our cause while pacing ourselves accordingly. Because both of these planets are in air signs, it’s a good time to tend to our goals, dreams, ideas and plans, ensuring that everything is practically in line before moving full-speed ahead (and especially with Mercury Retrograde, it’s a good time to pause on the development of any projects or plans for a general reassessment.) That being said, leave room for spontaneity and stoke your excitement and enthusiasm; if new inspiration strikes, give yourself permission to change course. Have a plan, but more importantly, nurture the courage and gut instinct to know when (or if) it’s time to deviate from it!

Thursday, September 29th: Venus enters her home sign of Libra until October 23rd and from within the comfort of her native ground, the goddess of love functions quite optimally. It’s an excellent time for a Venusian recalibration in the form of a new signature scent or a more thoughtful or extensive self-care ritual — adding a luxurious body oil to your post-shower regimen or using a jade-roller to massage in your morning face serum can be surprisingly fulfilling now (and no, it’s not vain — it’s actually a powerful self-love spell!) Interpersonally, Venus in Libra favors diplomacy, tact, softness and harmony — especially with Mercury Retro, it’s not the best time to assert a perspective or disrupt the delicate balance of a situation with aggression, force, or impatience, and conversely, Venus in Libra can also make us hyper-aware of cause and effect to the point where we catch ourselves trying to appease the difficult personalities in the room for the sake of group harmony (but very much at our own expense.) Venus in Libra favors those who can self-assert delicately, with grace and without creating an atmosphere of tension, conflict or strife (and it’s an astrologically good time to learn to strike that balance!) With regard to romance, this three-week period intensifies any existing romantic plots if you’ve been dating or noticing a new attraction (and if you’ve been on a love sabbatical, it’s a fantastic time to allow yourself to get drawn back in!) In existing relationships, a little extra effort to tune into your partner and compromise can go a long way. Venus in Libra is always a good time for a relationship recalibration and to restore balance: if you and your boo haven’t been communicating as frequently or attentively, it’s a good time to initiate some dialogue and figure out how to come back together.

Saturday, October 1st: Venus and Jupiter Oppose, leaving us (and others) susceptible to impulsive Venusian highs which can then be uniquely followed by a sudden crash or withdrawal of energy. Go ahead and hit “add to cart” if you’ve been eyeing that good olive oil or scented body scrub for a while, but it’s not the best day for expensive impulse purchases — particularly those with a strict no-return policy — and especially with Mercury Retrograde through Virgo, the fine print and micro-policies of a company are well worth a read. We can likewise find ourselves over-drinking or over-eating but as always, you’re the one who determines where your healthy limit is (and it’s true that Venusian pleasures can bring a lot of comfort when these two planets oppose — for some of us, polishing off a pint of ice cream or indulging in a second glass of wine is today’s perfect antidote, while for others, the door to sugar or alcohol simply can’t be opened.) In romance, others are prone to boom-bust cycles which shouldn’t be taken personally; if a former lover resurfaces that had dropped off under sketchy circumstances, anticipate the same erratic behavior in the form of an imminent withdrawal once their sudden high wears off (and we, too, might face a tendency toward erraticism or hot/cold behavior in the realm of romance — it’s all fine and good, as long as everyone’s appraised of the terms.) If dating, this contact rewards being open to new possibilities. If you’re travelling to another city (even if only temporarily or on business) it’s worth hopping on the dating apps and seeing who might be nearby. Who knows — a fun fling could illuminate life-changing new perspectives, or a coffee date inspires the formation of an unlikely friendship!

Sunday, October 2nd: Mercury stations direct in Virgo, but for Mercury Retrograde purists, the Trickster Magician remains in the shadow zone until October 17th — while much of the weirdness we associate with this notorious event could continue right up until then, the tone of the retrograde significantly shifts today. Communication blocks should begin to noticeably lift and, as Mercury re-traces his steps through the zodiac’s mutable earth sign, it’s a fantastic time to organize and de-clutter — an intensive purge of the fridge, your vehicle or a virtual inbox could yield big epiphanies or clear subconscious mental clutter, and setting goals related to the Earth-signed themes of money or physical health is also powerful today. If you’ve neglected some of your personal systems and routines during the retrograde which keep your life running smoothly (I know I’m guilty of this!) return to them and if necessary, simplify or adjust them for optimal sustainability — moving your morning supplements to a more physically convenient location, for example, or timing yoga to your favorite morning talk-show can be surprisingly helpful.

Saturday, October 8th: Pluto stations direct in Capricorn where the Lord of the Underworld has been retrograde since late April, compelling us to self-reflect. Pluto goes retrograde every year for about five months — this isn’t a particularly rare phenomenon or one which imminently impacts our day-to-day living — but Pluto’s yearly station direct can be impactful at the personal and collective levels, activating primal turf or dormant subconscious material. If we’ve been doing a lot of investigative work and self-analysis, our five-month process of transformation becomes evident today or a powerful moment of healing validates our efforts, but if we’ve been burying emotions or anxiety beneath the surface, it could erupt today like a tempestuous volcano. Themes of money, power, death, sex and rebirth are activated today just in time for shadow season: ideally, channel the moment’s intensity into empowering feats like busting triumphantly through personal (or externally-set) limitations. It’s also fab for intimacy, a physical makeover to reflect your inner transformation, and any attempts at self-inquiry or to better understand your psychology. If you’ve recently released something — whether a person, a habit or an old way of thinking or being — ritualize it with a burning ceremony (safely!)

Tarot Card for the New Moon in Libra: The Four of Cups

The Four of Cups (pulled from The Crow Tarot by MJ Cullinane) is often incorrectly interpreted as a kind of warning that we’re missing an opportunity, that we’re overlooking or failing to appreciate something that’s right in front of us, and while that’s sometimes how this card can feel to move through from a fear-based perspective, I actually think of it as an invitation to take a sacred pause and re-assess our emotional input/output levels (and certainly, this makes sense within our current astrological context — we’re just entering the introspective half of the year, and the Libra New Moon is always about balance and recalibration.) But this Libra New Moon, we’re being asked to come emotionally back to center so we can process something, whether a specific trauma or unresolved emotional conflict or simply to replenish our depleted emotional cup. Fours in the Tarot are always about creating a container in which to feel or experience something fully — the Four of Swords indicates a time to rest and replenish, for example, while the Four of Pentacles hints at a phase of life where we’re craving physical space and boundaries. The Four of Cups is similar to it’s corresponding cards in the Swords and Pentacles suits respectively, but in this case, the boundary we’re invited to cultivate is very specifically an emotional one. We’re really being asked to get intentional about what we accept, consume and allow in during the Libra Moon Cycle, from the friendships we keep to the TV that we watch and the treatment we permit. If you’re offered an opportunity during the Libra Moon Cycle that feels too good to pass up, consider if you really have the emotional bandwidth to accept the offer at this time (I once pulled this card when asking the tarot if I should accept a career opportunity that sounded good but for some reason, I didn’t want to. When I pulled this card, I knew the right thing to do was to respectfully decline — it wasn’t the right time for me, and I knew the offer would come back if it was in my path.) And this card does gently remind us that if something is truly meant for us, it isn’t going anywhere — The Four of Cups asks us to trust in the wisdom of our own personal timing, to get real with ourselves about what we’re really available for. This might mean that you render yourself unavailable for a friend’s post-work vent session, or decline a date with a seemingly-perfect individual; but even in the face of external pressures, our challenge for the Libra Moon cycle is to listen to ourselves. There’s a time for inspired action and bold risk-taking, but the tarot tells us that that time isn’t now; give yourself permission to rest and process, and be very discerning about your emotional output throughout the Libra Moon Cycle. Your time, attention and emotional bandwidth are valuable resources — simply put, not everyone deserves them!

Libra New Moon Manifestation Ritual: Attract a Specific Person

Note that this is not a ritual to attract a specific individual by name; instead, this ritual is for calling someone in who can fill a particular role you’d like to outsource, or who brings a unique level of genius which you yourself feel you could benefit from. You can use this spell for attracting anyone — a friend, a client, a massage therapist, etc. You’ll Need: a candle, a quartz crystal, a bowl of sugar or honey, a pen, paper.

Begin by cleansing the space, and then light a candle intentionally chosen on the basis of the relationship you’re calling in (for example, if you’re calling in a lover, you might wish to use a pink or red candle. If you’re manifesting a business partner, you might wish to use a green candle to represent prosperity or blue for loyalty. If in doubt, you can always just use a plain white candle!) Write down the list of qualities of the person you’d like to call into your life. Take your time with this and be really honest about what you’re looking for in an ideal person for this role, considering all aspects of their life. For example, if you’re trying to manifest a health specialist who makes you feel comfortable, consider what the attributes are that feel important to you in a doctor. Maybe it matters to you that their office is clean, comfortable, chic and close by; perhaps you prioritize that they’re a fantastic listener who makes really good eye contact. You might also wish to note that they specialize in whatever your unique health needs of the moment are. Even if it seems obvious, write it down!

Once you have a list of qualities, look it over and familiarize yourself with what your standards are. As you read the list, new things may come to mind; go ahead and add them. Then, gaze into the candle flame while holding the quartz crystal, visualizing this person coming into your life. What do they look like? How do they make you feel? What is your communication like? If you’re manifesting a friendship, is this a drinking buddy you can laugh with and let loose around, or a ride-or-die you have sleepovers and deep conversations with? (Or both?) How does this person demonstrate the qualities you wrote down specifically, and what are you able to offer them in turn? What’s the dynamic like? Even if you’ve never met someone with these qualities before, allow yourself to imagine exactly the kind of person — and relationship — you want.

Read your list again and this time, go through and note which qualities on the list you yourself possess. Maybe, for example, high on your list is that the individual you’re calling in is a good listener; if that’s the case, do you hold yourself to this standard as well? It’s totally okay if there are items on the list that you don’t embody, or that you’re aware you could improve on (it seems obvious, for example, that you would want your business’s bookkeeper to have a knack for numbers, while maybe you’ve made peace with the fact that you’re simply a right-brained babe!) Just go through and bring awareness to the areas where you don’t have that quality, leaving a little star.

Go through and visit the items that you starred, and ponder how — or if — you can begin to improve yourself in that particular area. Active listening, for example, is always a skill that can be improved in the form of trying to ask more questions. If there’s something that you don’t feel you can necessarily improve on, or simply don’t wish to — maybe, for example, you’re totally okay with not being mathematically-inclined, hence the need for a business partner — write down beside that item what you are ready to bring to the relationship to complement and offset that quality — your innovative spirit, your enterprising nature, your knack for spotting a business opportunity, your people-skills, your ability to quickly generate creative ideas, etc.!

Once you’ve clarified the nature of the dynamic and how you’ll each contribute, fold the piece of paper and place it under the bowl of sugar or honey. If you can do so safely, allow the candle to burn itself out (while supervising it.) Carry the quartz crystal with you and leave the piece of paper on your altar undisturbed for six days. Like most of my spells, this one is interactive: it’s most effective if you follow up with real efforts to cultivate at least a few of the qualities you starred

Happy Libra New Moon!

-Ali

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