New Moon in Scorpio: Fri 1st Nov
Hi Everyone
We have a new moon on Friday 1st Nov (12.47pm, UK time), in the sign of Scorpio, which carries an intense potency of feeling, a desire to know what lies hidden, to confront death, darkness, grief and sorrow, to investigate the truth, and to be initiated into the deeper mysteries of life. It certainly feels like a powerful turning point, and what is to come in the month ahead feels as if it carries a great deal of significance on many levels. One thing that is immediately evident, is that this Scorpio New Moon coincides with a very potent threshold moment in the seasonal calendar, celebrated in different ways as the ‘cross-quarter’ festival of Samhain, as the Day of the Dead, and as the Celtic New Year, which I say a little more about below.
The New Moon Chart (1 Nov 2024, 12.47pm, London)
As the Sun and Moon align for their monthly conjunction, we see that they make an applying trine aspect to Saturn in Pisces. On the face of it, this seems to suggest a certain stability, as the structuring, formalising forces of Saturn give shape and order to the more personal, and alchemically potentised combination of solar and lunar energy. A trine aspect creates an ease of understanding and can help to hold in place, and give solid ground to whatever needs to be born anew.
The chart actually shows a number of harmonious trine and sextile aspects. However, it is notable that Scorpio’s two ruling planets, Mars and Pluto are forming an exact opposition in the final (‘anaretic’) degrees of Cancer and Capricorn respectively, which generates a feeling of unease and potential volatility. The warrior force of Mars is held back in Cancer, and liable to be corrupted by power when Mars and Pluto are opposed. One’s energy and drive can feel as if it is being sapped, coerced or manipulated under such an opposition, but at the same time there arises a determination to destroy what is false and to re-claim one’s courage and vital strength through facing the darkness.
The energy associated with the new moon sows a seed of intent for the month ahead, and that seed grows in strength over the next couple of weeks. A Mars-Pluto aspect carries a lot of buried, collective anger, a build of frustration and suppresed energy, which can sometimes turn to treachery, and to a potential uprising from the depths. With a certain election happening in the USA next week, one can only wonder at how this might manifest!
Easing the tension of the opposition, and creating an atmosphere of empathy and imagination, we find that Mars is also involved in a grand water trine aspect pattern with Mercury in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces. It forms what we call a ‘kite’ configuration, when Pluto is brought in as the fourth planet in the pattern. This suggests that there are creative, imaginative outlets for this energy that can potentially sublimate the darker urges of the Mars-Pluto aspect and even potentially quell some of the volatily that we might expect on this aspect. It can, though, also induce a kind of intoxicating sleep, or avoidance of what is really happening. There is something very seductive, even enchanting, about about a Mercury-Mars-Neptune grand trine in the water signs. Yet with Pluto at the helm of the kite, there seems to be no avoiding an inevitable confrontation with the shadow forces!
The Themes of a Scorpio New Moon
During a Scorpio new moon, we have the opportunity to imagine the fundamental beginnings of life being planted deep within the earth, carried by the decaying leaves, decomposing fruits, and composting vegetation - a process that is protected by the mystical forces of the underworld; by Hades and Persephone, who were revered as the guardians of these seeds, and so of the harvest to come, possessing the transformative power necessary to sustain life during the cold winter months.
It is within the soil and within the depths of our inner selves that we process what is no longer necessary or visible in our conscious, everyday world. This is a time for us to delve into our soul's memories, acknowledge our losses, embrace the grief that accompanies them, and courageously explore the mysteries of our own existence by planting the seeds of renewal. To achieve this, we may need to release certain external ambitions and heed the call of our innermost selves, that reside in the depths of darkness.
The Seed of Death & Renewal
Scorpio represents the cycle of life and death, where the seeds of life return to the earth for regeneration. Birth and death are best seen as gateways within the larger cycle of life. The glyph for Scorpio resembles an 'M', with an arrow pointing downward, below the ground, signifying the transition or initiation of the soul in the Underworld. Similarly, the tail of the Scorpius constellation dips below the ecliptic path, hidden in the northern latitudes, representing both the Scorpion's sting of death and the seed of renewal that Mother Nature preserves during the winter months.
The dormant energy of regeneration lies beneath the surface, waiting to emerge in the cycle of life. Scorpio medicine teaches us to accept the impermanence of our physical bodies and detach our personalities from the physical form. The potent energy of life persists quietly throughout the winter, ready to reemerge in the spring for the next cycle of rebirth.
Scorpio teaches us that decay and death are inevitable outcomes of our soul's journey in the physical world. Death is seen as a doorway to a greater cycle of life, where we must learn to let go of our ego and embrace the transformation that comes with surrendering to forces beyond our control. Just as we experience a form of death each night when we enter the realm of dreams during sleep, or when we consume substances that alter our state of consciousness, we also face a kind of death when we release physical energy during ejaculation; "le petit mort", as the French call it.
The Poppy & The Day of the Dead
We always associate the poppy with remembrance, and this striking flower, with its powerful narcotic properties has obvious links with this time of year. When soldiers returned to field of Flanders in Northern France, they witnessed a sea of red poppies where their fallen comrades had perished. This sight stirred memories of the bloodshed that had stained the land. As a result, the poppy was adopted as a symbol of remembrance, and it has, of course, became customary to wear one on the lapel during the initial weeks of November to honor the fallen heroes.
Early November holds a special significance as a time to pay homage to ancestors. Various traditions such as the Celtic festival of Samhain, Halloween, and the Day of the Dead observe this period of the year, believed to be when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest. It is during this time that initiation rituals are performed in many different cultures, often incorporating the poppy as a symbol, with with its Underworld association, as a plant companion to realms of both sleep and death. In mythology, Hypnos (Somnus) and Thanatos (Mors), the sons of Night, are often depicted holding poppies, luring individuals into the realm of slumber and beyond.
The poppy's opium-producing properties have long fascinated poets and scholars seeking to explore the depths of human existence. Archaeological evidence suggests that ancient civilizations utilized the poppy in sacred rites associated with transitions to the Underworld. It is said that Demeter consumed the poppy flower while mourning the loss of her daughter Persephone, a perfect example of the plant's connection to grief and solace in times of sorrow.
To Rise Again
Scorpio insists upon a deep life review, delivering to us the unforeseen consequences of our youthful hopes and ambitions, revealing to us all manner of unimaginable relationships and circumstances that our soul chose to go through on behalf of its healing journey - a journey that we might only ever half-understand. It is important we forgive ourselves for the mistakes we have made in the past, as we were likely guided by an incomplete understanding. Scorpio is the survivor of the zodiac, and it is good to remember at this time that despite the challenges and setbacks we face, the life force within us is resilient and continues to seek out the possibilities for renewal and rebirth. That life force prevails even in the darkest corners of the psyche when all appears lost - and it is out of the those places of wisdom, it we may find the will to rise again.
Here is the Scorpio mantra from my book, Your Zodiac Soul:
“I face my own shadow and, in so doing, I honour the depth of my soul.”
New moon blessings!
You can find more details about my work here: www.kairosastrology.co.uk