Insights by Kerstin Hern of The Mirrored Lantern / Original art for J. Southern Studio by Spirited Animals
Autumn greetings, everyone! Like many of you, this is my absolute favorite time of the year. When I was in high school, literally every year on October 21st or 22nd, I had some sort of major occurrence or shift happen, and it did not click until much later that the timing coincided with Scorpio season. It’s a season of intensity, death/rebirth, and subterranean passion that anchors us into each other, for better or worse. Coming off of the fall equinox last month, the days are getting darker and we will spend most of October communicating our way through the balancing act of Libra season with spotlights on relationships and harmony. Libra is a cardinal air sign, which ushers in new beginnings and initiations with open communication and fresh ideas being born. When we shift into Scorpio season on October 23rd, the collective energy shifts into the fixed water sign, meaning stubborn, committed, disciplined and rooted energy, so perhaps locking down the new relationships from Libra season with a focus on raw, intense emotions and transformation.
The gloriously gothy and spookiest of sabbats, Samhain (pronounced sow-wen) aka Halloween, is on October 31st, as you know. 10/31 adds up to a 5 in numerology energy, and 5s are about change and creativity! As a Pagan holiday in the Wheel of the Year (and similar to many other cultures’ practices), Samhain honors ancestors who have come before us and those who have recently crossed over. Because we are in the Dark Season, the veil is thin and access to the spirit realm comes with ease if you choose to reach out… As Mabon was the Witches’ Thanksgiving, Samhain is the Witches’ New Year, so as the physical world starts to lose color and die away into incubating darkness, so can you release and let die away what no longer serves you, allowing a natural cycle of gestation in sacred darkness.
Check out several notable astro transit dates below to both prepare for and better understand these deep energy shifts so you can work with (and not against) cosmic flow. You’ll see we have outer planets stationing direct after several months of Rx energy (inner work) meaning energy will exteriorize into our social worlds, moving faster, and progress and transformation will become apparent. Additionally, Rx Mercury, Pluto, and Jupiter are notable, because they are getting in the last hoorah of slow, introspective work before going direct mid-month and picking up the pace. Not listed but of note: There will be several little squares throughout the month, so just know that awkward or slightly annoying moments are opportunities to get more information around something you can heal or grow. Be sure to check the Tarotscopes blog for specific astrology transits for your sun, rising, and moon signs, too.
Create your own rituals around the new and full moons with themes, symbols, and tools to activate your manifestations and releases outlined below. Make note of which house will be most affected for you, per lunation, as well. October is truly a magickal month!
All the October blessings to you and your loved ones, and shoutout to all the ancestors!
Notable Dates and Transits:
THEMES & SYMBOLS: relationships, balance, harmony, love, romance, sensuality, flirting, diplomacy, analyzation, conversations, peace, negotiation, your shadow self/alter ego, breaking old rules about love and romance, family, fresh starts, new relationships, fairness, social justice, activism, beauty, luxury, art, balance scales, claw, wolf, crow, bronze sword, rose, aster, bluebells, copper, pastel green, pastel pink, indigo
This new moon falls on a Wednesday, which is Mercury’s or Hermes’ day, the gods of communication and magick, among other things. The moon will be in exact conjunction to Mars, so taking passionate action with confidence is very accessible high frequency energy; lower frequencies can look like aggression or explosive tempers, and with Mars joined with a Libra new moon, codependency issues may need tending to.
Uranus will also aspect the moon, adding an innovative and creative approach to bettering all intimate relationships and important partnerships, as well as surprising and unexpected partnering or activity in existing close relationships. Anticipate lightning-fast sudden change and insights! Where we may tend to people please, this lunation seeks assertive balance without needing to activate that trauma response (also known as fawning).
As previously mentioned, domestically, there may be some fiery energy, so do grounding exercises, think before you speak, and have convos outside under some trees with fresh air. As noted, this moon is on Mercury’s day and Mercury is still Rx, so re-dos in relationships and revising relationships are highlighted for fresh starts.
Use this cycle to do inner work to find balance and find your personal truth, spark new relationships, commit to goals and authenticity, promote growth or change in partnering, balance power and energy exchanges without fawning, edit personal narratives, all without compromising what you need and want for your highest good.
YOUR NEW MOON LUNATION HOUSE
Find your sun or rising sign below to see what area of your life will be most impacted by this new moon:
RITUAL + ALTAR INSPIRATIONS
NEW MOON PETITION
Write your intentions as specifically as possibly on a small piece of paper, in the present tense, as if they are already happening or already happened. Fold it 3 times toward you, symbolizing bringing energy to you, and place on your altar under your crystals. You may also place your petition under your air element candle or chime candle before you light your candle. This is an air moon, so safely burn petition then blow ashes into wind.
SUGGESTED MANTRA
“My mind, body, and spirit are in high vibrational states of balance. I give and receive all manifestations of love with ease held in healthy boundaries. All of my relationships get healthier and better every day. I am open to abundant new relationships and fresh starts in old relationships if they are for my highest good. I radiate love in all forms. So mote it be!”
NEW MOON MEDICINE
Libra rules the skin, kidneys, endocrine system, veins, and lower back/bum. Drink lots of water and green tea to flush kidneys and be mindful of booze and sugar. Stretch your back by doing the legs-up-the-wall pose, cat-cow, sphinx or cobra, or other lower back yoga poses. Enjoy a face mask and body scrub in the shower to tend to your skin.
Witch Pro Tip: Get into the healthy communication and connection zone this lunation with the Communication & Connection Crystal Kit!
THEMES & SYMBOLS: initiation (Aries is the 1st house of Self), higher self, incarnations, beginnings, death/rebirth, expression, spontaneity, passion, power, mission, purpose, iron, spear, torch, horn, Ram, hawk, falcon, thistle, honeysuckle, Tiger lily, red, scarlet, yellow, purple, creativity in action, King & Queen of Wands
This is The Hunter's Moon according to Farmers Almanac and Aries is the 1st house of zodiac, The Self (versus this month’s new moon in its opposite sign of Libra: partnership), and is also a cardinal sign (initiation). So, there is a vibe of seeking purpose and being reborn in some form with this lunation. As the moon waxes to its peak, you should be seeing fruits of your new moon intentions coming in, as well as anything that is out of balance as the growing moon will shine light on dark corners. Aries is ruled by Mars, who was active in the new moon lunation, so the theme of assertiveness carries over into this Aries moon, whose ruler is Mars. This Aries energy under the bright light of the moon can identify any relationships or partnerships that no longer serve the Self that you have been transforming and working on throughout this year in your personal growth process… Hopefully, over the past two weeks you have learned more about yourself and whom you partner with in the light of Libra truth. Anything still out of balance can be thrown into the Fire of this Aries full moon that serves to transmute all extra baggage or what we’ve outgrown into new energy. Authenticity is key to Aries, so this lunation is about using a metaphorical magnifying glass to see deep into yourself and intimate partnerships to confirm that all is authentic and aligned with YOU. The focus here is on bettering you and discovering or committing to your true purpose, so be brave and honor your authentic needs while being brutally honest with yourself about any deficits. Think about releasing blockages, whatever they may be, that are not aligned with your personal goals and present journey of purpose. Identify any triangulation between you (Aries) and other (libra) and work through them with honesty, creativity, and optimism—all beautiful Aries traits.
As always, it’s auspicious to call in and recognize abundance leading up to the peak of the full moon, then take action around releases and forgiveness after the peak.
YOUR FULL MOON LUNATION HOUSE
Find your sun or rising sign below to see what area of your life will be most impacted by this full moon:
RITUAL + ALTAR INSPIRATIONS
FULL MOON PETITION
For this fire moon, write out your full moon releases or those you want to forgive on a small piece of paper, speak them aloud facing south (fire direction), and then light it on fire and place in cauldron to safely burn. Add salt and mix to purify your intentions and complete the release.
SUGGESTED MANTRA
“I release all blockages between me and my true purpose. I am connected to my higher self and have stepped through a new door of initiation with passion, courage, and power. I express my creativity and needs with ease and am my own authority. I am grateful for all of the abundance and fresh starts coming into my life after I release all that is out of balance. So mote it be!”
FULL MOON MEDICINE
Aries rules the head, scalp, teeth, tongue, and arteries. Give yourself (or have a loved one or pro give you) a head massage to improve circulation and release tension. Use tea tree oil in your shampoo to stimulate your scalp and clear your crown chakra. Eat ginger and turmeric to bring in Fire Spirit (like the Gun Club song!). Give your teeth some extra care and do a coconut or charcoal pull. Enjoy delicious foods and do some French kissin’ (maybe not in that order…) to ignite passion, happy hormones, and stimulate your tongue!
Wishing you all a harmonizing New Moon and invigorating Full Moon this October!
Kerstin from The Mirrored Lantern has practiced right hand path magick and tarot for over 28 years and has been a lover and learner of astrology for just as long… She is currently in graduate school for Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Spiritual & Depth Psychology. Follow her on instagram @themirroredlantern for witch tips, weekly tarot, occulture, and depth psych tidbits!
Happy Full Moon in Capricorn! 🌝♑️It’s a special one as it is our second full moon in Capricorn in a row! So I did a quick tarot pull asking thee questions. In the earthen spirit of Capricorn of course I got pentacles, clarity, and straightforwardness with this reading lol. Took me less than 5 minutes to understand. Read for for the spread!
Ahhh- the enchanting realm of May Day! A time when flowers bloom in riotous colors, the air vibrates with flickers of summer, ancient traditions stir beneath the surface of the earth, and the promise of new beginnings pulsates around us. From April 28 through May 5, we stand on the threshold between spring's awakening and summer's embrace, Beltane, the spirited celebration also known as May Day. Let us embark on a journey through time to uncover the ancient origins and cultural tapestry of Beltane, from the blazing bonfires of the Celts to the floral splendor of English Flora Day, this magical time of year has a beautifully rich history and diverse multitude of ancient traditions.
