The New Year began with a set of intense Lunar events: an Eclipse of the Sun at the New Moon in Capricorn, and then a Lunar Eclipse in Leo, which was also a Blood Moon. Exiting this energy, we are now in a time of flow and expansion after we were asked to get cozy with ourselves and our shadow. This release of energy might feel like a more honest New Year than January 1st.

This year has been an intense ride of retrogrades and heavy planets moving through big energy. The sky is pretty dark these days, and this New Moon in Sagittarius cast a bit of a shadow on the big energy of both the Sun and Jupiter (planet of expansion, excess, and hope, also Sag’s ruler). The New Moon is always a great time to begin new projects and look to the future and to set goals for the cycle. This particular transit reminded me of Disney’s Hercules, specifically the plot point that when all the planets line up, Hades will be able to unleash the Titans and get revenge on Zeus. Some challenging vibes were stacked up over the last few weeks, with Venus then Mercury retrograde hitting close to home for many. In the movie, though the power of the planets alignment causes chaos to ensue, their transit also enabled Hercules’ coming-of-age, the challenge that would ultimately transform him from mortal to God. The intensity of the moment, if embraced, can lead to transformation, new opportunities, and a better understanding of the self. If you opened one more door into your own mind this month, consider it victory.

The New Moon in Libra rose on Monday October 8th, and this astrologer was busy eating turkey. If you look up, the Moon is a satisfying white slice, waxing towards a Full Moon in Taurus later this month. Libra season is about thinking through both sides of the argument, weighing your options, and trusting your own judgement. When the New Moon passes through the sign, those principals apply to your inner world, your ability to care for others, and your willingness to share your emotions.

Welcome to the first New Moon Tarotscopes here at SAD Mag! The New Moon in Virgo visits us after a month of eclipses. Four of the planets that went retrograde this summer—that is, appeared to move backwards through the signs—Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn are now moving forward once again, but slow-moving Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune are still in their retrograde phase. This makes it a good time to take advantage of the dark lunar energy to go inward, to seek deep transformation, to nurture your most secure bonds. It’s also a good time to celebrate the hard-won fruits of subversive action, and continue to sit in that space of cutting through illusion by putting dreams of a brighter future into practice.