New Moon in Virgo: A Transformation Ritual
A crescent moon over the tips of snowy mountains at night with stars speckling the sky.
Quick note, I usually share these intro details in my newsletter but I will be keeping the extra aspects and ritual to members only. So feel free to jump to the next section if you read the newsletter.
The New Moon in Virgo this year is bringing some beneficial energy just as we enter an astrological season of heavy-hitting astrology. I am also pleased to report that this new moon happens at 5:51pm PST giving us the evening to work with this energy. While the new Moon is the highlight considering, we actually have very tight aspects happening between many of the other planets. This new moon is taking place in the second decan of Virgo putting a highlight on Venus as well.
This new moon is an invitation to consider rest and reflection as an act of service. Do you stop long enough to witness where you are on your journey? Do you look around and appreciate how skilled you’ve become? Virgo season often highlights a tendency to want to work hard, to put in the effort with little reward, to be of service both to others and to your craft, but the new Moon in this decan tells you that every act of contribution and hard work is only a side quest in the longer and more important mission that is living as a person in this dimension and in this time.
This decan is associated with the 9 of Pentacles which often tells us that the reward is just around the corner. It tells us to practice patience and to continue with what we’re doing, but in this context, I think the subtle meaning is about knowing that the journey is never fully done. Knowing that we’re associating this with Venusian qualities and the energy of the new moon phases, I know we’re being invited to check in with our hearts and with our higher selves. How can we nurture ourselves? Do we make space to reflect in our journey?
A screenshot of the chart of the new moon on September 6, 2021 @ 5:51:47 pm in PST in Nevada.
Chart Breakdown of Other Aspects
Now that I’ve given you a general understanding of the new moon’s placement, let’s explore some of the other important placements and aspects.
I want to spend some time on Venus, especially, given that she is the ruler of this decan where the new Moon is taking place. Venus is currently in her domicile in Libra where she will stay until the 11th when she moves into Scorpio. Venus here is about making connections and building relationships, and as ruler of this new moon, she is invited us to reconnect to ourselves on a deeper level and heal and establish that cord that connects our present self with our higher self. Here, Venus is separating from a square to Pluto which caused a little bit of a ruffle internally. This new moon is a chance to tend to the wounds that emerged from the exact square the night prior. The Pluto-Venus square likely unearthed some destructive tendencies and old wounds related to how you love and how you allow yourself to be loved. Since this aspect is still close but separating, this will play into the ritual I lay out for y’all, offering you a chance to see the unseen in regards to a wound that pops up around the 5th. Venus is also cozied up in the third decan of Libra which is ruled by Jupiter adding an extra oomph to her benefic-blessing granting abilities. This is an ideal time to petition her while she is still in her domicile and to establish a relationship.
While there are a couple of other aspects on this new Moon, the final one I’ll be talking about is Pluto and Mars making an exact trine. Mars, while in wide orb conjunction with the new Moon, still lends some of its energy just by the nature of it being co-present the event in the same sign. This energy gives you the drive you need to approach your ritual with a warrior’s heart. With Mars trining Pluto, the potential to truly transform and to move forward in issues related to people-pleasing, perfectionism, overworking, or neglecting self, is highlighted. This transformation is only possible if you’re willing to have the braveness of Mars alongside the tenderness of Venus. Be stern and real with yourself, but do it through the lens of re-parenting yourself.
A person showering but not clearly visible because of the water on the glass.
The Ritual
Here are the supplies you will need:
Tarot deck for the spread or any other divination method you prefer
A lemon cut in half and a bowl of salt (read on to decide how much you need)
1/2 cup of coconut milk (you can substitute goat, cow, or almond. I don’t necessarily think oat is best for this).
Dried roses or rose tea. Can substitute with Chamomile but highly prefer Rose. (~2 tbls of dried plants or 2-3 teabags)
A bit of honey or agave
I encourage you to read through the entire ritual so you can decide best how to prepare your supplies.
A tarot spread against a galaxy background with a card in the center atop, one on the left and one on the right below, and then one on the left and one on the right below those two cards equalling 5 cards total.
Part One: Divine
The first thing you’re going to do is a divination reading. I’ve provided a tarot spread (see above). This reading will help you explore some of the themes of the aspects and the new Moon.
The card at the top will show you the overall theme and lens through which to read the rest of the cards. Use this as your guiding card in many ways.
What parts of you are you sacrificing? (Consider whether this is a sacrifice that is beneficial for your growth and for where you are now or if it is a sacrifice that is harmful).
What “lesson” or “message” comes through in this new Moon relating to the Pluto-Venus square from September 5th?
What do you need to reflect on this new moon?
What love or kindness does your higher self want you to grant to your current self (that was a mouthful to type but feel free to reduce to ‘What kindness can I give myself’).
Things to keep in mind: Sometimes we get cards that are generally seen as “negative” in a space where we’re seeking out something positive (like number 5, for example), but that doesn’t mean you need to be negative to yourself. Consider the card’s meanings in the terms of the question. Let’s say that the three of swords comes up for #5. I would interpret this to mean that you need to give yourself heart healing, or maybe you need to allow yourself space to grieve.
Part Two: Prepare Supplies
Next you will get half a lemon and a bowl of salt. You will be using the salt in the shower to scrub your body so gather how ever much you feel you need.
The next portion will be simmered on the stove, so you will need a pot. Fill it with 4 cups of water. Add the 1/2 cup of coconut milk. Add your 2-3 teabags or your 2-3 tablespoons of dried herbs. Put heat on low and allow this to steep. Avoid bringing to a hard boil. Let this simmer for 21 minutes. If you need a general refresher on preparing a baño, read the detailed blog post I shared. We will be doing this as a shower to pack a punch versus doing a full baño series. Once it is done steeping, strain, add a drizzle of honey, and let this cool. You will need this for the final portion.
Part three: Cleanse
After your mixture has cooled, you’re going to head on over to the shower. Bring your mixture in a jar or pitcher, and bring your lemon and bowl of salt. Begin by taking a normal shower prior to doing the spiritual aspect. Now that you have gotten clarity, for this step, I want you to focus on card #1: “What parts of you are you sacrificing?” If you found that it was time to let go of one aspect of yourself (a harmful habit, a limiting belief system, etc) then I want you to focus on that belief while you perform the cleansing portion. If you found that you were sacrificing parts of you that did NOT need to be sacrificed, you’re going to release the need to sacrifice yourself for others. Here are some other ideas for what you could release:
I let go of the need to be of service to be valued.
I let go of my self worth being tied to my productivity.
I clear away the belief that I cannot have both a career I love and ease.
I release the need to be patient with others in regard to my boundaries.
Once you decide on one key phrase, I want you to repeat this phrase as you scrub your body with the two halves of the lemon. Rub this along your skin. Be mindful of tiny papercuts and wounds. Make sure to scrub it into your scalp as well. Be fierce but don’t harm yourself in the process. The key is to get into all the (safe) nooks and crannies. Continue repeating what you are releasing verbally or focusing your intention on that phrase. Once you have done this all over with the lemons, you are going to do the same thing but with salt. Since this is The Celestial Realm, and y’all are here to learn, I’ll explain my reasoning. In this case, the lemon helps to cut through the energetic ties to this belief and way of being. Citrus is very powerful for this kind of work and each different type of citrus offers a different variation in the work. Lemon is helpful in breaking jinxes and blocks (we often cross ourselves without realizing it). We follow this with salt because salt is cleansing and grounding. Lemon is cleansing but more clearing so we do that first, but we follow with salt to clear away the energetic debris leftover as you work to cut the bond to this belief.
Part Four: Fill Your Cup
After you have done the cleansing portion, you’re going to focus on the antithesis of the belief you are releasing. You’re going to find an equally powerful and beneficial belief system to pour back into yourself. So let’s look at the examples I gave for inspiration:
I value myself and should be valued by those I love simply for existing.
I exist to experience life and joy and pleasure and ease.
I grant to myself a passionate career that allows me to move with ease.
My boundaries are an invitation to be loved the way I most need.
After picking one new mantra, begin to say this repeatedly as you pour the milk mixture over your body, again, adding it to your scalp. Pour slowly and aim to cover every inch of your body. After you have done this, rub this into your skin for a good five minutes. Afterward, you are welcome to rinse off. You will likely get a little bit stinky regardless of how well you rinse off. DO NOT USE SOAP. Air dry if possible and wear only light colors to bed. If you’d like, you can put on a little bit of a love or joy magical oil, or spray some rose water and tend to your skin.
