The New Moon in Scorpio
I love a New Moon. A fertile void so full of possibilities, a potent portal between who we are and who we are becoming.
People will tell you the Moon is fallen in Scorpio, the intense sign of fixed water, and to some degree, the ancients were right, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t medicine here. And yes, before you say, “traditionally Scorpio is ruled by the malefic planet, Mars, blah, blah, blah…” it is, but the Moon is the luminary of the Night sect, and Mars is her partner here.
Mars is more than a planet of discord. Our Mars placement describes how we move our energy, the will of our Solar power toward what we want, and in Scorpio, it's strong, passionate, full of endurance, and somewhat secretive, burning the midnight oil. If Mars in Aries is the fresh, young warrior on the battlefield, Mars in Scorpio is the cloaked assassin who takes his time stalking his prey and waits for the best moment to take out his opponent.
Scorpio has a natural affinity for nightfall and the dark part of the year, when we rely less on the Sun’s light and more on the Moon's sensations through touch, taste, and smell. Planets in this sign are much more like Arya Stark with her list and her sword, Needle, than undisciplined children running with scissors at recess.
Still water runs deep
The Moon, our luminary of the interior, our private thoughts and feelings, plus the material needs of the body and desire for safety, is elementally syncretized with water. So it has a natural affinity with all the water signs of the Zodiac.
When we think about all the types of water on Earth—freshwater, seawater, mountain springs, ponds, and wells, to name a few—we associate it with movement. They include currents, tides, and rise and fall.
This is the rub for the Moon here: her essential nature is change, as her aqueous light ebbs and flows, whereas Scorpio’s instinct is to hold on until there is nothing left to hold on to. I know a lot of Scorpios who are incredibly loving and loyal, which is something in this day and age, yet there comes a time when we are required to let go. That’s emotionally difficult for all Scorpio placements. Sometimes we become entangled with people or situations that aren't good for us, subconsciously replicating childhood attachment dynamics.
Water is also associated with all carbon-based life itself. It's what we look for when we explore space. And if we use the Thema Mundi, as the birth chart of the universe, it puts Scorpio in the 5th house of children and creativity.
Scorpio, as a sign, rules over the loins and bodily excretions, another type of water movement. It reminds me of nutrient-rich compost tea and worm tea, water-based solutions made from earthworm castings that fertilize the garden. So there is a correlation with themes of death and decay, but I’d argue Scorpio is just as much about life. As a fixed sign, its modus operandi is to sustain intimacy and connection, which are essential for survival.
In my opinion, Mars-ruled Scorpio, with the Moon and Sun forming a conjunction (aka New Moon) in this middle face ruled by the life-giving rays of the Sun and healing Jupiter, is like a petri dish. A consistent, life-giving medium that supports what desires to grow here.
The Six of Cups is the tarot card syncretized for this lunation. I love this version from The Infinite Door Tarot because it reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses from Isaiah 35:1: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.” So perfect for the current astrological skies.
I know this New Moon is applying to a square with Mars, Jupiter, and Ketu. You’ll feel it as a volatile friction, a sense of "bumping" up against your own life. But rather than trying to smooth those edges away, lean into them. The bump is the alchemical heat required to start the process. Just as making antivenom starts with the venom itself, we need a bit of it to get started.
We all know this feeling. You are holding on to a grudge, a role you no longer want to play, or a commitment that has become an anchor. You think you are protecting your security, but you are actually stagnating your own growth. You find yourself trying to force a harvest in a season meant for turning back into the soil.
We have two Scorpio Full Moons next Taurus season in 2027! So this is a great opportunity to explore the connection between your emotional life, your values, and your resources.
It’s impossible to open your hands to receive without letting go of what you’re holding.
How to work with this lunation
The New Moon in Scorpio occurred late Sunday, November 8th, at 11:02 PM PT, so we are in the window of beginnings. Acknowledge any difficult feelings about what you have, your work, or even yourself. There is no perfectly finished state to reach. The race is long, and if you focus only on the finish line, it will seem farther and farther away.
Consider sharing what you’ve been working on, the in-progress, unfinished state. The feedback, information, or support that will help you move forward will likely come from talking, writing, or communicating about it.
Lastly, focus on the quality of life that will result from what you truly value and what truly matters to you, not a specific dollar amount. For example, if you want a certain income, what desire is behind the number? That's something to hold on to.
This New Moon in Scorpio asks us to look at what is ready for the soil, not what we can force to bloom. When you bump up against the limits of a life that no longer fits, harvest what is ripe and turn the rest back into the earth.
Want some company? I’d love to turn the soil with you. In a 75-minute consultation, we move past the performance and tend to the truth of your own life rather than the expectations you’ve been maintaining. Book yours here.