Blowout to Reassess Your Life: August 2019's New Moon in Virgo

On Friday, August 30th, at 6:37 AM EST we will have a New Moon at 6'46 degrees of Virgo. Here's what to expect.

What Is a New Moon?

A new moon represents the beginning of the lunar cycle when the moon is conjunct the sun and invisible to the human eye. New moons are a good time for fresh starts and new beginnings. It is a good time to start a new project or make a radical change. It's also a good time to find clarity on what you want, and release what no longer serves you. The effects of a new moon generally last for about two weeks, up until the next full moon.

With the New Moon in Virgo, we can expect new beginnings related to health (both physical, mental, and spiritual), cleanliness, our everyday routines, new skills, and the way we organize our life.

It may be helpful to think back to what was going on in your life during the Full Moon in Aquarius on August 15th or the Full Moon in Virgo six months ago, for certain themes may be repeating themselves,

Whatever intentions you set now should come into fruition by September 14th's Full Moon in Pisces

Those with any personal planets or angles between 1 to 11 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) will most especially be affected by this New Moon.

New Moon in Virgo

Virgo, the sign of the virgin, is depicted as a young woman, often holding an ear of wheat or corn, highlighting the signs' connection with the earth and harvest season; when the earth can be seen as a virgin land about to bear new crops. Due to its connection with the earth, Virgo is a very realistic and practical sign, associated with hard work, service, and productivity, and as a symbol of purity, humility, and perfection. It is often associated with the Greek fertility goddess, Demeter, as well as the Virgin Mary. It is also often thought to be a depiction of Astraea, the Roman goddess of law, holding in her hand the scales of Libra, the next sign of the zodiac. Thus the signs of Virgo and Libra, are deeply interconnected, as both are idealists seeking perfection, but while Libra, as an air sign, symbolizes lofty ideals such as fairness and harmony, Virgo, as an earth sign, is more at home in the material realm. Virgo, as an earth sign, is more about the hard work and service needed to reach these ideals. As a perfection-seeking sign at home in the material realm, Virgo is also associated with health, cleanliness, and the perfection of a skill.

The New Moon in Virgo will be influenced by a number of aspects.Its closest aspects include a nearly exact trine to Uranus in Retrograde at 6'28 degrees Taurus and a conjunction to Mars at 7'46 degrees Virgo, bringing us an increase in energy and vitality. The combination of these two aspects bring us an increase in feelings of excitement and adventure, inspiring us to step outside of our comfort zones and be bold. There may be a slight danger of impulsiveness as well, but overall it is a very positive influence, and any impulsive actions we do take may even be for the best, as we're better able to break free of conventions that are no longer serving us.

The conjunction to Mars will make us feel extra motivated, while the trine to Uranus will make us feel extra creative, making it an excellent time to start new projects and business ventures, especially since this New Moon will also be accompanied by a conjunction to Mercury at 2'12 degrees, helping us to see the logical side of things. Mercury is particularly strong in Virgo, which is the sign of both its domicile and its exaltation. Mercury added to the mix strengthens our communication skills, as we feel more confident in what we say, and less concerned with what other people think. We're able to express new ideas with confidence and ease, no matter how out-of-the-box or "out there," they might seem.

Like the Full Moon before it, this New Moon in Virgo is also bound to be a very passionate and sexy one. With the New Moon conjunct Mars, there might be a slight danger of anger or aggressiveness, but that could easily be channeled through sports, exercise, or other forms of physical activity... like sex. The conjunction of Mars, combined with the wider conjunction to Venus at 11'13 degrees Venus, rouses strong feelings of passion, and an increase in sex drive. The trine to Uranus brings excitement and spontaneity to our sex lives, perhaps causing unexpected and surprising things to happen, while the conjunction to Mercury makes it easier to communicate how we feel about people. The raw sexual energy of Mars combined with the more affectionate Venus is a very positive influence, while the New Moon's conjunction to Mercury makes it easier for us to communicate our deepest, most intimate desires.

With this in mind, I want to note that while Virgo is the sign of the virgin, the word "virgin," in ancient times did not so much refer to a woman who was untouched, but instead, referred to a woman who was independent and free, unclaimed by any man. So, this New Moon, considering the aspects it makes to Venus, Mars, Uranus and Mercury, may also help women to reclaim their sexuality, and feel more comfortable with their bodies.

Above all, I would say the New Moon in Virgo is one of the best times' of the year to start a new routine and re-organize your life, whether that means starting a brand new diet or health regimen, practicing a skill, or beginning a new skincare or beauty routine (which it's conjunction to Venus would certainly suggest). Many of us (or at least I know I do) struggle with having lots of ideas, but getting so caught up in our everyday lives, that we struggle to actually follow through with them. This New Moon in Virgo reminds of us of the importance of having a plan; a routine. If we want to start a band, we need to practice our instruments. If we want to write that novel, we have to make time to actually write. Make a goal for yourself: a word count, a certain time of the day set out for guitar practice. This New Moon helps plant our feet on the ground, so that we can plan and take the little everyday actions needed to make our goals a reality.