People Have the Power: October 2019s New Moon in Scorpio

On Sunday, October 27th, just a few days before Mercury's journey retrograde through the underworld, there will be a New Moon at 4'25 degrees Scorpio. 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 Scorpio, we can expect new beginnings related to power dynamics, sexuality & intimacy, and secrets or our shadow sides.

It may be helpful to think back to what was going on in your life during the Full Moon in Aries or the Full Moon in Scorpio six months ago, for certain themes may be repeating themselves.

Whatever intentions you set now should come into fruition by the time of the Full Moon in Taurus on November 12th.

Those with any personal planets or angles between 0 to 10 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) will most especially be affected by this New Moon.

New Moon in Scorpio 2019

Historically, Scorpio was seen as an emblem of evil. An indicator of treachery and deceit. Of course, those of us with Scorpio friends and/or Scorpio in our charts know firsthand that that is not always true. Nevertheless, scorpions are known to be very dangerous, venomous animals, capable of killing within seconds with just one sting. However, you might be surprised to learn that they do not go hunting for prey. Instead, they lie in wait, quietly camouflaging themselves until it's the right moment to attack. The same can be said for Scorpio-influenced individuals. A Scorpio person does not generally go out of their way to hurt others, but cross them, and you're dead.

Scorpions are among some of the most resilient animals, able to adapt to almost any environment, from high-elevation mountains where temperatures are below freezing to boiling hot deserts. They're found all over the world, on every major landmass except Antarctica and New Zealand. While able to consume large amounts of food in one-sitting, scorpions can go up to a year without eating. In short, they are able to endure a lot of harsh conditions. This is why Scorpio is seen as a symbol of strength, determination and power.

For better or for worse, the sign of Scorpio is mostly strongly associated with power dynamics. While Venus-ruled Libra is a symbol of peace and equality between opposing forces, the Mars-ruled sign of Scorpio reminds us that ultimately we still live in a world of predator and prey, winners and losers. As much as we'd like to distract ourselves with arts and culture, and keep ourselves civilized with laws and ethics, the truth is this world is still a very dark and cruel place; and despite supposedly being at the pinnacle of our evolution, it still hasn't gotten much better. Scorpions are cannibalistic at times, some species even eating their own children if need be. Humanity isn't much better. Our self-created ideals mean nothing compared with our need for survival. Whether it's a war-zone we're surviving or just middle school, the need for self-preservation can often lead to some pretty ruthless behavior on our parts. But when the choice is to either kill or be killed, what choice have you really got? You can't just turn a blind eye when people are trying to kill you. Sometimes, fighting back is truly necessary. And if you are passive during times of injustice, guess whose side you are on?

The most important aspect of this New Moon is an opposition to the planet Uranus at 4'26 degrees Taurus. Since Uranus is the planet of shock, revolution and rebellion, I'm thinking we'll see a dramatic shift in power dynamics in the days leading up to as well as after the Scorpio New Moon. Those who currently hold power and wealth are finding it hard to defend their positions as the people become more and more empowered to stand up for what they need. This New Moon is all about change and liberation from oppressive social structures, as we begin to re-claim our own power, instead of being silenced by theirs.

Venus at 24 degrees Scorpio conjunct Mercury (just about to go retrograde) at 26 degrees may be about truths in love. Secrets in our intimate relationships are being revealed or exposed. It's a perfect time to confess to someone how you really feel about them; as right now, we feel more confident in expressing our desires. But with Uranus in the mix, it could also be that we're speaking truth in the name of love; by this I mean peace and respect for all humanity, and all the other values that Venus represents.

Coinciding with the New Moon in Scorpio, we also have a square between Mars at 15'30 degrees of Libra and Saturn at 15'10 degrees of Capricorn. This could indicate sexual frustration. Mars is weak in Libra, it's the sign of its detriment. So, it could also indicate an overall lack of of energy. We might feel fatigued and unable to accomplish our goals. However, the planet of war and ruler of the New Moon in a Venus-ruled peace-loving sign might be indicative of the reversal of powers mentioned in the last few paragraphs. There might be an end to all unnecessary wars, and conflict motivated by selfish interests. Since Mars has traditionally been said to represent the masculine, and Venus the feminine, it could be that women are taking over what historically have been considered male-dominated domains. There might be a reversal in traditional gender roles, women acting "more like men," and vice versa.

It's worth noting that the New Moon in Scorpio is also trine the North Node at 10'42 Cancer. While this aspect is kind of a bit wide, I think it's worth mentioning since the Nodes are also connected to the square between Mars and Saturn; Saturn conjunct the South Node and both Nodes square Mars. This New Moon may give way to events that feel destined or fated somehow.

Overall, I would say the New Moon in Scorpio triggers a much needed examination of current power dynamics. With the Uranus opposition triggering some much-needed change. This isn't a strictly "political," thing, limited to governments and major institutions. I'm talking about the power dynamics we have with people in our daily lives as well. We may also come face-to-face with our shadow side, finding ourselves acting in ways that we're not all too proud of, or we could find ourselves confessing secrets to a loved one. In any case, the New Moon in Scorpio is certainly a powerful one, as we feel more empowered ourselves.