Hello - I hope you are doing well,
If you are new here, I’m Melissa - an artist and practitioner of ancient astrology and alchemy for personal transformation.
Today I’m sharing some thoughts on todays new Moon, alongside mythology and symbols associated with the 1st decan of Scorpio & the 9° degree being activated.
Whole sign chart for the full moon on the 1st November 2024 (11:36am UK time)
Some archetypal light and dark qualities I associate with Scorpio:
Fixed water, Mars, the cups, the Scorpion, the Phoenix, the Queen & King of cups, major arcana: the Death card, the crisis worker, the therapist, the detective, the lover of taboo’s, the keeper of secrets, the jealous partner/ friend, the vengeful tyrant, the sex addict.
🌑 Nature of the new moon moment
From an alchemical perspective, I feel the lead (challenge) of this moment is the opposition between Mars and Pluto, the moon is also said to be in her fall in the martian ruled sign of Scorpio. All indicating emotional violence, volitile manipulation and transformative experiences / events. It feels like an understatement to say we are in the midst of an intense few days! Bare in mind, Mars is retrograding, so this opposition is exact on the 3rd of November & again on the 27th of April 2025.
The gold (opportunity) is covert and overt manipulators may be bolder than usual, revealing themselves - their hidden motives and compulsive patterns. This is good. As an activating force, I sense Mars is ushering in all that Pluto in Aquarius represents for better or worse. The prelude is over.
A transmutation tip: Mars is adding heat, inflaming centuries of tension, so keeping cool must be the priority. I will be observe myself and others carefully - to avoid getting ‘carried away’ with the current mood of the moment. I know I have absorbed divisive slogans and have found myself parroting, perpetuating self righteous sound bites. Mercury in Scorpio is great for investigating the undercurrents - the emotion/ meaning behind the words we habitually choose to use. Are they riddled with shame or worse - blame? Venus in Sagittarius is approaching an opposition with Jupiter - blessing any attempts to commune with yourself, to really listen and seek to understand yourself (then others) rather than blame and shame.
✨ 1st decan of Scorpio
Disappointment is the word that comes to mind when I look at the 5 of cups, the card associated with the 1st decan of Scorpio. Followed by a sense of sorrow, sadness and loss. It seems likely the cups tumbled over because of the figures trailing cloak (their past) the layer which protects them from the elements - symbolic of unconscious, careless behaviour, self sabotage or defence mechanisms that may be wreaking havoc. The best course of action is to carefully consider the next best step - avoiding sudden movements or lashing out. Black is a protective colour, reminiscent of silence - the void, where the shame and grief you have been avoiding live. The two cups that remain upright and the bridge in the distance remind me that there is hope for a family/ society that builds bridges for the good of all, especially those who feel alone.
5 of cups - Golden art Nouveau Tarot deck by artist Guila F Massaglia
The Sabian image for 9° of Scorpio is ‘a fellowship supper’. I would highly recommend reading James Burgess take on this symbol, he suggests - we need others to help us through every phase of life but not at the expense of self-expression. This image makes me think of the last supper crossed with Tolkien’s fellowship of the ring, in which corruption, power dynamics, treachery and trust are key themes, epitomising Scorpio season.
Below is a quick a summary of where the new moon is activating your natal chart.I would love to hear how you feel about the upcoming astrology?
Wishing you all the best,
Melissa 🌹
A landscape painting I’m currently working on, it’s almost finished. Check out my artwork here
Summary of which house / area of your life will be impacted most by the new moon (check your rising, Moon or Sun sign)
♈ ARIES
8th: other peoples money, other peoples income, crisis, loss, taxes, sexuality, societal taboos
♉ TAURUS
7th: connections, long term partnerships in business and marriage
♊ GEMINI
6th: routine, sacrifice, colleagues, known enemies, health, pets
♋ CANCER
5th house: creative expression, children, pleasure, romance
♌ LEO
4th: your home, family, belonging, privacy, parents, your memory and roots
♍ VIRGO
3rd house: communication skills, siblings, local travel, writing, reading, social media, neighbours
♎ LIBRA
2nd: your income, values, assets, money, abundance
♏ SCORPIO
1st: you, your sense of self, identity and appearance
♐ SAGITTARIUS
12th: isolation, unconscious, secrets, addictions, sleep, dreams
♑ CAPRICORN
11th: hopes, dreams, friendships, community, networking
♒ AQUARIUS
10th: career, public reputation, ambitions, calling in life, institutions
♓ PISCES
9th: academia - teaching / studying, long distance travelling, publishing, astrology, spirituality, philosophy and belief systems
P.s I am currently sharing my autumn - winter calendar with everyone on my mailing list, it’s downloadable (below is a preview) and it’s free! It provides a practical birds eye view of the next 3 months. It highlights some of the seasons significant transits, the suns movement through the decans, the nature of the moons phase and sign. When you become a free subscriber with your email, the link is below, you will receive the current calendar - I share new ones in sympathy with the equinox and solstices and only send monthly emails.
Nature of the moon members who contribute £7 per month enable me to continue sharing my articles and videos for free. As a thank you, paid membership also receive early access to alchemical insights into significant aspects / transits, plus occasional seasonal exclusives like lunar return reports. Founding members also receive a personalised lunar return calendar filled with the next 12 months of key dates + the aspects and transits that significantly impact their birth chart and moon sign.
📚 Resources & further reading
Hellenistic ancient astrology (the tropical whole sign system I prefer)
Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice: A Manual of Traditional Techniques, Volume I & 2, 2019 by Demetra George
Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune 2017 by Chris Brennan
To learn more about the Sabian symbols - I recommend the work of James Burgess and Lyn Birkbeck
Oracle decks featured today: please check your local shops or use the Ethical book search
✨ Golden art Nouveau Tarot deck by artist Guila F Massaglia
Disclaimer: Nature of the moon is developed for entertainment purposes. I hope my words act as a catalyst for your own research and self-inquiry. Always trust your own intuition - astrology provides a weather forecast, it is not a substitute for financial, medical or legal advice.