today's new moon in virgo
The New Moon in Virgo arrived at 7:00 AM ET sharp, ready to greet us all bright and early. Virgo energy is the analyst, the critic, but the real question this moon is asking us is: what are we purifying? What in our lives are we bringing order to?
These questions come in the midst of crisis, of course, as does all the astrology of 2020. The world is literally on fire. The West Coast of the United States is burning. The sky is red. The illusion that our lives can have any order seems laughable.
And yet: books and essays and stories and poems are getting written, and even sold. This week, my dear friend Angela Chen's first book arrived in the world (Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex—an absolute must-read). Last night, our writing group had a socially distant celebration of her book launch in Prospect Park with champagne and cake. Some slices of joy, still, can be found—and are, in fact, essential to seek.
Today's New Moon asks what in our lives is worth keeping in order, in the midst of chaos. Which activities, routines, projects, and people are the essentials? Virgo wants to help you cull, clean, and otherwise crystallize until you know who and what really matters. Creatively, this can feel daunting, particularly to those who want to feel the expansiveness of their options, who don't want to be hemmed in. But too much space to roam, Virgo says, can sometimes result in not knowing which directions are worth following and which are dead ends. Part of learning the interior routes of yourself is learning to identify with more accuracy which paths have more fruit.
Trine Saturn, the taskmaster planet of responsibility, maturity, and genuinely kicking our asses, this moon also wants to help us really put down some roots and commit to the projects and people we deem worthy of our time. Whatever you are currently planting that eventually comes to harvest will have the seriousness and integrity of Saturn in Capricorn behind it.
Today, and over the next few days, spend some time journaling about what you want to get clear on. Whether they're creative goals, a project's direction, a professional relationship, or even your understanding of why you're doing the work you're doing: this energy is for sifting through the morass, for letting yourself sit with the importance of the work but also with the knowledge that the harvest isn't here yet—and how can you gently nudge it up the trellis to help it along?
Writing Prompts for the New Moon in Virgo:
What does integrity mean in your creative life?
What are the projects that most align with your vision for your life? What takes up space/what do you feel resentful of?
What people nourish you and help you feel abundant in your creative world? Conversely, what people or professional commitments feel extraneous?
What would help you feel more organized/on top of things in a way that aligns with your lifestyle and personality? (That isn't a "should" or an "ought" because you see other people doing it?)
ICYMI, and in case you’re really feeling it: we are in the midst of a Mars Retrograde. Read and review as many times as you need to.
Up next! The Writer’s Guide to October’s Astrology. These in-depth monthly guides to the month’s transits (good times for pitching, revising, not being on Twitter, etc.) are for paid subscribers only.