The Alchemy of Scorpio and the Waning Harvest Season
For the third time in as many months, the New Moon is occurring very late in its respective sign. It started when the second Virgo New Moon was at 29 degrees. Then the Libra New Moon was at 28 degrees. And the current Scorpio New Moon is at 28 degrees. By way of a heads-up, next month’s Sagittarius New Moon is at 28 degrees, as well.
As you may recall, the energy of a sign is at its most powerful at the New Moon, when the Moon is conjunct the Sun. And the last three degrees of a sign are its most powerful degrees. When the New Moon occurs at a sign’s most powerful moment, well, it's a lot.
To have this kind of extraordinary intensity sustain for almost the entire harvest season has created even more pressure. These sequential late-degree New Moons have injected an added intensity to an already intense time. It is no wonder we are dealing with so much now and things feel the way they do. As above, so below.
It's a lot. It’s just a lot. In order to maintain any shred of sanity in the face of the layers upon layers of intensity presented to us by this Scorpio New Moon, we each must find a way to get better at dealing with the proverbial fierce urgency of now. Scorpio is, after all, the most intense sign of the zodiac, and we are literally at the most intense point in the Wheel of the Year.
The good news is, as Scorpio rules the everlasting bonds that exist between us and our ancestors, so there is a lot of love and support available to us now. No matter what, no matter how many generations of dysfunctional weirdness are a part of the different branches of your family tree. The love is there, it is real, it is profound, and it is making a difference. Be sure to spend some time every day—even if it is just for the most fleeting of moments—communicating with your ancestors.
And keep in mind, communication has two components: speaking and listening. So be sure to give both equal time in the most genuine and authentic possible way. If you need help, ask for it. If you feel them around you, thank them for being there. If you need help with something, tell them that, ask them what they need you to know, and say thank you. If you're feeling the love, tell them that and say thank you. And ask for more. Always ask—not only for a stronger connection, but a greater consciousness about and comfort with it.
You’re gonna need it. As often happens, this Sun-Moon conjunction is part of a much bigger stellium this year. Part of it is a retrograde Mercury. Yeah, him. And this time, he brought some friends.
Okay, breathe. This Mercury Retrograde is conjunct Mars and opposing Uranus. Ruler of the divine male archetype, anger, conflict, and war, Mars transits are an exercise in the Buddhist principle of cultivating the right use of power. Long story short, if you are or have recently been experiencing a series of troubling, ugly surprises, especially in the form of troubled, angry, ugly people, you are right on schedule.
As always, you can use these moments to start a war or you can use these moments to fix something that has been broken for a long time. I recommend the latter. A crucial component of this is identifying and resolving whatever anger you carry from this lifetime and all others. The transformational power of retrogrades is legendary, and we currently have four other planets retrograde: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Mars will continue to be a very dominant factor until Hannukah on December 14, so be mindful about how you manage expectations—both yours and the expectations others have of you—during the first part of the holiday season.
In closing, remember that this is the most powerful time of year in virtually all ancient cultures. In as much as you can, ground yourself into the moment. Ask your gods, guides, guardians, angels, archangels, and ancestors to guide your thoughts, actions, words, and deeds, so you can make good decisions now that you won’t regret later. Listen to the answers you receive and trust them. Say yes, say thank you, and take appropriate action. And if you get stuck, call me.
Calendar
Below are some of the dates when your opportunities for wizardry, magic, and alchemy will be the greatest.
November 19
Lunar Samhain
New Moon in Scorpio
November 21
Sun moves into Sagittarius
November 27
Saturn goes Direct at 25° Pisces
Thanksgiving Day
November 29
Mercury goes Direct at 20° Scorpio, Mercury Retrograde Shadow Period begins
November 30
Venus moves into Sagittarius
December 4
Super Full Moon in Gemini (also known as the Cold Moon, Long Night(s) Moon, Bitter Moon, and Moon before Yule).
Fun fact: The moon will be 221,965 miles from Earth.
December 7
Pearl Harbor Day
December 10
Neptune goes Direct at 29° Pisces (the anorectic and most powerful degree)
December 11
Mercury moves into Sagittarius
December 14
Mars moves into Capricorn
Hannukah begins at sunset
December 19
New Moon in Sagittarius
Mercury Retrograde Shadow Period ends
On November 5, 2025 I got to ride the airwaves with my friend and colleague Tracey Schavone, hostess of Kauai Vibrations on KKCR Kaua’i Community Radio, between 1:00–1:30 pm Hawaii Time.
For those of you who could not tune in, you can catch it in the archives section of their website.
We covered a number of topics, including the Mercury Retrograde and its impact on the holiday season; transiting Mars and its impact on the holiday season; the signs of Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius; the Taurus Full Moon; the series of extraordinary New Moons we have had this harvest season; connecting with our ancestors; my Making Grace project, and my schedule of community events in support of it.
I am proud and honored to have been a supporter of KKCR and Ke Kani O Kaua’i Nei (The Sound of Kaua’i) since 2009. KKCR is Kauai’s independent, noncommercial, listener-supported community radio station. KKCR seeks to stimulate, educate, and entertain; preserve, perpetuate, and celebrate Hawaiian culture; and reflect the diversity of the local and world community.
