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The Super New Moon on October 16th arrives in the sign of Libra, a Cardinal sign signifying initiation, and is aligned with the element Air, such a cerebral sign. Air can bring change and inspiration, a gentle refreshing breeze or knock us down with heavy gusts! Air is life, death and transition: we enter and depart from the physical world with Air, from our first inspiring breath to our last expiring breath.

What is a Super New Moon? A Super or Micro Moon, full or new, refers to the Moon’s position to the Earth. At a Super moon, it is at its closest point to Earth, and at a Micro moon at its further point from Earth. At a Super New Moon, those living in coastal areas may notice the strengths of the tidal flows even stronger than usual, with both very low tides and very high tides. And we may also feel the tides of our own emotions very strongly. 

This Super New Moon marks not just the beginning of a new lunar month, but also the beginning of a new Mercury Retrograde, from 16-October to 02-November, as we approach Samhain. 

For me, Mercury retrograde is always a time of reflection, of raising my awareness to communication and to view the world through the filter of patience (not one of my strongest attributes, to be sure!)

Libra is represented by the scales of balance, the only inanimate symbol in the zodiac that many of us are familiar with; the other signs are represented by animals, humans and deities. But that does not mean that Libra is a cold sign, devoid of emotion. In fact, it is just the opposite, as Libra is ruled by Venus, the goddess of Love. 

With the New Moon coupled with a Mercury Retrograde, be prepared for a big awakening or a major shift change in how you choose to experience your relationships with loved ones, with your Self and with Mama Earth. 

Here in North America, the First Nations expression All My Relations reminds us that we are in community with our fellow humans and with everything on this planet, with Spirit, the Star People, the Standing People, the Stone People, the Plant People, the animals, the Ancestors and more. This month's theme embraces that: Right Relationship. 

Eighteenth century Quaker John Woolman encouraged us to be Living in Right Relationship, which he described as  transcending selfishness and acting for a sustainable greater good.

If this theme works for you, wonderful! If not, choose another theme that resonates, perhaps inspired by your Dark Moon reflections on the lunar month that has just come to a close and the coming month as we approach Samhain and the turning of a new cycle in the Wheel of the Year.  

The New/Dark Moon brings us the deep feminine energy of the Crone, the wisdom-keeper, the blood-mystery of menopause, the wise blood within. The Crone can be represented by Dark Mother goddesses such as Hecate, Hel, Cerridwen, An Cailleach, Kali and more. This is strengthened even more by the approach of Samhain, the time of Winter, the time of An Cailleach. 

Embrace her deep wisdom as you explore Right Relationship this month.

The Dark Mothers are the goddesses of our transitions, the liminal moments between life and death, between the conscious and unconscious, between the shadows and reality, between the old Self and the new Self. They are creation and destruction. And they are your allies in the waning time of the solar year and in the dark moons. Their darkness is not shadow, but endarkenment — the power, knowledge and deep intuitive insight that births new wisdom, new ideas, new practices.

At Samhain, traditionally celebrated on November 1st, the veils between the worlds are thinnest and you may feel an even stronger connection with the Otherworld, and with your allies and ancestors. As we approach Samhain, raise your awareness to your intuition, to your connection with the Otherworld and to the whispers and wisdom of the Dark Mothers.