November 2021: Tarot spread for the new moon in Scorpio

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast, exploration of the the Sabian symbol, and additional resources for the November 2021 new moon in Scorpio.

The November 2021 new moon falls in the sign of Scorpio. The Scorpio archetype is known for its intense power and its ability to transform, much like the butterfly emerging from its cocoon, ready to fly. The Scorpio archetype isn’t afraid of the birth-death-rebirth cycle, for it is only when parts of us die and are reborn that we can fully transform.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that spiritually, the Scorpio archetype teaches us to surrender – to align our human will with divine will. It can teach us that sometimes our human trials can reveal a need for deep healing. This is not always easy to live with or to understand, especially when the need for healing arises from trauma, and yet on the other side of working with and healing trauma there can be deep and valuable transformation.

This new moon also highlights our feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. Our relationship to the things we value, the things we own, and the things we covet could come into sharp focus at this time. What do we value and why. Who do we value. What do we want to pursue. These are some of the questions and themes that this Scorpio new moon may stir up.

This new moon is also ripe to help you usher in a cycle of change. Think about any areas in your life that you need to transform and set your intentions for this cycle accordingly. Working with this new moon — using tarot, journaling, art, meditation, or any other ritual — will be particularly helpful.

Astro-tarot influences for the November 2021 new moon in Scorpio

To throw some more light on the November new moon astrology, let’s take a look at the astro-tarot influences of this lunation. The Scorpio new moon falls in Decan 2, which is ruled by the 6 of Cups. This is to be seen in conjunction with Death, which is associated with Scorpio.

No matter how difficult things inevitably get, we can find sweetness in the most unexpected places (6 of Cups). In the wildflower resolutely pushing its way up through the concrete stones; in the dance of light at sunrise or sunset; a visitation from a winged creature; the smile that lights up a loved ones face… Yet, when the night is dark and full of terrors (pardon the Game of Thrones reference), looking for sweetness is the furthest thing on our minds (Death).

Our tender human hearts are so afraid of change. And they’ve been through so much during these pandemic years — fear, loss, panic, resignation, uncertainty, isolation, heartbreak. Many of us have felt the pull of deeper changes in how we view our lives, where we find meaning, how we spend our energy and our time. Some of these questions have led to the shock and the heartbreak of realizing we’ve been chasing the wrong dreams, the wrong goals, for such a long time. There’s the fear of not being sure of who we are without the identities we’ve held dear for so long.

But when we open our hearts to the questions, to being willing to stay with the discomfort long enough to find our answers, to remain in liminal space, we inevitably find our answers. The answers may not be easy, the path may be difficult, but isn’t it better to bear the discomfort for a while than to continue to suffer or to calcify?

This isn’t a call to “put boots on the ground” and “push through come what may”. This is a reminder to give yourself grace as you allow yourself to go through a period of change.

I think that is something we often forget — the possibility of grace, of tenderness, of sweetness even in the midst of darkness, suffering, sorrow, and change. Not all dark nights of the soul are unending suffering and torture until you miraculously hear a voice that shows you the way out of the darkness. That’s what we hear all the time, though, because nuance doesn’t make for an interesting or dramatic story.

Just the words dark night of the soul conjure up intense shadow work, sorrow, confusion — as though all of life has been paused, upended, suspended. But that’s not always the case. You can have a dark night of the soul, with all the confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety it brings, along with grace, beauty, sweetness and tenderness.

You can have one identity crumble without necessarily crumpling into a heap yourself. I think nowhere is this more clearly embodied than in the natural world. The caterpillar spins itself a cocoon when it recognizes that it is time for its metamorphosis. Within that cocoon, it liquifies, and from that soup emerges a butterfly.

What if all the clues we need for our own dark night of the soul, for our own period of change, are right there, in that process, in that image?

What would it look like to spin a cocoon within which you could allow yourself to change? Your cocoon could be a journal; it could be a few moments spent in silent contemplation of the world right outside your window; it could be the teaching ground of nature and natural phenomenon.

What would it mean to allow yourself to liquefy into soup? It could look like surrendering to the not-knowing; to living with the questions; to making space for your grief, rage, sorrow, confusion; to reminding yourself that it is ok to not have all the answers just yet.

And what would the emergence look like? The butterfly doesn’t suddenly burst forth and fly out of its cocoon. It needs to hang upside down from its cocoon so its wings can expand and dry properly, or it may never be able to fly. How can you offer yourself the space to emerge from your dark night of the soul….from your period of change? Perhaps you could offer yourself some tenderness, some gentleness, some moments of sweetness, as you learn to walk on your new, wobbly legs.

Here’s a beautiful timelapse video of a monarch butterfly emerging from its cocoon, so you can see this entire process unfold in under 2 minutes.

I came across this quote soon after I wrote the initial draft of this forecast, and it felt like an elegant summation of the concept I used so many words to explain.

I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.

– Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

May these words be the balm — and the permission — that you need as you go through your own cycle of change.

Sabian Symbol for the November 2021 new moon

The Sabian Symbol for 12 degrees Scorpio is An Inventor Performs A Laboratory Experiment

This symbol seems so apt for everything we’ve been discussing so far. Lab experiments are testing grounds, crucibles where ideas can be tested and implemented. No experiment is truly a failure, each less-than-optimal lab result becomes the basis for a new experiment.

All human inventions and scientific, medical, and technological advancements have been born through this constant process of trial and error.

So why do we expect our lives to be perfect from the get-go? Instead of viewing setbacks as failures, what if we viewed them as feedback, as stepping stones, as the path towards a better outcome? Try different things, get creative and take some calculated risks as you go along.

Tarot spread for the November 2021 new moon

Here’s a tarot spread to tap into the energy of this new moon.

1. What needs to die: This card will highlight a cycle that is coming to an end

2. What is being born: A new cycle that you are ready to set into motion at this time

3. Where can I find sweetness: How you can find some grace, beauty, or support during this cycle of change

4. Mama moon says: This is always an encouraging message

If you share your spreads on Instagram, please use the hashtag #moontarotstories or tag me @moderngypsy.in so we can connect with each other.

Journaling prompts for the Scorpio new moon

Not a cardslinger? No problem. Here are some journaling questions for you instead.

In what area of your life have you been resisting change? Why?

What’s the worst that could happen?

What’s the best that could happen?

What one tiny step can you take to make a change and break the inertia? What would the next tiny step be?

How can you create a supportive environment to implement this change?

Don’t forget to give yourself some grace as you go though this process!

Resources to support you during this new moon

Moving into fear: Some lessons on moving through fear from the art table

Feeling overwhelmed? Try this expressive arts exercise

How to tap into your inner wisdom: Because often, we already have the answers within, we just need to listen

Are you new to the tarot, and still struggling to make sense of the cards?

Join me for Tarot Fundamentals, my ecourse specially designed for tarot newbies.

In this self-paced course, I am sharing all the things that I wished I knew when I was starting my Tarot journey, including:

* The two mainstream Tarot systems and the best starter Tarot decks

* The structure of the Tarot

* How to quickly start reading the cards …. and much more

When you sign up, you also get some exclusive bonus content + PDF downloads, including:

* How to do a daily Tarot reading

* How to keep a Tarot journal

This class is perfect for you if:

* You are curious about Tarot and want to know more about its origins and how it works

* You are keen to start reading or learning the Tarot but don’t know where to start

* You’re feeling beginner’s overwhelm and are ready to chuck the cards in a drawer and never look at them again

* You dabbled with the tarot but found it confusing or couldn’t understand what you were doing with the cards or how to begin interpreting them

This course is the next best thing to sitting across the table from me and picking my brains about the basics of the Tarot.