September 2023: Tarot spread for the new moon in Virgo

Plus some journaling questions, an astro-tarot forecast and an exploration of the Sabian symbol for the new moon in Virgo.

The September 2023 new moon falls in the sign of Virgo. The Virgo archetype is logical and practical, with an eye for detail and the steadfastness to go after their goals. This is a sign that thrives on meticulous planning, on honing skills to perfection and gaining mastery over their chosen vocation.

Spiritually, the Virgo archetype teaches the principle of devotion. One way to understand this principle is by looking at it through the lens of one’s devotion to their craft. While all the buzz seems to point towards profiting from your passion, there are numerous examples of famous writers and artists who held down a day job for most of their lives. Franz Kafka was an insurance clerk, Harper Lee was an airline ticketing agent, Mark Rothko was an elementary school teacher and Paul Gauguin was a stockbroker. They could all have given in to the dull drudgery of making a living, but they didn’t – and the world is much richer for their devotion to their craft.

This new moon also marks a time of endings and new beginnings. It can bring up old issues, patterns, or blocks for another go-around or a final resolution. Healing work — be it therapy or self-healing techniques — will be helpful during this time. Spend some time to review where you have been focusing your attention and decide where you want to go from there.

Look at the things that are working, the things that aren’t, the things that you’ve been desperately wanting to make work, and see if they are truly important to you, or if you’ve bought into a collective story that simply does not work for you.

This Virgo new moon, falling as it does in the 12th house, can bring up some shadows and/or insights from our subconscious that ask us to take stock of the results of all that we have done, to see what we have wrought within our lives, and where we want to go from here.

Also pay attention to any sudden insights during this moon cycle. Keep track of your dreams and find some way to tap into your intuition on the regular. Consider drawing a daily oracle or tarot card, especially during this moon cycle.

Astro-tarot influences for the September 2023 new moon in Virgo

To throw some more light on the September new moon astrology, let’s take a look at the astro-tarot influences of this lunation. This full moon falls in decan 3, which is represented by the 10 of Pentacles. This is to be interpreted in conjunction with The Hermit, which is associated with Virgo.

The 10 of Pentacles is one of the cards that people love to see in their readings. It points to a time of stability and abundance, to those fleeting moments when everything seems to be right with our world.

Yet, these moments can sometimes feel fleeting. Circumstances change, situations become somewhat tenuous, and we need to set things in order in our world once more. Sometimes, though, we can find ourselves at a place of relative long-term stability, when we know that barring an unforeseen tragedy, we are comfortable and resourced, that life will continue to tick over easefully.

But despite aiming for exactly this situation, many of us don’t know what to do with ourselves when we arrive here. We don’t know how to take our foot off the pedal, how to enjoy a modicum of peace and leisure, how to suck up the sweetness from life.

Part of this, I think, stems from the overculture’s focus on hustle and productivity. Doing nothing, where nothing is interpreted as not doing anything “productive”, isn’t something most of us are comfortable with.

This Virgo new moon offers us a chance to really consider our relationship with the vein of richness that runs through our lives, to appreciate it, and to have a think about how we want to use our resources, which includes our precious, limited time.

Do we want to remain plugged into the demands of a capitalistic society that focuses on going bigger, monetizing every aspect of our lives, working harder, going bigger? Or do we want to embrace a slower, gentler, more intentional life? And then to consider how we can make that happen.

In practical terms, it can mean unsubscribing from newsletters and unfollowing accounts that focus on the hustle, that make us feel less than. It can also mean limiting social media time, or heavily curating our social media feeds so that it feels spacious and more closely reflects the kind of life we want to live.

This Virgo new moon cycle encourages us to set down the foundation for some lasting changes. Shut out the noise, even if it is just for the weekend, look within, analyze what is working in your life and what needs attention, and craft a more intentional path that feels juicy to you even if no one else understands it.

This is your one wild and precious life. How do you want to live it?

Sabian Symbol for the September 2023 new moon

The Sabian Symbol for Virgo 21 degrees is A Royal Coat Of Arms Enriched With Precious Stones

This symbol reminds me of a bygone era, of heritage and ancestry. As an Indian, it also is a symbol of my country’s colonial past and the continued effects of colonization in Indian society and culture. But in itself, a coat of arms is a badge of identity, so that’s what I choose to focus on with this particular symbol.

It’s fitting, too, with September’s new moon astrology, as the symbol points to believing in yourself and your abilities, which gives you a strength of character that can draw people to you.

As Lynda Hill writes in 360 Degrees of Wisdom: The Sabian Oracle, “In situations of trouble, difficulty or betrayal (in fact any challenging emotion), falling back on a belief [in] your own…sense of self worth and who you are will help you get through with grace and without incurring bad blood or enemies or letting yourself down.”

Tarot spread for the September 2023 Virgo new moon

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

What is working – This card represents an energy to lean into

What needs attention – This card represents something that needs changing

What path are you on – This card represents your focus area for this new moon cycle

Mamma 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 questions for the new moon in Virgo

Not a cardslinger? No problem. Here’s a journaling exercise for you instead.

Is there a situation in your life that feels stagnant? Like no matter what you throw at it, nothing sticks? Make 2 lists:

1 – Why does this thing matter so much to you?

2 – What would happen if you let it go?

Look over those lists and consider if you’re at an ending; or if you need to get some outside help or a new perspective that could be more helpful instead.