November 2023: Tarot spread for the new moon in Scorpio

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

The November 2023 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.

We are also exiting the eclipse cycle, and while we may feel some lingering effects of the eclipse energy through the month, it should start to wane with this new moon.

This new moon can also usher in a new cycle of change, encouraging us to release old patterns, blocks, and projects that may be going nowhere. This is a good time to start to ground into the transformations and changes that were stirred during the eclipse season. With this new moon, we can begin to let in some fresh energy and vitality. What excites you? What feels vital and juicy at this time? Focus on that, letting anything that is holding you back from following those clues fall away to the wayside.

Astro-tarot influences for the November 2023 new moon

To throw some more light on the astrology of this Scorpio new moon, let’s take a look at the astro-tarot influences of this lunation. The Scorpio new moon falls in Decan 3, which is ruled by Seven of Cups. This is to be seen in conjunction with Death, which is associated with Scorpio.

The Life-Death-Life cycle is a natural, cyclical theme — changing seasons, crop cycles, a snake shedding its skin, a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. It’s a cycle that we witness in our own lives too — the transition from childhood to puberty, adulthood, ageing and finally to death. Even initiatory experiences — graduation, marriage, divorce, parenthood — are part of the Life-Death-Life cycle.

While these are some of the big expressions of the archetype of Death, there are many smaller manifestations of the Death cycle. Any period of change or transition — a new job, moving to a new city, into a bigger house, is a change cycle. But so often, this cycle is fraught with fear, resistance, and confusion.

One of the big reasons for this is the number of choices and decisions we need to make. We seem to want some sort of certainty, a guarantee that the choice we make will work out for us; that we won’t regret the path we took; that we won’t look back, wondering about the paths that we left behind.

With the moon opposite Uranus, this inability to choose, to commit a path, to make a change can lead to an anxious, restless energy, which could be fueled by fiery Mars, which just wants to take action, any action, no matter how rash.

It’s a familiar push and pull of resistance for anyone {most of us?} who has been faced with a big change or the need to make a significant decision. And despite most of us having ultimately chosen one way or another and lived to tell the tale, it doesn’t necessarily make future decision-making any easier.

But Neptune, which is also active during this Scorpio new moon, can help us to dissolve rigid thought processes and limiting beliefs. Try to mediate on your choices, or sling some cards to divine the answers to your most pressing decisions.

Sabian Symbol for the November 2023 new moon

The Sabian Symbol for Scorpio 20 degrees is Obeying Their Conscience, A Soldier Resists Orders.

This symbol speaks to what is currently happening on the global stage — conflicts and wars that can only be resolved if those in power develop a conscience, find their humanity, and make a move towards peace instead of continued violence.

On a more personal level, this symbol points to the dawning realization that the path you’re walking on may not be in alignment with who you are, what you stand for, and what you want out of life.

As Linda Hill writes in 360 Degrees of Wisdom: The Sabian Oracle, “We sometimes find that society has drawn up rules and regulations to live by that are inappropriate for our inner world. When this happens, we find ourselves compromised if we are expected to follow through or act on them. This Symbol speaks of the need to occasionally ‘Disobey’ the structures of society and what is expected” and to understand the consequences of our disobedience.

Tarot spread for the November 2023 new moon in Scorpio

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

For this reading, focus on a choice or a decision you need to make, then shuffle and pull your cards.

1. Me, now: This represents your current energy around this decision
2. The fear: This represents what is preventing you from making a choice or decision
3. The counter: This card shows you how you can counter the fear
4. The advice: This card suggests a path forward
5. The action: This card gives you some practical advice, an action you can take that will move you towards making your decision
6. 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 November 2023 Scorpio new moon

Not a cardslinger? No problem! This journaling exercise should help you in your decision making process and refine your focus for this moon cycle.

Write the choice or decision you need to make at the top of the page.

Below that, you’re going to make a series of mindmaps.

Fears – list out everything that frightens you about making this choice or decision

Longing – what do you long for with the move you want to make? Make a list

Grounding – look over at your fears list; mark the irrational fears; now, brainstorm ways to address the rational or logical fears

Actions – list out the actions you take over the next few days or weeks that would help you to make your decision; or maybe act on the conclusions you drew in the previous mind map.