Yes, you’ve made it through this fall’s eclipse season—but that doesn’t mean the lunar drama is done. A loud and dynamic new moon in Scorpio takes over the skies on November 13 at 4:25 a.m. EST. New moons in Scorpio usher in new beginnings through the process of releasing pieces of our past that no longer serve us.

Impermanence is embedded into Scorpio’s qualities and characteristics. This zodiac sign knows that change is inevitable and that trying to control the outcome of anything is futile. Indeed, Scorpio energy brings the raw courage and tenacity necessary to peer into your subconscious mind and witness what you’ve been avoiding or fearing, so you can learn to let it go and create space for new possibilities.

Removing people, clutter, and situations from your energetic and physical space can feel cathartic and spark inner transformation.

Power, control, and release are all words associated with Scorpio, and this new moon is an aligned time to check in on your relationship with these topics. Where have you been giving your power away? Who is worthy of your most precious resources—your time and energy? Holding onto unsupportive relationships or old physical belongings can create energetic blocks, whereas removing people, clutter, and situations from your energetic and physical space can feel cathartic and spark inner transformation.

What is a new moon, and what does it mean in astrology?

A new moon occurs when the sun and the moon align in the same zodiac sign, and the moon sits directly between the Earth and the sun. It happens once a month and marks the beginning of the monthly lunar cycle, giving the lunation its association with a period of renewal.

The new moon is also the time when the night sky is the darkest (the moon is nearly black, blocking the light of the sun), and as such, we’re asked to embrace our instincts and intuition. Energetically, you may feel more tired or self-reflective than usual. As the new lunar cycle begins, we’re also closing out an old cycle and releasing what no longer serves us. This can be an exhausting and emotional process as we learn to surrender, trust, and let go.

As we release, we also create space for new opportunities to find us. Because of this, new moons are considered auspicious times to set intentions, perform rituals or spells, or call in desires or manifestations. When you do so, visualize where you would like to be six months from now (when the full moon in the same zodiac sign will occur). Get specific: What and who do you see around you? What are the habits you keep as this future version of you? As the moon’s light continues to grow over the course of the next few weeks, your intention will grow, too.

Since a new moon is all about listening to your intuition, there is no wrong way to work with this energy. Turn inward, and ask your spirit team for a sign (in your dreams or waking life) about your next step. Trust that the universe will show up for you in divine timing, remain curious, and get ready to be surprised as your intentions come to life over the coming months.

It’s important to note that every new moon carries a different energetic signature based on the sign in which it occurs and the connections it forms with the other planets in the sky. Some new moons are ideal for manifesting abundance and love, while others are powerful for releasing old and outdated patterns or behaviors. You’ll want to read your new moon horoscope to learn more about the specific energy of each new moon with which you decide to work.

What is the meaning of the new moon in Scorpio in 2023?

This year’s new moon in Scorpio is forming some of the most intense aspects it can make in the sky, fueling unpredictable events, rash reactions, and an intense display of emotions. One of those aspects is a conjunction with Mars in Scorpio, which adds some fiery Martian energy to this fresh chapter in our lives. Mars is the planet of war, anger, frustration, severing, and motivation—and its energy is especially potent when it’s in Scorpio, the zodiac sign it’s said to traditionally rule. Its location near both the sun and the moon in Scorpio will certainly add a dose of tension and intensity to the day.

Setting boundaries, defending yourself, and protecting your resources may be top of mind.

Feelings or memories that have been unacknowledged or unaddressed for far too long may rear their heads. Setting boundaries, defending yourself, and protecting your resources (like your finances, time, and energy) may be top of mind. A few days later, on November 17, the sun and Mars will link up at the same exact point in the sky, forming a cazimi and marking the start of a fresh cycle. For some, this will be a powerful day for initiating new projects or relationships with staying power, and for others, this will be an empowering time to sever ties with people and situations that no longer serve them. In any case, the new moon in Scorpio may offer clues as to what this day—and the new cycle it starts—will bring.

What makes this new moon even more explosive is that the sun, the moon, and Mars will be sitting across the sky from renegade Uranus in Taurus. When Mars and Uranus link up in a tight aspect such as this upcoming opposition, the energy is erratic, volatile, and destabilizing. These two planets have been inching closer to each other for weeks, and we are already witnessing the resulting energy in the destruction, unbearable loss, and grief that’s unfolding in the collective. On the day of the new moon, it may become more prominent, creating massive shake-ups in our personal lives as well as around the globe.

You may feel called to take a sudden risk or break free from outdated relationships and contracts. Unexpressed anger or resentment may pour out of you or someone else. This is a wise day to choose your battles, as even the smallest of disagreements can lead to catastrophic changes in your relationships. In turn, everyone will benefit from exercising a little extra caution and patience as this new moon in Scorpio arrives.

On the bright side, this new moon and the concurrent Mars-Uranus opposition can give you access to your untapped courage and the willpower necessary to make big changes in your life and even venture into uncharted territory.

To get a better picture of how this transformative energy will affect you, read on for your sun, moon, and rising signs. Then, pick up a unique self-care practice to help you move through this lunation with a little more flow and calmness.

How the new moon in Scorpio may affect your sign

Aries

Buckle up for a cathartic release, Aries. The new moon in Scorpio illuminates your eighth astrological house of vulnerability, the past, your psyche, and shared resources. Memories or feelings you’ve kept buried deep within may bubble to the surface. This can feel emotionally taxing—but also liberating.

You’re invited to let go of any shame, guilt, or fear that’s kept you feeling paralyzed. Sudden or surprise investments or bills may also pop up. Being clear about your expectations (both financial and emotional) with partners is key.

Your new moon self-care practice: Lead with your vulnerability today. Choosing to express yourself unfiltered can bring relief and even deepen bonds, even if it feels temporarily uncomfortable.

Taurus

A chapter in one of your relationships (whether business, familial, or romantic) may be ending, Taurus, but trust that it’s creating space for a more aligned connection to enter your life. As the new moon lands in your seventh house of one-on-one partnerships and contracts, you’re breaking free from old patterns and dynamics that feel dysfunctional or depleting.

Sudden and surprising contracts or collaborative offers may arrive out of the blue, and others may end sooner than anticipated. The best way to work with this energy is to surrender to the changing tides in your connections.

Your new moon self-care practice: Advocate for your needs and values in your partnerships. What topics have you been avoiding in order to keep the peace? Addressing any pent-up frustration or resentment can lead to a healthier dynamic—or an important realization that you truly are ready to call it quits.

Gemini

Changing your habits has never felt so easy, Gemini. With the new moon illuminating your sixth house of daily routines and responsibilities, you could find the inspiration and courage to let go of any unsupportive habits you’ve been trying to shake for some time, leaving self-sabotage in the rear-view mirror.

New projects that require much of your dedication and focus may also begin around this time. If you’ve been overextending yourself in your personal or professional life, this moon reminds you that it’s important to carve out time for rest and relaxation.

Your new moon self-care practice: Set boundaries, and don’t be afraid to say, “no.” No one else will protect your time and energy other than you. There is nothing wrong with changing or resetting your expectations and protecting your peace in the process.

Cancer

You’re ready to invest your energy into what brings you joy, Cancer. The new moon activates your fifth house of pleasure, romance, play, and creativity. You may be picking up a new hobby or beginning a new creative project as a result.

Self-expression can feel cathartic, especially as you begin to share more of your truth and pieces of your past that you once kept to yourself. In matters of love, some boundaries may need to be addressed or set. If you’re partnered, you may be exploring new avenues of shared pleasure with your S.O., and if you’re single, you may feel ready to go all-in on someone—or have a level-setting conversation with a would-be partner who isn’t meeting your standards.

Your new moon self-care practice: Start documenting your journey with one of your hobbies or creative outlets by taking videos of your progress. Whether you choose to share your evolution with others or keep these videos just for yourself, bearing witness to your growth and process can spark additional inspiration down the line.

Leo

You’re breaking free from other people’s standards and expectations, Leo, as the new moon highlights your fourth house of foundations, family, and the past. You may choose to share something unexpected with the world—something that could leave others, especially family members, a little rattled or shocked. But even so, honoring your truth could prove to be a liberating experience.

You may also be in a season of decluttering or reorganizing your home. If you’ve been working hard on something behind the scenes, today you may also choose to bravely share it with the world.

Your new moon self-care practice: Clean your home and yourself with intention. When you shower or scrub the floor, associate your process with something you’d like to clear out of your psyche or your life. Trust that once you or your space is freshened up, your ties to the past will have dissolved, too.

Virgo

You won’t be mincing your words under this new moon, Virgo. It illuminates your third house of communication, information, learning, and surroundings. Conversations that take place today can feel unexpected or jarring but also freeing in some way. Perhaps you get information that you’ve needed, or you feel better able to make an informed decision.

This lunation can also mark a breakthrough in your mindset, allowing you to break free from limiting beliefs. You may feel called to share some of your more vulnerable secrets or taboo thoughts with others or the world at large.

Your new moon self-care practice: Grab a pen, and start writing to create more space for the thoughts bubbling up in your mind. Then, step away after your writing, and come back after an hour or so to re-read. What stands out? What has been lingering within that deserves to be expressed?

Libra

Your relationship to your resources is shifting, Libra. The new moon activates your second house of livelihood, income, and possessions, which could lead you to set new boundaries around your budget. You may also feel like you’re in a season of release and better able to let go of items around the house that you once deemed necessary or irreplaceable. Organizing and clearing out your physical space can feel cathartic.

Changes in your career or contracts can also take place with some opportunities arriving out of the blue and others dissipating just as suddenly.

Your new moon self-care practice: Commit to a daily gratitude practice that goes beyond recognizing financial abundance. Pay attention to when a stranger smiles at you on the street, when there is one parking spot left for you in a full lot, or when you receive a loving compliment from a friend. These are all various forms of abundance that can appear in daily life and are worthy of acknowledgment.

Scorpio

Your desire to shape-shift can feel overwhelming as the new moon arrives in your sign, Scorpio. You may be initiating something that requires courage and for you to step away from old ways of being or showing up in the world. This isn’t simply a makeover, but a bold reclamation of your identity and a powerful choice of your authenticity over other people’s comfort.

You may also be severing ties in relationships or contracts that no longer feel aligned with who you are, or in which you’ve felt the need to minimize yourself. You’re cracking open, and it feels liberating.

Your new moon self-care practice: Make a list of what you resist, what you’ve been struggling to commit to doing, or what you fear. Choose to move courageously toward one of the items on the list. You’ll be pleased with what sits on the other side of that fear, hesitation, or resistance.

Sagittarius

The days of your selfless sacrifices are soon to be long gone, Sagittarius. The new moon in Scorpio activates your 12th house of the subconscious mind, self-defeating habits, healing, and closure. Today, you’re ready to break free from patterns, beliefs, and situations that leave you feeling depleted. You’re ready to move away from your comfort zone, take a risk, and see what lies on the other side.

You can sever ties with the past as you acknowledge repressed anger and resentment that’s been building and stirring within your psyche. A new cycle of healing begins, but first you must tend to your own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Your new moon self-care practice: If there is a person or situation from which you need to emotionally detach, search a guided cord-cutting meditation online, and set the intention to move forward without carrying these energetic ties to the past.

Capricorn

Your sense of belonging and community is evolving, Capricorn. The new moon moves through your 11th house of friendships, support, and allies, which could help you better realize who is actually worthy of your time and energy.

You may choose to let go of old friendships or acquaintances that no longer feel aligned. New, powerful sources of support can also enter your life as you create space by moving on from relationships that no longer serve you. These new connections can lend support for bringing some of your hopes and dreams into being.

Your new moon self-care practice: Dive deep with some of your collaborators, acquaintances, or people in your community. Dare to have more substantial and meaningful dialogue and discuss topics that you’ve been avoiding. This will help you recognize with whom you truly share interests and values.

Aquarius

People-pleasing be gone, Aquarius. The new moon lands in your 10th house of public reputation, career, and accomplishments. If you’ve felt mounting pressure from others to be a certain way or say certain things, this lunation is a cosmic opportunity to reclaim your narrative.

This can also be a busy time for you at work; perhaps you’re taking on more responsibilities or beginning a new role. A change in your professional life may also suddenly begin to unfold.

Your new moon self-care practice: Think about the story arc of your life: What are some memories you’ve always wanted to share, but felt pressure, guilt, shame, or fear around openly discussing? This moon invites you to embrace those shadow qualities and trust that your experiences matter and are worthy of being expressed in the spotlight.

Pisces

You’re no longer interested in remaining silent, Pisces. The new moon illuminates your ninth house of communication, education, and travel, which could leave you feeling empowered and emboldened to share your perspective with the world.

You know your insight is powerful and worthy of dispersing far and wide. You may be setting boundaries, advocating for your beliefs, or even beginning a new educational journey under these moonbeams. Words can feel a little more disruptive today, and information shared and learned can feel both liberating and shocking.

Your new moon self-care practice: Open your voice memo app, and speak some of your biggest feelings and fears out loud. What’s been bothering you? What weighs heavy on your heart? What have you been keeping to yourself for the sake of keeping other people happy? Finding an outlet for authentic expression is the first step in sharing your important messages with a wider audience.