New Moon in Virgo & Sharad Navaratri
This new moon begins another cycle of growth and coincides with the beginning of Sharad Navaratri, the 9 Nights of the Goddess. Following the Fall Equinox, this is a powerful time to turn our gaze inward, cleanse and realign, and become more conscious of what we are choosing to energize in our lives.
This new moon falls in Hasta Nakshatra in Virgo, bringing a beautiful focus to purification, discernment, skill and conscious creation. Hasta is connected to the hand—the ability to take something subtle and bring it into form. It asks us to become more intentional with the power of our attention and what we are creating, to birth positive intent into tangible manifestation.
Virgo calls us toward discipline, organization and attention to detail, but Hasta reminds us that discipline does not have to mean rigidity. There can be both structure and flow, precision and grace. This is a time to consider where greater focus and discipline are needed in your life, while remaining flexible enough to allow something new to emerge.
Sharad Navaratri follows this new moon, celebrated October 11th–19th, and honors the Divine Mother and particularly Goddess Durga, the Protectress and Warrioress who builds a fortress of safety around us. The nine nights represent a journey through the darkness, where we hold vigilance and faith while the Goddess battles the forces that take our light, power and joy. Om Dum Durgayai Namaha!
This battle begins within ourselves.
Navaratri is a powerful time to cleanse the body, mind and environment, helping to move away from excess Tamas and Rajas and toward a more Sattvic way of living. Consider what you might choose to fast from during these nine nights—not only food, but perhaps judgment, pride, gossip, social media or any pattern that pulls your energy away from truth, vitality and right living.
We cleanse not simply to remove what is unwanted, but to create space for the Goddess to enter and energize our lives.
As we move through these nine nights, may we remember the incredible intelligence of Mother Nature and the ever-present hand of the Goddess working through all of Creation. Nothing is static. Life is continually transforming, releasing, regenerating and taking new form.
Under this new moon in Hasta, we are invited to place our own hands in service to that creative intelligence—to refine what we are creating, release what no longer belongs, and become clearer vessels for the Life that wants to move through us.
May we honor the Divine Mother in all Her forms and trust the wisdom of Her cycles. May She guide our hands, strengthen our hearts and illuminate the path from darkness to light!
Have a blessed New Moon & Sharad Navaratri!