Samhain New Moon
As we enter the heart of Scorpio season, we’re in for a real trick or treat with the potent energy of Samhain on October 31st followed immediately by the New Moon in Scorpio on November 1st. This alignment blends and enhances the transformative energy of Scorpio with Samhain’s reverence for ritual and life’s cycles, opening a doorway for profound introspection, shadow work, and connection to the unseen. Creating a unique and potent time for introspection, release, and spiritual rebirth, this unique overlap invites us to honor both the inner work of personal transformation and the timeless cycles of life, death, and rebirth. With Scorpio’s watery, shadowy depth and Samhain’s reverence for ancestors and the thinning of the veil, this New Moon encourages us to be our own healers, finding strength in facing the shadows and wisdom in connecting with those who came before us.
Samhain, meaning “summer’s end” in Old Irish, is one of the ancient Celtic fire festivals that marked the beginning of the darker half of the year. Celebrated on October 31st, it was a time to honor the dead, celebrate the harvest, and prepare for the winter months. Known as a liminal period, Samhain blurs the boundaries between the physical and spiritual realms, allowing for communion with ancestors and a deepened understanding of life’s continuous cycles.
To the Celts, Samhain was both an ending and a new beginning, echoing the Scorpio New Moon’s themes of transformation and renewal. It was a time to let go of what was no longer needed and to set intentions for the future. Today, many continue this tradition by lighting candles, creating altars, or holding “dumb suppers” in silence to honor departed loved ones. This season’s spiritual importance aligns beautifully with Scorpio’s ability to dive deep, reminding us that growth and evolution often come from facing the shadows within and learning from the past.
The Energy of Scorpio Season
Symbolized by the Scorpion, its energy is both protective and penetrating, representing the ability to delve into life’s mysteries, uncover hidden truths, and confront the unseen parts of ourselves. As a water sign ruled traditionally by Mars and in modern astrology by Pluto, Scorpio is deeply intuitive, reflective, and unafraid to face the darker facets of existence. Astrologically, Scorpio season (October 23 to November 21) coincides with the end of the harvest and the deepening of autumn, a time when nature itself undergoes transformation and prepares for renewal. Spiritually, Scorpio encourages us to embrace endings as preludes to new beginnings, fostering a willingness to let go of outdated beliefs, attachments, or fears. Archetypally, Scorpio aligns with the healer, the alchemist, and the psychologist—figures who guide us through inner darkness to find light, helping us transmute pain into wisdom and reclaim hidden aspects of our power. This season, under Scorpio’s influence, we are invited to become our own healers, digging deep to bring shadow elements into consciousness, fostering profound personal growth.
Scorpio is the sign of alchemy and transformation, symbolizing our capacity to turn shadow into light, wounds into wisdom. Under this New Moon, Scorpio’s water energy invites us to explore our emotional depths, face hidden fears, and release what no longer serves us. This lunation is an invitation to be our own healers, turning inward to find resilience and self-compassion. Astrologically, New Moons are a time for beginnings, and in Scorpio, these beginnings are profound and soul-level. Scorpio, ruled by both Mars (our drive) and Pluto (transformation), calls for deep, courageous introspection. This New Moon is a portal into the subconscious, allowing us to look honestly at the aspects of ourselves we may usually avoid. Through this confrontation, we are given the opportunity to heal old patterns, emotional blockages, and fears, fostering a powerful renewal that aligns with our soul’s true desires.
Other Celestial Influences
The cosmic backdrop of this New Moon includes an opposition between Mars, Scorpio’s traditional ruler, and Pluto, its modern ruler. This intense alignment brings to light internal and external power struggles, pushing us to confront issues around control, dominance, and unresolved conflicts. Mars stirs the desire to act, while Pluto insists on transformation, challenging us to find balance between assertion and surrender. This aspect invites us not to avoid the tension but to work through it, recognizing that true empowerment often arises from within. By facing these energies, we may uncover patterns in our relationships or within ourselves that require transformation. This period encourages us to release attachments to old narratives and open ourselves to more empowering dynamics.
The New Moon’s trine to Saturn in Pisces provides a stabilizing influence, grounding Scorpio’s intensity with a sense of responsibility and realism. Saturn’s energy asks us to set intentions not only for deep healing but for sustainable growth. Saturn reminds us that real transformation requires discipline and commitment—qualities that turn Scorpio’s transformative potential into lasting change. Saturn’s grounding presence makes this an ideal time to create clear goals around healing, emotional resilience, and long-term personal growth. As we set intentions during this New Moon, Saturn encourages us to embrace patience and the wisdom that comes from steady, intentional progress.
Rituals for the Scorpio New Moon and Samhain
This New Moon is an ideal time to engage in rituals that honor both the introspective energy of Scorpio and the ancestral wisdom of Samhain. Here are a few practices to align with these energies:
• Ancestral Altar: Create a dedicated space to honor those who have come before, placing photographs, mementos, or offerings like favorite foods or flowers. Lighting a candle for each ancestor you wish to honor invites their guidance during this introspective time, connecting you to the wisdom of your lineage.
• Shadow Work Journaling: Scorpio’s energy is ideal for shadow work. Reflect on fears, limiting beliefs, or recurring patterns that may be influencing your life. Consider what behaviors, thoughts, or attachments need to be released. Journaling is a powerful way to bring the unconscious to light, allowing you to examine and integrate these aspects.
• Water Ritual: Since Scorpio is a water sign, engaging in a cleansing ritual can help align with its transformative energy. Take a bath with salts, essential oils, or herbs that promote cleansing and renewal. Visualize releasing old energy as you soak, feeling lighter and more open to new possibilities. If baths aren’t your thing, check out our Water Ritual Paper, a hands-on way to release what no longer serves you. Write down what you wish to let go of, then place the paper in water and watch it slowly dissolve. You can let the ritual unfold naturally or actively participate by submerging your hands, speeding up the process as you feel the energy shift. For an even deeper connection, try performing the ritual in nature, like at a stream or other flowing water source, allowing the currents to carry away your intentions for release.
• Setting Intentions with Saturn’s Support: Take advantage of Saturn’s stabilizing influence by setting goals that reflect your commitment to long-term healing and growth. Consider where you want to build resilience, strengthen boundaries, or cultivate self-trust, and write down practical steps to support these intentions.
• Divination and Reflection: The thinning of the veil during Samhain makes this a potent time for divination. Use tarot, runes, or meditation to connect with ancestral guidance, asking for insights into the coming year. This ritual not only honors those who have passed but allows you to seek wisdom that supports your current path.
This Scorpio New Moon, amplified by Samhain’s sacred energy, invites us to journey inward, honor the cycles of life and death, and commit to our growth with courage. As we move through Scorpio season, we are called to release what no longer serves, to face our fears, and to welcome transformation as a path to personal empowerment. This New Moon isn’t about surface-level changes but about the profound inner work that leads to lasting renewal. Samhain reminds us that we are part of a larger cycle, and by honoring our past, our ancestors, and our inner depths, we align more closely with our true selves. This is a time to embrace both the light and the dark within, understanding that each has a role in our journey.
As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, may this New Moon and Samhain inspire you to walk through the shadows with grace, to honor the cycles of life, and to emerge renewed and empowered. Whether through reflection, ritual, or simple presence, allow this season to remind you of the power that lies in embracing transformation with an open heart and a grounded spirit.