Libra New Moon: A Moment to Rest and Reflect
The New Moon in Libra on October 21st invites us to find moments of peace and balance, like a calm eye in the storm of life’s chaos. Ruled by Venus, the planet of harmony, beauty, and justice, this lunation highlights themes of relationships, fairness, and emotional equilibrium. With Venus currently in Libra, her energy strengthens the desire to connect with others, find common ground, and create harmony in relationships. In the video below, I’ll guide you through the astrology of this New Moon, offering tips for setting intentions and exploring how its energy might unfold in your life.
A key feature of this New Moon is its complex backdrop. Mars and Mercury are together in Scorpio, adding intensity and a sharp edge to communication, while Jupiter in Cancer—where it is exalted—offers a counterbalance of nurturing energy and optimism. These dynamics create a mix of tension and opportunity, asking us to navigate conflict with patience and clarity. The video also explores the Tarot card associated with this lunation, the Four of Swords, which reflects the need for rest and centering yourself amid potential mental and emotional overwhelm. This moment offers a fertile ground for reflection, clarity, and intentional action.
This New Moon will have a stronger impact on those with rising signs or planets in the cardinal signs—Libra, Aries, Cancer, and Capricorn—especially near the late degrees. For example, if this New Moon falls in your first or seventh houses, it could bring new awareness to your identity and relationships. If it activates your fourth and tenth houses, you may notice shifts involving home, family, or career. In the video, I talk a bit about how the New Moon might influence each rising sign. If you’d like to see your birth chart or determine your rising sign, check out my YouTube tutorial on how to pull up your birth chart using AstroSeek. For additional insights, here’s a link to my Libra III decan video, which explores the deeper symbolism of this part of the zodiac. If you’d like a personalized reading to understand how this New Moon impacts your chart, feel free to reach out using the link below.
The transcript of this video, with extra details, is included below for further reference. I hope this helps you make the most of this New Moon’s energy! Make sure to like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more astrology insights.
Transcript (Revised and Expanded)
Hi, this is Cathy Gnatek. Today, I’m going to be talking about the New Moon on October 21 in Libra. This New Moon may call us to find our center, to take a moment for peace and rest amid some of the chaos in the world. It might feel like we’re trying to process a lot of conflicting opinions or being called to seek justice, all while navigating some heavier energy in the background that could lead to conflict in our lives. It’s a complex New Moon, and I’m going to offer some tips for working with this energy if you’d like to set intentions for the upcoming month. I’ll also break down how it might affect you, what house or area of life it might influence. There’s a lot to unpack. I hope you enjoy the video, and if you do, please like and subscribe—it helps others find my content. Now, let me pull up the whiteboard I put together for this.
Here we go. I always like to start by showing people what a New Moon is. It’s the moment when the Sun and Moon come together in the sky. This alignment represents the seeding of new potential, an opportunity to expand our consciousness around a particular area of life. Think of it this way: the Sun represents light, awareness, and what we know—it’s our consciousness. The Moon, on the other hand, symbolizes the body, the unknown, and the unconscious. When they meet, it creates this fertile moment for new understanding to emerge.
This New Moon is in the sign of Libra. If you look at the chart, you’ll see everything connected to this lunation circled in pink, which highlights its connection to Venus, the ruler of Libra. Venus happens to be in Libra this month, which adds her energy of harmony, beauty, and a desire for justice to the mix. We’ll talk more about that in a moment.
Next, I want to take a moment to orient us to Libra as a sign. Most people know that if Aries is the sign of “me” and asserting my identity in the world, Libra is the sign of “we.” Libra is an air sign, so it’s focused on communication, thought, and understanding different perspectives. When Venus, the goddess of love, rules an air sign, there’s a drive to create relationships between ideas and connect people with differing viewpoints. Libra has a strong diplomatic quality. People with prominent Libra placements—like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bill Clinton, and others—are often skilled speakers and good at finding consensus, even in the midst of conflict. That’s what Libra aims to do: create harmony.
Libra is also a cardinal sign, which means it likes to initiate and get things started. It carries a yang, or active, energy, which adds to its ability to take the lead in social or intellectual endeavors.
Now, let’s talk about the tarot card associated with this part of the zodiac. Every 10 degrees of the zodiac, or decan, has a tarot card from the minor arcana that corresponds to it. I’m doing a decan walk where I explore each 10-degree segment of the zodiac, and I’ll link to that in case you’d like to check it out. The tarot card for the last 10 degrees of Libra, where this New Moon falls, is the Four of Swords.
This part of the zodiac is ruled by Mercury, the god of communication and messenger to the gods. Mercury governs the details of life, such as gathering information when it rules Gemini or analyzing when it rules Virgo. It’s focused on the small, intricate pieces that make up the bigger picture. However, this decan is also ruled by Jupiter, which has an energy that’s almost the opposite of Mercury. While Mercury focuses on the details, Jupiter seeks the overarching truth and understanding of the universe. Jupiter is a planet of optimism and expansion, constantly looking for the one true answer.
I often think of Jupiter in this context by imagining someone like Albert Einstein. Einstein’s theory of relativity was an attempt to understand the connection between time and space—an effort to grasp the wholeness of reality. That’s the kind of energy Jupiter brings to this decan, balancing out Mercury’s precision with its own expansive vision.
And they’re like two parts of the same thing rather than being entirely separate. A mercurial understanding of the universe is more like Newton’s approach, where he sought to measure things precisely and focus on cause and effect. On the other hand, Einstein wanted to capture the oneness of reality with his theory. That’s the energy of Jupiter—it seeks to unify everything into a single whole. Mercury, meanwhile, is focused on breaking things down into specific particulars. These are very different, even opposing, energies, and they both rule the last 10 degrees of Libra.
If we think about the tarot card associated with this decan, the Four of Swords, we can begin to feel the interplay of Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus in this part of the zodiac. The card often symbolizes the need for rest. You see a man lying peacefully, with three swords hanging above him and one sword below. This imagery reflects the Libra energy of balancing multiple perspectives, combined with Mercury’s influence, which in this part of Libra aligns with Gemini energy. Gemini, as you may know, is curious and scattered, attempting to grasp many different ideas at once, which can feel overwhelming. Jupiter, however, tries to pull all those pieces together into something cohesive. This New Moon reflects that dynamic: a swirl of energy, perspectives, and ideas, where the challenge is to find a moment of peace amidst the chaos. The Four of Swords represents this perfectly—a call to center yourself and rest in the midst of it all.
4 of Swords, Rider-Waite Tarot
This theme of finding peace and balance is central to this New Moon’s energy. Venus, currently in the first 10 degrees of Libra, adds another layer to this lunation. The first decan of Libra is more black-and-white in its approach, concerned with fairness, justice, and ensuring balance. It’s about wanting the world to be fair and equitable. Sidney Poitier, for example, had his rising degree in this part of Libra. His work often reflected this energy, as he diplomatically brought attention to the oppression of Black Americans through films like Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. This New Moon carries some of that same energy—not just the complexity and swirling ideas of Libra III but also Venus’s desire for justice and fairness.
However, there’s also some challenging energy in the background. Mars and Mercury are conjunct (right nest to each other) in Scorpio, blending their energies. Mars, the god of war, and Mercury, the god of communication, together can create "fighting words"—a tendency toward verbal conflict and confrontation. In Scorpio, where Mars is strong in his own sign (“domicile”) this energy intensifies, bringing the potential for distorted thinking, paranoia, or a sharp focus on conflict. This Mars-Mercury conjunction is also “averse” to the New Moon, meaning it’s in a house that doesn’t have a direct line of sight to it. While not directly influencing the New Moon, this energy adds an undercurrent of tension to the overall atmosphere.
It means this energy is in the background—bubbling beneath the surface. If we’re trying to balance all these perspectives and bring justice, it’s important to acknowledge that there may also be some underlying rage, anger, or desire for conflict. Recognizing this bubbling energy might help us navigate the more challenging aspects of this New Moon. Awareness of these unconscious forces allows us to move through this time with greater clarity and patience.
The last thing I’d like to mention about this New Moon is that we currently have Jupiter “exalted” in Cancer. This is significant. Jupiter brings abundance to Cancer’s energy, which is focused on growth, nurturing, and creating safe spaces for others. Cancer, as the sign of home, family, and tribe, is also prominent in the astrological chart of the United States. Jupiter’s exaltation is a good thing—it’s a position of honor and admiration. However, exaltation can also bring the potential for inflation, hubris, or a sense of invincibility. Jupiter is squaring this New Moon, which adds an energy of potential overreach or overshooting.
At the same time, Jupiter is in a trine with the Mars-Mercury conjunction in Scorpio, giving some supportive energy to the anger or conflict simmering beneath the surface. This makes me wonder about the importance of managing tempers during this time. Of course, there are moments when anger is appropriate and necessary, and it’s important to express yourself when the time is right. But when these emotions are unconscious and bubbling in the background, it may be helpful to bring them into awareness. If there’s anger or rage present, take the time to reflect on where it’s coming from and why it’s there.
I use the word “rage” deliberately because Scorpio, where Mars and Mercury are both located, is a sign that holds onto things deeply. As a Scorpio rising, I relate to this energy. Scorpio can fight to the bitter end—it’s a survival instinct. To understand Scorpio energy, I like the example I once heard on the Astrology Podcast about the two signs ruled by Mars: Aries and Scorpio. Aries is a fire sign and operates like a prizefighter who gets a first-round knockout. Scorpio, as a water sign, has a deep, penetrating, psychological energy. It’s like the prizefighter who goes 15 rounds, gets bloodied, but wins in the end. Mars in Scorpio embodies this powerful, fixed energy. With Mars in its own sign, it’s especially strong right now. Recognizing this background energy can help us better navigate the dynamics of this New Moon.
If you’re thinking about setting intentions for this New Moon, which many people like to do, consider how to work with the serious and intense energy it carries. Start by finding a place of balance and inner peace. Meditative practices or journaling can help you connect with that Libra III energy—the part of the zodiac that seeks respite and a centering force. This energy can guide you to stay calm and avoid reacting to every bit of chaos or difficulty that comes your way. Lean into Libra’s diplomacy and focus on understanding others’ perspectives. Avoid escalating conflicts if possible, and think carefully about your words before you speak.
You might also reflect on your attachments, especially with Jupiter in Cancer, which can lead us to overvalue emotional or family security. Grounding yourself before responding to Mars in Scorpio’s intense energy could be valuable. If you feel anger rising, try to center yourself and let your inner voice speak for you. This can help you address difficult topics constructively. Consider setting intentions for clarity, fairness, and emotional balance—qualities that can help you navigate this time in a productive way.
Finally, keep in mind that this New Moon won’t affect everyone equally. It will have a stronger impact on those with cardinal signs rising—Libra, Aries, Cancer, or Capricorn—because the New Moon is in Libra, a cardinal sign and because angular houses (the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth) are the most powerful houses.
As well as if you have placements near the end of the cardinal signs, this New Moon might be particularly relevant since it occurs, I believe, at 28 degrees. I might be slightly off on that, but that’s what I recall off the top of my head. Understanding the degree of the New Moon can help you figure out what area of your life it may impact. This will depend on your rising sign.
I’ve included a little diagram here, which I’ve used before. Feel free to take a screenshot if you’d like. It’s a helpful guide to understanding what topics each house represents. For example, the first house is about self, body, character, and appearance—it’s all about "me." The seventh house is about partnerships and one-on-one relationships. The fourth house covers topics like home, family, and ancestry, as it’s located at the bottom of the chart. The tenth house, situated at the top, focuses on career and what we do in the world. Each of the other houses also represents specific themes, which you can discern from this diagram.
If you know your rising sign, it can help you identify where this New Moon will fall in your chart. For instance, if you’re a Libra rising, this New Moon will take place in your first house. This suggests the themes of the New Moon will center around you—your identity, how you see yourself, or how you present yourself to the world. If you’re an Aries rising, the New Moon will fall in your seventh house, which is opposite Libra. This might highlight issues or opportunities in your partnerships or one-on-one relationships. For Cancer risings, another cardinal sign, the New Moon will activate the fourth house, bringing focus to home, family, or ancestry. Meanwhile, for Capricorn risings, the last of the cardinal signs, the New Moon will occur in the tenth house, which could bring up themes related to work, career, or public life.
Feel free to drop a comment with your rising sign, and we can chat about how this New Moon might impact you. I always enjoy hearing how people experience transits like this because astrology is a constant feedback loop. The more you study and listen to people’s experiences, the deeper your understanding of astrology becomes.
If you don’t know your rising sign, I’ll include a link in the video description to a tutorial I made on how to pull up your birth chart using AstroSeek. I hope you found this video helpful! If you did, I’d really appreciate it if you could like the video and subscribe to my channel. I’ll see you soon for the next Full Moon—though I haven’t checked where it’s happening yet! Hope you have a great day. Bye!