The three-day new Moon is a time to manifest (get your vision boards out!) and make intentions for the next 29.5-day lunar cycle. Here are a few rituals that are specifically designed for the new Moon this month.
- Pay respect to Venus, the ruler of the zodiac sign Libra. Gather some Venus-inspired light pink candles. Put on some soothing music or relax in a warm bath with Epsom salt and rose petals. Close your eyes and imagine the kinds of relationships you’d like to be in.
- Make the most of this month to boost your self-esteem and confidence. Repeat positive affirmations in the mirror every morning (we’ve included a couple more below). If you repeat them often enough, you may begin to internalize their messages.
- Under the new Moon, meditate. Plant your feet or the palms of your hands on the floor while meditating to help ground the Libra new Moon’s airy energy.
- Write a letter to your younger self to reconnect with your inner child. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you’ve made in the past.
- To symbolically liberate yourself from bad relationships, perform a cutting ceremony. Join two threads with a knot. Consider why you want to leave the relationship. Then cut the strands in half using a pair of scissors. To remove the energy in the room, toss them in the garbage and burn a white candle.
- New Moons are ideal occasions to start sowing seeds for the future. Bring some greenery indoors with a potted plant or a flower bouquet (check out the best ones for your zodiac sign).
- Are you trying to mend a broken relationship? Light a white candle with both of your names etched on it. This simple practice could help you relax. Put a dollop of honey on top of the candle before lighting it as a next step.
In This Article...
What does the new moon in October 2021 mean?
If you’ve dabbled in astrology, you’re surely aware that the moon has a huge impact on us, particularly in terms of our emotions and energy levels. To put it another way, it’s an exciting and monumental phase in the moon’s rotation, similar to the vibes you get the night before New Year’s Eve. When it comes to the October 2021 new moon, which moves into the cardinal air sign Libra on Oct. 6, we may feel less enthusiastic, which allows us to relax and revitalize as we strive to deepen our close relationships and plan for future social occasions. Knowing the spiritual significance of the October 2021 new moon can assist you in aligning with this new and powerful energy via peaceful thought and planning, allowing you to make the most of this lunation.
The new moon, in its literal definition, marks the beginning of a new lunar phase, restarting the cycle every 29 days. While starting over can be exciting, these new changes can also be challenging, so understanding the spiritual meaning of the new October moon will help you move on with confidence in a new direction. This energy is all about altering our relationships and establishing harmony in our social lives, with the new moon moving into socialite Libra.
Taking advantage of the new moon’s energy might assist us in clarifying our future goals and ambitions. Are you prepared for the balancing act? Continue reading to learn more about the spiritual significance of the new moon and how to make the most of it.
What time is the New Moon in Libra?
On October 6, the New Moon in Libra will occur at 7:05 a.m. ET. Libra is a zodiac sign that values fairness, balance, relationships, and all things that are just. This New Moon, fortunately for us, is the ideal time to establish a good and peaceful relationship. However, the key to getting the most out of this lunar transit is to sit down and get crystal clear about your goals.
Mercury, the planet of communication, is retrograde and conjunct (in the same sign as) the New Moon, so be wary of undermining your emotions. Libra energy leads us to believe that they are masters of moving on; nonetheless, we are all human, and residual pain does arise from time to time. This New Moon can bring about partnerships that exceed your expectations if you put in the effort and process your emotions.
How long does the new moon last?
The longest period between full moon and new moon (or new moon to full moon) is around 15 days and 1412 hours, while the smallest period is only about 13 days and 2212 hours.
Aries
In relation to a major professional contract or deal, the new moon in Libra in 2021 is a time for you to reclaim your control. This could be a long-standing relationship that is now reappearing as an opportunity for change. In order to renegotiate, remember to explain your wants honestly. This will be a longer-term and more expansive position for you.
How does new moon affect Libra?
The new moon is a lovely moment for letting go and letting in. This is when the moon, as the ruler of your internal self, aligns with the sun, as the ruler of your exterior self, giving you a tremendous spiritual alignment. You are advised to release everything that has been dragging you down or keeping you back during this alignment. You can start afresh, letting the spark of something new catch fire in its place. Depending on how the October 2021 new moon in Libra affects your zodiac sign, everyone will react differently to this new beginning.
The aura of this new moon, which is in beautiful, calm, and peaceful Libra, may have an impact on your relationships. Libra is a cardinal sign that wants to resolve disagreements, keep the peace, and enjoy the romance that comes with everyone getting along. You may feel particularly passionate about resolving conflicts with people and building a more harmonious bond during this new moon.
Of course, letting go of the past isn’t always simple. This new moon will also occur during Mercury retrograde, which may resurrect old wounds and bring up concerns that have yet to be resolved. Passions may overpower rationality when this new moon forms a conjunction with fiery and combative Mars, resulting in unpredictable outcomes. It’s not so much about how you feel as it is about how you choose to respond to those sensations. The power of becoming the greater person can be taught by Libra.
This is how it will influence you, based on your sun and rising sign, on Oct. 6 at 7:05 a.m. ET:
What time is the new moon October 6 2021?
Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 12:00 a.m. UTC, the moon will be full. The Moon is in Libra for less than a day. This New Moon phase will occur on October 6, 2021, at 11:05 UTC.
What is Libra moon attracted to?
Libra moons enjoy being in the company of others, and they usually have a large network of friends whom they can call at any time. Your Libra moon sign indicates that you are very concerned about others, which makes you an excellent friend. Even if you are more introverted, people warm up to you after they get to know you.
What time is the new moon October 6 2021 est?
This full Moon occurs around the beginning of the seven-day Sukkoth holiday in the Hebrew calendar. The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkoth, is also known as the Feast of the Ingathering. This event is linked to the people of Israel being sheltered in the desert for 40 years in the Book of Leviticus, as well as a harvest feast in the Book of Exodus. A temporary hut, like a forest shelter, is frequently constructed for this event, where the family eats, sleeps, and spends time. Sukkoth will begin at dusk on Monday, September 20 and end at dusk on Monday, September 27, 2021.
This full Moon coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional harvest festival in China, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. This festival is also known as the Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival, and Reunion Festival in China (with wives in China visiting their parents, then returning to celebrate with their husbands and his parents). Offerings to the Moon Goddess Chang’e are a part of the event (the name the China National Space Agency gives their lunar missions). This full Moon in Korea corresponds to the harvest festival Chuseok, when Koreans leave the city to return to their ancestral homelands and pay tribute to the spirits of their forefathers and mothers.
The first of two Japanese Tsukimi or “Moon-Viewing” celebrations falls on this full Moon. This Moon is also known as Imo Meigetsu because it is customary to serve sweet potatoes during the full Moon (which translates as “Potato Harvest Moon”). The full Moon celebrations have grown in popularity to the point where they are frequently extended for many days following the full Moon. The second Moon-Viewing festival takes place on the 13th day of the following lunar month and commemorates the last few days of the waxing gibbous Moon before it becomes full.
This full Moon ushers in the Pitri (or Pitru) Paksha (ancestors’ fortnight), during which Hindus pay honor to their forefathers and mothers, particularly through food offerings. Pitri Paksha begins with the full Moon in Bhadrapada’s lunar month and finishes with the new Moon.
This full Moon is Madhu Purnima, the Honey Full Moon Festival or the Honey-offering Festival, for some Buddhists in Bangladesh and Thailand, based on a legend that an elephant and a monkey fed the Buddha in the forest to bring peace between two factions, with the elephant offering fruit and the monkey offering a honeycomb.
This full Moon is Binara Pura Pasalosvaka Poya Day in Sri Lanka, celebrating the founding of the Buddhist Bhikkhun Order.
Full Moons occur in the middle of lunar months in several traditional lunisolar calendars. The Chinese calendar is in the middle of the eighth month at the time of this full Moon. The months begin with the first glimpse of the waxing crescent Moon immediately after the New Moon in the Islamic calendar. This full Moon occurs in the second month of the Islamic calendar, Safar.
The GRAIL Moon and the LADEE Moon, named after two lunar robotic missions launched in September, are newer names for this full Moon. The twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft launched on a Delta II launch vehicle on Sept. 10, 2011, on their way to the Moon. The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft launched to the Moon on a Minotaur V launch vehicle on Sept. 6, 2013.
In appreciation of the full Moon, as is customary, donning appropriately joyful celestial apparel is encouraged. Also, try celebrating the harvest by eating mooncakes, visiting your hometown, parents, and in-laws (while maintaining acceptable social distance, of course), and camping with your family.
Here is a summary of other celestial events between now and the full Moon after next (with times and angles based on the location of NASA Headquarters in Washington):
As summer finishes and fall arrives, the daily durations of sunlight shorten even further, peaking around the equinox on Sept. 22, 2021. Morning twilight will begin at 5:56 a.m., sunrise will be at 6:54 a.m., solar noon will be at 1:01:22 p.m., when the Sun will reach its maximum height of 51.94 degrees, sunset will be at 7:08 p.m., and evening twilight will conclude at 8:06 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 20 (the day of the next full Moon).
Morning twilight will begin at 5:58 a.m., sunrise will be at 6:56 a.m., solar noon will be at 1:00:39 p.m., sunset will be at 7:05 p.m., and evening twilight will end at 8:02 p.m. on the day of the autumnal equinox Wednesday, September 22, 2021 when the Sun will reach its maximum altitude of 51.17 degrees, Morning twilight will begin at 6:25 a.m., sunrise will be at 7:23 a.m., solar noon will be at 12:52:45 p.m., when the Sun will reach its maximum altitude of 40.55 degrees, sunset will be at 6:22 p.m., and evening twilight will finish at 7:20 p.m. by Wednesday, Oct. 20 the day after the full Moon
The next few months should be ideal for viewing Jupiter and Saturn, particularly using a backyard telescope. On August 2, Saturn was closest and brightest for the year, while Jupiter was closest and brightest on August 19. (called “opposition” because they were opposite the Earth from the Sun). Both will appear to shift toward the west in the coming months, making them visible earlier in the evening sky while remaining quite bright (and friendlier for backyard stargazing, especially if you have young ones with earlier bedtimes). With clear skies and a telescope, you should be able to view Jupiter’s four bright moons, Ganymede, Callisto, Europa, and Io, moving about in the evening sky. Saturn’s rings, as well as Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, should be visible from Earth.
Due to interference from the full Moon, 2021 will not be a good year to witness the Orionid Meteor Shower. This shower will be active from Oct. 2 to Nov. 7, 2021, with a peak on Oct. 21 morning (the day after the full Moon after the next).
Evening Sky Summary
As evening twilight ends at 8:06 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021 the day of the full Moon the brightest planet visible will be Venus, which will shine as the Evening Star 7 degrees above the horizon in the west-southwest. Jupiter will be the next brightest planet, rising 24 degrees above the horizon in the southeast. Saturn, which will appear 27 degrees above the horizon towards the south-southeast, will be the faintest of the visible planets in the sky. Mercury will have set by the time evening twilight ends, but you might be able to view it low in the west-southwest for about 30 minutes after sunset (7:38 p.m.) until it sets 14 minutes later (at 7:52 p.m.). Vega, which will appear 86 degrees above the western horizon, will be the brightest star closest to overhead. Vega is the brightest of the three stars in the Summer Triangle and the fifth brightest star in our night sky. Vega is roughly twice the mass of our Sun, 40 times brighter, and 25 light-years away.
Each evening, Jupiter, Saturn, and the background of stars will appear to shift toward the west as the lunar cycle proceeds (although it is actually the Earth that is moving around the Sun toward the east). Each evening, the brilliant planet Venus will appear to shift to the left along the southwest horizon, passing near the waxing crescent Moon on October 9 and passing over the bright star Antares on October 16, 2021. Although Mercury will have sunk by the time evening twilight ends, it may be visible for another week in the glow of dusk low on the west-southwestern horizon (try looking about 30 minutes after sunset). Mercury will change from the evening sky to the morning sky on Oct. 9 when it passes between the Earth and the Sun.
As evening twilight ends at 7:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021 the day after the full Moon the brightest planet visible will be Venus, which will be 10 degrees above the horizon in the southwest. Jupiter will be the next brightest planet, rising 32 degrees above the horizon towards the south-southeast. Saturn will be the faintest of the visible planets in the sky, rising 31 degrees above the horizon in the south. Deneb, which will appear 81 degrees above the northeastern horizon, will be the brightest star closest to overhead. Deneb is the 19th brightest star in our night sky, located around 2,600 light-years from Earth.
Morning Sky Summary
As morning darkness begins at 5:56 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021 the day of the full Moon no visible planets will appear in the sky. Bright stars from our home galaxy’s local arm, including the constellation Orion, will be visible high in the sky to the south-southeast. Capella, at 81 degrees above the northeastern horizon, will be the brightest star visible immediately overhead. Capella appears to us as a single star, the sixth brightest in our night sky, but it is actually the light of four stars combined (two pairs of stars orbiting each other). Capella is 43 light-years away from Earth.
The background of stars will appear to shift westward as the lunar cycle advances. Mercury will begin to emerge from the dawn light on or after October 13 and will be visible low on the eastern horizon until about 30 minutes before sunrise. As morning twilight begins after Oct. 16, Mercury will be above the horizon. As morning darkness begins at 6:25 a.m. EDT on Oct. 20 the day after the full Moon Mercury will be the sole visible planet in the sky, appearing about 5 degrees above the eastern horizon. From the south-southeast to the west-northwest, the bright stars of our home galaxy’s local arm, including the constellation Orion, will seem scattered across the sky. Pollux, at 77 degrees above the southeastern horizon, will be the brightest star seen immediately overhead. Pollux is the brighter of the Gemini twins and is approximately 34 light-years away from us.
September 16-18
The planet Saturn will appear roughly 5 degrees from the waxing gibbous Moon on Thursday night into Friday morning, September 16 to 17, 2021, rotating clockwise around the Moon as the night unfolds. Saturn will appear to the top left of the Moon as evening twilight ends at 8:12 p.m. EDT. Saturn will appear above the Moon around 10:02 p.m., when the Moon reaches its highest point in the sky for the night. Saturn will be to the right and a bit above the Moon at the time the Moon sets in the west-southwest (Friday at 2:54 a.m.).
The brilliant planet Jupiter will appear near the waxing gibbous Moon on Friday night into Saturday morning, Sept. 17 to 18, 2021, and will appear to shift clockwise around the Moon as the night unfolds. Jupiter will appear around 7 degrees to the left and a bit above the Moon as evening twilight ends at 8:11 p.m. EDT. Jupiter will appear roughly 6 degrees above and to the left of the Moon around 10:56 p.m., when the Moon reaches its greatest point in the sky for the night. Jupiter will be roughly 4 degrees to the top right of the Moon when it sets in the west-southwest (Saturday at 4:04 a.m.).
September 20: The Next Full Moon
If you have a clean view of the west-southwestern horizon on Monday evening, Sept. 20, 2021, for about 30 minutes after sunset about 7:38 p.m. EDT, you might be able to see the planet Mercury about 2 degrees above the horizon and about 1.5 degrees below the bright star Spica. Mercury will be the first planet to set, around 14 minutes later (at 7:52 p.m.). Because dusk will still be in the sky, seeing Spica without binoculars or a telescope may be difficult. The planet Mercury and the star Spica will be at their closest approach to each other this evening and the next evening.
As previously stated, the next full Moon will occur on Monday, September 20, 2021, at 7:55 p.m. EDT. Around this period, the Moon will be full for about three days, from Sunday evening to Wednesday morning.
September 27
The planet Mercury will emerge above the horizon thirty minutes after sunset for the last time on Monday, September 27, 2021. (an approximation of the last evening Mercury will be visible in the glow of dusk).
September 28
The waning Moon will appear half-full on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, as it reaches its last quarter at 9:57 p.m. EDT. We won’t be able to see the last quarter Moon until it rises later that evening at 11:34 p.m. (from the Washington, D.C. region).
October 6
The new Moon will occur on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, at 7:05 a.m. EDT, when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is no longer visible from Earth. For most lunisolar calendars, the new month begins on the day of or the day following the New Moon.
Marcheshvan, a term commonly shortened to Cheshvan or Heshvan in the Hebrew calendar, begins at sundown on Wednesday evening, Oct. 6, 2021. The Buddhist Hpaung Daw U Festival begins on the new Moon and lasts 18 days, ending a few days before the next full Moon (on October 23, 2021). The new Moon in the Hindu lunar calendar ushers in the month of Ashwin, which begins with Sharada Navaratri, a nine-day post-monsoon harvest celebration. The first sighting of the waxing crescent Moon in the Islamic calendar usually begins the month. Many Muslim communities now utilize the Saudi Arabian Umm al-Qura Calendar, which uses astronomical calculations based on Mecca’s location to begin months in a more predictable manner. Using this calendar, Rabi al-Awwal will most likely begin at sundown on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. On Thursday, October 7, 2021 (at midnight in China’s time zone, which is 12 hours ahead of EDT), the ninth month of the Chinese calendar will begin.
October 7
The planet Mars will pass on the far side of the Sun as seen from Earth on Thursday night, Oct. 7, 2021, which is known as conjunction. Charged particles from the Sun interfere with communications with spacecraft on planets that seem close to the Sun as seen from Earth. Between Oct. 2 and 14, NASA’s solar conjunction embargo on controlling all Mars probes is in effect.
Mars will transition from the evening sky to the morning sky as it travels outside of Earth’s orbit. After about Oct. 26, Mars will begin to emerge from the dawn glow on the eastern horizon (depending upon viewing conditions).
October 9
Mercury will pass between the Earth and the Sun as seen from Earth on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, which is known as inferior conjunction. Planets that orbit within Earth’s orbit can have two sorts of conjunctions with the Sun: inferior (when passing between the Earth and the Sun) and superior (when passing between the Earth and the Sun) (when passing on the far side of the Sun as seen from the Earth). After about Oct. 13, Mercury will begin to transition from the evening sky to the morning sky, emerging from the glow of dawn on the eastern horizon (depending upon viewing conditions).
The waxing crescent Moon with the bright planet Venus should produce a beautiful spectacle in the southwestern sky on Saturday evening. The Moon will be about 11 degrees above the horizon when evening twilight ends at 7:35 p.m., with Venus about 2.5 degrees to the lower right of the Moon and the brilliant star Antares about 6 degrees to the left. At 8:35 p.m., Venus will set in the west-southwest for the first time.
October 12
The Moon will appear half-full on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, as it reaches its first quarter at 11:25 p.m. EDT. This will happen immediately before the moonset at 11:38 p.m. in the Washington area.
October 13-14
The planet Mercury will first appear above the horizon 30 minutes before sunrise on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, an approximation of when it would emerge from the brightness of dawn and start being visible low on the eastern horizon. On Oct. 9, Mercury moved from the evening sky to the morning sky as it passed between the Earth and the Sun.
The planet Saturn will be visible above the waxing gibbous Moon from Wednesday evening to early Thursday morning, October 13 to 14, 2021. As evening darkness ends at 7:30 p.m. EDT, Saturn will appear around 8 degrees to the top left of the Moon. When the night progresses, Saturn will appear to shift clockwise around the Moon, appearing roughly 6 degrees to the top right of the Moon long after midnight as the Moon sets in the west-southwest (Thursday morning at 12:45 a.m.).
October 15
The bright planet Jupiter will emerge above the waxing gibbous Moon the following night, Thursday evening into early Friday morning, Oct. 14 to 15, 2021. As the evening twilight fades, Jupiter will appear around 9 degrees to the top left of the Moon (at 7:28 p.m. EDT). As the night progresses, Jupiter will appear to shift clockwise around the Moon, appearing roughly 7 degrees to the upper right of the Moon around 2 hours after the Moon sets in the west-southwest (Friday morning at 1:54 a.m.).
As evening twilight ends at 7:27 p.m. EDT on Friday, Oct. 15, the waxing gibbous Moon will have changed to the point where Jupiter will look around 9 degrees to the upper right of the Moon. As the night develops, the two will appear to be drifting apart.
October 16: Observe the Moon Night
The planet Mercury will emerge above the eastern horizon for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at 6:46 a.m. EDT, when morning twilight begins.
The bright star Antares will appear below the even brighter planet Venus on Saturday evening. At 7:26 p.m. EDT, when evening twilight ends, Venus will be 10 degrees above the southern horizon, with Antares 1.4 degrees below it. Antares will rise at 8:25 p.m., about an hour later. During this moon cycle, Venus will move to the left along the horizon, while the stars in the backdrop rotate to the west. Venus will appear to drift toward Antares until Oct. 16, after which the pair will appear to separate as Venus moves to the left and Antares moves closer to the horizon each evening.
October 20
The next full Moon will be on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, at 10:57 a.m. EDT. Around this period, the Moon will be full for about three days, from Monday night to Thursday morning and possibly into Thursday evening.
