Arrows, Epiphanies: Virgo New Moon
- Jeremy Scott Ballard
- Aug 18
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 19
Metanoia is a Greek term with various meanings in different contexts across theology, psychology, and philosophy. But I’m using it in its most literal translation: a change of mind.
Not changing your mind as in changing your order at a restaurant or deciding to not go to the party.
It’s closer to the idea of changing the psyche itself — how it operates subjectively, a conversion of sorts, or rebirth of perspective that ripples into the future with the power to change you inside and out.
I bring this up because with the Virgo New Moon, Uranus in Gemini, the upcoming solar eclipse on September 21, and the South Node all ruled by Mercury, not to mention Mercury moving into Virgo on September 2, there could be events in the coming weeks that aid — perhaps suddenly and disruptively — in triggering a metanoia-like experience for some of us.
This could be something that serves to awaken you into changing your health; into facing an addiction or obsession; into quitting a corporate job and dedicating yourself to a life of service; into seeing the world more holistically; into changing how you communicate to others or yourself; or into an ego-death and spiritual rebirth — into radically changing your mind.
Now, of course, this greatly depends on your birth chart, but the energy available over the coming weeks has the potential to test whether or not how we think, what we think about, who we think about, why we think about what we think about are still meaningful and productive for who we are becoming.
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This Virgo lunar cycle is uncommon because this year it ends with another Virgo New Moon.
The first is on August 23 at 00 Virgo square Uranus at 1 Gemini. The second, September 21, is a new moon solar eclipse at 29 Virgo opposite Saturn/Neptune. Between the two, is the Pisces Full Moon — a total lunar eclipse at 15 Pisces on September 7.
A lot of doors are closing over the course of the next two months. Perhaps some of these doors were open for years.
But, as always, new ones are opening.
The Moon is the Mind and the Heart is the Sun.
On the most basic level, this new moon in Virgo on August 23 could signal a new beginning when it comes to our daily, long-term habits and work processes; our health routines and rituals; the way we think about problems and obstacles; what we put in our body; how we handle anxiety, worry, compulsion; what we give attention to and what we need to ignore.
There’s likely a part of life that requires thoughtful, practical, diligent clearing away or reorganizing now. What needs changing might require real effort and dedication on a daily basis in order to manifest, but Virgo energy is very good for that. Mercury is in the spotlight until mid-October.
Mercury was released from the beams of the Sun around the same time it stationed direct August 11. Since then, Mercury likely brought new information to light, making it difficult for a Leo matter to be obscured or put off any longer.
Leo wants to be seen, heard, applauded, admired, sometimes followed, and maybe most of all, loved; and with Mercury opposite Pluto in Aquarius when it stationed, a secret of some kind might’ve been discovered, or a powerful decision made around August 11. Whatever it was, it probably changed the trajectory of a creative block or matter of the heart. Issues of loyalty and pride could’ve surfaced. Sentiments that were growing could’ve finally been said out loud around that time.
Two days after the new moon, on August 25, when Mercury hits 16 Leo and continues to pick up speed, it will finally leave retrograde shadow for new terrain. However, almost immediately, Mercury re-enters the Sun’s beams August 27 as it speeds up even more to catch up with the Sun mid-September.
On the same day Mercury clears 15 Leo on August 25, Venus enters Leo and begins to apply in opposition to Pluto, sextile Uranus, and form a trine with Saturn/Neptune. This very important ingress deserves its own 1,000 words, so I’ll be sharing those words soon.
URANUS
A Virgo Sun hasn’t squared Uranus in Gemini since September 1947 (some interesting facts about events at the time at the end of this writing).
The last time a Virgo New Moon squared Uranus in Gemini was 854 AD.
It’s been a minute.
Many astrologers wouldn’t consider an aspect to a planet that occurred before that planet was discovered as a true aspect, for the simple reason that what the undiscovered planet signifies wouldn’t be a part of the collective consciousness yet. I tend to agree with this.
If that’s the case, that means there’s never been a time when a Virgo New Moon squared Uranus in Gemini until August 23 2025.
The outer planets have never been configured like they are now either, and that means we need to get used to the early degrees of every sign getting lit up by outer planets when there’s movement into a new sign, at least for a few years.
Ingresses into Cardinal signs will form hard aspects with Neptune (and Saturn until mid 2026) in Aries. Ingresses into Fixed signs will form hard aspects to Pluto in Aquarius. Ingresses into Mutable signs will form hard aspects to Uranus in Gemini.
And as the Nodes start to fade out of the Pisces/Virgo axis over the next year and a half, eclipses will begin occurring co-present or opposite Pluto, powerfully accelerating societal and cultural dynamics further into simulacrum.
But one quantum step at a time. Uranus is extremely still in the sky now, stationing retrograde September 6. This means Uranus is very powerful as it squares the Sun and Moon.
Uranus represents energy that can ignite great change in an instant; and not just change, but awakening. In my experience, Uranus transits have sometimes shown me things I needed to see in order to move forward in some way. This could be a chance event or interaction and the new awareness that comes with it is often irreversible, disruptive, but ultimately transformative and liberating in some way.
With Uranus in Mercury-ruled Gemini square Sun/Moon in Mercury-ruled Virgo, we can expect communication technology, A.I., transportation, commerce, shipping, media, employment, health and healing (perhaps brain or nervous system), databases, digital currency, and other contemporary mercurial matters to be highlighted in the news.
On a personal level, Sun/Moon square Uranus can be challenging yet exciting; but like all aspects, has other potential as well.
A choice might need to made and communicated quickly. However, just as easily a positive disruption occurs that forces a sudden shift in perspective that can open future possibilities and a change of Mind.
There’s electricity in the air, but it could feel like too much at times. This could be part of the challenge now: finding a way to use our practical, analytical, and helpful skills to harness a quick charge of energy and try to tame it to make it more useful than wild.
I’d suggest the opposite now, though. If you can, loosen the reigns a bit and observe instead. Slow down.
If you have planets or points in the early degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces, you’re going to feel this time more than others.
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This new moon marks the entryway into eclipse season, making the Lunar Nodes points of focus. The South Node is especially important now.
Mars crossed over it July 21. Soon, it’s the Sun and Mercury’s turn. They pass over it between the eclipses, on September 10/11. Then, on the 12th, Mercury and the Sun form their superior conjunction at 20 Virgo, sextile Jupiter in Cancer. Venus will cross over the South Node a few weeks later October 4, right before the Aries Full Moon October 6.
As the Sun moves into Virgo August 23, it becomes co-present with the South Node.
As the Sun moves through Virgo, we might be encouraged — or suddenly required — to release and purge outworn ways of thinking; unhealthy patterns that help us cope but don’t help us heal; self-critical thoughts that keep us stuck; or any habit or compulsion that negatively affects our well-being.
Thought patterns and routines that serve only to keep us anxious, distracted, worrisome, or in a state of paralytic analysis need to be tossed into the ebbing tide now.
Mars was recently in Virgo and crossed over the South Node on July 21. You might’ve already experienced a release and letting go of some kind in this part of your chart. This new moon, one month later, might represent the new beginning promised by that release, or at least another layer to shed.
What were you letting go of in late July? What finally fell from the tree?
The North Node in Pisces is asking us to release our grip on the past and trust the current. As mutable signs, Virgo and Pisces are very adaptable, just in different ways. Both are transitional times of the year.
A week before the new moon on August 16, Jupiter, current ruler of the North Node, entered its retrograde shadow at 15 Cancer. Directly in the middle of the sign, it’s a powerful degree.
Try to be curious and observant about what’s unfolding in the Cancer, Pisces and Sagittarius parts of your chart from mid-August to mid-November, and especially around the Pisces Lunar Eclipse on September 7.
Jupiter will travel to 25 Cancer and then turn retrograde on November 11 until March 10 2026.
During that time we could experience some deflation or lack in our home or family life, our spiritual or educational outlook, or become increasingly aware of where we’re overindulging or overstepping boundaries in some way. If you can, recall October 2024 until early February 2025 — this is when Jupiter was last retrograde.
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Life will likely feel accelerated around this new moon, unhinged overstimulation is possible. Watch out for the unfortunate possibility of getting trapped in rapid feedback loops of mental activity or anxiety due to too much focus on small stuff. Another reason to slow down now if possible.
This is a time to really take care of our nervous systems and try to slow down where we can so we don’t miss any breakthroughs or epiphanies.
Look to where Virgo/Pisces, Mercury and Jupiter are in your chart.
Go swimming. Take a walk around a lake. Dip your feet in the creek. Soak in the tub. If it rains, walk out into it for a little while.
What in your life would benefit from loosening the reigns a bit? Maybe it’s your health, work, or simply your day-to-day happiness. If you can ease away from any compulsion to control or fix, it might not only serve you down the road, but the people you care about as well.
Imagine what pleasant surprises or unexpected joys might enter your life if you decide to change your perspective. What would it hurt to turn over and float on your back a while downstream?
Who knows? It just might change your life.
This is a general reading, if you’d like to learn more about how this Virgo New Moon relates to your chart, please consider booking a reading,
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I was curious about what was going on the last time a Virgo Sun squared Uranus in Gemini on September 17 1947, and a quick search revealed a few events I think reflect the double-Mercury/Uranian nature of the aspect. Using about a 40-day orb (20 days on either side), these were the most strikingly Mercury/Uranus to me:
A moth lodged in a relay is found to be the cause of a malfunction in the Harvard Mark II electromechanical computer, logged as the "First actual case of bug being found.”
In the United States: The National Security Act of 1947 becomes effective on this day, creating the United States Air Force, National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency.
First recorded use of the word computer in its modern sense, referring to an electronic digital machine.
President Harry S. Truman delivers the first televised White House address, speaking on the world food crises.
United States Air Force test pilot Captain Chuck Yeager flies a Bell X-1 rocket plane faster than the speed of sound, the first time it's been accomplished.
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