Tonight marks the new moon in Sagittarius.

Try these new moon rituals for cleansing and renewal.

With every dark moon, especially this one, I start with this idea: Face the darkness within.

That means YOUR darkness.

Sit with it. Explore it. See what’s hanging out there.

Get comfortable with it. Or start to.

See what, if anything, you want to bring to light right now. 

Tonight’s new moon in Sagittarius is a doozy. Its powerful energy calls to us to dive deep, go inside, and take a good look at ourselves, our lives, our relationships and beliefs.

On a super personal note, I’m grieving the sudden loss of a very close loved one right now, so the particular introspective nature of this dark moon really hits home with me. 

Meaning of Sagittarius

Let’s talk about Sagittarius, the centaur (half human, half horse).

In Greek myth, Sagittarius is associated with Chiron, the wounded healer. Chiron taught Asclepius (the god of medicine), Achilles, and Hercules.

Chiron can help you identify and work through your deepest wounds. He’s the wounded healer because he could heal everyone…except himself.

Sagittarius is also an archer, aiming his bow and arrow with precision.

Put this energy to work by identifying a target goal, focusing sharply on it, and moving forward with resolve, like an arrow slicing cleanly through the air. 

That said, Sagittarius is a mutable sign, which means that it has qualities that can change.

My takeaway here is that you can change, too.

So, be laser focused, but not so inflexible that you can’t shift when it makes sense.

Release that which no longer serves you

The dark moon is an ideal time to shed unproductive beliefs and release energy and attachments that no longer serve you.

Often, it’s these very things that keep us from healing or finding balance—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

These are things that can keep us stagnant, repeating the same behaviors and patterns. 

New moon meditation

Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing until your heart rate steadies and slows.

Call to Chiron, the wounded healer, and ask for his guidance.  

ASK:

Where do I most need healing in my life right now? What’s one step I can take today to move me more towards wholeness and harmony?

And then? Listen. 

Write down any thoughts or impressions you have when you are done.

Look back on these notes over the next few days and use them to help reflect on how you’ll move forward in the days to come.

More moon magic

Check out more new moon rituals and learn how to plug yourself into the power of the full moon.

I love this page to look up the exact date and time of the next new moon.