The New Moon in Virgo began on September 10th, 2026 around 3:43 P.M. [MST]. It concluded around 2:43 A.M. [MST]. The moon remained in Virgo the entire time.
A New Moon is also referred to as a dark moon. Much like an author must outline before writing a book, a witch must manifest before enacting a spell. The energies for a New Moon are workable three days prior & three days after the moon is at its darkest. Now is not the time to work the spell. Now is the time to plan & organize; can't expect to receive abundance in a room full of clutter. You may even want to journal how you're feeling about potential outcomes. Alternatively, you could spend this time sitting with your thoughts on how the last moon cycle went.
Did your manifestations come to fruition?
How would you do things differently?
What are your current hopes & dreams?
Who has the ability to help you reach them?
A New Moon in Virgo, much like the Final Quarter Moon in Gemini, centers around communication. If you haven't gotten around to that unruly desk & overly full inbox, there's still time. But HURRY... come the Full Moon in Aries, later on this month, you'll be expected to be READY! For what? I don't know... I'm not you. You know better than I what project you should focus on or what spell needs to be cast. You may need to make phone calls that you've been avoiding.
Need to schedule an appointment? Do that.
Need to enroll your kids in school? [pretty sure it's already too late] GET ON IT.
Need to call the person who just interviewed you for a job? As my dad used to say, "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
Virgo is related to 'The Hermit' in the tarot. Your rituals for this moon are likely introspective in nature. You may spend three hours pulling tarot cards, journaling about each spread, & meditating on the insight that comes through. You could even feel called to simply sleep. Loneliness might pull on your heartstrings. This could mean you need to seek connections with those who make you feel seen. It could also mean you need to remind yourself[ves] how important solitude is to your craft.
You know you better than anyone else.
Trust what your heart tells you.
We're moving into Fall, but focused on herbs that represent Spring.
It's good to look ahead!
In the last blog, we spoke about Birch & how important it is to Beltane celebrations. We mentioned that it symbolizes Spring, renewal, & fresh starts. The Virginia Bluebell is no different. Only instead of celebrating Spring in its fullness, the bluebells alert us to the awakening of Spring. They emerge from the forest floor before the leaves fill in overhead & remove their access to sunshine. Without bluebells, the queen bees couldn't replenish themselves after the Winter to start their colonies. The hummingbirds couldn't refuel after their long return flights. And, the butterflies wouldn't emerge from their cocoons to immediate refreshment. Needless to say, bluebells serve an important purpose.
Unfortunately, much of their natural habitat is under severe threat. Fewer & fewer of them are seen in the wild every year. They can be planted in gardens with relative ease, however, it does require an attentive [& patient] gardener. Despite the threat to their native growing areas, bluebells have yet to fully disappear. This is a testament to the resilience of nature. And, maybe also a lesson to humans. The lesson being, "TREAT MOTHER NATURE WITH THE KINDNESS SHE SHOWS YOU."
Virginia Bluebells are in the borage family [boraginaceae]. Borage is found in the tincture formula for Air Signs. --- https://buymeacoffee.com/soapsandrumsapothecary/e/565964 --- While studying underneath my former mentor they said, "To put it simply, borage equals courage." That stuck with me & influenced my decision to put it in a formula created for trans men or transmasc nonbinary individuals seeking transition. An act that builds resilience, but requires courage & determination.
I feel that saying applies to bluebells, who aren't always blue, as well. Upon sprouting, they appear as tiny pink pearls. Over the next few days a chemical reaction turns the petals from pink to blue.
So, clearly they're trans allies.
Bluebells display an immense amount of courage by being one of the first plants to sprout. They also showcase an incredible amount of humility by being one of the first plants to disappear. One must be paying close attention to spot them, as they come out in mid-April & are gone by late-May. They dare you to live in the present. They demand that you be here... NOW.
An important lesson for us all, but especially for those in transition.
Take the steps away from your past.
Don't worry too much about the future.
Experience the present. Revel in the glory of who you are right now.
You likely won't find many herbalists using bluebells in their formulas today. While the Native Americans, particularly the Cherokees, employed their leaves & roots to treat illnesses, there is too much concern of poisoning for modern usage. We've discovered many alternative herbs with less risks. The Native Americans commonly used bluebells to treat whooping cough, consumption, & some said they provided relief for venereal disease.
Consumption is an outdated word for tuberculosis. Patients experience rapid & significant weight loss. This led to people believing their loved ones were being consumed from the inside out. When this illness first showed face, doctors could not seem to find a cure. Though many people came up with 'remedies'. One of them being 'the royal touch'. People lined up & waited for hours to receive a simple brush of the hand from a king or queen. Other treatments included abundant sunshine & drier climates. This belief led to an increased population in places like Denver, Colorado. Frances Wisebart Jacobs quickly realized that many people had made a drastic move to a place far away from friends & family, though many lacked the funds for proper treatment. She was overcome with empathy & started a campaign to provide free care for those who needed it.
"I know that whenever women lead in good work, men will follow." - Frances Wisebart Jacobs
Her movement led to the opening of the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives. Their motto, "None who enter shall pay; none who can pay shall enter," set the precedence for the compassion still being doled out by this organization, now known as National Jewish Health.
In Ireland, bluebells are said to be resting spots for faeries. Though they must be careful to stay away from the roots, which are sticky, like glue. Some cultures made use of this feature for book binding. When one walks past these bell-shaped flowers, they 'ring'. This ringing alerts the faeries & they go about making plans for an abduction. If you pick one... beware! It's been said that faeries follow you home & demand you bring the flower back to where you found it. You, however, may never return.
Feel as if someone isn't telling you the whole truth? Gift them a pouch full of bluebells or hang a ring of them above the door before they walk through it. It is said the longer one is in contact with these flowers, the more their truth will shine through. Being that they are so closely related to Spring, they are also useful in fertility spells. Gifting them to your lover could ensure a positive pregnancy test in no time. Though I urge people to be careful using love spells, these flowers make a great addition to them. Boosting the spell & ensuring a strong outcome.
Today's card pull comes from the deck I've deemed the 'deck of plenty'. It is a thick stack of 3x5 notecards that contain song lyrics, writing prompts, poems, witchcraft tips, & other musings.
Something that was going on around July 10th, 2025 may be coming to a close now. Your spirit may resonate with how Yeshua felt while hanging on the cross waiting to die. Your soul might be thirsty. Please remember that one cannot pour from an empty cup. If you've been giving & giving & giving, now may be the time to sit back & receive. Devote your time to rest.
REFERENCES:
https://potomac.org/blog/2019/2/28/natures-medicine-8-native-plants-with-quite-a-history
https://www.nationaljewish.org/about-us/our-history/when-consumption-came-to-the-west
https://www.theheartofritual.com/post/bluebell-folklore
https://www.wiccamagazine.com/blog/bluebells-in-witchcraft-magickal-properties-and-uses
As always
Be well.
Be you.
A.G.