New Moon, 17 Libra 25, October 11, 1:01 am EDT
When rising early this week, I've looked out toward the eastern sky at our super bright morning star,Venus, and there were two other stars moving right along close to her, forming a triangle. One was actually a star, Regulus. The other two, of course, are planets. Venus is by far the brightest, but Saturn was quite close by. Both planets are in the early degrees of Virgo, suggesting responsible attention to our own inner balance, or to those we love, or perhaps to our work involving art and beauty. They will continue to be quite close in the morning sky for most of this month, coming the closest together in mid October. Mercury, now in Scorpio, turns retrograde tomorrow & will appear to move backward for about three weeks.
Don't give Mercury retro more energy of concern than he deserves! Yes, it's a good idea to take care in communications, documents, etc., but, in truth, that's a good idea when Mercury is direct, too. The retrograde period is a good time for reflection, and this New Moon should be an excellent time for personal reflection in a ritual to set body, mind and soul on a path of desired change.
Since the planetary ruler of Libra, sign of this New Moon, is Venus, I'll suggest a very early morning solitary ritual with our beautiful "morning star" shining above. If skies are overcast, of course, we have the power to visualize, and create our magical ritual anyway, but if we can see the sky at this special time, it will worth the early rising. So, wake up before sunrise, if not today, then Friday (the day ruled by Venus), and go outdoors (or near an east window) where you can see Venus clearly. She'll be the brightest star in the sky. Saturn is very close, somewhat dimmer than Venus, but quite visible. If you spot a reddish point of light highter in the sky than the other two planets, that would be Mars in Cancer, and you may want to include the planet of action, too, in your ritual intent.

Ritual for New Moon in Libra
Go to your ritual space. Focus and visualize the forming of a sacred circle swirling around you, filling the area and you with peace.This is the time, and this is the place where if you are open, the flow of Goddess, her caring and her message for you will come within and charge your intent with magic.

Reflect on your intents for a time of meditation, and then with those intents firmly in mind and heart, drawing down the bright point of light of each planet, calling its energies within you. Focus on the starry light, cup your hands on either side of it and visualize energy flowing downward. Hold the energy between your hands, feel it, and move it slowly down over your body, as you think about the planetary correspondence to your intent. Here are chants you could use:

Crescent Moon, 6 Sagittarius 36, October15 at 4:18 am EDT
Moon squares Saturn, then Venus, then Uranus as she passes through Sagittarius today. Tomorrow is a far easier flow, with all sextiles, ending at 8:32pm EDT with Moon conjunct Pluto in her final aspect before void-of-course.

First Quarter Moon, 25 Capricorn 35, Oct. 19 at 4:338 am EDT
The theme of this phase is action—no more waffling or procrastinating! Get it done, whatever you've been gearing up to do. In these last degrees of fiery Sag, think of shooting a flaming arrow toward your goal.

Gibbous Moon, 14 Pisces 10, October 22 at 7:15 pm EDT
Moon in Pisces opposed Saturn and Venus early today and now approaches conjunction to Uranus, as Gibbous phase begins. Jupiter in Sag also joins the action, forming a T-square. Not the easiest "blue" Monday, especially if there's any inclination to a "blue funk." Don't give in to it. Squares make good work energy, so focus on those projects you're working toward, and on the potential of showing real progress on them by later this week when Moon is Full. Tomorrow morning she passes into Aries. Sun will enter Scorpio in the afternoon, and meet retrograde Mercury by evening, as they conjunct and go on their separate directions.

Full Moon, 2 Taurus 23, October 26 at 12:51 am EDT
Moon is at perigee, closer to Earth than usual, so we can expect to see more of those gorgeous Moon risings that began last month with Harvest Moon. This Moon has been traditionally called the Blood Moon, or Hunter's Moon. Both of these Full Moons seem especially large as they rise in the sky. Last Full Moon it was almost like daylight, as it shown down on my backyard stone circle. No doubt in older times these Moon's were named because of farmers who worked into the evening to harvest crops, and then hunters could see to track wild game well into the evening. Harvest and Hunter's Moon were well timed, back then, because successful work during them was so important to sustain the people through the winter.

Ritual for the Full Moon in Taurus
Full Moon celebrates fufillment, and completion of harvest and hunt called for celebration and thanksgiving.Taurus likes to be comfortable, and it rules the 2nd house of money in the natural zodiac, so its ritual themes might run toward prosperity, perhaps something like burning a green candle to attract it. But, if the focus is on want, will it work? Maybe not, if in the mind and spirit, it's the need that dominates. We tend to attract more of what we dwell on. So, alternatively, I'll suggest a ritual of thanksgiving at this Hunter's Moon. Focus on abundance —all apects of your life for which you're thankful—and magically, in appreciating those things, people, situations, ideas... and focusing on them, you'll set up the law of attraction to expand them. Positive thinking? Yes, it works.
If you're with a group, you could plan a potluck harvest feast, with a sharing circle where each person can speak of what he/she values most in life, and then each can speak of things valued in others present.
If you're alone, and can go outdoors during one of these Full Moon nights (she appears full for three nights) that are so bright this time of year. Where Moon shines through the trees, she casts fairie shadows all over the ground, and it's fun to dance from light shape to light, or shadow to shadow. Gather some autumn leaves or flowers and form a fairie ring to stand within and draw down the lunar energy. Offer thanks to the Goddess for all the blessings in your life:

By fairie lights and shadows
Your Full Moon shines on me
For all the good that's in my life
My Lady, thank you! Blessed be!

Disseminating Moon, 20 Gemini 34, Oct. 29 at 5:14 am EDT
It's a mixed Monday, perhaps better for your personal activties, rather than social. This could be quite a productive phase for creative activity—maybe a good time to create a special treat, decoration or costume for Halloween. The traditional holiday date of October 31 is almost here! It arrives wtih Neptune's station direct. After xx months in retrograde, the planet of dreams, illusion, fantasy...well, use it well, and have an old-fashioned Halloween party. I remember

Last Quarter Moon, 9 Leo 04, November 1 at 5:18 pm EDT
Today Mercury turns direct again, just as we enter the final and waning quarter of the lunar phase cycle. So, in one way, there's impetus to focus and move forward, but in another way, it's time to wind down somewhat. Bring shorter term projects to conclusion, and perhaps consider letting go of things that are finished or not working out as hoped.

Balsamic Moon, 28 Virgo 01, November 5 at 2:48 pm EST
And now, Crone's Moon again, the waning crescent, the darkening time of the month, a time of release. And, this year Balsamic Moon phase also includes the true astrological time for the rite of Samhain, the waning phase of the solar year when Sun comes to the 15th degree of Scorpio, sign and house of death. This is one of the four power points of greatest momentum when energy is released to bring on the season to come, in this case, winter. The veil between the visible and invisble worlds is said to be especially thin now, creating potential for contact with spirits.

With Samhain, also called All Hallows Eve, occuring during Balsamic lunar phase, the theme of endings is even more emphasized. Both themes are of the death of a cycle, of the final stage of experience before the Wheel of Life begins moving back toward the light. It's a powerful time for ritual...

Samhain, Sun at 15 Scorpio 00, Moon at 21 Libra 39
November 7, 2007, at 2:24 pm EST