The Art of Alchemy: Gems in the Darkness
Monday, November 9, 2026 | 2:02 AM EST 16°53′ Scorpio
There's something beautiful about this time of year. The days are growing shorter, the nights are getting longer, and nature is preparing for its winter hibernation. Everything seems to be slowing down, but beneath the surface, life is still hard at work.
While the world above ground grows quiet, there's important work happening below. Roots are storing energy, fallen leaves are enriching the soil, and the natural world is preparing for another season of growth. What looks like an ending is also the beginning of something new.
Funny how much our own lives follow these same cycles. There's often more happening within us than we realize, and sometimes it takes an unexpected experience to bring it to the surface.
Have you ever gone through something that completely changed the way you see yourself? Maybe a relationship revealed something you never recognized before. Maybe an unexpected change forced you to discover strengths you didn't know you had. Or perhaps you've had that nagging feeling that something in your life isn't quite right, even though you can't put your finger on why.
Just a few weeks ago, under the Taurus Full Moon, we took stock of what our experiences have given us. We celebrated our accomplishments, recognized the wisdom we've gathered, and considered what we were ready to leave behind.
Now, as the New Moon arrives in Scorpio, we're taking that work a little deeper.
Scorpio understands that endings and beginnings are intrinsically connected. That even in our darkest moments, there's something worth discovering. And that sometimes the most valuable parts of ourselves are found in places we never expected to look.
This is where the art of alchemy begins.
♏ The Energy of Scorpio
Fixed Water | Mars + Pluto | Eighth House
Mantras: I DESIRE • I TRANSFORM • I RECYCLE • I REFORM
Scorpio is the alchemist of the zodiac. Mysterious, passionate, perceptive, and endlessly curious about what lies beneath the surface. While other signs may be content with what they can see, Scorpio wants to know what's really going on. What motivates us? What are we hiding? What makes us feel powerful, vulnerable, or deeply connected to another person?
As a fixed water sign, Scorpio brings determination and endurance to the emotional world. It isn't easily frightened by intensity or uncomfortable truths. In fact, it's often drawn to the very things others avoid. The mysteries of life are all part of its territory.
Traditionally ruled by Mars and associated with Pluto in modern astrology, Scorpio understands the relationship between pain and power, desire and vulnerability, destruction and renewal. Its connection to the Eighth House takes us into the deeply personal experiences we share with others. Birth and death, love and loss, intimacy and trust. These experiences bind our lives together, shaping our relationships, testing our bonds, and leaving legacies that can influence generations.
Scorpio is particularly skilled at recognizing what's valuable beneath the surface. Like precious gems hidden deep within the earth, some of our greatest discoveries require us to venture beyond what's familiar. With this New Moon, we're invited to explore our own capacity for alchemy. To look deeper at what we're experiencing, what we're sharing with others, and what might be ready for a new beginning.
After all, transformation isn't always about becoming someone new. Sometimes it's about discovering more of who we already are.
✨ Scorpio Vibe Check
Every sign has its high vibes and low vibes. Scorpio's intensity can be an incredible source of strength, but that same intensity can become destructive when fear, suspicion, or the need for control takes over.
✨ High Vibes | Lean Into
Intuition, emotional intelligence, courage, resilience, passion, resourcefulness, loyalty, discernment, vulnerability, and determination.
Trust your curiosity. Explore what fascinates you, have meaningful conversations, and be willing to look beyond first impressions. Pay attention to the subtle things you notice about yourself and others.
🌑 Low Vibes | Watch Out For
Jealousy, suspicion, secrecy, obsession, resentment, possessiveness, manipulation, emotional withdrawal, and power struggles.
Scorpio's desire to understand can become a need to investigate everything. Its loyalty can turn possessive, and its instinct for self-protection can make vulnerability feel threatening.
Be mindful of searching for hidden meanings where none exist, holding on to old grievances, or using what you know about someone as leverage. Not everything needs to be uncovered, controlled, or transformed. Sometimes accepting what you discover is enough.
✍️ Scorpio New Moon — Reflection Prompts
🦂 Descend | What Lies Beneath
❤️ Connect | The Bonds That Transform Us
🦋 Transform | The Art of Alchemy
🦂 Harnessing Scorpio's Energy | Outer Workings
Scorpio invites us to explore a little deeper, embrace our desires, and discover what lies beyond the familiar. Here are a few ways to work with this energy throughout the lunar cycle. Follow your curiosity and see where it takes you!
🦂 Other Scorpio Things
Bringing Scorpio's energy into your surroundings, your senses, and your everyday life.
🧘 Body & Energy
Scorpio is traditionally associated with the reproductive organs, genitals, and elimination systems. In energy practices, it connects with the sacral chakra, associated with sensuality, creativity, pleasure, and emotional connection.
Honor this energy through hip-opening stretches, dancing, restorative baths, or activities that help you reconnect with your sensual side.
🎨 Colors & Materials
Crimson, burgundy, deep plum, black, charcoal, silver, and rich earthy browns. Steel and iron complement Scorpio's traditional connection with Mars. Try combining dark, rich colors with a little shimmer.
💎 Crystals & Stones
Create a small arrangement of stones in deep reds, blacks, and metallic grays, like treasures scattered across a cavern. Choose the stones that appeal to you rather than worrying about having the perfect combination.
🌿 Herbs & Scents
Basil, sage, thistle, clove, nutmeg, frankincense, juniper berry, cedar, and spearmint.
🍷 Foods & Flavors
Beets, lentils, root vegetables, dark berries, pomegranate, seafood, protein-rich dishes, and warming spices.
Think slow-cooked stews, roasted root vegetables, earthy flavors, and deeply colored foods. A meal that feels nourishing, rich, and a little indulgent suits Scorpio beautifully.
🪐 Cosmic Weather
There's quite a bit happening overhead as we welcome the Scorpio New Moon with Mercury and Venus both retrograde, we're revisiting familiar territory while preparing for something new.
☿ Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio | October 24 – November 13
Mercury governs communication, thinking, and how we process information. In Scorpio, conversations tend to go deeper, curiosity becomes investigative, and we're less satisfied with superficial explanations.
With Mercury moving retrograde, old conversations, unanswered questions, or previously overlooked information may deserve another look.
This is an interesting time to revisit something you thought you understood. You might find that a little distance, new information, or a different perspective changes the entire story.
Just be mindful of letting curiosity become suspicion. There's a difference between seeking understanding and searching for something to be wrong.
♀ Venus Retrograde in Libra | Direct November 13
We've been following Venus through her retrograde journey since early October, exploring relationships, desires, personal values, and what makes our investments worthwhile.
After beginning her retrograde in Scorpio, Venus returned to Libra on October 25. Now she's revisiting the balance between our individual desires and the relationships we share.
Perhaps you've discovered something about what you value, how you love, or what you want to experience with another person. Venus invites us to consider how those discoveries might influence our choices moving forward.
Both Mercury and Venus turn direct on November 13, just four days after this New Moon. There's no need to rush toward conclusions. Give your discoveries a little room to develop.
♂ Mars Conjunct Jupiter in Leo | Passion Meets Possibility
Meanwhile, Mars and Jupiter are joining forces in Leo, bringing a very different flavor to the sky.
Mars represents drive, desire, and action, while Jupiter encourages expansion, confidence, and possibility. In expressive Leo, this combination can inspire bold ambitions, creative pursuits, romance, and a greater willingness to take chances.
But these planets also form a challenging square to the Scorpio New Moon. We may feel eager to act on our desires before we've fully considered what we're getting into.
Just remember that intensity doesn't always require immediate action.
🌑 Final Thoughts
As we begin this new lunar cycle, I hope you'll give yourself permission to explore. There's something fascinating about the things we discover about ourselves, the connections we form with others, and the experiences that quietly change the course of our lives.
You don't have to know what you're looking for to discover something worthwhile. Follow your curiosity, enjoy a little mystery, deepen a connection, or rediscover something wonderful about yourself.
Until the next Moon,
Rae 🖤