New Moon Reading- Navigating the Dark Night of The Soul.

What follows is the loosely edited transcript of this month's New Moon Reading and Discussion.

Hello everyone, and welcome to our ceremony—our card reading, our intention-setting ceremony for the new moon. This is such a special time for me. I love October, I love autumn, and this moon is often called the harvest moon or the hunter’s moon in many cultures. I’ve had quite a milestone recently during this past moon phase: I quit nicotine. I gave up vaping, which I've been doing since 2009, and before that, I was a smoker. That’s a lifetime of having this chemical in my body. I'm now in the transition period, learning to live without it, embracing this new, healthier phase of my life.

In the comments, you may have noticed me mentioning "darkness," and there's a reason for that. The card for our challenge this cycle speaks to this idea of darkness. I also want to thank you, Trish, for your kind words—this really is a huge deal for me. If you've never been a smoker or experienced addiction, it's hard to grasp the hold it has over you. I have a loved one who is 17 years older than me, and she's facing severe health issues, many of which are linked to her smoking. She knows she needs to quit to improve her health, yet she can’t. Addiction can feel like a close companion, and it’s heartbreaking to let it go. If anyone out there is struggling with addiction, know that you're not alone, and I'm here to help if I can. Send me a message, and I’ll support you in any way I can.

When we want to change a behavior, it comes down to deciding that the reward on the other side of the challenge is worth more than the comfort of staying where we are. This is true for any part of life, whether it's leaving a harmful relationship or overcoming an addiction. It’s terrifying to let go of what we know in favor of what we don’t—but we can do it.

Now, let’s talk about our new moon ceremony. Usually, we pull three cards, but today we received four, which feels significant. After our reading, we will write down what we want to release—things that no longer serve us—and also our intentions for this new moon cycle. With the moon in its dark phase, it's like a blank slate—a wonderful time to set intentions for what we want to create or complete over the next 29 days. For me, my last new moon intention was to let go of nicotine and my vaping habit. Now, my new intention is to strengthen my resolve, to embrace the clarity and freedom that come from not being addicted.

In a few weeks, I'll be back in the UK, where vape supplies are easy to find. I’m using this time to prepare myself mentally and spiritually for staying strong in my intention when I’m surrounded by temptation. I trust that I’m supported by the universe, by spirit, in this journey.

Later, I’ll take our written intentions and give them to the sacred fire, releasing them to the earth or the ocean, depending on what feels right at the time. I'm staying in someone else’s home, so I won’t light a fire indoors, but we’ll take care of that part outside when the time is right.

Now, onto our card reading.

The first card represents the challenge we face in this moon cycle. It’s the Nine of Swords, a card that often symbolizes despair or a dark night of the soul. For me, this speaks to my tendency to isolate, to withdraw into “hermit mode,” which I enjoy, but at times, I still need human connection. This card reflects that feeling of loneliness, of being solely responsible for maintaining my relationships. There are days when I think, "If I disappeared, would anyone notice?" That’s my dark night of the soul—yours will look different, as it should.

But I love drawing this card today because from the darkness comes possibility. When you are in the void, it’s where all creation begins.

The next card, The Star, offers hope and tranquility. It tells us to just be—to ride out this dark time with faith that better things are coming. The star flows effortlessly, and we are reminded to embrace that same flow.

The reward or outcome from this reading appeared in two cards, The Two of Cups and The Ace of Swords.

The Two of Cups, signifies relationships—perhaps the mending of a bond that was broken or the beginning of a new connection. This doesn’t have to be romantic; it could be a friendship or a business partnership, or even just a meaningful, short-term encounter. As I prepare to move into a new place later this month, I’m open to whatever new relationships might come my way.

Finally, we have the Ace of Swords, a card of clarity and new beginnings. It’s like a light bulb going off—a brilliant idea that propels you forward. I love how this reading comes full circle: from the darkness of the Nine of Swords, through the calm of The Star, to the connection of the Two of Cups, and finally, to the clarity of the Ace of Swords. This reading feels so inspiring, so hopeful.

Now, it’s time to write down our intentions for this new moon cycle. What do we want to release? What do we want to welcome in? For me, I’m continuing to release my attachment to vaping. In its place, I welcome clarity and focus—energy that I can use in my writing and my daily life.

As we wrap up, I want to remind you all that these rituals, though they are beautiful, aren’t required for a strong spiritual connection. What matters most is the attention and love we give to our relationship with our higher self and the universe. A daily meditation practice, or even just a few moments of mindful silence, can strengthen that bond and help us hear the voice of our true self more clearly.

Let’s move forward with hope, clarity, and the knowledge that we are supported by forces greater than ourselves. Together, we will manifest beautiful things in this new season.

Listen or download the full discussion and card reading, including meditation.

Meditation only with music