Aquarius New Moon 2023 — awakening the revolutionary within
Every revolution in history was started by someone who had a vision for a better world
Hey Witches,
What do you think of when you hear the word “revolutionary”? Perhaps you picture Fidel and Che hiding in the hills of the Sierra Maestra after the Granma landing in Cuba. Or maybe you think of a modern-day revolutionary as someone with a large social media following who can mobilise millions into action.
Aquarius is the revolutionary of the zodiac, and this year, the Aquarius New Moon comes on January 21st. Co-ruled by Uranus, the planet of disruption, and Jupiter, the planet of expansion, this lunation is all about change, fresh starts, and new beginnings — especially as it’s the first New Moon of the year and the beginning of the Chinese New Year.
Plus, Mars retrograde ended on the 12th, and Mercury’s will end on the 18th — giving us the cosmic green light to move ahead with our plans.
If you’re feeling ready to revolutionise your life, working with this Aquarian energy will help you set powerful intentions and invite the winds of change to blow through your life, removing anything old and stagnant to make room for the new.
Being a revolutionary doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be out there leading paradigm-shifting movements. That’s not for everyone. Any act that subverts the system in any way, no matter how small, is revolutionary. Like growing food on your balcony, planting flowers for bees, or, if you have a bit of money to spare, buying some land to protect it from developers or industrial agriculturalists.
Revolutions begin within. Every revolution in history was started by someone who had a vision for a better world — and believed in that vision enough to take action. We can’t change the world before we change ourselves, so we must first look within and release any old paradigms we might be unconsciously holding onto. Only then can we connect to the inner voice of the heart and its vision for the future.
Take self-love. In late-stage capitalism, the ability to fully accept yourself and realise you are enough is a revolutionary act — because capitalism needs us to feel bad about ourselves so that we keep consuming.
Think about hair removal, for example — most women spend thousands on hair removal throughout our lives because we’ve been told that hairy women are unattractive. Most men believe this too. But what if we all accepted that people of all genders have body hair, some have more, and some have less, and that’s okay? The whole hair removal industry would just disappear.
Another way to subvert the system is to step off the fear carousel peddled by the mainstream media. It’s only one version of the narrative and only a very tiny slice of the reality on the planet — and its purpose is to keep us in fear so that we’re easier to control. Peel back the curtain, and it’s easy to see which interests the mainstream media serves. Deciding what information you consume with discernment and choosing love over fear is the path to creating a new, better world.
An Aquarius New Moon manifestation ritual
Creating the change we want to see in our lives and in the world requires releasing old beliefs and installing new, more positive ones that help motivate us towards our goals. This ritual will help you do that.
You will need:
Piece of paper and pen
Journal (or another piece of paper)
Red or white candle
Matches and fireproof container
Apple and glass of water
Start by cleansing yourself and your space and grounding and centring yourself. Spend five to ten minutes in meditation by focusing on your breath, chanting, listening to sounds, or staring at a candle flame.
Light the candle and invite your spirit guides, deities you work with, or just the energy of the universe (whatever feels comfortable to you) into your space to take part in this ritual and thank them for their presence.
Think about a project or idea you would like to bring into the world. Meditate on this vision. See yourself in your mind’s eye achieving this goal and imagine how it feels. Spend some time connecting with that emotion.
Then ask yourself what might be holding you back from achieving your vision. Spend some time writing on the piece of paper about any beliefs, fears, or emotions that might be preventing you from taking action.
Then, take your journal (or the other piece of paper) and “debunk” each fear or belief. Rewrite each one as a new, more positive belief that you can use as affirmations.
When you’ve finished, set the negative beliefs paper on fire and let it burn in the fireproof dish. Observe as everything you wrote down releases from your body and energetic field.
Hold the apple in both hands and bring your vision to mind again, infusing it into the apple. Repeat this process with the glass of water, then offer them both to your spirit team, thanking them for their help in achieving your goal.
Leave the apple and glass (with cover) near a window until the morning, then have them for breakfast. Return the apple seeds to the Earth as a sign of gratitude.
Aquarius New Moon self-care tips
Speak your desires out loud.
Stay hydrated.
Join a new class or Meetup group.
Volunteer in your local community.
Have a potluck dinner party with friends.
Aquarius rules the calves, shins, and ankles, so get a foot massage or reflexology treatment.
Practice standing yoga poses, such as Mountain, Warriors I & II, Eagle, and Tree.
Cleanse your home with sound, such as singing bowls, chanting, or healing frequency music.
Do a cord-cutting meditation.
Aquarius New Moon journaling prompts
What’s my vision for a better world? How would my life, community, society, and the planet be different? Write in the present tense.
What are my deepest desires or most important goals I want to achieve in my life? (If you’re not sure what your deepest desires are, it can help to think about what you liked doing as a child. These deep desires are what you came to bring to the world. For example, ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to write a book.)
What are some tiny, everyday ways I can subvert the system?
What does a revolutionary look like to me? What do they do? How can I embody my inner revolutionary?
What old beliefs, fears, or paradigms am I ready to release?
Where am I giving away my power, and to whom? How can I reclaim it?
What causes am I passionate about? What can I do to support them?
What does community mean to me? How can I foster community in my life?
How would I like my life to look different this time next year?
What lessons have Mars and Mercury retrograde taught me, and how can I integrate them in my life?
I would love to know how you’re planning to embrace your inner revolutionary or engage in tiny, everyday acts of subversion. Let me know in the comments.
And if you want to stay in touch with me in between Moon updates, follow me on Instagram or join me on Substack chat:
I hope you’re having a great start to the year so far. I’ll be back in your inboxes in two weeks with the Leo Full Moon update.
Love and blessings,
Victoria