A new moon, an 11/11 portal, Friday the 13th, and the end of retrograde season, all in one week 🌑✨
If the last few weeks felt like walking through molasses, you're not imagining it. Since early October we've had two planets retrograde at once: Venus (since October 3) and Mercury (since October 24). Plans stalled, texts went sideways, old feelings came back around, and more than a few of us had a tech meltdown or two.
All of that, along with the time change last week and the crazy weather, I’ve been feeling it deeply. My nerves are frazzled, I’m tired, and my body feels wonky. I need some no-talk time and a few days under the covers with my BF and cat watching some movies.
Here's the good news: this week the whole thing turns around. We're stepping out of a fresh Scorpio new moon, through the 11/11 portal, and into Friday the 13th, the day both Mercury and Venus station direct. Astrologers note that two retrogrades ending on the same day is uncommon. I don't know about you, but I'm calling that a cosmic exhale. 🌬️
Let's walk through the week together.
Your Cosmic Week, Day by Day
🌑 Sunday Night, Nov 8: New Moon in Scorpio
Plant the seed, but don't dig it up yet.
The new moon went exact Sunday at 11:02 PM here on the West Coast, at 16° Scorpio. Scorpio new moons are about depth, truth, and what has to end so something more honest can begin. Because Mercury was still retrograde, this one is better for deciding than launching. New moon energy lingers for a few days, so you haven't missed it.
Mini ritual - new moon intention: Write down one thing you're ready to release and one thing you're ready to call in. Hold Black Obsidian over the release list and Labradorite over the intention. Tuck the intention under your pillow or on your altar until Friday.
✨ Wednesday, Nov 11: The 11/11 Portal
Make a wish. The door is open.
In numerology, 11 is a master number tied to intuition, alignment, and spiritual awakening. Doubled on 11/11, many of us treat it as a portal for manifestation. Seeing 11:11 on the clock? Consider that your nudge from the universe.
Mini ritual: At 11:11 (AM, PM, or both!), hold Clear Quartz or Citrine and speak your new moon intention out loud. Clear Quartz amplifies, and Citrine is our sunny abundance stone. Bonus points for lighting a candle on a Selenite plate.
🐈⬛ Friday, Nov 13: Friday the 13th + Mercury & Venus Go Direct
Not unlucky 13th!
Friday the 13th has a spooky reputation, but witches have long reclaimed it. Friday is named for the Norse goddess Frigg, and 13 echoes the roughly 13 moons in a year. A day of the divine feminine and the moon? Sounds like our kind of day.
This year it's extra special. Mercury stations direct Friday morning at 7:53 AM Pacific, and Venus follows later that same day. Communication, contracts, and travel start moving forward again (Mercury). Love, money, beauty, and self-worth find their footing (Venus).
Mini ritual: Friday morning, cleanse your space with your favorite smoke or sound tool, then hold Rose Quartz and say thank you for what the retrograde taught you. Pull a card from your favorite deck for guidance on what comes next. 🍄
🌬️ The End of Retrograde Season
Breathe out, but give it a couple of weeks.
This is the third and final Mercury retrograde of 2026. Combined with Venus going direct the same day, it closes out a stretch of review and do-overs that started back in early October.
One thing to know: Mercury moves slowly at first and spends a couple of weeks in its "post-retrograde shadow," retracing ground it already covered. That shadow clears the night of Sunday, November 29. After that, Mercury is clear until the next retrograde in February. Hello, holiday season with working Wi-Fi! 🎄
What to do in the shadow (Nov 13 to 29):
📨 Send the emails and make the calls you've been putting off
📝 Sign contracts, but reread the fine print one more time
💕 Revisit the relationship talks Venus stirred up, now with clearer eyes
💰 Review your money plans. Venus rules value, so ask what you're truly worth
🌱 Start new projects slowly. The shadow is better for long-term beginnings than the weeks before the retrograde were
What to leave behind: the old stories, the second-guessing, and anything the retrograde revealed that no longer fits.
Crystals for This Cosmic Week
All waiting for you at the shop.
🖤 Black Obsidian: Scorpio's truth-teller. Pulls back the veil on what you're ready to release.
🌌 Labradorite: The stone of transformation and magic. Perfect for new moon intentions.
🤍 Clear Quartz: The master amplifier. Charge it on 11/11 to boost every intention you set.
☀️ Citrine: Manifestation and abundance. Your 11/11 wish-making buddy.
🌸 Rose Quartz: For Venus going direct. Self-love, softened hearts, and renewed relationships.
🌙 Moonstone: Honors the lunar side of Friday the 13th and supports your intuition.
🪐 Still in the Shadow? Grab a Mercury Retrograde Kit
Our Mercury Retrograde Kits ($39) are made for exactly this in-between time. Each kit includes a Sodalite bracelet, Labradorite hearts, a Hematite ring, a Blue Lace Agate tumble, and raw Black Tourmaline. Keep them close through November 29 for smooth communication and steady energy, then hold onto them for February's retrograde.
Come Celebrate the Shift With Us!
Whether you're setting 11/11 wishes, reclaiming Friday the 13th, or just relieved to have Mercury moving forward again, stop by and let's pick out the right stones for you.
Here's to clear communication, open hearts, and a magical, retrograde-free start to the holiday season.
With love, Jenn 🌑✨