September’s New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Virgo: From Ancestral Healing to Divine Mother’s Grace | Vedic Wisdom

Payal
Sep 21
3 min read

New Moon and Partial Solar Eclipse in Virgo | Uttaraphalgunī

The New Moon in Virgo, Uttaraphalgunī on 21st September (8:54pm BST), brings a partial solar eclipse. A profound moment for reflection, inner renewal, and shifts and upgrades in relationships, commitments and contracts. Honour those who came before you as the 14-day ancestral portal (Pitṛ Pakṣa) closes.

Also known as Sarva Pitṛ Amāvasyā, this New Moon day is the final moment to clear pitṛ doṣa, your ancestral karmic debts. Śrāddha or tarapana (ritual offerings) are traditionally performed on this day as the ancestors prepare to depart Bhū Loka, the earth plane. If there is one day to honour the ancestors during Pitṛ Pakṣa, let it be today.

If you’re unsure how to perform the ritual, offer at least water (and sesame seeds if possible) while thinking of all those who came before you. Set the intention to heal any pain or sadness you carry, sharing your gratitude and wishing peace and blessings for your entire family lineage.

Uttaraphalgunī nakṣatra which holds this cosmic event carries the power of agreements and cooperation, teaching us that prosperity is sustained when rooted in loyalty, compassion, and shared responsibility. Ruled by Bhaga, the Āditya of fortune, this star invites us to reflect on how we use our energy, resources, and commitments.

At this New Moon, some bonds may complete their course, while others deepen into more dharmic alignment. With Venus alongside Ketu in Leo, attachments based in ego or illusion may dissolve, making space for relationships and contracts that are grounded in truth.

The planetary alignments sharpen this theme: Mercury exalted in Virgo encourages clarity, problem-solving, and the refinement of routines, while Saturn retrograde in Pisces casts a weighty gaze across the eclipse, pressing us to face reality with maturity and integrity.

This is not a time for avoidance, but for honest self-enquiry.

The Sun and Moon uniting in Virgo highlight purification and practical devotion, while Ketu’s influence reminds us to release self-doubt and patterns that cloud authentic service. What emerges through this eclipse may feel disruptive, yet it is guiding us to refine our commitments, renew our sādhana, and embody a clearer sense of dharma in both inner and outer life.

The New Moon in Virgo also ushers in Navarātri, the nine nights honouring the Divine Mother and the profound transformation she awakens within us.

Virgo, or Kanyā, symbolises purity, humility, and discernment—qualities that prepare the ground for deeper devotion. This sacred time invites us to purify body, mind, and spirit, creating the space to receive Devī’s śakti.

As we move from tamas, through rajas, into sattva—from inertia, through dynamism, into clarity—we walk the timeless path of transformation held in her nine forms. The journey begins here; with discernment, sincerity, and the courage to clear away what no longer sustains us.

New Moon Intention

Turn inward. Reflect deeply. Release the weight of past attachments and renew your commitment to sādhana. Accept change as essential to your self-growth, and trust that endings prepare the soil for higher beginnings.