The Autumnal Equinox and Full Moon in Aries

Underwater rainbow

Today's waxing Moon in Pisces trines Venus and Mars, close together in Scorpio, and also the South Node of the Moon in Cancer, creating a Grand Trine in Water that invites us into deep waters. Our emotions, body, actions, relationships, creativity, and our past, especially habitual ways of doing things that may keep us from our true calling, are all alive in us and enlivening each other.

And yet we are not meant to dissolve into a vast sea of feeling today. Mercury in analytical, practical Virgo opposes the Moon, as the Sun in late Virgo opposes Uranus and Jupiter in Pisces. Virgo becomes our grounding, the reminder to keep our wits about us so we can hear and remember the messages offered to us.

This is our chance to connect with where we are, as we enter a powerful gateway in this powerful year. Tomorrow is the Fall Equinox, which arrives astrologically when the Sun enters Libra at 11:09pm EDT Wednesday. At this hinge of the year, as night catches up to day, we are brought face to face with the limits of life. Celebrating the abundant harvest, we pick up our scythes to reap what we have sown. We dance our gratitude, and sing John Barleycorn Must Die.

Scythe against the hedge

Rob Tillet's post captures the spirit of this year's Equinox. Dana Gerhardt offers a magical ritual for the Harvest Moon, invoking its energies to manifest our heart's desires.

Six hours after the Equinox, the Moon is Full in Aries. This year's Harvest Moon comes with the Moon at 0 Aries and the Sun at 0 Libra, reprising the Cardinal Cross. This Full Moon includes aspects to all the planets and the Nodes of the Moon as well, linking everyone in a circling harvest dance.

How are we doing at this hinge of the year? In the light of this Full Moon, we check in to see how we've weathered the seas of change thus far, and how prepared we are for the time to come. As astrologer Maria Theresa Maggi asked in her lovely podcast series on the Moon, how full-filled are we in the the areas of life where this Full Moon falls for us?

With the Moon at 0 Aries, the beginning of the zodiac, we are called to take action on what we've learned. No more sitting on the sidelines, no more waiting on the fence, it's time to step onto the dance floor and claim our space. This Full Moon is not for the faint of heart, though ... CJ Wright calls this Full Moon the Dance of Fire, even more intense that last year's passionate tango.

Looking at the Full Moon chart, we see the intensity of the patterns: A Grand Cross anchored by the Full Moon. The Aries Moon conjuncts Uranus and Jupiter in late Pisces; the Sun conjuncts Saturn both in Libra. This Full Moon dialogue squares Pluto the phoenix, and the Moon's Nodes. Meanwhile, Venus and Mars in Scorpio are sextiling Pluto and the North Node, even as the Neptune-Chiron in Aquarius sextile Pluto and the North Node from the other side. Mercury, holding on to ordinary life by the skin of his teeth, trines the North Node and sextiles the South Node, while sextiling Venus and Mars.

This Full Moon is a moonlit courtyard full of flamenco dancers, whirling and stamping in perfect unison. So find that red dress, and get ready join the dance.