Full Moon in Pisces: Holding Sacred Space

Spirit of the Night by J.A. Grimshaw

Full Moon in Pisces
September 19, 2013
7:13 am EDT / 12:13 pm GMD

Autumn Equinox
Sun at 0 Libra, Moon in Taurus
September 21, 2013
4:44 pm EDT / 9:44 pm GMD

The official date of the Full Harvest Moon is September 19, but the Moon will look most lusciously full on the night of September 18. With a bit of luck, I will experience this Full Moon on Glastonbury Tor.

We're due for a bit of magic. The intensity of events in public and private spheres has been reflected in a series of oppositions and squares among personal and outer planets. A lot's been happening. A breather would be nice.

While Full Moons are not noted for being calm, this year's Harvest Moon brings a chance for respite. Some of the challenging aspect patterns remain; all troubles are not likely to dissolve. And yet, for once in many months, this particular Full Moon stands alone––Sun and Moon in opposition, without serious entanglements.

There are some edgy patterns, notably a series of sesquiquadrates (squares and a half) that place the Moon at the apex of a Finger of the World, and the Sun and Moon somewhat at odds with the Moon's Nodes.

But compared to many recent Full Moons in which the Sun and Moon were woven into complex cats' cradles of many planets, the Sun and Moon are on their own, talking only to each other. It feels to me like they want it that way, as if they're pushing all the other planets, all the cares of the world, off for a brief time.

This is, after all, the Pisces Full Moon, the Moon for dreams and dreamers. The Sun's reaching the end of Virgo, and maybe after weeks of watching every detail, will kick back a bit and let the Moon lead the way.

A Full Pisces Moon is a time for magic and visions, poetry and music. Despite the Virgo Sun, this will not be the time for logic, or hard and fast decisions––keep in mind that Pisces Moons can also be deceptive and are excellent at creating lovely illusions.

This Full Moon cannot make all our challenges disappear. Saturn and Venus are still close together at the North Node, keeping the pressure on to stay on our path. Mars and Uranus are still sharing energy, keeping the heat on for revolutionary change and also flame-ups and flame-outs.

And Chiron still flows energy to the group around the North Node, reminding us that sometimes change hurts, and still, growth is worthwhile. Alchemical Pluto agrees, sextiling both Chiron and the North Node group.

So it's not as if the whole sky has gone quiet, not at all. Still … the Full Moon will rise, inviting all of us to envision our best possible future, write lyrical poetry, play soulful music. For one night at least, give yourself up to the dream.

The Equinox arrives just a few days later, which is why this is the Harvest Moon––the Full Moon that falls closest to this hinge of the year.

Astrologically, the Equinox arrives when the Sun enters Libra, the cardinal Air sign that marks the beginning of Autumn (in the Northern Hemisphere). Libra, ruled by Venus, loves balance and harmony … can we continue the sense of respite a bit longer?

Maybe, maybe not … the Moon has moved to conjunct the South Node, opposing the Scorpio group of Saturn, North Node and Venus. This could be a reminder to get back on track.

Whatever comes after, though, I am holding out for a bit of time-outside-time. If we can't find refuge in dreamworlds at a Pisces Full Moon, when can we? And those worlds of dreams and visions––those are the places of creativity and hope. Good things.