Full Moon Eclipse: The Instability of Stasis

new day dawning

Full Moon in Libra
Full Lunar Eclipse
April 15, 2014
3:42 am EDT / 8:42 am BST

In the middle of April, the cruelest month, we walk through a Full Moon Eclipse in Libra, dramatic sign of our nonstop-high speed-unpredictably changing times. (Like we needed another ...)

This Full Moon will shine most brightly on Monday night. The Full Moon alignment occurs Tuesday morning. The total lunar eclipse with its blood-red Moon will be visible in most of the United States beginning at 2am EDT.

All this month, we're cooking in the crucible of a Grand Cardinal Cross with powerful agents of change Pluto and Uranus triggered by Jupiter (let's make this really big!) and Mars (and then we can blow it up!). There's plenty written about the pattern, with Steven Forrest's essay one of the more balanced.

Not only is this powerful Full Moon highlighting an extra-powerful Grand Cross, it's opening a series of four total lunar eclipses, called a tetrad (scientists call it that ... this time it's not astrological jargon).  Learn more about the cool science here at NASA's Space.com and dive into an amazingly thorough exploration of the astrology part here at Blue Moon Astrology.

OK, now you've got multiple windows and tabs going, the virtual equivalent of piles of books and papers strewn across the desk and drifting to the floor ... and you ask, What does it mean?

One look at the chart for this Full Moon shows us the incredible focus we have. This is not just a Full Moon––this is a Full Moon PLUS. Libra and Aries polarized: This is what we're looking at.

The Full Moon herself is in Libra, sign of balance, harmony, fairness, diplomacy, charm, and consideration for others. She is joined by the North Node (our path of becoming), Demeter (goddess of fierce mothering), Vesta (goddess of hearth and home) and Mars (of all people! the warrior and ruler of Aries).

The Sun opposes her in Aries, sign of action, singularity, hard-driving focus, compelling energy, and protector of the self. With the Sun, we see the South Node (what we've brought with us), Juno (goddess of fair partnership), Eris (edgy goddess of karmic justice), and a Mercury–Uranus conjunction bringing instant messaging from the cosmos.

Are you noticing the same interplay of checks and balances here?

Mars who rules Aries is in Libra. Juno who rules fair partners is in Aries. Past and future are both implicated, as are gentleness and fierceness, with lots of energy all over the place.

So, this Full Moon will illuminate how we're doing balancing the many balls we've got in the air right now, especially in the arena of relationships.

As always, check your birth chart. Where does the Full Moon fall? This area of life, and any planets touched, will receive extra high-watt spotlighting. With this Full Moon, watch the world stage too. The Grand Cardinal Cross signals change at every level of life, and that too may be illuminated with this Full Moon eclipse.

This Full Moon is not likely to feel comfortable. (I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty jumpy already, but that could just be me.) With Aries and Libra facing off, we're looking straight into some of our toughest issues:

• When do I hold tight to me and what I want, and when do I let go and focus on others?
• How do I say what I want in a convincing, compelling way and still include, invite and take care of important others in my life?
• When is it ok for me to go it alone, and when do I need my team? How do I be on someone else's team while still reaching my own goals?

None of these are easy, and we can really start to squirm when we're forced to face them. What can we do?

Well, notice another group in the chart: The ruler of this Full Moon is Venus, and she sits right between visionary Neptune and Chiron the wounded healer. She's telling us sailing through these knotty problems calls for special skills:

In these times, we want to follow our dreams, use all our senses to be in the right place at the right time, learn from what's happened in our lives, and turn that learning into gold.

So, what about that blood-red Moon? The ancients saw it as blood, a sign of war, conflict, pestilence, endings. Today, we know a bit more about what creates the color, which leads to a new, deeper, more hopeful view of this sign.

Because the Moon is smaller than the Earth, when they line up and obscure each other (which is what happens at an eclipse), the edge of the Earth still shows. Around that edge is a bright red ring of light. That ring shines back to the Moon, coloring it red.

That bright red ring is every sunrise and every sunset happening on Earth at that moment, all shining at once. So, if you're watching the eclipse at night, you're seeing all the other places, all over, where the day is dawning or ending.

In other words, you're looking at change, at transition, and it's beautiful.

These days, the world won't let us stay still. Somehow we have to find the right place between the poised balance of Libra and the headlong rush of Aries. Looking at the eclipse, we're seeing a world full of poised balances rushing into what comes next.

We can do that, too.
    

Full Moon in Virgo: The Particular

Sewing in the Garden by Henri Martin

Full Moon at 26 Virgo
Sunday, March 16, 2014
1:08 pm EDT / 5:08 pm GMT

Tomorrow's Full Moon in Virgo will shine her light at a slant, in the way side lighting makes the subject pop out, highlighting the detail Virgo loves.

Opposite the Sun, awash in diffuse and glorious Pisces, this Virgoan Full Moon points out something we really need to see. But even as She picks out the telling detail, this Full Moon does her best to be compassionate and calm.

We're swimming in some pretty choppy seas these days. The strong cardinal T-square of Pluto opposite Jupiter squared by Uranus continually throws transformational opportunities our way. (Ready or not, here they come!)

Saturn, retrograde in Scorpio, trines the Sun while squaring Mercury in Aquarius who trines Mars retrograde in Libra––plenty of stop-and-go there. We think we have The Plan (Merc in Aquarius) only to have some hidden factor show up (Saturn retro in Scorpio) or realize we need to make room for someone or something we'd overlooked (Mars retro in Libra) and then things get confusing (Sun in Pisces).

Now, that's not the only way those energies can combine, but the key factor is, they ARE combined, so things we thought were certain and set (Merc in Aquarius again) turn out not to be (any or all of the other players) in some important ways.

How do we fix it? ("It" being whatever we're working on right now.) The Full Moon will show us.

Stephanie Austin, writing in The Mountain Astrologer, reminds us that the Virgo–Pisces opposition is like the particle–wave situation in physics: definitely a both–and but we can only see one at a time. Pisces is the wave, a word so ancient it comes from what it is: the Old Norse vagr for moving billow of water. The fact that it's also linked to the Gothic weg, which means tempest, reminds us waves aren't always easy.

Particle comes from the Latin particula, which means "little part," the smallest bit of the whole. Particular comes from the same root, and Virgo is nothing if not particular.

The thing is, we often don't like "particular." It feels critical, too pointed, fussy––all the things we tend not to like about Virgo. Writing at virgo magic, Emily Trinkaus brings back an earlier view of Virgo as the sign of the Goddess.

She reminds us that goddesses were often keepers of sacred waters, in rivers, in pools, in the Grail. These Piscean waters were filled with creative and intuitive inspiration, and also dangers.

It was the role of the goddess of each water to serve as a gateway, protecting not only the water, but anyone who would come to taste, or bathe. She knew these waters were powerful, and specific, detailed actions were needed to encounter them safely.

Check your birth chart to see where 26 Virgo falls for you, and there you may find a message from the goddess at this Full Moon. Her gentle, if inexorable, side light will show us something we need to know, something we may need to do or be aware of, so we can move into our transformations safely.

Virgo is the sign of seat belts, warm sweaters, and an extra little snack for a reason. As anyone who's gone camping knows, there is NOTHING as wonderful as an expected pair of dry socks, or the bit of chocolate you forgot you had, on a cold and rainy night.

At this Full Moon, I'll close with Emily Dickinson, whose attention to precise detail seems fitting:

Tell all the truth but tell it slant,
Success in circuit lies,
Too bright for our infirm delight
The truth's superb surprise;

As lightning to the children eased
With explanation kind,
The truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind.

Emily Dickinson
         

Full Moon in Leo: Center Stage!

Full in bloom!

Full Moon in Leo
February 14, 2014
6:53 pm EST / 11:53 pm GMT


Oh, the Full Moon in Leo! In any year, this is the Full Moon illuminating our passions, creativity, and personal expression. Are we living from the heart? Are we courageous where we need to be? Can we take the lead? And ... can we be playful, living in the moment, alive in the juiciest way possible?

This year's Full Moon falls toward the end of Leo, 26 degrees, with the Sun at 26 Aquarius. See where that falls in your birth chart, as that area of life will be highlighted.

And ... hmmm ... look there by the Sun. Mercury Retrograde is conjunct the Sun, opposing the Full Moon. And, wow, there's Saturn in Scorpio squaring Sun, Mercury and Moon, turning this Full Moon into a challenging T-Square.

So, bring up the spotlights, get ready for your moment in center stage––and keep a weather eye out because it could be a bumpy night.

IF we are in our hearts, allowing this Mercury retrograde to bring us into inner, reflective spaces. IF we've been traveling with Saturn in Scorpio, finding the rough spots, working through deep issues, willing to learning. IF we've been open to transformation (for Pluto and Uranus and Venus are also in this Full Moon picture) ...

THEN this Full Moon can feel like a big, fat red rose bursting open, gorgeous to see, redolent with beautiful rose for the nose, full of creative possibilities. Oh! we might say, that's me!

On the other hand, this Full Moon does carry the potential for miscommunication (Mercury Rx) especially involving groups or technology (in Aquarius) that leads to hurt feelings and drama (Full Moon in Leo).

With Saturn in Scorpio squaring, issues could arise around the difference between what we thought was going on and what's really going on. Or, perhaps, something from the past we've not completely worked through could reappear (maybe in a new guise).

Since tomorrow is also Valentine's Day, which, whether you're celebrating, avoiding, or ignoring, gets us thinking about where we are in the realms of love, the call to stay in the moment, listen carefully, and communicate clearly, and remain compassionate and kind is there.

It's all about transformation, the signature energy of our time. The message there could not be more clear: A second T-Square has Uranus the revolutionary squaring Pluto and Venus in Capricorn, and Jupiter retrograde in Cancer.

We are deep into processes of assessing old relationships of all kinds, choosing to take (or having to take) hard looks at what's working, what's not working, and what needs to happen. Venus in Capricorn can be very pragmatic––willing to work hard, there for the long haul, but at some point, ready to say, look, this isn't going anywhere.

Pluto and Uranus are ALL about our need to change, and Jupiter in Cancer is highlighting our needs for security and nurturing. Uranus is there to push, prod, and sometimes light a fire: The past is fine as far as it goes, he says, but look at what's happening NOW. Shifts happen.

We're not without resources here. Mars in Libra trines the Sun and sextiles the Full Moon. He's ready to act, and brings charm, diplomacy, and skills at finding the win-win to the table. And these are good energies, overall; they really are. There's a lot of power flowing with this Full Moon.

The challenge will be to stay with the heart, stay with what we're truly passionate about, avoid shifting into places of hurt and misunderstanding, and being open, open, open to creativity and passion. It's going to be an amazing show. I can't wait for the curtain to rise...
    

Full Moon in Cancer: Deep Roots

Roots   Glendalough, Ireland

Full Moon in Cancer
January 15, 2014 11:52 pm EST
January 16, 2014 4:52 am GMT

... Before diving in to explore tomorrow night's rich Full Moon, let me acknowledge I misspoke in my last post in saying this would be a Capricorn Full Moon. It's not, it's in the cozy sign of hearth and home, Cancer. And yet, I wasn't wrong to focus on Cap energy for these last weeks––it's intense, right? It is for me, anyway.

In my time zone, tomorrow's Full Moon arrives at pumpkin time, when the fairytale sparkle disappears and we turn back into who we really are, soot and all. Which is just what this Full Moon is about, in a way––not the magical, ethereal, pie-in-the-sky, but the mundane, everyday reality.

Boooooring, you say? But think about it. It's only when the prince comes to find Cinderella where she really lives that the happy ending happens. This Full Moon is about that part. It's about seeing where we actually are in all its quirkiness and rough edges, and seeing the happy there.

The Full Moon is part of a Grand Cardinal Cross, which means stuff wants to happen. The Sun and Moon opposite (as always at the Full Moon). The Sun is widely conjunct Venus, with Pluto just outside range (but still a presence to be felt). The Moon is conjunct asteroid Lilith and widely conjunct Jupiter. The other sides of the Grand Cross are held by Mars, Vesta and Ceres in Libra, and Eris in Aries.

It's an interesting mix. Capricorn and Cancer are the signs of traditional, the way it's always been done. Venus in Capricorn amps up the traditional vibe, and Jupiter in Cancer makes it all bigger.

We could see this Full Moon as a call to return to traditional values, that (mythical) golden age: "In those days spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were REAL men, women were REAL women, and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were REAL small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri."

... except I couldn't resist putting that Doug Adams quote in, and that tells you there's something more going on with this Full Moon.

Because what are these "traditions" anyway? Aren't they constructions? Yes, it's true, culture itself is a construction but today we're far more influenced by advertising than human (and humane) concerns.

The presence of Pluto, Lilith and Eris challenge us to ask the deeper questions about what's real, and what's important.

The Moon is strong in her home sign of Cancer, brim full of traditional womanhood. And yet, Lilith stands with her, as close as close, challenging us to look beyond apple pie and gingham aprons to the real strength and power of women.

Venus and Mars move toward a perfect square, offering enough switches to confuse even the staunchest traditionalist: Venus in Capricorn, hard-nosed and pragmatic, in a sign thought of as masculine but actually feminine (it's in Earth). Mars in Libra, charming and diplomatic, in a sign leaning toward the feminine but actually masculine (it's in Air).

With all the asteroid asteroid goddesses in the mix, there are so many female role models, all we can do is throw up our hands and say, who are we, really? (And I mean all of we, not only the women we.)

That "who are we, really?" is the illumination of the Full Moon. As always, check your birth chart to see where the Full Moon's light will fall. But consider these questions and maybe take them into your dreaming with you tomorrow night:

Who am I when I'm at home? Who am I when I really need to get something done––when the rubber meets the road? Who am I deep down, when the glamour and the fancy goes away, when the party's over and it's just me with the toothbrush looking in the mirror?

That person, that you deep down, is the one who can bring you (and me and each of us) to the happy ending. Maybe by going out and getting it (Capricorn) or maybe by realizing we already have it at home (Cancer).

Or maybe (probably) a little of both. Wishing you moonlight on your face tomorrow night.
    

Full Moon in Gemini: Eye to Eye with Change

Hermes by Salvador Dali

Full Moon in Gemini
December 17, 2013
4:28 am EST /  9:28 am GMT


The Full Moon in Gemini arrives very early tomorrow morning, which means, in trickster Gemini fashion, the Moon will look most full tonight. Gemini is the crafty one, always ahead of the game, and we'll need that energy to dive into what's ahead.

This Full Moon arrives at 25 Gemini, with the Sun at 25 Sagittarius. For once, there are no major aspects to the Full Moon itself, putting the Sun and Moon out there on their own, facing off, staring each other right in the eye.

Except, of course, that the Sun at 25 Sag is very close to the Galactic Center at 27 Sag. The Galactic Center is the massive black hole at the heart of our Galaxy, absorbing and transmitting incredible amounts of energy is many forms. So, the Gemini Moon is staring that down, too.

Gemini and Sagittarius share optimism, the belief that things will mostly turn out OK even when the outlook is bleak. Gemini's optimism springs from the youthful conviction that something will surely turn up, while the Sagittarian is more based on deep thought and long study, which points up their paradox.

Gemini embodies the archetype of the puer, the child. The puer may be unformed, untried, still wet behind the ears, but he or she is open, not pinned down by a weighty past or too much experience. This can be the hapless, hopeless one who never learns––but is also beginner's mind, the ability to see each situation with fresh eyes.

Sagittarius embodies the senex, the old one. The senex is the voice of experience, the one who's been there and done that, who has things all worked out. Sagittarius is the sign of philosophers, the law, and academia. This can be the hidebound voice of "it's always been done this way" but is also the wisdom that comes with age.

At this Full Moon, the senex Sagittarian Sun has the power of the Galactic Core aligned with it. All the energy of the galaxy, all the endless eons of time, awesome in its power and majesty.

And here's the Gemini Moon, saying, gee, this is cool, what can we do with this?

So the illumination of this Full Moon will focus on where we are on the puer-senex continuum, especially when faced with Big Changes (which we all are, these days).

Are we too set in our ways? Are we too devil-may-care? Are we overly certain or overly naive?  Do we feel at least somewhat able to cope, or are we feeling like David facing Goliath?

The forces of change continue to be strong. A few hours after the Full Moon, Uranus the revolutionary goes direct, shifting out of his current retrograde. He is stationing now, which means his energy is especially strong.

Once he turns, he'll move to catch up with Pluto for their next exact square in April 2014. Astrologically speaking, Uranus will be applying, or moving toward, this square, which will increase that energy over the next months.

Check your birth chart to see where this Full Moon falls. The houses of the Moon and the Sun will be especially illuminated now. Look to see what you have in and around 25 degrees of any sign––these places in your chart will also be affected strongly. Check in to see how your puer–senex balance is in these areas. The Full Moon is likely to offer something to light this up.

This Full Moon is a powerful time to see where we are on the great wheel of change. Looking the Galactic Center in the eye, we know we can't stop it. We can't even slow it down a little. But sitting with the Gemini Moon, we can find a kind of playfulness, a confidence we can find a way, and maybe a bit of the trickster to bluff it out until we see exactly where the path will lie.
    

Full Moon in Taurus: Practical Magic

Full Moon at Fugato Island by Hasui Kawase

Full Moon in Taurus
November 17, 2013
5:16 am GMT / 10:16 am EST

Does it feel like this lunar cycle is especially long? It does to me! It seems like forever since I last posted, but when I check the calendar it's all good––I think it's the amount of stuff happening, and the intensity of what we're being asked to absorb.

In our lives and internationally, it's not all bad but it is intense and often confusing. Astrologically, this reflects the ongoing strong Scorpio signature, the strong presence of Pluto (modern ruler of Scorpio) and Uranus (sudden change), and Neptune stationing,  getting ready to turn direct.

For example, catastrophic typhoon Haiyan is an ongoing nightmare for the more than half a million people displaced––homes gone, family lost, nowhere to go. This is a tremendous human tragedy and I urge everyone to do what they can to help. Astrologically, the storm landed under transits that point to extreme events involving wind and water.

As aid pours in, Neptunian confusion interferes. Communication networks are disrupted or destroyed, along with what appears to be organizational and political issues getting in the way. At the same time, the death toll has been revised downward, and aid is arriving in from around the world, reaching at least some of those in need.

On another front, the drug and behavior problems of Toronto's mayor Rob Ford are becoming more and more public. An open secret in some circles for a long time now, it's reached the point where it can't be swept under the rug––transformation, information, dragging what needs to be known into the light, brought to you with the support of Pluto, lots of Scorpio energy, Mercury's retrograde-then-direct, and Neptune (who rules drugs and addiction) stationing direct.

Intense things (again, not all bad) have been coming up for me personally. My Scorpio energy concentrates at my I.C., the bottom of my chart leading into the 4th House of home and family: Yes, events relating to long-standing unresolved problems, information and experiences bringing new insights and perspectives. As always, lots of chances for me to witness my own reactions, learn about myself, and dive into whatever needs to be adjusted.

Phew!

Still life by Ilya Mashkov

But a Taurus Full Moon ... that's all about comfort, and stability, and sensual pleasure, right? Please??

Well ... yes and no. You will not be shocked to hear this Full Moon has its own intensity to offer.

Remember, Full Moons are about illumination, revelation, seeing clearly what may have been hidden.

Taurus is definitely about the physical world, which includes everything that makes our bodies feel good: health, wealth, security, good food, tasty beverages, a warm fire. We are invited to celebrate the Full Moon enjoying all the good things we have.

The wider message of this Full Moon is finding the balance. Seeing where the balance is now, and taking note of where adjustments are needed.

At a Full Taurus Moon, the Sun is in Scorpio, and with Saturn, the North Node and Mercury also in Scorpio, this energy is still strong. The Scorpio–Taurus polarity reflects Jung's personality functions of Sensing and Intuition.

Taurus is ALL about Sensing. If I can see it, taste it, touch it, hear it, it's real. Otherwise, forget about it. Scorpio is all about Intuition: Using our emotional antennae and/or clair senses to see what our ordinary senses cannot.

So, this Full Moon asks us to look at how these arenas are working together (or not). Are we so into the hidden realms we're missing what's right in front of our noses? Are we so focused on the "real world" we won't acknowledge our own or anyone else's feelings? Or are we finding ways to work with our strengths and develop our weaknesses in perception?

Interestingly, the Full Moon is part of a wide-ish but still important Grand Cross. Neptune and the asteroid Pallas Athena will oppose each other and make out-of-sign squares to the Full Moon.

[Let me explain the "out-of-sign" thing because it adds interest to this aspect pattern. Ordinarily, we would expect Aquarius and Leo, the other two fixed signs, to be making squares to a Full Moon in Taurus.

But the Full Moon is in late Taurus and Scorpio, and Neptune and Athena are early in their signs of Pisces and Virgo, close enough by degree to count as a square but, as we say, out of sign. This means we've got all Water and Earth, yin energy, going deep and paying attention.]

Neptune and Athena bring in another Jungian personality function polarity, Thinking and Feeling. Neptune in her home sign of Pisces is awash in intense feelings of all kind. Athena has always been known for her cool head and intellectual acumen.

At this Full Moon, we're really being asked to look at how we take in and process information. This is good to know! It's a really valuable check in, and we'll want to take advantage of the opportunity.

That said, this Full Moon may not be very comfortable. In their different styles, Taurus and Scorpio are very hard-headed, pull-no-punches kinds of energy. As we approach this Full Moon, we're quite likely to find ourselves in situations where we come face to face with what we actually do in taking in and processing information, not what we might like to think we do. This could be reassuring, but will probably have an "ouch" factor.

So, prepare the Taurean treats––your favorite bath salts, that special whiskey you've been waiting to taste, the time with those close friends you don't see often enough––and absolutely enjoy them.

At the same time, keep your antennae up for the messaging around what we do and how we do it. Where are we in denial, painting a rosy picture that's just not accurate? And also, where are we not appreciating ourselves and others? Where can we say, oh! that's really great, how awesome that is?

We've been through a lot and it's not over. We can take some time for real, solid Taurean self care. We can also attend to that information about what's not working. It's all about balance.
    

Full Moon in Aries: Red Alert!

Fiery Full Moon!

Full Moon in Aries
7:38 pm EDT, October 18, 2013
12:38 am GMD October 19, 2013

OK, peops, head up and stay awake for this one: There's a Full Moon overnight Friday, October 18 and it comes with a partial lunar eclipse and it's in the fiery sign of Aries and it's conjunct the asteroid Eris who's the goddess of turning things upside down. So. Here. We. Go.

Remember, Full Moons are illuminators, the bright lights highlighting exactly what we need to look at. It's easy, at this Full Moon, to go with gloom and doom. Eclipses are more than a bit foreboding when predicting world events, and the aspects to this Full Moon could be read as, shall we say, alarming.

But, you know what? I'm just not in the mood for the kind of apocalypse where everything goes to hell in a handbasket and we stand around with the gnashing of teeth and rending of garments and all that.

So, I say, let the red alert be us! Let's go with the energy of Aries as the initiator born anew every Spring, the one who can't sit still because the world is way too exciting, the one who blazes a new trail, the one who lights up the sky.

Aries is the sign of passion, the pulse of life and the thrill of being alive. Aries is courageous, lives from the heart, and laughs out loud. This is where I want to be for this Full Moon.

That said, I would add this is one of those "go high or go home" events. No sitting on the sidelines. Drag out that birth chart, and see where this Full Moon will be lighting up your chart.

The Full Moon arrives at 25 Aries, with the Sun at 25 Libra. It's squared by Jupiter at 19 Cancer, making whatever happens bigger. The Sun is close enough to the North Node to create the partial lunar eclipse, bringing destiny into the mix. Pluto and Uranus are really close to their next exact square, amping up the transformative power.

This is a Full Moon likely to push buttons. Mine, yours, everyone else's. So check out what issues are likely to be front and center for you:

• Anything in or around 25 degrees of any sign will be affected, especially the cardinal signs of Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn.

• Anything in the same House as the Full Moon in your birth chart, whether it's in the same sign or not, will be affected.

• Anything in Aries or Libra may also feel the fire, depending on how far away and how strong a placement it is.

At this Full Moon, it will be tough to keep the lid on, or sweep things under the rug. Instead of getting all anxious about that, let's grab the bull by the horns and ride that tiger ... let's split those infinitives and mix those metaphors with gay abandon.

With a Moon like this on our doorstep, we can try diving under the covers, or we can say, bring it on. Looking at what comes up will be a great way to see where we're hiding, either from old hurts holding us back, or from our own magnificence.

This is the Hunter's Moon, a name that comes from the fact that we'll see this amazing Moon for several nights in a row––which happens because of the angle of the Moon relative to the ecliptic at this time of year, and which ancient people recognized as a great change to hunt whatever was needed before the cold winter set in.

We can be hunters too. As we head into the shadowy time of Samhain and the darkness of winter, we can first take this bright opportunity to track down what we need to heal, to embrace and to celebrate. This Full Moon fuels the introspective time to come, ensuring that Spring will indeed arrive with new wonders to be witnessed.

Yes, this Full Moon will be exciting, challenging, fiery, and bright. It's that wonderful?
    

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.
    

Full Moon in Aquarius: Clear Sight, Strong Heart

Full Moon over Belfast

Full Moon in Aquarius
August 20, 2013 9:45 pm EDT
August 21, 2013 2:45 am GMD

I am in Ireland, in the early days of a journey that will, in ways I can feel but not see, shape what happens next in my life.

Looking at the chart of the upcoming Full Aquarius Moon, that same shaping is there for all of us––One way or another, this Moon will illuminate what happens next with startling clarity.

For one (smallish) thing, the Full Moon happens on different dates in the US and Ireland, the two places my consciousness bridges these days: 9:45 pm August 20 EDT and 2:45 am 21 August GMD. Look... the dates aren't even written in the same format.

We'll find the Full Moon at 28 Aquarius, the Sun at 28 Leo. This late-degree placement intensifies the polarity, Aquarius as the clear-sighted, incisive, big-picture thinker and Leo as the passionately creative heart.

These two powerhouses face off to highlight their positions. Are we thinking clearly? Are we heart centered? Are those two really opposed? What does this even mean?

Well, this Full-Moon-to-come offers examples:

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's recent comments in support of Rand and Ron Paul shocked those who assumed Assange stood for the underdog, which he doesn't, except in the sense that he opposes government structures of almost any kind. Assange sees the Paul's libertarian hands-off policies as 'the only useful political voice in Congress.'

Overnight, Time's Michael Grunwald tweeted, then apologized and withdrew, that he would celebrate a drone strike that took Assange out. Government intervention to the max, in the form of extrajudicial execution.

These are extreme Aquarian positions: committed worldviews representing abstract, idealized positions uninformed by compassion. Not, let me hasten to say, Aquarius at its best. Rather, a vision of what can happen to Aquarius in the absence of Leo.

Or looked at the other way 'round, both Assange and Grunwald are privileged. While we might not consider their lives enviable in all respects, they are celebrities of a kind, able to put their views before a world audience.

Listened to with less privileged ears, each could be heard as saying, "I've got mine, which is the right and only view, so screw you," which is Leo run amok, uninformed by the wider community vision for which Aquarius stands.

This rather startling example of Full Moon polarity, which arrives with Neptune conjunct the Moon, includes options for illusion, delusion, and confusion, as well as creative vision.

Back to my Irish odyssey. This evening, I will enter into five days of silent retreat, led by a poet who loves deserts. Meditation, listening, going within––no speaking, reading, googling.

I will experience this Full Moon on the inside, watching her brilliance rise over mountains and shine down on the bay, hoping for a new inner peace.

With all that's happening on the world stage, this Full Moon will feel very, very personal. Venus entered Libra yesterday, a place she loves, seeking balance and beauty. Her relationship to this Full Moon is awkward––an inconjunct to Neptune, longing for a harmony that may elude us, at least for now.

Mars in Cancer, still in the place of emotion and tradition which is not his most comfortable abode, will make the same awkward inconjunct aspect to the Moon. In this, the good soldier Mars tries to temper the cold steel of Aquarius with the Moon's own compassion. Will it work?

Meanwhile, Mercury is conjunct the Sun in Leo, opposite the Moon, ready to speak out with passion. Here are some of the questions this Full Moon might illuminate:

• How am I holding space for both compassion and idealistic vision? Loving what is, while moving toward what could be?

• How am I honoring the past, preserving important legacies, while releasing what no longer serves me? How am I moving into the future without turning my back on where I'm from?

• Where am I deluding myself? Where have I become inflated, rigid, or too sure? Where am I in a comfortable spiritual bypass rather than facing an edgier inner truth?

• How am I balancing the personal and the political? How can I create and hold space for balance, harmony and peace?

The Leo New Moon invited us to connect with our creative passion, to plant the seeds closest to our own hearts. At this Full Moon, we'll see how we've done––not in a final, this-is-over way, but in a hmmm, how's that working? way.

The lighting could feel a bit stark; Aquarius has a merciless quality Leo doesn't always bother to temper. The most cathartic theater comes not in light comedy, but in experiencing something deeper and closer to the bone.

So take a deep breath and buckle up. This Full Moon promises to be quite a show.
    

Seeing Who We Are: The Full Moon in Aquarius

a full house ...

Full Moon at 0 Aquarius
July 22, 2013 2:16pm EDT

Some time ago, I pledged to stop using "intense" to describe the New and Full Moon patterns we've been seeing. Not because the intensity went away, mind you, but because "intense" loses its meaning when every single lunation is, well, intense.

Beginning with this Full Moon, I think I'll stop using "rare" and "unusual" too.

Monday's Full Moon includes an amazing combination of aspect patterns:

• a Grand Cross of Ceres and Juno squaring the Nodes,
• a T-Square of Uranus squaring Pluto and Mercury,
• a T-Square of Saturn squaring the Sun and Moon,
• two Grand Trines in Water, of North Node, Chiron and Mercury, then Saturn, Neptune and Mars–Jupiter–Lilith,
• two yods mirroring each other, of the Sun at the apex of Pluto and Neptune, and the apex of Venus and Pallas Athena, and
• two quintiles linking Venus and the North Node, and Uranus and the Moon.

To describe this combination of patterns at a Full Moon as "unusual" or "intense" feels lame, at this point. Intense and unusual have become the new normal.

This Aquarian Full Moon fall at the beginning of the beginning of Aquarius and Leo: Only 5 minutes inside the 0 degree. After the somewhat behind-the-scenes and under-the-radar energies of past weeks, this Full Moon will feel like stepping onto a fully lit stage.

In fact, this could feel like stepping onstage for what we think is a full dress rehearsal, only to find it's opening night and the theater is packed. Friends, family, well-wishers, strangers, enemies, critics––everyone's here. The opening applause dies down, the spot focuses in. Time for the opening speech.

Fight. Flight, Freeze. Is this an amygdala highjack? Or are we ready? Can we grab that fraction of a second we've got to shift attention into a calm, centered place?

This is a Full Moon for feedback. The Sun and Moon, the luminaries in the sky and the guiding lights of our inner selves, are at the twin centers of a whole passel of attention from powerful others. We are going to be illuminated, quite possibly with a level of brilliance we've not experienced before.

In the past weeks (or months or years, depending on your chart and life choices), we've been preparing. Personal work, creative exploration, diving into the unconscious or dreamscapes or Imaginal realms, everything we've done to build a meaningful life––all the projects, efforts, plans, desires we've fed with our energy and time and love for longer than we can remember––what are they, really? Do we know?

Reading through what I've written feels scary. And yet, what this Full Moon offers is a gift. In the bright white limelight of an Aquarius Moon and Leo Sun, we're given the chance to see who we are.

I've been listening to a lot of Marion Woodman lately. She describes key moments in therapy sessions when, experiencing a deep insight, the client comes into wholeness. These moments don't generally last, but the experience, however brief, lights that client's unique and individual path.

center stage

If we're willing to step into the light and reach deep within for the insight, we can experience a wholeness that lights up where we are and (hopefully) where we go next.

This Full Moon can be like that.

Seeds we planted at the New Moon will bear some fruit. And, given the number of players, and the strength and precision of their focus, the illumination of this Full Moon could have a much deeper, broader impact.

Who are we, really? Yes, this is about embracing Shadow. But this isn't a Full Moon for playing small. It's also time to step into our gifts, our grace, our vision and our passion.

Look into the faces in that packed theater. See what's mirrored there in all its complexity. This is who we are. This is the curiosity, challenge, excitement, delight and love the universe offers.

It's mind-blowing and heart-opening to think about. I'm hoping I remember my lines. If I stumble a bit at the beginning, though, it's still be awesome.
    

Bright Beacon: A Full SuperMoon in Capricorn

light across the waters

Full Moon in Capricorn
Sunday, June 23, 2013
7:32 am EDT

Feeling a bit damp these days? The Water element reigns: Sun newly in Cancer conjunct larger-than-life Jupiter; Mercury, Venus and Vesta very close together in Cancer; Neptune and Saturn continuing to flow energy to each other from Pisces and Scorpio; Chiron the wounded healer in Pisces; North Node in Scorpio.

We're in a time of deep dreaming and strong feeling. The annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Dreams opens today, and I'm imaging this conference will be an intensely wonderful experience for all there.

The challenge is figuring out what to do with all that emotion. The Water element is life-giving when it's flowing, circulating, bringing in nutrients and carrying away toxins. When Water stops, though, we get stagnation, brooding, stuckness. Let's face it: when water stops moving, we get mold.

Overnight Saturday (tomorrow), the largest, brightest Full Moon of this year arrives. This Moon will be the closest to Earth she'll be all year. Where skies are clear, we might feel we can reach up and touch her luminous face. Don't miss a chance to see her, and dance in her golden glow.

This Full Moon channels Capricorn, the Earth sign that puts its shoulder to the wheel, never gives up, never surrenders. This Moon is widely conjunct Pluto, the alchemist who leaves no stone unturned. This Moon is pragmatic, hard working, and has her eyes on the prize.

This Full Moon sits at the point of a kite formation that draws the Saturn–Neptune trine right into the Full Moon energy. With Jupiter in the final, anaretic degree of Gemini, and asteroid Lilith right between the Sun and Jupiter, this is a powerful combination.

Shining her bright beacon on the intense waters we're swimming in, this Full Moon asks: What are these feelings about? Are we stuck or moving? Where's the goal? How do we get there?

And, of course. where are the life vests and can we all fit into the boat?

We'll all make it to shore as long as we look to the light and follow its path across the water. Lighthouses are built with powerful lenses that serve to focus light so it carries across long distances. This Full Moon, so close to the Earth, has the power to shine through any storm.

Eric Francis has an intriguing take on 29 Gemini, the spot we'll find expansive Jupiter shining from at this Full Moon. He sees that final, intense degree as uniquely suited to giving us the big picture, offering the ability to put things into context and see how they connect.

The thing is, sometimes light shows up things we'd rather not see. This Full Moon could be like that. If there's stuff in our psyches, in our families, in our relationships we've been looking away from, this Moon could illuminate it inescapably. This Moon ain't for sissies.

focus!

The gift this Full Moon offers (and it's a great gift) is that same illumination. Those places we've felt stuck, the personal stuff we've been working on and just can't quite see clearly, the missing piece of the relationship puzzle: all those might be highlighted. Oh! we'll say ... is THAT it? I can work with that. Big shifts possible.

Another big theme for this SuperMoon is ancestry. Cancer is tribe as well as family; Capricorn is tradition as well as authority. The involvement of Neptune, Saturn and Pluto take us into deep territory.

This will be a powerful Moon for connecting to our ancestors, working with them, learning from them. Old issues may come up for healing, and new directions brought to light.

Full Moons can make us all feel a little crazy, and this one could be loonier than most. With all this emotional intensity, we'll want to be prepared. Connect to your tribe. Find a place where you feel emotionally supported, at home, loved. From that place, we can follow the Moon's bright beacon to see what we need to see, learn what we need to learn.

May it be so for you.
     

Full Moon in Sagittarius: BIG Dreams, BIG Ideas, BIG Moon!

A Dreamer's Moon

Full Moon in Sagittarius
Lunar Eclipse and Lunar Perigee
May 25, 2013 12:25 am EDT

Full Moons bring illumination, something we sorely need after the intensity and challenge of recent weeks. It hasn't been all bad––we've celebrated beautiful births as well as grieved deaths, seen miracles in the midst of tragedies––but it's definitely been intense.

So looking ahead to a Sagittarius Full Moon should be a jolly time. Sag is the party sign, right? Sag never met a stranger, the eternal optimist. And all those Gemini planets! With all those ideas floating around, and connections being made, it's got to be good,

It is good. In fact, a Full Moon in Sagittarius looks at the world and thinks, it's all good!

The intensity, though ... that's going to continue. This isn't the whew-it's-all-behind-us-let's-let-our-hair-down party. This is the wow-we-made-it-this-far-what-comes-next? party.

Plan for BIG DREAMS at this Full Moon. The Full Moon arrives just after midnight in my time zone (EDT), meaning she'll arrive during the night of May 24 on the West Coast, and in the early morning hours of May 25 in Europe. (Farther away time zones boogle my mind, I'm afraid.)

Neptune, planet of dreams and visions, squares this Full Moon from her home sign, Pisces. Saturn is also in the frame, trining Neptune from Scorpio and inconjunct the Gemini Sun––he adds depth and shadow.

If you work with dreams, don't miss this opportunity for deep dream travels and exploration. Even if you don't pay much attention to your nigthtime adventures, put a notebook and pen next to your bed tonight––big dreams, vivid dreams, amazing dreams will be happening.

Watch for BIG IDEAS at this Full Moon. Both Sag and Gemini are idea signs, ready to offer solutions, plans, advice, whatever, at the drop of a hat.

In addition to the Gemini Sun, Mercury, Venus and asteroid Lilith are tightly conjunct in Gemini, with Jupiter nearby. There's either serious brainstorming or major league flirting going on here, maybe both.

Need to generate creative solutions to intractable problems? This Full Moon could turn on the lights big time ... except ... we need to be alert for the Shadow side.

Neptune's square means things could get confusing and foggy, and the rose-colored glasses might be on. The Gemini party could generate so many ideas, it's impossible to sort out which are worth pursuing.

Another downside is the possibility of staking out a position and insisting we are right, we have the answer, we know the way. Sagittarius is prone to certainty, even when it's not warranted. And take a peek at Mars––he's in late Taurus, conjunct cerebral Pallas Athena, and also conjunct the Sun, so he's right close in, opposing this Full Moon.

If you find yourself overwhelmed by circumstances, options, new, people, it could be tempting to put your foot down and declare, this is where I take my stand! I'm right, forget about everyone else! An understandable response, but do try to resist going there. Not, I might add, by resisting the thoughts. Instead, notice where your mind wants to go, and use that as a springboard for reflection.

Because one thing this Full Moon could illuminate for us is where we're ready to be sure, where we've decided we have it all figured out. While I'm not advocating tossing all our values and convictions out the window and starting over, it's good to be aware of those areas where we think we're done. Because, you know, we're not. Just sayin'.

... light the lights ...

This is a BIG MOON. Sagittarius is a supersized energy, expansive, inclusive and, yes, optimistic. This Full Moon falls the day before a lunar perigee, one of the times the Moon is closest to Earth. So, while this Moon won't be quite as super as next month's Full Moon, it is a supermoon, larger than usual.

This Full Moon also comes with a lunar eclipse, emphasizing her power. Eclipses add oomph, influencing events for six months or so, and also punctuating the long-term saros cycles.

This Full Moon also draws in the Uranus–Pluto square, with Uranus widely trining the Moon. We're linked in to the major movements of our time, and could feel that connection strongly.

So, if skies are clear, we'll see a big, bright, gorgeous Moon sailing overhead tomorrow (Friday) night. Even if she's hiding behind clouds, of the physical or the Neptunian kind, her presence will be felt. It's a night for celebrating life in all its blooming, buzzing confusion.
    

Full Moon Thursday!

Full Moon from space, Earth's luminous being on the left

Full Moon in Scorpio
April 25, 3:57 pm EDT

An update and correction: The DATE on my original post is correct but a paragraph lead said "Saturday's Full Moon" and the 25th is, of course, Thursday.

I corrected the original and added a comment, but that didn't send a message to my email and RSS subscribers. So, here the correction: the Full Moon is THURSDAY. (A big thank you to my reader who emailed, reminding me I needed an updated feed too.)

So here's an additional thought on the illuminating Moon soon to arrive: I'm returning from an intensive shamanic workshop with Betsy Bergstrom, who I found to be an amazing teacher, and shared with a wonderful circle. We spent a lot of time talking about power––no surprise in this lunar cycle, right?

To live the life we hope for, the fullest, juiciest, most wonderful life we can have, the meaningful life we're meant to have, we need to step into our power. We need to be what Betsy calls power-filled.

This is not about dominating, controlling, pushing or pulling. It's all about claiming our individual sovereignty. Each of us has a natural, inalienable right to be who we are in the world. We each have the right to shine.

This Full Moon in Scorpio, with Sun in Taurus and all the patterns already explored, is a wonderful time to tend our own light. Where are we standing in our own power and allowing others around us to stand in theirs? Where do boundaries need tending? Where can projections be withdrawn?

As this Full Moon approaches, may we see ourselves as the shining luminous beings we are, and see all other beings around us in the wonder and beauty of their luminosity.
    

Full Moon Eclipse in Scorpio: Hecate's Magic

Hecate

Full Moon in Scorpio
April 25, 2013 3:57pm EDT

Full Moons are hard to miss. Even when the night sky is full of clouds, somehow we feel a full Moon. Life becomes a bit crazier, wilder, over the top.

THURSDAY's Full Moon comes with a partial lunar eclipse, opening this year's "eclipse season" –– May brings two more eclipses, one solar and another lunar. Lunar eclipses always accompany Full Moons, giving this Full Moon extra strength––think espresso, or really dark chocolate.

Eclipses are turning points, times of emphasis and change. Eclipse patterns repeat at roughly 19 year intervals; to understand what might be coming up for you at this Full Moon, look back to what was happening in your life 19 years ago. This eclipse might revisit that same territory in new ways.

Now factor in the sign of this Full Moon: Scorpio, sign of the underworld, the subconscious, the Shadow; sign of the detective, the therapist and the spy. Scorpio knows who has skeletons in the closet and where the bodies are buried.

A Full Moon to prepare for.

This Scorpio Full Moon eclipse arrives with deep emotion, boatloads of karma, long-term effects, and high voltage. Am I planning to hide under the covers, or, better yet, leave the planet? Nope, I'm not. I'm looking forward to pressing yet another cosmic reset button on my adventurous way. Honest.

Full Moons illuminate. Their spotlights show us where we are, and how we're doing with whatever that is. With this Full Moon in Scorpio, we're likely to see one or more of the following on our personal large screen:

• Power! This lunar cycle began with an Aries extravaganza. Mars (Aries ruler) is also the ancient ruler of Scorpio, and will conjunct the Sun at the Full Moon. So ... how are we handling power? Are we responsible? Afraid? Controlling? In denial? This will be a headliner.

• Deep emotion. Scorpio is a Water sign, so our feelings selves will be awake and aware. This Full Moon is part of the Grand Trine in Water that includes Saturn (conjunct the Moon in Scorpio), Neptune in Pisces, and Ceres in Cancer.

How are we feeling? What do we feel deeply about now? Where are we confused (Neptune) about our feelings, or perhaps unsure if our feelings are justified, accurate, or reciprocated? Where do we feel insecure, or compelled to nurture others? Where are we facing the consequences of emotions, perhaps because we became obsessed, or codependent, or overcommitted?

• Where we're stuck. Scorpio and Taurus are both fixed signs, and can be beyond stubborn––immovable, in fact. Mars and Saturn, conjunct the Sun and Moon, might push us to move, or might just decide to stay exactly where they are.

Meanwhile, there's a yod (finger of fate, as aspect pattern that points like an arrow) aimed to the North Node, which also happens to be in Scorpio. This yod is pushing, with Mercury energized in Aries and Jupiter expanding in Gemini, asking, why haven't we changed already? Are we waiting for an engraved invitation, or what?

Uranus in Aries, the revolutionary trickster, is inconjunct the Full Moon, adding his own considerable power to the equation. At this Full Moon, we're likely to see where we're stuck and (if we pay attention) what we can do about it.

• Self care. Taurus is the sign of nurturing the body; Scorpio is the sign of tending to the psyche. Finding balance between the two can be challenging, but is essential. With issues of power, emotion, and stuckness coming up for review, we also need to attend to how we're doing overall. Kindness and self compassion are good watchwords, and this Full Moon may point out where we need to bring some of that to the fore.

Why the scary goddess Hecate? She's a goddess of the crossroads and dark places, a goddess of choices and deep knowing. She's demonized as a witchy death goddess, but then, Scorpio gets a pretty bad rap a lot of the time too.

Hecate is a goddess of great power, connected to deep emotional issues, who knows how to move us on when we're standing at the crossroads not sure where to go. She helped bring Persephone out from Hades, restoring the Earth's capacity to grow and be fruitful.

One of Hecate's symbols is the torch. At this Full Moon, as we begin a new 19 year eclipse cycle, calling on the energy and guidance of a goddess who can navigate in dark places seems like an excellent plan.

Checking where this Full Moon will fall in your birth chart offers extra information about where and how this Full Moon will illuminate your life. Which house will this Full Moon appear in, for you? Will any of your planets be touched by the patterns this Moon will form? These are the pointers to look for, to see where Hecate's light may shine into shadowy places.
    

Where Does this Moon Fall in My Chart?

Where's Waldo? (... or that Moon!)

How Do I Know?

Each time a New or Full Moon, or another significant astrological event, is about to happen, I suggest getting out our birth charts and seeing where the event will fall. The other day, a reader wrote and asked if I could explain exactly what I mean by that. Thanks for the excellent question!

This will be the first part of what is likely to be a longer explanation. Please, everyone, let me know if this helps. One important goal for me is being clear, and helping to make astrology's sometimes technical language and geometry clear as well. Here goes ...

Step one is getting a copy of your birth chart, which I've mentioned this in other posts but it bears repeating. Both Cafe Astrology and Astro.com offer free birth charts. You type in your birth date, time and location, and voilá, a chart appears! This chart shows the positions of your planets and points, and how the houses of your chart are set up.

As an example for this post, here's the birth chart of actor and all around theater person Ken Howard. I chose his chart because it has significant, easy to see relationships to the recent Full Moon. If you want to know more about Ken Howard, visit his entry at Astro.com.

A note about chart layouts (this is important): If you do go to Astro.com, you'll see that the chart there and my chart here look different. There are lots of ways to present charts. Each one has advantages and disadvantages.

The charts I use here are drawn with equal-appearing houses. The Astro.com charts show the actual sizes of the houses, which vary more and more the farther away from the equator the chart location is. I find equal-appearing house charts easier to read, and easier to teach from. The information presented in each chart format is the same, it's just a different layout.

OK, step two is the chart for the important astrological event, in this case, yesterday's Full Moon in Libra. There it is ...

Now we literally and methodically compare the two charts. You can print the charts out and lay them side by side. You can download the chart images and look at them side by side on your desktop. If it works for you, just look back and forth between the images here on the page.

A new note, this one about chart locations: Birth location is essential to create an accurate birth chart, so isn't it important that the Full Moon chart is from someplace in Indiana that doesn't relate to anything for me (or Ken Howard)?

No, the location of the Full Moon charts and the other charts I post doesn't matter because they're all natural charts. Natural charts are set with 0 Aries on the Ascendant, following the natural zodiac. Such charts don't reflect the location where they're created, so location doesn't matter. The charts I post here are designed to be used as comparison charts, good for any location.

On to step three: Where's the Full Moon? Look at the Full Moon chart alone. See the Moon at 6 Libra, and the Sun at 6 Aries––this is the opposition that defines every Full Moon. Notice all the planets clustered around the Sun, making the Aries energy really strong.

In my Full Moon post, I talked about other strong aspect patterns making this Full Moon a doozie. If you want, you can note where those are too. But focus first on the Full Moon itself, the Sun and Moon placements.

Step four is where we look for the Full Moon in the birth chart. This is the "Where's Waldo?" part.

The key question is, where are 6 Libra (the Full Moon) and 6 Aries (the opposing Sun) in Ken Howard's chart? Now you see why I chose this one, because his birth Sun is at 7 Aries which means this Full Moon landed right on his own Sun––a powerful placement.

This Full Moon for him will lie in his Fourth and Tenth houses, the axis that contrasts home and family (4th house) and career and the public (10th house). The Moon will conjunct his Neptune down in his 4th house, while the Sun is conjunct his birth Sun in his 10th.

This Full Moon might have illuminated issues around balancing home and family with his career and public self, and how it affects his personal relationships. It might also illuminate new creative projects for him, perhaps some that combine issues close to his heart (4th house) with his theater and film career (10th house).

And look where his Moon is, at 5 Gemini in his 12th house. This means his Moon is being trined by the Full Moon at 6 Libra, emphasizing what I said above about issues close to his heart, and also his deeply creative and insightful side.

Finding where the Full Moon falls in your own chart might not be as crystal clear as in Ken Howard's, but it's there. Every sign and degree of the zodiac falls in every chart. There might not be an obvious planet or point to link it to, but 6 Libra and 6 Aries (and any other position) will be there somewhere.

If you haven't had a chance to check, there's still time and something to be learned. Knowing where and how astrological events touch your birth chart helps you understand how the energies around now are affecting us personally.

That's enough for a first post on this. Do let me know if this is helpful, and what else needs to be unpacked, to unlock more astrology for you. Thanks!
    

Full Moon in Libra: Boom!

Tiger!

Full Moon in Libra
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
5:27 am EDT
Moon at 6'52" Libra

Full Moons illuminate, and this one has a whole crew already setting up the kleig lights. Massive amounts of power concentrating for this one: Sun, Venus, Uranus and Mars all conjunct in Aries opposing the Moon in Libra.

Everyone else has a piece of this too: Neptune, Mercury and Chiron in Pisces are inconjunct the Moon, creating another awkward push. The ongoing yod (finger of fate) that includes Pluto and Saturn inconjunct Jupiter adds its transformational energy as Pluto squares and Jupiter trines the Moon. Saturn trines Chiron. Juno trines the Moon. Lilith trines the Moon.

What do we make of this?

First, the energy represented in this Full Moon is high volt, high watts. Aries is the sign of personal power, desire, anger, physical energy, libido, the raw force of life surging into this world. This energy is wonderful; it's what keeps everything going. At this concentration, it can also feel threatening and overwhelming. Kind of like "I've seen God and boy, is She pissed!"

How strongly you feel this Full Moon depends on what your chart looks like. The early cardinal degrees (say, 0-12 of Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn) will feel this most strongly. Anything else in the cardinal signs will be affected, and anything else in the early degrees will also feel the effects.

No one is likely to miss this Full Moon. It's more a question of how and how much. Check your birth chart to see which houses this Moon will fall in, and which of your planets and points will be most involved.

Aries is the sign of individual, personal, ME power. Libra is the sign of the Other, the energy exquisitely attuned to the myriad sentient beings out there who are NOT me. The balance is clearly tipped to the "me" side, and yet at the Full Moon, it's the Moon herself whose fully illuminated.

If you're in the hot seat for this Full Moon, you may experience challenges, possibly direct and pointed ones, in key relationships. This may come to a head for you or for a partner. Stuff may get said and done that can't be unsaid or undone. The opportunity is for clarity––is this (whatever "this" is) supporting my healthy growth? The risk is misinterpreting, overreacting, and moving into anger.

Aries is the sign of physicality––our physical health, energy and activity. Being active could be a great way to channel and express this Full Moon. Vigorous workouts in whatever modality you love, including sexuality, could feel awesome. The opportunity: connecting with our body's energy and needs with greater clarity and focus. The risk: Overdoing it, burning out, accident or injury.

Libra is the sign of balance and harmony. The opportunity for this Moon is to find the inner strength and peace to stand in the middle of a firestorm, and remain calm. And smile, don't forget that part. All those things we've been doing to cultivate equanimity and balance in our lives? This Full Moon is likely to take some pokes right at that, saying "Hmmm ... what happens if I do this? What about this? Are you still calm?"

Think about all those jokes with siblings in a car, at home, wherever. One is trying to read, or watch a program, or just be. The other one is waving his hands around, desperate for attention. "I'm not touching you! I'm not touching you!"

The story I offer for this Full Moon is one told and retold by Clarissa Pinkola Estes:

A young woman greets her husband returning from the war. She is thrilled to have him home, and frightened to discover the loving man who went away has returned angry, withdrawn, and dangerous. Desperate, she consults a wise man, asking what she can do to help her partner.

The wise man says he can make a potion to cure her husband, but the key ingredient is an eyelash from a fierce tiger who lives up the mountain. Can she get one? The woman loves her husband, and says she will bring one back. She travels up the mountain, to discover the tiger is larger, wilder and more fierce than she imagined.

It takes months of careful, quiet, calm, focused being. Each day she sits a little closer. She leaves him food. She advances inch by slow inch. One day, she is close enough to get the eyelash she needs. Triumphant, she returns to the wise man, her prize carefully cradled in her hand.

When she arrives, the wise man takes the eyelash and tosses it in the fire! Aghast, the young woman asks why. The wise man says "Now you have the skill and insight. Go home and treat your husband as you treated the tiger."

Garden Hose by Edith Vonnegut

An intriguing story, I've always thought. Part of me says, why does the woman always have to accommodate, be quiet, stay calm, fix things? Why can't the man deal with his anger?

Yet this is a story about ourselves, on the inside. Sometimes the parts of us that are raging, grasping, and out of control cannot stop by themselves. We need to strengthen the parts of us that can hold space, listen and reflect without judgement, and yes, stay calm and carry on.

Knowing we're in a time of big Aries energy, we can plan some extra meditation time, extra quiet, soft music. And also, depending on our needs and temperaments, plan extra exercise, vigorous activity, wild dancing. We can watch for overreacting, for risky behavior, for triggers.

It's not possible for us, as humans, to keep it together perfectly all the time. We may well see, at this Full Moon, which triggers are still active for us, where we fall down, where we lose it. That's OK. We can flow with the Libra Moon's sensitivity and vow to treat our flawed, imperfect and uniquely beautiful selves with all the compassion and love we would offer a much loved partner.

We're the young woman and the tiger both, and also the sage and the wounded warrior. At this Full Moon, all those parts may appear lit up on stage, so we can see with crystal clarity where more compassion, as well as more skill, are needed.