As I study the waxing Moon just before it enters Aquarius, I'm struck by the fact that it hits my own chart right on the cusp of the 4th house, home and all that entails. Makes so much sense as I'm in the process of searching for a new home. Wherever the Full Moon at 4 degrees of Aquarius transits in your chart/life, expect some drama, passion, and the pull between the needs of the Leo Sun and those of the Aquarius Moon. Leo's proud, dramatic, emotive, and highly individualistic need to stand out from the crowd, to that of the Aquarius Moon's individualistic need to be part of a team. Strength in numbers, power in connection, or the needs of the many over the needs of self, all are heightened expressions of this Full Moon.
The Full Moon peaks and the Lunar Eclipse takes place at 1:20 p.m. PDT/4:20 p.m. EDT/11:20 p.m. UT. The eclipse will not be visible in North America, but Africa, parts of Asia, and Europe will get a spectacular view of an eclipse that will last for more than an hour. The energy of the eclipse and the Full Moon in Aquarius though, will still have an effect on us, and whatever those effects are will manifest over the next three months. Before the Full Moon and eclipse hit, study your own chart (and if you don't have one, go to Astro.com for a free version) to see which houses will be affected.
It is said, that what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. Since we're all still breathing, we can all attest to that truth. Whatever we have coped with in the past, learned, come to understand, withstood, and mastered, provides us now with all we need to handle what our life presents to us. Think back on those times in your life when you wondered how you'd cope or manage, the circumstances of life seeming so completely bewildering and impossible. We've all had moments like that, if not longer spells when the road seemed to get washed out just as we were making our way through a difficult time.
We often try to avoid such times, but frankly, chaos and change is more normal than not. Imagine if you will the lifespan of a volcano. A volcano may lie dormant, asleep for centuries, all the time in the depths and heart of its inner structure, magma and intense heat burns and amasses. On the surface we may glimpse an occasional escape of steam, lava, or a violent eruption. Before the eruption though, the movement of magma to the surface shakes the earth around it, causing tremors and shaking as it moves steadily to the weak places in the crust where it can escape.
Think of yourself, and your life as somewhat like that volcano. A thought that reminds me of this dynamic process of life and the volcano I found on a card a friend made for me: "Whatever is not Ex-pressed, is De-Pressed." We cannot cope with everything all at once, so some things we depress or suppress, only to find later, they are still roiling beneath the surface, and they make their way up and out, sometimes in the form of a physical expression (illness, imbalance, weakness), or in some other manifestation, emotional, spiritual, mental, or pragmatic disorder with our surrounding and/or the people in it.
All this is to say, this Full Moon in Aquarius, conjunct Mars (action) opposite the Sun in Leo, squaring Uranus in Taurus, may precipitate a crisis of one kind or another. It may be a crisis of consciousness, an awakening of some kind that comes about after a long search. It may be a crisis of healing. Sometimes we get worse before we get better, or search for answers for a problem that eludes us. This might be a time when answers and healings begin. Crisis may be in sudden awareness, revelations, or unexpected news.
Expect the unexpected (always with Uranus), and unexpected arrivals and departures. Also what has been suppressed may burst through to the surface, and we may finally face some truth that has eluded us. Shocking discoveries, surprises, and realizations may be triggered at this point. It may be the beginning of a whole new phase of life, and an abrupt end to another. Greet whatever change is sparked with an open mind, heart, and willingness to accept the graces within that change. Sometimes we have to wait for what is meant to be ours.
Where are the planets?: Mercury is in Leo, along with the Sun. Venus is in Virgo (still part of the grand trine in earth signs), Mars is in Aquarius with the Moon, Saturn is in Cancer, and Jupiter is in Scorpio. Mercury in Leo just turned retrograde on July 26.
Moon conjunct Mars in Aquarius: Mars in the same sign as the Moon can lead to conflicts, particularly since the Moon rules the Mother, the home and what we consider home, and the safety and security the Moon awakens in us all to protect what and who is most sacred and loved by us. Conflicts may arise over how that protection and security should be created. Different strokes for different folks, is a simple way to envision the differences between how the Lunar energy heals and protects, and how the Martian energy feels it should be done. Differences in life style, handling difficult situations, maintaining peace and harmony, may be the key issues that rise at this time.
Sun in Leo squares Uranus in Taurus: This aspect indicates that what we plan may not turn out as we hoped it would Again, the unexpected arises to disrupt plans, shake up routines, cause delays, or discover glitches in the systems we normally depend on. During this time we may need to change our plans or come up with a new way to approach a problem. We feel the urge to act, but have no clear vision as to how that should or could be done. Our patience is tested, and the term 'roll with the punches' comes to mind when I consider this energy.
Mars square Uranus in Taurus: Mars too squares Uranus, so surprising or shocking changes, news, or behavior can cause frustration, restlessness, or discouragement. Wherever it transits your chart/life is where you might feel more sensitive, restricted, restrained, or resistant. The urge to break away, seek one's independence, or change routines and patterns is triggered by this aspect. This energy might make you feel more impatient with routine and cause you to want to make changes regardless of the outcome. Some caution ought to be exercised at this time, for decisions made in this kind of powerful energy, won't necessarily end the way you think they might. You can however, see possibilities arise that seemed out of sight until now, and that kind of energy can be acted upon as the lunar cycle progresses.
Moon square Uranus: Not only is the active, impatient energy of Mars pushing for change (though Mars is somewhat muted in Aquarius...more about ideas and connections than actions), it can still create some emotional turmoil when the Moon too square Uranus. When the lunar energy that controls our emotional stability unites with Mars, the urge to act with immediacy, and is squaring Uranus, we can expect that something surprising, connected to whatever kind of crisis evolves, will make us feel like the curtain has risen on a new chapter in life. Some may act on it; more will awaken and realize what has to happen and will feel propelled to take steps to make that happen.
T-square: The the Sun in Leo, the Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius, and Mars conjunct the Moon form a t-square to Uranus in Taurus. This is a volatile and shocking aspect, and since it also aligns with both lunar nodes, it means that whatever is residual from the past (South Node, what we bring to life) and whatever we are in the process of creating, changing, or moving into (North Node) are activated in shocking and surprising ways. Saturn in Capricorn softens this somewhat as we've been confronted by whatever this is in our lives quite a lot over the past three or four years. Pluto prepared the ground by digging up the past, turning over that which has to change, and providing us with many a lesson in how to operate amidst chaos and confusion. Saturn, the Great Teacher, is now going to help us navigate the rocky waters by helping us hone our skills for survival, trusting our intuition, using our spiritual tools, and practicing the more pragmatic and practical ways of coping with changes. Notice where the Sun, Moon, Uranus, and Saturn are in your life/chart, and you'll probably recognize what has been in the process of change for quite some time now.
Sun conjunct the North Node; Moon and Mars conjunct the South Node: Due to the Sun's position to the North Node and the Moon's to the South Node, we have to view this as a consequential period of time. South Node is what we bring into this life. What lessons we have to learn, what gifts we have to develop, what experiences we need to grow, and what weaknesses and challenges we have come to resolve. The North Node I call the gateway to the future. When a planet transits the North Node as it does now with the Sun's passage, we are moving into a new phase of life. The Sun represents our personal expression, who we are in our heart of hearts and what we must express.
As we transit the North Node, we look as we always do at turning point times, to see what we need to resolve, leave behind, heal, correct, or discontinue so that the journey ahead can proceed without carrying what is dead and useless into the next phase of life. That doesn't mean we forget the past; it means we acknowledge whatever is no longer part of the active element of who we are (old beliefs, roles, relationships, goals, habits, patterns). It might be as simple as facing the fact that where we once found love, is no longer alive. It may mean that the home we have come to know, has ceased to be the safe haven it was. It may be that a habit that once served us, has become a burden and crutch. Again, it may be a major change or a minor one, but there will be a shift in direction, as a new path unfolds.
In the collective, it may simply be (though not simple at all) facing the facts before us and moving to find peace and solutions in a new way. Reforms are needed to adjust to what has risen to the surface and destroyed the illusion that all was well. Everything changes, and if we try to hold back the dam that is bursting or the volcano that is erupting, we do so at our own peril. We have to see how things fall apart, as we hold onto the center of who we are, where we are, and with what we hold dear. We are, however, entering a period when we're slowing down. No object, person, or society can handle constant chaos and disruption without taking time to rest, recuperate, rejuvenate, and reflect.
Regardless of what is happening in the world around us, we must focus our attention on the Temple we carry within us, that sacred place where we hold the Truth of our being, and we care for the gifts, talents, expertise, and wisdom we've accrued over our lives.
A year and a half ago I attended our local Women's March in January, and the passionate, devoted people who came carried signs declaring bits of their truth. One that stood out and the thought that has helped sustain me since was this: "We were made for these times." And that I do believe. We are stronger than we imagine. We are more of what is good, and we can do more than simply survive. We can grow, thrive, and create more of what is good for all. Happy Full Moon. Find some peace and share some love. Connect to the beauty of the world and one another, and seek solace in your quiet, solitary moments. Allow the Divine to infuse you with all you need, and use your spiritual tools, especially prayer, to share your burdens and find the support and grace you need.
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