This Full Moon could certainly kick start some intensity for the months ahead! Aries is a fiery sign and Mars, its ruler, is very present indeed at the moment! An Aries Full Moon has the potential to bring out the more passionate, assertive, honest, courageous side of our nature and we could find ourselves having to contend with some very heated emotions and even anger. Full Moons tend to bring whatever has been simmering away beneath the surface out into the light of our consciousness, and in the first sign of the zodiac the emotions that come up could be quite raw and unfiltered. This is especially so as Mars is retrograde at the moment, because its warrior energy is not so easy to control or contain. Indeed, we could find ourselves more reactionary than we usually would be, as people or events trigger some powerful emotions in us that we might find it hard to suppress. Aries is a very impulsive sign that tends to act first and think later and so it is quite possible that some material comes out into the open during this Moon that helps to get the proverbial cards out onto the table.
The Sun has recently moved into Libra, the sign of balance, fairness and relatedness, and is sitting directly opposite the feisty Aries Moon. The key to a Full Moon is to find some kind of balance between the energy of the two signs rather than veering too far in one direction or the other. Libra reminds us to listen to one another, to find some kind of compromise and to be kind. Aries is a very brave, honest energy that helps us to assert and motivate ourselves, but can also mean that we act and react in ways that are destructive and hurtful rather than constructive and loving. Libra helps us to temper any more hotheaded, confrontational or aggressive tendencies and to take into account the feelings and needs of others. However, Aries helps us to stick up for ourselves and others and also to stand up for what we believe in. Aries can bring out the bully in us, but can also help us to stand up to the bully, in whatever form that may take. Libra can tend to take the “middle ground”, while Aries will jump right into the heart of a battle! Both these approaches have merit as long as they don’t go too far.
Mars, the ruler of this Full Moon, is also in Aries at the moment, travelling in retrograde motion and forming a challenging square to both Saturn, the planet of authority and control, and Pluto, the planet of power and transformation. These two powerful energies are in Capricorn, a sign that is very different to Aries! This square between the Mars in Aries and Saturn in Capricorn brings the potential for conflict with authority, angry reactions at the government or those in control, feeling frustrated, restricted or suppressed so that we are unable to act or react, aggressive force being used by those in power, “martial” law, kicking back against being controlled or forced into compliance. It can also force us to act with integrity and to be fully accountable for our actions.This has been building for the past week or so and will be exact on 29 September, so it will still be very strong during the Full Moon.
The square between Mars and Pluto is also strong during this Moon and will be exact on 9 October.This combination has the potential to bring up anger and rage that comes from the depths of our subconscious, so it could be a very good time to do some inner work that enables us to truly confront our shadows. Indeed, we may have no choice in the matter, as this combination could mean that we are very easily triggered! Pluto in Capricorn is revealing and exposing the dark side of the power structures and the patriarchal system, and the square to the warrior planet could literally cause us to rage against the machine and to find the courage to stand in our own power. However, is can also signify force being used against us by those in power. Indeed, power struggles can be rife with these two planets butting heads! This challenging combination of the god of war and the god of the underworld can signify psychological warfare, coercion, brute force, underhanded tactics and manipulation, but can also help us to unearth dark secrets and slay inner and outer demons. Indeed, we may find strength, courage and power we didn’t even know we possessed!
Chiron the Wounded Healer is very present indeed during this Moon, as it is conjunct the Moon and opposite the Sun. This could mean that our core wounds are triggered, making us feel quite open, touchy, exposed and vulnerable, especially if we have personal planets and angles between 4 and 12 degrees of the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. We have an opportunity here to be very honest with ourselves and our loved ones about our sensitivities and insecurities so that some deep healing can occur.However, it could feel as if someone or something is poking and prodding at open sores, which could make us quite defensive and reactive if we let our ego get in the way. As the Moon represents the feminine and mother and the Sun the masculine and father, it is possible for healing to occur in this area of our lives. Emotions could certainly be riding high during this Moon, but we could also be prompted to get in touch with our inner warrior and to find the courage to confront ourselves and others, if needs be.
Chiron is also forming a nagging inconjunct aspect to Mercury, which will be exact on 4 October. Mercury has recently moved into Scorpio, which could bring some quite deep, penetrating conversations and the potential for dark, paranoid thoughts and the capacity to really cut to the heart of the matter. Scorpio is not a superficial sign in the slightest, so we may find ourselves really wanting to understand what is going on beneath the surface of reality, probing and asking some very deep questions. This Chiron Mercury aspect could bring some kind of crisis or humbling experience through the mind and communication, whereby we either hear, think or say something that is hard to face but deeply healing. It could bring up some deep, dark, shadowy subject matter that may be painful to confront, but if we are able to look at ourselves honestly it could be very helpful indeed. Chiron in Aries is quite forceful and confrontational in its healing approach, while Mercury in Scorpio can bring some kind of inner or outer communication that really penetrates to the core of our soul.
Neptune is square the Nodes of the Moon and provides an important, ongoing backdrop that will be building until January. The Nodes represent important material that we are currently working on, both personally and collectively, in order to grow and evolve. With the South Node in Sagittarius and the North Node in Gemini, issues around truth and lies are rife right now and with Neptune, the planet of “glamour” and illusion squaring the Nodes the truth is completely shrouded by smoke screens and increasingly sophisticated propaganda. Neptune is also the planet that asks us to sacrifice something for the greater good of humanity, and so we may be asked to find a way to speak out, even at the risk of losing something important to us. Some truth is too important not to be shared, although we find a way of sharing our thoughts, ideas and opinions in a kind, compassionate and non-judgemental manner. While the Sagittarius South Node can bring intuitive hunches and encourages us to trust our gut, the Gemini North Node invites us to do some research and “fact finding” in order to back up what we intuitively sense. However, with Neptune square the Nodes there is the danger of utter confusion and profound disillusionment, with the urge to just numb out as it becomes harder and harder to know where the truth lies.
With a nice supportive sextile building between Neptune and Jupiter, however, we are encouraged to keep the faith and resist the temptation to numb out or “escape”, tempting as it may be. Instead we are invited to do whatever we can to nurture our spirit, whether through walks in nature, supportive groups, meditation or other kinds of spiritual practice. Although life could seem quite bleak and even hopeless for many at the moment, it is important to keep an eye on the bigger picture and trust that this is a necessary process that has the potential to bring great spiritual rewards. As many have said, “the darkest hour is just before dawn”. Ultimately the light shall prevail! It is so very important to nourish ourselves and keep our faith alive so that we always have our sights set on that light at the end of the tunnel, even if it seems like a tiny little glimmer! While it is so easy to fall into fear and overwhelm, we must do whatever we can to keep our vibration high and our inner light shining. When in doubt, head for the forest, woods, rivers, lakes, mountains, ocean, parks or gardens; whatever is available to us in that moment. This helps us to ground and reconnect to all that is. It is here that we are able to breathe a sigh of relief.
The Sabian symbol for the Full Moon, at 10° Aries, is:” A teacher gives new symbolic forms to traditional images”, which Dane Rudyar describes as “Revision of attitude at the beginning of a new cycle of experience. A new dimension of consciousness is discovered, revealing higher possibilities of experience and mental development”. This symbol seems to be asking us to take what is known, tried and tested and to bring it up to date with the here and now. What have we learned from the past that can now be transformed in order to help us to move forward? What might we need to look at from a fresh perspective? How can we look forward with new vision and break down old, outworn patterns and ways of doing things? How can we step out of the comfort zone and allow space for the new, while still respecting and honouring the lessons of the past? There is a sense of starting a new cycle, aided by the wisdom of all that has come before. Instead of dwelling on what is falling away, we are invited to contemplate the way forward.
This Moon certainly does bring the potential for heated emotions and some kind of clearing of the air! It is important to be mindful of our reactions during this time, as we may find ourselves more easily triggered than usual. However, if we need to find some courage then this could be a very helpful Moon indeed. There are many different planetary energies in the cosmic soup right now, pulling us one way and another, including Uranus in Taurus which is bringing up collective trauma around survival. It is so easy to feel fearful at the moment, for a myriad of reasons, and fear can so easily bring up defensive and angry reactions. It is important, especially during this Moon, to watch ourselves and remain as mindful and self-aware as possible. Sometimes righteous anger is very helpful to motivate us towards brave, positive and constructive action and help us to confront difficult issues. Sometimes, however, knee jerk reactions can be incredibly destructive and do more harm than good. While an Aries Moon can bring the warrior out in us, so that we jump off the proverbial cliff or charge into battle, the Libra Sun reminds us that things might not be as black and white as they seem and that sometimes it’s better to find the middle ground. Above all, we must be kind.
Much Love
Amy
xoxo
Picture: Unknown