Full Moon in Aquarius — article

On Aug. 15th, at 8:29am EDT, the Full Moon becomes exact in almost 22.5 degrees of Aquarius. The Moon in freedom-loving, forward-thinking Aquarius opposes the Sun in fun-loving, expressive Leo. If you are already a Member of my online community, you can click here to watch my video about this Full Moon 😉

Two planets are Stationing at the the time of this Full Moon, and are therefore more exalted: Jupiter in Sagittarius (i.e. in its own sign), and Uranus in Taurus (the modern ruler of Aquarius). Both of these planets change direction on Aug. 11th, with Jupiter going direct after a 4-month retrograde phase, and Uranus starting its 5-month retrograde phase.

We will talk in more details about both of these planetary shifts in my next Forecasting Forum on Aug. 15th. Feel free to join us live, or register to get the mp4-video presentation of this webinar, to see how these Station phases are impacting you personally.

But first, let’s talk about this Full Moon:
The Sun in Leo conjuncts Venus and Mars, so the Moon in Aquarius opposes this Stellium in Leo; this highlights the power of our individual creativity and the exponential potency of collaboration. Each of us is invited to reclaim ourselves, and add our voice, heart, and hands to something that has meaning for us.

Leo symbolizes the embodiment of heart-centered consciousness — the expression of our own individual light, unique gifts, and inner spark of the divine — while on the other hand, Aquarius symbolizes the power of community and collaboration to bring about a common vision.

When we align our head with our heart, we feel our interconnectedness with all of humanity, and we create and connect from love instead of fear. Given that Leo represents our individual self-expression and Aquarius our vision for humankind, a question is raised: How can we best achieve a balance between these two energies? Or perhaps even an integration?

For the next two weeks, we’ll be looking for answers to this question, as we become more aware that something is out of alignment.

Even the brightest of Full Moons has a shadow side — so let’s take a look at the shadow of both signs involved in this Full Moon — and please note that the shadow side of any sign is usually not as comfortable to look at or easy to embrace… As always with shadow aspects of ourselves, we need to beware of getting triggered or jumping to conclusions; we need to make sure we take time to respond rather than react.

Which is very apropos to the talk I gave last weekend at the “Fresh Voices in Astrology Summit”. This event featured 12 talks from 12 different astrologers — and you can purchase an “All Access Pass” and get recordings of each session, for roughly $10 per topic. Click here for more info — and if you who attended live, please email me, so I can send you the “React vs. Respond” handout I used in my talk.

Back to the shadow sides of this Full Moon — let’s start with Leo’s shadow side, since we currently have a Stellium in Leo:
Leo’s shadow can show up as…

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Leo’s shadow can show up as self-centeredness or narcissism — picture a child that can’t see beyond itself, is not aware of other people in the room, and cannot see past the moment to the consequences down the line.

Ask yourself: If I’m completely honest, have I ever created drama when I couldn’t see a way to possess what I desire? Might this even be showing up right now, during this Full Moon cycle? Where in my life do I take things too personally? Where do I tend to be self-indulgent? What role does pride play?

In order to develop a healthy connection to our inner child, we must learn to keep an open heart and let ourselves be playful and creative; we must also learn to express our needs and desires, so we can have open, authentic conversations with other people. This requires courage and self-confidence.

Since Leo represents our individual expression, individual creativity, the unique light we came to shine, and the unique form of joy we came to spread, you may want to ask yourself: What might open up if I expressed myself with my heart as my center? What if I expressed myself with 5% more courage? What might my world look like if I allowed my light to shine just 5% brighter?

Now let’s look at Aquarius’s shadow side: this can show up when we get overly attached to the mind and its functions, especially idealized visions, rigid thinking about the future, etc. “Headiness” kicks in and the mind’s activity goes to an all-time high. The shadow side of Aquarius may hold lofty ideals, but leave us unaware how we ourselves must “be the change we wish to see in the world” — instead, we want others to be that change 😉

The classic setup here sees us disconnecting from our inner moment-to-moment joy for the sake of improving our future, “humanity”, or “the world at large” — the latter two stem from Aquarius’s association with group-consciousness and group-mind.

We might also shy away from standing out, from a fear of rejection or ostracism, so ask yourself (and be really honest with yourself here): How have I avoided following my heart so I can follow the crowd? What might I do differently if I gave 5% less energy to fears of ridicule or rejection?

Sometimes we react to those fears by striking out in an opposite direction. If you sometimes identify as a “black sheep”, rebel, or someone who is so different that you can never belong… ask yourself: could I let go of that persona? Maybe just for right now, to see what it might be like? What if the level of my personal power was simply given by the size of the heart that I bring to the collective (or any kind of group experience)?

As mentioned earlier, we are invited to balance and integrate the two polarities involved — the head/intellect represented by Aquarius and the heart-expression associated with Leo — we are, in fact, invited to merge them to bring about a brighter future for humankind, so ask yourself: What would it look like if I gave permission for that merger? What if I chose, right here and now, to contribute to humanity from a courageous, heart-centered, and authentic place? What if I simply chose that, right now?

This also means it’s important to be especially aware and responsible when connecting with others; as best as you can, get present and ask yourself: What am I bringing forth? What are my intentions? Am I coming from love (heart) or fear (survival)?

In February, 2017, we had a Lunar Eclipse in 22.5 degrees of Leo-Aquarius. Since this month’s Full Moon lands on the same degree, with the same polarity, we may want to think back to Feb. 2017, and ask: What came up for me then around my heart-energies or creative self-expression? Around making a difference out there in the world? Around belonging to a larger group-consciousness?

What was important in my life back then? What was shifting or changing? What is cycling back around now, either for completion, or to progress to the next level?

Now let’s take a look at some of the aspects of this Full Moon chart:
Let’s first take a look at what Saturn (the traditional ruler of Aquarius) is doing: At the time of the Full Moon, Saturn, the South Node, and Pluto are almost completely conjunct in Capricorn, sextiling Neptune in Pisces. The Sextile provides a particularly potent opportunity to bring an intuitive and creative approach to building the various foundations in our lives — both individually and collectively.

It asks us to relate to our long-term goals in a loving, kind manner — softening our approach perhaps, releasing rigid “shoulds” and any obligations not aligned with our highest calling. With the South Node in Capricorn as well, it is important for us to take breaks, or at least slow down and allow ourselves to tune in; it’s also important to stay grounded. Given all this, seek out tools or people that help you perform a truthful exploration of your abilities and limitations.

Ask yourself: What feels toxic or destructive in my current reality? What might I discover if I was authentic and truthful about what I want to build long-term, and where my starting point currently is? Could it perhaps be useful to release any fears of scarcity and resulting distrust?

We have a unique opportunity right now to more deeply trust our inner processes, while also allowing the Universe/Source/our Higher Selves to step in and guide us as we individually and collectively build structures that support something sustainable and long-lasting. What does this look like for you? How might you contribute to the collective version of that effort?

In the same spirit, we are also asked to focus on quality over quantity, sustainability over novelty or speed, ease over force. Questions you can ask yourself here: What structures might support my emotional/intuitive well-being? What could I manifest if I was simply present in the now-moment to all the energies inside and around me? What would my starting point be then?

Let’s take a look at what Uranus (the modern ruler of Aquarius) is up to: Uranus in 6.5º of Taurus, exalted and retrograde at the time of the Full Moon, squares Mercury in Leo: This aspect creates some tension in our lives; we may feel anxious or stressed by a situation involving financial stability, personal creativity, or self-expression. We’re also being called to reevaluate our use of technology and and its potential to connect or isolate.

Our minds may prefer things to be joyful, fun, playful, and expressive — but at the same time we feel a great desire for financial or practical progress and breakthroughs. The tension between these two desires could leave us irritable, mainly because we also tend to take things quite personally right now; the best way to manage this is to channel some of that nervous, irritable energy into constructive pursuits: as best as you can, reinvent yourself!

That said, expect the unexpected, plan on disruptions, revelations and breakthroughs — for the next two weeks, the best mind is an open mind. As best as you can, go with the flow, staying open to the new and unexpectedly different. One thing to ask here is: Could I allow whatever is happening to stimulate new approaches?

As you can perhaps imagine, this is not a time to make major decisions, especially if they are hasty 😉 Rather than jumping to conclusions, get grounded in the here and now; the classic mindfulness technique of bringing awareness to your breath is a good way to do this.

The Mercury/Uranus Square also has us looking at our individual and collective values, to see what needs to be more fully integrated when it comes to realistic innovation and “forward-thinking” in our lives. It also brings our attention to anything that needs to change if we are to fully step into a future in which we honor ourselves as individuals while bringing our gifts and talents to the collective, and thereby implement the progress that we ideally seek for this world.

Ask yourself: What radical changes in my life are waiting to be integrated into tangible, real, physical form?

Accepting each other’s differences is going to be challenging for the next 2 weeks, as we all have different values, and those values create our preferences and determine our comfort zone. Ask yourself: How could I take those differences less personally? How might I honor my own differences without making other’s wrong?

In general, Squares to Uranus require a major shift in our priorities and strategies: sudden changes and even radical breaks with the past are possible right now, potentially shaking us out of stagnant patterns. Ask yourself: Where might a new chapter in my life be waiting to open? What ideas and insights hint at that opening?

The Sun/Venus alignment in Leo quincunxes Pluto in Capricorn. Quincunxes require that we make a subtle but significant shift in how we perceive and do things, and require an inner adjustment on our part. This Quincunx to Pluto impels us to clarify our true motivations and deal with any underlying fears that are blocking us — and as best as we can, drop any self-judgment.

Ask yourself: Am I after laughter and joy? Or the building of authentic empowerment out there in the world? When it comes to the latter… what am I most afraid of?

Chiron in Aries making a trine to Mercury in Leo represents an opportunity to blend the energies involved with less effort and resistance, opening some wonderful possibilities for active (yet easy and natural) healing around our conditioning and day-to-day thinking.

Ask yourself: What might a good dose of compassion and self-acceptance do for my inner child? How might combining forgiveness with an attitude of innocence and understanding towards myself and others support me with my triggers?

To sum it all up: A lot of us are waking up to the reality that everything is interconnected — and that life is meant to be lived from a holistic place that includes the heart, the head… in fact, all of who we are, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. This doesn’t mean we compartmentalize the uncomfortable, but rather, embrace all shadows and imperfections. You might call it “Being Human” 😉

This Full Moon shows us that there are plenty of inner processes going on — and we’re each dealing with those processes in our own way — so, as best as you can, trust that you have what it takes to make a difference for yourself and others.

When uncertain, ask to be shown your next step; and at all times, do your best to listen to your body, be extra kind to yourself and others. And always remember: If you look into your own heart and see the strength and love lying there, you can begin to reclaim yourself, remember your divinity and interdependence, choose love over fear, and lift yourself and humanity out of the old paradigm of separation and scarcity. It’s all right there, in your heart.

Ask yourself: Could I be open to the people, places, and situations that will guide me and bring me the next clue? If my mind is in doubt, could I let myself be guided by the inner sensation of joy? What role do I wish to play at this pivotal time on Earth?

If you want to learn more about this month’s Full Moon, please click here to watch my Members Full Moon video.
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Do you have your Ascendant (or any personal planets) in 20-25 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus or Scorpio? If so, you may feel the effects of this Full Moon more strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Cancer (since the Sun rules Leo and the Moon rules Cancer).