We have come around to yet another Full Moon in a few days time, perfecting on 25th September for most of the globe, but late on 24th for those of you in the Americas or any territory west of the Atlantic. This is a significant lunation, as it will occur at 1.59 Aries and thus within a couple of degrees from the very start of the zodiac. This cardinal point of the chart hints at new beginnings and journeys begun, however as ever with the planets things will not be as simple as this seems.
A full Moon as ever brings revelations to the fore, being the end of a cycle where the light reflected from the Sun off of the Moon is at it's maximum as our two most significant bodies oppose each other. There is a conflict of interests as the energy we express is opposed by our emotional needs, and with Sun (male) opposed to the Moon (female) it is a natural time when tensions are raised between the sexes as situations that have been brewing finally come to light. Across the Libra to Aries axis, relationship requirements (Libra) and individual needs (Aries) are also due to be pulled into the conflict zone, and we may find the pull to go it alone and do our own thing causing problems for a partner or someone with whom we have obligations to, as our personal needs go against the interests of theirs. To expand out this theme, we may see or experience differences of opinion where we want to act whereas our partner wants to sit on the fence or we are forthright and possibly aggressive/hasty whereas they urge diplomacy and a "wait and see approach". I am sure in your life that you will recognise the signs of potential issues that are looming into full view linked to these kind of themes.
Any Full Moon situation will also be influenced by the planets that have a direct impact on it as well as be coloured by the other aspect that are in force as it occurs. In this the sky is very busy as the Moon completes this cycle. It will be in a close conjunction with Chiron the wounder and healer at 0.02 degrees Aries just about to regress back into Pisces, and it will be square to Saturn, the great limiter and teacher of lessons and opposed to Mercury, the planet of communication and information. So what can we expect from an Aries Full Moon linked to these planets? Well Chiron opens out painful situations that often hark back many years to much earlier experiences, things that we were born to deal with, and have always had problems in handling. Often the solution to the situation is by taking radical and often maverick steps, in effect taking the crazy option to break free of perennial hurt. The Moon and Chiron both being in Aries do suggest that this is a serious option this time around, however the potential to be headstrong, wilful and do something without realising the consequences will be very tempting. This full Moon suggests to me the initial card of any Tarot set, depicting the Fool. He steps out without fear or trepidation, acting out of impulse and "joie de vivre" unaware of the pitfalls that lay ahead, decisions prompted out of a need to banish the failures or wounds of the past.
The opposition to Mercury again brings in matters of the past. Moon opposition to Mercury aspects are linked to decisions, agreements and contracts drawn up beforehand, that now have to be resolved or thrashed out. There is emotional involvement through words spoken or things either written or communicated and there could be a conflict of interests as to what we have agreed to against what we want to do now. Meetings now held may be less than easy to resolve, and things said or communicated may hurt as we wish to take a direct line whereas we are being urged to agree to someone else's point of view.
Also putting it's own authoritarian head above the parapet to urge us to think again will be Saturn. Here is crotchety depressive old Father Time, hounding and criticizing any actions that we carry out, warning us to slow down, be more conservative and less dynamic. Regulations or restrictions may hamper our progress or we may be threatened with sanctions if we carry on down the route that we wish to travel. We may be shut out of joint agreements or relationship situations if we act alone, or impositions may levied on us if we don't tow the line. There is a sense of go it alone and you will face serious consequences, and remember this Saturn is strong, conservative and authoritarian sitting in Capricorn. It is an influence that we dare not annoy or ignore. Therein lies the dilemma of this full Moon, and the full Moon being a pure opposition does pose us a choice; a stark one where we either bow down to choices that we have agreed to in the past, or strike out in a brand new and yet uncertain future.
The Full Moon being in Aries leads me to look at the ruler of that sign, Mars. The position of Mars being in the sign of Aquarius closely conjunct to the South Node and being square to Uranus and also to Venus very much echoes the picture that we are seeing through the Full Moon picture. Mars in Aquarius urges us to take a bold and different line, it urges us to shock and surprise and to be very stubborn in the way that we act. Our view will yet be very open and inclusive, looking to a universal solution to situations rather than limiting ourselves to a narrow and constricted outcome. The need to experiment and try a different option is very strong within Mars in Aquarius, but we may get too fixated on our direction of travel once we have made up our mind what to do.
The South Node again hints to things that we know and are comfortable with, and there is a danger in our haste to go it alone that we may fall into a trap of our own making. Mars linked to the South Node may convince us that by going back to something that we understand and like, the grass may be greener on the other side. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we need to do is find unique and special ideas and solutions to situations that we may never have considered before, and not rest on our laurels that relationships and people that we are comfortable with, and plans that we have used in the past will work for us successfully in the future. The world is constantly evolving and moving forward, and now peril lies in being stuck in the past. Innovation is the key, so in taking the bull by the horns and trying something new you may be taking a risk, but maybe it is the way to go now? The planets say that this is indeed the case. Venus debilitated and in detriment in Scorpio as well as being in the shadow zone before she goes retrograde next month is making relationship situations more difficult. Strain may be being placed on all partnerships now, and any ties that are not solid and strong may be put to the ultimate test in October and November. It may well be the case that focusing on your needs at the expense of others will be the choice that you are impelled to follow.
Why is this? Well, for the past year or so, the North Node has been showing us all the way sitting in Leo, the sign of individuality and creative spirit, and this will continue until mid November when the axis of the nodes shifts into Cancer (North) and Capricorn (South). As a result, any brand new decisions pushing forward our own agenda as against those linked to others will be favoured until that moment.
So, as you may appreciate, this Aries full Moon in the next week or so may prove to be a significant signpost to all of our futures. Do you act now to correct the mistakes of the past? Will you go the radical route and in doing so take on all of the risks that this implies? As it is Saturn is making it's last close trine to Uranus before this aspect dissipates as the year ends, giving us a final opportunity to move on and update many old and worn out structures that hinder our progress. Do we trust our own judgement and ignore the doom mongers who warn of us the consequences of going it alone? If we do, then the road ahead will not be easy, and there may be many obstacles that we will have to overcome. Are you ready for a challenge? Are you brave, foolhardy, or weak and too cautious? All of these questions and more will be answered in the coming weeks...
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