Full moon in aries, 16th October 2016

Hello! We are mid-way through beautiful October, and here in the north of England, autumn is starting to show itself. The annual full moon in Aries takes place this year on 16th October @ 05.23am (UK time). The Sun in Libra stands opposite Moon/Uranus in Aries, which certainly is a highly charged, potentially explosive combination (in both positive or negative ways). Moon and Uranus together can make situations feel unstable, disruptive, and emotionally unsettled. But it can also be about emotional breakthroughs, positive change, and independence that gets to the heart of who we are and how we want to relate with others.

Electric attraction is sparking chemistry in relationships like it hasn’t for some time, so sudden or unexpected romance, or love at first sight, is just as likely as sudden 'bolt from the blue' break-ups. 

Sun in Libra has a keen sense of justice and fairness, and impulsive Aries leaps into action without a second thought (without a first thought if intuitive Uranus is added to the mix), to redress the balance.

We also have the very powerful Mercury in Libra square to Mars/Pluto in Capricorn. Mercury (logic and communication), Mars (action and momentum) and Pluto (powerful transformation) can also indicate an explosive combination and huge releases of energy. Mars and Pluto standing together hold huge power, and therefore huge potential for power struggles between people. It’s also an indicator of bottling things up, and any full moon seems to pop the cork on certain situations that have been building up (this one is maybe more likely than others)

Communication needs lots of self-awareness; lots of ‘being the bigger person’. Give benefit of the doubt repeatedly in order to dispel power struggles within yourself about others, and your relationship with others. And to stop the negative judgements from killing your peace and harmony and locking you out of your own heart centre (which is the most bleak place in the universe to be).

Most of us are not in positions of power that we can instantly make decisions that affect huge sways of people, so all we have is our own individual inner peace and harmony that we can control. Luckily it’s all we need. Our own corner of the world is where we can impact and influence... not via manipulation or pressure on others, but via our own self balance. This is what the Aries/Libra axis is all about.

I don’t know about you, but I have been feeling this potent full moon energy building for a few days now. It’s a full on full moon for sure, looking at the planet patterns. Which means it takes some focus and determination to get the best from it, but oh the rewards are great for doing so.

So unless things have been going totally swimmingly in all areas of your life for a while, it’s more than likely that any area not flowing and going 100% how you want it too has become harder to ignore this week… the obstacles, the brick walls, the delays, the wading through treacle, the aches and pains…. it all FEELS more intense during a full moon like this one, making you more restless, more sensitive or touchy and over-reactive.

It’s because full moons work like emotional amplifiers. If you’ve been doing a lot of thinking (focusing) about what you don’t want, and dealing with things you don’t want to deal with in certain areas, the resistance, or the pushing against it all, is MUCH more tangible right now.

BUT the sweet healing power of a full moon is that it’s GUIDANCE – all that emotional amplification means you get to see exactly where you would do well to ‘reset your mindset’ to something more positive, open, life-affirming, YOU-affirming. Something less judgemental, less rigid, less critical. Don’t underestimate the power of your mindset. How you think and feel regularly about things, is how things turn out, everytime. A little bit of open-heartedness and open-mindedness goes an awful long way during this full moon period, opening doors for miracles and marvels to manifest.

Happy full moon in Aries! 

Full Moon In Virgo

This years full moon in Virgo (11th March @ 2.40am GMT) happens right on that Saturn/Uranus opposition that's been hanging around since last November. While the alignment of Saturn/Uranus isn't exact at the moment, this moon sort of fills in the gaps of the degrees and pulls it together again, focusing and amplifying the energy through full moon-esque events.

I was pondering with furrowed brow what a Virgo full moon-esque event might look like, then got distracted by a sudden need to bleach the bathroom grouting with a toothbrush. Which is so utterly Virgo it's not funny (especially the furrowed brow ponder while doing so). Then I decided I must ask my four-planets-including-Saturn-in-Virgo friend about painting my living room (he'd pointed out all my patchy paintwork and offered to finish the job properly, and now all I can see is my patchy paintwork), but was interupted by my Virgo relative who phoned all wired and excited to say she was going to see a psychic to attempt to contact her deceased father, and she felt it was going to be 'electrifying' (Sun/Uranus in Pisces). So though I couldn't see for looking, the energy is there and flowing, and I do get the sense there might be a rather a lot of over-stimulated, jangled nerves about, especially with Virgo and Pisces.

Also, for me and a lot of Pluto in Virgo generation this Saturn/Uranus opposition is hitting Pluto in the chart. Pluto is about trust versus control in situations, so you can add that into the mix of moon energies if applicable, as well as a thought I had the other day about the Virgo eclipse of mid-September 2007. I remember it because it happened around my Pluto in Virgo degree... but I just have a feeling that because this full moon is so close to that spot, with Saturn right on that eclipse degree, it's going to be echoing events from around that time somehow, or breaking a stalemate feeling, or moving things on, or amplifying that eclipse theme in a Saturn sort of way... oh the possibilities are endless; so if you notice this in your experience at the moment, do share with a comment. Anyhoo, back to me grouting :)

Friday Full Moon In Capricorn

Full moon energy often feels like an uneasiness, a restlessness or a building tension because it heightens emotional awareness, and with Capricorn being the sign of the builder, of stress and tension, weighty issues, and of planning ahead (from the influence of ruling planet Saturn), don't be surprised if that feeling is around strongly in advance.

Full moons are noted for bringing events to a head, for breaking stalemates, or marking changes in direction, because this heightened awareness makes it nigh on impossible to ignore feelings. It's much more difficult to stuff down emotions and tolerate unwanted or unsatisfying circumstances during peak moments in the lunar cycle, which is why I believe the emergency services are busier at these times trying to deal with those on emotional overload (see what the police had to say about it last year here).

Capricorn is linked to the public sector and today marked the beginning of 'the biggest strike in years' in the UK, of disgruntled council workers, teachers, librarians, and driving examiners to name but a few (link). Jupiter (events on a grand scale) in Capricorn is an influence here (opposing Mercury); as well as Saturn in Virgo which is still in aspect to Mars in the full moon chart. Saturn = strike, Mars = action. And Virgo? well, who is responsible for collecting my rubbish now please? It had to be my day for putting me bins out didn't it...

Part two is here

Sun In Taurus, Full Moon In Scorpio, Mars And Jupiter Opposition

Oh it's all happening at the mo. More than can fit comfortably in the title, because it's also the first of two full moons in Scorpio; first one today (20th April) just as the sun is moving into the sign of Taurus, and second one is 20th May, just as the sun is leaving Taurus.

Full moon in Scorpio happens every year around this time, but it's not standard astro procedure to have two moons in any sign, never mind Scorps (full moon happens when sun stands opposite moon, so to find which sign the full moon is in for any month, check what sign the sun is in, and the moon will standing 180 degrees away at some time in it's monthly cycle)...so really, the 20th May moon is a kind of zodiacal blue moon, which means the folklore metaphor applies: it's a time for things happening that don't happen very often, or at all, and these blue moon type events are building or unfolding from this current lunar energy right now and over the coming weeks.

The two full moons gives situations a strong Scorpio/Taurus theme for the next month, so for example there would be a polarity pendulum swing, or a 'to be or not to be' thing going on with:

SCORPIO/TAURUS =
letting go/holding on
going through a point of no return/unwilling to shift on an issue
what is hidden and concealed/what is touchy-feelingly obvious
hidden treasure/available income
trust/control
trust/value
unknown/known
your stuff/my stuff
endings/everything stays the same

Added to this mix is Mars, co-ruling planet of Scorpio, about to stand opposite Jupiter, in the signs of Cancer (emotions) and Capricorn (boundaries). It's another polarity to blend:

MARS OPPOSITE JUPITER
passion/expansion
action/increase
intentions/upliftment
desire/faith, hope and optimism

Mars is also in dynamic alignment with Venus, ruler of Taurus:
VENUS/MARS=
value/desire
worth/passion
balance/action
yin/yang

You can also mix and match the keywords for Mars/Jupiter/Venus together too...

and if THAT wasn't enough, how about throwing in the fabulous grand trine aspect between Sun, Saturn and Pluto that is part of the full moon pattern...

SUN/SATURN/PLUTO =
being self/authority/trust
shining out/allowing or disallowing/trust,
creativity/limits/unknown
heart of the matter/timing/conceal or reveal

And if THAT wasn't enough, the new moon (new phase) in Taurus on 5th May takes place at 15 degrees, which indicates it's the astrological Beltane (May Day), one of the important calendar dates in the Wheel of the Year, when energy is in full flow through the shifting of the seasons.

But lots to play with over the coming weeks means there's plenty to enjoy...

A 4th House Story And A Full Moon In Cancer

Don't know about you but my December has whizzed by in a Saturn in Virgo style flurry of lists, commitments and stuff to sort, as well as a waving off of old stuff and welcoming in of new stuff, and in trying to suss my damaged internet connection... Amy Winehouse has been a more reliable performer than my net connection of late, which along with a continuing saga of various housing situation issues (noisy neighbours, grrrr) meant I've been able to spend even less time than usual writing this blog than I would like.

Transformation planet Pluto hit the base of my chart, my 4th house, a couple of years ago (4th house rules comfort zone, home and family, what's private, personal and very emotionally driven, just like its ruling planet, the moon), and it has been a bit of an intense emotional rollercoaster since then to say the least. Pluto has been in opposition to my Mercury/MC combo at the highest point of my chart, which has manifested as a constant challenge of whether home/personal stuff or work/outside world stuff wins my attention. And months ago I spotted the pile-up of planets that were due to congregate around Pluto at this time of the year and eyed it with trepidation, wondering what on earth else might be about to manifest in this 4th house mix as a result of the Sagittarius sun, expansion planet Jupiter (my 4th house ruler), and communication planet Mercury mingling and merging with the Pluto energy.

I've worked with astrology long enough to know that any energy, no matter how intense looking can express positively, yet it still felt bizarre last week, when with utter synchronicity, right in the heart of all the swooshing busyness, a perfect and peaceful new place for me to live appeared from apparently nowhere (on the day Jupiter moved into Capricorn), transforming everything in my situation including my faith, in a Pluto moment. I've always been into the 'create your own reality' approach of the Law of Attraction philosophy, but what I'd found difficult was not the idea that we are each the creator of our own reality, but the challenge of holding faith long enough toward a preferred vision of the future for positive thinking to get going a snowball-down-mountain type momentum and expansion.

How to think positively when you've already got yourself in a real negative situation is always the dilemma; how to hold the dream while reality keeps biting. Well it can't be done overnight that's for sure, but there's nothing like a stellium in the sign of Sagittarius to help be buoyant enough to rise high above 'reality' and realise that reality is built on belief, and so is as transient and pliable as belief itself.

And now the Solstice is upon us, serving as a cosmic timer for significant turning points, and it means there's a change of mood afoot. Here in the northern hemisphere, Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the sun's journey through earthy Capricorn. This year it is joined by expansion-orientated Jupiter; and during the early hours of Christmas Eve here in the UK the sun in Capricorn stands opposite moon in Cancer, indicating a full moon. With Mars close to the moon on one side of the zodiac, and Pluto still close to sun/Jupiter/Mercury on the other side, it all spells tension as the energies pull against each other. But while I'm gritting my teeth having to write this through my neighbour's endless repeat drivel of overly loud bad-taste power ballads on a hi-fi that only seems to work to its full capacity very late at night, by the end of January I'm outta here, which makes the anticipation of change a real tension breaker.

Change and transition is such a big theme of late 2007 and early 2008; it's everywhere you look, and the mood has now moved from the recent promise of Sagittarius to the anticipation of commitment in Capricorn. Where Sag was about huge leaps of faith, Cap is the next known small step, so Capricorn is easier to handle in that respect; but it's also the sign of great expectations, and apparently the universe delivers experience according to our expectations of it. Therefore this full moon might be a good time to look at expectations of experiences ahead, increasing a feeling of deservability accordingly if low levels are sighted.

Full Moon In Taurus And Comet Holmes

Way back in 1892, two days after the annual full moon in Taurus, a comet was spotted by Edwin Holmes after its brightness increased significantly, making it more noticeable in the skies. Now 115 years later and two days before this year’s full moon in Taurus (UK time = 26th Oct @ 6am), it suddenly and unexpectedly expanded in brightness again, moving from being an under-achieving, average Joe in the luminosity ladder to being one of its fastest rising stars, plucking it out of astronomy obscurity faster than a reality-show contestant can say ‘overnight success’ (story here)

So what’s that all about then? Is it simply referring to the reappearance of the utterly luminescent reality-show winner, singer Leona Lewis with her newly released single, the darkly Scorpio/Taurus themed ‘Bleeding Love’ (You cut me open and I keep bleeding love!!)? Or is there something more? (And something more than being headed for those doom and gloom predictions that comet astrologers of old invested so heavily in, as I have really had it up to here with irritating apocalyptic predictions, it’s all SO 1999)

Along with the smooth as a sports car synchronicity of the Taurus full moon link-up spanning 115 years, it was the quick and unexpected change in the comet’s appearance that got my attention, because Uranus, planet of sudden, unusual, and unpredictable movement is currently opposed to Venus, the planet that rules Taurus, (and therefore a VIP planet for this full moon chart), while Jupiter, the planet of increase and optimism, sits at right angles to both Venus/Uranus.

But not only that, the comet is located in the constellation of Perseus, the mythical Greek action hero responsible for rescuing his future bride Andromeda from the clutches of some terrible sea monster while on his journey to slay scary snake-haired Medusa. Perseus is the ultimate swashbuckling romantic hero (very Mars in Cancer), and is portrayed as the emotionally driven Knight of Cups in the Mythic Tarot, because the authors saw a strong similarity to the arms-length idealising of women that medieval knights favoured . According to the Mythic Tarot description “Perseus is different from other heroes precisely because of this high idealism and worship of women”. Not sure about that, but it's certainly all very Venusian and rather lunar too, especially the lunar earth of Taurus opposing the deep waters of Scorpio; and weirdly the Perseus/Andromeda story seems to be playing out in the full moon line-up of planets. Taken from this translation of Ovid, here's the meeting of Perseus and Andromeda:

"As soon as Perseus saw Andromeda's arms bound to the rocky cliffs--he might have thought her a marble statue, save that the light breeze ruffled her hair and a slow tear dripped from her eye--he felt the fires of love. He gaped, so taken by the beauty of her form that he almost forgot to beat the air with his wings. Hovering he cried, "O, you shouldn't be bound with these chains but rather with the bonds that link lovers! Tell me your name, your nation, and why you are shackled here!"

At first the maiden said nothing, embarrassed to answer a strange man. She would have hidden her modest face in her hands had they not been bound. Her eyes were free; they brimmed with tears.

Finally after many false starts, afraid that it would seem her silence was hiding her own crimes, she told him her name and her country and explained that she was chained here because her mother had so boasted of her beauty. Before she could finish the story, the waves thundered and an oncoming beast towered over the great sea, hiding the waters beneath its breast".

Isn't the sheer optimism of Perseus, in his willingness to take on the 'impossible' task and heroic journey of slaying Medusa, more than a bit Jupiter in Sagittarius? and then there's the modest maiden (Venus in Virgo) reaching for freedom from the sea monster unleashed by Poseidon (Uranus in Pisces). Turns out this full moon theme unexpectedly has Perseus meeting Andromeda, via the slaying of Scorpio type she-devil's, written all over it.



There's more on the comet here, and from Lynn Hayes here,
on the astrology of comets here,
and more about the myth of Perseus here , and here.

The Full Moon Effect - It's Official!

“When you try to reason with people on a full moon they become more aggressive and less rational... When you try to reason with them on a full moon they become more argumentative.”

So says Inspector Andy Parr of Sussex police, who, after researching lunar cycles and violent crime has found enough evidence of a link to warrant extra officers on patrol during full moons and new moons. (read story here)

The Full Moon In Libra On 2nd April...

...takes place around 6.15pm UK time, but the energy builds up gradually during the preceding days, and slowly lessens after that. Full moon energy is sometimes tangible as a heaviness or tension in the air, and situations can hold the tension within them, much like our bodies storing up stress. Because of this, a full moon can also indicate a turning point in a situation - a release of energy leading to change we’ve been working towards for some time.

The moon in Libra stands opposite to the sun in Aries for this full moon. Libra the scales symbolises the balancing and harmonising of connections and relationships; while Aries is more self focused, on preferences, priorities, goals and agenda. These two signs are chalk and cheese in the way they can be other-orientated and self-orientated respectively, but both perspectives are necessary for true balance, and this is where the potential for tension comes in, as the Aries path gets rather more bad press than the Libra way in our society, being associated with behaviour labelled undesirable and selfish.

Recently I chose to end a friendship (with good cause from my point of view, of course). My friend told me I was wrong to end our friendship, as it meant I was ‘too conditional’, and ‘not unconditional enough’. It wasn’t the evolved thing to do, apparently, and in her eyes, placed me firmly at the lower end of the spiritual spectrum, along with Ouija boards and Jackie Stallone’s buttock divinations.

Happily, I have both moon and north node in Aries, so remained unconvinced that my relationship with Divine Universal Life Force could be either enhanced or diminished, as a result of me acting in a way that made her feel better about her world. But there’s lots of thinking out there that supports her argument, and not just in so called spiritual thinking, it's everywhere; most recognisable as the ‘You Would If You Loved Me’ school of thought.

So for me, the annual full moon in Libra indicates the chance to become aware of how our need to be liked and loved by others is impacting our current agenda, or the set of intentions designed to hold us in alignment with our true Self. Because choosing to follow whatever makes us feel more in alignment with ourselves is non-negotiable in my book, and is something I wish for each and everyone everywhere, unconditionally.

Full Moon Eclipse In Virgo On 3rd March

Along with the new moon eclipse (next one is in Pisces in a couple of weeks), full moon eclipses symbolise trends and themes that are important in our lives for months, sometimes years to come. It's always a double event when it happens - one full moon, one new moon - and there's always 2 sets of eclipses a year that run in cycles through the signs.

We're in the season of the Virgo/Pisces cycle of eclipses at the moment. It's easy to tell which season we're in, by checking the sign the north and south nodes of the moon are moving through, because when a full or new moon falls within about 10 degrees of the nodes, you have an eclipse (find out more about moon nodes here)

All eclipses have the potential to be powerful, but this one on 3rd March caught my attention as I like to look to the planets that rule the north/south node signs for more information on the ways the eclipse will manifest and express; in this case Mercury, ruler of Virgo, is currently in a retrograde phase, while Jupiter and Neptune, rulers of Pisces, are both on important journeys of their own.

Jupiter (expansion) is squaring the north/south node axis (square = dynamic, challenging, stressful), which might give a feeling of being at crossroads, or having a choice to make about direction, especially regarding the past v future. Neptune of course, is currently still close within its second of three oppositions with Saturn that take place over 2006/7, and I wrote this post about the potential in that aspect, during the first hit last summer.

Onto the actual sun/moon relationship that is the centre of the energy in any eclipse, and the sun in Pisces stands opposite moon in Virgo, which means it's a full moon, and any full moon symbolises a turning point, a change of pace or direction. The build-up of energy as the planets pull against each other can often be felt as tension or restlessness, and it’s this energy that pushes situations towards change. With moon in Virgo there might be the feeling that there's been enough analysis of a situation and it's time to go with flow, in a move from linear to non-linear based thinking. Or maybe you've decided you've experienced enough criticism and not enough compassion, especially from your inner critic. Maybe you feel you've had it up to here with 'to do' lists. Whatever it is you'll recognise it in your urge to shout ENOUGH! No More!

During this full moon, the sun and Uranus are close together in Pisces, which is another important piece of this eclipse picture, and another potent symbol for change. Uranus is known for its unpredictability and the tendency to turn situations on a sixpence, in the twinkling of an eye. It’s a planet that is often called The Awakener, due to its ability to offer sudden clarity and flashes of inspiration, but also quite literally with its over-stimulating effect on the nervous system that can lead to insomnia and wide-eyed caffeine-style highs.

The moon in opposition to Uranus will most likely increase the feeling of restlessness that characterises the full moon experience, as well as lowering the tolerance level to feeling trapped or bored in a situation, but it can also carry an uncompromising energy with it, that can be refreshing and supportive to those in need of reconnection with Self. This is because Uranus champions the true nature of an individual, while having little interest in helping accommodate square pegs in round holes.

Remembering that the eclipse period indicates events with long-lasting, far-reaching effects, it looks like the symbolism of this planetary picture shows this is where 2007 starts to get interesting.

Full Moon In Cancer 3rd January

2007 kicks off with a full on kind of Full Moon on 3rd January at around 2pm GMT, when the Moon in comfort-zone craving Cancer stands in exact opposition to the Sun in duty-bound Capricorn. This is an annual occurrence, and part of the solar/lunar cycle we’re all naturally attuned to on the deepest levels, but the question is how best to tap this current energy and work consciously with it?

A Full Moon in any sign can lead to an emotional shift or turning point of some sort, often arising from an ever-increasing tension around an issue that there’s suddenly no escaping. The tension is symbolised by the Sun and Moon positioned at opposite ends of the zodiac, 180 degrees apart, each expressing according to the nature of the particular sign they both occupy.

The Moon rules the sign of Cancer, emphasising the focus on all emotional attachments. The emotional ties can be with anything from actual home and family bonds, to our most familiar friends, as well as routines and habits, and memories and nostalgia for old faces and forgotten places. Meanwhile the Sun in Capricorn speaks of responsibility, duty, maturity and authority. It's all about expectations and demands, terms and conditions, as well as creativity through timing, planning, progress and discipline.

Mix and match these or similar keywords for your personal Full Moon theme. My theme is about a habit I know I have to break. A few months ago, I started smoking again after over two years smoke free. My excuse was the stress of my current living circumstances - I live right on a very busy crossroads, where the traffic literally shakes the walls and rattles the pots and pans. As well as this, I have a noisy neighbour who plays music every night. And I mean EVERY night!

Alternative accommodation is hard to find where I live, but I have a potential new place just perfect for me, that I first heard about last March (on the day of the solar eclipse in Aries!), and I'm just waiting for the call to say it's mine. But it’s been a long wait! And I started smoking again in a misguided attempt to cope with the relentless stress and pressure of the constant noise and disturbance.

So here I am feeling at odds (Full Moon) with this habit (Moon/Cancer), versus the need to get real (Capricorn) and admit smoking is a coping mechanism that isn’t working, having only really brought a new stress all of its own. I've taken the first step and bought my nicotine chewing gum, but haven't had the guts to set the date yet. As far as the astrology goes, I’m well aware this is a great time to be planning to break a habit, as Uranus is in strong and supportive aspect to the Full Moon, and in my own chart the South Node of the Moon is currently crossing my natal Pluto (old habits dying hard!).

Thanks to astrology, I'm also aware that the best way to deal with the at-odds feeling of conflict and opposition is to not push against the feelings that are brought up. I know at some point very soon I'm going to have to feel those nicotine cravings through without resisting by lighting up another cig.

So wish me luck! And I wish you the same if the Full Moon is raising your interest in making a resolution or two...