A Full Moon of Recognition for Ongoing Transformation

Saturday afternoon's Full Moon in Sagittarius, with the Sun opposed and newly entered into Gemini, is another in the series of powerful lunations that we have been seeing during recent months. This again stresses the outer planets and the profound life changes that these promote, changes that are in the works for most of us during the course of this rather potent year. The Full Moon conjuncts retrograde Mars and is coincident with the station of retrograde Mercury to direct motion the very next day. Saturday's Full Moon configuration is accompanied by Mercury's slowing down to a crawl, changing to forward motion some sixteen hours later. This will be early morning on Sunday here on the West Coast and a few hours later on the East Coast or in Europe. When Mercury comes to its standstill in the sky, it makes as well a grand trine in earth signs with Jupiter and with Pluto, emphasizing a degree of optimism in our approach, as we confront transformation by looking inside ourselves for the most important answers. This positive and accepting vibration is however tempered by a feeling of restriction and caution, since Saturn is almost exactly square to Jupiter, and in close parallel with Pluto. The Sun and Moon in opposition also closely aspect Pluto, by sesquiquadrate and by semi-square. These are indeed some very intense astrological currents that we are navigating now, and we do well to keep our heads up, and our eyes on the prize, which is nothing less than a more fulfilled, joyful, and productive life once we can get past those places inside ourselves where we get stuck and hold ourselves back.

Because Pluto is so central to this configuration, we are very aware of the changes that we need to make, although not so sure about carrying through with what we know to be the case. There is plenty of Chiron energy in this configuration as well, because the placement of The Wounded Healer aspects Uranus, Eris, and Venus. This implies, especially in connection to the major life changes suggested by the Uranus-Pluto-Saturn combination, a fear of the unknown. We know what we desire, and the direction that we need to move into, and yet, still we hesitate, As Shakespeare has it, "we would rather bear those ills we have, than to fly to others that we know not of." And yet, that flight may be our only real chance for salvation. It can help to remember that while we are breathing we are in the midst of change, because life itself is change.

Then, too, in yet another piece of the complex puzzle that appears in these current skies, Uranus, Neptune, and Jupiter remain closely linked by declinational aspects, indicating that brilliant ideas are circulating within us and in the psychic spaces that we also simultaneously inhabit beyond the material realm. Uranus and Jupiter remain parallel within about half of a degree, and contra-parallel to Neptune. There could be unexpected deceptions, or self-delusions, that come to light in a more or less positive manner, or for the best, and also a strong spiritual message that runs through all of these unsettling circumstances reassuring us to trust in the universe to see us through in a way that works out for us, long-term.

The Sabian Symbols for this Full Moon give as well a hint of its intensity. They are, for the Moon, in the 2nd degree of Sagittarius, "An ocean covered with whitecaps," indicating the prodigality of the forces of nature, and the futility of resisting these when they are aroused. Marc Edmund Jones comments on, "the unending availability of everything ever needed for life and experience... an indomitable resourcefulness and a naive delight in the problems of everyday living." It is certainly true that even through trying situations there is an ability central to the human spirit that encourages us to make the best of difficulty and allows us to learn from our mistakes. For the Sun, in the same degree of Gemini, we find, "Santa Claus filling stockings, furtively." This symbol reminds us that, when we possess the right attitude, we may get all the gifts in the world through unexpected circumstances, or even almost covertly. Jones remarks upon "the necessity for complementing nature's largess and society's favors with high personal appreciation." As the Grateful Dead lyric reminds us, "Once in a while you can get shown the light/ In the strangest of places when you look at it right." The universe, in spite of all appearances to the contrary, provides.

A Full Moon of Recognition for Ongoing Transformation

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Chart for the Full Moon on May 21, 2016

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