A Full Moon Moment of Contemplation

Monday's Full Moon in the very first degree of Aquarius, with the Sun in the first degree of fiery Leo, brings new factors to this month's challenging and beautifully deep astrology, namely the Air and Fire elements. Relationship, consciousness and growth are therefore more greatly emphasized. The Sun, now in Fire as he changes signs, represents for each one of us an enhanced sense of self, as the Sun moves away from the predominately feeling tone of his month-long sojourn in the watery sign of Cancer. The Water element is still present in great intensity, as Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces continue their dance, with Saturn and Neptune in perfect trine, and with Jupiter conjunct Mars just a degree past the point of exact grand trine. Mercury, having changed to direct motion this past weekend, is also to be found in emotional Cancer, and furthermore makes an exact trine with Chiron, the Wounded Healer; thus bringing as it stations an extraordinary measure of consciousness to our interior depths and to the ancient trauma lodged within us.

Venus also changes signs the same day as the Full Moon, moving into Virgo, the sign of Mercury's rulership, in exact semi-sextile to the Sun. With relationship and inner wounding so powerfully invoked, this Full Moon represents an excellent opportunity, while standing still and looking within, to move forward in our understanding of who we, at base, truly are.

With Mars conjunct Jupiter, and in forming opposition to Pluto, there could be a degree of reactivity or anger that comes up for us now, as well, and that could serve as a trigger for further self-understanding as we meditate on the root cause of anger, which is never for the most obvious reason. This fiery and potentially violent energy tends to get projected on anyone nearby, especially those we love, and can do significant damage before it gets reigned in. You benefit by counting to ten or even twenty, taking that extra time out if at all possible, before lashing out with harsh words that you might later come to regret. The emotional connection that you have within yourself can be a powerful tool for healing these issues as they arise, provided that your awareness supports this meditative stance.

The Sabian symbol for Mercury as it stations, and in this Full Moon configuration, is instructive. It is the 14th degree of Cancer: "A very old man facing a vast dark space to the northeast." This speaks of archetypal inner understanding, a place within that is ever present, ever pointing to the creative void that the Buddhists speak of, the place of spiritual understanding and dawning enlightenment. We all know this place, perhaps consciously, perhaps with the intuition corresponding to our higher selves.

It is comforting seeing this symbol come up in this Mercury degree, which, along with Mercury's current connection to Chiron, helps us to recognize and to know ourselves at the deepest possible level where we oftentimes dwell. This is our inner knowing that we can tap into when we need to, and that will always serve us well; the level of Spirit moving through us, toward its ultimately unimaginable destination.