Full Moon in Aquarius: Out of the Ordinary, Into the New

"Selene" by Moises Rodriguez

Full Moon in Aquarius: Out of the Ordinary, Into the New

Moon opposite Sun- 8/15/19 @ 7:29am CDT

This Full Moon (called the Grain Moon, Corn Moon, Green Corn Moon, or Sturgeon Moon, depending on what is most plentiful at this time in your particular region…obviously for those of us in the heartland, corn and grain is most appropriate) comes at a time of giving thanks for all that our Earth provides. August begins with Lughnasadh, the first of three harvest holidays on the wheel of the year, and this moon holds that energy of reaping what we have sown in previous months.

In Aquarius, this moon illuminates awareness on many levels, and also holds the energy of Buddhist detachment exemplified in the phrase ‘suffering is caused by attachment to impermanent things’. The Moon is the luminary associated with the physical and, especially, emotional realms…while Aquarius is the sign associated with detachment to such things and transcending into the mental and spiritual realms. In this light, our physical and emotional reactions, symptoms, and attachments are cropping up all over our awareness. And yet, we are still feeling the urge to detach and pull out into a more expanded view of Cosmic Consciousness. Essentially, we are trying to understand what we currently see as reality in a new way...a perspective that can make sense of the many things that we deal with inside of our human bubble which are dissonant with our souls’ true intent.

This Full Moon activates an intuitive response from the 23^rd degree of the Leo-Aquarius axis, the energies of fixed fire and fixed air. This is an axis of encouraging and directing our unique self-mastery in ways that strengthen the collective contributions of humanity as a whole. The vibrations on this axis can be very creative and inventive. It depends on how we tap in, of course. If we’re not being true to our authentic expression of Self, it can feel very lonely in that tower of our fixed (and so often conditioned) ideas. We might do well to examine what we’re really trying to express before we get stuck in our separateness.

In another extreme expression of what this vibration can incline, some may be confronted with their own fixed tendency toward spiritual bypass. A large part of our reason for being here, on Earth, at this time is to confront and address the shadow of humanity and all that arises from the dark. No matter how much we want it to be true, not everything is all ‘Love and Light’. It’s absolutely essential to radiate such frequencies throughout our collective consciousness...but not as a way to separate ourselves from the dense heaviness of our world and ‘peace out’. Our Love and Light is best used as a deep embrace of the shadows that arise from the human drama. In this, a necessary transformation occurs that leads to awakening.

'Sekhmet' by Ragen Mendenhall

As Venus has been telling us for months now, you can’t ascend until you descend into the dark to transform. On the 14^th, Sun and Venus met up for their Exterior Conjunction in Leo. At the time of this Full Moon, the two are still closely conjunct. The depths of Venusian medicine are hidden within the bright energies of this time. She’s in the unseen realms of the ‘Otherworld’ behind our Sun, transmuting from her previous Morning Star expression to her coming Evening Star expression. At this time, we are feeling the powerful effect that letting go of previous attachments can have. Our values may be dramatically changing. Our understanding and expression of love may be deepening. It is likely that you have had to say goodbye this year to some things you’d grown used to or fond of (including some relationships). It can be painful and messy...especially when the heart wants nothing more than to stay connected to what once was. But some changes can’t be avoided. And so we find new perspectives to reframe our understanding of the essential thread of love that carries through when “times they are a-changin’”.

Mars is also hidden behind the sun, approaching conjunction with Venus (on 8-24) and Sun (on 9-2). His Leonine energy of fiery action is also happening in the unseen realms at this time. We can tap into this Divine Masculine expression by exploring the depths of our ability to create what we desire.

Art by Pamela Matthews

In a dynamic T-square to this Leo-Aquarius axis highlighted now, the asteroid Vesta is in the 23^rd degree of Taurus. The tension of the Full Moon opposition to Sun-Venus-Mars may accumulate in the fixed earth expression of Vesta in Taurus. This is the asteroid of the Priestess, and her archetype is stressed in the storyline of this time. What Vesta provides is dedication and focus for all the necessary tasks that need to be taken care of at this time. If we tap into her Priestess Wisdom, we can embody the kind of dedication it takes to focus on the tasks at hand. We will have to be aware, of course, that we will have a tendency to overwork ourselves to physical exhaustion if we take on too much at once though. With Taurus energy at the apex of this dynamic pattern, ‘slow and steady’ (but not stuck) is a good pace to keep in mind.

The Sabian Symbols of this Full Moon bring up some common threads of focus. Each relates to our animal nature, and how we relate to or from it. The symbols also relate to our root chakra connection at the base of our spine. The balance we need in order to perform our self-mastery within the collective starts at our root. If you want to know more about the root chakra, here is my post from 6 years ago: Healing the Root.

Moon in Aquarius 23

Sabian Symbol- “A bear sitting down and waving all its paws”

We may be expressing in ways that are out of the ordinary realms of what others might expect from us. It can be like trying to find new ways to express something to others who speak a different language. We are challenged with becoming more demonstrative in our expression so that we can connect. In order to wave all paws and demonstrate our abilities, we must first connect to our root...what plants us firmly on the Earth.

As bear symbolism is highlighted by this Full Moon, here is more information about this totem: Bear Medicine.

Sun-Venus in Leo 23

Sabian Symbol- “A bareback rider”

This is daring and courageous energy firing up our vitality at this time. Bareback riders are intimately connected from the base of the spine (the root) to the spine of the horse. This is a symbol of becoming one with our animal nature and harnessing the power that can come from such a connection. Bareback riders, too, rely on balance and skill to demonstrate their mastery. If we approach this energy with unbalanced recklessness, we are likely to fall hard. Vesta reminds us, with her square, that we need to hold our focus on all we’ve learned through dedicated practice...putting that power into good use.

With horse symbolism highlighted by Sun and Venus, here is more information about this totem: Horse Medicine.

Love and Gratitude,

Felina Lune Kavi