Full Moon in Aquarius

The Full Moon in Aquarius on August 3 illuminates the torch of the reclusive seer, the fire at the core of the hermit’s lantern, and messages received from those that have strayed far off the mainstream path. The airy and humanitarian sign of Aquarius will provide a remote space for the lunation we may utilize for incubating insight regarding the many dramatic changes taking shape in current events. While revelations may be received from the unorthodox who are removed from dominant cultural paradigms, rather than stubbornly insisting on an individualistic path we can use the silvery light of the lunation to increase awareness of those who share our intention and purpose. It’s an opportune time to deepen bonds with those we can collaborate with and mutually support through the shattering, dismantling astrological transits coming in the next few months.

In the northern hemisphere, the Aquarius Full Moon is glowing during the time of Lughnasadh or Lughnasa, the ancient Gaelic holiday of harvest festivals that occurs at the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox. Similarly, the Aquarius Full Moon is occurring at a midpoint along the timeline of 2020 astrology that is in between the volatility of the solstice eclipse season of June and the enflaming initiation of Mars retrograde in Aries that will intensify at the Libra Equinox on September 22 when Mars will be engaged in conflict with Saturn. The slow burn of Mars retrograde in its fiery home of Aries will dramatically disrupt the societal structures already being reshaped by the alignment of Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter in Capricorn, and so the Aquarius Full Moon can shed light on areas of life in need of focus to prepare for the deeper changes on the way.

Since the Aquarius Full Moon is closely separating from a catalyzing square aspect with Uranus in Taurus and applying toward an activating sextile with Mars in Aries, we may experience events or insights that propel us rapidly forward or lead to a significant change in direction. It’s the third lunation in a row ruled by Saturn retrograde in Capricorn slowly moving closer to Pluto, inciting the titanic forces of gravity, contraction, division, and polarized judgment that have been constellated repeatedly throughout history when Saturn and Pluto begin a new cycle together. In many places the economic fallout from the pandemic of 2020 is being more acutely felt, and so the peak light of the Aquarius Moon can spur action in response to forces of necessity.

Crucially, Mercury in Cancer is applying closely toward a tense opposition with Saturn in Capricorn that may feel extremely constraining depending upon your present circumstances. Constructively, Mercury’s opposition with Saturn will make it obvious where we need to weigh our options to make adjustments, mediation, deals, and a rebalancing of priorities in order to mediate the pressing demands of Saturn and Pluto. In addition to inspecting one’s material conditions, it’s also an excellent time to conduct an inner exploration of shadowy internal dynamics in order to refrain from excessive projection and scapegoating of others. There will be more than enough victimization and persecutory othering going on in the wider collective without adding more fuel to the fire.

It is further significant that Mercury is setting under the beams of the Sun, sharing its final light as a Morning Star as it disappears into its invisible phase during which its accumulated debris and excess waste will be burned off under the radiating fire of the Leo Sun. The solar phase ending for Mercury now was reseeded during Mercury retrograde in Cancer on June 30, so there will be a shedding and purifying process of regeneration concerning whatever Mercurial ideas have been developing since early July once Mercury enters Leo on August 4. Mercury will be reanimated during its superior conjunction with the Leo Sun on August 17, a day before the upcoming New Moon in Leo on August 18, and so the waning half of the present lunar cycle will be ideal for releasing whatever we need to let go of in order to gain clarified focus.

While the catalytic square aspect between the Aquarius Full Moon and Uranus in Taurus can bring a sudden twist in our story through unexpected events and revelations, it may also reveal premonitions regarding larger changes that will become more significant over the course of the next year and a half as Saturn in Aquarius forms a series of three exact square aspects with Uranus in Taurus during 2021. Additionally, the Aquarius Full Moon may return awareness to themes and narratives connected with the square aspect between Saturn in Aquarius with Uranus in Taurus that became activated from March through June of 2020, as the waxing Moon will form a conjunction with Saturn en route to forming a square with Uranus during its peak illumination. Pay particular attention to any new ideas, projects, or goals you are feeling inspired to develop as they may turn out to become significant points of focus over the course of the next year or two.

Some of the major themes associated with the last quarter square phase between Saturn and Uranus include irrevocable dismantling and restructuring of societal systems, the necessity of invention to address whatever is falling apart, as well as finding inspiration within some ancient traditions to address present dilemmas while other traditional lineages become rejected for being outdated. Richard Tarnas in Cosmos and Psyche described the periods of Saturn and Uranus in hard aspect as involving “the exacerbation of tensions between authority and rebellion, order and freedom, structure and change” as well as “repressive revolution,” “erratically unpredictable authority,” “sudden collapse of structures,” and “grim awakenings.”

During the waning half of the forthcoming lunar cycle, Uranus will station retrograde on August 15 a few days before the New Moon in Leo on August 18. As a result, the influence of Uranus will become intensified in the week surrounding August 15 especially if you have important natal placements in between seven and thirteen degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius). It will be wise to remain flexible and ready to alter plans and goals as needed in the next couple of weeks due to the unpredictable nature of Uranus. Most importantly, by cultivating a readiness to receive breakthroughs and activate new creative directions, you will be more likely to clarify the intentions and visions that you are most authentically aligned with and which deserve your full focus and commitment.

While the Aquarius Full Moon is applying toward a creatively engaging sextile aspect with Mars in Aries, Mars is closely applying toward a catalyzing square aspect with Jupiter in Capricorn. Mars combined with Jupiter can inspire ambitious campaigns and idealistic striving that can be further amplified by the Full Moon in Aquarius. There is a risk of being overcome with hubris through a stubborn fixation on one’s own idealistic beliefs with an unwillingness to make compromises or listen to other viewpoints. The fiery willforce of Mars can be utilized to separate ourselves from situations causing us harm, protect those who are vulnerable, and assert our desires for change, yet we must be careful that the reckless side of Mars does not lead us into causing unnecessary division and destruction in the process.

This will be the first of three square aspects that Mars will form with Jupiter between now and January 2021 due to stationing retrograde in the first week of September, and so we are entering an extended period of time involving friction between Mars with Jupiter as well as Saturn and Pluto that we will need to endure and resiliently navigate. During the waning half of the forthcoming lunar cycle, Mars in Aries will be applying toward an intensifying square aspect with Pluto in Capricorn that it will complete on August 13. Mars will not complete its first square aspect with Saturn in Capricorn until August 24, but the tension between them will be building in potency each day.

Though Mars is known as an archetype that severs connections with an individualistic impact, it is also capable of working toward shared goals as part of a team while also putting us in touch with the enlivening life force and passions that want to emerge into expression. Since we know that Mars will be facing off against barriers and restrictions coming from Saturn in the months ahead, we can bear in mind that there will be potential for Mars to incite a self-righteous rage that wants to burn everything down when faced with opposition. While taking a courageous stand in the face of opposition may be necessary at times, it will also be important to be curious about how our inner desires are being reshaped and reforged by the flames of Mars. By gaining clarity now regarding the intentions we want to direct the focus of Mars toward, the ideals and values we want to defend and assert, we will be better able to conserve our energy for our priorities rather than getting drawn into needless conflict that exhausts us. Mars in Aries will need to exert is force within the containment brought by the Capricorn trio of Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter, yet within the pressure of their configuration important and significant work can be created.

The Full Moon in Aquarius also demarcates the final days of Venus transiting Gemini, as Venus will enter Cancer on August 7. Venus has been in the airy, mutable sign of Gemini since April 3 and so it will be a major change for Venus to exit Gemini and enter the watery, lunar landscape of Cancer. Moreover, Venus will be closely applying toward a vivifying conjunction with the North Node of the Moon in Gemini as the Aquarius Full Moon culminates. Ever since the true calculation of the North Node of the Moon entered Gemini on May 5, Venus has been occupying the same sign and so it is especially significant that Venus is finally completing its conjunction with the North Node in Gemini.

Due to the passage of Venus retrograde in Gemini from May through June, we have already experienced a necessary disordering of desires that has been bringing about a reordering of values. The passage of Venus across the North Node of the Moon as Selene shines her full light can draw awareness toward opportunities and choices available to make productive use of whatever the long passage of Venus through Gemini has opened up for us.

However, the influence of the North Node of the Moon upon Venus can also pull us into the shadows of illusory material desires and so it will be important to make space to consider whether or not the desires emerging are aligned with your authentic path and purpose or not. This is especially the case since Venus recently finished its long series of square aspects with Neptune in Pisces that took place on May 3, May 20, and July 27. The Aquarius Full Moon can bring deeper insight into the storylines that played out between Venus and Neptune, as their tension likely brought waves of confusion and inspiration to navigate. Let the lessons learned from any associated disillusionment as well as enlightenment continue to guide your choices as Venus completes its union with the North Node and heads into Cancer where it will form a series of pivotal aspects with Jupiter, Pluto, Saturn, and Mars at the end of August and beginning of September.

Aquarius 2 Decan

The Full Moon in Aquarius is in the second decan of Aquarius associated with the Six of Swords card illustrated above by Pamela Colman Smith. The six swords in the image are anchored, suggesting firm resolve and grounded focus. Yet the swords are also staked into a boat journeying through watery, liminal space. There is a vision behind the image, a bold determination to follow foresight into foreign territory. The ferryman is in a role of guidance not unlike the psychopomp Mercury, which is fitting since Mercury is the ruler of the second face of Aquarius. The destination on the far shore is not capable of being reached by the passengers without the utility of the boat and the labor of the ferryman, and so there is also a need to surrender to being along for the ride.

As the ferryman in the Six of Swords is creating a network in between shores, linking the known with the unknown, he is an apt symbol for Mercury being the ruler of the second face of Aquarius. Austin Coppock in his book 36 Faces ascribed the image of “Heaven and Earth” to this face, writing that it connects multiple territories with a sense of “principled but fierce wisdom,” as well as that the fixed nature of this face “stabilizes commerce between heaven and earth” while also establishing “independence between multiple worlds.” Coppock declared it to be a decan “of independence, of living and becoming according to one’s principles” so that one may “connect worlds without becoming beholden to them.” Like the ferryman and Hermes, those who occupy this face mediate a “steady commerce between heaven and earth” according to Coppock, allowing for “the connection of the orthodox and the unorthodox, the known and the unknown” as well as “the ideal and the practical.”

Furthermore, the Hellenistic text the 36 Airs ascribed Phobos to the second decan of Aquarius, the divine son of Ares and Aphrodite who is associated with the fear evoked in battle and war. Austin Coppock noted that as Phobos is connected with the etymology of “phobia,” its presence in this face also reveals “the fear that people have of what lies outside their small worlds.” It also brings to mind the double edged sword of fear, in that it can lead to poor choices rooted in paranoia as well as the kind of inspired action that erupts when we have our backs against the wall and the odds stacked against us.

There are many fears being enflamed around the world as societal systems continue to be disrupted by the pandemic. Just as the second face of Aquarius facilitates communication between the known and the unknown, so may we tend to the places in us that feel scared and overwhelmed regarding the unknown future. The astrology of 2020 has been serving as a bridge in between eras, and while it may feel like we are close to falling off a precipice we may in those moments gather our inner knowing that can guide our way forward. We will need to rely upon the support and transport of others just as we will also be required to lend assistance and guidance to others. Let the light of the Aquarius Full Moon quench the flames of fear so that your pathway forward may be illuminated with clarified focus.

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References

Coppock, Austin. (2014). 36 Faces: The History, Astrology and Magic of the Decans. Three Hands Press.

Tarnas, Richard. (2007). Cosmos and Psyche. Plume.