• FULL MOON IN AQUARIUS AND PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE ON AUGUST 7TH 2017

  • …contemplation anyone?

    The Full Moon and the partial lunar eclipse of this month falls at 15°25’ of the sign of Aquarius, a Fixed, Air sign ruled by Saturn (traditional ruler) and Uranus (modern ruler).

    Full Moons are times of harvest and completion

    when things concerning the house in the natal chart with Aquarius on its cusp can’t possibly get any better, nor any worse for that matter.

    But this is also a partial lunar eclipse.

    The last lunar eclipse at 15° Aquarius was on August 8th 1998

    Whilst Solar eclipses manifest as external events in our lives, Lunar eclipses indicate more intimate, emotional changes which could of course still manifest as external events if the brooding that accompanies our innermost vicissitudes causes changes to our behaviour at an individual level. Such events are in fact brought about by our own thoughts and feelings.

    This Lunar eclipse belongs to the 1 North Saros* series similarly the Solar eclipse which will take place on the 21st of this month.

    Personally, I consider only the conjunction and opposition aspects (the square only if the Sun or Moon is affected in your chart) and orbs should be less than 2°, 5° if the Lights are involved.

    Aquarius is the sign of friendship and group activity, it’s about being independent and inventive whilst being part of a larger group of like-minded people as we work towards a common goal.

    The Full Moon falls on the 11th-5th – Aquarius-Leo – axis in the zodiac so whilst the Moon is illuminating our friendship zone the Sun in Leo is shining in our house of individuality wanting us to sparkle on our own…will we be able to find a compromise between the two?

    Being a sign (Aquarius) with two rulers then we might say that the Moon’s passage in this sign could result in two different types of reactions: Moon-Saturn is notoriously a combination where our feelings are more than dampened and when we are given the opportunity to take a harsh look at where we’re putting them and perhaps why. These thoughts can also manifest as a sinking or generally depressed feeling. Moon-Uranus is a jump-start to our emotions with perhaps lightening mood changes and wanting to belong but at the same time to be alone or independent from others emotionally, the “I’m yours but don’t get too close type of feeling!”

    To further delineate this theme let’s see what Saturn and Uranus are doing on the astrological plane right now.  Both planets are retrograde, Saturn stationing to turn direct in a couple of weeks and Uranus still stationing retrograde before speeding up on his backwards journey which started on the 2nd of this month. They are in a wide trine aspect to each other, facilitating the perusal of our choices and the truths we tell ourselves (Saturn in Sagittarius) and how we may free ourselves of restrictions (Uranus) without being too spontaneous and pushy (Aries).

    Pluto, Neptune and Chiron are also retrograde and Mercury is now in its shadow period before stationing retrograde on the 12th. Retrograde planets invite introspection in the areas they are transiting so this could be a very contemplative moment for many of us as events climax.

    Sun is also still conjunct Mars in Leo, a time to shine and energy to burn (literally)!

    Raven Kaldera in his book “Moon Phase Astrology” calls this Full Moon phase “the Friendship Moon” and he invites us to hang out with our friends during this period, asking others and ourselves just what value friendship has for us in our lives.

    In Pagan tradition this is known as the Sturgeon moon because it is sturgeon season in certain parts of the world in August.  This is the month to give thanks. Not only to the Great Spirit, but to yourself too. So set this moon aside for pampering yourself and your family. Your magical night can begin with a relaxing meditation and a personal reading for yourself.

    The Sabian Symbol for the Sun at 16° Leo: “The storm ended, all nature rejoices in brilliant sunshine. Indicating the surge of life and love after a major crisis.

    For the Full Moon at 16° Aquarius: “A big business man at his desk.” Indicating the ability to organise the many aspects of an enterprise involving a large group of human beings.”

    Let’s remember:

    “Most of the problems in life are because of two reasons: we act without thinking or we keep thinking without acting.” Anon

    Where does this partial lunar eclipse fall in your chart?

    Bibliografia

    *to learn more about the Saros cycles “ Brady B (1999) “Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and The Lark”, chapter 5 Eclipses and Saros Cycle, pp 334-335, Red Wheel/Weiser LLC, San Francisco CA USA

    Thomas’s Old Farmers’ Almanac – circa 1792, https://www.paganspath.com/magik/moonnames.htm accessed on 7th February 2017

    Kaldera R. (2011) “Moon Phase Astrology” pp. 223-225, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont. USA

    Rudhyar D. (1974) “An Astrological Mandala: the cycles of transformations and its 360 symbolic phases”. p 141 and 258, Vintage Books Edition, Random House Inc., New York, USA

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