Creating Waves: Full Moon in Aries 2021

Via Wikimedia Commons

Full Moon @ 27 degrees Aries 26'

October 20, 2021

7:58 AM PDT

10:58 AM EDT

This month's Full Moon in tropical Aries is undeniably catalytic and fueled with tension, tapping into the Eris/Pluto square via the Full Moon's Eris conjunction. As a recent discovery (as of 2003), Eris hasn't come into complete focus. Still, she seems to carry a powerful theme relating to extreme divisiveness (on a collective level) in addition to a trickster-like nature. After all, she was named after a trickster, chaos goddess whose discovery demoted Pluto and forever altered the solar system (though still hotly debated).

As a turning point, culmination, completion, or eruption, the Full Moon completes a t-square with the Sun and Mars in Libra. All of this suggests a lunation with assertive or explosive power that is, in some ways, held back or contained via Mars' proximity to the Sun and detriment in Libra. It relates to the ability to acknowledge and bring to consciousness volatile or "primal" urges, feelings, or desires and integrate them civilly, tactfully, and pro-socially.

Pluto's square inevitably involves Saturn, since both planets are nearing their final closest proximity (via conjunction) for this Saturn/Pluto cycle. Still, this doesn't suggest a total lack of heat, intensity, or passion. As such energies emerge under this lunation, they are more readily directed, shaped, or artistically implemented. On a collective level, that brings to the surface issues about overt authoritarianism and the glaringly obvious ways a myriad of social, economic, and political power structures have overstepped their appropriate limits of dominance.

On a more personal level, this lunation invites a shift in our ability to implement a new order in our lives or assert our right to claim some space in the world. In times like these, it's easy to feel disempowered, beleaguered by intrusive agents, or otherwise hopeless in what you can do to make a change. This lunation reminds us that a warrior, chaos goddess, and creative catalyst exists within us all, capable of igniting great ripples and waves if only we are brave enough to confront the shadow and liberate those parts of ourselves.

Full Moon in Aries 2016: Feed The Inner Fire

“The price of sanity in today’s society is a certain level of alienation.”
-Terence McKenna
 
Social rejection is such a painful thing that we crave inclusion and tend to do what we must to retain it. That means we’re susceptible to believing some dangerous things and correspondingly adjusting our lives around those beliefs. The planet Uranus, aligning with this Full Moon, asks that you scrutinize where you have compromised yourself for the sake of keeping everyone else happy or fitting in. In the days surrounding this Full Moon, keep a look out for the collective process of intense individuation that may get stirred up. Be mindful of this in yourself, as well as the potential hostility from others attempting to break themselves free.
 
This month’s Full Moon occurs in the tropical sign of Aries and aligns with both the planet Uranus and the dwarf planet Eris. As the lunar cycle culminates, it correlates with a dynamic breaking point in the collective psyche. That may show up in the culmination of several circumstances in your personal life. The combination of Uranus and Eris in the sign of Aries might create powerful momentum and a desire for decisive action. However, opposing the Full Moon is the Sun in Libra, which alludes to the validity of alternative points of view of which you may be also considering.
 
With the Sun in Libra, there is the necessity of compromise; you may have to contend more with the will and needs of others. The planet Uranus always highlights the need for authenticity. Consider whether your current direction is congruent with who you really are. There is likely to be a focus on independence and autonomy, which may result in breaking free from what limits your full self-expression. Be cautious with this energy, however. Eris and Uranus in Aries can be volatile, hostile, rebellious and unpredictable. If you’ve been repressing your feelings about certain matters in your life, expect this Full Moon to pull them out.
 
The conjunction between Eris and Uranus is reflected all around us in current events. Not much is fully known about Eris astrologically since its discovery in 2005. But when its existence was confirmed, it completely altered the solar system from the astronomical point of view. Eris may have a trickster quality, correlating with massive upheaval within established structures. Uranus, the rebel, and outlaw of the planetary pantheon will likely amplify this tendency. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, correlates with the sense of new beginnings. While a Full Moon is not technically a new start, it may feel that way.

Mars is currently approaching a conjunction with Pluto in Capricorn which receives a square from Mercury. Now is the time to begin thinking and brainstorming about possible strategies and plans of action. That will require facing up to reality honestly and soberly. Mars and Pluto can help you to think carefully about your future survival. With this lunation, it’s likely that you’ll find yourself fed up with something in your life, perhaps an old approach has become stale and prosaic. Use this high-energy Full Moon to make some fresh changes. Free yourself from any shackles you feel are binding you, and connect with who you really are, and who or what truly feeds that and keeps it alive.

The Price of Freedom: New Moon in Aries 2016

Day 40 of Occupy Wall Street; photo by David Shankbone.

New Moon @ 18 Aries 04'

April 7, 2016

3:23 AM Pacific

6:23 AM Eastern

April is an interesting month and one in which you may find catalytic for many new experiences. On a collective level, April’s New Moon symbolizes a prelude to a significant historical marker: the conjunction of Uranus and the newly discovered dwarf planet Eris. These two planets will first conjoin this June, but April’s New Moon occurs within the vicinity of this building conjunction, giving us a preview of the archetypal energy that it will embody in our personal and collective lives.

Eris was discovered in 2005 and was responsible for demoting Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet. Eris made headlines in major news publications and completely altered the solar system. While there have been many new and significant discoveries, Eris stands out as the object that single-handedly brought so much upheaval within the astronomical community. I personally think Eris is a powerful archetype and that it has much to teach us. But what does Eris mean?

As with any new discovery, it will take time before we have a working interpretative framework, but for now we have some key themes associated with the mythology. Eris is named after a trickster goddess, a goddess of discord, chaos, and strife. In the most popular Greek mythos, Eris threw a golden apple inscribed with the phrase “to the fairest” into a wedding party (that she wasn’t invited to) causing a competitive tussle between the goddesses Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena that resulted in the Trojan War.

 It appears that Eris may have an association with some of the deepest layers of the primordial unconscious involving fierce competition, primal sexuality, and themes relating to the survival of the fittest. On another layer, Eris may embody issues surrounding wealth inequality and the social problems connected with status and privilege. And as a trickster goddess associated with Chaos, her influence often correlates with disruption and upheaval. We can also say the same of Uranus, and these two planets coming together are bound to create some turbulence within the collective psyche.

As the current lunar cycle comes to a close, you may notice that feeling of something ending and yet something unknown and mysterious taking its place. This is a common feeling during a New Moon, and to make things even more ambiguous, we have the presence of this new object that we are being invited to integrate into our consciousness. The New Moon occurs in tropical Aries which begins the zodiac cycle. Aries may symbolize the need for new adventures along with new stress and challenges.

With the presence of Uranus, we get the symbolism of trailblazing for the sake of independence, personal freedom, and autonomy. But the path you may find yourself following may feel uncertain, even a little scary. That’s because you’re encroaching upon a new evolutionary threshold—one in which the modern world has yet to touch upon. To do that requires immense bravery and courage. It requires staring into the unknown without allowing fear to hold you back or to keep you from achieving your goals.

The New Moon’s trine (a 120 degrees relationship) aspect to Saturn will help facilitate rapid growth and maturity—as long as you step up to the challenge that lies before you without taking short cuts or avoiding the need for discipline and focus. Pluto in Capricorn also squares (makes a 90 degrees relationship) with this lunation as well.  If you take the initiative with this New Moon, you will find that you have an opportunity to completely alter the structures in your life in some profound way.

And always with Pluto, you must confront deeply embedded feelings and fears. As you charge forth this month, you may encounter what appears to be a brick wall that seems impenetrable. But if you can imagine a wall constructed out of beliefs and limitations inherent to your own mind, you can see that perhaps there’s a way past it through the intentional transcendence of fear. Uranus conjunct the New Moon asks you how much you would pay for freedom. How much are you willing to give up to direct your own life? That might require stepping up and becoming your own authority, and releasing the need for others to take care of you. The price is that void of uncertainty that lies before you.

The current lunar cycle is one in which you can initiate some big changes in your personal life—whether drastic or subtle. Those changes are probably frightening and uncertain. Remember that whatever Eris ultimately embodies is something in which we must, collectively, become conscious of. Consider that in your own life, too. What new realities have you yet to glimpse? It’s both an exciting and unnerving process. To become conscious of anything is often uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. But Aries stirs up your inner warrior. This New Moon can give you the boost of courage and stamina you need. And once you set things into motion, the universe will take care of the rest.