The Water Bearer and the Lion ~ Full Moon in Aquarius
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. The more things change, the more they remain the same. It looks benign, but there’s a few things about this full moon in Aquarius that deserve a closer look.
The first thing I notice is that it falls in the same tricky spot as the spectacular conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn last December in the second degree of Aquarius. Astrologers everywhere described this event as marking the start of a new historical epoch, a defining moment in history, the threshold of a new era. Only time will tell us its name, but we already know what themes we are dealing with.
Saturn and Jupiter meet at 20 year intervals, but for the first time in 200 years the two planets meet in an air sign. This epoch of air signals a paradigm shift as several cycles complete and others begin at the same time. It is a time of inception; manifesting a new world view, a new way of thinking and a shift in our collective ideals.
Astrologers say we are witnessing the fall of the established order. Our faith in systems and the structures of belief (like religion for example) that we stake our lives on, are eroding. The leaders we used to trust are corrupt, sources of information no longer seem reliable and the truth we seek may never be known. We are between two worlds.
This full moon may have a way of reminding us that holding onto the status quo is not doing us any good. Aquarius is the sign of the water-bearer, or cup-bearer, Ganymede, the boy who was enslaved by the gods and whose tears of grief flooded the earth. Leo was the lion slain by the sun-god Hercules as a trophy. The lion’s hide is magical so it protects him from spears and arrows. The classical myths are supposed to help us engage with the gods and seek their help, otherwise we are their playthings.
This is a warm-hearted Sun and an aloof and eccentric Moon. Idealism and reality, intellect and emotion, night and day. A lightbulb moment, a flash mob with a crazy message or a dramatic demonstration of extravagance. The Moon wants you to recognise that this is who you are and this is what you need to do. Our choices matter and yet what we see doesn’t make sense. It is hard to imagine a greater display of profligacy in current times than a scenic flight into space. Many of us cannot even leave the house.
More drama unfolds after the full Moon. Mercury makes a trine to Neptune and opposes Pluto, bringing more rain, more releasing and more cleansing. As the flood recedes there is work to be done clearing away the mud and debris. The community works together to support each other. We are them, they are us.
Then later in the week Wednesday, Thursday, Mars applies to an opposition to Jupiter, perfecting at the anaretic degree, the malefic thirtieth degree. We can see it is out of our hands, that control is an illusion.
Jupiter is like the emperor, the guru, the judge or adjudicator and Mars is like Russel Crowe in Gladiator, all decked out and ready for or a fight. Mars has his knives out ready to challenge Jupiter on the doorstep of his own house. Blood may be spilled. This is an event or situation that will challenge our beliefs, our sense of morality or righteousness, but also offers us the opportunity to see our humanity in a new light.
