Lunar Living Astrology

This full moon, being the closest full moon event in relation to the autumnal equinox is often called the harvest moon. Took this photo this morning from my porch as a storm from the Pacific Ocean is blowing in.

The Moon in Aries opposes the Sun in Libra as we head into the fall season for 2026. The full moon is tied into a kite aspect pattern with Uranus retrograde in Gemini, Pluto retrograde in Aquarius, and Neptune retrograde in Aries. The attention or focal point in this aspect pattern goes to the Moon and Neptune's conjunction, causing us to rethink where we need to be headed. This one can have us looking back on regrets or poor choices we recently made. We want to evaluate or course correct, especially while Neptune is retrograde, so that we can make improvements in our lives, in the near future. While it is not important whether we admit our mistakes to others, it is important that we acknowledge the errors in judgment to ourselves, in order to ensure that we make the best choices when given the opportunity to course correct.

At first blush, this chart looks to have the aspect pattern of a cradle. It does not, because the key planet for that pattern, Mars on the anaretic degree of Cancer, is not yet in the sign of Leo. As such, this can't be tied significantly to the cradle aspect nor to the mystic rectangle until September 28 during the Leo Ingress. At this point, it is growing into a very powerful aspect configuration that will help us to shift our attitudes and make important changes in our lives. In the anaretic degree, Mars is shaking free of the Cancer traits in preparation for Leo. Be open to the opportunities that are building for us. We are working on that with this full moon's characteristics of letting go of the past mistakes, and finding the grace to accept the opportunity to rewrite the narrative with better, emotionally healthier choices. Remembering that changes will take time to activate the better, healthier future, and in the meantime, we need to believe that we can effectively change our momentum by consistently making better decisions. Look to the house that this full moon is happening in your chart, to explore the messages that the house has for you.

Mars in Cancer is square to Mercury in Libra. Be careful not to over think the current situation. Mercury will be too analytical, while Mars will be too domineering. We may want to blame others for mistakes that we are solely responsible. This has the potential of turning others away from us. Those are the individuals who are the most likely to help us, when we need them the most. This will need some restraint on our parts.

It is interesting how Venus, in Scorpio, is being tied into the kite pattern via a quincunx to Uranus retrograde and a square to Pluto retrograde. Venus in Scorpio always brings a different form of introspection to our lives when moving through Scorpio. The messages may feel uncomfortable, because we may not want to admit our behind the scenes role in events that we thought we had been keeping secret from others. Again, this full moon is NOT about admitting mistakes to others. The importance is our acknowledgment must be to ourselves, at this point, so that we can begin on a better, healthier journey.

Chiron retrograde is on the 29th degree of Aries, having turned to Aries on September 18. This is the last transit of Chiron in Aries for an extended period of time. Chiron will return to Taurus in April, 2027.

All in all, despite the various proactive aspects of this full moon chart, we are being challenged to accept our need for change. There are eight planets, collectively, in Fire and Air Element signs, indicating that we must make a conscious decision to regroup and redirect our focus. There are only two planets in the Water Element signs and none in the Earth Element signs. We will find little comfort in exploring our options for change. With six planets in Cardinal Mode signs, we know we need to take some risks, and with only one planet in the Mutable Mode signs, we are likely to question our ability to make the necessary changes. If we can't on our own, see the area in our life that needs our immediate attention, compare our natal chart to the full moon chart. The house in our natal chart where the transiting Moon and Neptune planets are today, will give us a huge clue on where to send our attention.