Lunar Living Astrology

This is the first full moon of the autumn season (spring in the southern hemisphere). In the North Americas, it was traditionally known as the Hunter Moon since the native people wrapped up any harvests and gathering in favor of the protein necessary to get through the winter months. There was still time to smoke the meat to last through the next five or six months.

The Sun is still in Libra while the Moon opposes in Aries. The Sun is forming a conjunction with Venus in Libra to amplify that Libra energy of partnerships and working together for a common goal. There is a wedge from the full moon's opposition to Saturn retrograde. Saturn can help us to find the right project to focus on to make the most of this full moon's inspiration. Tied into this though, is the inconjunct from the Sun to Uranus retrograde in Taurus. This can challenge us by bringing in unexpected influences either from the task we are attempting to finish, or from personal interactions that we thought were solid. It will definitely test our resilience to complete the projects we have in front of us.

For those who track the planetary declinations, the last out of bounds (OOB) Moon started September 30th and ended on October 4. The next OOB Moon will be October 13th through October 18th. Mars is current moving towards the OOB declination and will start it's OOB journey on October 23rd and will stay OOB for several months.

Mercury, in Virgo, finished its retrograde motion on October 2nd and is in the process of moving through the shadows of that retrograde. We are still working to clean up the messes that Mercury left for us, and may continue, at least through October 17th. Mercury is moving into an opposition with Jupiter retrograde in Aries. It is currently out of sign and weakened until Mercury moves back into Libra tomorrow on the 10th. Mercury is trine to Pluto in Capricorn. This connection may help us cut through the frivolous with precision. Just be careful, since cutting away too much can't be undone.

Mars in Gemini is trine to Saturn retrograde in Aquarius and square to Neptune retrograde in Pisces. Are we seeing reality for what it really is, or are we trying to keep too much for fear that we are going to lose sight of something? It can be difficult to sort through it all and Mars is being less than helpful in the process. Mars is slowing down in Gemini and preparing for a long haul retrograde in the sign starting the end of October. Between the fact that Mars will be motioning retrograde and transiting OOB, the next few months are likely to feel like we are wearing hip-waders that are filled with water.

Saturn's retrograde in Aquarius will be ending on October 23rd. This should free up some of the overkill of energy we have been putting in on projects. But, at the same time, will push us to start finding new projects to focus on. The other facet of Saturn's interactions during this full moon is the T-square that it is making to the Moon's Nodes. This is setting the stage for the upcoming Solar Eclipse. Let's just say that our biases are currently on display in ways we have not anticipated.

The Moon's Nodes, which are calculated points, and not planetary ones, are setting the stage for the next two eclipses. They gain more karmic significance and set the stage for the upcoming changes that always come with the eclipse seasons. The North Node is in Taurus while the South Node is in Scorpio.

Did we make note of the fact that the Mercury connection with Pluto made no mention of any retrograde activity? Pluto, in Capricorn, stationed into direct motion on October 8th.

In summary for this full moon, we are heading into the Solar Eclipse and are most likely, feeling the tension pushing in our direction. The planets are not too unbalanced in the receptive placements. There are six masculine placements while there are four feminine ones. This helps us to adapt and adjust as necessary. There are four Air element sign placements and only one Water. We may be more "in our heads" than "in our guts." We may only think we know what we need. With five of the planets in Cardinal signs, we are willing to take more risks, hoping that everything with go our way. Think of it this way, enthusiasm can be tempered by practicality, and logic can be tempered by emotions.