On August 11 at 9:36pm eastern time, our current lunar cycle will culminate with the Full Moon in Aquarius.

As the Moon moves closer and closer to her opposition to the Sun, we will all begin to bear the fruits of our intentions to strengthen our solar selves and intentions through the Leo New moon. This is a time to appreciate the effort that you have invested into cultivating your relationship with your highest self.

As this culmination occurs, we can also begin to identify and release attitudes, behavioral patterns, and even entire situations and circumstances in our lives that stand in the way of this new, solar growth that we have been cultivating the past few weeks.

This full moon is occurring in Aquarius. Being an air sign, Aquarius privileges the perspectives of the analytical, discursive mind over the more intuitive, passionate interests of Leo. In contrast to the very individual focus of Leo, Aquarius rules groups, collectives, institutions. Aquarius also represents the voice of the people, and Aquarian individuals tend to appreciate and champion the democratization of power and knowledge.

The impulses and moods of Aquarius are often anti-hierarchical, fringe, and often well-informed and well-read. Ruled by Saturn, however, the Aquarian perspective can be cold and detached in its intellectual assessments, and it can lend itself to feelings of fragmentation and mental overwhelm.

Individual considerations

On a personal level, this is a good time to release thought patterns, perspectives, and behaviors conditioned in us that obscure or cloud that leonine spirit that we’ve been strengthening. In particular, you will find yourself discarding release of feelings of responsibility to conform and entrench in the status quo.

I am reminded of an old Vedanta story of a lion who was raised by sheep. Thinking he was a sheep, the lion became conditioned to act like a sheep, until one day another lion came along and showed the conditioned lion his reflection in the water. Upon seeing his reflection, the lion broke his conditioning and remembered his true nature.

What ways has your own inner fire that we strengthened on the New Moon been conditioned? What sheeplike patterns can you shed into order to connect with something more authentic?

While the Moon activates a strong square between Mars and Saturn, you will may feel a lot of grief and sadness at times as you continue to release this conditioning. It can feel comfortable and familiar, and there can be feelings of shame around releasing it - especially with Saturn involved here. Mars in Taurus, and the difficulties it brings to feeling like we “have enough” in life can also create fear and concerns over scarcity and lack.

This is your opportunity to temper your spirit - the time for you enter into the emotional crucible involved in releasing these wounds and traumas. Allow the intentions of the new Moon to carry you through to the other side.

Collective considerations

On a collective, civic level, this shedding of personal conditioning will lead to a greater mistrust of established power blocs. Scrutiny of the civic establishment abounds. A din and a clamor arises amongst politicians and news outlets, and the public forum becomes inundated with differing opinions contributing to the noise. In keeping with the Saturnine flavor to Aquarius, much of the rhetoric is critical and deconstructive, but also very moralizing and contrarian.

The conjunction that the Moon forms to Saturn really intensifies this. As the lord of Aquarius, Saturn is extremely powerful here. Saturn rules outsiders, pariahs, and people on the fringe of society. Activated by the Moon in Aquarius, some of the most noteworthy contributors to the vox populi become fringier as well.

While the Full Moon activates Saturn in Aquarius, it also activates a Sun-Saturn opposition. In contrast to Saturn who rules pariahs and outcastes, the Sun rules the king, monarch, and rulers of a country. There will be continued tension between those in authority within governments and social structures and those who are on the outside of this status quo. Regardless of political persuasion, there has been mistrust of governing bodies amongst their national citizens, and it will continue to be that way.

The Full Moon will also very strongly activate the Mars-Saturn square – she becomes completely illuminated at 19 degrees, within 3 degrees of the conjunction to Saturn and 4 degrees of Mars. She is activating this square about 5 days after this Mars-Saturn square perfected last Sunday.

Mars square causes more challenges that aggravate the collective issues and the scrutiny of the establishment. Occupying his detriment in the earth sign of Taurus, associated with wealth and national finances, this unproductive Mars will continue to swell costs and stimulate inflation. Given that an essentially dignified Saturn is Aquarius is also an indicator of an economic slowdown, this will definitely lead to further agitation and financial concerns while this Mars-in-Taurus period finishes up.  

However, I do think this can be seen as the death throes of the challenges that the Mars-Saturn square has brought over the past few weeks. To be sure, the Full Moon is activating a very severe square between these two malefics, but only after this aspect has already started to wind down. As Mars and Saturn are separating from their square and their story is coming to a conclusion, the Moon will simply draw more attention to stirred-up areas in our lives that are in need of resolution.

Ultimately, I think that the challenges that arise during this full Moon will arise in order to bringing more resolution in the long-term. This is a bump in the road down from the intensity of the Mars-Saturn square, not a return to it. Just weather the storm, and you will be fine.

This alignment will be more personal and challenging for people with either the Ascendant or Moon in the fixed signs Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius. Cardinal signs have it a bit easier. Mutable signs, especially Sagittarius and Pisces, are scot-free.

That said, this kind of T-square involving Saturn and Mars is not an easy storm to weather. If you would like personalized guidance on managing this transit, or any other transits in your life, you can do so by book a session with me through the button below.

Merlin