The Sun continues its journey through Virgo, administrating the harvest and the last month of Summer and the hegemony of daylight over the nighttime. Now the celestial energy of this season will come to a head as the Moon goes full in the sign of Pisces, opposite the Sun. This full moon in Pisces occurs on August 30th at 9:35pm.
Full moons occur as the moon directly opposes the Sun in the sky. In contrast to the darkness and initiatory quality of the new moon which cannot be seen in the sky, now the moon is at her brightest, full of the Sun’s light. A culmination of a celestial two-week journey has clearly and visibly come to fruition in the sky.
In a word, full moons are the outcomes of new moons. While new moons begin trends, patterns, and cycles, full moons terminalize them. During this time, the seeds and new intentions sewn during the new moon will culminate and come to fruition.
On earth, we experience a corresponding culmination in response - both at an individual and collective level. The new seeds, patterns, and intentions sown during the new moon two weeks ago will likewise come to fruition.
This energy of culmination can have a charged, even uncontrollable effect on the collective level. For this reason, full moons were considered inauspicious and challenging. Things get a little unhinged, emotions are high, and people are feeling volatile. The unconscious dominates over the conscious. Any doctor or nurse will tell you just how bizarre any hospitals or inpatient facilities can be during full Moons.
At an individual level, the intentions we set during the new moon also experience culmination. We have an opportunity to celebrate the work achieved thus far. 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 the new growth that we have been cultivating the past few weeks. For this reason, Full moons are also associated with release and letting go.
This full moon is occurring in Pisces, which is watery, mutable, and ruled by Jupiter. In contrast to the discursive, pragmatic sign of Virgo where the new moon occurred two weeks ago, the watery nature of Pisces privileges the emotional, non-linear, and unconscious aspects of our lives. On a personal level, people become very preoccupied with their emotional lives, and the inner process can become very prioritized.
On an esoteric level, the Pisces full moon is a good time for journeywork and inner reflection. The watery nature of the sign - as well as its connection to Jupiter who rules spiritual wisdom and insight - brings opportunities for fresh perspectives, guidance, and even visions. This can be a good time to practice listening to intuition, as the unconscious will be speaking very loudly.
In this process, you will discover processes and emotional patterns that need to be released. You can let go of old ways of feeling that adversely affect you. Remember the pragmatic intentions you set during the Virgo new moon - examine those patterns and traits that adversely affect or even actively harm your grounded intentions for your life.
This full Moon occurs within four degrees of Saturn, who is currently retrograding in Pisces. When Saturn gets close to a major lunar alignment like this, a lot of pain, blockages, and obstacles can arise. In Pisces, you can expect a lot of unconscious shadows and repressed elements of your psyche to begin rising to the surface. It is a very uncomfortable experience, so be prepared.
Don’t fight or resist the unconscious patterning that Saturn reveals; accept them for what they are. Becoming aware of them is the only way to heal and integrate - this uncomfortable process is absolutely essential for real growth and emotional alchemy. By engaging in this work, you can bring tremendous emotional growth into your life.
You won’t have to do this shadow work without any support - Jupiter forms a sextile to the Moon, bringing sage advice and helpful hands from people who care about you. Jupiter will ensure that you succeed in your work and have grace and support for the work that Saturn calls you to engage in.
Surrender to the divine mystery. Allow Saturn to clearly reveal those parts of yourself that sabotage the life that you want to live. In surrendering your ego and attachment to your own emotional processes, you will find the deeper emotional fulfillment and spiritual union that your soul is seeking.