Many and inspirational are those who have extolled the merit and benefits of struggle. Even so, there are other ways to evolve, strengthen, and be whole. If you will but allot some part of your endeavor toward seeking alternatives to struggle over the next handful of days, the Sagittarius Full Moon at 12:18 pm EDT (16:18 UTC) Tuesday might well reveal its best possible outcome.
An ancient Chinese text, the “I Ching” observes how there are times when perseverance is not a virtue, and does not further the best outcome for all (or even any) concerned. Based on how the Sun and Moon are moving, this is one of those times.
The Moon is moving to oppose the Sun from our perspective, and waxing (growing in luminescence) as it does. That’s what a Full Moon is. It’s an opposition of the luminaries from our point of view between them, with the Sun fully illuminating the Moon’s near side.
Unlike other contexts in which the word is often used, ‘opposition’ does not inherently imply conflict for astrologers. Instead, the cyclical and holistic nature of astrology at its best considers opposing signs, objects and/or points to be complementary. In other words, one pole of the opposition functions to complete and/or reflect, rather than clash with, the other.
Perhaps nowhere else is a complementary perspective of oppositions better illustrated than during a Full Moon. The Moon rises just as the Sun sets. The Sun traverses from one horizon to the other during the course of the day, and the Moon does the same on the corresponding night. The same principle, and your appropriate responses to it, are everywhere to be seen, including when you look into a mirror.
When you look in a mirror, you are getting a complementary perspective. A reflection of your visage shows how you look. Combining how you look with how you feel completes the picture of your countenance and enhances your self-awareness.
Even if you don’t like what a mirror shows you, nothing of what is made apparent would be changed by destroying or disregarding the reflection. If you can bring yourself to accept what you see, however, you will have options. Some alternatives to struggle would involve making adjustments in your life so as to improve your appearance. Other appropriate choices would possibly include compromise rather than conflict.
The fact that Tuesday’s Full Moon will take place in a mutable sign (Sagittarius) reinforces the pertinence of alternatives to struggle as an appropriate motif for your life now. The same fact also leads to an understanding of how the Sun is moving to demonstrate the same theme.
Opposing signs always share the same quality — cardinal, fixed or mutable. The Sun is now in mutable Gemini, opposing Sagittarius, and will remain in Gemini until the Cancer solstice on June 21.
Whenever the Sun is in a mutable sign, it means a new season is at hand. If there is anything for which struggle is not appropriate, it’s resisting seasonal changes. No amount of perseverance will forestall the consequences of Earth’s tilted axis combined with its orbit around the Sun.
Hence, the Sagittarius Full Moon on Tuesday will, more than anything, be supporting alternatives to struggle. The impending opposition of the luminaries will be asking you to move on from what the square aspects this week have implied (as elucidated by both Eric and Amanda in earlier posts). For the time being at least, you may want to begin accepting resilience as an appropriate substitute for leverage.
For as laudable as it is, there is for persistence (as there is for everything) a season. If this upcoming Sagittarius Full Moon is going to show you anything, that season is about to pass.
Offered In Service
Len is available for astrology readings. You can contact him at lenwallick [at] gmail [dot] com.
Thanks, Len – I needed to hear your counsel today! I realized this morning that I’d been tying myself in knots trying to get things done, move projects along that simply resist rapid progress – in effect required I be a human-doing more than human-being, & giving myself scant praise for the doing. Not helpful, & just amps up the stress.
So – I’ve been working on my thinking, on letting go & accepting the inconvenience of another week of no kitchen sink (awaiting help on that) & other such. Sure, would’ve been good to get it done before Mercury retro, etc., but it didn’t happen, & I’ll manage. I do know how. That’s one place where your “alternative to struggle” concept definitely applies.
The full moon will be barely 2 degrees from my 6th house sun, & given my natal sun-Uranus opposition, I suppose that aspect may be activated. My rebellious streak doesn’t get to run amok like it did when I was younger, but I’ll be staying tuned to it for the next while, & also keeping an eye on Neptune, who is at the top of my chart, in case of fog.
I do hope for some easier going after the full moon.
Bette: My thanks to you in turn. It is only only gratifying but useful to receive feedback as to whether or not my service in this space works for you. Given that a Full Moon nearly always coincides with a culmination of some sort, i would say the odds favor at least some of the “easier going” you are hoping for going into next month. In the meantime the learned resilience you have described as your (rather brilliant) coping strategy would appear to be worthy of both admiration and emulation. May the waning of the Moon be accompanied by a lessening of your stress.
Yes, this idea reminds me of “Pronoia”, by Rob Brezsny. I don’t remember the page, or passage exactly, or whether it was just a notion invoked in the writing, but it introduced me to the idea that my old worn out story of who I was, was just that, an old worn out story. I grow tired of stories of struggle sometimes, and “resilience”, as you say, becomes an essential ingredient in a healthy outlook on life. One amazing ability humans have is regeneration. When I learned that ‘who I was’, was just a story, it opened doors in my consciousness as to who I could be.
“When I learned that ‘who I was’, was just a story, it opened doors in my consciousness as to who I could be.”
Well said, Michael.
Michael, I love Rob’s spin on things. I too am distancing myself from my old worn out story. I hope to soon feel the freedom you express. Somehow letting go completely of the old – feels like death. Perception is the issue.
But living in quicksand (as I am now) requires a new point of focus, so it seems to be inevitable that something new must be.
Thank-you. Len, for the encouraging words/wishes.
Michael, one of my processes over the past few years has been to examine (critically/intuitively) one of my major, practically lifelong stories of who I am/what I want – & given the age I am & the resources I have to work with, having to simply let go of a lot of it. The Big Dream has been down-sized innumerable times, & I’ve had to negotiate (with my self & the practical world) a new version – which necessitates a whole bunch of new story, built around the core values I’ve held throughout my journey thus far.
Maybe this is how we grow? – or as you say, regenerate? It’s surely not without growing pains. But experience suggests that’s part of what can indeed open doors in our consciousness. Thank-you for that perspective.
Thank you, Len, for this beautiful perspective. And what a gorgeous conversation it opened.
Something in the way you described the sun and moon was medicine for me and brings many tears.
As far as struggle…what is struggle? For me, I struggle often when I am resisting something. Either resisting a particular feeling (often pain, fear) that is flowering in me that I don’t want to feel, which is like closing my eyes as I look in the mirror. (Not accepting the gift of the learning that is in my reflection)
As I read your writing, I felt the great rejoice of surrender. The free-fall of allowing all the space and all the love and support I have to open up to everything that is here in me, for me. Every feeling, every millisecond of infinite love and beauty that is ever changing and ever present.
Thank you
” I felt the great rejoice of surrender.” Be still to fall into a different reality but one that is always enveloped in love.
Michael: Yes (echoing Amanda), well said indeed. Appropriateness, however, is still an important guideline. Rob Brezsny’s inspired and laudable conceptual product ( “Pronoia”) is an excellent path to liberation when appropriately applied. If it goes over the line into denial or delusion, however, them there could be some problems. It appears that your perspective on and application of the concept is well grounded and realistic.
Amanda: Thank you for being supportive of Mishael’s enlightened contributing comment.
Bette: Thank you for your supportive words as well.
Amy: Words cannot adequately express my own, reciprocal appreciation for your gracious comment here today. Thank you for medicine returned for medicine given. Thank you especially for expanding thoughtfully on the concept of struggle and its alternatives with admirable depth of both feeling and intellect. Please feel welcome to make additional comments here at Planet Waves in the future – it would be deeply appreciated.
These are welcome words Len, and I especially appreciate your noting the changing of seasons associated with the mutable signs. This particular Full Moon is only one degree from the ascendant of the Sibly chart’s version for the U.S. birth. How I would love to see struggle exchanged for compromise, starting in our country’s leadership circles! The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon does suggest a transition; “A Flag Turns Into An Eagle; The Eagle Into A Chanticleer Saluting The Dawn”. Perhaps a New Dawn is in the offing here in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
Your words on Tuesday about the Mercury retrograde conjunction with the Sun tomorrow, when tied to the U.S. Uranus at 8+ Gemini, also suggest a possible new start. The Trans Neptunian Object (TNO) Altjira has been conjunct the U.S. Uranus for quite some time now. We know that this TNO was named after the Australian Creative God of Dreamtime called Altjira, and we know that the sign Gemini is also associated with a changing of season, and we know that Uranus is associated with creative breakthroughs. Mercury retro is “thoughtful review” and Sun is “consciousness” in astro-speak, so why not see this conjunction tomorrow (transiting Sun, transiting Mercury rx, transiting Altjira, natal U.S. Uranus) as preparation for a new season of cooperation? We can dream can’t we?
be
Thank you Len for your refrence to the Mutable quality this Saggitarius Full Moon in opposition to the Gemini Sun will take on (and so may we!). This led me to finally, actually familiarize myself with all three qualities. Learning, primarily I have placements in Cardinal and Mutable signs and points, with a few fixed. Which makes valuable sense to me. And, I understand myself and a few other’s perspectives, which may further affect my ways of relating better (always improving I hope), as well.
One thing that particularly resonated for me in connection to your message, and the nature of adaptibility, was understanding Mutables represent the break-down of the cycle before the next season begins. So there’s a sense of chaos in their natures.
This seems to work well in unison with the Mercury retrograde, what i have been focusing on this week, and also BE’s ending comment, and line.. “We can dream can’t we?” Answer: Yes, indeed! Thank you BE : )-
We can and should dream now. Working the opposite (the two) mutable sign qualities, chaos encourages and holds what dreams are made of. Open to the potential fertile ground, (the three) of the next, upcoming season in Cardinal Cancer, of initiation and fulfillment.
I notice Uranus in representation, symbolizing chaos/change, it’s placement on this Full Moon will be at (ARIES 20°): The Sabian Symbol to this degree: A YOUNG GIRL FEEDING BIRDS IN WINTER.
This symbol speaks of moving from crisis (struggle) to compassion, by way of relating in natural spirit, creative imagination. Dane Rudhyar interpretets this symbol’s degree:
THE TRANSMUTATION OF LIFE INTO LOVE.
So yes, Dream! And live a higher level…offer and recieve what you love!
Cowboyiam, Amy T., Pisces Sun, Barbara (be), and P. Sophia: Please forgive me for taking until today to acknowledge each and every one of your supportive, insightful and enriching comments which added so very much to the development of the Sagittarius Full Moon theme put forward here last week. You are each and all sincerely and deeply appreciated in my grateful heart.