With additional writing and editing by Eric Francis
Right now it seems unusually swift and energetic changes are in the air. Venus and Uranus, two planets that are very direct about getting what they want, have just effectively skidded to a halt, stationing retrograde within about a day of one another. This might tell in any areas where you suddenly find yourself looking at something — including yourself — differently.
There’s also the small matter of an Aquarius Full Moon, taking place on Friday morning at 6:42 EDT (10:42am UTC). Anything with prominent Aquarius points to humanity as a collective; the state and struggle of humankind; revolution, evolution and general advancement of our species.
A fire on your hearth will bless those you love most dearly. Image: Cyrus Bulsara/Flickr
Every Full Moon event involves some form of tension played out between the two opposing signs hosting the Sun and Moon.
In the case of Leo-Aquarius, as Eric describes it, we have the balance between “the One and the Many” — between the sympathy you feel for the people dearest to you, and the solidarity you share with all your fellow beings.
The Aquarian side of this pairing can seem cool and dispassionate. However, as Eric said in his excellent 2008 article Brother Moon, this Moon placement “can conceive of needs that most people cannot imagine. They are very good at identifying needs that go beyond themselves.”
Leo, meanwhile, localizes this generosity into its personal circle. Its compassion works from the heart outwards. This means focusing on those you care about most deeply, whose troubles you know most intimately — and whom you are thereby most empowered to help.
To many of us, our power seems small and compromised these days, in the face of so much information. Yet this week, remember that in the lives of those whom you truly love, and who love you, you have the ability to move mountains.
The energy of Leo and Aquarius combined takes a local phenomenon and gives it wider implications. It is also a reminder of how an action is exponentially more effective when performed consciously and simultaneously with many others.
So, this Friday, if you plan to do something fun, you will be spreading joy. If you are kind to people close to you, your compassion will be felt in the human web in which we are all connected.
Light a fire on your hearth; because a small fire multiplied can kindle the soul of the world. The soul of collective humanity.
Thank you Amy for tying these events together for us.
I would add that all this comes as the lead in to ‘Lugnasadh,’ the cross-quarter day that marks the mid-point between Summer Solstice (North of the Equator) and the Autumnal Equinox. Indicating the beginning of the harvest season, we begin to reap what we have sown through the year, and separate the wheat from the chaff- literally and otherwise. With the proximity of these retrogrades, and the Full Moon (Blue Moon) on the doorstep of Lugnasadh, this feels like a very potent time.
Thank you, AE ~ Clear and engaging piece.. And how potent a time it is.. a lot of action, and all occurring within a Jupiter sq Saturn context… Grist for the mill that grinds out rewards for perseverance and discipline…
No doubt there are swift changes in the air. This is the first time in a few days I’ve had the time to sit and relax at a coffee shop to catch up on Planet Waves. I failed to ask for help packing, clearing out my house in time. I thought I could handle it all myself, but Saturday I had to call mom at 7:00 am to come help. My best friend Brian came with his truck to haul stuff to a yard sale I had to be at by 9, but his truck wouldn’t start after we loaded it. Then, my dad’s buddy came to let me use his truck, but managed to fix Brian’s instead (tightened battery cables, duh). For some reason Brian was convinced it was the starter. Anyway, the lady who bought the house, and a truck delivering her furniture shows up. I was scrambling to get everything out the house. You never realize how much stuff accumulates, it’s ridiculous. Mom was in the kitchen finishing packing dishes. It was quite a scene, but in the end I am very blessed to have a core circle of family, and friends that would go to the ends of the world for me.
I’ve sold my home, most of my belongings, and gave a ton of stuff away. Everything I own now fits in my car (besides some keepsakes stored at mom’s). My little snowshoe cat Venus and I are bound for Boulder as soon as possible. A lot has changed in the past few days.
Michael- give a shout when you arrive in the People’s Republic!
Good grief, Mike – very best of luck to you and your kitty-friend.
Will do!
Cant help myself but I end up looking for food metaphors everywhere … the natal chart is a stew, for me, with the various planets representing diff ingredients. Aquarius, the stock (my chart it’s vegg) and Leo, the meat, or fish …
Thots? I’m open …and usually hungry.
M2
Many thanks for this piece, Amy, including the link to Eric’s Brother Moon article which was well worth reading.
It’s going to be quite a serious weekend for me, I suspect, with the Full Moon conjunct my natal Sun and the Sun conjunct natal Pluto in the 8th on Friday, followed by Saturn stationing direct almost exactly conjunct my Ascendant on Satur(n)day. I hope I’m still here to tell the tale next week…
Love the picture of the cat – it looks quite similar to mine. Despite it being mid-summer I think I might clean the grate and light a fire on Friday just to celebrate. Hope the chimney doesn’t catch!
Isn’t he a beauty? I might share a picture of mine one day, if it’s ever possible to make out her face in all the fluff
Thanks for your comments, everyone.
I’m feeling that I should mention the Gayatri, or prayer to the Sun. Combined with creative visualisation, this can work like a dream.
http://www.trance-formations.us/the_gayatri_sun_prayer.html
You who are the source of all power,
whose rays illuminate the world,
illuminate also my heart
so that it too can do your work.
Upon re-read I’m reminded by something I read here a while back (by Eric?) in which he describes the difference between a mass of humanity and a group … as I sit with it now it feels like the Aquarius/Leo evolution in which groups are gathered for like-minded passions …unlike togetherness for the sake of sharing space.
Michael good luck with your move. I also have a snowshoe cat he found me as Chiron (his namesake) conjunct natal Sun a few years back
I couldn’t help but notice that the outrage over the senseless killing of Cecil the Lion would happen while the Sun is in Leo and Venus is in Retrograde Virgo. Also how many celebrities are coming out in Cecil’s defense. The Lion being being a celebrity in his own right was one of their own as Hollywood and the profession of acting is ruled by Leo. Also Zimbabwe is an Aries ruled country. Aries and Leo being fire sign brothers, it is understandable why they are furious over this incident.
Lots of connecting dots here.