The Full Moon in Aquarius comes exact on Friday, July 31 at 6:43 am EST
Click here to learn about the Moon. Click here to learn about Aquarius.
This full moon marks halfway between the Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox; it is known as Lunar Lammas. Lammastide is a traditional holiday in English-speaking regions of the Northern Hemisphere, falling upon the first harvest of the year. In more ways than one, this full moon symbolizes a reaping of the seeds we have sown. In the Great Lakes region, this phase is also known as the Full Sturgeon Moon because it coincides with abundant fish catches. The moon will rise at sunset, peak at midnight and set at sunrise.
The Sun and Moon in total opposition between fixed fire Leo and fixed air Aquarius: me vs we. The last full moon in Aquarius was a Supermoon in August 2014. Any themes/conflicts that predominated then will now resurface. The Leo cycle is ultimately an inward journey. Imagine yourself on this fiery quest. As the full moon rises, people gather from all directions on a mountaintop. Here we set aside our “stories” and sing as One.
Axis of identity
The Leo-Aquarius polarity works to achieve balance between the individual and the collective. Let’s meditate for a moment on the ruling planets of each sign, the Sun and Uranus respectively. The Sun emanates from the inside out, master of the ego / identity. Uranus is the rebel and nonconformist, dancing eccentrically to the beat of his own drum. On one end of the spectrum, we have regal Leo in his fullest expression: living through the heart, content to stay there without ever venturing beyond the confines of the Self. On the other lies Aquarius, wandering so far out in the cosmos that he struggles to cultivate awareness within. Leo lives in the here and now, in laughter, in the body, in the raw landscape of the ego’s unruly desires. The Full Moon in Aquarius yearns to explode outward, to use the Self as a vehicle for social empowerment on a global level.
Resisting the urge to talk/think/draw attention to the Self is more difficult during the Leo season. However, the Full Moon in Aquarius provides some respite from this tendency. Now we see through labels – color, class, nationality, gender, religion – and embrace the light of interconnectedness that shines within all beings, namaste: coalescence of the many into One. This transit brings to mind vision and prophecy. Breakthroughs will come quickly and without warning. The Aquarian mind is incredibly nimble and prone to tangents!
Not so tolerant after all
Opposite signs on the zodiac wheel have inherent differences, but they also have a lot in common. The balanced Aquarian possesses a self-assurance that the lion often lacks, despite appearances. However, this self-assurance all too easily turns to obstinance in the face of conflict. I have thus far described the water bearer as a relatively ego-less creature, but I’ve come to realize that the imbalanced Aquarian closely resembles his leonine counterpart: proud, forceful, totally blinded by the ego. My relationship to Leo is changing as a result of these recent revelations. Too much Aquarius energy makes life feel cold and unemotional; an overdose of Leo makes life feel too hot - think melodrama, unchecked passion, irrational emotional responses. I used to lean toward Aquarian ideals with the belief that the water bearer is more evolved and community-minded. And yet there is something beautiful in Leo’s rough, matter-of-fact reality, something that feels more genuine and intimate than the water bearer’s notorious aloofness.
Aquarius acquires an edge if he feels that his toes have been stepped on; altruism is rapidly replaced by dark shades of anger in the form of hard logic / “objective” intellectualization. The Full Moon in Aquarius may shut the heart down in favor of the left brain’s insistence on “rational” thinking. Aquarius loves spreading messages of social justice and equality to the rest of humanity. As such, he feels that his wisdom will revolutionize the world. Here we see again the fixed nature of Aquarius. The water bearer often struggles to understand other people; he is quick to judge and finds most people boring with no self-confidence or originality. We can properly channel this emotionally detached energy by remaining true to the Self, no bullshit.
The balanced water bearer weaves a universal story composed of many voices. If you’re feeling blocked, reach out to others who desire change. I suggest a ritual involving your community or circle. Hang in there. YOU are loved. Namaste.
If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight. To ascertain your personal Moon sign, click here.
Mantra: humble