September 25th ~ October 2nd
The Harvest Moon by George Heming Mason
Look, look at this. We got Hurricane Grace moving north off the Atlantic seaboard. Huge... getting massive. Two, this low south of Sable Island, ready to explode. Look at this. Three, a fresh cold front swooping down from Canada. But it's caught a ride on the jet stream... and is motoring hell-bent towards the Atlantic. What if Hurricane Grace runs smack into it? Add to the scenario this baby off Sable Island, scrounging for energy. She'll start feeding off both the Canadian cold front... and Hurricane Grace. You could be a meteorologist all your life... and never see something like this. It would be a disaster of epic proportions. It would be... the perfect storm. ~ (from the Perfect Storm)
Originally I had hoped to head out to serene and verdant Shelter Island in the Peconic Bay this weekend. That was until we became aware of a Nor-easter brewing off the coast. Our business would involve water and boats.. which felt strangely appropriate for a Full Moon in Aries conjunct Neptune… minus the Aries. Although this is not exactly Hurricane Grace meets various weather fronts, I had no desire to reenact a scene from the Perfect Storm.
So what might we expect when the diluvian lord of the seas dives into the fiery realm of Aries, whilst Aries-ruler, Mars, is embroiling itself in a very fraught Fixed sign Grand Cross over the next few weeks. Like an astrological perfect storm, we are navigating some rough waters of our own this week. Bring life preservers, stretchers and maybe a few fire extinguishers along for the ride, this could get tense as we move further into the week.
Full Moons are often times of culmination and disclosure. And the Full Moon on Saturday at 3º Aries 37’ is no different. They can also make things larger, and when combined with Neptune, can either lead us astray with deception and confusion, or raise us to the heights of bliss and transcendence. Neptune is both sublime and deceptive at the same time. And it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between truth and illusion. Or what we might wistfully want to be true and the way things actually are.
Perhaps the best way to work with Neptune is to just be. Feel. Listen. Sense. Neptune speaks to us in our dreams, through our feelings, our senses and our inner knowing. It does not shout. Even in a storm. It whispers. Neptune is still closely working with Pluto, opening her portal to the higher realms. But Jupiter is also here, making things larger and daring us to move out and away from our usual bounds. Like a growing storm in the Atlantic meeting that cold front swooping down from Canada, what happens when they begin to feed that grand cross just scrounging for energy? Or any excuse for that matter?
The Full Moon can be truly profound. Forming an illuminating Kite with not only the Sun the Moon and Neptune, but also Uranus in Gemini and Pluto in Aquarius. Kites are a picture of dynamic and creative potential, which by surrounding the Neptune/Pluto portal, create a perfect opportunity to convene with the gods, consult the oracles, and catch your dreams. Feelings will rise to the surface. Pay attention. The Full Harvest Moon is an opportunity to dance with the fairies, or succumb to our emotions. The best viewing of the Full Moon will be at sunset on Saturday night.
The Full Moon in Aries puts the attention back on us, and reminds us that we are of no use to anyone else if we do not tend to our own needs, and make ourselves something of a priority. This is a theme to watch as Venus continues to slow for her retrograde station on the 3rd of October.
Hope is not blind optimism. It’s not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. It’s not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it. Hope is the belief that destiny will not be written for us, but by us, by the men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is, who have the courage to remake the world as it should be. ~ Barack Obama
After the weekend, the beautiful Kite formation then swiftly morphs into another familiar pattern, one which we were navigating in July when Jupiter was directly opposite Pluto. This week, Mars, which freshly enters Leo Sunday night, is going to take Jupiter’s place by positioning itself directly opposite Pluto. This will occur almost simultaneously with Mercury making an opposition to Chiron. So not only does this recreate a rather edgy cradle that craves safety and security, but also a Grand Cross of fire and brimstone.
A Grand Cross consists of 4 planets seemingly in conflict with one another, by having 2 pairs of opposing planets at cross quarters with the other. Sometimes that is all that we will be aware of. The sort of feeling of being pulled in several directions at once. Much depends on the planets involved, but at the very least is a feeling of indecision and imbalance; to outright chaos, stress and conflict. Here are some of the conflicts that can arise:
Mercury opposite Chiron (square Mars and Pluto): Mercury has to do with communications. When in opposition to Chiron we become that much more aware of the power of our words, which can peel back the scabs of our wounds, and reveal what lurks beneath. Like a bandaid being torn off, words can further wound what is being revealed, or they can serve as a balm, offering healing and support. Realize with a Grand Cross that we should only offer advice if it is being asked for, otherwise it will not be received, and may even be resented and feel intrusive. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself nursing old wounds, and dwelling on words that had been said, or should have been said.
How this can be used in a positive way:
going for healing advice.
being willing to ask the hard questions, and have those difficult discussions
giving a voice to those who have been silenced, or marginalized in any way
Mars opposite Pluto (square Mercury and Chiron): This is the part of the equation that will be especially fraught as we approach the Mars/Pluto opposition on October 3rd (which also happens to be when Venus makes it retrograde station). This is the sort of aspect that increases in tension over a number of days. Depending on how repressed the energy is, it can even have the capacity to erupt, something like a volcano that has been kept under pressure for a long time, and is now needing some kind of release. Mars/Pluto alone can often be associated with acts of aggression, bullying, and forceful intimidation. Throw in the Mercury/Chiron opposition and this can blow up through disagreements, and arguments, in which both parties are intent at getting others persuaded to agree with them, and where never the twain shall meet. Could be expressed through adversarial relationships within a group, or opposing groups that refuse to see eye to eye, or in which you feel that excessive demands are being made of you.
How this can be used in a positive way:
Fighting for a cause, or for human rights,
Activities that require strength, focus, will-power and persistence.
Any sort of rehabilitation, renovation or rebuilding, with the focus being on making something stronger better, healthier or vastly improved.
Channeled wisely, recognizing what your limits are and where you need to pull back, you can get a great deal accomplished in this weather.
For this week’s horoscopes, click below: