Full Moon in Aquarius ♒ Aug 15, 2019

Thursday, Aug 15 at 5.31am PST

Artist: Thalia Took

North American fishing tribes call the August full moon the Sturgeon Moon because it coincides with abundant fish catches. It is also sometimes called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon. The moon will rise at sunset, peak at midnight and set at sunrise – and this is true all over the world, no matter your time zone.

Sun and moon oppose one another in Leo and Aquarius: right brain artists vs left brain scientists. Aquarius emanates from the analytical frontal cortex, unlike Leo, who operates from the heart. At this full moon, a dose of Aquarian rationale suffuses Leo’s impulsive, creative heart. Aquarius is not just logical, he is also more universal – though he, like Leo, can be flagrantly egotistical when imbalanced. In his highest expression, Aquarius weaves us upon a great cosmic loom. Threaded and pressed, Leo’s individual colors fade blissfully into the rainbow.

The Leo sun represents childhood and self-expression. The full moon in Aquarius comes in like a dash of radical, inquisitive lightning. The fixed opposition of this full moon often summons proud, forceful reactions. When properly channelled, this energy is purely empowering and liberating.

How do we get there? How do we move beyond and experience the real bounty of Aquarian freedom? The issue here is that Leo and Aquarius (like most humans) always need to be right. Leo believes firmly in himself: his generosity, his intentions, his narrative. The water bearer, on the other hand, lurches from the lectern, convinced his research will revolutionize the world. Aquarius is notoriously merciless when he feels that his intellect is in question, hallmark altruism rapidly replaced by piercing shades of anger disguised as objectivity. Indeed, the insalubrious Aquarian is indistinguishable from his leonine brother.

Aquarius is synonymous with change and movement. He is the emancipator, the martyr, the uprising. Aquarius evaporates psychological binds, bonds and tethers with a wink of his magic turquoise eyes. When we are truly objective and scientific in our thinking, we effectively detach ourselves from our emotions. This doesn’t mean that our emotions go away or that we don’t value them anymore, just that we are free to make decisions without being influenced by our heart. Trust me – I am someone who prefers to use my heart for all decision-making. However I have learned again and again that as much as I want the “system” to go away, it remains, thoroughly permeating the external world.

We can work this patriarchal/corporate/destructive/wasteful system to our advantage. We can use our scientific brain to write eloquent letters and essays to reach those within the system. We can appeal to their officious sensibilities. I don’t like doing this any more than you probably do, but I do find that it is necessary sometimes to put my hippie bullshit aside and tune in to these other wavelengths. On this full moon, my grad school application is due – I’m applying for a degree in Alternative Education (ruled by Aquarius). After many months of deliberation I have decided that I can work from both outside and inside the system to change it. I can use those meaningless initials after my name to make real change in the standardized educational realm. With the power of titles and societal prestige, I can cut the cords and make this scape more free and radical than ever before!

Full moons are high energy and felt not just the day of, but for days before and after. They heighten emotions and intuition, such as women experience before menstruation. During the full moon, we are more likely to overreact. It is our duty to remain calm and non-reactive no matter what. This is especially true considering that this full moon will directly oppose Venus in Leo – watch for interpersonal tension. In meditation, focus on the throat and third eye chakras. Invert your mind with Aquarius Yoga. To find your personal moon sign, click here.

Affirmation:  I am humble