Full Moon in Leo 🐱 Feb 8, 2020

Artist: Yumiko Kayukawa

Saturday, Feb 8 at 11.34pm PST

The February full moon is called the Snow Moon. The moon will rise at sunset, peak at midnight and set at sunrise; this is true all over the world, no matter your time zone. In your mind, visualize the earth between the full moon and the Aquarian sun, hovering in a 180 degree line – this is the planetary configuration of every full moon. Whenever the earth hangs between two planets like this, an astronomical/astrological “opposition” occurs. The full moon in Leo is an examination of the Leo–Aquarius opposition, and all the ways in which these archetypes complement one another.

Any full moon during Aquarius season will always be in Leo, as this is the constellation opposite Aquarius on the zodiac wheel. If someone tells me they have Sun in Aquarius, Moon in Leo, I know right away this person was born on the full moon. The geometric relationship between the constellations is fixed in relation to the phases of the moon. Got a little heady there for a second but I believe it’s important to have this basic knowledge.

Oppositions are no better or worse than “harmonious” aspects like conjunctions (or new moons). “Hard” angles like oppositions are simply different teachers with different lessons. Aquarius, when opposed by the moon, teaches us a few things. First and foremost: roll with the punches and expect the unexpected. Second: it’s time to connect with friends and community. Aquarius takes individual consciousness and weaves it upon the great cosmic loom. Threaded and pressed, our own color fades blissfully into the rainbow. Third: don’t be afraid to make noise, be loud, turn up the volume. Aquarius is a non-conformist and spiritual liberator. Be daring.

Leo rules self-expression. He is pure theatrical fire, a flamboyant actor on stage. It’s no secret that the lion can be really into himself. Aquarius, on the other hand, is quick to check this behavior, but he has an ego of his own. The water bearer is confident that his futuristic message can single-handedly revolutionize Leo’s navel-gazing world. With these two archetypes – equally self-assured and hellishly obstinate – we can accomplish anything. Leo and Aquarius resemble one another more than they will ever admit. Together they brew a tonic of emotional freedom imbued with passion, vision and breakthrough moments.

Let’s destroy old psychological boundaries, those which have proven limiting or self-defeating, and allow healthier inner paradigms to emerge. In redrawing our boundaries, we free ourselves from ideas that have held us captive. We can evaporate these binds and bonds and tethers with a wink of Aquarius’ magic turquoise eyes.

Leo and Aquarius are agents of wisdom and self-empowerment. They gift us with intellectual and spiritual fuel to burn. Each day brings us closer to liberation and celebration, so we roar up to the stars with newfound freedom.

At this full moon last year, I was in the middle of the woods in northern California, swimming in another dimension. I left the windows of the cabin open so I could hear the drums outside, emanating from an enormous tipi. This was the final night in a days-long Native American Church meeting. The drum beat impossibly quickly, like a stag galloping between the trees; the silhouettes of 40 people flickered with profound mystery upon the deer hides. Sparks from the fire spouted from the top of the tipi, drifting ecstatically into the sky. I prayed with all of my being; I dove deep into my body; I saw without seeing. The crippling pain I normally experience with my autoimmune disease did not come; I was left instead in a state of unprecedented psychic openness, free to enjoy and explore my mind’s eye without being beholden to my pain. So many things are possible at this full moon…

And so we keep turning inward, just like the sun below the horizon, flying through infinity. Psychic and physical energy increase significantly at the full moon. This is felt not just the day of, but for days before and after. Emotions and intuition will be heightened, just as women experience before menstruation. It is our duty to remain calm. Non-reaction is the root of all journeys made in the name of self-control and self-discipline. Find a way to communicate without anger.

If this Aquarian wind has got you feeling uprooted, come back to earth by meditating on the root chakra. If Leo’s warmth hasn’t quite permeated your heart yet, meditate on the heart chakra. And if you’re feeling super groovy and wanna rock this at the next level, travel up to the third eye. Treat yourself with Leo Yoga. To find your personal moon sign, click here.

Affirmation:  I free myself