by Robert Wilkinson
This Wesak Festival Full Moon falls at the 17th degree of Scorpio-Taurus, and begins to stabilize the recent beginnings set into motion by the multiple conjunctions in Aries. It's time to anchor forms of compassionate wisdom that will activate processes in June.
The next two weeks offer us ways to stabilize and solidify recent life developments expressed as intense magnetic forms of our spirituality. We shall see the light of mobilizing our spiritual awareness in polarized forms. This will express as seeing how our Higher Self and Soul have gestated into a unique spiritual self-reliance. This Full Moon is stabilizing and confirming, and the second of the “Three High Moons” of Spring.
Today's article will cover rising signs around the globe, an overview of the Lunation, and the Sabian Symbols. Part 2 will cover the aspects, configurations and patterns, and which signs are most likely to be affected by where this falls in their charts.
A brief overview: the period ruled by this Full Moon will illuminate our ability to mobilize after a time of searching for new forms and new ways of transmitting information, so let your Divine enthusiasm move whatever mountains need moving! This opens a new way, a new day, a new life chapter after an ordeal.
This will show us how to stabilize and consolidate new adventures, new truths, and new futures. It will take shape showing us the “spiritual offspring” we’ve been carrying, allowing us to become a “parent of the living God.”
This is a time of integrating our interests into a central order, and give personal attention to critical details that will help us organize broader efforts. This is a highly specializing Lunation, with many gifts for those who know how to use the down times productively. Whenever you feel scattered, go to your Higher Self and remember that sometimes all we need to do is shape our minds so that we can receive forms of fulfillment, and they will inevitably come.
Now let’s take a look at the rising signs for this Full Moon around the world. This stabilizing and confirming Happy Buddha Birthday Full Moon helping us become more focused in new wisdom forms occurs on May 5, 2012 at 8:35 pm PDT, 11:35 pm EDT and 4:35 am Greenwich on May 6 (May 6 in Atlantic time and points east).
The Lunation finds 28 Scorpio rising in Santa Monica, 17 Scorpio rising in Vancouver, 29 Sagittarius in Montreal, 1 Capricorn in Washington DC, 28 Aquarius in Rio, 29 Pisces in Lisbon, 19 Aries in London, 1 Taurus in Amsterdam, 18 Taurus in Berlin, 20 Gemini in Tallinn, 22 Taurus in Sofia, 23 Taurus in Cairo, and 3 Taurus in Johannesburg.Moving into Asia and Oceana, we find the Ascendants to be 8 Cancer in Abbottabad, 9 Cancer in New Delhi, 29 Gemini in Trivandrum, 23 Cancer in Bangkok, 8 Leo in Hong Kong, 4 Virgo in Tokyo, 18 Cancer in Perth, 19 Leo in Melbourne, 4 Virgo in Brisbane, 6 Libra in Wellington, and 30 Libra rising on Maui (May 5).
Because the New Moon preceding the Full Moon always represents the seed forms that are brought to surface at and after the Full Moon, please check out New Moon in Taurus Pt. 1 - What's Happening in April-May 2012. You can find out even more about the themes of this period by going to New Moon in Taurus Pt. 2 - Signs, Sabian Symbols, and What It All Means.
Those around the world who will definitely feel effects of this Full Moon are the places where it falls near the angles of the chart. Places where the Lunation is near the angles and activating energies powerfully are (Sun first, Moon second) Southeastern Europe, east Africa, and South Africa (Asc/Dsc), SE Asia, Perth, and Melbourne (MC/IC), Hawaii and the west coast of North America (Dsc/Asc), and Montreal and Rio (IC/MC).
As we are still under the influence of all four of the 2011 Solar Eclipses, as well as the July 2010 Solar Eclipse in Cancer, you may want to review the numerous articles in the archives concerning those long term influences. I’ve put a link to all the 2011 Solar Eclipse articles at the bottom of this one. As several planets in this chart harmonize, reconcile, or stabilize previously activated Eclipse points, many long term issues and endings can be understood from retrospective approaches.
Full Moons heighten feelings, due to the opposition of the Moon and the Sun. This particular Lunation has only one other forming opposition from the Moon to Jupiter which is conjunct the Sun. This marks the most potent line of polarization and realization potential.
This is the twentieth Full Moon Sun that falls in the same sign as the previous New Moon, continuing to offer us a consistent (and "natural") way of experiencing the New Moon-Full Moon sequence. We had Full Moon Suns in different signs than the previous New Moon from July 2009 through September 2010. We'll have the current sequences of the New Moon Sun being in the same sign as the next Full Moon Sun through the June 2012 Full Moon Lunar Eclipse, after which it will again reverse function and the Full Moon Sun will be the same as the following New Moon Sun.
As I've explained in previous Full Moon articles,
... the Full Moon being in a subsequent sign than the previous New Moon indicates that what is released as realizations in the Full Moon period actually "prepare the ground" for the coming New Moon seed. Strange reversal of function, since you would think the New Moon provides the seed for the next Full Moon. But this set of Lunations works the opposite way....Another way to look at this is the Sun sign of the Full Moon is the same as and precedes the Sun sign of the next New Moon, reversing the usual way Lunations work. So the fulfillment of the Full Moon sets up the next "seed" to be revealed at the next New Moon....
So now the New Moon-Full Moon cycle continues to be in its "normal" sequence, in the sense that we have the illuminated form shown to us at the New Moon which is fulfilled by the light of the same sign at the subsequent Full Moon. The New Moons will all fall in the first half of their signs and the Full Moons will all fall in the last half of their signs through June 2012. Seeds shown in the first half, fulfillment in the second half makes some kind of sense.
This Full Moon falls at 17 Taurus-Scorpio. It is said that the second third (decan) of any sign deals with the emotional, social, and cultural levels of life, and this Lunation falling in the second decan of those signs, invokes a sub-influence of Virgo and Pisces.
Since the Moon always focuses the light of the Sun in specific forms, the degree symbols for both are important. The Sun degree is the illumination or enlightenment of the Lunation, whereas the Moon shows us the potential forms that enlightenment will take.
The Solar degree symbol for the 17th degree of Taurus is “A battle between the swords and the torches.” Rudhyar says this is a degree of “Struggle between might and enlightenment, physical desires and higher inspirations,” “Self-orientation,” and “Divine enthusiasm.”
In the Mandala he goes on to say this is a degree of “Refusing to depend upon the past, the seeker turns warrior, fighting anew the eternal ‘Great War.’” In an interesting correlation to this Wesak Festival, celebrating the Full Moon that marked Gautama Siddhartha (the Buddha’s) birth, enlightenment, commencement of the teaching, and his death, Rudhyar notes “When Gautama, having sought in vain for the answers to his questions among the teacher of tradition, sat under the Bodhi Tree, he had to fight his own battle in his own way, even though it is an eternal fight.”
Rudhyar goes on to say “the spiritual light within the greater Soul must struggle against the ego-will that only knows how to use the powers of this material and intellectual world... It is the energy that arises out of the present moment – the inescapable NOW – that the daring individual has to use in the struggle.” He also suggests this degree infers that enlightenment is attained through facing all issues “as if there were only two opposed sides” suggesting a “polarization of values.” According to Rudhyar, this degree falls in the Span of Enjoyment, Act of Differentiation, and Scene of Confirmation on the Actional-Physical level.
Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of "the eternal struggle between the practical necessities or transient competitions of life on the one hand and the motives and meanings which give them direction and order on the other.” He states this symbol is one of surviving and gaining genuine self-fulfillment by aligning ourselves with the causes of enlightenment while respecting “the manifestations of might.”
He offers the keyword RESOLUTION. When operating positively, the degree is "high organizational skill and an ability to bring the magic of understanding to any specific difficulty.”
The Lunar degree symbol for the 17th degree of Scorpio is “A woman the father of her own child.” Rudhyar states this degree is one of “fullness of self-reliance and individual destiny,” “cooperation between spiritual and material agencies,” and “Pure self-revelation.”
In the Astrological Mandala, he says this degree is one of “A total reliance upon the dictates of the God-within,” where we experience “the result of a deep and complete concentration reaching to the innermost center of the personality where the Living God acts as a fecundating power.” Here we see the “potency of the inward way” where ego-surrender lead to dynamic manifestations of the Divine Will.
He says this “brings to us the realization of normally hidden potentialities,” where “Faith in the Divine” helps us become “A Mother of the Living God,” living a “transpersonal existence” that leads to “creative mutations.” Rudhyar says this degree falls in the Span of Appreciation, Act of Group Integration, and Scene of Faith on the Actional-Physical level.
Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this is a degree of "the eternal conflict between the practical involvements and the ideal potentialities of human nature” emphasized in our “conscious individuality,” where our “Soul feels the weight of (our) transient responsibilities while the indwelling and immortal spirit is sensitive to its need for an enduring place in the scheme of things.” Here our “recurrent virgin birth of self” meets our world “through their common center of reality.”
He offers the keyword NUCLEATION. When operating positively, the degree is "an illimitable self-potentiality with effective spiritual or ideal as well as practical or everyday orientations.”
From these symbols it seems we can see the light of knowing how to mobilize wholeheartedly, seeing what is of the world and what is of Spirit, allowing our values to be polarized to move beyond obsolete ideas and approaches. These can express through concentrated magnetic forms that work on both practical and spiritual levels of life, where our inner “God” comes forth as a result of our own carrying it to fruition.
We can find illumination through seeing how to confirm our spiritual integrity and power through positive actions, where we reorient and mobilize our divine enthusiasm. These will be focused through the truth or Dharma we’ve been carrying as though we were pregnant, where our Spiritual Self and our human self find cooperation in ways that make us more self-reliant than we have been before now.
Overall, this Full Moon will show us new wisdom forms whereby we can integrate a lot in our “upper chamber of consciousness,” along with showing us how to be more effective in our use of time, even when it seems we have to wait for something to happen before we can do our thing. There will be high specialization and gifts in multiple life areas, and many promises will be redeemed in the next two weeks that have been hanging since March 2011 due to Mercury occupying the exact degree it went stationary retrograde then.
Again, this is a period where we will get the answer from Spirit for having gone through our crises with courage and determination in obedience to Divine Will. While there will be some major adjustments and sacrifices, overall this period is one of many gifts, unique interactions, and the emergence of global manifestations in each of us, freed from local conditions and narrow heritages. Just go deep, practice your breathing when under pressure, and take note of subconscious or unconscious factors going on around you.
This Full Moon will be a curious mix of energies, and will continue to be very favorable for those with planets in early and mid-Earth and Water signs, as well as late Fire and Air signs. We’re still being given solid understandings so we can come to forms of philosophical completion through revisiting some of the nobler aspirations we’ve been chasing since late 2011. This is a transition from old ways to new ways, truths, and futures.
Find a way of harmony beyond the oscillations, open your practical imagination, and go through whatever you need to in order to mobilize your Higher Self, since those trials are showing your way to confirm something of real value. Let go, purify, see the indestructible elements of your life and Path, and catch glimpses of how you’re being freed for greater responsibilities and duties.
After your mind wearies of material orientations and interpretations, embrace positive Sagittarian traits whenever you confront an ending or a greater understanding of higher things. We’re on our way to a greater life adventure now that the crises are over, and with the Sun conjunct Jupiter, embrace a gentle simple humor, openness, courage, and imagination. See a bigger picture or a grander adventure, be the embodiment of freedom of thought and try not to stay stuck in heavy or unnecessarily limited attitudes.
This Full Moon helps us continue to secure resources we’ll need to further our new initiatives set into motion this time last year. Move forward with boldness and imagination, avoid extremists who put you into tugs of war, learn the rules of the game and insist on fair play, and take hope that you will be getting signals from Spirit that the flood is over and a new day is dawning.
As with last month, see the links between the rapidly-fading past with the new life you’re already living. We’re all being propelled into a new love, a new joy, a new enthusiasm, or a new truth (or all of the above!) This is the time to embrace a new life and a new way of living.
On a final note for today, a reminder: long time readers on this site know this second Full Moon of Spring marks the next of the "3 High Moons" occurring each year that offer the world a new infusion of Light, Dharma, and Love. According to one respected source, the Full Moon of Aries/Libra brings the renewal of the life force for the year (at least for the Northern Hemisphere.) The Full Moon of Taurus/Scorpio, known as the Wesak Festival, brings a new outpouring of the "Cosmic Buddha Nature" that brings all a renewal of the qualities that Sage brought to humanity to lessen suffering for all sentient Beings.
In the same tradition, the Full Moon of Gemini/Sagittarius is known as the Christ Fest, where the World Teacher of the Age takes the wisdom of the Buddha Nature and infuses it with the Loving magnetism so that all may become more lovingly wise and wisely loving according to the lesson of the year. That Christ Fest Loving Wisdom pulse has been active since mid-June of 2011, and will be replaced by a new pulse in the Gemini/Sagittarius Full Moon to come.
For now, enjoy Spring, and the rush of life that's already appearing all over the Northern Hemisphere. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, check out to see what types of new Taurus wisdom forms are showing themselves in your life, and move forward into a truth you’ve been carrying for a while. This is the time to embrace and live a new wisdom that will help you see that old ways, old knowledge, and old truths are not adequate to confirm your new conditions of existence. It’s mobilization time!
In Part 2 we'll cover the aspects, configurations, and which degree spans will be impacted by this Full Moon. See you soon!
For more about what’s in store for 2012 and how the 2011 Solar Eclipses have been and are impacting us all, here’s:
Astrology Now Into 2012 - What To Expect. There are a lot of links to past Eclipses that are still impacting us, so enjoy! (And to encourage you a second time, be sure to check out the 2011 Sagittarius Solar Eclipse articles specifically, since that degree is one of the “antidotes” for any problems arising these next two weeks!)
© Copyright 2012 Robert Wilkinson
Your words at times go straight to the heart of the soul!
And thank you for one of the most thought/feeling provoking astrological readings i have ever had. Great food for deep contemplation, inner movement and of being brought to conscious awareness of how to step forward.
Heartfelt Thanks to you Robert; Amrita x
Posted by: Amrita | May 04, 2012 at 04:08 PM
Great post! Makes me feel better about this lunation, which has had me a bit nervous. The Moon will be almost exactly square my Aquarius AC and Leo Mercury. I have been struggling with some communication difficulties when teaching... I'm always looking for a better way of dealing with the occasional challenging student and getting too hard on myself about it all. Also, as you pointed out in my last reading, my progressed New Moon is happening this week (the 5th, you said)! Any thoughts about the Full Moon (in my 9th) in a T square like this one?
Posted by: Reefaroundme | May 04, 2012 at 09:56 PM
OM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM
Posted by: Mary Pillay | May 04, 2012 at 11:07 PM
Aum mani padme hum! What an amazing text - thank you for saring this golden wisdom so generously! You truly are remarable in every way. Blessings and gratitude galore
Posted by: susann | May 05, 2012 at 05:57 AM
"This is a time of integrating our interests into a central order, and give personal attention to critical details that will help us organize broader efforts."
I celebrate this. I really don't know if I would be where I'm at now if I hadn't taken the trip on the Aquarius Papers Train.
Gratitude.
Posted by: caliban | May 05, 2012 at 09:57 AM
Great Read Robert
Best to you on WESAK
km
Posted by: Kurt Madison | May 05, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Amen brother, ain't that the truth!
Posted by: rogue12 | May 05, 2012 at 12:30 PM
Your words confirm a calm knowing that has been building in me for some time. I firmly move forward in grateful anticipation to my 12th house Gemini endings with the solar eclipse of the S. Node at 0 degrees Gemini coming later this month forming a Grand Air Trine with my Sun and Moon with Jupiter being the first planetary hit on 6-12 opposing natal Jupiter and conjuncting my N. Node. "Takin' out the Trash" like never before! Lovin' the new skin I'm in. :-)
Posted by: Claudia | May 05, 2012 at 06:00 PM
happy vesak to all. where is svetlana? the very intellectual discourses between robert and svetalana were so very informative and thought provoking i especilly loved the line when the the student is ready the teacher appears?
Posted by: menike kaluikathaimahathaimodai | May 05, 2012 at 07:32 PM