by Robert Wilkinson
This distributing, explosive, loving, and forgiving Super Full Moon showing us how to blow out stagnant psychic material and find a more practical imagination falls at the 17th degree of Pisces-Virgo. This is about an “educational experiment” in learning to focus power in actions, where repressed contents in our subconscious minds must be released so we can become whole.
At a Full Moon, that which has opened since the previous New Moon surfaces in a public form, and heads toward the culmination and fruition symbolized by the second half of any cycle. First half, birth into form and field. Second half, culmination and completion of the purpose of that cycle.
That’s why it’s important to regard the New and Full Moon charts as “God’s Footprints in Time,” since one follows the other in an unending sequence of births of newer and newer seeds. The New Moons show us the seeds that will flourish under the reflected light of the Full Moon.
Full Moons heighten feelings, due to the opposition of the Moon and the Sun. This particular Lunation has two other oppositions. One is Venus opposed Neptune, and the other is Mercury opposed Uranus.
As these are personality planets opposing Transpersonal-Spiritual energies, we can use Mercury (lower mind) to express Uranus (Creative Divine Mind) and Venus (social feelings) to express Neptune (Transpersonal Unifying Collective feeling-awareness). So while there will be polarization we can also come to a higher awareness by letting our personal energies be the expression of Spiritual forces beyond individual control.
This Lunation marks the return of one of the more-or-less constant T-squares and Grand Crosses in play for longer than I care to remember. If you’re wondering why so many things have crashed, or been challenged, or turned radical life corners, it’s due to the Uranus square Pluto that have formed two legs in the various T-squares in play since 2010, and especially since late December 2013 through June 2014.
That’s been indicative of the very volatile energies that have fragmented everyone’s life in some way. Many have had some very inharmonious experiences, creating echoes and energy releases related to other cardinal T-squares over the past 3+ years. As I’ve told you before, this square is most affecting those born the first week of April, July, October, and January, as well as those with planets or angles between approximately 10-15 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
The good news is that each time planets transit mid-Cancer and mid-Libra they form a T-square, which can release a lot of pent-up energy, helping break log jams and stuck situations. Mercury brings the return of the Libra energy triggering the T-square, with the void thrown into Cancer. Be kind, gentle, tender, and caring in balanced, sensitive ways.
This is one more phase of learning to embrace self-purification and self-transformation, while seeing how some things are done for good and should be bringing us a sense of relief, even if it’s a bit on edge. Bust the lie or misconception, and find practical ways to ground your unique or innovative ideas.
Dispositors - What's the Backdrop to the Energies?
The Moon in Pisces is ruled by Jupiter in worldly affairs and Neptune in spiritual matters, while the Sun in Virgo is ruled by Mercury. This makes all the elements powerful in how the Moon and Sun express themselves, since Sun is in Earth ruled by a planet in Air, and the Moon in a Water sign is ruled by planets in Fire and Water.
In this chart, in worldly affairs all of the planets are ruled by either Mars, or the Mercury-Venus mutual reception, since these are the final dispositors for all the other planets except Neptune in Pisces, which is its own final dispositor. That makes Mercury, Venus, and Mars the primary forces behind the scenes in this chart, You can find more about dispositors by going to Astrology Class – What Is A Dispositor and What Is Mutual Reception Between Two Planets?
The Sabian Symbols for the Full Moon
This Full Moon falls at 17 Virgo-Pisces. It is said that the middle third (decan) of any sign deals with the emotional, social, and cultural levels of life, and being the middle decan of those signs, invokes a sub-influence of Capricorn and Cancer.
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. Though I’ve given you a sense of what this is about up to now, here’s where we go into detail.
The Solar degree symbol for the 17th degree of Virgo is “A volcano in eruption.” In the original Jones class notes from “The Astrology of Personality,” Rudhyar says this is a degree of “Irresistible outbursting of pent-up impulses, creatively or regeneratively,” “breaking up of complexes,” and “will to wholeness.”
In the Astrological Mandala, he goes on to say that this degree symbolizes “the explosive energy of long-repressed contents of the subconscious.” He states this is about “the dramatic release of energies” which have been repressed by the ego, leading to a catharsis. He goes on to say this is about a “form of purification by fire,” releasing the “inner pressure of the karmic past” in an explosion!
He speaks of “the objective confrontation with an image of the karmic past is replaced by a subjective irruption of repressed memories,” where “everything must be released from the psyche seeking to attain the transfigured state.” He says this degree falls in the Span of Experimentation, Act of Stabilization, and Scene of Education on the Actional level.
Dr. Jones says this is a degree of the “constant expansion of self and nature” which fundamentally involves “physical force and the blind urge of life to continue to be.” He goes on to state that “implicit in the wonder and destructiveness is (our) ease of self-recovery in the critical phases of (our) experience, often aided by the sheer violence with which (we) act to meet some major issue.”
He says the “irresistible outbursts may be merely the total mobilization of (our) deeper potentials.” He offers us the keyword EXPLOSION. He states that when operating in a positive manner, this degree “is creative passion as a rejection of superficiality and a genuine ordering of self.”
So the illumination available via this Full Moon is through the light of some sort of dramatic release of energy associated with a purification, where our “will to wholeness” breaks up old complexes. This is the light of releasing energy in a full mobilization of some sort of “reordering of self.”
The Lunar degree symbol for the 17th degree of Pisces is “An Easter promenade.” In the original notes from the Marc Jones class on the symbols, Rudhyar says this degree is one of “a symbol of ‘high moments’ in life, when (we) challenge (ourselves) and renew (our) faith in circumstances,” and “self improvement.”
In the Mandala he states this degree is one of “the capacity inherent in all great sociocultural Images to unite the members of a community in a display of excellence.” He goes on to say this is about “the unifying power of great myths and symbols in truly organic and self-perpetuating culture,” with a focus on the “Image of the Resurrection” helping all to show their best Self in a renewal aligned with Nature.
He offers that this degree “emphasizes the value of attuning one’s life activities… to the ritualistic patterns of society or Earth Nature” rather than acting independently. Here “the Collective dominates the Individual, Yin overpowers Yang,” and we are told it’s time to participate in “collective peak experiences.” He states this degree falls in the Span of Protection, Act of Capitalization, and Scene of Perpetuation on the Actional level.
Dr. Jones says this degree is about a “constant expansion of self and experience” in terms of individual self-expression. He speaks of “Implicit in all the ridiculous extremes of man’s vanity and self-exhibition is a realization that each least manifestation of his personal excellencies must be shared widely and generously” so they can develop.
He offers the keyword of CELEBRATION. He states that when this degree works positively, it is “tireless self-refinement in an effective inspiration of others.”
So the focus of the illumination available via this Full Moon is that we will all have opportunities to join with others in social rituals where we can show ourselves in our best light. Here we renew, refresh, and can share our best “widely and generously.”
From these symbols it seems we can use the Light of releasing some stuff that’s pent up and under pressure in ways that assist our ability to focus on being our best within a collective or social setup. Here the Light shines on some form of “educational experiment” in self-adjustment, expressed as a form of life renewal exhibited to others.
This one will help us all bust loose, bust out, and let go of old inhibitions, but the energies could become somewhat combustible! This one helps us act in a way that moves us beyond old pressures, but we’ll have to forgive, let go, and allow whatever needs to flow to move down the time stream.And many continue to face forks in the road of their destiny, whether they know it or not.
This is a productive and stabilizing Full Moon, even if it does challenge our balance and sense of fairness. Much that is left over from the 2009-2012 Saturn in Libra era will be revisited, and many will be able to find a sense of relief at old dramas leaving their lives.
Being detached, friendly, keeping our eyes on the big picture, not taking things personally (even when they are!), and leaving the past behind are all points of focus to maneuver the T-square created by Mercury. Think outside the box, and find practical ways to ground innovative thinking.
Keep having faith in your feeling-knowing as you move into proving your ability to get something done. Expand your heart-knowing, let go of stagnant feelings while being clear about how or what to renew, and trust in your ability to navigate these currents as you embrace a new life. This feeling magnetism is showing us who are others in our Soul-group.
TransPluto, Divine Mother, Neptune, and the Polarization in the Collective Atmosphere
In the Full Moon charts of 2009-2012, Neptune was in a very close opposition to TransPluto, the planet symbolizing Divine Mother Energy. That’s one factor in why things have been so polarized the past several years, teaching humanity compassion and the need for Viveka, or Divine Discrimination. This has offered all of us opportunities to join together in the Great Mother and realize our interrelatedness on a feeling level with All-That-Is.
The energies of Divine Mother will only grow stronger throughout this century, and these will be demonstrated each time the planets make significant aspects to TransPluto. In this chart TransPluto continues to occupy the first degree of Virgo, showing us the long term future of humanity. Again, the Divine Redeemer is showing us ways to show Viveka through understand the place and function of individual differences.
In terms of the larger Era, we’ve now ended the TransPluto (Percephone, Parvati) in Leo era that we’ve known from September 20, 1935 through a few weeks ago. Since October, 2011, we’ve been a transition period where this planet has danced at the last degree of Leo and first degree of Virgo. On July 5, 2014, TransPluto left Leo for many centuries, and entered into Virgo for the next century.
So we’ve officially entered a different Spiritual Era will last through July 2107, when it leaves Virgo for good and re-enters Libra for the first time in many centuries, also after a few years of dancing on the cusp of Virgo and Libra. If you want to know more, please revisit the recent article Astrology in the Age of Aquarius - Transpluto, a.k.a Divine Mother, Parvati, and Percephone, Just Left Leo and Entered Virgo
As the Lunation articles have grown to impossible lengths, I’m again trying to find ways to trim them and reposition some of the material to make it easier to digest. So this closes part 2 on this Full Moon. Part 3 will cover important chart factors, New Moon themes, Jones Patterns and more, so I’ll see you soon!
Previous articles in this series:
© Copyright 2014 Robert Wilkinson
Does a super moon or harvest moon have any special effect if it falls on your birthday? I'm 9/9/51. Full moons always do effect me, they make my moon mount on my palm very dark pink to red. My sun is 16 degrees Virgo, I know this would be a conjunction. Curious?
Posted by: Deb in OKC | September 09, 2014 at 10:28 PM
Robert,
Would you recommend a good beginners guide to understanding Sabian Symbols.
Thank you.
Love your full moon reports!
Posted by: jm | September 10, 2014 at 02:34 AM
Hi Deb - Only in that your Solar Return falls just before or after the Lunation, so the general factors in the Full Moon will also describe your Solar Return patterns. However, since the Moon is probably not the same on the SR as on the birthday, the SR won't be the same as the birthday positions.
Hi jm - I'd begin with the Astrological Mandala by Dane Rudhyar. That was his reinterpretation of the Jones symbols, when those symbols were not in wide use. As for understanding, for symbols Carl Jung has a couple of great works on symbols, Rudhyar does well in the Mandala, and of course, this site is probably the most extensive and coherent site out there when it comes to working with and understanding the Sabian symbols.
I also will offer a class on using the symbols in chart readings over the next few months.
I would begin by looking at your planetary degrees, and get a sense of how Venus at a degree might manifest what you like in many ways, how your Solar symbol shows how you are illuminated and how you illuminate others, how your Saturn symbol shows you a "bottom line" in your life, and so forth. So begin with the planets, Asc, and MC. House cusps are less important than the planetary symbol for a planet in a house, or a planet that rules a specific house.
Posted by: Robert | September 10, 2014 at 09:18 AM