by Robert Wilkinson
We have the Full Moon coming Wednesday which brings light and power to this year’s Aries focus, with themes of integrity, the past feeding the future, withdrawing from situations where we can’t make a difference, and leaving the past behind as we get clear about our purpose. This contemplative, future oriented, and enjoyable Full Moon occurs at 9:34 pm PDT April 5, 5:34 am BST April 6, and falls at the 17th degrees of Aries and Libra. Use the light of the new life you began and the humor you’ve practice since the New Moon to see the need to retire from old dramas. There’s a promise of abundance in the future.
So what can we expect from this Lunation? Given the power of the recent eclipses, we’re still releasing many things in our Taurus and Scorpio sectors, and finding a deeper connection with Source. We are at the beginning of a new life adventure, a new appreciation, a new enjoyment, and a new focus where the past feeds our future. The next two weeks may be a time of symbolic “traffic jams,” with the new Aquarian seeds already sprouting. This is the time to anticipate the “call to renewal” we’re already hearing from distant sources, both without and within. Keep doing your thing in your way when it’s time to shed the ghosts of the past.
This is another Full Moon focused on actional and material levels of functioning, awareness, and purpose. We now move into a time of major recalibration and re-evaluation of the balance in things. The next two weeks are a time to withdraw from situations to preserve our dignity while generating power at the threshold of a new cycle of expansion as we leave the past behind.
Today’s Full Moon post will be an overview of the Lunation and some of its primary qualities. In parts 2 and 3 we’ll cover the Sabian Symbols, aspects, distributions, and patterns.
An Overview
This Full Moon brings the Light of the Aries New Moon involving “emerging from the collective” while having a sense of humor and using spiritual force to counter worldly density. The New Moon was specializing, and this Full Moon takes it to the next level by who we join with and who we leave behind. This is a time when there’s a new breeze blowing through, sprouting the seeds of the future. Clean out your mind, follow the discontent, eliminate the perception, and let some new air into your mind.
As with all Full Moons, use the light you’ve been seeing and expressing since the New Moon, and give it form and focus to see how to anchor those themes in expression. The New Moon’s themes were about new forms emerging, taking the remains of the past and weaving them in a new expression, and beginning an entirely new life cycle. This continues our need to take the initiative as we remember the old answers cannot make the new conditions real.
This Full Moon shows Neptune leading the Sun, thus becoming “the entry to the great Light.” That implies that the ocean of collective consciousness is heralding the illumination to be found. As Chiron is also in an earlier degree of the Sun, it’s definitely a period of mentoring and being mentored in hearing the voice of our inner inspiration.
Is the Sun Following the Moon, or the Moon Following the Sun?
This Lunation is the twenty-first and last Full Moon where the Sun is in the same sign (Aries) as it was in the New Moon two weeks ago. We are still in “the regular order” of the Sun/Moon relationship cycle, with both New Moon and Full Moon themes of acting to end some things and begin others which are more future oriented.
There are two patterns; one is when the Full Moon Sun is the same sign as the previous New Moon Sun, and the other is when the Full Moon Sun is in the next sign from the Sun in the previous New Moon. The Sun was in the same sign in both the New Moon and Full Moon, the so-called “natural” order, between April 2019 and August 2020. At the August 2020 Full Moon we entered the “reverse pattern” of the Sun of the Full Moon occupying the sign after the New Moon Sun, since the previous New Moon Sun was at 29 Cancer and that Full Moon Sun was at 12 Leo.
Since August 2021 brought us the New Moon Sun at 17 Leo and Full Moon Sun is at 30 Leo, we’ve been back in the natural order which will continue until the New Moon of April 19, 2023, which will be at 30 Aries, with the following Full Moon Sun at 15 Taurus. (That Full Moon is a Lunar eclipse). You can find out more about the “seed forms” of the New Moon two weeks ago by going to the archives.
Past As Prologue
The 2020-22 Eclipses moved us all in new directions, reorienting wherever we have Taurus, Cancer, Gemini, Scorpio, and Sagittarius in our charts. Remember that all Eclipses are “Cosmic recyclers,” taking away what is obsolete or de-magnetized in our lives. These losses clean out psychic and physical spaces so newer life substance can come forth. We’ve cleared out many old ideas, truths, habits, and perspectives the past 2 years, and now have a wider view regarding our life and the Life around us at the beginning of a new 20 year Aquarian era for humanity.
As you know from other articles, 2020 was the last year of a 200 year Earth era, with Air power building throughout the year which primed the pump for the 200 year Air era which began on the Solstice with Jupiter conjuncting Saturn at 1 Aquarius. However, we will still be “under the beams” of the powerful conjunctions in Capricorn, since between January and March 2020 we began new Saturn/Pluto, Jupiter/Pluto, Mars/Jupiter, Mars/Pluto, and Mars/Saturn cycles. The first of these launched a new 33 year era into motion.
Due to these conjunctions in late Capricorn and both Mars/Saturn and Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions at 1 Aquarius, we are in a long term period of finding wisdom by understanding transfiguration and enlightenment as verbs rather than nouns. We’ve now officially taken the first step into the coming Aquarian era. While this is not yet “The Age of Aquarius,” this is the final intensification of those energies which will sprout seeds in the second quarter of the century which will take us across the threshold of the Great Age soon after 2050.
Planetary Distribution
In this Full Moon, the span occupied by the inner planets (in this chart The Sun at 17 Aries through Venus at 25 Taurus) is 38+ degrees, a fairly wide span. This will be the primary area stimulated in our charts. At this time Mercury and the Sun are in the outer planet span, with Venus finally emerging after its conjunction with Uranus. This continues the series of Bucket Jones pattern Full Moons over the coming months.
Right now all the planets except the Moon occupy late Capricorn through early Cancer. As the inner planets are in or extending the outer planet span, all the planets except the Moon are in this span. This month the Moon adds a Libra focus.
Because the occupied span runs 155+ degrees and the Moon is by itself in Libra, we now have a “Bucket” Jones pattern. In this chart we have 2 oppositions made by the Moon to Sun and Jupiter. In this “tensional awareness field,” the Moon is very strong, while all the other planets defer to their ruler Venus, which is the final dispositor of all the other planets except Neptune.
At this time we have the 10 traditional planets occupying 5 signs. Currently, the outer planet occupied span begins with Pluto in early Aquarius, then moves through Saturn in in early Pisces, Neptune in late Pisces, Jupiter in mid Aries and finishes with Uranus in mid-Taurus. Since last August, Mars has extended the span into Gemini and now Cancer.
So What is a “Bucket” Jones Pattern and how does it work?
This is a Bucket Jones pattern, since the Moon is far enough away from the nearest planet to become a nozzle for the focus of all the other planetary energies. Since the “handle” of the Bucket involves the sign Libra, that energy helps us focus the energies of all the other planets.
A “Bucket Pattern” is a type of planetary spread with all the planets in about half the signs with one outside that span wide enough to be a handle. The energies of the occupied half are focused through the “handle,” or “nozzle,” in this case the Moon, termed the “focal determinator.” The handle, or focal determinator, represents the way to greater effectiveness, the cause to be embraced, the lack to be filled, or the way to use the total energies of this time in a focused manner. The Moon is how we're going to "get a handle on things," or release the potential of the rest of the planets. Be clear in your purpose, since there's repair work to be done.
Dr. Jones states “the Bucket type indicates a particular and rather uncompromising direction in the life effort.” This pattern gives “interest in a cause,” with executive tendencies that will adapt allegiances to maximize results of the effort. He says “the Bucket type at its best reveals the real instructor and inspirer of others, and at its worst the agitator and malcontent.” This is the larger planetary pattern within which we’re all trying to do what we do.
We are also told this pattern is more about finding an effective release for energy within social settings, but also about the individual imposing their patterns on society rather than adapting to what is there. It’s about focused intention. So all of us can expect some sort of focused attention on the house where we have 17 Libra.
Pluto at 1 Aquarius, where it will lead the occupied span for months to come. It is on the degree of the Grand Mutation, bringing all those social and cultural emerging energies to the forefront. This entry to the occupied part of the Bucket tells us to think about the seeds of things, as well as hidden potentials. With Mars at 6 Cancer as the closing planet to the span, embrace a healthy “self gathering” energy and allow the past to give up its life to feed the future. Be caring and sharing. This leads with actional and material contribution and closes with emotional and social decisions which stabilize our lives.
Is the Grand Irrationality A Factor in this Full Moon?
Because this section is so long, I decided to create an article which explains what it is, how long it’s been in effect, and which zones of the zodiac have been most impacted and when. You can find all you need to know about this configuration associated with widespread irrationality and hard-edged “forks in the road of destiny” we’ve all confronted at various times by going to The Grand Irrationality. As we’re at the very end of the long wave configuration, I’ll update the main article to sum up all that has happened to our world these past 29 years.
Any transit making multiple 7th harmonic aspects put this “7-pointed Star of Destiny” evolutionary configuration into play, bringing choices and changes affecting our future. The generic configuration is why things seem so crazy and hard-edged at this time in history, and why humanity seems to have been at an unending “fork in the road of destiny.” In this chart Uranus is in the heart of its last septile to Neptune, but there is no other planet in a septile series aspect to either of these spiritual heavyweights.
Obviously, this evolutionary configuration is activated throughout the year when a planet moves through any of the hot zones of the configuration. This configuration will next be triggered when the Sun and Mercury transits conjunct Uranus and septile Neptune. I’ll speak more about the aspects in part 3 when I cover the special configurations.
Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend
We now behold the beginning of Saturn’s transit of Pisces. While in Aquarius it taught us shortcuts to illumination and instructed us in the wise use of spiritual energies for many months, as well as the spiritual power of gratitude and appreciation. This is a hello to the lessons of compassion and forgiveness shown by Pisces.
Though Saturn is currently challenged in its opening phase with the Sun, it’s on the way to some very favorable aspects with the other planets, bringing growth and stability in our early Water sign sectors. We now have a radically different understanding of many things than we did even a few months ago.
Saturn, ruler of our Capricorn and Aquarius sectors and any natal or progressed planets we have in those signs, is now on the move into our Pisces sector. Though Saturn can feel heavy and bring heavy life lessons, it also in the part of us which can take charge of our lives and destiny by using Saturn’s virtues in the right way and time. Our ability to steer our “ship of personality” into its rightful “role of destiny” has brought us to the threshold of new parts to play on the stage of Life.
We’re now entering a productive period of Jupiter in Aries and Taurus making favorable aspects to Saturn over the next few months. The friction between Saturn and Uranus in 2021-2022 showed us what mattered to us and what didn’t, with our transformation into the roles we’re to play determined by how we’ve trained. Uranus awakened us to new roles to play, while Saturn brought new mutations and an accelerated evolution which are part of us learning to use spiritual power effectively through deliberation rather than instinct.
I explain how Saturn and Uranus work together to awaken us to our Higher Powers to take command of our destiny in my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend. Saturn helps us give form and structure to our quest for Self-realization; in Capricorn, it teaches us how to accept and use personal power within a socially responsible context, while in Aquarius it teaches us how to make a greater contribution to our civilization and come together with others in a great effort “ensouled by a great vision.” Coupled with Uranus having awakened us to the fact that the old answers aren’t enough along with the need to accept spiritual power to shape our world, we are collectively “breaking on through to the other side” into an unfolding Higher awareness.
The book was written for both astrologers and non-astrologers. Even those with little or no understanding of astrology will benefit from understanding why you had to make certain choices at crucial times that shaped your life in profound ways.
Each time you read any section of this book you will find new insights about your power to throw off all the attitudes and memories which hold you back from finding and living the life and purpose. If you’ve haven’t already gotten your copy, you can go to the Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend page on Amazon and this should be all you need to order your copy. It’s also available on Amazon and as an ebook on Kindle, so if that’s more to your liking, go for it! If you would, whether you’ve gotten the ebook or the paperback, please write a review on the Amazon site, since the more reviews, the more of a boost they give it.
On A Final Note
See you in the near future with parts two and three on this Full Moon which will offer us opportunities for renewal, retirement, recalibration, and dropping old dramas. This is a dynamic Full Moon which activates growth in our Libra and Aries life areas. Our past dreams are now taking shape and this month brings us to a point of expansion and productivity. What is your purpose for doing something? What is your purpose related to expressing the potential?
Because Venus is a key player due to being in a sextile with Neptune and trine to Pluto, it can help us to productive relationships and an enjoyment of our lives. Again, when you find the old answers aren’t working, refocus your potential in new actions which detach you from the traps of perception.
Venus was the first inner planet to conjunct Saturn this year. That began a new cycle of forward-looking relationships for us all. Saturn was in the emotional/social level of management, bringing that quality to Venus’ 2023 Aquarian lessons. She recently conjuncted Jupiter on a degree of the stirring up of a new perspective, and has now re-set its year cycle with Uranus.
If you want to know more about your Venusian power to shape your relationships into enjoyable interactions and friendships, please consider getting a copy of my newest book The Magic of Venus: Friendships, Soul Mates, and Twin Flames. It is the most comprehensive book on Venus ever written, and explains why we attract who we do and how to create more satisfying relationships in the future. You will understand the foundations of long term healthy relationships and friendships, why Soul Mates come into our lives, and how to dance with your inner Beloved and mirror that to your world.
Since 2019, we’ve all seen greater truths and taken on new roles and responsibilities which led us to new social effectiveness in 2021-22. Where we have late Capricorn and early Aquarius in our chart is the focus of coming years. The compressions in Capricorn led us to forms of personal power and very long wave cycles showing our work for a long time to come. The March 2022 Aquarius compression created cycles of learning how to manage our responsibility to become better educated to fulfill a greater role in the long wave Aquarian energy.
We’ve entered a new chapter in our spiritual journey at a fork in the road of our collective destiny. 2020 was about forging our connection with the World Soul, our Wisdom, and our greater dedication. 2021 began the new era in our lives. We’re all wiser than we used to be, have been given ample opportunities to value our heart connections with our friends, and display the vaster spiritual awareness we share with our Brothers and Sisters.
2022 brought us training and skill, divine mutations, endings and beginnings. 2023 began with one last look back before the rapid acceleration now happening. We’re on the edge of radical change these next few weeks, so see the big picture and move into your future!
I’ll see you soon when we’ll discuss Sabian Symbols, evolutionary configurations, and other important chart factors.
This article explains past, present, and future compressions, where they fall, and who they affect. The Great Compressions of early 2020, 2021, and 2022
This one explains the January 2020 compression and the multiple conjunctions setting themes for decades! The Great Compression of January 2020 – Mercury, Sun, Saturn and Pluto all Conjunct in Capricorn
© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson
Hello Robert,
Just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday! And a Great Solar Return,
Juliette Recamier
Posted by: Jrecamier | March 31, 2023 at 10:36 AM
Hi Juliette - Thanks so much for your wishes! I'm affirming this one is as good as it can be. Which if it is, will be VERY good, not just for me, but for the Ageless Wisdom community!
Posted by: Robert | March 31, 2023 at 10:42 AM