Full Moon in Gemini
This is the last full moon of 2022, the last full moon before the winter solstice, and the highest full moon we will witness here in the northern hemisphere. Since the moon will be at its zenith, and the nights are long, this full moon will linger in the sky longer than any moon all year. To the Mohican, this moon is the Long Night Moon, the Snow Moon to the Cherokee, and the Winter Maker Moon to the Western Abenaki, to reference just a few different traditions (space.com).
Although Mercury is the ruling planet of this eclipse, Mars is making its presence very obvious. The moon occults Mars at the time of the Full Moon, which means the moon will be eclipsing Mars. Let me just highlight the significance of this again - Mars, which has been retrograde and stirring up all sorts of conflict and pulling our attention to hard conversations, demanding information, preferably the truth, is in the exact degree of the Full Moon, and is being occulted by the Moon. I am interested to see how this energy will manifest into my own consciousness. The moon represents our mind, our emotions, and our physical body - full moons are times of illumination, a culmination of energy we have been gathering since the preceding new moon. Will Mars pierce through the moon into my consciousness? What sort of information does Mars have for me about my desires? How do I feel about those desires? Mad? Sad? Jealous? Abundant? Scarce? What do my feelings about my desires tell me about my next steps? Do I need to redirect my focus?
Since Mars has been traveling forth and back through Gemini, as it stationed retrograde on October 30th, we’ve surely had lots of opportunities for choosing to use our words as weapons, or to temper our triggers and leave them in their sheath, choosing peace to settle our conflicts. We may have been playing out old arguments over and over in our head, re-working how we could have said something more skillfully, how we may have been able to hurt the other more than they hurt us, or perhaps wishing that we were kinder, more graceful. We may have had old unresolved conflicts of the past literally show up at our doorstep (I did!). Wherever Gemini sits in your chart will point to where in your life this Mars retrograde is specifically affecting you, but keep in mind we’re ALL going through it in some capacity, and we may end up unintentionally in someone else’s line of fire… stay calm and rooted in yourself. Do not take anything personally - this is always good advice, but right now more than ever we should hold this mantra close to our chest. The more we can stay in our center as others let their emotions and actions run unbridled, the more we may be able to diffuse these aggressive energies.
Mercury, the boss of this lunation and Mars, while they’re in Mercury’s home sign, ingressed into Capricorn yesterday, which may be our saving grace for this Full Moon energy. Hopefully this will bring some rational into our minds and to those we have to interact with. Mercury will go retrograde at the end of this month in Capricorn and will be in Capricorn until mid February - since Mercury is the ruling planet of this lunation, and Mercury is at 0 degrees Capricorn at the moment of Sun-Moon opposition, this night may bring into our awareness what will be demanding our attention over the next couple of months. Mercury in Capricorn asks us - what are we building, who are we building it with, how, why, and will it stand the test of time? This might feel like a lot, as we are still working through the Mars retrograde… We’ll have plenty of time to consider, Capricorn does not rush. Remember- you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Since the energy of this moon is very much in the ethereal and mental realms, tonight would be a perfect night for having deep dive conversations with your trusted allies, or going it solo, journaling, and pulling some oracle or tarot cards. Have a full moon ritual, any way you like - take a moment to light a candle or incense and set an intention of being open to revelatory insights. Nourish yourself tonight with information if you develop a big appetite for new knowledge, in any form you feel drawn - books, podcasts, videos, or perhaps downloading information from Source.
I just want to make an important note: retrogrades are not to be feared. And they certainly aren’t a time for you to bypass responsibility for your life. Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you, and when things go awry, it’s a time to get curious… It’s a time to reflect, to consider that maybe you need to course correct. Maybe certain energies, in the form of relationships, things, jobs, distractions, habits, need to be cleared... notice what sorts of thoughts and memories are invoked during these times…do any old friends or lovers or enemies or acquaintances pop up in your life? Consider what aspect of your life retrograding planets are affecting, based on your birth chart. Astrology is a tool to prepare you for life, to move through it with as much grace as possible, not to skirt responsibility, and certainly not to freeze you in fear.
On a living sky astrology note: Mars has been bright in the sky for months, shining high overhead in the night sky as it has been close to opposing the sun for quite some time. If you haven’t been looking up at the night sky lately, I would invite you to find Mars any night after the full moon (since you won’t be able to see it tonight). Gaze up at the glowing red wandering star, get curious, and if you’re feeling feisty, ask Mars what they have to share with you.
Stay curious, stay wild, and stay grateful, friends.
