LIBRA FULL MOON / LUNAR ECLIPSE - 23 March 2016

Exact at 12.01pm GMT, 7.01am EST.

This Full Moon involves another Eclipse, continuing the shifts that are occurring for us now, as we begin a new chapter on our soul’s journey. This one is a penumbral Eclipse so it is not as strong as the Solar Eclipse on the 8th, but it is still potent enough. Eclipses represent major shifts in our lives, when something significant is ending and another is beginning that will have an impact on our life path and destiny. This can sometimes signify some kind of crisis that gives us a proverbial kick up the bum to get the process going, but it can equally simply mean the start of something new and exciting, no crisis needed! No matter how it happens, the change is generally for the better and helps us to evolve spiritually. This Eclipse is combined with a Full Moon which highlights the relationship axis, Aries and Libra, and represents the time of the Month when emotions ride high and what has been held in our unconscious now becomes conscious. Anything that may have been simmering below the surface has the potential to come bursting out into the open, demanding our full attention!

The Sun has just entered passionate, enthusiastic and pioneering Aries for the Spring Equinox, signifying the start of the astrological year and the beginning of Spring. Aries is a sign of new beginnings and helps us to find the courage to do what’s right for us and stand up for ourselves and our needs. Aries season is a time when we tend to spring into action and do things that we may not usually have the courage or energy for, so this is perfect energy for Eclipse season, when change is afoot! Mercury is right next to the Sun in Aries for this Full Moon, so it is quite likely that we will have some enthusiastic, passionate and possibly quite assertive conversations about what we want and how to go about getting what we want, especially in the realm of our relationships. This can definitely help us to gain some understanding of our needs and also to get a sense of where we are going and why. It is quite likely that some quite direct, honest and open interactions will occur, as we find it easy to express what may have been on our minds but we haven’t had the courage to speak about beforehand. With the Sun and Mercury so close together in impatient and forceful Aries, however, it’s important to remember to listen to each other and not identify too strongly with our own point of view.

This is where Libra, the sign of balance, compromise and harmony comes in! The Libran Moon is directly opposite the Aries Sun, highlighting the need to find balance between taking care of our own needs (Aries) and taking into account the needs of others (Libra). Aries is adept at the art of self-love, while Libra is a great team player and has a tendency to put other people’s needs before her own, sometimes to her detriment. There is a lot of planetary energy in Pisces at the moment, which is also a sign that gives a lot and is not very good at boundaries, so the theme of this Moon may very well revolve around creating healthy boundaries and making sure we don’t lose ourselves in our efforts to please others. Libra wants us to learn to relate to others in an equal way and to learn the art of truly listening to other and understanding their needs. In turn, our needs will be met. A healthy relationship involves a delicate balance between doing what we need for ourselves while at the same time honouring the other person and the relationship itself.  If we don’t take care of ourselves then what do we really have to offer the relationship?

Venus, the ruler of Libra and this Full Moon, is in Pisces at the moment and is also forming a conjunction with Neptune, the ruler of Pisces.  This is a double whammy of flowing, sensitive  and emotional Pisces energy and brings up the subject of boundaries again, because Venus shows how we relate and love while Pisces dissolves the boundaries between ourselves and others. This reminds us that we are all one and can bring deeply spiritual and mystical unions and connections based on heartfelt empathy and compassion. It can also mean that we lose ourselves into the other person and operate from a highly idealistic place that prevents us from seeing the reality of the person or situation. Pisces likes to wear her rose-tinted spectacles and can easily create blind spots!  Venus represents the lower heart and love, while Neptune and Pisces represent the higher heart and unconditional love. This combination gives us the capacity to really connect and see the true core and essence of those we are in relationship with.  It can also mean that we only see what we want to see.

The conjunction between Chiron, the Wounded Healer and the South Node of the Moon is exact only a few hours after the Moon is full. This provides us with an amazing opportunity to heal our past so that we are free to move forward on our paths and fulfil our destiny. This conjunction is also occurring in Pisces, so we have a chance to look at ourselves with kindness, compassion and forgiveness  and heal any feelings of guilt, pain or shame connected with the events of the past that have shaped us. This is an amazing opportunity to truly let go and find acceptance, rather than allowing our old wounds to rule our lives and relationships. It is quite likely that anything that still remains unhealed that we have long forgotten or blocked out could come to the surface during this time. It is important to embrace whatever comes up, as painful as it may be. This is an opportunity to free ourselves from our old stories, once and for all, and move forward with a lighter step. How beautiful!

Saturn and Jupiter are currently challenging each other through a square aspect that will be completely and utterly exact at the time of this Full Moon. Jupiter wants us to grow and expand, moving beyond any limitation with confidence and faith. He is the optimistic part of ourselves that is willing to give things a go and get excited about what is possible. Saturn reminds us of our limitations and shines the harsh light of reality on any given situation. He is currently in Sagittarius, making us look at any beliefs that may be holding us prisoner and sabotaging our lives and relationships. Saturn likes to maintain control and can bring up fear and a sense of hesitation. Jupiter wants us to just go for it, while Saturn is more cautious and makes us look seriously at the situation, putting the breaks on Jupiter’s enthusiasm, confidence and faith. We may well be feeling the push and pull of these two characters on an internal level at the moment, and while one part of ourselves is full of hope and optimism and a feeling that it will all work out, the other part may be holding back a little and reminding us to be sensible, wondering if it might be too good to be true. As I said, this battle between fear and faith will come to a head at the same time as the Moon.

This is certainly a time of change and shifts and it is good to make sure we remain grounded because the energy is quite intense during Eclipse season. Mars in Sagittarius is helping us out for this Moon, because he is forming positive aspects to the Sun, Moon and Mercury which will give us confidence and faith that it will all work out in the end. Libra asks that we find balance in our lives, between self-love and love for others, between work and play, between our light and our shadows, between our inner masculine and feminine, between optimism and realism, and so forth. We may well get a taste of how we sacrifice our needs for the sake of others in our lives, or where we are being too self-serving. The Pisces New Moon reminded us to simply be present; to let go of control and go with the flow of the river.  Libra puts a spotlight on our relationships and reminds us that it should be an equal balance of give and take within them. Libra and Pisces both have a tendency to give too much and prefer to see the beauty in life, but we must remember that self-love is equally important and that the shadow side must be honoured too. It’s all about balance!

Much Love

Amy

xoxo