the lion's moonlit den
leo full moon, feb 11: a quick summary of the energies
The Full Moon illuminates. That is self-evident, right? The Full Moon is an opposition (between Sun and Moon) so it illuminates differences, and invites us to reconcile the irreconcilable, as best we can.
Yesterday’s Full Moon pulled in Mercury and Uranus, so the delineations of unexpected news, revolutionary messages, sudden awareness that I’ve been seeing around the astrowebs all track, but what if we settle deeper into the energy?
Mercury is combust in the Full Moon chart, running a gauntlet of fire after his very important meeting with the Sun on Saturday. I would think that was the day the disruptive news (or idea) landed, and what you’re doing now is trying to emotionally metabolize something that’s actually getting hotter the more you think about it.
A planet in combustion is weakened, too close to the sun to be visible, a pale burnt-out version of itself. Mercury is uniquely resilient to this condition because, think about it, he pretty much spends his life under the beams of the Sun1. Still, I think the symbolism is apt. The realization or information that came in on the Cazimi is glowing white hot and ashy in your psyche right now, you still can’t look at it or do anything with it.
The Sun in a closing square to Uranus suggests that this issue, the one that’s burning like a little white ember in your heart, was actually sparked some time ago, probably mid-May 2024. Now you need to make a choice about it even though it’s not clear, even though you fear the choice may disrupt your life.
The fixed star energy with this Moon amplifies this sense of stark contrasts and challenging choices.
Last night’s Full Moon rose with her light nested in the mane of Leo the Lion, conjunct the fixed star Subra.
Subra brings the energy of Mars and Saturn, and energies of plunder, swagger, and fits of rage. (Manilius talks about plunderers who 'swagger about in the heart of the capital with droves of beasts')2
This powerful energy has distinct light and shadow elements. The light is courage, radiance, faith, and benevolent leadership. The cold shadow of this Leo warmth is monstrosity, leadership by force, predatory fierceness.
This Full Moon is caught in the contrast, between the Lions paws. Remember, the Moon is our feeling heart. Remember, her job is to translate the energies of the cosmos into more human form. making it easier for us to metabolize big, overwhelming energies into our not-so-big lives.
So this Full Moon might be bringing some very big feelings.
Full Moon is inherently polarizing. At the peak of their shared cycle, the lights of the Sun in the Moon reach opposite poles on a shared axis, in this case Leo/ Aquarius. The call at polarization is towards eventual synthesis and reunion; but first, illumination. So what is being illuminated by this Full Moon?
If you meet her bright gaze and answer her call, you may find yourself studying something of sharp contrast in your own life. At the moment, what has been humming in the background as a cognitive dissonance suddenly becomes clear. You may be faced with a choice or with a stark truth, that you haven’t until now been able to acknowledge.
I suggest:
Do allow contradictory ideas to co-exist in you for awhile. Don’t rush to resolve. Sit with the contrasts, study them.
Do creative practice. Can you work out some of the intensity in a messy paint session, a heated journaling session, a sweaty solo livingroom dance session?
Don’t fight. Or, rather, keep your fight strategic and focused towards the collective good. Don’t fight with your important folks; if you need distance, take it, but leave the harsh talk for softer times.
Do keep the faith and listen to your better angels. Think about what you do have faith in, and where your best impulses lead you.
Feel free to share your experiences with this Full Moon. How are you doing?
Thanks to my cohort in
‘s RADIX program for the conversation that led to this fresh insightManilius, Astronomica, 1st century CE, p.237
the artwork featured is a detail from Ruben’s Daniel in the Lion’s Den
I was thinking of this full moon as trying to do yin yoga in an Ashtanga class.