The Full Moon takes place on March 9th, 17.47 GMT at 19 degrees 36′ Virgo.
The Full Moon is opposite the Sun and Neptune in Pisces, as well as trine Mars and Jupiter in Capricorn. Mercury – ruler of Virgo – stations direct, preparing to move forwards, on the same day at 28 degrees Aquarius.
Whilst the Full Moon shows some positive influences, collectively it also puts emphasis on the Coronavirus crisis. The Full Moon is opposite Neptune, possibly accentuating fear, confusion and uncertainty around illness and disease. The Moon placed in Virgo suggests the need to be calm, practical – and regardless of what we hear or see reported- not to panic.
Virgo is a sign associated with health, healing along with being helpful and of service to others. The Moon trine Mars and Jupiter supports courage and fortitude, focusing on what we can to do that may be useful or of assistance – for ourselves and each other. The lay of the land reminds us, that globally we are all connected and facing this together.
Full Moon Meaning
The Sun is exactly opposite the Moon – Luna is at her brightest, her energy and force are at maximum power.
A Full Moon shows whatever seeds were planted at the New Moon maturing and becoming ripe – being illuminated – so that we can clearly see and understand our course of action, and its result. The harvest could be abundant & bountiful or be deficient not quite what we hoped for. With the Moon at her peak, our emotions and instincts can be increased, the veil between the seen and unseen is also at its thinnest.
From here the Moon begins to diminish, so it is not an ideal time to start anything new. It is more a time to reflect – and depending on the results of our harvest, either keep and reinforce the beneficial or release and let go of anything that is not working or become dysfunctional.
Full Moon Chart
Saturn-Pluto Conjunction ~ January 12
Contemplating the future takes us back to the past, and the Saturn-Pluto conjunction on January 12th 2020 – the earliest reported symptoms of Coronavirus occurred on December 1st 2019 and the first confirmed death from Coronavirus was on January 9th (Wikipedia).
The Saturn-Pluto conjunction is at the crux, a potent part of the astrological picture surrounding the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Saturn and Pluto are also accenting ongoing developments with fear, anxiety, along with the necessity for containment and self-isolation.
Looking ahead to the Aries Ingress on March 20th – the Spring Equinox and Pagan festival of Ostara – the chart shows Mars and Jupiter conjunct at 22 degrees Capricorn, the same degree as the Saturn-Pluto conjunction.
Mars and Jupiter could well energise and enhance what Saturn and Pluto seeded, meaning an increase in cases is a potentiality. Then Saturn enters Aquarius on March 22nd, suggesting that limitations being placed on large, public events and air travel are also possible.
For more on the Saturn-Pluto conjunction a post I wrote about it is here – Saturn Conjunct Pluto ~ January 12th 2020
Other notable aspects at the Full Moon are Chiron in Aries square the Nodes, and Venus conjunct Uranus in her home sign of Taurus sextile the North Node and trine the South Node.
chiron & venus
Chiron square the Nodes suggests this crisis stems from the past, and the way to alleviate it involves making adjustments on the path forwards having learnt from previous mistakes. Venus and Uranus illustrate financial implications – disruption and instability around global stock markets, the supply of goods, and the wages of individuals if they are unable to work, for those on a minimum wage already only just surviving, the consequences of being unable to work could be devastating – as well as, or as a result – the need for urgent change in our attitude to money and use of the Earth’s resources.
mother nature
Saturn-Pluto along with the rest of the astrological picture correlates with – As above, So below – a wake-up call from Mother Nature. A formidable force who has had enough of the damage and destruction being done to the Earth and all her inhabitants, and is now underlining how powerless we really are. The Coronavirus (like MERs and SARs) is transmitted from animals to people and is believed to have begun in a live wildlife market in Wuhan, the cruelty and agony endured by these animals is staggering –
“Images of sick, suffering animals in markets, and videos of bats boiling alive in bowls of soup have circulated in media, sparking outrage globally ..” ~ National Geographic
On February 24th – “China’s National People’s Congress issued an order to ban all consumption of wild animal meat and further restrict the wildlife trade nationwide …. The ban is a swift response to the Covid 19 outbreak,” ~ The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/27/shenzhen-could-be-first-city-in-china-to-ban-eating-of-dogs-and-cats
But “The current version of the law is seen as problematic by wildlife conservation groups because it focuses on utilisation of wildlife rather than its protection.” ~ The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/25/coronavirus-closures-reveal-vast-scale-of-chinas-secretive-wildlife-farm-industry
The farming and slaughter of animals for consumption worldwide (in most scenarios) sees them exploited and suffering a short miserable life, followed by a traumatic, distressful death, with no thought or care that like us, they are living, feeling beings. Greed, money, profit and material wealth is prioritised over the wellbeing of people, animals and the Earth, over time setting in motion the climate emergency and an accelerated extinction rate –
“One can see from space how the human race has changed the Earth. Nearly all of the available land has been cleared of forest and is now used for agriculture or urban development. The polar icecaps are shrinking and the desert areas are increasing. At night, the Earth is no longer dark, but large areas are lit up. All of this evidence that human exploitation of the planet is reaching a critical limit. But human demands and expectations are ever-increasing. We cannot continue to pollute the atmosphere, poison the ocean and exhaust the land. There isn’t any more available” ~ Stephen Hawking, Physicist & Author
“Anybody who doesn’t see the impact of climate change is really, and I would say, myopic. They don’t see the reality. It’s so evident that we are destroying Mother Earth. This is not the problem of one country or a few countries. It is the problem of mankind. We need to work together to stop this. Otherwise our future generations will simply disappear.” ~ Juan Manuel Santos ~ President of Colombia 2010-18 & awarded the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize
The Coronavirus, declared a global health emergency on January 30th by the WHO (Wikipedia), is something we are all aware of and paying close attention to, but the Coronavirus isn’t really about us as individuals. It is about how we all collectively, globally (whether we personally approved or not) have treated each other, animals, all the creatures of Earth and her resources – how it desperately needs to change, and perhaps how Coronavirus will likely force some of that change.
Yes, it’s mostly out of our control, but we can take precautions (wash our hands and burn plenty of Sage!) and prepare for the future to be more uncertain than normal. As well as reflect on our perceptions of what is taking place, Saturn and Pluto can be harsh, cruel and destructive but above all are about learning essential lessons (Saturn) and transforming what is necessary (Pluto) – Additionally, COSI states among the probable manifestations of Saturn-Pluto ~
“participation in achievements bought about by large groups or masses of people, … the process of growing spiritually and mentally,” ~ COSI, The combination of Stellar Influences, by Reinhold Ebertin
By contemplating how detrimental current approaches, methods and set-ups really are, recognising they are unsustainable, awareness of the need for change arises. The Saturn-Pluto conjunction relates to the destruction and transformation of old, outdated approaches to business, farming, and the global economy (all signified by Capricorn).
Jupiter sextile Neptune
Favourably, we are accompanied and guided throughout 2020 by Jupiter sextile Neptune- exact three times on February 20th, July 27th and October 12th – enhancing the spiritual along with helping us to have hope, faith, overcome fear and find meaning in circumstances and happenings.
Fixed Star ~ Denebola
Denebola at 21 degrees 53′ Virgo is the closest major fixed star to the Full Moon, at slightly over 2 degrees away from the Moon, it is still just in orb of influence.
Denebola is a star in the tail of the Lion, in the constellation Leo.
“The ‘Tail of the Lion’ has a Uranian nature and it is supposed that, in mundane horoscopes, major catastrophes are triggered off by it. Depending on the position and aspect to other stellar bodies in a personal cosmogram, either preferment or fall are credited to this star.” ~ Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, by Elsbeth Ebertin, page 56
With Moon ~ “Honour and preferment among the vulgar but final disgrace and ruin, violent disease of vital organ, blindness and injuries to the eyes, accidents, losses through servants, domestic quarrels, temporary separation from marriage partner.” ~ Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, by Vivian E. Robson, page 161
TAROT ~ 9 of PENTACLES
The Full Moon occurs in the second decan of Virgo ruled by Venus (Saturn by triplicity).
VIRGO II ~ “There rises in the second face of Virgo a man of beautiful colour, dressed in leather, and over his garment of leather is another garment of iron.” ~ Picatrix
The two major arcana cards associated with the 9 of Pentacles are The Empress (Venus) and The Hermit (Virgo). Venus is in her fall in Virgo, but being a benefic planet still manages to secure financial security through her own hard work and conscientious, self-disciplined approach. Unconcerned that this has left her isolated and distant from others. Saturn’s influence as triplicity ruler illustrates the hard work necessary to achieve material manifestations of success.
Book T calls this card “Material Gain”
The Rider Waite Smith deck depicts a beautifully dressed woman, her gown decorated with the astrological glyph of Venus. The woman is standing before fruitful, abundant grape vines, a hooded falcon is perched on her gloved hand. A tiny snail is on the move in front of her.
“The Nine represents achievement and self-interest, self-reliance, and sensual pleasure. It is the completion of the Pentacles cycle, and as such, a time of safety and comfortable circumstances. There’s very little to do but enjoy. … All of us will be called upon to move from this position to a higher stage of development, however. The snail is evidence of that,” ~ Spiritual Tarot by Echols, Mueller and Thomson, page 131
Summary
The symbolism in the sky is clear, we are at a turning point – change is not only coming, it’s already in motion. We need to get onboard, start thinking futuristically, and try to adapt and adjust. Perhaps appreciate that globally we all inhabit the Earth and need to work together to try and overcome the devastation and avoid future consequences. The Coronavirus demonstrates that while the world is separated into individual countries, the Earth herself has no borders.
Image by Sage Friedman on Unsplash
9 of Pentacles image from the Aquatic Tarot by Andreas Schroter