The Full Moon is on January 28th, 19.16 pm UT at 9 05′ Leo.
The Full Moon features a T-Square, with Sun-Jupiter in Aquarius opposite the Moon in Leo, all square Mars in Taurus. It’s potentially fiery and aggressive, not as such physically, more of an emotional need to be heard and acknowledged. Reflects individual ideas and feelings that run deep. Individuals at loggerheads, out of sync with authority or the collective. An instinctive drive to give voice to, divulge honest thoughts and opinions, a demand to be listened to. A desire for a fair exchange of opinion, acceptance of contrasting ideas and a need for compromises.
Collectively, this picture illustrates how our individual needs and desires have, by necessity, been restricted and suppressed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Alongside this, the division, the conflicted views on everything from the handling of the pandemic by governments, vaccinations and the results of democratic elections – the US election and Brexit here in the UK. The expanding divide and vastly differing experience of current material reality, between those insulated from monetary woes and those in crisis, struggling to survive. The lack of empathy or understanding about the trauma of lacking the funds to buy food, let alone pay bills. How untold numbers are living in poverty through no fault of their own.
The mundane influence filters down into the personal, plays out within us, or around us, in our personal experiences as correlating – but mostly less intense – predicaments.
Chart
Also exact at the Full Moon is a Venus-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn. This aspect brings up themes of drama or crisis, a transformation or power struggle, around relationships, love, values or finances.
Neptune is square the Nodes of the Moon illustrating the confusion we are experiencing at this time. We have left the past, but the future is unclear, we are somewhere in-between. Making it difficult to decipher what’s real or imaginary, fact or fiction. Exhausting to locate any motivation whilst so many of our pleasures and future aspirations are on hold. On the other hand, this in-between realm could also be inspiring. Neptune brings intuition, puts us in touch with our dreams and ideals, helps us to visualise and create an inviting future.
Mercury is in pre-retrograde shadow, and will station retrograde on January 30th. As such, keep in mind that recent happenings could meet with adjustments. Mercury is in Aquarius, so our friendships and associations with groups may be a focus of attention. At this time, opinions are divided and heated, so many of us may be reflecting on who we are out of step with, and those who are on the same page as us.
Fixed Star ~ Asellus Australis
In the Cancer Constellation a small cluster of stars is found on the back of the Crab’s shell, which includes the Aselli or Asses, along with Praesepe – the “Manger” or “Beehive Cluster.”
Praesepe ~ 7 29′ Leo
Asellus Borealis (the Northern Donkey) ~ 7 49′ Leo
Asellus Australis (the Southern Donkey) ~ 9 00′ Leo
As the three stars lie close together from 7 – 9 Leo they have a combined influence on this part of the zodiac. An area that Elsbeth Ebertin notes “since ages past, has had a bad omen. A total of 5 to 8 degrees in the sign of Leo are hit by it.” Praesepe is of the nature of the Moon and Mars, the Aselli of the Sun and Mars. Ebertin also says that active in both “is a Neptunian influence.” Praesepe is associated with blindness, disease, abuse of drugs, disgrace and brutality, but more fortunately according to Robson the “Beehive Cluster” makes “founders of large businesses,” that might reflect the buzzing, busy bees of a beehive going about their business. A focus on harmonious, productive activity.
The two asses outflank the “Manger.” This might be the origin, as seen in the nativity pictures of the birth of Christ, of the positioning of a donkey always behind the manger.” ~ Fixed Stars and their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin
“The baby born in a manger might relate to Cancer being the “Gate of Men” through which souls descended from heaven into human bodies. It’s opposite sign, Capricornus represents the “Gate of the Gods” where the souls of the departed ascended back to heaven.” ~ Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson
The Neptunian influence also brings a connection to the spiritual realms, can correlate with heightened intuition or creativity.
“According to Vehlow, the Chinese gave this group of stars (the Manger or Beehive and the Asses) the name “The Spirit of the Ancestors” and were of the opinion that if conjunct the Moon, they would have peculiar experiences with the realm of the dead. The same can be said for spiritualist seances.” ~ Ebertin
“The Aselli display all the moodiness of Cancer at it’s most negative in Leo. A conjunction with the Moon, Mercury, Venus or Neptune, well aspected, will often reveal the poet, painter, musician, composer, psychic “medium” or astrologer. In all cases there is a patience for which the donkey is respected, a quality necessary for all really reliable psychism. Perhaps when the donkey is being stubborn, he is seeing something in the path which his impatient master cannot or will not see.” ~ The Living Stars, Dr Eric Morse
The Aselli ~ “Together they give care and responsibility, with a charitable and fostering nature, but danger of a violent death, serious accidents and burns.” ~ Robson
“These people have an aggressive nature, and will not take insults easily. They may, by their own lack of caution or by being dare-devils put their lives in danger, and will not hesitate to use brutal and violent means. But if a person is able to sublimate the Mars energy, an extraordinary output of achievement is possible.” ~ Ebertin
Aselius Australis with Moon ~ ” Ill health, defective sight, hearing or speech, bad for business affairs, loss of friends and trouble through enemies.” ~ Robson
The fixed stars, with a strong Mars and Neptunian influence connect with the Full Moon being square Mars, and with Neptune currently square the Nodes of the Moon. The links with the pandemic, illness and vaccinations, that frustration with lockdowns and restrictions on personal freedom may provoke aggression are all clear themes. Co-existing is the possibility for a heartfelt recognition of our family ties, and/or a desire to feel part of a community, as well as insightful intuition that could help guide and focus us towards favourable, nurturing action.
TAROT ~ 5 OF WANDS
The Full Moon takes place in the 1st Decan or Face of Leo, ruled by Saturn (The Sun by triplicity). The corresponding Tarot card is the 5 of Wands.
Both rulers of the 1st face of Leo provide insight into the 5 of Wands. Leo is ruled by the Sun. Leo relates to the individual, the wish to stand out, be in the spotlight, the solo recipient of all the applause. Opposite Leo, is Aquarius ruled by Saturn. Aquarius relates to the group, the crowd. The Sun signifies the self, our individual creative power. Traditionally, Saturn is known as the greater malefic, Saturn can signify the laws and rules of society, codes of conduct as well as rivalry and ruthlessness.
The 5 of Wands demonstrates that it is through others that we can clarify and evolve who we are individually. To be in the spotlight, the centre of attention, is impossible without an audience. On the stage of life, we feature in our individual role, as well as provide an audience for each other. The feedback we encounter in our daily life may increase our self-awareness and adjust our self-expression – in both positive and negative ways. Conveys insight into who we are internally, and how we portray ourselves externally, what we choose to illuminate or conceal.
The 5 of Wands bestows fiery, assertive and determined energy that can be utilised to overcome struggles, indecision and doubt to unleash creative potential. Attaining recognition and status takes courage, a willingness to face competition along with the will-power to improve talents and skills from doing so. Denotes the drive to be in charge, but that a position of authority is ultimately granted by the group – involves the necessity for decisions and actions to be trusted and respected. That honourable leadership involves putting individual ego aside to seek what is in the best interests of all, that debate and compromise are the way to resolve conflict and harmonise divided opinion.
Book T calls this card “Strife.”
Leo I ~ “In the first face of Leo ascends a man riding on a lion. It signifies boldness, violence, cruelty, wickedness, lust and labours to be sustained.” ~ Three Books of Occult Philosophy, Henry Cornelius Agrippa
The Rider-Waite-Smith card depicts five young men, each holding a wand, engaging in what at first glance looks like a fight. Their outfits are various colours and styles, indicating their different personalities. However, the sky is blue and cloudless, they do not look angry, and three of them are looking upwards, suggesting they are perhaps more interested in spiritual growth, inner self-awareness, than individual battles.
The fives in a tarot deck indicate chaos and change, the 5 of Wands adds fire, further heating and stimulating situations. Change is necessary, and can be exciting, induce a sense of adventure and challenge. But, the 5 of Wands also alerts us to the fact, that if conflicts can’t be settled, it could lead to nastiness, even violence.
The 5 of Wands ~ “symbolises the inner, and sometimes outer, battle we all engage in as we strive to reformulate plans and improve our behaviour” ~ Spiritual Tarot, Echols, Mueller and Thomson, page 214
Top Image by Ingmar on Unsplash
5 of Wands from the Aquatic Tarot by Andreas Schroter
References
Three Books of Occult Philosophy or Magic ~ Henry Cornelius Agrippa
Fixed Stars ~ www.constellationofwords.com