FULL MOON [19 Aquarius 21] 

August 12, 2022 (02:36 GMT+1)

This week, there’s a powerful Full Moon taking place. Traditionally Full Moons are a time for celebration as the Full Moon lights up the night sky extending the hours outside of darkness. More time to play and work outside, less sleep.

In the lunar cycle, the Full Moon represents culmination, ripeness, fertility and the light of the Moon denotes clarity. It’s a powerful time to trust your intuition, especially if you have a big decision to make.

Yet, Full Moons also have a reputation for craziness. The word ‘lunatic’ derives from ‘lunar’, another word for the moon, when the werewolf awakens, emotions are heightened and dramas play out.

This week’s Full Moon isn’t the easiest to negotiate, thanks to other planets kicking in. You may already have a sense that tensions are rising.

In your August horoscopes, it was pointed out that this Full Moon is pivotal to the month’s events as it re-triggers last year’s dominant Saturn-Uranus square – see below.

Leo/Aquarius Polarity

Firstly, it’s important to determine where the Full Moon falls and the star signs that are involved. During this Full Moon, the Sun in Leo opposes the Moon in Aquarius. 

A Full Moon reminds us of life’s polarities. You can either be pulled in different directions or seek a way to bring opposing factors together so they complement each other and work together in unison.

Leo is the star sign of the individual linked to pleasure, joy, creativity & self-interest, whereas Aquarius is the star sign linked to the collective, doing what’s good for everyone and working towards a shared purpose. 

This may be a time when you’re questioning where you fit in or where you feel like an outsider. Where in your life are you not being seen? Where can you shine bright and make a difference?

Saturn & Uranus

This is undoubtedly an important Full Moon – perhaps the most significant astrological event in August – as both of Aquarius’ ruling planets, Saturn & Uranus, are active and pulled into the Full Moon picture.

During the Full Moon, the Moon at 19° Aquarius sits next to Saturn at 22° Aquarius. The Sun-Saturn opposition perfects on August 14th.

Immediately, you have to ask who’s saying no. Saturn is the planet linked to boundaries, restriction and limitation. It’s the get-real planet so this could bring a reality check, whether via the authorities, laws or regulations or because you recognise what’s not working out or what’s not possible.

During the Full Moon, the Moon at 19° Aquarius is square to Uranus at 18° Taurus. The Sun-Uranus square aspect perfects on August 11th.

Uranus is the planet linked to rebellion, disruption and change. Its nature is innovative, sudden, unpredictable and erratic. The flip side of Uranus is spontaneity, the flick of a switch, lightning moves, freedom, splitting off.

This could be a time of controversy or the unexpected kicks in and you have to change plans and fast. This may be especially true for you if you have key planets/angles close to 18/19° of the fixed star signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.

On a personal level, you may be weighing up these two contrary planetary aspects, i.e. considering your different responses to your personal situation – doing what you think is right v. doing what feels right, even if other people say you’re bonkers or crazy. 

This is similar to last week’s astrology when Mars in another fixed star sign, Taurus, was conjunct Uranus on August 1st and square to Saturn on August 7th. Saturn aspects can wipe you out and leave you feeling exhausted, either physically or emotionally. Take your time, consider where or what you need to release or let go of.

The Saturn-Uranus Square

The Saturn-Uranus square was the dominant planetary aspect in 2021. Saturn in Aquarius clashed with Uranus in Taurus in February, June & December of last year.

It’s a classic case of the old v. the new, conformity v. freedom. No coincidence then that Saturn-Uranus clashes often dominate during times of major social reform.

This month, August 2022, these two planets are back within close orb after having separated in the first half of this year. This Full Moon is bringing this powerful square aspect to dominance once again. It will peak in October 2022 although it doesn’t perfect, and will finally be over by the end of the year.

Square aspects create dynamic tension and it depends which planet dominates how it plays out in your life. When Saturn’s stronger, there’s a fear of change and rules must be respected. When Uranus is stronger, there’s an urge to rebel, break the rules and challenge the status quo. 

Either way, it can be a stressful place to be and may trigger fear & uncertainty. Ideally, you want to find a way to bring both sides of the square aspect together. Yet, this isn’t straightforward by any means.

Saturn in Aquarius doesn’t want to be part of the group but tells you how to live your life. Uranus in Taurus is a change advocate but refuses to join in to do what’s best for the whole. You can see the dilemma. 

Change is rarely easy if it means letting go of the life we have grown used to. Change becomes even more of a challenge when different factions of society have opposing viewpoints.

What Does It Mean For You

On a personal level, notice what’s calling you or pulling you during this Full Moon. Use Uranus’ energy well and you can make a snap decision, come up with a genius idea, share your brilliance, make a break for freedom, find a breakthrough. It may reveal to you what’s possible.

Yet, it’s not easy planetary energy as Saturn can flag up a roadblock or where things have broken down. Some obstacles can be overcome, others may be immovable.

Uranus demands action but it’s fast and unpredictable. The best advice with Uranus is to stay flexible and be ready to move quickly when you see a way through.

It’s quite the Full Moon energy – will you give up or will you take a risk?

Here are the areas of your life under the cosmic radar during this powerful Full Moon in Aquarius. Read both your Sun sign & Ascendant sign:

• Aquarius: image, identity, personal goals – relationships, contracts, a third party
• Pisces: retreat, secrets, self-care, caring for others – work, service, health, lifestyle
• Aries: friends, groups, society, politics – children, creativity, entertainment, love affairs
• Taurus: career, status, responsibility, future goals – home, family, past
• Gemini: travel, study, beliefs – communication, local community, neighbours, siblings
• Cancer: other peoples’ money, debt, taboos – personal finances, assets, values, self-worth
• Leo: relationships, contracts, a third party – image, identity, personal goals
• Virgo: work, service, health, lifestyle – retreat, secrets, self-care, caring for others
• Libra: children, creativity, entertainment, love affairs – friends, groups, society, politics
• Scorpio: home, family, past – career, status, responsibility, future goals
• Sagittarius: communication, local community, neighbours, siblings – travel, study, beliefs
• Capricorn: personal finances, assets, values, self-worth – other peoples’ money, debt, taboos

Happy Crazy Full Moon!