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There have been a few astrologically significant events that have led up to the October 1st full moon which affect its energy and any workings one may do during this celestial event.  The sun shifted into Libra on September 22 beginning the dark half of the year.  We can already see and feel the shift in light.

On September 28, Mercury moved into Scorpio.  Mercury is the planet of messages, communication, intellect, and critical thinking.  Scorpio likes to dig down deep, into the murk and feel.  Mercury in Scorpio is a time of emotional shadow work.  Taking time to dig down deep into one’s feelings and critically analyze what is working for us and what is not.  What unconscious behaviors or thoughts may be limiting us and keeping us from our goals? 

Nature provides a self-care guide when we honor her ways.  This time of year, is a time of drawing in, picking the last of the harvests, getting yourself and your home ready for winter and the loss of light.  Mercury in Scorpio helps us take that drawing in into ourselves and our psyches as well.  Mercury always ingresses into Scorpio at some point in the fall but this year, we get a longer run than most years.  Mercury turns retrograde on October 14 traveling backwards through Scorpio and back in Libra on October 29 prior to our next full moon on October 31.  We will then have the opportunity for further shadow work with Mercury traveling back into Scorpio on November 11 where it will remain until the messenger planet moves on into Sagittarius on December 2. 

Looking at this with the moon cycles, it supports deep critical analysis these first two weeks after the full moon.  Then, just before the new moon of October 16, Mercury’s retrograde motion brings a time of reflection on what came up for us after the full moon.  For the next full moon on October 31, Mercury has moved into Libra to give us a more “balanced” view of our inner work. 

Another celestial event that is coloring this full moon is the square between Saturn and Mars which occurred on Tuesday, the night of the most embarrassing presidential debate in recent history.  Both Saturn and Mars are in their home signs of Capricorn and Aries respectfully and they faced each other in the sky at a 90-degree angle indicating a conflict between the two archetypes.  Saturn in Capricorn encourages progress but in a methodical, practical way, respecting the limits of physical manifestation.  Mars in Aries wants to get things done at whatever cost and as quickly as possible.  It acts first and thinks later.  Sound like that debate?

In this planetary cage fight, Saturn has the upper hand as it is “overtaking” Mars in that it is moving ahead of Mars in degrees as Mars is in retrograde motion right now, which also weakens its action.  Saturn also turned direct on Tuesday, increasing its power.  Retrograde Mars encourages us to reflect on our actions, especially those we tend to make passionately and spontaneously.  That square is still active for the full moon Thursday as the planets are just one degree apart in each of their signs.  Thus, for our reflective time this full moon, we want to think about what structures we want to build and what impulsive actions may be hindering their construction.  Dig deep with that Mercury in Scorpio to consider the ways in which you are not serving yourself with your anger or impulsiveness. 

The moon is in Aries for this full moon opposing the sun in Libra.  The moon in Aries highlights those unconscious habits and actions that we take impulsively.  This is the time to look at our unconscious behaviors with the balanced energy from the sun lighting them up.  What in the shadows is hindering our personal growth?  What is taking away from our own sense of beauty both within us and with what surrounds us in the physical world?

Shadow work can be challenging as it takes looking within in an observational rather than judgmental way.  It is important to take on this work from a place of self-love.  This is supported by the planets this full moon as Venus and the Sun are in mutual reception.  Mutual reception is when two planets are in each other’s ruling sign and thus look to each other for how to act.  The Sun is in Libra which is ruled by Venus and Venus is in Leo, ruled by the Sun.  This full moon is a time to shine the light of love on that shadow. 

Blessed Be!