I’ve been loving all the hilarious Bernie memes flooding Facebook since the Inauguration. A bundled-up Bernie on the Dating Game, perched on the rings of Saturn, hanging with Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was an unexpectedly creative, slightly giddy reaction to our renewed hope for a better world.
Over the last four years, hope has been in short supply. We’ve looked on in disbelief at other peoples’ righteous assertions, and avoided talking about important issues with loved ones. Especially since the pandemic, many of us have withdrawn into our own worlds, growing more and more isolated and in some cases, unhinged. Social isolation, researchers say, makes people less empathetic and more likely to view the world in terms of “us” and “them.” In a pre-pandemic study of 20,000 Americans, 47 percent reported often feeling alone. And, 41 percent of Britons said the TV or a pet is their main source of company, while a half million Japanese reported spending at least six months of the year at home with no outside contact. Imagine what these figures are now, after nearly a year of lockdowns and other hardships!
There’s no denying that polarization is rampant. Yet astrology illustrates that two opposite ends of an axis can learn from each other. Opposites do tend to attract, and with maturity and willingness to grow, can balance each other out. For instance, Leo symbolizes the individual self, and Aquarius the collective. You can’t have one without the other. But there is a dark side to each. While Leo’s fire warms the heart, it can also fan the flames of ego and spark self-righteousness. And while airy Aquarius champions freedom and works for the good of all, its eccentricity can make it unrelatable at times.
At the upcoming Leo Full Moon (Thu. Jan. 28, 11:16 a.m. PST), we come face to face with this opposition. As the Sun joins expansive Jupiter in Aquarius, traveling close to regime-changing Saturn, they magnify Aquarian hopes and progressivism. This idealistic combo is opposed by the passionate Leo Moon and squared by the revolutionary Mars-Uranus conjunction (which was exact on Inauguration Day). It’s a big, bodacious, restless Full Moon! Leo loves a party, even online, so a celebration may be in order. And it’s also a great time to envision the future. But sudden changes are also likely.
With a plethora of planetary activations to Uranus that have already been building, plus Mercury stationing retrograde in Aquarius (exact Jan. 30 – Feb. 20), technology is apt to go awry. Some astrologers are warning us to guard our online info to ward off any cyberattacks. Others have noted the potential for bullying or earthquakes, as wild card asteroid Black Moon Lilith conjuncts Mars and Uranus in stubborn Taurus at the Full Moon.
It’s good to keep the possible downside in mind, without giving in to fear. Yet we also need to recognize the breakthrough potential of this lunation. These energies invite us to shore up our courage (Leo), perhaps by joining with others in a worthy cause (Aquarius). Or, we can tap into the warmth and creativity of Leo to make something artistic or just plain fun, like those Bernie memes – with bonus points for including feline imagery to honor the lion! And, even more points for opening your heart to someone on the opposite side of the fence who may have lost their way. Certainly you shouldn’t tolerate abuse. But at this Full Moon, you might consider reaching out across the divide to reconnect. In the end, all we have is each other.
Happy Leo full moon everyone. i always think the challenge of the opposition is to find the midpoint, at a higher level, kind of like a triangle. The two energies combine, complement and synthesise. With Leo/Aquarius it’s creative solutions to common problems, seeing ourselves in the other and valuing both individual contributions to the whole, and our shared humanity, to name but a few obvious concepts. Unfortunately, we often get stuck at one end of a polarity, rather than being able to see the greater whole that is created through integrating the energies. So let’s celebrate our individuality and our shared humanity and the amazing possibilities this offers us to create a happy present and future.
Good point, Karen! Happy Full Moon…