Welcome to Flower Moon, an occasional offering about astrological transits, lunar cycles, and miscellaneous musings. I’m Emily, a Taurus sun, Gemini moon, Leo rising, and student of traditional hellenistic astrology. Follow along to discover the beauty of astrology as a framework for finding meaning and knowing ourselves.
Gemini Full Moon
On December 7th at 10:07 pm CT we experience a full moon in Gemini, also known as the Cold Moon. A full moon is the midpoint of the lunation cycle when the moon directly opposes the sun. She is her fullest, brightest, and at peak energy during this phase. In traditional astrology, the sun and moon are luminaries or sources of light. In an oppositional relationship they serve as a mirror. The moon signifies our feelings lurking beneath the surface while the sun signifies our ego and mind.
Gemini, the mutable air sign of the Zodiac, ruled by Mercury is communicative in nature. Gemini desires intellectual stimulation and loves gathering information. The moon in Gemini finds comfort in processing emotions on an intellectual level. However, feelings are prone to being repressed if we do not allow them to move through us. Comprehending emotions with the mind is not quite the same as feeling their physical sensations, which is a lesson I’ve had to learn as a native Gemini moon. This full moon is an opportunity to quiet our minds, drop into our bodies, and feel.
This full moon is super charged with aggression due to a conjunction with Mars the planet of energy, conflict, and destruction who is currently retrograde. The warrior planet functions best when blazing full steam ahead. While stuck in reverse there will be challenges to overcome. Mars in Gemini gives energy to our thoughts and words. Retrograde Mars may trigger old thought patterns that cause anger, aggression, and physical or emotional pain.
The moon also makes a trine to Saturn, the planet of limitations, restrictions, and boundaries. Mars and Saturn are known as malefics in traditional astrology meaning the ancients believed they cause harm and misfortune. Many astrologers today including myself don’t think in such black and white terms. While Mars and Saturn certainly come with their challenges, they also create opportunities to learn and grow. A trine is a positive aspect between two planets and signifies an easy flow of energy between the moon and Saturn. This full moon is an opportunity to create safe containers where we can sit with our anger and aggression and allow them to move through us rather than suppress them.
What practices do you have to honor and work through your rage that don’t cause harm to yourself or others? Do you punch soft things like pillows or a mattress? Do you channel your anger into physical activity? Do you find solitude to scream, yell, and ugly cry?
Society conditions us to suppress and deny our anger and other big emotions. Yes, they can be scary and overwhelming, but we all deserve to feel the depth and expansiveness of human emotion. My friend Em always says, “every feeling has a need.” When we allow ourselves to take a breath and be fully present with our feelings, we can uncover the needs lying beneath.