The Frost Moon, The Beaver Moon – call it what you will, the full moon in Gemini marks the transition to a new season that begins with the Sagittarius month. This is the time of year when many of us turn our minds to preparing for the festive season. The pre-Christmas season is a time of revelry – and that’s in tune with the expansive and fun-loving nature of Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius – as are the huge increases in expenditure that we incur at this time of year. We tend to avoid thinking about the payback that Capricorn brings…
The full moon in Gemini brings light into our lives when we most need it – at the onset of winter – and this made me think about the symbolism of the Gemini – Sagittarius axis. So, in this post, I’m going to look at the inner meaning if the Gemini – Sagittarius axis and how the full moon in Gemini brings those associations to our attention. Events associated with lunations are often personal – but even impersonal events that occur on the world stage can make an emotional impact on us collectively and as individuals. In full moon in Gemini style, I’ll attempt to make connections between those two positions.
Full Moon in Gemini: The Essentials
The full Moon in Gemini represents the culmination of seeds that were sown at the time of the new Moon in Gemini back in June this year, just before the midsummer of 2023. That New Moon in Gemini was heavily aspected (a square) by Neptune in Pisces. It was a sensitive and emotional new Moon and those most sensitised to its influence may have been unaware of the mental and emotional impact of events at that time. There may have been some tense emotional outpourings or misunderstandings – and even a few untruths that were brushed aside rather than being processed or fully understood.
What goes around, comes around – and the full moon in Gemini suggests it’s time to bring those seedlings into the light. Gemini (and Sagittarius) are signs associated with connection – and the light of the Sagittarius Sun is open, frank and honest. As ever with the full moon, there is a conflict that needs resolution. With the Gemini – Sagittarius opposition, there may be tension between your view of a certain situation – and how you articulate those views. It’s no surprise, therefore, that the Gemini – Sagittarius opposition often signifies a need for diplomacy. Remember that word.
Diplomacy is the art of maintaining peaceful relationships and it’s something we associate with the sign of Libra. When you look at the lunation chart below, diplomacy is present (Mercury in Sagittarius sextile Venus in Libra) but its connections to the main thrust of this lunation are thin. You could say that diplomacy is present as an absence, rather than as a tangible reality – particularly as that sextile has a square aspect to our old friend, Neptune in Pisces.
With the full moon in Gemini, it may be easy to be too honest, too blunt or even brutal in your assessment of a situation. And the reason for this is likely to become evident when we look at the lunation chart. It’s tense, it’s raw – and when we look at the players involved you’ll understand why. This lunation brings together Mars, Saturn and Pluto. Unarticulated feelings (Saturn in Pisces) and towering rage (Mars in Sagittarius) are combined with cold, hard, visceral emotion (Pluto retrograde in Capricorn). What could possibly go wrong?
Full Moon in Gemini: The Chart
Full Moon in Gemini: The Aspects
The following are the major aspects made by the full moon in Gemini:
- Sun conjunct Mars opposite Moon
- Full Moon square Saturn
- Full Moon trine Pluto
As you can see from the chart, there is a tight t-square aspect pattern involving the full moon, Mars and Saturn, combined with a trine/sextile aspect to Pluto. In astrology, it’s often assumed that the tensions evident in a t-square are ‘eased’ by the presence of a trine/sextile aspect to any of the planets involved in the t-square. That, of course, depends on the nature of the planets caught up in the configuration.
With Mars and Saturn in the t-square indicating tension and frustration, I suspect a trine from the Moon to Pluto, and a sextile from Mars to Pluto, is not an indication that this is going to be an easy lunation. It’s fiery – as the Gemini-Sagittarius combination whips up a firestorm – and Saturn in Pisces shows that someone is going to pour cold water on everything. Pluto shows that – whatever happens – something is about to blow up in our faces right about now.
The lunation chart is also indicative of a real ‘chicken and egg’ situation – what happens first? Does the ease and speed of the ‘Pluto event’ demand the action (or reaction) indicated by the t-square? Or does the tension of the t-square look to Pluto for resolution? The answer is – as ever in astrology – either of those things or both of those things. So, let’s fine tune this – and see where we go from here…
Sun Conjunct Mars Opposite the Full Moon in Gemini
A Sun-Mars conjunction puts power and energy in the same place. It’s an aggressive and assertive combination and, in Sagittarius, it shoots its energy out over a long distance. The Sun – Mars conjunction in Sagittarius is concerned with the big picture, the rights and wrongs of a situation, and asserting opinions about whatever it is that’s of major concern. That can be a matter that’s personal to you and another person (the opposition is always concerned with relationships of all kinds) or it can be an issue between opposing factions that impacts on you emotionally.
There is no shortage of angry and violent opposition in the world – and many issues arouse people emotionally, even if they have no direct involvement with the issue itself. The current situation in Gaza is an example of one of those situations. It’s violent, emotional, polarising and triggers opinion – in short, it’s a perfect example of a conflict that has the power to stir up additional conflicts. Acts of violence – even if they are some distance from the original location – may be experienced, and arguments may be triggered between people who have differing opinions about how this terrible situation should be resolved.
When the Sagittarius sunlight falls on the full moon in Gemini, if you weren’t aware of the detail involved in any dispute or difference of opinion (large or small) then you need to become informed, or someone will inform you in no uncertain terms. Mars means that arguments are easily triggered, as it is so easy to speak without thinking. You may feel that the pressure is on you to think or respond quickly to someone’s demands, and you will need to be clear about your understanding of any situation that’s likely to be contentious.
It may seem as if you’re being asked to negotiate your way through a minefield – and that may be true (metaphorically speaking). As the festive season approaches, we start to arrange travel arrangements and family get togethers. Often that involves managing and negotiating some difficult relationships. Things are said that would be better unsaid and stress levels escalate, making it easy to lash out as even minor differences of opinion have the potential to blow out of all proportion.
Full Moon in Gemini Square Saturn
Keeping things in perspective, being direct about how you’re going to handle a situation and getting on top of the detail is the thing to aim for – and this is where Saturn could either be a hindrance or a help. The full moon in Gemini squares Saturn in Pisces, and this may affect the situation you’re dealing with in a variety of ways. I’ll deal with some of the problem areas first, as Saturn’s difficulties are often the first thing you encounter with the Lord of Karma.
When arguments break out, they often do so because a misunderstanding has become evident. Saturn in Pisces is astrological code for ‘real confusion’. It’s also astrological code for ‘a refusal or inability to understand’. Saturn in Pisces is defensive where arguments or opinions threaten to overwhelm. One issue you may have, is that you find it hard to maintain a solid, coherent position on an issue – and that may make you frustrated and angry. Or you may feel that someone isn’t being straight with you, or you’re frustrated because another person isn’t being realistic about something that’s an important concern.
You may be feeling under attack – or emotionally vulnerable. Any of those Saturn in Pisces issues could trigger a flashpoint, and the full moon in Gemini could bring that to your attention – or bring things to a head. This is a classic ‘argument that’s been a long time coming’ full moon, but it also contains the potential for something far more effective than that. Okay, the former approach may clear the air (for now…) but we can always do better than that. Someone has to be the adult in the room, sense when things are not as they should be – listen to what’s being said – and steer things in a realistic direction.
Sagittarius is great at seeing the big picture. Gemini is great at detail. Neither of them are great at focus. The full moon in Gemini is telling us that the road to resolution is not a blazing row, it’s sensing when you need to act to make an appropriate intervention. Sometimes you need saintly patience (Saturn in Pisces) to appreciate someone else’s perspective. It may take time (Saturn) to understand what’s really being said – especially if the important information requires you to read between the lines. Slow it down. Speak less. Listen more. And ensure that word, ‘diplomacy’ isn’t lost in the background noise.
And remember, Saturn in Pisces is also squared by Mars in Sagittarius. Be prepared for someone to try and pour cold water over your efforts. Mars in square aspect to Saturn adds a real sense of frustration. Progress is a process of ‘grinding things out’ as words may appear to fall on deaf ears. It’s a process you may encounter in personal matters – and it’s one you’re certain to observe happening in the world around you. Sometimes – especially when it feels as if all is lost and the argument is set to rage – quiet persistence may be the only way to go. Even if it requires gritted teeth. Or grit and determination.
Full Moon in Gemini Trine Pluto
One thing you may encounter at the time of the full moon in Gemini, is the sense that things have got to change because they cannot go on as they are. In fact, that realisation may be the critical factor in seeking resolution to a fight that’s been going on too long. I mentioned at the outset, that Pluto was the route to resolving the dilemma revealed by the full moon in Gemini – regardless of whether that crisis was personal or otherwise. As I also mentioned, Pluto may have been the cause of the crisis too. Power and control are contentious beasts. Throw belief systems and magical thinking in the mix and it’s a recipe for disaster.
Pluto is destructive and self-destructive. Regenerative and healing. How can anything be all of those things? The answer to that lies in the following: in order to renew, resolve or rebuild, you need to tear down or clear out whatever was there before. Sometimes Pluto represents this as a fairly benign process (relatively speaking) though the existential fears associated with this planet (the ruler of Scorpio) often prevent us from letting go voluntarily. Pluto – in that situation – will rip from your hands whatever it is you’re holding onto. You cling on – at your peril – or trust in the universe and let go.
Trust is clearly a better route than demolition, but often they come together. If you have nothing left, if your life is in ruins, trust may be your first step towards getting your life back. That sounds serious – and often things feel that way when Pluto is held up as the solution. With the full moon in Gemini, the core message is this: initiating dialogue and fostering understanding – the key principles of Gemini and Sagittarius – are the way forwards – even if it’s a slow, frustrating and demanding process. There will be moments when you feel lost and alone. Remember, you are only human. Trust in the Universe. It’s all you can do.
Further Reading
Lunations 2023 | Full Moon in Aries: The Harvest Moon
Solar Eclipse in Libra: October 14th 2023
Lunar Eclipse in Taurus: October 28th 2023
Lunations 2023 | New Moon in Virgo: 15th September
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© Sara Shipman 2023
Picture Credit: Image by Susan Cipriano from Pixabay
Awesome writing, as usual!
That’s so appreciated, thank you so much.