The full moon in Aries is almost here. As I write this, I have the feeling that this full moon is going to bring something to a head – yet I also feel as if something is brewing. Again, that may have something to do with it hitting my twelfth house, but one thing is for certain: this full moon in Aries marks the culmination of a lunation period that began with the new moon in Aries on April 8th 2024. And that new moon was, in fact, the solar eclipse that carved a path across North America – The Great American Eclipse 2024. It’s not surprising the vibe is so strong.
So, in this post, I’m going to focus on the full moon in Aries in that big, historical context, rather than from a personal standpoint. Make no mistake, this full moon in Aries is part of the series of major astrological events that are going to shape our future in the months (and years) ahead. It’s particularly relevant to events that will unfold in the USA (and elsewhere) and it’s going to usher in one of the most significant astrological events of the year.. So, sit back, pour yourself a coffee – and prepare to be enlightened…
Full Moon in Aries: How it Began
Let’s go back to April 2024 – and the solar eclipse in Aries. This solar eclipse represented a major celestial intervention and (as its name suggests) it focused on North America – the USA in particular. Back then, Joe Biden was still a candidate and no-one had attempted to shoot Donald Trump. The presidential contest was a lacklustre affair between two old guys. Yet the message contained in the solar eclipse was ‘out with the old and in with the new’. An Aries emphasis always signifies a new beginning – and the solar eclipse was the intervention that made it happen
The bundle of planets that spanned Aries – Taurus in the solar eclipse chart (see the post link below) also included the approaching conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus. A new Jupiter – Uranus cycle was on its way. Change was coming, so it’s worth mentioning what the Jupiter- Uranus cycle means: this cycle brings a major departure from the past; it brings major revolutions, unexpected conditions and unintended consequences. As it was connected to the solar eclipse, it was clear that this solar eclipse was going to produce a few surprises – and so it came to pass.
There are links at the foot of this page to the posts I published back in April, but I want to remind you of the main points I made in my post on the great American Solar Eclipse – as they affected the USA and the forthcoming presidential election in particular. Make no mistake, the Great American Solar Eclipse kick-started the process that has brought us to where we are now – so I’m (briefly) going to remind you of what I thought about that solar eclipse back in April.
The Great American Eclipse: A Reprise
The points I made in my April 2024 post about the Great American Solar Eclipse in Aries are marked in bold type – and my comments on those points are as follows:
- A dramatic re-set is on its way. The solar eclipse in Aries marked the beginning of a new cycle – and a new cycle for the USA in particular.
- It’s time to look to the future, not the past. This was a future facing north node eclipse – though that also took the USA into uncharted territory. The division between past and future, youth and age has been a major feature of his election – especially with VP Harris’s slogan, ‘Not Going Back”.
- Frustration demands a change of direction – The issue is which direction? The future direction of America (and of democracy itself) is at the heart of this election.
- In April 2024 I wrote, “You need to embrace the darkness at the core of your soul before you can begin to see the light“. The solar eclipse was conjunct Chiron, the wounded healer. I think that’s self-explanatory in the context of the USA today. There is a lot that needs to be healed.
- The solar eclipse was conjunct Mercury retrograde in Aries showing a need to rethink strategy and direction – and fast. During the Mercury retrograde period, questions concerning Joe Biden’s age and suitability for future office intensified. He stood down following the disastrous ‘Presidential Debate’ in June. It was a surprise (but not to me…) and it happened fast.
An aside: a solar eclipse in Aries is a Sun-Moon conjunction in that sign – in other words it’s a special and powerful new moon that changes everything. As an astrologer, I feel obliged to point out that this dynamic is evident in the natal astrology of the Democrat candidates – Aries Moon (Kamala Harris) and Aries Sun (Tim Walz). The Great American Eclipse marked the re-set that ultimately brought about their candidacy – but there are many more astrological events that will need to be picked over before November 5th comes around.
Full Moon in Aries: The Chart
So, back to this month’s full Moon in Aries. It culminates on October 17th at 24˚ 35′ Aries, at 11:26 (UT). And, this is the chart:
Where do I begin with this? With the most stand out features of course – and they are the ‘back to back’ t-squares (a grand square) that connects this full moon in Aries to the approaching Mars – Pluto opposition. That approaching opposition is not quite in orb, but that’s almost irrelevant as it’s so powerful. Every astrologer on the face of this earth has had this transiting aspect circled in their ephemeris since heaven knows when. It’s going to have a major impact, thanks to Mars also turning retrograde in Leo-Cancer. We are already in the shadow period for that one, with Mars turning retrograde in December.
Mars also connects this full moon in Aries with a water grand trine (Venus, Mars and Neptune) and that’s also connected to a mystic rectangle (Venus, Mars, Uranus, Pluto) and that mystic rectangle is also part of a ‘seer’ configuration, as it’s joined to the transiting outer planet minor trine (the rare mini-triangle) that is such a powerful presence in the heavens right now, Everything, as usual, is connected. So, to keep this simple, I’m going to focus on a brief analysis of the most influential aspects that directly connect with the full moon in Aries.
Full Moon in Aries: The Aspects
Incredibly, in that complex chart, there are only three direct contacts with the full moon in Aries. But they are important ones:
- Full Moon in Aries square Mars in Cancer
- Full Moon in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn
- Full Moon in Aries sextile Jupiter in Gemini
As I mentioned above, the two t-squares in the full moon in Aries chart form a grand square, with the approaching Mars – Pluto opposition forming the apex points of both t-squares. Technically, the Mars – Pluto opposition is not yet in orb, but I believe in the old saying, “if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck…It’s a duck”. And this Mars – Pluto approaching opposition looks like a duck to me. This grand square is a cardinal grand square – and that’s appropriate in the context of the US election, as cardinal signs are about power, supremacy, ambition and moving situations forwards to achieve your goal.
The cardinal grand square also signifies a power struggle; it contains conflict that’s almost impossible to resolve because of the balanced nature of the configuration. Those are powerful messages in the context of the US election – particularly when you add Mars and Pluto into the mix. These two planets in opposition signify ruthlessness, violence, primal aggression, a fight to the death. They are brutal, primitive and visceral. They’re also passionate and uncompromising – and those factors will intensify as the approaching opposition becomes exact. And did I mention extremism? That’s in there too.
Certain themes are emerging here, and the most compelling narrative comes from the aspect that isn’t yet fully formed – the approaching Mars – Pluto opposition. It’s not going to end well. Mars opposite Pluto shows that the US election cycle is culminating with violence ‘waiting in the wings’. To (mis) quote from William Shakespeare’s ‘Scottish Play’, “Something wicked this way comes”. It’s an incredibly tense set of configurations – and you can’t avoid the fact that Mars and Pluto are at odds. This signifies a major confrontation, ‘a volcanic eruption of rage’ and a major resistance to the election outcome.
And that opposition becomes exact on November 3rd 2024, January 3rd 2025 and April 26th 2025. It’s dangerous, combative, violent, ruthless and aggressive; not qualities you want to be associated with the US Election Day (November 5th) and Election Certification Day Day 2025 (January 6th). I will be analysing this opposition fully in a forthcoming post, but what is suggested here, is that the election process (or events connected with the election) may not resolve until after Mars and Pluto make their final exact aspect on April 26th 2025. Violence, disturbance or unrest is likely to impact on how the election unfolds.
This is not a peaceful planetary combination, so we are not headed for an easy time – the astrology makes that clear – so let’s look at the final aspect made by the full moon in Aries. Jupiter in Gemini offers the only possible point for that brutal energy to be dispersed – yet is Jupiter in this full moon chart going to be as lucky or beneficial as Jupiter is supposed to be? Jupiter in Gemini is literally ‘big news’, but during the full moon in Aries, Jupiter is in retrograde motion. There will be big internal debates for many people this time around – and bigger questions than usual will hang over this election.
Jupiter retrograde in Gemini is asking the US electorate to think about what philosophy or ideology they want to underpin their system of government. It’s an opportunity to reflect on that choice and ask important questions about morality, justice, the law, education, wealth – and the shape of society itself. They are the big Jupiter issues that are dominating this election, and that’s because Jupiter is also square Saturn – and that means we are at a critical juncture in the new Jupiter-Saturn Cycle that began on the winter solstice, 2020. The first square aspect in that cycle is always a major test.
Full Moon in Aries: The Ongoing Noise…
So all things are connected, as nothing in the universe happens in isolation. The full moon in Aries is a reminder of that. It’s also a reminder that this election is a milestone in the journey that’s now re-shaping the global power base, and that goes beyond the US borders, as it affects all of us. That’s evident in the heavens as well as on earth, and some of the astrological markers that are telling us that are as follows:
- Pluto will ingress Aquarius for the final time on November 20th 2025. The planet of transformation will be in the sign of revolution. Those big irrevocable changes I’ve been writing about for several years? They are here and now.
- Currently, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are transiting in a minor trine configuration (a mini-triangle). This is a rare occurrence, but it’s happening now – and it’s going to have its closest orb over the next two years. It signifies a watershed moment in a major way. Those big irrevocable changes I’ve been writing about for several years? They are here and now.
- As I mentioned above, Jupiter is square Saturn and that’s the first big tension point in the way the current Jupiter -Saturn cycle is shaping our world. The current cycle began with The Great Conjunction that occurred at 0˚ 27″ Aquarius on December 21st 2020.
- The Mars – Pluto opposition will make contact with the degree of The Great Conjunction on November 5th 2024 – the day of the US election. Mars will be on 0˚Leo, directly opposite that degree. It will also be on that degree on January 6th 2025.
Those big irrevocable changes I’ve been writing about for several years? They are here and now – and it’s not going to be peaceful or easy. This full moon in Aries is not going to tell you who is going to win the US election (I’ll soon be posting on that question) but it is a culmination that brings together all of the major themes, and it tells us how events are likely to play out. This period of trauma is ‘written in the stars’ – there is no way of avoiding it – so hunker down. As they said on ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Winter is coming’. And it’s going to be a long one.
Further Reading
Solar Eclipse in Aries: The Great American Eclipse 2024
Aspects | Jupiter Conjunct Uranus: A New Cycle
Donald Trump: Solar Return Chart 2024
Kamala Harris: Solar Return Chart 2024
USA Election 2024 | Harris vs. Trump: Who Will Win?
Sara Shipman | Solar Returns: Planets in Houses
Jupiter Conjunct Saturn: The Great Conjunction
* PS – The reading list links will be updated as soon as the posts have been published!
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© Sara Shipman 2024
Picture credit: Image by Didier from Pixabay
