Full Moon in Sagittarius-Travelling Light

“Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all.”

― Nathan W. Morris

As the closest to Earth and the fastest, the ancients saw the Moon as the vital connector between all of the planets, a go-between, the conveyor of messages and the revealer of secrets. Through studying the monthly waxing and waning of the silver Moon in all its phases and mapping its intricate dance through the heavens as one by one, each of the other heavenly bodies was advanced upon, embraced and then discarded, they were able to measure the course of events upon the earth, and over millenia learned to predict what was to unfold. 

For up to a week before a Full Moon, we may well experience a feeling of pressure, as our bodies become aware of the growing power and it is at these times that events often come to a head, sometimes accompanied by an outpouring of emotion. The next Full Moon falls at 23 degrees 25 minutes, in the last decan (10 degree segment) of Sagittarius. 

Sagittarius travels through varied physical and mental landscapes in its search for meaning in life, and is noted for its love of study or long-distance travel in order to expand its consciousness. Strongly associated with the image of the perpetual student, the Sagittarian interest in religion, philosophy and the workings of law and government, only broadens their  territory, giving them immense landscapes in which to explore their enduring love of knowledge and the pursuit of a strong sense of faith and meaning. With this however, can come the tendency for dogma, as the desire to believe in something often leads to firm convictions that can be magically replaced by something new at a later date. Generally optimistic and positive with boisterous energy levels and a restless independence, the Sagittarian type keeps going towards the goal of understanding, often eschewing the confines of ordered living and conventional attachments to make room for the eternal search for complete freedom of expression. 

The Sagittarius Full Moon which is always the last Full Moon before the Summer Solstice comes at the very end of the ancient Egyptian calendar, which renews every year as the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky and enters the zodiac sign of Cancer.  In ancient Egypt, this time was marked by the heliacal rising of Sirius and the yearly inundation of the Nile river, bringing renewed life back to the parched desert.  Under the rulership of Saturn this last decan of the ancient year is associated with The Ten of Wands in the tarot, and embodies the burden which material reality lays upon the fiery energy of inspiration; it represents the physical struggle required to complete the journey. 

The image from the Picatrix that is given to this decan, shows “A man with a hat on his head, killing another man” whilst the Sun, which at the full Moon is in the opposite sign, occupies the last decan of Gemini, and given the image of  “A man covered in chainmail, with a bow, arrows and a quiver”. This full Moon occupies the last decan in a series of 36 and as such, brings us the opportunity to review what we have learned over the year, with the instruction to hold on to the ideas and beliefs that still serve us, while urging us to discard those that will no longer prove useful for the next cycle. Through Sagittarius we learn and gather, through Gemini we teach and disseminate; this is the time to let go of what is not worth teaching, but to hold on to that which has useful meaning, good enough to be stored, and eventually passed on to others. 

The Full Moon is always a time of release, when there is nothing further to be gained and where the full story is revealed. For anyone who has Sun, Moon or Ascendant in Sagittarius or Gemini, or personal planets at the end of Sagittarius, this Full Moon may feel particularly relevant. Ten is always connected to the idea of renewal, the wheel turning and that the time has come once more to reap what we have sown. The combination of images suggests the closing of a particular fate cycle and that it is time to part ways with something, or maybe someone. You may come to the understanding that no matter how much you desire an outcome, that you are unable to continue under the current conditions. In some manner, a belief system that has served you well in the past, must now be laid aside, as it has outlived its purpose, for it is time to look elsewhere for new inspiration and a different road into the future.

The applying square that the full Moon makes to Neptune fills this particular time with uncertainty and confusion, it may be difficult to ascertain what it is you even want to release, combined with nostalgia for what you can sense is being left behind. Wherever Neptune is in play, results are achieved by “non-action”, its function to erode and enchant, to confuse and dissolve whilst we look on, powerless to affect the course of events. In due course we look back and realize that everything has changed. This Full Moon is about accepting that you can no longer hold on, that a new way beckons, beyond what you can visualize, and to trust in the process. 

A Prayer for the Full Moon 

In the glory of my fullness I speak to you, revealing my truth. There are no secrets here, all will be declared. Now it is time to turn away from that which is no longer fulfilling. I empower you to live your authentic self, to be unashamed of your fullness, to embrace your power, to proclaim your true self, without fear. In Sagittarius-I Seek: to know all that I can, to experience distant places, in all realms. I am a traveler of far off lands, which exist on earth, in fire, in air and in water. I learn, I gather, I expand my awareness; I delight in all new experiences. I constantly add to my store of knowledge and experience, bringing back tales of adventure and teaching.