Headstrong

Anyone else still reeling from the full moon in Aries this past Sunday?  I could feel it revving up the week before and even now, the fallout is still crashing to the ground.   The sign of Aries is symbolized by the ram and rules the head, so many of you may feel as though you’ve been banging it against the wall.  Likewise, hotheads prevail this time of year so conversations, social interactions, and driving may be particularly precarious.  In any case, this is an intense time when it’s crucial to cultivate patience, focus, and an awareness that it will surely pass. 

There is no other time of the year when the full moon blasts its energy through our psyche than in October.  Like a sprinter jumping off the starting block, Aries is all about the launch.  When the moon is influenced by this energy, there’s a tendency for an overload of blow-torch firepower.  You may have gotten into more than your share of heated discussions or been the target of someone else’s wrath.  

Now that the moon has shifted away from this influence, it’s time to sift and sort what’s left behind. 

Full moons represent a culmination and a balance between the sun and moon.  We’re in the sun sign of Libra which strives for beauty and balance.  Libra energy seeks to be in harmonious relationship – with another person, with the earth, with the light and dark within itself.  The thinking here is How can I work with another energy and maintain harmony?  On the other hand, Aries energy is all about being number one.  As the first sign of the zodiac (March 21 – April 19), Aries is at the head of the line, so in its highest form, this energy creates dynamic leadership.  Yet the shadow of Aries (which is amplified by the full moon) is self-centeredness...and not in a good way.

My natal chart isn’t directly influenced by Aries as I have no significant aspects or planets connected with it.  Still, living on planet Earth means the rain falls on everyone, not just parched ground.  In the past two weeks I’ve been in two near-miss car accidents because the drivers were either speeding or darting across four lanes of traffic so they could be first in line at a stop light.  In both cases, because my car happened to be in their way, I was called a choice name with a malicious expletive in front of it.  And in both cases I was left shaking by the intensity of their anger which had nothing to do with me.

Lately, there have been more intense experiences in my personal life which demand I answer the question, How in the heck did I get here and what do I do next?  Sure, we can all laugh and blame it on the moon, but I beg to differ.  The change of seasons and astrological signs is designed to keep us from stagnating.  I’ve come to realize that the degree to which I suffer is directly related to the degree I resist change.  Transforming our lives can be truly difficult, harrowing, and unpredictable.  But as Anais Nin wrote, And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

The full moon in Aries asks each one of us to recognize times when we are headstrong or when we need to stand up for ourselves.   It can help us learn how to protect ourselves from others’ overwhelming intensity.  Because it’s so incredibly potent, Aries can force us recognize the need for consciously creating change by focusing our energy. 

To be sure, it’s a challenging influence, but if you think about the kind of energy the earth embodies to be reborn out of the bitter cold and frozen ground of winter, the ignition of Aries is vital for anything brand new.  In October, the earth  in our hemisphere may be slowly falling asleep, but we are now being asked to awaken to our highest potential.

If you’re interested in scheduling a private astrology session to discover your own strengths, challenges, and spiritual path, please contact me at ingersoll.katie@gmail.com.  I look forward to connecting with you.