Time for Truth

After a relatively quiet period at the start of the lunar month, things get progressively more complicated as we approach the full moon that will occur on Monday, August 19 at 11:26 a.m. in California, 12:26 p.m. in Mexico City, or 8:26 p.m. in Central Europe. In the enclosed chart, you can see Sun at Leo 27°15′ (close to the 4 o’clock placement) right in front of Moon at Aquarius 27°15′.

Before we unpack the astrology of this chart, which is full of meaning, let me set the stage. We had an exact conjunction of Mars and Jupiter at Gemini 16°40′ on August 14, just two days after the lunation’s First Quarter phase, when I am writing these words. Such phase is the moment of what we call a crisis of action, when we encounter obstacles for the actualization of potentialities present at the new moon. Mars and Jupiter working together (conjunction) is often found in the charts of many entrepreneurs. The expansion of Jupiter, its ability to assimilate new life experiences and project new visions, perhaps resulting from contact with other cultures while traveling, works in unison with the Martian energy of action for the identification and satisfaction of our personal desires. However, Jupiter will expand all aspects of Mars, including those related to war and, unfortunately, we have seen more brutal conflict in both the Ukraine and Gaza wars.

Two T-Squares

At the time of the full moon, Mars at Gemini 19°59′ and Jupiter at Gemini 17°26′ continue to be in a conjunction, with the latter forming an exact square with Saturn at Pisces 17°28′, of which I will say more in a moment. Jupiter also forms another square with Venus that, at Virgo 18°00′, is in opposition to Saturn. We have called this configuration a T-Square and is shown in the full-moon chart as a red isosceles triangle with Jupiter as the planet that forms two squares and which serves as the “trigger” for the configuration. Due to its conjunction with Jupiter, Mars is also the trigger of a similar T-Square with the Venus–Saturn opposition. But that’s not all, both Sun and Moon form exact squares with Uranus at Taurus 27°11′ and are themselves in the full-moon opposition, thus configuring another T-Square; another red triangle in the chart with Uranus as trigger. Finally, Mercury at Leo 26°01′ forms a tight conjunction with Sun, opposition with Moon and square with Uranus for yet another T-Square.

The T-Square, you may recall, is a highly-energetic configuration among three planets operating in signs of the same modality: cardinal, fixed or mutable. It is composed of one opposition and two square aspects, all of which present alternative viewpoints requiring reconciliation that often result in either conflict or collaboration. In the case of an opposition, the viewpoints are polar opposites and there is an urge to become at least aware if not outright conscious of the polarity so as to see and understand the opposing point of view. For the square, however, the viewpoints are totally unrelated, save the modality, and there is energy to either construct or destroy. Often, the empty point directly opposite from the trigger planet provides a focusing place for the overall energy. In the best case, what the trigger planet builds with the two opposing ones helps us understand the opposition.

The T-Squares will be in two different modalities: fixed and mutable. You may remember that the modalities refer to the cycle of power of the so-called world axis formed by the equinoxes and solstices. The cardinal signs generate power. There are two different kinds of power: equinoctial and solstitial, but that is not important in this case. The fixed signs concentrate the power generated by the previous cardinal sign, and the mutable signs distribute the power concentrated by the previous fixed sign. Since the two triggers, Uranus and Mars–Jupiter, are in consecutive signs (Taurus and Gemini), the two T-Squares appear to be linked: power concentration in Taurus (Uranus) and power distribution in Gemini (Jupiter and Mars). If this reminds you of the Jupiter–Uranus conjunction of April 20, you are not alone. The background energies once again urge us to “jump into the abyss” with faith in the future, letting go of the old paradigms that impede our growth.

Venus and Saturn in Opposition

As implied above, the T-Square energy is focused on its opposition. In the case of Venus and Saturn, their opposition gives structure (Saturn) to our relationships (Venus), and a strong aspect between them is often found in the charts of weddings. In the Pisces phase, Saturn is able to give form and structure to our dreams while Venus in Virgo is very attentive and appreciative of relationships, often loving to help out and take care of others. However, the difficult side of Saturn results from rigidity in the structures it builds with the sign’s energies, which ends up stifling their ability to flow properly. In Pisces, Saturn has been linked to selfishness and a tendency to ignore opportunities to help out and give of ourselves, which would be the natural expression of Pisces. It is easy to see a tension with the archetypes mentioned about Venus in Virgo.

The natural antidote to Saturn’s rigidity is Jupiter’s expansion. In our minds, Saturn structures what C. G. Jung called the ego complex, which is the structure given to the conscious mind by the ego, structure over which it reigns supreme. Without such a structure, the mind would be unable to assimilate the emotional content obtained through Moon, yet the structure must be flexible enough to be “reconfigured” as needed to accept content from a newer perspective, a newer level of consciousness. By establishing high-level relationships in our minds, for example linking dissimilar information as a result of traveling or learning, Jupiter expands the scope of what must be structured and reshapes the ego complex resulting in a “flexible” ego. In this sense, Jupiter represents the process of opening our minds. It is worth noting that Saturn retrograde is a period of time when we have energy to reflect and reconsider.

Jupiter–Saturn Square

Traditionally, Jupiter and Saturn are viewed as the “social” planets, i.e., representing processes related to the functioning of society. Indeed, we have talked about their Grand Conjunctions occurring every twenty years or so, and which stay in the same zodiacal element (Fire, Water, Air, or Earth) for 140–180 years, impulsing over a century of similar cultural values and deeds since culture is the expression of societal power. If we compare their twenty-year relationship cycle to the lunation cycle, their exact square at this full moon will mark their First Quarter phase, which we identified earlier as a crisis of action from trying to actualize the potentialities present at the New Moon phase. That phase was the Grand Conjunction of December 21, 2020 which occurred at the first degree of Aquarius (0°29′), which is where Pluto (Aquarius 0°15′) is currently transiting retrograde. That Grand Conjunction paved the way for Pluto’s 20-year transit through Aquarius and it was the first of a long series of conjunctions in air signs lasting the rest of the century and beyond.

As a matter of fact, the First Quarter phase will be exact three times. In addition to August 19 with Saturn moving retrograde, they will form an exact waxing square on December 24 with Jupiter moving retrograde, and another on June 15, 2025, when both planets will be moving direct. These will be times when the progress made since December, 2020, on issues related to Aquarius, like honesty and truth, will be challenged in society all over the world. At a personal level, we are asked to reflect on our mindset at the full moon, do we have what psychologists call a fixed or a growth mindset? On Christmas Eve the reflection may be centered on acceptance of other viewpoints. And the final square next June will occur with Jupiter in Cancer and Saturn in Aries, both Cardinal signs, providing energy to build the required mindset for our evolutionary growth.

The Venus Squares

The Jupiter and Venus square will bring expansion energy to our relationships, perhaps manifesting as a desire to throw a big party or go on a spending spree. At a higher level, it is an opportunity to expand our value system such that it becomes more inclusive. But it is the other square of Venus, the one it forms with Mars, that deserves a bit more attention. As we know, Venus and Mars are also a compensatory pair of planets, like Jupiter and Saturn, or Sun and Moon for that matter. Mars is not only the planet of action and even war, just like Venus is not only the planet of personal love and beauty. I tend to think of them as representing the processes of identifying and pursuing our personal needs (Venus) and desires (Mars) at the three fundamental levels of existence: physical, psycho-mental, and spiritual.

At the deepest level, they represent what we have called the sacred-feminine and sacred-masculine archetypes, together referring to the Hero’s Journey in mythology. In that sense, Mars is the expression of the individual self, the tendency to move away from the center, letting our libido flow from the psyche, self-projecting without much regard for the external world. But that is only half of the journey. In the myth, the hero comes back after achieving his quest, bruised and scarred from battles but likely much wiser from what he encountered. Venus is the effect in our psyche from the reaction of the outer world to our Martian outgoing. Such reaction comes from our personal relationships with the outer world and produce emotions in our psyche, of which personal love is particularly associated with Venus. By acting and experiencing social reactions we develop a system of values that mold our relationships, creating a feedback loop.

At the time of the full moon, the waxing square between Venus and Mars, which will be exact three days later, also marks the start of their First Quarter phase, the crisis of action after their conjunction in Aquarius last February.¹ Just like in the Jupiter–Saturn case, we are confronted with the issues of truth, honesty, and true relationships, both personal and with our communities. All of these planets carry on with the overall theme of personal and social preparations for the upcoming Age of Aquarius.

New Moon in Leo

The other set of T-Squares is keyed by the full-moon opposition between Sun (and Mercury) and Moon in the Leo–Aquarius axis. Recall that they are triggered by Uranus in Taurus.

You may recall that the full-moon chart represents the culmination of the waxing phases of action, after we actualized some of the potentialities symbolized in the new moon chart, shown on the right and briefly considered in the previous article. But the full moon also marks the start of the waning phases of consciousness, when we integrate what we actualized into our psyche, distilling wisdom in the process.

In the new-moon chart, Uranus at Taurus 26°56′ forms a square with Venus at Leo 29°13′, an aspect that encourages the development of new modes of relating based on truth (Uranus). It is worth noting that the conjunction of Sun and Moon at Leo 12°34′ forms sextiles with Mars at Gemini 9°57′ and Jupiter at Gemini 15°01′, in fact forming a near exact sextile with their midpoint at Gemini 12°29′. What I mentioned earlier about their conjunction on the 14th, and its relevance to Venus and relationships at the full moon, is directly related to what we said two weeks ago when we talked about the importance of true relationships and heeding to our intuition. Before we delve into the Sabian symbols for more meaning, let’s go back and talk about the T-Square formed by the full moon and Uranus, the configuration trigger and ruler of Moon.

Full Moon in Aquarius

The planets beyond Saturn are often called transpersonal, their orbital periods are so long that they stay in a sign or a configuration for several years, thus influencing generations at a time. Uranus has been described as a reaction to the limits and structures imposed by Saturn but such reaction depends greatly on our relationship with Saturn. If the structures of Saturn have crystalized or are too dependent on social conventions, Uranus may signify our rebellion against them. But, when Uranus and Saturn work together, the intuitive knowledge of Uranus allows for flexible structures. Uranus represents the projection of what Carl Jung called the collective unconscious onto the individual. Above all, Uranus will seek truth restlessly, a trait that also imparts to all processes operating in the Aquarius phase, the sign it rules.

Any full moon will shine light on the opposition of its axis which in the Leo–Aquarius polarity refers to the condensed power of the individual, expressed through personal creations, in contrast to the power of society in the form of cultural expressions. I have repeated Rudhyar’s assertion that a culture only takes hold where the social will has “established its domination over the heterogeneous desires and opinions of the separate members of the community; where a definite ‘way of life’ has emerged”. The axis refers to the adequacy, or inadequacy as the case may be, of our personal expressions with the cultural norms and values within which they are produced. When there are conflicts, we are faced with the choice of adapting our creations to our culture, or modify the cultural expectations so we are better aligned with them, possibly leading to reform or even revolution. By forming exact squares with the polarity, Uranus further disallows any false compromising, we are urged to be true to ourselves.

Since Mercury is practically in cazimi, defined as a very tight conjunction with Sun (less than 1°), it also forms a tight square with Uranus, who is said to be its “higher octave”. Mercury will bring a rational outlook to the polarity that will be complemented by the intuitive knowledge of Uranus. Our entire mind searching for truth in all aspects of our life. Such search may not be pleasant and bring issues related to our self-image. For that, Chiron (Aries 23°17′) forms a trine with Sun and a sextile with Moon in a Mystic Triangle configuration full of available healing energy.

Sabian Symbols

The new-moon Sabian symbol (Leo 13°) has the image: “An old sea captain rocking himself on the porch of his cottage”, further explained as the quieted mind’s recollections of crises and joys long past. The sea always symbolizes the collective unconscious through which the captain has steered his boat, his ego consciousness. Now retired, he enjoys peace at last, rocking back and forth and contemplating past and present scenes while the waves roll over the shore, immersed in Quiet Recollection (the symbol’s key phrase) of the wisdom gained in his travels. In the article about the new moon, two weeks ago, we emphasized the role of intuition in this lunation, along with a focus on relationships.

At the full moon, the symbol for Leo 28° (Sun) has the image: “Many little birds on a limb of a big tree”, expanded as a wide, and perhaps confusing, openness to a multiplicity of inspiring potentialities. This symbol refers to those times in our spiritual life, or our life in general, when our mind feels flooded with new ideas and possibilities. This may be very exciting and yet confusing, so the symbol urges us to focus ourselves. Its key phrase is: Overwhelmed with Potentialities. Meanwhile, the symbol for Aquarius 28° (Moon) is: “A tree felled and sawed to ensure a supply of wood for the winter”, further explained as knowledge and skill used in its natural surroundings for the satisfaction of vital basic needs. The symbol refers to the efficient use of natural resources for our well-being. Its key phrase is: Intelligent Foresight.

This lunar month began with an intuitive trip through memory lane to extract wisdom from our life experiences. However, what arises from the subconscious is often confusing and at times overwhelming, so the full moon tells us to focus on what will improve our quality of life, using our human intelligence to disregard whatever is superfluous. To that avail, Uranus at Taurus 28° brings the image: “A woman, past her ‘change of life’, experiences a new love”, further explained as the human capacity to rise in consciousness and feelings above biological limitations. This symbol indicates that we should always open our mind to the possibility of new Rebeginnings, the symbol’s keyword.

Wrapping Up…

I lost count of how many times I wrote about Uranus or Aquarius in this article, which is why I titled it Time for Truth. I am sure that throughout the lunar month you have experienced, and will continue to experience, events where truth plays a major role, especially in the area of personal relationships. This is especially important for the integration, during the waning phases, of that on which we worked earlier in the month.

The next new moon (in Virgo) will occur barely one day after Pluto enters Capricorn for an eleven-week foray when the old paradigms will gather enough energy for one final push. The chaos is likely to reach a crescendo that will make us wonder if we are going back to the old order. However, there is no going back, the astrology is very clear about that.

Always Love. 🌹🙏💖

1. The relationship cycle between Venus and Mars varies between two and three years, approximately. The next conjunction will be on January, 2025, making this cycle only 23 months long. ↩︎