In the Autumn here in the northern latitudes, the light leaves the sky. Leaves fall, frost hoars, winds carry a biting edge last seen in April. Life moves from the ebullient outward expression of high summer into a more interior place. But the light — and the fire — has not disappeared. It has gone within, under the earth, into the hearth, and, if we’re lucky, into our hearts.
This is Body Made of Stars for the Aries Full Moon.
September really stretches. We enter it still in riding the magic carpets of beach towels and end it, often as not, bundled in sweaters and shawls. Along the way we pass through the Equinox, the days of awe, and the possibility of radical shifts in our lifestyles, goals, and aims. This year, that shift has had the chance to coalesce in a more gradual fashion as the three inner planets — Mercury, Venus, and Mars — have spent this liminal time traversing single signs. Mercury and Venus have retraced the degrees of their earlier retrogrades through Virgo and Leo respectively, offering us chances to integrate and heal the lingering issues in organization, exactitude, self-love and well-being that their backwards motion might have raised for us. Mars, on the other hand, has been in detriment in the sign of Libra for most of the month, and is one of the faulted stars in today’s Full Moon.
Libra is the the sign of balance, compromise, and sociability. The inanimate scales stand in stark contrast to the fierce, independent, cavalier nature of Aries. The moon is said to be ill-at-ease in the first sign, as her emotional nature becomes volatile, explosive, and willful in her disregard of other perspectives and experiences. Likewise, Mars is not typically one for compromise, moderation, and the cool air of Libra. But both can benefit by the reflection of the other, helping us to guide our hand, cool our heels, and set the course for a fall full of disciplined, moderated progress towards our biggest dreams and goals.
These two cardinal signs are also home to the nodes, and today marks the first in the series of Eclipses that will run through early 2025. With the north node in Aries, along with wounded healer Chiron, we are invited into deeper reflection about the purpose and the point of our masculine, aggressive energy, and how to channel it for the betterment of self and world. Both are square to Pluto this month, making his final retrograde pass through Capricorn, reflecting how decisions we make now can be the axial point of our future work, wealth, and empire. The difference between a furnace and a house fire is the quality of tools and of attention that you give it. The difference between passion and rage is a matter of degree. All of this will come to a head in October, when the New Moon in Libra is a near-total solar eclipse. For now, we get the preview. Let it be a peaceful one.
The strongest swords are forged in the hottest fires, but they are tempered by diligence, patience, forbearance, and love.
Let those words be your guide as we fall into autumn and nourish the inner hearth. Where can I balance my energy, and allow beauty and bounty to emerge from it? Where can I let the flames turns to embers to ash, as I hone my focus?
The Harvest Moon is with you. Bring that light inside and let it radiate.
With love and warmth
Samu