The phases of the moon are among the most fascinating astronomical behaviors we can observe with the naked eye and deeply rich sources of thought and interpretation in Astrology. Among the 9 phases – New, Waxing Crescent, 1st Quarter Half, Waxing Gibbous, Full, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter Half, Waning Crescent, and Balsamic – the New and Full Moons capture most of the attention. This article will look at the current Full Moon and talk about the kind of “harvest” you should bring in emotionally during this full moon.
Full Moon – Reap What You Have Sown!
There are two Full Moons in October, one on the 1st and one on the 31st. Because there is a second Full Moon in the same month, it is given a special name, the Blue Moon (as in, “Once in a Blue Moon”). The first Full Moon of this month occurred at 9 degrees and 8 minutes in the sign of Aries; in my Eastern Standard Time zone, it happened at 5:05 pm. The second Full Moon of this month will occur at 8 degrees and 38 minutes in the sign of Taurus; in my Eastern Standard Time zone, it will happen at 10:49 am.
It takes 29.5 days from one Full Moon to the next, spending approximately 2 and ½ days in a sign. The day before and the day after comprise what would be the peak time of the Full Moon energy. The Full Moon is the time of “the harvest” when what began with the New Moon reaches full potential before waning and fading and preparing for a new cycle.
Each month has a certain type of Full Moon; October’s Moon is the Harvest Moon (as it is sometimes named in September). And this would be the second one for this month. In the northern hemisphere, this name reflects the time when farmers would use the light of the full moon as additional time to bring in crops. This Moon has other names: the Hunter’s, Dying Grass, and Blood Moon. This moon name is determined by its proximity to the Fall Equinox.
There are also several special types of Full Moons: the Blood Moon, which happens during a total lunar eclipse; a Supermoon, which happens when the Moon is full and closest to the Earth; and the Blue Moon (“once in a blue moon”), which is a second Full Moon in a calendar month (occurring once every 2 and ½ years). This Moon is the Blue Moon!
Full Moon in Taurus – Harvesting Resources
This Full Moon will take place in the 1st Decan (first 10 degrees) of Taurus, making it a Taurus/Taurus Full Moon. The planetary influence is Venus, as the ruler for Taurus. Thus, this Full Moon will be about safety, security, personal finances, and care of the body (Taurus) and our relationships (Venus) at the emotional (Moon) level. What do you need to feel safe and secure in your relationships currently in your life?
If we look to Venus, which is in Libra (the other sign it rules, besides Taurus), then we must feel deeply about who makes us feel safe and what foundations support us. This Full Moon is intensely focused on personal finances and partnership because it is a double Taurus by decan, the ruler is Venus, which also happens to be in a sign of rulership (in Libra).
With this Full Moon at 8d38m, the Sabian Symbol is 9 Taurus, “A Christmas tree decorated”. Jones says, “This is a symbol of a self-renewal through a sharing with others, or a remaking of ties and a regathering of visions through the recurrent birth of a world spirit.” (The Sabian Symbols, 188) The keyword is SYMBOLIZATION.
This Full Moon is also known as the Earth Mother’s Moon. According to Raven Kaldera, “The Full Moon in Taurus blossoms into the figure of the Earth Mother, who echoes in many ways the Dryad of the long-ago New Moon. The Earth Mother is the ecosystem, or at least is in complete harmony with it” (Moon Phase Astrology, 192). We will all be asked, “to make sure we get the needs met for all those under our care” during this Full Moon (193).
The Numbers of This Full Moon
This Full Moon will occur on 10/31/2020, so the number for this date is 9. 9 is the number for wisdom, so this Full Moon encourages us to think about what we have learned that has taught us wisdom, which can help us in times of joy and crisis. Since the Moon is in Taurus, this wisdom will focus on our personal finances, the care of our bodies, and the practical foundations of our lives.
The number of the day of the Full Moon is 31, or 4 (reduced), the “mason”. We should look for those people who “take care of business” and are reliable, steadfast, and supportive. It is a time to be “patient, endeavor, and [manifest] the desire to render practical service” (Modern Numerology, 24).
The Full Moon in Your Chart
The Full Moon will occur in a specific location of your chart and in a special relationship with various points in your chart if you have points near the same degree in the same sign, at the opposing degree (180 degrees away from a point in your chart), three signs before or after the Full Moon degree and sign (90 degrees away), or four signs before or after the Full Moon degree and sign (120 degrees away).
Respectively these would be a conjunction (the Full Moon merging with a point in your chart), an opposition (the Full Moon seeking balance with a point in your chart), a square (the Full Moon challenging a point in your chart), and a trine (a point supporting a point in your chart). It is possible that the degree and sign of the Full Moon may not form any of these relationships and its effect, for this time, would be minimal or difficult to observe.
If you happen to be born during a Full Moon, then you will feel every Full Moon in some significant or acute way because it is consistent with your birth Moon phase. It is well worth your effort to find out the Moon phase at the time of your birth. If you learn your birth Moon phase, you will likely discover that the same phase each month has a strong impact on your emotional state.
With this Full Moon, I get the impact of its energy in my 7th House of Partnerships (Moon placement on 10/31/2020) and my 1st House of Identity (Sun placement between 10/22 and 11/22), so this Full Moon will energize me to feel strongly about and secure my relationships (7th House) and my own needs for security (1st House). My natal Mars is in Taurus and my natal Neptune in Scorpio, so I will feel the impact of this Full Moon significantly.
As this Full Moon approaches, think about what you want to “harvest” with regard to your needs, money, and most personal relationships.
