2nd Blue Moon 2018 Sat 31st March

~ Patience is the Mark of True Love ~
✰~ Thich Nat Hahn~✰

The timing of this Full Moon closest to the Spring/Autumn Equinox (depending upon which hemisphere you are) with Universal Time, @10°44 Libra, 12:36UT Saturday 31^st March, means this Full ‘Peace & Love’ Libra Moon becomes a rare second Blue Moon of the year. To have two Blue Moons in the same year is exceptional, in as much as a Blue Moon usually occurs every 2-3 years. With two Full Moon’s in January and again two in March, it appears the year of the Earth Dog is shaping up to be rather unusual.

A Blue Moon officially happens when there are two Full Moons in a calendar month, making four Full Moons in a Season - instead of the usual three. From the astronomical point of view, the last time we had two Blue Moons was 1999, the next is 2037 (whereas the next blue moon is October 2020). Looking back further in my ephemeris I discovered 1980 and 99 – were also the double Jan March/April 1st double Moons, extending the season: so this is actually a uniquely recurring two sets of Moon pattern, which takes place every 19-years. It also happens when Spirit Sun passes through the last three Universal signs of the zodiac: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces – and lastly into Aires, the first sign of zodiac (where we are now), with the glorious Light of Life, the Sun, exalted in Aries – which is the best possible place for Sol to be, due to its warm, life-affirming properties.

✰To put this cycle into perspective, and at the risk of overloading astro-info plus a little history, a 19-year cycle consisting of 235 Moons is known astronomically as the ‘Metonic Cycle’. It includes years when there are thirteen Full Moons (as opposed to 12 in a Solar year), which makes this an equalising cycle for the Solar male and Lunar female as they course the heavens, only to return back to the same spot they were 19 years ago. Up until 46BC, the ancient Greeks even used this measurement for their calendars - when Sun and Moon revist the exact same position, so the the cycles of Sol and Luna effectively complete their celestial journey together, to start again anew in Aries.  The theme of renewal is so very Easter as for the Christians, Christ is risen! ;) 

Numerologists also consider the number 19 to have karmic implications: 1 represents beginnings; and 9 with endings. Together 1 and 9 unify beginning and end and the never-ending circle. 1+9 also equal 10, which then becomes 1 = a self-starter, a confident person who can operate alone in Oneness, who understands natures longer rhythms. 

Anyone can use this repeating 19-year measurement for personal evaluation, even from your own birthday. For instance now, if you are either 76’s years old, 57, 38, or 19 or 95, and have a birthday towards the end of January (note in ’99 there was also an eclipse to contend with), you might hear destiny calling through what appears to be celestial pattern of bringing about conclusions before commencing something new. The current astrological advice is also based upon other planets in this 2^nd Blue Moon chart, i.e. from Saturn and Mars, to heed the call, but heed it with caution, patience and wisdom.

✰This dynamic Aries Sun shining upon a complementary Libra Full Moon, on the eve of an April 1^st Easter, also marks the ‘Crow Moon’ and a ‘Moon of Winds’; so true: a cold wind is enough could turn one blue (At the time of writing, parts of Great Britain have snow forecast for Easter weekend!). The Element of Wind is also strongly associated with the Moon in the sign of the scales in both of Earth’s hemispheres, due to intellectual Libra being a Cardinal Air sign. Wind whips-up ideas and projects to pick-up speed, as well as bring sharp-edged clarity to fuzzy minds. Wind can also twitch a lot of people out; seek shelter if you need to. Shooting the breeze with loved ones under the beams of a romantic Libra Full Moon could be fulfilling in more ways than the obvious closeness: two heads together could swiftly assess to overcome obstacles and assuage any nerves. In the North, Wind is also spring’s element, accenting the need to detox winter sludge and become much more active.  With the Libra Moon’s ruler, Venus, now in her fellow home sign of foodie-loving Taurus, gourmands might easily see fit to postpone that all-important change in diet and lifestyle until mid-April, but when Venus opposes Jupiter on the 17^th, any overindulgence could be another way of saying ‘fat chance’, and once again there may be a need to postpone until later in April when the night star Venus moves into Gemini and life and love get really buzzy.  (Good to have a goal!). 

With a mighty strong ‘T ’ square dominating this Full Moon chart, the heavy-duty squares from Mars and Saturn to the Sun/Mercury opposite the Moon are currently making it feel as though events-situations-people are intermittently speeding then slowing right down. It could also feel so slow sometimes like we are wading knee-high through mud (Have you ever had a welly/galosh stuck into the earth?). 

According to present astral activity, quite apart from the Full Moon, two serious aspects indicate the need to take time implementing new ideas, projects or contracts, and even with established works there is a need to determine the wisest way forward so the turgid, pompous and dull are dealt with fairly, but squarely

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1)    First to consider within the ‘T’ Square is how the initiating, self-motivating, but retrograde Aries Mercury conjuncts the exalted ‘Risen’ Sun exactly on Easter Sunday. With the heavenly messenger in reverse motion until the end of this lunation, only stationing to go forward at the Dark Moon, April 15^st, one has to constantly be on the ball, open and receptive and in perfect equanimity. Even so, when a new lunation starts April 16^th, it may pay to restrain passing verdict about certain situations, holding back until at least the 25^th April, when most - if not all - hurdles and hitches are known, if not entirely overcome. 

This Full Moon is most certainly a time to re-do, re-form and re-structure. Those in competition, or dealing with authority or important paper work, could come up against several brick walls before finding a key, or even the door to a way in to the place/thing/idea/action that actually needs working upon. Whatever is going on in your life, be aware perseverance is called for with extra sticky moments around this Full Moon, particularly in the sphere of communication where patience gives the greatest hope, and love the most powerful protection.

2)    Secondly, fiery Mars, the Aries ruler, is currently conjunct earthy task-master Saturn, the planet in which Libra is exalted. Make no mistake: this is a mighty combo, as marshal Mars, exalted in masterful Capricorn, combines forces with a karmic Saturn that is also bolstered by being in his home sign of the Sea Goat. Together Mars and Saturn in Capricorn can devise and perform with chess-like precision military adventure as well as big business, with the aim of protecting tradition and building great and lasting monuments to the pinnacle of empire. But to confirm authority and power, this combination can also take enormous risks and be carelessly ruthless and victimise the less able. From the other, weaker side, any (accidental) blindness towards sentient beings is not a pretty sight. When the hard-working, sombre and serious Capricorn Mars and Saturn unite, respectively the lesser and greater malefic, the bullies and fear mongers come out in force. Yet these are the very people who often secretly yearn to be nurtured,  held, and loved, and be told everything is going to be all right – but, hey, not too close now… ;) 

However we perceive the somewhat judgemental Mars and Saturn, and the thankfully soon-to-over, one-time-only perfected conjunction on April 2^nd, it’s still a good time to also erect personal (emotional-psychological-psychic-physical) boundaries between that which tries to control through force, anger or manipulation. 

Mars with Saturn also addresses limits and limitations, within which the creative can form and perform veritable wonders. So while this aspect is great for diligently polishing the roughest diamond, or shaping and solidifying the more malleable, like clay into a fired pot, one must also be aware that if the mind stiffens ego cannot transform or learn from challenging or difficult experiences. 

While you have been forewarned to the potential severity of the often fiery and karmic Mars-Saturn conjunction, there’s more to consider:  but as always how we react and co-create with universe can provide peace and stability. To continue with Mars and Saturn: because while Mars will soon whizz off to spend an inordinately long time in altruistic Aquarius, Saturn is slowing down. And just after the New Moon which closes this lunation, April 18^th to be precise, the karmic taskmaster will grind to a halt to retrograde on exactly the same day unpredictable Uranus conjoins the exalted Aries Sun for the last time in 84 years, highlighting and rewarding heroic individuals.  Students and clients reading this might remember that I use extra wide orbs only for both Sun and Moon, and consider the unpredictable and sometimes delightfully chaotic, free-range influence of Uranus upon this ‘Blue Crow Wind Moon’ still with strong effect.   

✰A penultimate Moon observation for this Full Moon report is how the Libra Moon leads all the planets around this moment in time in what is known as a locomotive formation, indicating how emotions need to be brought into balance in order to direct others helpfully. And as the Libra Moon’s ruler the deeply feminine Venus, as previously mentioned is now at home in earthy Taurus, it signals a receptivity to harmony, peace, beauty and art -  as well as being open to fairness in all kinds of contracts and deals.  
The last point to note is how both Sun and Moon make helpful trines and sextiles to the North and South Nodes, to activate a mystic rectangle that will last a few hours, when caring selflessness unlocks the magic of the unseen, through incredibly practical organisational skills.  Nice!

Enjoy!

Thanks to unknown photographer for pretty blue leaf-pink lotus