In the Pacific Time Zone, the Moon will be full at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30. With this Full Moon, the Sun in Virgo will be in opposition (180°) to the Moon in Pisces. To further clarify how this Full Moon will impact you on a personal level, locate 7°25’ of Virgo and 7°25’ of Pisces in your birth/natal chart. The issues associated with those two houses are going to be most impacted by this Full Moon’s presence. (NOTE: Click here to learn how to find the transiting Moon in your chart.)
All Full Moons invite us to find a better balance between the qualities of the 2 signs involved. This time, those signs are Virgo and Pisces:
- Virgo: The best qualities include being practical, efficient, precise, analytical, and health conscious. The lower expression can involve being overly perfectionistic and critical of self, others, situations, etc.
- Pisces: The higher expression of this sign includes being compassionate, emotional, intuitive, spiritual, and gentle. The lower expression could mean being overly dependent, passive, chaotic, secretive, playing the victim/martyr, or participating in escapist activities (e.g., overusing food, alcohol/other drugs, work, spending).
Finding a healthy balance between these two signs involves addressing areas of our lives that seem unrelated to each other. For example, Virgo focuses on our earthly bodies, while Pisces focuses on our spirituality and psychological needs. Although these seem very different, they are actually interrelated. If one is out of balance, then the other area is often negatively impacted. Another quality of Virgo is focusing on details and precision. Pisces, on the other hand, isn’t concerned with details or analyzing anything; it is primarily concerned with the big picture, unity, and oneness. Again, these would seem to be two very different ends of a continuum, but finding a balance between them often produces the best results (e.g., seeing both the forest AND the trees).
All Full Moons tend to ratchet up our emotions. This is often particularly true with the Pisces Full Moon because it taps into feelings that may be hidden at a subconscious level. However, this time, having the Moon conjunct (0°) Saturn and, therefore, in opposition (180°) to the Sun may modulate our typical emotionality. In fact, Saturn’s influence is especially powerful right now because it’s currently making its closest approach to Earth during 2023.
Saturn’s involvement could be a good thing, a not-so-good thing, or both. As mentioned above, it can help us modulate any emotional extremes and stabilize otherwise volatile situations. Both the Virgo Sun and Saturn can help us analyze our watery Piscean feelings in order to (a) clarify their cause and (b) determine whether they are based in reality or are unconscious stored reactions that are connected to something from our past that is no longer relevant to our life today. However, Saturn can bring a very serious energy that leaves us feeling sad or even depressed. Additionally, given that (a) the Sun is located in often hypercritical Virgo and (b) Saturn is currently in retrograde, we may become self-critical and/or be filled with self-doubts.
Adding to the analytical nature of this Pisces Full Moon is an EXACT inconjunct (150°) between Mercury and Chiron (orb of 0°01’), which makes this very powerful. Inconjuncts are tough. Unlike oppositions (180°) that can be addressed through compromise, inconjuncts require adjustments that often leave both sides dissatisfied in some way. And yet, they can be very important because they require that we face letting go of something that used to be valuable to us but is now holding us back.
With this Mercury-Chiron inconjunct, we all need to look at what ideas we are holding onto (Mercury) that are interfering with healing our inner wounds and vulnerabilities (Chiron). In order to heal, it is likely we need to adapt and work through some mental blocks. And given Mercury just turned retrograde on Wednesday, August 23, it’s likely that our exploration of these topics will be done privately. Although talking this through with someone can be helpful, we may come away feeling we weren’t able to adequately express ourselves.
Several other planetary aspects are important to mention:
- At the time of the Full Moon, there is another inconjunct (150°) between Mars and Saturn. Although not as strong as the Mercury-Chiron inconjunct described above, its influence may be more frustrating. We may feel ready to start something and then an obstacle stops our progress. If we try to force forward progress, things will only get worse. Or, rather than an outward event causing a delay, it could be that our inner fears and self-doubts interfere with moving forward. The inconjunct is telling us that we need to stop and look at what adjustments might be needed in order to make progress toward our desired goal.
- Luckily, Mercury is in supportive trines (120°) to both Jupiter and Uranus. This provides us with an opportunity to think through (Mercury) whether upcoming changes (Uranus) are aligned with our personal values or inner truth (Jupiter). The positive support provided by Uranus is that it can help us alter our thinking or learn something new. Jupiter also provides a dose of hope and optimism.
- The three outer planets are all in supportive aspects to each other right now; i.e., Uranus is in supportive trine (120°) to Pluto, and Neptune is forming sweet sextiles (60°) to both Uranus and Pluto. This forms a minor planetary configuration that is called a minor triangle. It’s not incredibly powerful, but it can support us in clarifying our potential, our power, and our dreams, especially as they relate to larger groups of people or communities. We may even come to a deeper understanding of how we can serve humanity.
- And just a reminder that Pluto is still squaring (90°) the Nodal Axis. Although weakening, some of us may still be realizing that a relationship, situation, or even a way of being in the world needs to end in order to pursue our dreams and goals
And finally, a number of changes in planetary signs and direction will be occurring over the next 2 weeks:
- As mentioned in the last Moon update, Mercury began its next retrograde phase on Wednesday, August 23. It will begin moving direct on September 14. (NOTE: Click here to read my blog post called Planets in Retrograde and How to Thrive During Mercury Retrograde.)
- On Sunday, August 27, Mars ends its extra-long transit of Virgo (due to going retrograde). It will move into Libra, and remain there until mid-October. Mars isn’t especially comfortable in Libra. Typically, it wants to quickly make decisions and take actions independent of what other people think or feel. While in Libra, Mars becomes aware that there are other people on planet Earth, and it comes to understand that it’s important to find common ground. This could include upping the charm factor when talking with others, and it rarely will push its agenda forward. But this often-decisive energy can become uncharacteristically indecisive because it can see both sides of a situation. The lower expression of this 6-week transit can be passive-aggressiveness.
- The next day (Monday, August 28), Uranus begins its 5-month retrograde phase. Especially for the several days before and after this change in direction, we may feel a strong need for independence and freedom. If we sense that we are being blocked, this could lead to rebellion, including doing something out of character or unconventional. Uranus is currently in Taurus, so this may involve moving away from following the rules of others and doing something that is more aligned with our inner values.
- Then on Sunday, September 3, Venus completes its retrograde phase and begins moving direct again in Leo. If over the past 6 weeks we have done the inner work that was asked of us while Venus was in retrograde, then we will have a clearer idea of what we want and what we value at this point in our lives. Based on that awareness, we will be ready to confidently and passionately pursue what we believe will bring us the best chance of satisfaction, especially within our relationships and finances.
- However, the very next day (Monday, September 4), Jupiter begins its 4-month retrograde phase in Taurus (through December 30). Although retrograde phases for both Venus and Jupiter involve an inner exploration of what we value, with Venus, it’s often what we value in our external world (e.g., people, objects, money), whereas Jupiter asks us to explore our beliefs and deeper values related to ethical, moral, philosophical, and/or spiritual matters. The inner work often involves a deep exploration of our hopes and what we believe will bring us long-term happiness.
Overall, this Pisces Full Moon may be a serious and introspective time. There are quite a few indicators that this is a time to turn inward and do some deep thinking. In some ways, the Universe is providing all of us with a “pause button” to do the final inner work required before Venus begins moving direct on September 3. Pisces Full Moons can be a time of increased sensitivity, so we need to be gentle with ourselves and our loved ones. This is a good time to grab your journal, talk to a therapist, or go out in nature to find a special spot to contemplate what is important. If feeling blue around the edges, don’t fret over it. This, too, shall pass. One of my first therapists defined healthy depression as the act of “de-pressing” or “going down to find the important gifts awaiting us in the shadows that we usually ignore or repress.” Now is a good time to do that inner work because it will help us be ready for the next phase in our earthly and spiritual journey.
WRITTEN BY
- Anne Reith, Ph.D.©
THIS FULL MOON
Full Moon at 7°25’ of Pisces
- Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 6:35 p.m. PDT
- Wednesday, August 30, 2023, 9:35 p.m. EDT
- Thursday, August 31, 2023, 1:35 a.m. GMT
IMPACT OF ANY MOON EVENT
- All New Moons and Full Moons influence us for the 3 days before, the day of, and 3 days after the actual event.
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By Anne Reith, Ph.D.