This Full Moon in Capricorn is a Super Moon, which means the Moon is much closer to the Earth. In fact, this particular Moon is closer than any other Moon this year. So, as it pulls on our tides, both outer and inner, expect it to get your attention.
The day before this Full Moon, the US Pluto return hits the second of three exact conjunctions (The next one is in December, and the first one happened in February), setting the stage for this learning cycle. The United States has never experienced a Pluto return. We just aren’t old enough. Pluto takes roughly 246 years to make its way around the mandala. As planets return to their point of conception, it is a time to take stock, assess, review, and improve. Often original themes reemerge so that we can do just that. Whatever isn’t working comes rising to the surface. This uncovering is tumultuous as old currents meet new potential. With Pluto in the second house of the US chart, things like values, principles, standards, resources-the very bedrock on which we stand as a nation rise to the top. What do principles like life, liberty, and freedom really mean? Where have we gotten that right? Where have we gotten it wrong?
Not only is Pluto aspecting the US chart, but it also stands next to this Full Moon empathizing the uncovering. The Sun in Cancer which opposes the Moon, is flanked by the asteroid goddesses Ceres, Lilith, and Mercury. That feminine genius we have awoken is not going away (For more on that, go here). Feisty as ever, Lilith demands equality. Ceres embodies the feminine force of creation itself, symbolized by the harvest and its importance. Myth tells that when Pluto abducted Persephone (the daughter of Ceres), she plunged the entire world into an endless winter with food and light nonexistent. Eventually, there was a compromise reached, which is why we only have winter a few months out of the year. Regardless of where you stand on specific issues, the concept of feminine equality, body autonomy, and freedom is of vital importance. These issues are evident, and any misalignment is apparent and in our face. The intent is not to go back, of course. It is meant to evolve us further forward, harnessing better definitions of those ideals, not less.
Times of significant change offers two options, though. When faced with the insecurity of change, we either attempt to hold tighter to the past or venture into what will be. I say attempt because change is inevitable. The gravity of the past is enticing and even romantic in its familiarity, but it is what got us here. And here isn’t going so well.
Which is where we find ourselves and why it is so hard right now. We are between worlds- standing in the gap of change itself. Things are no longer how they were and are not yet in the place they will be. Everything feels in flux, uncertain, and chaotic, and it is.
Emotions are high. They should be. Feelings alert us to spur appropriate action. The flavors of these feelings are particularly centered on injustice or inequality. The challenge, of course, arises when one side gets too burdened, overshadowing the other, and reaction rather than response occurs.
I wrote a Facebook post that sums up the high destiny of this Moon, which began with this quote by Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict: Why we get trapped and how we get out.
“The challenge of our time is to mobilize great masses of people to make change without dehumanizing one another. Not just because it’s morally right but because it works.”
I highly recommend the entire book. In general, though, it reiterates that we can disagree. We can even have conflict. The type of conflict we engage in, though, determines the result, whether it is a tool of growth and expansion or destruction. This means the how is critically important. Polarity cannot be solved with more polarity. Complexity, the reality of our time, cannot be navigated by the simplicity and control often found in toxic tribalism and reaction.
Uncertainty is daunting because the unknown is, well…unknown. It is hard to gauge our energy, our hope, and even our discipline when we have no idea when the new will come or what it will look like. We humans tend to shy away from the complexity of uncertainty by gravitating instead to right or wrong, black or white, yes or no, good or bad. But categorizing ends all cooperation. Additionally, this forcing of certainty opens the door for those that might abuse it. This is why conspiracy can be so enticing and undue influence so destructive. Any hypothesis might have a shred of truth, but it waters down the complexity of actual reality. Likewise, people with a voice, those ‘conflict entrepreneurs,’ know this. They build their entire popularity on absolutist rhetoric, fanning the flames of hatred and contempt by othering one side against another, forming toxic teams, tribes, and armies. Anger is one thing. It at least leaves room for the resolution of healthy conflict. Hate is radically different. Hate’s goal is to simply destroy. Reactive conflict is set in this vein. This kind of conflict is without rules. The ends justify any means. It becomes addictive, feeding on itself and pulling others into the fray, creating a false community. It defends and deflects, fueling itself with self-righteousness. Nothing can grow there. Reactive conflict itself becomes the distraction from the unpleasantness of uncertainty. It is destructive and exhausting.
But maybe there’s another way. Because essentially, regardless of what we are being told, we are more alike than we think we are.
I do want to mention it makes sense to find some guideposts for the uncertainty we are all living. For some that is spiritual practice. For others, it is activism. For others, it is science. For others, it is intellectual understanding and study. For others it is community. For still others, it is runes, tarot, meditation, or even astrology. Maybe it is a mix of all. The tools are not the entire problem. We interpret the tools. Let us remember to use these processes to unite, not condemn, to heal, not hate, and to get active in the change rather than bypass.
Maybe we just need to talk about how hard this all is. How scared and exhausted we all are. How we don’t have all the answers all the time. Maybe we need to listen a little more. Talk a little less. Allow empathy to clean the polarity from our lips. Perhaps we can commit to being a part of groups and ideas that engage us in healthy conflict, healing, and activism. Because just as influence can be used to separate, it can also be used to unite. Maybe we can commit to shutting down the ‘fire starters’ that fan the flames of polarity by refusing to engage in, share, create or elevate hateful or divisive rhetoric.
In truth, not all conflicts are complicated. In most, there is a more right and wrong side. People, though, are complicated, and we need to remember that. This is how facts and opinions often get confused. So maybe it’s not about understanding the complexity of the whole situation but the complexity of the people involved.
Because no one wins in the war of reactive conflict. There are only losers.
Capricorn reminds us we can do hard things. There is no sign more stoic, resilient, patient, and steadfastly driven to succeed. It reminds us of the discipline to respond, not react, lean into the complexity, and be wrong. It reminds us to keep an open mind. It reminds us of the discernment to choose our causes, information, and experts wisely (even our internal ones). It reminds us the work of lasting change is not instantaneous. It is by committing to the tiny steps each day. Doing so may we take some space from the division, do our part to engage in healthy conflict, and crack the algorithm of hate with kindness, not contrariness. Because it’s not about eradicating conflict, it is about the right use of it. We all have a part in that.
Where this Moon shines in your chart reveals a challenge to overcome, individually or collectively. We have a long climb ahead of us. The long game and the high road are tiring. So, take some time to rest if needed. Hold some space for what those emotions are telling you and what those challenges are revealing in you. Then rally. Then rise.
There is work to do.
*Terms listed attributed to Amanda Ripley.
~This New Moon occurs at 21° Capricorn.
~Want to know what this time is revealing for you? Contact me, for more information.
~Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash