Full Moon in Pisces 2020: Seeking Sanctuary

The sign of Pisces and it's influence heralds transition. In late February and early March, the Sun in Pisces heralds the transition from winter into spring in my hemisphere. It is the thaw. During this time, the surface of the Earth appears barren. But, beneath the melting crust, life tenderly stirs.

The Full Moon in Pisces every year heralds the same type of transition. This year that Full Moon crests on Sept 2 at 1:22 AM EDT. The surface of the Earth is filled with life at this time; but, beneath the surface its roots feel the shift toward dormancy and death. The feeling of twilight resonates with Pisces energy as it is captured in the odd way the daylight starts to change in these seasons...growing brighter as winter gives way to spring but bending golden as summer's death leads us into fall. This adds to the feeling of uncertainty that can come during any transition. From one day to the next during these fluctuating times of the year we are apt to question precisely what season we are really in. One day may feel like a perfect summer day and the next hold the potential for frost. Plus, anything Pisces also bears the implications of wetness right along with the uncertain whole of the environment. The weather is something that we cannot control. So, Earth dwellers are forced to surrender and accommodate as best we can while remaining aware of the potential of the unexpected and unknown.

The nuance of these seasons speak of the symbolism of Pisces. The two fish. There's one near the surface that you might be able to see. It's difficult, though. You are still looking into water and at risk of seeing your own reflection before you see the fish on the surface. Then, there's the other fish. The one that you cannot see because it is hidden lurking in deeper waters. Nothing is ever as it appears when it comes to Pisces. Just because the surface fish is smiling and laughing, that doesn't mean the deeper fish is not writhing in pain. Just because the top fish seems in need of help that doesn't mean the bottom fish isn't a man eating leviathan and it's all big trap. Trust there is more going on than what you can see when dealing with Pisces energy. Accept that you may never know what kind of fish that is lurking under the surface but remain wary of its potential for best results in these periods.

image credit: Daniela Guarecuco

The Full Moon in Pisces represents a time in which the light of the Moon finds our fields bearing full fruit. At this point, we know what we have the potential to reap from our years harvest. That also tells us what we may still be in need of. For example, perhaps the harvest was poor and we can already see that we will not have what is necessary to survive the winter. The Full Moon in Pisces can illuminate vulnerabilities in a way that we are given a chance to address them before the harsh winter comes. And, of course, this varies from year to year while having been dependent upon many factors both within our control and out of our hands.

This illuminations of the Pisces Full Moon this year finds many of our personal planets under pressure.

Mars is straining against his leash in square to Saturn in Capricorn. He will temporarily lose that wrestling match as he will turn retrograde on 9/7. That u-turn slams him right back into the stone wall of Saturn and back under the thumb of Pluto. This entire period should be marked as a “danger zone.” Because in a lot of ways it likely will be either on private or public levels. Likely both.

Mars in square to Pluto and Saturn is harsh, cruel, violent and sometimes insidious energy. And, this stuff has hang time. Meaning, the harsh, cruel, violent and insidious energy kind of becomes a consistent backdrop as it's been hanging about the atmosphere forever (8/13 1^st Mars/Pluto square) and will persist from now until at least through the end of September. Mars “officially” perfects in square to Saturn in his 2^nd pass during the his Rx on 9/29. He doesn't find Pluto for the 2^nd pass until 10/9. Both of these second squares coinciding with the station points of Saturn (9/29) and Pluto (10/2). What that means is on individual levels we grow weaker and less able to assert ourselves in the interest of our own initiatives (Mars Rx) but the external pressures (Saturn and Pluto) intensify as we move toward Fall.

Venus in Cancer finds herself under pressure at this Moon as well. She's smashed in Cardinal cross in square to Mars and Lilith in Aries, Juno in Libra and Saturn in Capricorn. This energy pits the core of our priorities against our alliances, our commitments, our initiatives, our individuality and against the law of authority and maybe our job. This would indicate “harvest” is quite sparse this season. From this position, Venus in Cancer is going to protect and provide for the home and her cubs first. She's focused on the basics...food, shelter, safety and in many instances that is task enough for her to maintain in these circumstances.

Thankfully, Mercury is very well positioned to help us better direct this energy. He resides in practical Virgo. A sign known for it's ability to triage and it's willingness to help. Plus, Mercury's vision is sharpened as he moves away from Neptune and into trine with Pluto. Through his eyes we can see the root of the rot and what it is that needs to be treated or healed on personal levels. Problem being, trines are not compelling energy. We must choose to use the penetrating and focused energy of this trine whereas the frustrations of Mars, the confusion and vulnerability of a Full Moon in Pisces nor the compression and denial of Venus are avoidable. Still the option to honestly perceive of a problem that is within our capacity to heal is open to us.

In the chart for the Moon set for Washington, DC, the sign of Cancer is rising with the Full Moon, Neptune and Ceres all found in the 9^th house. The Moon finds support from Jupiter and Pallas in Capricorn and Uranus in Taurus. Enough support to create a kite when you factor in the Sun's position from Virgo. The sextile to Jupiter is fairly wide but in my opinion remains relevant as Jupiter co-rules the sign of Pisces and he is stationing to turn direct on Sept 12.

Kites are said to provide protection to a degree. I choose to believe that but I've also witnessed that they have a tendency to play out rather literally too. Meaning, they provide lift. Projects take off. Things take flight. Stuff goes viral. And, normally this is thought of as a good thing because when purposely deployed it can be. We just don't always get to choose what it is that takes off. Goes viral. Takes flight or...spirals off kind of on a life of its own. Sometimes we blame such things on fate. But, who is to blame or what it all really is supposed to mean remains unprovable and largely unknown.

Mercury is blessedly well integrated with the rest of the sky at this Moon. He is the current ruler of our Sun in Virgo and finds Venus in Cancer amicably. The Mercury/Venus sextile is energy that can perceive intuitively of what is needed (Venus in Cancer) while remaining practical and down to Earth (Mercury in Virgo) enough to figure out a way to provide it. Mercury in Virgo can set up triage to deal with the most pressing problems first and of course has a list of necessary supplies. He is also in contact with Mars and Lilith through inconjunct so our ability to think practically and to follow through with a help/assist mentality can soothe frustration and give us a better idea of how to focus our physical energies. In a lot of cases, this mix of energies represents a withdraw from public matters to address more personal ones or those on your own homefront. It can be employed as a neighbor helping neighbor kind of effort or draw complete focus to matters of need found in individual homes or within individual personal struggles.

I cannot get the story of the littlegirl lost at sea on her unicorn floatie out of my mind here. And, I think the vulnerable helplessness of that harrowing tale is likely why. Many will feel vulnerable and helpless at this moon. It is the nature of Pisces to force us to our knees in surrender. It perpetrates sacrifice and creates martyrs in a way that it seems nothing in our lives is really under our control. Neptune's energy sensitizes us to emotional influx in an unavoidable way. Though, he's an escapist also. Those emotions may be inescapable but Pisces will seek the escape in the midst of overwhelm be that escape found in sleep, prayer, music, art or intoxicating substance. The Full Moon in Pisces this year finds us Frustrated. Vulnerable. Angry. Scared. Uncertain. Sick. Helpless. Tired. Confused. Intoxicated. Lost. Unmoored. Drowning.

The Full Moon in Pisces will illuminate vulnerabilities, weakness, sickness, etc on individual levels in undeniable ways while also showing us exactly what is out of our control Our reactions to these illuminations and our ability to pierce through the framework of the structure in effort to see what it is we can fix will determine how the storylines unfold as we move forward.

That being said, our guide at this lunation is the 4 of Swords. Four's are incredibly stable and they carry an air of protection about them. But, coming in as advice, that doesn't mean that things are already that way. It's an indication of where we need to try to get them. So, here it is suggested that we shelter and protect.

In most versions of this card, the warrior lies resting in what looks like a sanctuary. The aura of the sanctuary alludes to his protection. In some ways, he has surrendered to his faith. It's an easily constructed narrative to say the warrior was likely actively seeking refuge. Here, the warrior is not fighting. This is sacred space. His lips are still and his voice is silent. His hand folded and eyes closed as if resting, in prayer or in meditation.

The 4 of Swords suggests sheltering ideas, stabilizing and protecting your mental space, seeking and creating sanctuary for your own healing. It's advice suggests sleeping on decisions while honoring the silence of sanctuary. Lay down your sword. Rest your tired voice. Place your focus on sheltering, healing and protecting. 

Seek sanctuary. 

Providing for your own stability and safety first, sheltering in place temporarily if necessary and extending that mentality of “how can I help to fix or facilitate healing here” outward as you can.