Leo Full Moon: February 18 Aquarius Express

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart."
Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life...most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition...[you] already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." Steve Jobs, co-founder, Apple Computer (1955 - )

Redwood Sunrise Stretch by Joseph Mina

Leo Full Moon occurs late on the 17th in Hawaii at 10:35 pm, and on the 18th from the West Coast US (12:35 am) east to the International Date line (GMT 8:35 am). This potent Full Moon, along with the March and April Full Moons are the closest Full Moons of 2011, occurring near perigee (closest point to Earth).In other words "think big".

Full Moon at or near perigee brings an intensification of energy on many levels, including emotional expression and reactions. Also, this is the 4th of 5 consecutive Full Moons positioning at the end degree of an astrological sign.These "Master Full Moons" carry an added emphasis all their own. Combine perigee position and mastery influence, and you have in short a "pay attention Moon". Visually, the Moon will seem larger than usual.

Readers Digest Version - this Full Moon further amplifies this past month's on-going Aquarius themes of freedom and social equality from oppression, heavy handed governmental rule, and economic struggles. At this Full Moon, Sun (fuel), Neptune (vision), Mars (assertivness), and Mercury (communication) in Aquarius position opposite the Moon (see chart below).

This Aquarian dynamic points to catalytic like vibrations surging through Middle East countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, Liberia, Libya, Bahrain, and Algeria, creating social upheaval and in some instances quick, unexpected change of long standing governmental oppressive rule. In my estimation, this is the opening wave of similar waves to come in other areas of the world.

Full Moon in fire sign Leo promotes expression of courage, access to heart's desires and support for expressing creative passion. Add the aforementioned Aquarius line-up,and Moon's perigee and Master vibrations to the mix, and the potential occurs for more quick change and shifts on the global stage, as well as similar shifts in your life, especially for those with significant planetary aspects in late degree fixed signs of Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus.

On a personal level, this vibration fuels an inner drive or desire for greater autonomy, social justice and expansive experiences in alignment with your heart's desire and passion.

Recently, we visited a beautiful Redwoods Preserve near Half Moon Bay California to record our latest Gemini Astrology Vlog. The connection to the Aquarius theme of "big" in a Redwood Forest is such a powerful experience. Enjoy.

Here's the Full Moon Chart

Aquarius...Aquarius...Aquarius. This past month's civil protests throughout the Middle East point to the unusually strong Aquarian planetary influences occurring since the Sun entered Aquarius back in late January. This conglomeration of planetary archetypes in one sign begins a very unique 3 month movement of personal (Mercury, Venus, Mars) and transpersonal (Uranus and Neptune) energies through the signs of Aquarius (February), Pisces (March) and Aries (April).

Further, as a run-up to 2012 and beyond, these 3 months potentially represent the seeding ground for what our reality evolves into over the coming 4 to 5 years.

In Astrology, transpersonal planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) represent the higher octave of the related personal planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars). The outer planets are beyond eyesight. They were discovered in the 18th (Uranus), 19th (Neptune) and 20th (Pluto) centuries. Further, the transpersonal planets act as a conduit for information from our galaxy's field of cosmic awareness,

These transpersonal planets have, or will soon move into new zodiac signs. Pluto was first in 2008, when it moved into Capricorn and began melting down the seemingly stable financial and economic systems across the globe. Looking ahead, in March, Uranus moves fully into the sign of Aries (was there for a short period in the summer of 2010) heralding intense shifts and new beginnings. And in April, Neptune will make its first ingress into Pisces (its natural sign) for the first time in 168 years signaling a new direction in imagery and globalization. As has been shared on this blog, these significant movements portend significant shifts in the global consciousness in the coming years.

Specific to February, planetary archetypes Chiron (1) healing, Sun (2) fuel,  Neptune (3) vision, Mars (4) assertiveness, Mercury (5) communication, Ceres (6) nurturing, and the Moon (emotions) have moved into and in some cases through the water-bearer sign. Fueled by Pluto in Capricorn's transformational melt-down fuel to the world's existing economic structure, the cry for freedom has never been so loud and on such a large scale.

Another quality of Aquarius, amplified by this surge of planetary energies, is its connection to the cosmos and everything related to it. This includes manned, robotic and satellite exploration of outer space. For example, within this past month, the Kepler project announced the discovery of over 1,200 planetary bodies orbiting other stars, including 54 found in a star's "habitable zone" (a first). The confirmation of these planetary bodies would more than double the number of extra-solar planets discovered to date. Thank you Aquarius!

In the solar department, the entire Sun surface was viewed for the first time recently (image at right). Full solar imagery is due to the positioning of 2 satellites opposite each other in solar orbit. This has produced amazing complete images of our day star. The first of these images was broadcast during the Super Bowl - how appropriate for that Aquarius "big" factor. 

Further, just the other day, the Sun emitted its first X-class flare in the current solar cycle. X-class flares release an enormous amount of pent-up energy and radiation. Look for more of these intense bursts to occur over the coming three years. If any such flare is Earth directed, at a minimum, it will produce auroras, changes and intensification of weather patterns, and possible disruptions in electronic and communication equipment. Given the current intensities of the astrological cycles, the Sun could prove to be a true wild card of unpredictable and rapid change.

Other aspects to the Full Moon

(1) Venus at 16 degrees Capricorn creates a square with (2) Saturn at 17 degrees Libra fueling inner authority type questions about how you manage your energy in relationship to others in your life. Further, (3) Jupiter at 5 degrees Aries creates a square with (4) Pluto at 6 degrees Capricorn. Jupiter's optimistic tendencies, especially in impetuous Aries may produce seemingly beneficial economic news in the short term, however, I expect this to be short-lived. Jupiter will move out of orb with Pluto by early March when a dose of economic reality, especially in the speculation arena, may abruptly appear. The Leo Full Moon full of passion, intensity and courageous energy serves as a background theme to these squares asking the question "does this make my heart sing?".

Looking ahead: commencing on February 18, when the Sun enters Pisces, an intense surge of Pisces energy will begin to flood the consciousness.This amplification of emotional sensitivity heightens your global connection to everyone and all world events, and also expands your capacity to feel everyone and everything. It also builds on the strong Aquarian themes established this month. On the global stage, look for a greater empathy between citizens of various nations, and a desire to unite for humanitarian causes greater than any one nation might think possible.

And in the spirit of Aquarius and its connection to technology and the future, no one has been more instrumental in introducing innovative and stylish computer devices, such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and the iMac, than Apple Computer under Steve Jobs' visionary direction. With a Pisces Sun and Moon, and Mars in Aries, Steve Jobs' vision of a globally connected society through technologically has rapidly unfolded over the past 9 years. Recently, Steve Jobs took a second extended medical leave of absence due to continued struggles with his health.  Our prayers are with him for a speedy recovery.

More on our next blog: Pisces New Moon, March 4th

Aloha from the Bay Area of California
Starman, Joseph Mina
February 16, 2011

Astrology Chart Illustrations 

- chart generating software: Time Cycles Research Software

- chart annotations: ScreenSteps by Blue Mango Learning Systems