Full Moon in Pisces - Within Everything, There is Nothing

The Full Moon invites us to embrace the balancing of opposites. This evening at 9:32pm PST the Sun in Virgo opposes the Moon moon in Pisces at the 21st degree. The energy of Virgo has been building for the last few weeks with the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars all traveling together.

Virgo is Earth- it is focused, precise and detail-oriented. Pisces is water- it is romantic, creative, and non-linear. Virgo and Pisces are both symbols of change and renewal- Virgo is the time between summer and autumn, and Pisces is the time between winter and spring. Virgo and Pisces hold the wisdom of the seasons: of life, death, and rebirth. This process of transformation is deeply healing.

Virgo heals our physical and mental bodies- connecting us to our health, our environment, and our state of mind. Pisces heals the spirit- allowing us to open our hearts to forgiveness, compassion, and empathy.

The end of a cycle marks the time of release. As we courageously let go of our desire to control, we open ourselves to infinite possibilities. Virgo and Pisces remind us that everything is temporary.

Everything as we know it in form will end. Everything will transform. Everything will begin again.

Embracing the spiritual truth of impermanence gives us the ability to be present in both love and suffering. This Full Moon is an opportunity to ask yourself what needs healing- to show up whole-heartedly for the pain that surfaces, without succumbing to a tendency to escape.

This is a moment to stay with our feelings, to remember that they will pass, and to connect with that which is sacred to us.

Dazed and Confused

Why does it feel like Mercury is still retrograde? Confusion, lack of clarity, difficulty articulating thoughts…

Mercury is still in Pisces- and will be there for another week. It’s cleaning up the mess its made since the beginning of February.

If this retrograde has been extremely difficult for you (it’s been harder for me than other retrogrades), it may be partially due to the fact that Mercury in Pisces operates in a very non-linear, abstract way. Mercury represents the mind. It is the quickest planet orbiting the Sun, and is the most variable in terms of speed and direction. Mercury is quick, intellectual, and likes to gather information. Mercury is a symbol of our cognitive process- it is how we think, process information, communicate and express ourselves.

But Mercury doesn’t do so well in a sign like Pisces. In traditional astrology, the Sun and Moon our two luminaries, rule the signs Cancer and Leo. Moving outwards from those signs, Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo, Venus rules Taurus and Libra, Mars rules Aries and Scorpio, Jupiter rules Sagittarius and Pisces, and, finally, Saturn rules Capricorn and Aquarius.

When Mercury is in Gemini or Virgo, it is considered to be in its domicile- it is familiar and understands the energy well. Pisces is the polarity (or opposite) of Virgo. Mercury in Virgo is discerning, discriminating, critical, and detail-oriented. As you can imagine, Mercury in its opposite sign, Pisces, is non-linear, abstract, and impractical.

If you happen to know your natal placement of Mercury, you may better understand why this transit has felt especially confusing. Pisces is a water sign- it is yin, receptive and intuitive. All of the yang signs are expressive, action-oriented, and move energy outwards. The yang signs of the zodiac are: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. If Mercury was in any of those signs at the time of your birth, then your mind may have a more challenging time understanding thee watery, fluid energy of Pisces.

Look up your natal Mercury if you don’t already know it! There are several websites that will calculate your birth chart by simply entering your date of birth, location, and time of birth- if you know it.

Regardless of your own personal placement, this Mercury retrograde has been one of the most challenging ones for me personally, and for those close to me.

Hang tight though! Mercury moves into Aries in just one week!