GEMINI FULL MOON!

Get ready for a markedly mercurial moment! Mercury retrograde is about to end on the same day as a full moon in Gemini, a sign ruled by Mercury. This full moon will be conjunct Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius - which is where both Mercury and the Sun happen to be, neatly tying together these astrological puzzle pieces.

On Sunday December 15th at 1:02am Pacific Time, the Moon will sit at 24 degrees of Gemini, opposite the Sun at 24 degrees of Sagittarius, creating a full moon event.

Mercurial times such as these are opportunities to open our minds, ask questions, and learn new things. With the moon’s involvement, we can update our emotions based on new facts, or shift our thoughts to better align with our feelings. It’s crucial that we communicate openly as well as listen carefully - to others as well as to ourselves. Gemini and Sagittarius both have a tendency to overtalk and rush around in order to distract themselves or avoid difficult feelings.

However, this is a very special full moon because speedy Mercury - the ruler of Gemini - will be moving as slowly as it possibly can! The same day at 12:56pm Pacific Time, the retrograde motion of Mercury will grind to a halt and then start crawling forward again. The mental planet will have an unusually powerful impact on us as it calls attention to itself with this pivot. (And interestingly, this station is happening at 6 degrees of Sagittarius, in a trine to 6 degrees of Leo where Mars started its retrograde last week).

As Mercury retrograde ends, let’s remember to harvest any insights and internal growth that we’ve cultivated during this reflective time. Communications, logistics and travel should begin to operate more smoothly again as the Messenger of the Gods resumes its forward motion. However, we’ll still need to rest and move slowly for a while, given the current retrogrades of Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Chiron. With the winter solstice only a week away from this date, we’re in the darkest time of year as the Gemini full moon illuminates the night sky.

Of course, this is thanks to reflected light from the Sun, currently in Sagittarius (along with Mercury). Full moons always occur in pairs of opposite signs, inviting us to reflect on balance. Gemini and Sagittarius might seem like an odd matchup, since these signs are similar in many ways; they’re both restless, curious and expansive. But where Gemini focuses on small pieces of information, Sagittarius considers the big-picture philosophy of life. Gemini governs the immediate environment, while Sagittarius rules travel to foreign lands. Gemini is curious and quick, but Sagittarius is adventurous and full of faith.

So this full moon is a chance to balance our perspective and adjust our scope, as we zoom in and out along the Gemini-Sagittarius axis. On and around the 15th, keep an extra sharp eye out for omens, messages, signs and synchronicities - anything that evoked your surprise, wonder and curiosity. How does data inform our beliefs? What are we choosing to focus our attention on? How do we relate to novelty, risk, making mistakes - and learning from them? What do we intellectually understand, and what do we believe in on a soul level? How do we differentiate between intelligence and wisdom? In these turbulent times, the Gemini full moon is a reminder to think globally and act locally.

The Gemini-Sagittarius balance is further emphasized by Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius, sitting close to the full moon in the opposing sign of Gemini. This adds a sense of resilience, buoyancy and possibility to our experience. Follow your instincts toward whatever helps you feel most expansive. Remember that you deserve to give yourself the gift of self-care, as well as the joy of giving to others. Take a moment to experience the healing effects of a deep belly laugh.

Other aspects present challenges and potential growth. Dreamy Neptune will sit in a T-square with this full moon, bringing the possibility for delusion as well as spiritual integration. The lunar nodes will loosely square this full moon as well, indicating the importance of this moment to our collective healing and evolution. A trine from the moon to Black Moon Lilith hints at the usefulness of shadow work during this time, while sextiles to Chiron and Eris could trigger wounds and stir up discord.

Most important, though, is the way that this full moon interacts with your specific birth chart. Which pair of houses contains 24 degrees of Gemini and Sagittarius? These areas of your life are now begging to be rebalanced. Additionally, the full moon may be aspecting planets in your chart. (For example, it’ll sit right between my Mars and south node in the first house, packing a powerful punch in terms of relationship karma.)

Full moons are always times of heightened emotion. This one is a chance to better integrate our heads with our hearts, and reflect on all that has become clear during Mercury retrograde and since the Sagittarius new moon a fortnight ago. Happy full moon in Gemini!