Judgement Day: April 2019 Full Moon in Libra

On Friday, April 19, we will have yet another Full Moon in Libra. While the last Full Moon took place at the first degree, this one is taking place at 29'06 degrees Libra. Otherwise known as the last degree. With two consecutive full moons occurring at critical degrees of the same sign, we can expect an influx of Libra energy. Both the first and the last degrees of a zodiac sign are very powerful and represent the sign in its purest form.

The universe is asking us to take a look at the qualities associated with Libra—peace, cooperation, harmony... and also judgement.

What is a full moon?

Throughout history, a Full Moon has been known to cause unexpected events and strange behavior. In fact, the word "lunatic" comes from the word "luna," meaning moon.

A full moon occurs when the sun is opposite the moon, representing the peak or climax of the lunar cycle. Because the two luminaries are in opposition to one another, full moons are known to highlight any opposing forces or polarities in your life, such as the balance between self and the other, the balance between the masculine and feminine, and the balance between work and home.

Full moons are also a good time to reflect on where you are in life and where you are headed. While the period between the new moon and the full moon is a time for setting (and achieving) goals, the period between the full moon and the next new moon is a time for letting go. Full moons can also bring about climactic events and awaken us to powerful truths and realizations. The effects of a full moon usually last about two weeks, until the new moon comes along and starts a new cycle.

I suggest looking at where Aries and Libra fall in your birth chart to see how this full moon will affect you personally. What houses are they in? I also suggest looking back to any goals or intentions you set during the Aries new moon on April 5 for they should be coming into fruition at this time. It might also be helpful to look back to any goals or intentions you set during the Libra new moon six months ago. Since this is the second Full Moon in Libra, it's possible that themes related to the last full moon in Libra (on March 20) will repeat themselves. Think back to what was going on in your life last month. If there were any tests we failed around that time, or lessons we failed to learn, we're being blessed with a second chance to learn them.

While the cycles of the moon affect everyone, the full moon will most strongly affect individuals with personal planets or angles within the last few degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn). (This includes me by the way).

Full Moon in Libra

The full moon in Libra (Aries sun opposite a Libra moon) emphasizes the balance between self and other, the balance between masculinity and femininity, and the balance between war and peace. Or in some cases, the balance between quick-decision making at the risk of being impulsive, careless and acting on prejudice and thoughtful, considerate, methodical decision-making at the risk of being too slow to act.

Many amateurs will characterize Libra as a weak sign, but that is not the case. Though stereotyped as hippies or dumb, flirtatious, beauty queens (which itself a pretty misogynist stereotype if you ask me), Libra is first and foremost a political sign. How the scales of justice ever became associated with make-up and mirrors is beyond me. Libra is the sign of the lawyer, the sign of the judge.

That isn't to say that Libra doesn't ever use charm and beauty to its benefit. Though ruled by the planet Venus (a planet associated with love and beauty and all things feminine, therefore "less than"...so our patriarchal society has it), Libra is exalted by the planet Saturn. The iron fist in the velvet glove. Libra has both beauty and brains.

That's not to say the perception of Libra's as peace-loving hippies is inaccurate either. As the sign of the scales, we very much value fairness but we also value justice. Fairness and justice are two sides to the same coin but justice isn't always pretty. Think of the Justice tarot card, associated with Libra: she carries a sword in hand. At first glance, a Libran individual may appear nice and sweet, but abuse that kindness and you may just find yourself on the wrong end of the sword.

Intuitively, I sense that this full moon will emphasize the stronger qualities of Libra, the ones not mentioned in Instagram memes.

I think part of the issue is that we live in a patriarchal society that values "masculine" qualities such as confidence and decisiveness. Ever notice how politicians, or anybody really, can say the stupidest things but so long as they say it with unwavering confidence, people will believe it? Meanwhile, it doesn't seem to matter how logical and truthful and accurate what a person is saying if they don't sound sure of themselves. While Aries is more likely to act on instinct and take charge, Libra is more likely to pull back and weigh their options before coming to a conclusion on something. Because of this, Libra has the reputation of "indecisiveness." But I'd argue that so-called "decisiveness" isn't all it's cracked up to be. The quick-decision making associated with Aries certainly has its place and I'm not discounting it, but what does it matter if someone makes quick decisions if they're always making the wrong ones? Sometimes it's better to think things through. Sometimes it's better to weigh all your options. There is strength in that. There is wisdom. Libra isn't indecisive. On the contrary, Libra often makes the best decisions by virtue of thinking things through.

Really both forms of decision-making are important because we can't think things through to a state of paralysis either and that's where Libra has its weakness, but all too often, I see Libran qualities being devalued when in reality these qualities are necessary. Libra's decision-making skills are what we need in our judges and even our journalists. Decisions made with clarity and a bigger picture knowledge, decisions made free from prejudice. It's not "indecisiveness" but objectivity, a love for truth, and a consideration of all the facts.

People seem to forget that Libra is a cardinal signs. Cardinal signs are leaders. Libra's form of leadership takes a more subtle form. While Libra may lack the brawn of Aries, what it has is strategy. While it may lack the obvious leadership skills of a fire sign, the air element gives Libra strong intellectual abilities and social skills. Libra's keen insight into the psychology of others, along with its Venusian charm, gives it the ability to convince you that their ideas were your own. Sometimes, the appearance of weakness in that sense gives it power.

With the Sun conjunct Uranus opposing the Moon, rebellion is in the air. This could be a rebellion against unjust and unfair social structures. Since the Moon rules family, this could also be rebellion on a domestic front. This could be rebellion against your parents and guardians or more like freeing yourself from toxic familial conditioning. Since Libra also rules partnership, the moon in Libra's opposition to Uranus, could also have us breaking free from any toxic partnerships, or at least, toxic patterns of behavior played out though our intimate relationships. Break-ups are definitely possible but these break-ups are likely to be more liberating than they are heart-breaking. Ultimately, I see this rebellion as a mix of both for both these forms of rebellion are connected. The personal is political and every interaction we have with other human beings is a political in a sense. No matter what, with Libra involved, I see this as rebellion with a cause.

I'd also keep in mind that this full moon takes place on Good Friday when Jesus was crucified before rising from the dead on Easter. Regardless of what religion you are or aren't, there is symbolism there. A rebirth.

In addition to the Uranus/Sun opposition, the full Moon is making one more aspect. The Full Moon is also in conjunct the planet Venus. An in-conjunction is not an aspect commonly talked about and one I talk about even less. But given that this aspect is nearly exact (with Venus at 28'32 degrees of Pisces) and Venus is Libra's ruling planet, I thought it was important to include it. An in-conjunction is an aspect between two planets that for all intents and purpose have nothing in common. The signs they are in are in a different element (fire, earth, air and water), duality (masculine, feminine) and modality (cardinal, fixed, mutable). The clash between the two planets causes an imbalance. In the case of Moon and Venus, this would be an imbalance between what we truly feel (the Moon) and the mask of beauty we show to people in our relationships (Venus), an imbalance between our true desires (Venus) and unconscious patterns of behavior (Moon) that are blocking us from achieving it, or even an imbalance between our romantic lives (Venus) and our domestic lives (Moon). These imbalances could be what leads to that Uranian disruption and breakthrough mentioned in the last paragraph.

Overall, I see this full moon as a time for both reflection (Moon in Libra) and action (Sun in Aries). With the full moon at the very last degree of Libra, I see it as a time of making your final decision. Your final judgement. A repeat of themes that took place last full moon. With the Sun and Moon (very widely) squaring the nodes in Cancer and Capricorn, maybe even a repetition of karmic themes that have been repeating themselves throughout your whole life or lifetimes even. A choice made based on careful and thoughtful consideration of the facts. I also see this as a time for introspection–judging yourself. Have you been living up to your own standards? Have you been living up to the standards you hold to others? Would you like to be around you? If not, what choices can you make to right your wrongs?