Restoring Balance: April 2020's Full Moon Libra

What is a Full Moon?

A Full Moon occurs when the sun is opposite the moon, representing the peak, or climax of the lunar cycle. Throughout history, Full Moons have been known to cause unexpected events, and strange behavior. 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 good times 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.

The Full Moon in Libra (opposite the Sun in Aries) highlights the balance between self and other, war and peace, independence and companionship, authentic self-expression and our genuine obligations to other people.

It may help to think back to whatever intentions you set around the New Moon in Aries, for they should be coming into fruition at this time, as well as six months back to the New Moon in Libra. Certain themes may be repeating themselves. Whatever thoughts or intentions you plant now should come into fruition by the New Moon in Taurus on April 22nd.

Check your natal chart to see which houses Aries & Libra fall into. This will tell you more about how the Full Moon will affect you personally.

Those with personal planets or angles between 13 and 23 of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) will most especially be affected by this Full Moon.

April 2020's Full Moon in Libra

Libra is a cardinal air sign, depicted by the scales or balance, usually held up by a woman wearing a blindfold. In Greek, Roman and Egyptian systems of mythology, the Goddess of Justice would use these scales to weigh the souls of human beings before entering the Underworld. The Egyptian Goddess, Ma'at would weigh each human's heart against the feather of truth; the heart had to be found lighter than a feather to be granted eternal life. In astrology, the constellation of Libra is associated with values of fairness, justice, truth and civility. Often stereotyped as being a bit of a doormat, I think these people forget that justice isn't always "nice." After all, what happens to the hearts that tip over the scales?

What happens to the heavy hearts of those who destroy the earth? What happens to the dishonest, the oppressive, the selfish and the greedy? What happens to the heavy hearts of those who value profit above the lives of people? During this upcoming Full Moon in Libra, I believe we'll see balance being restored. Things will return to their natural place. And if your heart is found to be lighter than a feather you may be granted eternal life, but if you fuck up, you may just find yourself on the wrong end of the sword.

In Ancient Egyptian society, Ma'at represented the righteous moral code that each and every citizen was expected to honor and follow through; have you been living up to that code?

The April 2020 Full Moon in Libra makes very little aspects to other planets. The strongest aspect would be it's inconjunction to Neptune at 19'31 degrees Pisces. An inconjunction doesn't cause conflict in the way that a square does. What it means is that the two planets don't see each other. They have nothing in common. The Moon represents emotion, safety and comfort, while Neptune is the planet of illusions but also the planet of dreams and ideals. We may find it very hard to be hopeful during these harsh times, as our feelings are out of touch with our ideals and dreams. Reality may be painful, hard to cope with, and we might struggle to find meaning in any of it.

However Neptune is also making a conjunction to Mercury at 25'14 Pisces. Because it's so wide, it's influence will be minor, but since Mercury rules over the rational mind, we may find we lack judgement at this time. Our thoughts may be a bit foggy or confused, but it is a good aspect for poets, musicians, and other artists or writers. This aspect strengthens the beauty in language.

The square between Mars at 5'45 degrees Aquarius and Uranus 5'33 Taurus is a potentially dangerous influence. Very chaotic, unstable. The square is almost exact, making it's influence very strong. Mars is the planet of war, and the conjunction to Uranus may indicate surprise attacks, conflict where we were last expecting it. It could also represent rebellion; revolution. People may organize a revolt when their governments, or the ruling class, was least expecting it. It could also indicate accidents, people getting hurt, likely due to their own risk-taking.

Once again, love will get us through these harsh times. Venus at 3'51 Gemini provides a silver lining through it's trine to Saturn at 1'04 Aquarius and Mars. Venus is playful, lighthearted and fun, when in this social sign, and the trine to Saturn provides a feeling of stability and security along with that. Communication with friends and lovers will help us survive, but Saturn helps limit those connections to those that are truly meaningful. The trine to Mars is especially good for romance; our need for friendly companionship is balanced with our raw sexual needs. This aspect is good for stabilizing any tensions in a relationship. Since Venus represents beauty, and Mars signifies action, it may also help inspire us to use this as an opportunity to create something beautiful, a work of art for example.

The Jupiter-Pluto conjunction will be exact on April 4th, only three days before the Full Moon. Jupiter expands and magnifies things. Pluto intensifies things and transforms them. The sign of Capricorn represents institutions and hierarchies, such as those that are in the government or our economic system. The Jupiter-Pluto conjunction will likely magnify the problems inherent in these systems, perhaps to the point where it seems things can't get any worse, only so that we can transform them into something positive.

Conclusion

As the sign of the scales, The Full Moon in Libra represents balance being restored. But the square between Mars and Uranus shows that process of restoration won't be an easy one. It will involve much chaos, and disruption, and people may have to fight and rebel against the established order if they want to create a new one based on the values that Libra, or Ma'at represent (fairness, truth, balance, honor, justice). The Full Moon's inconjunction to Neptune shows a lack of hope. Things will get worse before they get better, but the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in Capricorn shows us that they will get better. The order will change. Furthermore, Venus, Libra's ruling planet, is positively aspected by a trine to both Saturn and Mars, showing us the healing power of connection. Truly, the power of love and a strong sense of community will help get us through these harsh times. Live a life of justice, kindness and truth, and this Full Moon should work out for you. Live a life of greed, selfishness and deceit, and your time is up.