Scorpio Full Moon Lunar Eclipse

The Scorpio lunar eclipse is a total eclipse of the Moon, downplaying intense feelings that so often go with the Scorpion’s experience. Maybe for one moment we don’t have reactions of anxiety, dread, or jealousy that seem to dog this sign, particularly when the Moon is involved, as this can be our nerve center where we register pain first because our reactions — both physical and emotional — seem to pulse the strongest here.

Even if there’s a brief absence of pain, perhaps it’s long enough to remind us what a part of our life feels like without that intensity. We may experience it as joy, simple relief, or as a glimmer of hope that has felt out of sight for a while.

There are two quite different aspects involving the Moon during this lunation, which bring to mind the opposing qualities of fire and ice, since they involve Mars and Saturn — one planet traditionally associated with warmth, the other with cold. This may be practical and physical, or emotional and mental, but both seem to have a compelling validity.

The closest aspect is Moon square Saturn in Aquarius, which has an especially strong resonance, given that the Moon is conjunct the South Node. It’s possible we struggle to hold on to any “good” vibe from a moment of hope and relief offered during the eclipse, not least because Saturn leans us towards tendencies of doubt, doom, and gloom! With a square to the South Node and Moon in Scorpio, there’s a sense of slipping back inexorably into an old habit or pattern. Yet maybe if we resist, it doesn’t happen — which can be part of the square’s task. A bit like sitting in a car at a junction when another car also wants to move forward — we hold back because it doesn’t make sense to go crashing into the other vehicle.

So maybe Saturn is warning us to stay calm and not let things slip. There may be a reminder, through the presence of both Saturn and the South Node, that the past is affecting us, but our response to those effects is a choice we make in the present. Maybe we choose an attitude or course of action that doesn’t hinder our mood, allow bodily pains to take over, or provoke grumpiness and negatively affect our relationship with another. It might not be easy, but it’s possible to try another way!

We can take inspiration from Mars and Neptune, partnered up in Pisces and trining the Moon. Those planets bring a warm swim to mind — perhaps we can soothe the senses in a hot tub or warm pool! Even a steam room or sauna could help. If a physical bath or similar is unavailable, we could try a guided meditation, or simply imagine being in one of those places. As Shakti Gawain established years ago in her Creative Visualization book, the part of the mind that works during meditation cannot tell the difference between real and imagined content — if we focus on something positive, it works for stimulating positive feelings, simple as that!

There’s a push-pull between the Mars trine and Saturn square Moon–South Node, which suggests we have a choice. There’s also another way of seeing these energies. If the trine offers an easy option, then maybe it’s easy to be impatient too, which is something Mars can represent. If the square offers a harder option, then maybe it speaks of trouble managing patience or difficulty playing the long game.

Either way, it boils down to the same difference: we might obtain some quick fix to feel better in the moment, while knowing that a tricky situation isn’t going to resolve itself overnight. Maybe that’s OK. Perhaps it’s fine to reach for solutions that relieve some pain — hopefully none make it worse overall, of course. Getting to the longer-term answer or result could take time, and we’ll need strategies to help us stay the course. The Moon sextiles Pluto in Capricorn, so we can make tracks, slowly but surely — but must remain determined.

This article is from the Mountain Astrologer written by Diana McMahon Collis