Wendy Cicchetti

The March 20-21, 2019, Full Moon ushers in the first Full Moon of Spring for the Northern Hemisphere, and the first Full Moon of Autumn for the Southern Hemisphere. This Full Moon is also a Supermoon, particularly close to Earth. It comes less than four hours after the arrival of the March 20 equinox. This is the closest coincidence of a full moon with the March equinox since March 2000 – 19 years ago.

With this Full Moon in the earliest degrees of Libra–Aries, it is a time when the vernal quality of the spring equinox is particularly resonant. We can almost feel the lushness of new growth! The Libran emphasis of the Full Moon underlines that this is a shared experience; we individually sense the sprouting forth of some new beginning, yet this is also being felt on the collective level. And what a healing experience it can be, given that the Sun is conjunct Chiron! A major question could be whether healing will be internal and individual, or in the context of a relationship — it is quite possible that both can happen. After all, if we heal something internally, then we can often find a way to extend the olive branch and bridge the rifts in relationships.

We may be less focused on the past during this Full Moon, and more eager to form new bonds. There appears to be cosmic permission to start with a clean slate. We can let go of unnecessary baggage, which has been processed and belongs in the past. Going forward, the focus is on a fresh start and being unburdened — rather like the Fool in the Tarot, who travels light with just a tiny knapsack over his shoulder.

Venus at 23° Aquarius is tightly square Mars in Taurus, emphasizing the immovable object, since both planets are in fixed signs. It may be best to agree to disagree, rather than try to drive a point home, because both parties could easily be debating all day long! These are inner planets, though, offering a strong reminder that even a tough argument is likely to be a temporary blip on the horizon. People or circumstances will change, sooner or later.

Besides, both Venus and the Moon occupy air signs(Aquarius and Libra, respectively), drawing attention to the true nature of trends. While Venus may be bucking them, the Moon may wish to align with them! Either way, trends are ephemeral and stress short-term directions. This is not to say that nothing can stick, however, as Mars in Taurus is trine Saturn, Pluto, and the South Node in Capricorn: Some actions might have a certain longevity about them. Still, certain developments are likely to be temporary and will not matter in the long run — an idea that is somewhat supported by Mercury and Neptune in Pisces, reminiscent of steam and sea-spray and a reflection of how people can blow hot and cold on ideas and plans.

The wisdom to be gleaned is to not put too much stock in someone else’s ideas, suggestions, or promises. Or, where these remain important to us, to ensure that we do something concrete to move them along, rather than rely on others’ initiatives. Mercury–Neptune reminds us how much can be forgotten or overlooked, despite our best intentions.

There is every reason to be optimistic about relationship connections given Jupiter’s close sextile to Venus. Opportunities may well open up for us to expand our social circle, or to accept support from someone who is more than happy to offer it. Whatever interesting new developments life may present, the planets assure us that we are not alone!

Written by Diana McMahon Collis for the Mountain Astrologer Magazine