“Find the person who will love you because of your differences and not in spite of them and you have found a lover for life.” -Leo Buscaglia

Have you all survived July’s heavy-duty drama and daily tension?  Enter the electrifying gift of the Full Moon in Aquarius on the first day of August. If ever we needed a little shake-up  after all of that emotional pressure–it’s now! Aquarius brings us the necessary space and mental detachment to step out of our emotional bodies and back into the mental sphere for some healthy detachment and discrimination. Aquarius is a reminder to honor, love and cherish what is unique and different about each of us rather than trying to secretly colonize the other (awesome James Hollis reference).

Spending time with your tribe (Aquarius rules our friendships and group alliances) could be the perfect remedy to get you back in touch with your authentic, creative self now. This is not a time for hiding home alone. No matter what you have just endured or are still going through after the July cardinal cross crucifixion, you can be sure that you’ll get by with a little help from your friends.

During this Full Moon the focus shifts to masculine air signs bringing us back into a more mental mode. There are positive aspects to Jupiter in Gemini to keep the air element in flow. The Moon will oppose Mercury in Leo reminding us to align with our heart center. Although Mercury is not quite out of retrograde just yet, so we must hang in there a bit longer for no-snag conversational flow.

Aquarius is linked to the Star card in the Tarot which follows the Tower archetype in the sequence of the Hero’s (Fool’s) Journey…. or in psychological terms… Journey of the Self. Thus, the energy of the Aquarius Full Moon is that gift of calm after the storm, or the return of peace and hope after crisis and disaster. Aquarius is a fixed air sign offering us the potential of mental clarity, reasonable perspective and objectivity. There is of course the danger of going too far with reason if we lose touch with our heart.

Leo is the balancing sign for Aquarius and thus love and reason must be wed even even if they feel polarized at the moment.

I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate – it’s apathy. It’s not giving a damn. -Leo Buscaglia

The opposition between the Sun and Moon is important for considering the creative role that Leo plays in this polarity. Kindling the childlike wonder and remaining connected to our hearts (or at least setting the intention to return to our hearts) is an important balancing point to this rather “heady” Full Moon. We must also watch out for very fixed or rigid opinions or ideas since Aquarius is certainly a stubborn (fixed) energy in the element of air. Plus Mercury is still in Retrograde in the opposite sign of Leo creating plenty of conversation debacles in spite of our best intentions. Don’t let pride or arrogant mental attitudes interfere with your ability to keep your heart open. Do you want to be right or do you want to be love?

Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.–LB