Look up early on March 18 to observe the full moon for the month. The last full moon of the season will appear round for roughly three days, peaking at 12:17 a.m. PT and 3:17 a.m. ET on the morning of January 18th.
The moon represents emotions and intuition in astrology, which is why the moon sign in your natal chart speaks to your inner life, whereas the Sun sign represents what you display to the world. Each of the moon’s eight lunar phases is supposed to have a different effect on people. Full moons are thought to be a period of culmination and release by astrologers, encouraging individuals to let go of their worries.
In This Article...
What does a full moon symbolize in terms of spirituality?
The Sun symbolizes spirit on a symbolic level (or insert your preferred word of choice, whether divinity or universe or fill-in-the-blank). The Moon represents both the physical and emotional bodies. The full Moon is a moment to be receptive, to allow spirit’s light and awareness to enter your emotional and physical body.
On an energetic level, what is going on during the new Moon is typically happening unknowingly, in the shadows, and is not yet ready to be illuminated. The full Moon improves your awareness and ability to receive insights that have been approaching you by the time you reach it. This occurs at the same moment when the Moon is about to reach fullness. This awareness can help you get clarity and awe about what is going on in your life and when it is happening.
The full Moon isn’t a single-day event or a snapshot in time. It is a Moon phase that is active for at least three days. Allowing oneself to truly be with the Moon during its full phase and whatever comes up for you can become an emotional mastery practice, especially in the days leading up to the lunar event.
Take note of what arises in your emotional body for you. What exactly is it that is being illuminated? What actions or thoughts are no longer able to remain hidden in the shadows? What darkness can’t hold up to the light any longer? What unhelpful mental processes, self-destructive habits, or problematic communication styles need to be addressed specifically? Perhaps you can get the courage to make a change or seek assistance at this time.
Know that you are being spoken to in your dreams, whether you sob, discover inspiration, or have revelatory insights. You’re being shown the emotional and psychological aspects of a reality that wasn’t completely obvious during the New Moon but is now within your grasp. It’s a never-ending process.
What effect do full moons have on our astrology?
The full moon can also bring an increase in energy, which each zodiac sign deals with differently. A Leo, for example, would react to the energy of a full moon very differently than a Virgo. According to Dr. Perrakis, Leo adores the full moon because it represents passion, inventiveness, and enthusiasm. “Because Leo is always desiring more energy, you’ll witness Leos being highly outgoing, enthusiastic, and possibly inventing something new during the full moon.” Leos are known for their entrepreneurial nature, so they channel their full moon energy into new endeavors. However, the negative side of those characteristics is that a Leo can become overly enthusiastic to the point of becoming obnoxious and dictatorial. A Virgo, on the other hand, benefits from the full moon’s heightened energy because it allows them to boost their work output. Virgos enjoy getting organized and prioritizing their tasks, and they find that having more energy allows them to do more. Take a look at these full moon myths that you may easily dismiss.
What effect does a full moon have on a person?
The gravitational pull of the moon varies as it approaches the Earth, and the Earth’s big bodies of water respond with greater tides.
Scientists have speculated that shifting gravitational pulls may have an impact on how fluids respond inside your body. This is what they discovered.
May affect blood pressure
Researchers investigated the effects of changing lunar cycles on the cardiovascular systems of male university students in a 2013 study. During the new and full moon phases, blood pressure dropped by about 5 mm Hg, according to the researchers.
A step test was also given to the students. During full and new moons, their heart rate and blood pressure were both lower. Moreover, at full and new moons, their heart rates reverted to normal faster.
Researchers found that humans were more physically efficient during full and new moons in this study. However, other research, such as a 2020 study on male athletes that revealed no significant variation in athletic performance during different lunar phases, contradicts this finding.
Is a full moon auspicious?
Is it possible to modify your luck with the Moon? The full Moon is said to bring good luck in many circumstances, according to Moon lore. But this isn’t always the case! Continue reading to learn more about full Moon superstitions and folklore.
When a Full Moon Means Good Luck
- It’s a good idea to expose your baby to the waxing Moon. It will provide strength to the child.
- Moving into a new home during the new Moon is also fortunate; as the Moon waxes, prosperity will increase.
- Seeing the first sliver of a new Moon is a rare treat “unencumbered by greenery or free of brush
- Have you ever wondered why rabbit feet are kept? It’s fortunate… especially if the rabbit was slain by a cross-eyed individual in the dead of night at a graveyard.
- Holding a moonstone in your mouth during a full Moon is auspicious; it will disclose the future.
- The presence of a full Moon on the horizon is fortunate “Day of the Moon (Monday).
Beware, Though. The Moon Can Bring Bad Luck, Too
- A full Moon on Sunday is considered unlucky.
- Seeing the first sliver of a new Moon through a window is unfortunate; you’ll break a plate.
- Sleeping in the moonlight, or worse, being born in the moonlight, is unlucky!
- Pointing towards the new Moon or looking over your shoulder at any Moon is considered unlucky.
- If you’re a sailor, it’s unfortunate to view “the old Moon in the arms of the new” or the faint image of the whole disk when the new crescent Moon is shining. Storms are on the way.
Seek new beginnings
“This is a moment for letting go, welcoming closure, and allowing things to finish,” Alejandrez-Prasad explains. Attempting to start over will backfire and fail to gain the momentum that is deserved.
If you’re yearning to start a project, consider what habits, people, or beliefs you’ll need to let go of in order for it to succeed during full moon phases. She says that you should be as honest with yourself as possible because full moons are a great time to let go.
What effect does the full moon have on relationships?
After a full moon, your energy begins to wane, signaling the start of a new phase. You may have serious thoughts about yourself or your relationship situation during this phase. Are you sick of your old habits? Have you grown complacent in a long-term relationship and want to reignite the flame? During the declining moon phase, these are all reasonable questions to ponder.
The moon’s authority on emotions and inner ideas, on the other hand, may cause you to decide to end your relationship. Has your relationship been shaky, or have you been unwilling to call it quits? The connection could be steered in that manner by the moon phase. Take the time to assess your thoughts that may be weighing you down before making any rash judgments.
Why does the full moon make me feel this way?
Oh no. The first-quarter moon is when you may start to feel a little under the weather “When the moon is in the first quarter, you are more likely to experience resistance and dissatisfaction. You might even become impatient, especially if you’ve established some goals that haven’t yet materialized.” The first-quarter moon, according to Binding, is the ideal moment for some self-care. So, boldly cuddle up in bed; this is not the week for major decisions.
Waxing Gibbous (typically lasts 5 days)
“After the first quarter’s resistance and frustration, the waxing gibbous period’s themes are those of adjustment, refining, and editing,” Binding explains. So, this is a good moment to modify goals that were perhaps a little overly ambitious in the first place. You said you’d cut back on the caffeine? Now is a fantastic time to admit that a latte every now and then might be precisely what you need.
Full Moon
The full moon brings with it a lot of strong feelings. You could feel a little more frazzled and irritable than normal. The full moon can also cause sleep disruptions, so you may find yourself awake at night or sleeping less deeply than normal. And we’ve all experienced the effects of a sleepless night…
“This phase puts us to the test because we can either give in to our sentiments of rage and lose focus, or we can work through them and stay focused on our goal,” Binding explains. “Although working through frustrations might be difficult, and it may seem easier to just give up, keep in mind that these feelings will pass.” So don’t be too hard on yourself, and blame it on the moon if you want to.
Waning Gibbous (typically lasts 5 days)
OK. Breathe. “After the strain of the full moon, during the waning gibbous phase, you will find yourself beginning to loosen up,” Binding explains. “You might also notice that you’re starting to reap the rewards of your efforts toward accomplishing your goals.” The declining gibbous moon phase, she adds, can make us feel more receptive to sharing. So, text your friends; now is the perfect time to catch up.
What is the energy of the full moon?
It’s not a new concept to build rituals around the Moon’s energy. Using the Moon’s power has been a millennia-old tradition in societies all across the world, with origins in Egypt and Babylonia. In reality, the phases of the Moon play a big role in our Best Days and Gardening by the Moon formulations.
The potential of synchronizing our internal rhythm with the natural rhythm can be uplifting and revitalizing. The Moon’s entire cycle lasts around 29 days, from new Moon to full Moon and back again. These phase shifts reflect a shift in energy.
Energy of the Waxing Moon
It is stated that when the Moon is waxing (growing), it is the best time to materialize your desires.
Energy of the Waning Moon
It’s the best time of the month to let go and cleanse while it’s waning (shrinking).
Energy of the Full Moon
The full Moon, in cosmic terms, is the time of the month when energy peaks and then dissipates, like a “cosmic sigh.”
Because the full Moon represents the month’s “energetic high,” it’s the ideal time to harness its power and engage in some self-care. Whether it’s physically (tidying and decluttering in the Marie Kondo style) or emotionally (letting go of negative thoughts, patterns, behaviors, and even relationships), “manifesting with the Moon,” as it’s known, is becoming increasingly popular as a way to promote self-care and better manage daily stressors. You’ll encounter rituals related with feeding, intuition, and creativity quite frequently.
Consider each full Moon as a new chapter, an opportunity to start anew, just as the Moon does throughout its cycle.
What happens when the moon is full?
The form of our Moon does not actually change; it just looks to do so! The “amount of Moon that we see as we look from Earth fluctuates in a month-to-month cycle” (29.5 days). These shifts are caused by the relative locations of our Sun, Earth, and Moon.
Our Moon’s side facing the Sun is always illuminated as it circles around Earth, just as the Sun illuminates Earth’s daytime side.
However, what we observe from Earth tells a different story. Starting with the dark new Moon, we witness the lighted part of the Moon “increase from a sliver to a half to a full Moonand then the illuminated part of the Moon shrinks, becoming thinner until there is no visible Moon in the sky and we are back at the new Moon part of the cycle.
When our Moon’s orbit around Earth moves it between Earth and the Sun, we have a “new Moon.” Because the lit side of the Moon is facing away from Earth, it appears dark from Earth. More and more of the lighted section of the Moon becomes visible to us as our Moon continues its counterclockwise orbit around Earth (viewed from above the north pole), until it reaches the “full Moon stage.” When the Moon has travelled far enough in its orbit to put Earth “between the Moon and the Sun,” a full Moon occurs.
The quantity of Moon we view grows or waxes from its right side toward its left side between the new and full Moons. The quantity of illumination reduces or wanes from right to left as it approaches the full Moon stage. Finally, the Moon returns to its original position between the Earth and the Sun, and we can see the new Moon from Earth once more.
The Moon’s illumination increases from left to right in the waxing phase in the southern hemisphere, and the dark part increases in coverage from left to right in the waning phase, which is the reverse of the northern hemisphere. The phases of the Moon, however, occur at the same time no matter where on Earth an observer is.
What are the advantages of the moon for humans?
The Moon, the brightest and greatest object in our night sky, makes Earth a more livable planet by reducing the wobble on Earth’s axis, resulting in a more stable climate. It also produces tides, which have directed humanity for thousands of years. The Moon was most likely formed when a planet the size of Mars collided with Earth.
The Earth’s Moon is the fifth largest of our solar system’s 200+ moons orbiting planets.
Because no one knew there were other moons until Galileo Galilei found four moons orbiting Jupiter in 1610, Earth’s lone natural satellite is simply referred to as “the Moon.”
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the twin ARTEMIS spacecraft (not to be confused with NASA’s new Artemis program to bring astronauts back to the Moon) are now exploring the Moon for NASA.