*Eleditor’s note: Astrology isn’t a religion. We’re not sure it’s a science, either. It’s magic, maybe. But, as with feng shui, say, things affect things. So as long as we don’t go blaming our problems on the stars, as long as we assume responsibility for our own actions…well, hell, a little auspicious coincidence and applicable wisdom can’t hurt. And so, with that grain of salt…enjoy!

On October 16, 2016 at 12:23 a.m. EDT we have a Full Moon at 23 degrees in Aries.

There are 12 astrological signs of the zodiac and each one is named for a constellation.

Some of us may be asking, “What’s so unique about this Full Moon?”

This one is unique because it happens to fall in the sign of Aries.

It’s a time of super-charged energy with the sun and moon in opposite signs of the Zodiac. The sun is now in Libra. And, the sun represents us—our character, and essence. The moon represents our emotional needs.

The sun and moon being in opposite signs now, creates a yin and yang of solar and lunar harmony. During the previous New Moon we may have conceived of ideas or become vaguely aware of our desires. In fact, we may have had miraculous epiphanies of the things we wanted to accomplish.

We may now have the courage of the adventurer and the spirit of the pioneer to forge ahead.

Yet, we may face an internal conflict with the Aries moon, because the dark side of the sun in Libra can make us indecisive, conflicted and paralyzed from taking action. This is at odds with the warrior nature of Aries, who is a risk-taker and can be impulsive and wildly courageous.

Perhaps, the message of the Full Moon in Aries is to embrace our passionate desires while containing our ego, always remembering that the sun in Libra is about fairness and caring about how our actions affect those with whom we have intimate relationships. What we want at this time cannot be so important that it comes at the expense of others.

During this Full Moon we have the opportunity to change our lives on an emotional level by standing up for ourselves, and taking care of our needs. We can make healthy changes to our body, for example, by losing weight or caring for our appearance. Or we can take risks that we don’t normally take to find the passionate love relationship we yearn for.

Here are some of the life-changing choices the energy of this Full Moon in Aries gives us the opportunity to make:

1. Be assertive and stand up for ourselves:

Sometimes we just don’t stand up for ourselves. We turn the other cheek to avoid conflict and in the process become doormats for others to take advantage of.

We don’t need to transform into the Incredible Hulk to get what we want though. During this Full Moon we have the courage to communicate honestly and let others know directly what we want and what our limits are.

Someone who is a non-drinker might be tired of getting together with her four drinking friends at the local pub, and passively splitting the tab five ways even though she never drank. Feeling taken advantage of, she realizes that it is her responsibility to speak up and make sure she only pays her fair share of the bill.

Today is her day to say, “I am more comfortable just paying for my soft drink.”

2. Do something for us:

It is easy to be a giver and pay attention to everyone’s needs but our own.

We may find ourselves focusing all our attentions on pleasing and doing things for others. For many, that means putting our spouses, children and friends before ourselves.

Over time, this habit becomes a way of life and our needs become unimportant and subordinate to those we love. After all, it’s so easy to take from a giver who is always giving.

During this Full Moon in Aries, we realize that emotionally, we must take care of ourselves. Sometimes we need to be first! We are ready to pamper ourselves whether it’s going for a facial or massage or curling up in bed with a box of chocolates and a great book.

Tonight, the family can serve us dinner or take us out to eat.

3. Improve our bodies:

This Full Moon brings us revelations about ourselves physically because Aries rules the first house of our physical body.

We become conscious of how others perceive our body, and how the way we look makes us feel. We may have a special awareness of our habitual patterns, which may include unhealthy eating habits we have grown up with. I had a European mother who ended every sentence at the dinner table with the words, “Eat more. You haven’t had enough. Let me put more food on your plate. You are too skinny.”

As an adult, I have learned that eating less is more. As a result, I have lost weight. I’m healthier and continue to look and, more importantly, feel good in myself. This is a revelation that can come for many of us with the Full Moon in Aries. We may finally change the habits that have gotten in the way of us being healthy and looking and feeling the way we want to.

4. Do something rebellious:

Aries is known as a sign with the qualities of go-getting: following desires and going after these desires with great passion. The element of surprise and the spirit of rebellion are themes now with the Full Moon in Aries.

We often have the desire but lack the courage to go out and get what we want—that is not the case now.

Someone who at 20 has been so worried about her parent’s disapproval, is now ready to assert her independence. She might look forward to getting that nose ring she’s wanted for a long time or putting a tattoo on her behind even if it draws stares at the beach. Someone who was raised to never date across cultures could now be ready to declare himself his own man—free to make his own choices.

5. Find a passionate love relationship:

So often we find ourselves settling for a relationship that is mediocre.

We feel no excitement for the person we’ve been dating. However, we lack the drive to go out into the singles world and find someone who fills us with passion and feels more like the soul mate we have always yearned for.

But this Full Moon in Aries may inspire us and fills us with a renewed enthusiasm to find an exciting relationship, no matter how much failure or disappointment we may encounter along the way. On this day, we can commit to actions that will help us reach our goal. We can commit to going out to at least one singles party each week. We can put our profile up on an Internet dating site. We can say yes to three of our friends who have wanted to fix us up for the longest time. We can book a singles cruise over the holidays because we will not be alone this New Year.

We can be confident that, at least, our socializing will bring us fun and, at most, it may be even bring Mr or Miss Right into our lives.

The Full Moon in Aries offers us an opportunity to make plans or to finally act on them. We can move closer to fulfilling our dreams, whatever they are.

It’s a time when we take greater responsibility for our life and creating our own good fortune. After all, the planets don’t make us do anything. Our destiny is in our hands.

If you want to find out the House that the Full Moon in Aries is in—in your horoscope; or more about how the planets may be bringing changes to your life, go to the Free Transit Calculator and enter your birth date. (Please make sure to scroll down to the end of the page.) Or, if you want to learn more about your sign, go to the Free Horoscope Calculator and enter your birth date.

~

Relephant: 

October Hunter’s Super Moon & Halloween: Embracing The Horned God, Pan.

 Relephant bonus:

Author: Larry Schwimmer

Images: Flickr/chaouki; Flickr/Stephen Sheppard

Editors: Erin Lawson/ Khara-Jade Warren