Severing Ties: A Call to Action Under the 'Baby Eclipse' Full Moon and Cardinal Grand Cross
Aries Full Moon
‘Wait, didn’t you say we’d reached the end of eclipse season?’ Yes, I did (if you’re new here, you may want to check out that article). Technically, we have wrapped up eclipse season. *However*, we have a full moon in Aries occurring on Thursday 17th October at 12:27pm GMT (7:27am ET). Whilst not an eclipse, the aspects this full moon forms—especially with Mars—will make it feel a little like a baby eclipse. It’s not as intense, but it will certainly bring closure to your eclipse story and mark the final end of a chapter in your life. In short, this full moon is cutting ties, letting go, changing your mindset and just really being over it.
For those that can locate it, the full moon is taking place at 24º Aries. Check if you have any planets in Aries, Libra, Cancer, or Capricorn between 19-29º, as it will activate those areas in your chart too. If you’re unsure of how to locate that, I may decide to do another Q&A on my Instagram to help you out, so stay tuned tomorrow! Regardless of your sign, we’ll all collectively feel an intense urge to close one chapter for a new one to begin.
Full moons occur when the moon and sun are in opposition, illuminating the sky. This often reveals something significant in our lives, making full moons a time of exposure, completion, and hidden truths coming to light…illumination. But, this full moon is not a regular moon, it’s a supermoon!
A supermoon is a full moon that nearly coincides with ‘perigee’—the closest that the moon comes to the Earth in its elliptic orbit—resulting in a larger-than-usual size of the moon as viewed from Earth. The term supermoon was actually coined by an astrologer (not an astronomer!) called Richard Nolle in 1979.
Full moons are a time of release and letting go, but this doesn’t always imply something negative. 'Release' could mean the completion of a work project, where you finally receive the recognition you deserve—remember, full moons illuminate or shine a spotlight on a specific area of your life. With this full moon in Aries, expect themes of bravery, impulsiveness, independence, and a surge of active energy to take centre stage.
Aries is bold and daring, fueled by the fiery passion that comes from being ruled by Mars. When Aries knows what it wants, it charges ahead with full force. Mars itself is a planet associated with severing ties, known for its harsh and blunt influence. When you combine this with Aries’ fearless qualities, the message of this full moon becomes clear: stop holding yourself back and eliminate the obstacles standing in your way.
Aries demands courageous action, they are the risk-takers of the zodiac. So if you’ve been indecisive or have been dragging your feet on a tough decision, now is the perfect time to use this energy to ‘sever’. Let it go already.
With the Sun still in Libra, relationship themes may also come to the forefront, as Libra represents the ‘other.’ Perhaps you’ve recognised how long you've been holding onto heartbreak and are finally ready to move forward and open yourself up to new connections. For some, this could be the moment to confront a relationship that no longer fits. Even if you're not in a relationship, this full moon may shine a light on how your relationship with yourself has transformed. Reflect on the past 18 months—are you the same person you were back then? (This is a rhetorical question, eclipses always push you to grow).
Here’s where it get’s interesting however.
The current planetary alignment, including the full moon's position, creates what's astrologically referred to as a ‘Grand Cross’—a configuration where four planets are separated by 90º angles, forming a square shape and a cross. In this case, the four points involved are Aries (the full moon), Libra (where the Sun is currently located), Cancer (where Mars is currently located), and Capricorn (where Pluto is currently located). As I mentioned earlier, Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn are known as the ‘Cardinal’ signs, so this alignment is called a ‘Cardinal Grand Cross’.
Cardinal signs usher in change, marking the beginnings of the seasons: Aries heralds Spring, Cancer brings Summer, Libra signifies Autumn, and Capricorn ushers in Winter. With this full moon in a tense position alongside Mars, urging us to finalise something, the energy becomes amplified with the added intensity of the Cardinal Grand Cross. This alignment serves as a powerful catalyst, pushing us to confront what needs to be released in order to embrace new beginnings.
I’ve discussed how the Sun in Libra brings a focus on our relationships while the Moon in Aries ignites an urge to break free for something new. But we must also consider the remaining two planets in this Grand Cross: Mars and Pluto. While Mars rules Aries and is known for its ‘severing’ nature, its current placement in Cancer alters its behaviour. Mars in Cancer adopts a more defensive and emotional approach, so don’t be surprised if people are more sensitive and take things personally with this full moon. Nevertheless, Mars still encourages us to confront conflicts and let go of outdated situations in our lives. Meanwhile, Pluto in Capricorn, which I touched on in my last article, urges us to undergo deep, meaningful transformation for positive change—after all, Pluto symbolises the themes of death and rebirth.
The Cardinal Grand Cross embodies our evolutionary need to change and break free.
It's up to you to identify what you need to liberate yourself from. The environment you were conditioned in? Social conditioning? Outdated or traditional systems? Toxic relationships? Power imbalances? Negative thinking?
Keep in mind that this full moon is in the sign of Aries, which is closely linked to desire. Ask yourself what it is that you truly desire for your life at this moment. Now consider how you can achieve that desire. What do you need to break free from in order to attain the fulfillment that will lead you to your next breakthrough?
It feels very overwhelming I know, but that’s the nature of change. Astrologically, we are in a prime period for making significant shifts in our lives. While this full moon may bring tension and chaos, it ultimately holds the potential for long-term transformation. Additionally, this is the first time in six weeks that we’re not experiencing an eclipse (even though this feels like a baby one), which means you can now return to your manifestation practices.
As a final note for this full moon; as Aries rules over the head, be mindful of this area. Watch out for any migraines or head injuries during this time.
Happy Full Moon!
Thank you for this! I now feel prepped and ready. Do you think that we Aries moons will feel this one especially?