Why the Asteroid Chiron May Make This Week’s Full Moon Feel Extra Potent

Photo: Getty Images/Justin Paget
With Sunday's full moon at 8° of Libra happening at 2:48 p.m., ET, the week begins with the cosmos calling our attention to set appropriate boundaries, practice deep self care, and nurture our senses of self-esteem and self-respect.

This full moon—happening in a sign that is all about relationships, balance, and fairness—opposes the sun in Aries, which is the first sign of the zodiac. Aries emphasizes the self and the desire to mobilize on behalf of our own needs. Due to the opposition between the sun and the moon, a Libra full moon provides the opportunity to find the balance between "we" (Libra) and "me" (Aries). Often, it's about toning down personal ambition on behalf of being more relationship-minded and partnership-driven.

This specific Libra full moon, however, takes a slightly different tone. While yes, it asks us to evaluate our relationships, it also provokes taking a deep look at where our own needs are being violated, diminished, or disregarded in the context of our relationships (romantic, platonic, professional, or familial) and making a change. It particularly asks us to consider where we've historically succumbed to toxic dynamics in relationships, with an awareness of where we've conditioned ourselves to continue to play out those dynamics in present times. It provides an opportunity to step back from what we think is upsetting us and to develop the perspective to see where the problem initially emerged. (Spoiler alert: It's likely way earlier than you think.)

At 8° of Aries, the sun conjoins Chiron, who represents the wounded healer, and Venus, who represents love. This combination counterbalances Libra's uncompromising influence to consider how we can better participate in dynamics with others and primarily asks us to look at our relationship with ourselves.

When the sun conjoins Chiron and Venus in opposition to the moon, we're invited to present ourselves to our pain and embody our most extraordinary sense of compassion on this full moon.

Chiron is a centaur that travels between Saturn and Uranus. As a celestial body representing both an asteroid and a comet's characteristics, Chiron highlights our wound and our pain—the hurt and the pain that never totally resolves itself but brings us into our most profound sense of empathy and compassion for ourselves and others. When the sun conjoins Chiron and Venus in opposition to the moon, we're invited to present ourselves to our pain and embody our most extraordinary sense of compassion on this full moon.

While Sunday might feel painful, the full moon presents various opportunities, especially if we can see the lessons emerging and find our agency to set clear boundaries with others to own our needs lovingly.

Meanwhile, Mercury in Pisces conjoins Neptune on Monday, but we will certainly feel it during Sunday's full moon. Mercury and Neptune in Pisces asks us to focus on our dreams and invites us to hear the voice of intuition emerging from within.

Consider this: What's your intuition guiding you to? What dream is emerging in your life now? What's your voice of wisdom asking of you?

This full moon offers a potent time to practice ritual, fill up on your sacred power, and devote yourself to your well-being and needs. In the days that follow it, as the moon wanes, we are invited to release and let go of that which no longer serves us.

To support us with surrendering the old, the sun and Venus form a sextile (a sextile is a harmonious angle) to Saturn on Tuesday and Wednesday, solidifying your ability to set boundaries in love's name. Given their recent conjunction to Chiron, this sextile to the planet of discipline and structure offers the ability to further stabilize and organize around the healing directives discovered with the full moon. Come Friday, Mercury sextiles Pluto, helping further solidify personal power before he too moves into Aries on Saturday.

Remember, setting boundaries can feel challenging, but that doesn't mean doing so is wrong. Once in Aries, Mercury will give more potency to Aries's punch, and new directions will accelerate as dynamics shift even more. So hold tight, trust yourself, and give things space and time. Healing is happening, even if you doubt that it is.

Jennifer Racioppi is the creator of Lunar Logic—a philosophy that integrates the deep wisdom of both science and spirituality, and blends her expertise in astrology, positive psychology, and women’s health—which she uses to coach high-achieving female entrepreneurs to reach their next level of success. Order her book, Cosmic Health, here.

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