What Does a Full Moon Mean in Astrology? Breaking Down the Revelatory Event
- In astrology, full moons represent the peak or culmination of a particular lunar cycle.
- Full moons are a time of realization and illumination, as well as release, purging, and letting go.
- The energy of any given full moon will be influenced by the zodiac sign the moon is in.
Roughly once every month, our skies are graced with a full moon, the peak of the lunar cycle. You might feel a bit more wound up around this time, notice your sleep is disturbed, or even generally feel more emotional—and you can thank the moon for that.
As the celestial body that rules our intuition, emotions, and inner world, full moons tend to stir up a lot of emotional baggage, as well as illuminate ways in which we might need to change or let something go.
Of course, the vibe of any particular full moon will depend on which zodiac sign the moon is in. Depending on the astrological season, the sign the moon is in, and other astrological aspects impacting the moon, we can also take tailored approaches to working with the energy of that moon.
Curious to learn more? Here’s everything to know about full moons in astrology, from what they mean, what to expect during them, and how to work with them.
What a full moon symbolizes in astrology.
You’re likely already familiar with why full moons happen; As the Earth dances around the sun, and the moon dances around us, the sun and moon oppose each other every 29.5 days, which casts the sun’s light on the face of the moon.
Astrologically speaking, we need to understand the entire lunar cycle in order to understand the significance of full moons. Any given lunar cycle begins with a new moon, which will always be in the zodiac sign of the current astrological season (i.e. a Libra new moon during Libra season). New moons are periods of beginnings, fresh starts, planting seeds, and setting intentions.
As the moon waxes for the two weeks leading up to the full moon, the energy of the lunar cycle increases, and likewise, we build up our intentions and get to work. By the time the full moon arrives, we’ve reached the peak of the cycle.
Full moons are ultimately times of release, when we may have realizations around what is holding us back or what doesn’t feel aligned anymore. On the full moon and in the two weeks of waning until the new moon, we’re encouraged to slow down, let go, and reflect.
And in case you were wondering, the full moon will always be in the opposite zodiac sign of the current astrological season (i.e. an Aries full moon during Libra season). This makes things interesting for those born during a full moon, because it means their sun sign and moon sign are in opposition.
With the sun and moon opposing each other in a birth chart, individuals with this aspect are often empathetic, as well as very in touch with their own emotions—but they may find they have conflicting or contradictory impulses. With enough self -wareness and personal growth, however, those born during a full moon often become more balanced and well-rounded.
What to expect during a full moon.
In astrology, the moon represents our innermost emotions, our relationship with ourselves, our intuition, and our deepest needs. It’s a sensitive planet to be sure, and when it’s full, all of those emotions take center stage.
Think of it this way: The sun is like a spotlight, and when it illuminates the entire face of the moon, our own emotional landscape is illuminated too. This is why full moons can feel incredibly intense. If you try to repress or push down your own feelings or intuition, for example, the full moon comes along to say, “Hey, I saw that…”
It’s not always easy, but full moons have a way of showing us what needs to go in order to move forward. It could be anything from a relationship that’s no longer serving you, to a work situation that, well, isn’t working anymore, or even your own limiting beliefs that hold you back.
The energy is heightened, people and their emotions might seem more volatile, and yes, full moons do impact our sleep. This is all palpable in the days leading up to the full moon, as well as the days after, although the moon is only exactly full for a moment.
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What to do during a full moon.
If you’re wondering what you can do to work with and harness the power of a full moon, the best place to start is by working with the element of the zodiac sign the moon is in.
Aries is a fire sign, for example, so during an Aries full moon, you could do a fire ritual, writing down what you want to release on a piece of paper and burning it. During a water sign moon, you might take a cleansing, spiritual bath or visit a natural body of water. Earth sign moon? That’s the perfect opportunity for grounding in nature or doing some physical purging, like getting rid of old belongings. And during an air sign moon, you can get all those heady thoughts out on paper with some journaling. In any case, the idea is to slow down, reflect, and let go. Your intuition could be heightened around the full moon, so be sure to pay attention to it!
If you’re working through questions or realizations under the full moon, you might pull a few tarot cards to gain some insight. You can also host or attend a full moon circle with like-minded friends, reflecting together, sharing what’s coming up for you, and doing group rituals. Full moons are known to be a good time for charging your crystals, if that’s your thing, as well as making moon water, meditating, and energetically cleansing your home.
However you choose to work with the full moon, it’s generally not a good time to start anything new, rush through things, or add on any unnecessary stress, so be sure to keep that in mind.
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