Aquarius Full Moon: The Many and the Me

Tonight, August 9th at ~3:53AM EST, is the Aquarius full moon. 

So... In this newsletter I aim to explain something about Aquarius and it's archetypal conundrum. I am in a situation expressive of this energy right now... feeling something that perfectly describes the Leo/Aquarius tension. So I will share my story, if you allow.

Most of you know that Pluto is transiting through Aquarius for the next 18 years, so the 'Leo/Aquarius paradox' will present in our world again and again, trying to wake us up. Pluto's job is to bring up non-regenerative energy pertaining to the archetype, with aim to transform it. That means shadow related to Aquarius may rise in the collective field for us to burn through.... bringing us into better relationship with the topics of collective compliance, group control, and personal rebellion (not to mention technology, both intrinsic and extrinsic, yet we won't go there this time). 

So if you read this, please consider the BIGGER PICTURE, not just how this full moon feels. Rather, remember that this points to the larger collective movement of time we are all in, standing as we are at the precipice of the Aquarian age. 

So... here's my story. 

I'm on the Atlantic coast of Canada, in Nova Scotia, where my mom and brother live. My children and I have come here for about 16 summers, give or take.

My favorite part of coming, aside from family, is being in nature. Unlike in Toronto, there are literally hundreds of forest trails and clean lakes within 30 minutes of the house. At any time of day, kids and Border Collie hop into car and run free.

This is my version of heaven... forest, lake, ocean, air, dog, kids, family, movement, freedom. 

YES. Summer Paradise.

2 days ago, the government of Nova Scotia made an announcement.

They said...

'Though there are presently no forest fires in the Province, the conditions are dry. To PREVENT fires, we are banning ALL ACCESS TO TREES AND FORESTS from August 6th to October 15th. If any person enters a forest or walks on a forest trail, even within a city park, they are subject to a $25,000 fine. Have a nice summer.'

They made walking amongst the trees illegal. They made hikers into criminals. 

And the dutiful, kind people of Nova Scotia say 'we comply.'

Now, it is true that sometimes humans throw cigarettes into trees and start fires. And it is true that private citizens seem hell bent on burning garbage (there is already a ban on this, with steep fines). And MAYBE it is true that ATVs spark fires as they rumble through the woods. Or that cars in parking lots, near trees, might create sparks that ignite fires. MAYBE. (I'm incredulous on that last one... though the government did list this as rationale.)

Yet... it is also true that average non-smoking hikers in the woods will only start fires by spontaneously combusting. 

Why not ban smoking in the woods, you might ask, or ATV riding? Well, people can't be expected to give up their vices, can they?  So, as vices are clearly more sacred than health or freedom, smokers and ATV riders and garbage burners shall henceforth be grouped with children, dogs, hippies, retirees, mountain bikers, joggers and the WHOLE BUNCH OF NORMAL FOLK who just want to be outside.  Thus, EVERYONE shall be banned from walking in the trees. EVERYONE shall be responsible for the harm that might happen if one messes up. EVERYONE shall shoulder the responsibility, make the sacrifice. AND ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE WHO DOESN'T COMPLY SHOULD BE PUNISHED!!! (Here's a 1-800 hotline to report any misdemeanors...).  

Can you smell the burning shadow of Aquarius?

What amazes me is how quickly my body accepted that it is an agent of criminal deviance. I literally feel like I've done something wrong, my body is so tense! I feel guilty just thinking about the woods. I am SO frustratingly Canadian. 

A FOREST BAN until October 15th. 

For context, Summer is all we really have in Canada. In 4 months we fill our annual quota of vitamin D, exercise and joy. The other 8 months is spent in a suspended purgatory of dark winter... so in summer time?

We SUN and RUN!

Not in Nova Scotia. Not when 'the collective good' is at stake. 

In Nova Scotia, we ignore our individual HEALTH, vitality and joy because some yahoo might light a cigarette. In Nova Scotia, we suffer together to prevent calamity... because fires cause SO much more suffering than a forest ban. So we per-emptively suffer to prevent greater suffering. We are ONE, willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

Or... are we? Are we really together on this?? Are we really sure this is 'in the greater good'?? Who determined this for us, by the way? Where did this top-down edict source from, and who are they working for? Is it me? We? Or an ego's need for specialness? For control? How am I supposed to accept something like this? Do I fight? Do I refuse? Do I take it??? Am I allowed to even SAY something??

Why do I feel so angry????

So... scared.

Welcome to the Aquarius dilemma. 

Leo says 'ME ME ME. I am the pinnacle of self. I am the egoic center of radiant light. My joy matters!!! I matter! I WILL BE FREE TO RUN IN THE FOREST!!'

Aquarius says 'WE WE WE. We are in this together, a collective group. We cooperate and comply. Because the actions of a few might impact the whole, we must all pay the price to prevent collective harm. No room for you, our joy, or your selfish desires...  the greater good supersedes the individual. Go to the ocean, hike on some rocks, STAY OUT OF THE WOODS.'

Yet, Aquarius' shadow forgets that the GROUP is made up of individuals. So.... if you take away individual freedom, you actually wreck the group.

There has to be a balance struck between ME, and WE. We have to be able to have our personal reality in place, while also balancing our collective responsibilities. That means there must be room for dissent, for questioning. For debate. ONE GROUP can not have total control, nor can they condemn anyone as being a criminal just because they disagree. That's not fair. 

It is this balance that Pluto in Aquarius may bring forward for us, over the next few decades. And perhaps it is this balance that is presenting itself to us today, at our Full Moon. To me, in Nova Scotia. 

Can you feel it in your world?

So... I know my example is a bit trite... and some of you may think 'why is she upset? The government is just being responsible?'. 

And this is expressing a principle.  

Think about this:

There are not enough police to enforce this law. It is on you, me, our neighbors, our moms and dads, our teachers, our doctors... all the people... to make sure they call that 1-800 number and that everyone knows they'll do it.

That's how collective movements flourish...  by spreading an ideology, ensuring collective agreement, and giving normal people the power to police each other. Sometimes the people impel compliance through feelings of solidarity, righteousness and noble purity, and sometimes, for those who disagree, through shame, fear of ostracism, and a side of punitive threat. 

This dynamic is playing out all over the place these days. Again, this is an evolutionary movement we are going through. We may perceive a totalitarian top-down force oppressing us, controlling us. We may feel very persecuted or victimized by that force, made up of moronic 'zealots' who are clearly wrong, mistaken or even downright evil.

We also may feel grateful that we belong to a group of like minded heart-felt folk who know the 'right' path, who are good and noble and strong. We may thus feel indignant in our right to judge others from our collectively righteous position, to criticize and condemn the oppressors and 'bad ones', to be emotionally inflamed and defensive against the forces of darkness that is tring to take us down. Brothers and sisters unite!   

Now... if you are brave, flip yourself 180°, put yourself in the opposite position, become your adversary, see the world through their eyes... and take note... Everyone is feeling the exact same thing. Everyone thinks they know best, that they are on the right side of history. Everyone is aligning with their 'group' and condemning the others. Everyone is feeling persecuted by some outside force that is diabolically wrong, dangerous, whom they they blame shame and condemn in righteous defense.

Ah, Aquarius. Can you feel it burning???

Add Neptune in Aries, the impulsive warrior, and we add fiery fuel to this collective fervor.

Add Uranus in Gemini, and IDEOLOGICAL MANIA joins the club. 

Whatever your story, it seems to me that, at this time in our collective's dream, we all have a war to wage. A war within, and a war without. A war that asks: "Do I have the courage to be ME AND WE simultaneously? Can I both hold my uniqueness and my unity at the same time? Can GROUP AND FREEDOM REIN?

And can I start seeing others are brothers and sisters, rather than enemies???

I am trying.

And in the mean time, I'm leaving Nova Scotia as quickly as possible, being as polite as possible while I do so.

FREEDOM and FRIENDSHIP, collective respect while also honoring ME. And recognizing that honoring ME means the ME that is YOU, thus the WE.

We can not have WE without ME, and ME, and ME...

So just BE.

That's our Full Moon story.