Full moons signify the completion, culmination of what may have been initiated during the previous new moon in Virgo which highlighted communication, analyzing situations prior to making judgements or taking action, being practical and encouraged us to be of service to service. This Full Moon in Aries highlights the balance between the self (who I am) and the shared self (who I am in a relationship); the potential of our individual selves and our partnerships; and the consideration of another's needs as they pertain to our own basic needs.

Coupled with Saturn also transiting the partnerships sign of Libra, where he's whipping us all into shape with lessons in love, relationships, commitments, partnerships, equality and objectivity, this full moon touches upon our relationships and perhaps, finally making the long overdue necessary changes. Time to grow up -- whether it's taking things to the next level of commitment; learning to accommodate, compromise, communicate; standing up for one's self; or however this full moon may play out in your life.

This is the first of two full moons occurring in Aries this year, giving this lesson on learning to balance the self and its needs/wants within relationships -- may they be intimate, platonic, familial or business. Next month's full moon in Aries will be on October 30.

On this occurrence, the Aries-Full Moon forms a Cardinal T-square with Pluto in Capricorn. Energies may be reminiscent to the strained Cardinal T-square experienced from July to August between Saturn in Libra (replaced by the energy of the Libra-Sun) opposing Jupiter/Uranus in Aries (substituted by the Aries-Moon) who were all square Pluto, then retrograde, in Capricorn. Perhaps, a conclusion, closure or "reaping of what was sown" is happening now which might also be related events or issues from as early as June.

This full moon happens just a few hours after blending energies with Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces, prior to the Moon's entrance in Aries. Jupiter (ideals/opportunities) and Uranus (awakening/radical change) are still in a tight conjunction, offering us an extra lending hand to tap into the blessings of their collaboration ... optimism and faith that there is life after whatever it is that may be ending or culminating and getting ready for the next phase.

This Aries-Full Moon occurs at Aries Point on September 23 at 2:17 a.m. PST / 5:17 a.m. EST. Those born within 3 days of March 21 or September 23 or with natal planets and/or house angles on or around zero degree of cardinal signs and 27-29 degrees of mutable signs may experience the effects of this full moon stronger than others.

Additional note for those with natal planets or house angles in late degrees of mutable signs. The conjunction between Jupiter and Uranus is currently touching your birth chart. With the help from the alliance between Jupiter and Uranus, you can further benefit from this full moon phase (September 23 to October 7) if you choose to make use of this energy during this period.

For me, this Full Moon falls in my natal 7th house of partnerships (as a Virgo-rising) and my solar 10th house of career/future goals (as a Cancer-Sun). Towards the end of June and around the time when the Capricorn-Lunar Eclipse occurred, I made a decision to move back to my hometown and be closer to family. At the end of July and under the tense energy of the Cardinal T-square, I made the move. Now, almost two months since my relocation, I'm still working towards a routine of some sort with both my personal and professional life. The plans I've made have either concluded or need to be abandoned because they either did not pan out or must be reconfigured to fit my current situation.

How might this full moon influence your birth chart? Match the sign and degree to determine what house this full moon falls in. Use the list of zodiac signs below to identify the sign Aries on your birth chart then click here for a brief explanation on the Full Moon transit in that house.

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• Aries-Sun or Aries Rising ~ 1st House
• Taurus-Sun or Taurus Rising ~ 12th House
• Gemini-Sun or Gemini-Rising ~ 11th House
• Cancer-Sun or Cancer-Rising ~ 10th House
• Leo-Sun or Leo-Rising ~ 9th House
• Virgo-Sun or Virgo-Rising ~ 8th House
• Libra-Sun or Libra-Rising ~ 7th House
• Scorpio-Sun or Scorpio-Rising ~ 6th House
• Sagittarius-Sun or Sagittarius-Rising ~ 5th House
• Capricorn-Sun or Capricorn-Rising ~ 4th House
• Aquarius-Sun or Aquarius-Rising ~ 3rd House
• Pisces-Sun or Pisces-Rising ~ 2nd House

Saturn returns to the relationships sign, Libra, on July 21 and while at Aries Point opposes Uranus, who is also at Aries Point in Aries. Their opposition perfects on July 26 and is the final installment of a series of Saturn-Uranus oppositions which first culminated on November 4, 2008, then again on February 5 and September 15, 2009, and followed by April 26, 2010. Whatever may have begun or initiated, as early as 2008, culminates during this last meeting between Saturn (old) and Uranus (new), two polarizing energies that seeks balance between getting rid of the old and adopting the new.

This time, however, the element surrounding their challenging alignment is cardinal energy and at Aries Point. Cardinal signs take action; their energy leads, creates and initiates. Here, esteemed astrologer, Celeste Teal, explains the term "Aries Point":

Finally! Since last month while still in Pisces, Jupiter and Uranus have been side by side with only a few degrees away from each other. On June 8 at 7:27 a.m. EST, Jupiter and Uranus perfect their conjunction at Aries Point in the enterprising sign of Aries. It's a rare celestial event that will not be duplicated again in the near future. The influence of their conjunction (cohesion/alliance) have a long term impact on each of us personally as well as collectively, as a nation and globally.

On a personal level, intensity and depth of influence depend upon how their conjunction touches our individual birth charts. Early born cardinal signs, early-degree cardinal ascendants or those with natal planets in early degrees of cardinal signs, especially Aries on all counts, may experience this conjunction greater and be influenced longer than most. We all, however, can make use and benefit from what Jupiter and Uranus have to offer with their blending of energies in Aries.

This Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Aries officially kicks off the major celestial events coming up between June and August, where their conjunction is joined by oppositions and squares forming Grand Crosses and T-squares aspect patterns (and some forming in cardinal energies) between other players like Saturn (structure/reality); Pluto (transformation/power); Lunar and Solar Eclipses in Capricorn and Cancer, respectively (endings & beginnings); and Mars (action/motivation). These successive big bursts of celestial energy shifting, moving, expanding, contracting may occur this year, but their impact continue for months/years to come.

As I've written on previous posts:

As an astrologer, I can't help but blog a little something about a curious series of events that will happen this summer. I'll break it down to three major events (a Lunar Eclipse/Grand Cross in June, a Cardinal T-Square in July and a Cardinal Grand Cross in August) which are preceded by a couple of teaser alignments involving Jupiter (May and June). This blog post covers the introduction to these astrological events and provides a short timeline of what's to come.

First, let's start with what I mean by "cardinal force". Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) are the initiators, creators, leaders of the zodiac. Cardinals conceptualize and actualize. Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) continue what cardinals have started by developing and fine-tuning details. Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) carry out what cardinals started and fixed signs established through maintenance and management. This cardinal energy this summer offers us the opportunity to re-invent the self, restructure our lives, establish a new foundation and aspire toward new goals.

The energy this summer is dynamic, tense, impatient, challenging and requires action. Choosing to let this powerful energy to pass without taking advantage of it is a waste of the loaded potential it offers. Celestial energies offered through planetary transits and alignments are like invitations. For instance, you might get three invitations this week -- attending a work-related function, a dinner date, a birthday party this weekend. You might choose to attend, decline or make a short appearance to all or any of these events you've been invited to. Energies, like invitations, are neither good nor bad but instead are neutral. How one reacts to them determines the experience one will have. This powerful cardinal force bestowed upon us this year is best handled if we know what we want and we are dedicated to seeing it through. Otherwise, the sheer force of these planetary alignments might cause us to buckle, make decisions out of haste/fear, or choose inaction/avoidance. It would be a shame to miss out on what we could have if only we were strong enough, brave enough and prepared enough.

Timeline
Late May, Jupiter in Pisces opposes Saturn in Virgo. This alignment occurs in mutable signs, but functions as a beginning of sorts for metaphorical wheels turning within the self's subconscious -- psychologically, emotionally or spiritually. Jupiter wants more, dreams big and is hopeful in Pisces. Saturn dampens dreams with reality and restrictions but only so Virgo's practicality can analyze the situation and come up with a feasible solution. Jupiter dreams of owning his own business and making millions. Saturn says, "this is what you have to work with -- financially, skills set, actual possible opportunities, time and its management and the reality of the work/commitment that lies ahead." But Jupiter is undeterred because Piscean imagination is without boundaries and has faith in possibilities. So, Saturn in Virgo kicks in, breaks it down and lays out a plan with wiggle room on what can be done.

By early June, Jupiter joins Uranus in the pioneering sign of Aries while they also blend energies. Uranus is keenly aware, progressive, innovative, unique and promotes radical change. The excitement behind these two planets and in the sign of Aries can cause eagerness and impulsiveness to get something started ... yesterday!

Before the end of June, we have a full moon eclipse belonging to the Capricorn-Cancer set of eclipses occurring on June 26 (a day before my birthday -- ouch :). This Eclipsed Full Moon in Capricorn is all tangled up in a Grand Cross (strain, action necessary) with the Sun in Cancer (potential), Mercury in Cancer (thought), Jupiter in Aries (opportunities), Saturn in Virgo (reality), Uranus in Aries (awakening) and Pluto in Capricorn (transformation). Eclipses are supercharged New and Full Moons with influence of up to six months.

Through much of July, intense energy builds until the 30th when the Cardinal T-Square culminates. This T-Square once again bring together the energies of Jupiter (opportunities), Saturn in Libra (reality), Uranus (awakening), Pluto (transformation) and adds Mars in Libra (action) to the mix. This also marks the last perfection of Saturn and Uranus opposition that began on November 4, 2008 and that most recently climaxed again on April 26, 2010.

Then finally early August comes around and another Grand Cross occurs. This time it happens in Cardinal signs with most or the same players -- Jupiter (opportunities), Saturn (reality), Uranus (awakening), Pluto (transformation) -- with the addition of the Moon in Cancer (heart), Venus (relationships) and Mars (action). Then August 21st, Saturn and Pluto will complete their series of squares that began last year on November 15, 2009 and was revisited again this year on January 31, 2010.

It's a tense and intense summer filled with challenges, as well as potential. These celestial events require the vision, commitment and initiation this year. Their actual influence and work continue on a longer term. But creating the spark to ignite the flame that could very well be a light you can use for the rest of your life, begins with making use of this cardinal force. What do you dream of? Are you committed to the task at hand despite where the journey might lead you on the way to your destination? How, then, can you begin to make your dream a reality?

Although we are all influenced by these upcoming planetary alignments, those who are early-born cardinals with their Sun between zero to 6 degrees or those who have natal planets/house angles within zero to 6 degrees of cardinal signs may feel the immediate and longterm effects of this energy strongest. Additionally, those going through their:

• Saturn Return (born between 1982 & 1984; 1952 & 1954 and 1923 & 1925) or
• Uranus oppose Uranus (born 1968-1975 with natal Uranus in Libra within 5 degrees) or
• Pluto square Pluto (born 1971-1973 or 1984 with natal Pluto in Libra within 5 degrees) or
• Chiron Return (born between 1960 - 1969 with natal Chiron within 27 degrees of Aquarius and zero degrees of Pisces)

Mercury has been in retrograde since last week on September 7 and will continue do so until September 29. As if September has not already been busy enough with major celestial events, with Mercury and Pluto changing direction and the perfection Saturn-Uranus opposition, Mercury-rx now slips back to Aries Point in Libra from 11:40 p.m. Eastern on September 16 until the following day at 11:25 p.m., after which he re-enters Virgo.

Two days ago on August 6, Pluto slipped back to zero degree of Capricorn. This early degree of of any cardinal sign is said to be Aries Point, a sensitive spot. One of my favorite astrologers, Celeste Teal, explains it best (click here for her site):