The Lion, the Water Bearer & the Full Moon in Aquarius
Plus: An alternate-nostril-breathing practice to calm and center you in the present moment
Hey loves,
I write to you from my cedar hot tub at midnight, with the glow of the iPhone Substack app illuminating my face in the same way the sun illuminates the moon.
There is a beautiful gaussian cloud cover above me, peaceful and still now after a storm of erratic lightning lit up the western horizon earlier this eve. Behind the gause, la luna is round and bright once again, lighting up the soft edges of the clouds with an air of mystery, popping through a pocket every so often to say hi, like another flash of lightning.
Hello, full moon in Aquarius. You would come with a side of lightning.
The Aquarius-Leo Polarity: The Circulatory System & the Heart
Tonight’s full moon highlights the celestial axis of Leo-Aquarius: the courageous lion and the innovative water-bearer. We’re smack dab in the middle of hot-girl Leo season, where the Sun is in her domicile, as the radiant celestial body that rules Leo. The moon is reflecting back from the opposite part of the sky called Aquarius, a sign ruled traditionally by structured Saturn and in modern times by eccentric Uranus (cue lightning bolts).
This mirroring between the Sun and Saturn/Uranus, between the lion and the water bearer, is along the Zodiacal axis of expression and creativity. Leo is self-expression and personal creativity, and Aquarius is creativity & expression within and for society, humanity-at-large. I’ve also heard this axis described as the god/human axis, with Leo being akin to Greek gods who are inately powerful (but can be quite self-indulgent) and Aquarius being akin to human heroes/demigods/champions of the people. In medical astrology, Leo rules the central, ever beating heart (kind of like the “sun” of our bodies), and Aquarius rules the rest of the circulatory system.
Not to get all Disney up in here, but I like to think of Leo as a lionhearted pride of felines, basking in the sun and shaking their gorgeous manes with the solid confidence that they are the ‘kings of the jungle’. Lions know their place in the world, and they are ready to express their inner pride with a loud roar. Integrated Lions know, from up there on Pride Rock, that they are but one part of a larger circle of life, but they are also aware that they are the self-sufficient top of the food chain, with the sun shining golden upon them, and- most importantly- that it is perfectly ok to shine. More than ok. Essential.
Leo’s shadow-associations of being self-centered, egotistical, and attention-craving is strong, (especially, I think, in historically Puritanical/American culture where modesty is lauded). I will say, Leos who are extra are truly… extra. Edging on cringe-worthy. Personally, as a Leo rising, Leo Mars, and Leo Venus, with a stellium of planets in the Leo-ruled 5th house, this is something I’ve grappled with my whole life. Being “too much” is a real thing, especially in a social era of cool and aloof being, well… cool.
But within that too-muchness, that extra-ness, there is a glimmeringly positive side of Leo. Leo brings a creative radiance, unflinching confidence in self, and the ability to inspire others through that pureness of self expression and heart. Leo shows us it’s ok to express, to perform, to affect others and affect our environment, to make honey while the sun shines. Leo knows that we can’t- and we truly shouldn’t -stay inside the hive forever.
I look at Aquarius, on the opposite side of the sky from the Lion, as representing the underlying systems that underlie the Circle of Life itself. Think of the circuits that create the great web of being, from the intrinsic carnal hunger that makes the lion hunt and kill the antelope to the structural decomposition of the antelope’s bones and marrow to the inate impetus for grass to grow out of those remains. Aquarius is an archetype that thrives within system creation, pouring out the lifeblood of water into all the channels where it needs to go, with efficiency achieved through innovative creativity.
The Ancient Babylonians identified the constellation Aquarius as Gula, a god who was known as "the Irrigator," who harnessed the power of rain and floods. In Ancient Egypt, Aquarius was known as Hapi, an urn-carrying god who caused the annual flooding of the Nile. Hapi was depicted as androgynous or genderqueer- a beared man with breasts and a protruding stomach, indicating the fertile swelling of the Nile that their rising constellation brought. Hapi’s Priests were responsible for predicting, measuring and distributing the water of the rising Nile.
In Greek myth, the water bearer was Ganymede, an attractive young Trojan prince who was abducted by Zeus (disguised as an eagle) and taken back to Mt. Olympus to become the god’s lover and personal cup bearer. He also was named the cupbearer of the gods, ensuring that the gods’ cup of wine was always full, and in return, he was given immortality. It’s interesting to note that in most all myth related to Aquarius, there is queerness, whether in sexuality, gender, or ideology.
Many people confuse Aquarius for a water sign, when it is actually an air sign- the zig zag glyph representing Aquarian air or wind making the water move. This fits, as Aquarian placements, by nature, are movers and shakers! Another debated (and more modern) meaning of the glyph is that it represents lightning bolts, shocking the world into new realms of thought and possibility. (Fitting for the weather here tonight!)
Being such social movers, shakers, and iconoclasts, the shadow of Aquarius is quite the opposite of Leo, (and also one I’m personally quite familiar with): Zooming out to the future so much that the present moment is lost. Zooming out to the systems of society so much that compassion for individual experiences are lost. Cool to the point of aloofness, looking at the world from the POV of the atmosphere rather than the ground.
But it takes all kinds, and the shadow is equally matched by the light. Aquarian placements tend to be absolutely brilliant in their ability to connect disparate dots, wonderfully at home in their weirdness and queerness, pushing the status quo and creating new futures, and they’re always ready to take action and create systems that aim to make the world a better place.
The Aquarius full moon reminds us to consider the larger systems that our creative expressions are a part of
Aquarius is the sign of the unique individual and the social activist. Leo is performative and self expressed, but can tend to seek approval from others. Aquarius, on the other hand, lets their freak-flag fly and expresses for the sake of a larger purpose, a statement, or a vision for the future.
Yesterday, on the day before this full moon, the actor Paul Reubens who played Pee-wee Herman passed away. And just a week ago, we lost the deep and soulful Sinead O’Connor. Both of these bright souls highlight the themes of the Leo-Aquarius axis: both were highly creative and prolific artists and performers (Leo), and both were unafraid to be eccentric, authentic to themselves and stand up for their unique beliefs and personalities, in the face of the opinions of all the haters (Aquarius).
In their wake, any criticisms I had internalized about either of them through the mainstream media were eradicated with the rich outpouring of love, respect, and emotion that I have witnessed. I was a fan of both but didn’t know their full stories, the bigger picture, and it has touched me deeply seeing how they touched so many, simply by radiating out their truths to the world with courage. (I did a tribute Nia Dance class here in Santa Fe the other day to 90 minutes of Sinead’s music, and it was so powerful!)
Let this Aquarius full moon be a reflective mirror within Leo season to remind us of how our personal expression fits into the greater whole, the collective consciousness. Each of our weird and unique selves on this planet is a stream of water pouring from the water bearer’s jug, and our radical self expression is nourishing someone out there… (nourishing more people than we probably think we are at any given time, in fact!)
All of us have Leo and Aquarius in our charts. This full moon, keep the lion’s courage and unflinching shine alive in your heart. And at the same time, focus on using your strategic Aquarian mind to suspend disbelief that each person on this planet has something brilliant to offer within the great web of existence. As your heart pumps and your blood circulates, balance the Leo-Aquarius axis, tempering the shadowy polar sides of self-absorption and aloofness. Know that your courageous self expression is an integral part of what makes up the greater collective conscious, and the more authentic you are, the more you are helping to create a more radically inclusive, diverse, and beautiful future.
It’s a Full Moon… Let’s Breathe Together!
In this moon’s somatic practice video, I guide you through a short (5 minute) practice of Nadi Shodhana, or Alternate Nostril Breathing. This practice is cooling, calming, balances the nervous system, and helps return our wandering minds to the present moment. It’s also a wonderful toner for the Leo/Aquarius body systems, the heart and the circulatory system. Enjoy!
Honoring Leo’s Creativity and Aquarian Queerness this full moon: Support The Lovers (T4T) Big Trans Art Project!
My talented friends Kendrick and Diana of Little Arcana Arts Collective and their collaborators have created an amazing 13 foot-tall tarot card sculpture to be taken to Burning Man later this month, and they’re in the final legs of fundraising for the project.
From their GoFundMe:
“In tarot, The Lovers represents love, unity, and connection. Often interpreted as romantic love, it also means self love, community connection, and finding harmony within oneself. In our version, The Lovers (T4T) is about trans love, community support, and celebrating trans joy in a world that tries to strangle it. This art is a message of belonging on the open playa, and a love letter to queer and trans burners to feel seen and represented.”
In the creative spirit of Leo and the queer spirit of Aquarius this full moon, please consider helping them reach their goal in this important project about belonging, representation, and most of all, love <3
Donate to The Lovers (T4T) here.
And finally (a little Leo self-promotion).. follow @astro.somatics on Instagram and subscribe to the Substack!
For any of you lovely readers who don’t follow astro.somatics on Instagram, I invite you to join me there. I’ve been creating a lot more short-form content and plan to start doing more short breath/movement/voice practices on Reels as more time opens up for me in back-to-school Virgo season.
My last post is part of a series exploring each of the Zodiac signs as parts of the cycle of life, from the sprouting seed of Aries to the bulls and the blossoms of Taurus to the buzzy bees of Gemini to the inward hive of Cancer - click the post below to learn all about Leo & follow along!
And if you’re reading this but not getting it in your inbox, I invite you to subscribe for full and new moon goodies (no more, no less :)
Sending you all the love! Let your weird and wild self free this full moon!
Until next time, when the moon is dark,
x
Alison
As someone who has is an Aquarius with Leo rising this full moon has been very empowering