The first Full Moon of the year will be here on Thursday the 28th. The January Full Moon is known as the Wolf Moon, as it was traditionally believed that wolves howled more at this time because of winter hunger. The Wolf Moon will paradoxically be in the sign of Leo, making it a breed of dog and cat. An archetypal mix of belonging and spontaneity.
Many good dogs eagerly anticipate the arrival of their person after a long day of work- and the sight of a sparkly ball sends the average cat into a multiverse of possible spontaneous reactions. What does this Moon speak of in combining these two themes?
Could it be that we, as humans, are curious creatures whose belonging becomes more clear in moments of spontaneity?
Is this why we laugh with those we feel most at home with? Is this evolution itself making sure that we stay supple and moveable, like a good flame?
Opposite this Moon will be a trinity of Aquarius, with Sun Jupiter and Saturn. The sign of freedom, lit up and made expansive by Jupiter, yet with it’s own laws of Saturn. The age-old debate on Free Will. Is it ours or is it not?
Squaring all of this is Mars in Taurus near the Great Awakener, Uranus. Taurus is wonderful magic of homeostasis, always at work in our physiology.
And maybe herein lies a clue. We are free, but our body knows things that are good for us, and ‘good for us’ speaks on so many different levels (emotionally, physically, morally, for example).
William James said, “the question of free will is insoluble on strictly psychological grounds”. Is he referring to the mysterious balancing act of our physiology, as well as hinting at some greater mystery?
Is to be truly free to surrender to your true being?
Scorpio, Taurus’ opposite, knows that to some extent, the Will must surrender itself to the mystery of inner balance.
Free Will is embedded in the word spontaneity comes from the latin root sponte, “of one’s own will.” The spontaneous delights of children are likely the best reminder of how good it is to grab a joy where it can be found. “Kiss it as it flies” as William Blake would say.
Maybe this Full Moon can inspire us to do this. And in a moment of free-willed joy feel a solid place of belonging.
Bound to be unbound, and unbound you are bound to come back around, to where you are bound?
Anyway, a howl-roar to the first Full Moon of 2021!
Happy Astro Pondering!
Toroidal Zodiac 