A Gemini Full Moon of Shifting Perspectives

The Full Moon in Gemini graces our skies on December 15, 2024, at 1:02 AM PST, later morning for the east coast and Europe, illuminating the final weeks of the year with a burst of mental energy, emotional intensity, and complex power dynamics. The Moon is located at 23º 53' Gemini, opposite the Sun in the same degree of Sagittarius, thus sextile and trine the position of the new KBO planet, Eris, that Henry Seltzer, our founder, has been researching. With a T-square also to numinous Neptune, this lunation highlights the tension between rational facts and felt beliefs, habitual thought patterns, and exploring broader truths. This Gemini-Sagittarius axis also invites us to remember lightheartedness and play as important medicine. The complex astrological weather of this end-of-year time invites us to weave multiple strands of our own sense of reality into a more coherent, choiceful whole.

Adding to the dynamic energy of this Full Moon, Gemini’s ruler, Mercury, stations direct on the same day, marking an important step in its rebirth journey as it begins to move forward again, retracing its steps and prompting us to integrate recent lessons of the past few weeks. With the highlighted emphasis on Eris, Feminine Warrior energy in support of individual soul intention, as well as the potent T-square to Neptune in Pisces, this Full Moon’s themes extend into the realm of dreams, illusions, and inspired creativity — plus standing up for your own individual truth, in spite of everything, amidst the challenges of navigating with your own clarity amidst uncertainty.

Eris moves slowly and has been at the 24-degree mark of Aries for some time now, due to station direct there in mid-January and slowly make its way to 25° of Aries by spring, in conjunction at that time with Chiron. Her effects are subtle, and yet demonstrable, in that there is a theme in our present situation for attempting to discern – in spite of rampant disagreement on what is the truth of any particular matter, versus what is not – your own direct experience of reality in which you can anchor yourself and your perspectives. In this way, you can preserve your own sense of knowing and agency, because you are in touch with and can stand in your own truth.

At the core of this lunation lies the T-square involving the Gemini Moon, Sagittarius Sun, and Neptune in Pisces, which stationed direct on December 12th. This configuration additionally pulls us into a dynamic interplay between grounded facts and nebulous ideals. Neptune’s energy here heightens sensitivity, intuition, and emotional permeability, yet it can also obscure purely rational approaches or amplify escapist tendencies. The inconjunct aspect between the Sun and Uranus at 28° of Taurus, with the Moon being also semi-sextile to Uranus in this Full Moon, adds an unpredictable flair, urging us to embrace innovation and think outside the box of traditional frameworks. Taken all together, these aspects invite us to approach our experience with discernment and yet open-hearted curiosity, staying keenly aware while maintaining a finger on the pulse of everything in terms of the information and perspectives that are driving our own attitudes and beliefs.

A key feature of this Full Moon is Gemini’s ruler, Mercury, stationing direct the same day at 6º Sagittarius, where it forms a nearly exact trine to Mars, newly stationed to retrograde motion at 5º Leo. This trine between stationary Mercury and impactful Mars prompts a powerful internal reassessment of our mental attitudes and life choices. Mars’ newly retrograde motion adds a fiery charge to this exchange, inviting us to feel into our urges, especially unexpressed frustration, and tap into how we assert ourselves and wield our inner fire. With Mars additionally in opposition to Pluto, and with the Sun in extremely close parallel to Pluto, freshly advanced into its long journey in Aquarius, there is a potent undercurrent of psychological depth and tricky power dynamics for us all to explore within ourselves. Pluto’s entry into Aquarius signifies the start of a 20-year era of societal and technological evolution, and its current tension with Mars challenges us to confront imbalances in personal and collective power, that could potentially show up in our relationships.

In addition to all of the above, Saturn in Pisces lies in square to Jupiter in Gemini for most of December. This alignment highlights a clash between the expansive curiosity of Jupiter and Saturn’s call for focus and spiritual discipline. The tension between these planetary archetypes can feel like a tug-of-war between the desire to explore every possibility and the need to solidify meaningful structures. This is undoubtedly a political time of great moment, here in America and elsewhere. The Jupiter-Saturn square emphasizes the importance of discerning which commitments and ideas are worth pursuing and which may lead to scattering of our energy. Combined, they can lead to powerful new avenues of brilliantly applied ideas, which will yet require consistency and effort to anchor into manifest reality. What is birthed from this dynamic now is likely to have tremendous staying power into the future of this consequential decade.

Despite the intensity of these aspects, this lunation carries a significant opportunity also for integration. The Gemini-Sagittarius polarity urges us to balance our mind’s hunger for facts with our spirit's yearning for greater meaning. This is a moment to ask: How can I inhabit my curiosity as a potent tool for exploring new perspectives and my own internal wisdom? What stories and patterns am I ready to release to create room for new narratives that better suit my evolving expression?

As the final Full Moon of 2024, this Gemini lunation invites us to reflect on our narratives and communication styles, as well as to where we might actually be prepared to make our stand, remembering to find time for enjoyment and play. It challenges us to be vigilant in forming our perspectives, and our sense of curiosity for inner truth. As we embrace our ongoing metamorphosis, let us move forward with clarity and intention. And as we wind down for the end of the year, may we be graced with the peacefulness, strength, clarity, and inner wisdom to continue navigating the uncertainties and challenges of our time.

Practical Reflections and Suggestions:

Mindful Communication: With Mercury stationing direct and trine Mars, this is a powerful time to express yourself clearly, courageously, and yet also very mindfully. Reflect on what truths you’ve been revisiting during Mercury Retrograde and how you’d like to articulate them moving forward.

Playfulness and Creativity: When life is stressful, it can be hard to find time for play and creative expression. Gemini and Sagittarius remind us that fun and exploration are key ingredients to wellness and thriving.

Navigating Eris and Neptune’s Influence: Find where you can authentically take your stand. Ground yourself amidst potential emotional overwhelm. Practices like journaling, meditation, somatic awareness, or spending time in nature can help enormously with resilience and stability.

Reflect on Power Dynamics: Pluto’s entrance into Aquarius and its opposition to Mars invites you to consider how power shows up in your life—both in how you see it in the world at large, as well as in your own personal expression of power.

Balance Expansion and Focus: The Jupiter-Saturn square encourages you to assess where you may be overcommitting or spreading yourself too thin. Focus on what feels aligned and purposeful.