How the October Full Hunter's Moon Will Affect Your Zodiac Sign
An astrologer discusses what the next full moon will bring.
Signaling the arrival of hunting season, the October full moon, Hunter’s Moon, will appear on Wednesday (October 20).
“The name ‘Hunter’s Moon,’ along with the 11 other ones, stem from the folk tradition of keeping track of the natural cycles,” Yana Yanovich, a Western astrologer of Nebula, explains. “Every month’s full moon has a name connected with some natural phenomenon marking that period in the year.” As for what kind of energy you can expect from the next full moon, it will depend on how the sun-moon opposition affects your natal chart.
Below, Yanovich discusses the effects of the Hunter’s Moon on each zodiac sign.
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How did all six planetary retrogrades affect October’s new moon in Libra?
The month began with a large number of retrograde planets — six out of the maximum eight. Yes, Mercury is one of them as you might have heard. The other five are slightly less significant, so they have not been discussed so widely. They are so-called “slow planets,” and the reason their retrograde period carries less importance is that they have a much longer period of retrograde motion, making them less extraordinary.
Nevertheless, such a large amount of planets being in retrograde phase all at once definitely has a certain effect on the energy that filled the new moon on October 6. It is quiet, contemplating and pondering. The fact that many planets are moving backward also brings about the air of reminiscence.
Since October 6, the planets have been turning and continuing their normal movement again one by one in the sky. By the time the full moon phase comes along, there will only be two of them left: Uranus and Neptune — the least significant on an individual. This is true unless you have a planet at the particular place in your natal chart where they are making contact now.
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The differences between a new moon and a full moon
As you have seen, the new moon’s energy is very inward-oriented, but as the moon becomes more visible in the skies, the dynamics change. The full moon of October is going to be very different. The energy will be very active and assertive. This is generally true even without the accompanying astrological positions.
The new moon is not visible in the sky. It is hidden by the sun, because during the new moon phase, the sun and moon are conjunct. Astrologically and spiritually speaking, the new moon is always about new beginnings, the start of a new cycle and a rebirth. It is timid and uncertain energy, vulnerable just like any newborn creature.
The full moon, on the contrary, is outward-oriented. The moon in the skies is at its full visibility. It has moved to the point directly opposite the sun on the zodiac circle. It gives more light and energy, causing an emotional uplift. Depending on how the sun-moon opposition affects your natal chart, it can bring a couple of days of hectic agitation, or it can give you the necessary surge of energy to get a lot done.
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Effects of the full moon on each zodiac sign
Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
This is likely to be a bumpy ride for you, so get ready for the challenge but don’t stick your head out if there is no need to. On top of the sun-moon opposition, there is another more powerful planetary pattern that will be agitating your natal chart and your life. Mars is moving just a couple of degrees behind the sun, bringing the energy of assertion but also aggression. It is making a confliction aspect to Pluto, which is currently at 24 degrees Capricorn, putting the conflicting energy into overdrive. Do your best to avoid crowded places, or intense and risky physical activities during the entire week.
Aquarius, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius
Unlike the first group, you guys are actually getting some wind into your sails. Mars also makes contact with your chart, but without the harsh influence of Pluto and with a harmonious influence of Jupiter — the planet of new opportunities, growth and expansion. The sun-moon opposition is also making harmonious contacts to these signs, so this will be a very good time to get that project going, to apply for that job that you’ve been thinking about, to look for new income opportunities or do something else you thought you couldn’t. Mars gives courage and enthusiasm while Jupiter magnifies your energy, which will allow you to complete more than you normally can.
Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces
The full moon placement along the Aries-Libra axis does not affect these signs. In astrology, we say, “these signs do not see each other.” However, this is only in regards to the position of the sun. Check your natal chart to see if you have other planets in the signs from the two groups above and read the relevant advice.
Always remember that an astrological forecast is not a sentence but rather a guide — something that helps you be proactive and have a better understanding of what is happening in your life.
Yana Yanovich is the top Western astrologer of the Nebula: Horoscope & Astrology app with more than 20 years of astrological practice.