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Gemini Full Moon: The Saturn Pluto Elephant in the Room

By Simone Butler
                                                                     How can we make the elephants in our rooms our ally?

In Ivan Krylov’s 1819 fable, “The Inquisitive Man,” he tells of a visitor to a museum who observes many tiny details, but fails to notice the elephant in the room. Since then, that evocative phrase has come to symbolize any enormous, emotionally-charged issue which is obvious to all, but is being ignored out of fear, embarrassment, the desire to avoid controversy or the blatant unwillingness to do what it takes to rectify the matter.

As we approach the inquisitive Gemini Full Moon (Wed., Dec. 11, 9:12 p.m. PST), it’s important to become aware of the elephant in the room. Around this time, we may receive a wake-up call in the form of news related to climate change, gun control, or any number of hot-button issues. Personally, it could relate to the awareness of something you absolutely must address or the call to commit to a big, scary endeavor that you were born to do.

The tricky part is, the Gemini Full Moon squares Neptune, a planet which tends to avoid the truth and live in a fantasy world. This mutable energy makes us prone to slip-sliding or becoming distracted. And, since the Full Moon falls during the thick of the holiday season, many of us will be dashing from one thing to the next, buying gifts and going to parties. We might sense the elephant lurking, but opt instead for having another drink, or tell ourselves we’ll deal with it later. However, no matter how much we try to avoid or deny it, the elephant won’t go away by itself (nor will that traffic cop lurking around the corner, waiting to catch speeders!)

Now we’re approaching the Winter Solstice, when light is in short supply – making this Full Moon especially illuminating. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, “This month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest.” The December Full Moon, it adds, is called the Cold Moon or Long Night’s Moon “because the midwinter night is indeed long, and the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter Full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.”

Saturn (lord of Capricorn) has dominion over the dark time of year. And, the Saturn-Pluto conjunction (exact January 12) in Saturn’s sign is within two degrees of exactitude. At this Full Moon, savvy Venus (values, desires) in Capricorn meets up with Saturn and joins Pluto two days later. We are apt to be given a glimpse of what the year 2020 has in store. Astrologer Nina Gryphon says 2020 marks “the end of one era and the beginning of another,” in which we’ll be forced to respond to events outside of our control. However, I’d add, it’s also a year that will call out our greatness.

Saturn-Pluto is the elephant in the room. How best to work with this energy? First, acknowledge its presence. Whatever parts of your chart are being activated (contact me for a consultation if you don’t know), are the places where you need to hold your power, assume authority over your life, release whatever needs to go and commit to the next step that’s calling you, deep in your heart. So, as Venus transits Saturn and Pluto this week, take a hard look at your priorities. Don’t get blindsided by a difficult truth you haven’t wanted to face. Slow down, rest, and listen for messages from Spirit. Give the elephant a little love, and he’ll become your ally.

Filed under: Home Full Moon Featured Article, Uncategorized

About Simone Butler

Simone Butler is the author of Moon Power: Lunar Rituals for Connecting with your Inner Goddess. She's been a professional astrologer for 30 years. In addition to a worldwide consulting practice on astrology and Astro Feng Shui, Simone offers New Moon collage classes, and writes for The Mountain Astrologer. She also wrote for and edited the Starscroll for many years. Simone’s book Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life fuses Western astrology and Western feng shui into one unique, transformative system. Sign up to receive her entertaining, informative bi-monthly blogs and learn about her monthly rituals and tips.

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The Moon is in its
Crescent Phase

in the
Sign of Aries


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
(subtract: PST -8 hours, PDT -7 hours, EST -5 hours, EDT -4 hours)

  • Moon sextile Sun, 11:50pm  Jan 26 2023
  • Moon sextile Saturn, 3:13pm  Jan 27 2023
  • Moon sextile Sun, 7:17pm  Jan 27 2023
  • Moon square Pluto, 9:01pm  Jan 27 2023

Venus is currently
The Evening Star

in the sign of Pisces


Enroll in Dana Gerhardt’s Moon Workshop!
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Moonshadow Eclipse Report
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Steven Forrest’s Transit/Progression report
Mary Shea’s Solar Return report
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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.