How the Aries Full Moon Can Help You Release, Heal, and Evolve

Exploring the Astrological Aspects and Rituals to Unlock Personal Growth

Buckle up, buttercups—the ride is getting bumpy. In addition to the Full Moon in Aries this week, we also have a powerful opposition between Mars in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn. Along with the Full Moon in Aries, we are navigating a Mars-Pluto opposition that brings tension, and Venus in Scorpio opposing Uranus in Taurus adds an unpredictable twist. Yes, there is a big, tension-filled grand cross. The grand cross, an intense configuration where planets form challenging 90-degree angles, activates a tension that demands resolution. This powerful alignment forces us to confront opposing energies in multiple areas of life, creating a push toward transformative change, especially under the dynamic influence of the Aries Full Moon. 

I don’t know about you, but as Mercury crept its way into Scorpio territory and squared Pluto, an aspect of two placements that have friction, I started to feel like I was in line for a scary theme park ride I didn’t want to get on. I know I’m picking up the energy of the masses, but one thing we need to understand is that what happens outside of our bubble can be completely different from what happens to us. People fall in love, have children, advance their careers, and create songs and works of art—even when the times aren’t ideal. This is important to remember over the next six months.

With that said, let’s delve in and check out what all of this energy means. On October 17th, 2024, we are greeted with a potent Full Moon in Aries. This Full Moon brings intensity, culmination, and a fiery burst of energy that cannot be ignored. What makes this lunation so significant is its connection to the total solar eclipse on April 8th. The eclipse was the start of a new lunar cycle, ending with the October Full Moon. That eclipse, which carved a path through the United States, sparked transformative energies on both personal and collective levels. Now, this Aries Full Moon acts as a mirror, reflecting back the growth, challenges, and shifts we’ve faced since April while inviting us to step into a new chapter of our journey. New chapters require flipping the page and moving on to something unknown. But before moving forward, we need to reflect on what has occurred over the past six months.

Keep in mind, the cycle of the moon will relate not only to the Aries - Libra polarity, which has to do with autonomy of self and balance within relationships, but also to the houses in your own personal chart where Aries and Libra reside. Further into the article, we will explore thought-provoking questions that will help you to discover the depths of the impact of the Aries Full Moon. 

What did the April 8th, 2024, eclipse illuminate? When I look through the news articles from April 2024, it’s apparent that we live in a polarized world. From the ongoing invasions of Ukraine and Gaza to unlikely political leaders stepping down or gaining power, there is oppositional energy regarding governance. During the solar eclipse in April, Chiron, the Sun, and the Moon were conjunct at 19 degrees. Chiron, the asteroid of wounds and healing,  has weighed heavily on us while in Aries and continues to do so with the upcoming Full Moon. Ideally, by now, we should have figured out what we are healing from and how to move forward, embracing the healing characteristic of Chiron.

This lunation is more than just a release—it’s a dynamic push toward action, introspection, healing, and claiming our identity. The Aries energy is assertive, demanding that we confront issues we’ve been avoiding. It pushes us to take bold steps toward personal empowerment. However, the Full Moon’s aspects with Mars, Pluto, Venus, Uranus, and Neptune indicate that this is not a simple process. The tension between emotional security, power dynamics, relationship values, and spiritual reflection creates a web of energies that must be carefully navigated. Though daunting, the complexity of the overarching energy can give us strength to purge what is blocking us from love.

Mars Opposing Pluto: A Battle Between Emotional Security and Transformative Forces

Mars in Cancer stands in direct opposition to Pluto in Capricorn, and this aspect will be deeply felt during the Full Moon. Mars, representing our drive, desires, and assertive energy, is particularly sensitive in Cancer. I tend to equate Mars in Cancer as protective or explosive- sometimes simultaneously.  Mars here acts out of emotional needs, often defensively, seeking to protect home, family, and emotional security. This placement can make us feel defensive, and at times, we may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable with our emotional reactions. 

On the opposite end, Pluto in Capricorn represents the forces of transformation, dismantling, and regeneration. Pluto seeks to expose what is hidden, unearthing control dynamics, power struggles, and the structures in our lives that need reform. When Mars and Pluto face off, the tension between emotional needs and the pressure for transformation can feel overwhelming. Unfortunately, this can lead to confrontations- some not going well while others disagreements can lead to mutual understanding. Regardless, old emotional patterns or power struggles are exposed. You may feel raw, but the exposure is needed in order to clear the air and come to terms with yourself and your closest relationships.

With the tension of this powerful transit, you will crave to get outside as much as you can, and do some physical activity. Even though Mars in Cancer abhors being cooped up, Mars is fraying at the seams after such a long stint in this sign. It needs to express itself, and the best way to do so, if through movement. Walk, run, lift weights, dance or do whatever it is that can move anger and agitation out of your body. 

Venus Opposing Uranus: Unpredictable Relationship Dynamics

As if that weren’t enough, the Venus-Uranus opposition adds another layer of unpredictability, especially in relationships and finances. Venus in Scorpio craves deep, transformative connections—relationships where intimacy and emotional depth are paramount. However, when Venus opposes Uranus, the planet of rebellion and sudden changes, we may be confronted with unexpected shifts in our relationships, finances, and personal values. (And yes, there is a possibility of break ups but there is also the chance of breakthroughs when it comes to relationships or how you earn income.)

Uranus, transiting through Taurus, urges us to break free from stagnant comfort zones, particularly around material security and relationship dynamics. This opposition shakes up what we thought was stable, urging us to embrace change, even if it feels unsettling. It may feel like relationships and values are being pulled in two directions—one craving intimacy and emotional merging, while the other seeks freedom and individuality.

This aspect highlights where we may need to reevaluate our attachments. Are we holding onto relationships or values out of fear of change? Venus and Uranus remind us that growth comes from allowing space and freedom, even in the midst of deep emotional connection. When we are stressed (and yes, some of the current transits are stressful) we may have a desire to cling. But, take a deep breath instead and embrace the feeling of freedom. 

When it comes to your personal relationships, allow enough air for the connection to breathe. We can’t ignore the message here, as it is also related to the Full Moon and the eclipse of last April. Not only is it key to give yourself agency, but it’s also crucial to allow others their freedom as well. Brilliant song lyrics from Sting’s If You Love Somebody Set Them Free capture the theme well.

You can't control an independent heart (can't hold what you can't keep)

Can't tear the one you love apart (can't love what you can't keep)

Forever conditioned to believe that we can't live

We can't live here and be happy with less

So many riches, so many souls

Everything we see there we want to possess

Possession of others or a build-up of material items is an act of trying to fill a hole from within. Keep that in mind with the Venus and Uranus opposition. When there is something missing from us, it has nothing to do with external means. Usually, it is self-love that is missing. When you shift your perspective to self acceptance and worth, the need to clutch onto things or people outside of you dissipates. 

Astrological chart of the Aries Full Moon on October 17th, 2024, at 6:40 AM CDT, highlighting the key planetary aspects and energies influencing this powerful lunar event.

Mercury in Scorpio: Diving Into Deeper Truths

As if the emotional intensity wasn’t enough, Mercury, the quick planet of the mind,  in Scorpio deepens our mental processes during this Full Moon. Scorpio’s energy is investigative, intuitive, and unafraid of looking beneath the surface. With Mercury in Scorpio, our thoughts will naturally gravitate toward deeper, more reflective themes. This is a time for uncovering hidden truths, confronting uncomfortable realities, and allowing intuition to guide our decision-making.

Mercury in Scorpio doesn’t settle for superficial answers. It digs, probes, and seeks the core truth behind any situation. During this Full Moon, we may find ourselves reflecting on past wounds, secrets, or unresolved emotional patterns that are ready to be confronted. This is especially true in light of the Full Moon’s square to Pluto, which beckons an examination of what has been suppressed.

This is a powerful moment for intuitive insights and self-reflection. Mercury’s placement in Scorpio allows us to not only see the surface tensions (Mars vs. Pluto, Venus vs. Uranus) but to understand their deeper psychological and emotional roots. We also may get psychic information to help us gain clarity or shift our perspective on how events occurred.

Sensitive Story on Suicide and Dementia (Feel free to skip this part if you're uncomfortable with sensitive topics, and start reading at the Neptune Trine.)

You may have been examining something that you’ve suppressed over the past six months. I know I have. These intense planetary oppositions are not just theoretical—they bring up raw, unresolved emotions, much like the ones I experienced in my own family. At the start of 2021, my stepfather took his own life. I will spare you the details. He was someone who always wanted control of his own death; his favorite movies were the Death Wish sagas. A year prior, he mentioned his desire to take his own life when the time comes, and when I gave him a look, he dodged his eyes and said he was joking. I knew he wasn’t actually joking, even though he had a dark sense of humor.

My step father was the caregiver of my mother. My sister and I had offered help on numerous occasions, advising him of the resources available, but he refused every offer and solution. His Scorpio sun nature relished in being the martyr. My mother had advanced dementia, and he would only allow us to visit them once a month. Needless to say, his final years were tough on us, and his self-sabotaging tendencies were in full force. We walked on eggshells, aware that even though he loved my mother with all his heart, he could have a romanticized version of their deaths—a pact to keep them together forever.

Once he died, my sister and I took over care for our mother. We had conversations about how we had to suppress what happened in order to remedy the situation at hand, which was to give our mother the best care possible. Anger, sadness, and grief were pushed down into the depths of our psyche. A year later, my mother passed away peacefully with my sister and me at her side. However, it wasn’t until this year that I dared to explore the multitude of feelings from his passing. When the April eclipse passed over me, it was the permission I needed to start the healing process.

The purpose of me telling you about this deeply personal story, is because the current aspects may trigger the activation of memories for traumatic events. Understanding the energy of the moment, and possible repeated thoughts over the past six months, allows you a therapeutic approach to the past. Astrology is a practice that is always in action, regardless of our awareness of the transits.

Neptune’s Trine: Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies

Despite the intensity of the aforementioned oppositions, Neptune in Pisces offers a softer, more spiritual influence. Trining both Mars in Cancer and Venus in Scorpio, Neptune acts as a mediator between these seemingly opposing forces. Where Mars and Venus might struggle for dominance, Neptune encourages us to transcend the conflict and find balance through compassion, empathy, and spiritual insight. It’s important not to just look at the difficult transits ahead. Positive aspects, like the Neptune trine, help us align the struggles with our dreams, providing a nurturing space to resolve our inner turmoil.

With the current debate on women’s issues, this trine invites us to reflect on the current state of masculine and feminine energies in our lives. Mars represents the masculine, action-oriented principle, while Venus embodies the feminine, receptive energy. Neptune’s influence allows these energies to coexist in harmony, urging us to find balance between assertion and receptivity, power and vulnerability. This Full Moon gives us a chance to contemplate these dynamics, not only within ourselves but also in the larger context of society.

Neptune’s Sextile to Uranus and Pluto: Collective Awakening

Neptune also forms a sextile to Uranus in Taurus at 26 degrees and Pluto in Capricorn at the critical 29th degree. This sextile is subtle but significant—it bridges the personal and the collective, allowing spiritual insights to inform the transformative processes that Uranus and Pluto demand.

At 29 degrees, Pluto pushes for resolution and completion of karmic cycles. Uranus is shaking up our values and material security, while Pluto is dismantling old power structures. Neptune’s sextile offers a more compassionate, higher perspective on these changes. It reminds us that while transformation may be uncomfortable, it is ultimately leading us toward collective healing and spiritual evolution.

This mini-trine gives us grace and compassion for those who may not align with our vision. Understanding that some people may have fallen into Neptune’s grand illusion over the past dozen years can challenge each of us to grow before Pluto lands firmly into Aquarius in November, with Neptune in Aries and Uranus in Gemini next year. Leaning into humanitarian energy now will make the big upcoming planetary ingresses easier to digest.

Jupiter Retrograde in Gemini: Reflecting on Our Growth and Communication

Jupiter in Gemini, currently retrograde, adds yet another layer to this Full Moon’s energy. In retrograde, Jupiter asks us to reflect on our personal growth, beliefs, and communication patterns. With Jupiter forming a trine to the Sun in Libra and a sextile to Chiron and the Moon, there is an opportunity for intellectual healing and balance.

Jupiter’s trine to the Sun highlights the importance of fairness, justice, and seeing multiple perspectives. It encourages us to expand our minds and reconsider how we’ve been communicating our truth. The sextile to Chiron, the wounded healer, brings a healing energy to this reflection, allowing us to release old wounds around self-expression and identity.

It is the energy of Jupiter that allowed me to put myself in my stepfather’s shoes, so to speak. He spent much time listening to fear mongers and, unfortunately, wasn’t able to trust anyone because he was swept up in falsehoods that existed in his dark world. With Jupiter in Gemini, I’ve been able to adjust my perspective, asking myself questions and challenging my own beliefs. If I had the same exact life experiences as him, would I have reacted to the circumstances the same way? And does it even matter if I did or didn’t? It was his path and his choices. He did the best within his realm, just like my sister and I did our best—which is what most people do during difficult times.

Rising Sign Readings: Personalizing the Full Moon’s Impact

Understanding which house this Aries Full Moon activates in your chart can guide you in pinpointing the areas of life that may come into sharp focus during this transformative period.

• Aries Rising: With the Full Moon illuminating your 1st house of self, this is a time of personal breakthroughs. You are encouraged to embrace your individuality and take decisive action toward your goals. This could mark the culmination of personal growth since the April eclipse, offering you a chance to stand more fully in your truth. Ask yourself: Are you owning your choices, or are you relying too heavily on others? Are you staying true to your desires while balancing close relationships?

• Taurus Rising: The Full Moon energizes your 12th house, highlighting hidden emotional patterns and subconscious fears. It’s a powerful opportunity to release what no longer serves you and invite deep healing. You might feel drawn to solitude and introspection, as you work through past baggage. Ask yourself: What is keeping you from connecting more deeply with your spirit? Are you aligning with your higher self and nature, or are old dogmas blocking your healing journey?

• Gemini Rising: Lighting up your 11th house, this Full Moon casts a spotlight on your friendships, social circles, and long-term aspirations. It's time to reevaluate your connections and align with those who truly support your growth. Old alliances may fade, making way for new relationships that resonate with your evolving values. Ask yourself: Are your friendships contributing to your journey? Are you experiencing joy with those around you, and do your values align with your social groups?

• Cancer Rising: The Full Moon highlights your 10th house of career and public life, urging you to take stock of your professional goals. This could be a time of recognition or completion of important projects. It’s a moment to step into the spotlight, but also to consider whether your ambitions still align with your deeper truth. Ask yourself: Is your career fulfilling, or are you merely going through the motions? Are you innovating, or are you stuck in outdated patterns?

• Leo Rising: The Full Moon in your 9th house invites you to broaden your horizons. Whether through travel, higher education, or a shift in your personal beliefs, you’re being encouraged to explore new perspectives. This is a time for letting go of limiting beliefs and embracing a wider worldview. Ask yourself: Have you expanded your view of the world? Are your beliefs inclusive of all humanity, or are they too narrowly focused on your own experiences?

• Virgo Rising: Falling in your 8th house, this Full Moon brings themes of transformation, shared resources, and personal power to the forefront. You may need to confront fears around vulnerability or control, but this is also a time for deep inner transformation. Let go of attachments that no longer serve your growth. Ask yourself: Are you making financial or emotional decisions based on fear? Are you allowing yourself to be vulnerable with those closest to you?

• Libra Rising: This Full Moon in your 7th house of relationships highlights the balance and dynamics within your partnerships. You’re being asked to assess your connections, both personal and professional, and to address any unresolved tensions. Strengthening the relationships that support your long-term goals is key. Ask yourself: Are you listening to the needs of those around you, or are you focusing too much on your own desires? Are you creating a safe space for your closest relationships to thrive?

• Scorpio Rising: The Full Moon illuminates your 6th house, putting your daily routines, health, and work environment in the spotlight. This is a time for refining your habits and letting go of anything that isn’t serving your well-being. Whether it’s a new health regimen or a shift in your work routine, this Full Moon encourages a reset. Ask yourself: Are your daily habits supporting your long-term health? Is your work life energizing you or draining you?

• Sagittarius Rising: Shining in your 5th house of creativity, romance, and self-expression, this Full Moon invites you to step into your creative power. Whether through artistic projects or romantic pursuits, now is the time to let your authentic self shine. If you’ve been holding back, this is your moment to take center stage. Ask yourself: Are you allowing joy and playfulness into your life? Are you expressing yourself freely and passionately?

• Capricorn Rising: The Full Moon falls in your 4th house, focusing on your home, family, and emotional foundations. You may feel called to address lingering family matters or make changes to your living environment. This is a time to nurture your emotional security and let go of old family patterns. Ask yourself: Are you holding on to past family dynamics that no longer serve you? Can you create a sense of safety and security within your home and emotional life?

• Aquarius Rising: This Full Moon in your 3rd house emphasizes communication, learning, and your immediate environment. You may feel the urge to speak your truth or engage in important conversations that bring clarity. It’s also a great time to reassess how you’re learning and sharing information with those around you. Ask yourself: Are you communicating openly and effectively? Are you staying curious and open to new ideas, or are you stuck in outdated ways of thinking?

• Pisces Rising: The Full Moon in your 2nd house brings your attention to finances, personal values, and self-worth. This is a time to reflect on how well your material life aligns with your deeper values. Are you holding onto outdated notions of security? You’re being encouraged to redefine your relationship with money and abundance. Ask yourself: Are your current financial habits supporting your true values? Can you release attachments to possessions that no longer bring you joy?

Conclusion: Embracing the Aries Full Moon

The Aries Full Moon on October 17th is a transformative and dynamic moment, filled with opportunities for deep reflection, healing, and change. While the oppositions between Mars, Pluto, Venus, and Uranus create tension, Neptune and Jupiter offer softer, more spiritual influences that encourage us to embrace the transformative process with compassion and higher understanding.

Chiron’s relationship with the eclipse in Aries back in April started many of us on a healing journey. This Full Moon allows us to take inventory of where we are in that process. In the story I conveyed from my own life, I would say I'm further than halfway there. There are still emotions to process, but I remind myself that we all make choices based on what we think is best at the time.

With the current astrological energy, this is a time to confront what has been hidden, release old patterns, and step into our power with courage and grace. The cycle that began in April is now coming full circle, urging us to embrace the changes that have unfolded and to trust in the process of transformation. Not all of us have completed our journey with this cycle, and that’s okay. Some healing, especially when we bury things deeply, may take longer—but if you're in the process, you’re more than halfway there. Be kind to yourself, continue to grow, and remember that this chaotic energy is here to shake things loose. Sometimes, we just need to be a little uncomfortable to create great change.

Besides reflecting on your emotions, consider lighting a candle or holding a bonfire as a symbolic release. Write down what you're ready to let go of and let the fire carry it away. While this Full Moon might not be ideal for setting new intentions, use this time to plan grounding routines—like deep breathing or meditation—that support balance. Whatever you choose to do during this Full Moon, I hope it brings you a broader perspective and a heart filled with love, transformation, growth, and balance.

Curious about how the current astrological energies are impacting your personal journey? A natal chart reading can provide deep insights into your unique strengths, challenges, and upcoming opportunities. Sign up today to uncover the guidance of astrology just for you!

How are you feeling under this transformative Aries Full Moon? Let me know in the comments how it’s impacting you, and don’t forget to like this post if it resonates with your journey!