Revelation, Reaction: Aries Full Moon

Athena (red figure) C5th BCE, Louvre

This year’s Aries Full Moon occurs October 6 (CST) at 14 Aries powerfully supported by its ruler, Mars, deeply at home in the still waters of Scorpio.

This is the first lunation since the Sun entered the symbolic dark half of the year at the September equinox and marks the end of eclipse season.

The full moon in Aries and its ruler Mars in Scorpio is a combination that could trigger buried emotions and responses related to how we instinctually go about getting our needs met. Our resolve and resistance to eruption could be tested; but consequence of relief, extraction (exorcism, in a way, even), instead of regret, shame, and the perpetuation of outworn patterns are very possible if we choose that path.

Bonds in need of transformation or cleansing could receive that now. Negatively, this could cause aggression to be directed inward onto the psyche. Positively, energy is sparked toward focused, laser-like attention toward one’s goals, ambitions, and passions.

A full moon typically signals a culmination, illumination, and/or revelation. This could have to do with realizations that deeply affect our sense of Self, our bodies, how we behave in relationship and process the flux of the world in general.

An old identity might be ending now and the beginnings of a new one crowning as the contractions of Time pulse forward. Do we not come into this world the same way snakes release past skin — one contraction at a time?

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So what can we expect from a strong Aries Full Moon hosted by its ruler Mars in its autumnal home of Scorpio? Well, that’s a deep, pointed question. Hopefully we’ll get there without too many mercurial meanderings.

There’s a reference now to the Aries New Moon Solar Eclipse that took place just after the March equinox on March 29 2025 at 9 Aries, when Neptune entered Aries the very next day. And interestingly, Neptune will leave Aries on October 22 and re-enter Pisces the day after the upcoming Libra New Moon.

That means Neptune entered Aries one day after the last Aries New Moon (eclipse) and will retrograde out of Aries, and back into Pisces, the day after the Libra New Moon six months later. Neptune is very powerful in October as it crosses back over that threshold, adjusting illusions and restructuring dreams.

Saturn re-entered Pisces about a month ago, on September 1; since, and as we approach this full moon, everything in Aries —  Neptune, Chiron, Ceres — are now retrograde, all hosted by Mars in Scorpio.

There’s a temporary retreat from, and within, Aries at the moment — there’s a sense of going back somehow. Perhaps it’s much needed so we can responsibly, emotionally, and spiritually complete what needs completion in the wake of eclipse season.

Yet, at the same time, everthing in Aries (each retrograde) is starkly illuminated and spotlit because this is an Aries Full Moon.

So many planets have gone back and forth, back and forth over the zero Aries point (the first degree of the zodiac) this year. A dramatic new beginning for many of us (the World Order included) is in process.

We’re being graced with an opportunity to prepare before we cross the Rubicon mid-February 2026. Now until then is a period of time we should use wisely.

There’s an onslaught of Aries energy coming March/April 2026 that is the opening paragraph of a new chapter for many of us on a personal level, but also marks an entirely new book for humanity as a whole. But more about this later.

As Saturn and Neptune set up camp again in the late degrees of Pisces until early 2026, we can take the opportunity to release and recenter before we cross the great river, unable to turn back and revisit anything that even closely resembles the past.

But there are other references to the March 29 solar eclipse embedded in this full moon other than Neptune.

On the same day as the Aries Full Moon on October 6, Mercury is at 00 Scorpio, hosted by Mars. On the March 29 2025 Aries Solar Eclipse, Mercury was also hosted by Mars, but retrograde at 00 Aries. So, like Neptune, Mercury is tied to both lunations — as well as the Aries/Libra polarity, and the zero Aries point.

Mercury, ruled by Mars at the first degree of Aries and now at the first degree of Scorpio during these lunations is significant. An important difference, however, is back in March, Mercury was retrograde and conjoining Neptune as Neptune moved into Aries for the first time since 1862. Now, on October 6, Mercury immediately squares Pluto, bringing the Mars/Mercury/Pluto dynamic into very sharp focus.

Mars squared Pluto back on September 24, just after the Virgo Solar Eclipse. The Sun will square Pluto on October 24 (just after the Libra New Moon and Neptune re-entering Pisces). Then, Venus squares Pluto on November 8. All of these squares are involve ingresses into Scorpio and will amplify the water element for weeks to follow, especially so for those with Fire or Water signs on the ascendant.

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Mercury has just come out of the beams of the Sun as it enters Scorpio; meaning since Mercury’s conjunction with the Sun back on September 13 at 21 Virgo (three degrees from the South Node), it’s bringing its mercurial renewal and enlightenment by the Sun into the realm of Mars and Scorpio and into an immediate square with Pluto.

This is typically a signature of disclosure, revelation -- a time when secrets are revealed or forcefully exposed; when deep psychological truths are discovered; when what we gleaned while Mercury was under the beams and traveling through the Underworld can be activated.

The challenge here seems to be centered around the force and intensity behind what our minds and language can do if/when cornered and forced into battle. The risk is verbal overkill, vengeful schemes, brutal truths, cutting words no one wants to say or hear yet break open what perhaps needs breaking open in order to aid in psychological transformation or the start of intense inner work.

Our minds and choice of language can also help us reign in what most of society deems “negative” emotional responses. But at times, Pluto asks to do the opposite: to lean into the taboo and nocturnal aspects of our natures. How dare we react in a disruptive, powerful and cutting way when threatened, injured or betrayed? How dare we fight the Scorpionic with the Scorpionic?

One more thing about Mercury to consider: Mercury just opposed retrograde Chiron in the days leading up to this full moon.

With Chiron in Aries, themes of self-wounding and wounds inflicted by others coexist. This full moon could bring up memories of impulsive or “heroic” actions that ended up hurting ourselves, setting back healing processes, or even hurting others, instead of what was intended in the moment.

Aries: pure, blind, eternally emitted energy. What Birth is.

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In Hellenistic astrology, there is a “non-aspect” relationship that occurs when two planets don’t share anything in common in terms of element, modality, or gender. In modern astrology, this is called an inconjunct or quinqunx aspect, if close to 150 degrees apart.

Aversion means to “turn away from” or “not looking.” Aries and Scorpio are considered “in aversion” because they don’t “see” each other via traditional geometric relationships and don’t share either element, modality, or gender. (The act of seeing is important in astrology; but this is for another time when we can really get into what Light means through an astrological lens.)

However, Aries and Scorpio absolutely can see each other, aversion aside.

They are the yin/yang; fem/masculine; dark/light; night/day of Mars. Mars is an impossible energy to ignore because it acts, initiates; it severs, separates, sets whatever’s been bound for too long free and on fire. Because of this link, Aries and Scorpio deal in conflict, desire, passion, the force of will, and overwhelm. The central difference is one is more outward, in the open and the other more inward, hidden.

Aries is ignition, spark. Scorpio is lava, flowing cinder. Aries is tip of the spear. Scorpio is drop of poison. Aries is battering ram. Scorpio is whispered password. I think astrologer Austin Coppock said somewhere that “Aries is a flamethrower and Scorpio is a sniper rifle." You get the idea.

Aries is Cardinal Fire. In its most raw expression, Aries can be a lot like fire itself: hot, quick, flickering, free, magnetic, exuding light and life-giving. Aries starts fire and builds it to the sustained, blazing point when Leo takes over to keep it going as long as it can.

In the real world, though, Aries is experienced as impulsive, careless, self-focused, rebellious, brave, challenging, and, often, victorious. And all of these at once. Aries can seem to flicker; either into anger and frustration or spontaneous joy and laughter.

Aries is a very vulnerable sign. This is due to its take-me-as-I-am nature and pioneering, scouting spirit. It’s vulnerable to be so exposed. It’s this innate vulnerability that sometimes has Aries appear as the god of Courage beside the god of War.

Scorpio is Fixed Water. It doesn’t like to be vulnerable. Aries just doesn’t realize he’s vulnerable, often until it’s too late. For Scorpio, the vulnerability is definitely there, even powerfully felt; but the scorpion’s exoskeleton protects, in the same way the shell of the crab and scales of the fish do. Water signs need this. Not only do these metaphorical barriers protect, they also contain, like a dam or towering sea wall.

Scorpio is a dark, surface-calm, glass-like body of warm water. Surface-calm. It’s beneath the surface where the Temple of Mars is built in Scorpio. Mars in Scorpio typically doesn’t face or initiate conflict head on.

Rather, when Mars is visiting its Scorpionic home, the action, impulse and force of Mars are stealthy and indirect — in the way a scorpion’s tail attacks from the unexpected angle of from behind and overhead.

Recently, I’ve started associating Scorpio with the ancient Greek goddess Athena — virgin goddess of warfare, wisdom, craftwork, and healing; sometimes considered the progeny of a pre-historic Minoan Earth Goddess, a serpent goddess (an animal often associated with Scorpio), implying a cthonic element in her nature that links her directly to the Underworld. It’s this connection that seems to tie her to Scorpio’s position in zodiacal order as it relates to the seasons in the northern hemisphere.

As a goddess of warfare, residing in the feminine Temple of Mars makes sense.  Athena was also considered the protector of ritual mysteries and the chastity of women. This might seem counter-intuitive because of Scorpio’s identification with sex and reproductive process. But it’s the protector part that’s important. If we take sex as viewed in the ancient world as a mystery rite in itself, Scorpio fits perfectly.

Athena had dozens, if not hundreds of epithets, Pallas being the most famous, meaning “young woman.” Interestingly, the asteroid Pallas Athena is stationing direct today in Aquarius as I write this on October 4 2025, and is in a separating square with Mars in Scorpio. (There’s much more to study here in regard to any correlations between the mythologies of Athena (sometimes referred to simply as The Goddess) and the astrological sign Scorpio, and even the eighth house in some instances.)

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All of this aside, with the full moon in Aries and its ruler Mars in Scorpio, our emotions, thoughts, ideas of Self, and how we use our waking energy are intensified with an initiatory future-facing spirit.

Mars in Scorpio can help turn energy inward, onto the psyche, for better or worse. Past behavior patterns involving anger, impulsivity, or selfishness could be on the chopping block now.

With the Moon squaring exalted Jupiter in the Moon’s home sign of Cancer just a few hours after the full moon, the possibility of increase and over-identifying with our emotional reaction is there; especially if the Scorpio part of our chart can’t contain the raw essence of Mars.

There’s the great possibility of emotional flooding in some instances, especially involving bonds deeply invested in each other for a long time. Great emotional release — as Mars cuts away feelings and attitudes that hinder us — hopefully leads to new understandings about ourselves (Aries) after challenges are navigated through. Jupiter in Cancer (trine Mars and Mercury by sign (though square the full moon)) might prove this inevitable, even if "the reason why" is unseen due to Pluto’s aversion to Jupiter.

Mercury’s square to Pluto in investigative Scorpio could change that, however, and trick what needs to be seen out into the open. This revelation could ignite an initiation.

As we enter these last few months of the year, there’s a returning weight, sadness, or urge toward deep reflection once Neptune returns to Pisces and rejoins Saturn there on October 22.

Late October and November, we enter a very watery world; meaning heightened sensitivity, emotionality, spiritual connectivity and fluidity between internal states of ecstatic, romanticism and waves of cathartic grief are possible.

If this Time is viewed as a time of grace and opportunity for hard-won wisdom; if we can once again learn to flow and release — perhaps finally — what’s been immersed in a long process of release and dissolution and circling the proverbial drain; if we can find the courage to hope and trust in the inevitable returning of the Light; then maybe we can also come to the realization that nothing is ever lost.

There’s only another re-coalescence of what was before into something else — another renewal of what can never truly die.

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This is general forecast. If you’d like to learn more about how this Aries Full Moon affects you personally, please consider booking a reading.