Full Moon in Aquarius – Aug 22, 2021
This is our second full moon in Aquarius this year! The Aquarius Full Moon is at 29 degrees. Depending on which interpretation you look at, the Sabian symbol for this degree is “Moon-lit fields, once Babylon, are blooming white” or “ a field of Ardath in bloom”
Ardath means a flowering field. The word ardath shows up in 2 Esdras. It’s an apocalyptic book of the Bible, but not a canonized one, and so only appears in some versions of the Bible. It says:
2 Esdras 9:26
23 Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them, 24 But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;) 25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee. 26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me. 27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me, like as before: 28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and said, 29 O Lord, thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treadeth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt.
Babylon means ‘the gates of God’. And Ardath means ‘fields of flowering plants. If you piece these two interpretations, and this passage of the book of (some) bibles, you get the sense that gates to heaven and to communication with God are found in connection with nature. And maybe even plant medicines!
In the documentary, The Last Shaman (on Netflix), a young man, ivy league educated and successful in the concrete jungle, is so out of touch with himself that he can’t feel. In a deep depression and out of desperation, he goes to the South American jungle to look for a shaman to help. He is introduced to plant medicines and at one point, for a period of time, is left by himself with the plants (And a camera. It was, after all, a documentary). He is taken on an inner journey and at times you see him speaking to someone pleading for answers. At the end of his time with the plants, he seems at peace and in connection with himself.
Did the plants help him meet God?
On the other hand, the city of Babylon is often associated with materialism and evil. There is a story in the bible of the tower of babel. It was being built in Babylon at a time when there was one world and one language. The story goes that the tower was being built to reach heaven. God displeased with it, scatters humanity, and creates different languages so they can’t communicate.
The question at this full moon is, therefore “how do you find your answers?” You don’t necessarily need to eat psychotropic plants to find a connection, but there is also a warning about building castles in the sky.
The moon is conjunct Jupiter at this full moon. Jupiter expands everything it touches. It also sometimes brings a teacher. Make sure yours is not a false teacher!
The good news is that the ruler of the Full Moon is Saturn. While this brings a serious tone to the moon, Saturn makes helpful aspects to Ceres and the North Node in Gemini, and Venus in Libra. This is a particularly potent grand trine as Saturn is in one of its home signs and Venus is in her home sign. The opportunity exists for serious structures, love, and nurturing communication. Trines are potential, but they have a tendency to be complacent. You may not say “l love you” assuming that the other person knows. The trick with this Full Moon will be to say it even if we think others know.
Communications will be nurturing and will lead us in the right direction. Just make sure your communication starts from authenticity.
Happy Full Moon!
Eckart Tolle on Communicating with ‘God’ in these ‘times’