Full Moon in Dhanistha: Drum into Being

This Full Moon happens at 28 degrees Sidereal Capricorn in the nakshatra of Dhanistha at 5:29 am PDT on Thursday, August 15th. Capricorn, across from our New Moon two weeks ago in Cancer, is the place in the sky where we are practical, functional and oriented towards goals in the outside world. We use what we have at our disposal (people, places and things) to get what we think we need to survive. Capricorn is motivated by Time and Fear, being ruled by Saturn and is going to do what's necessary based on the perceived amount of time, triggered by fear.

Conversly, we have been celebrating our emotions this month, and perhaps a bit remiss at getting things done. Cancer is where we want to connect, lean in and emote, not accomplish things in the world. With the New Moon having held court with both Mars and Venus in Cancer, we have likely been feeling a bit put upon, and maybe underappreciated on top of lazy! Mars in Cancer brought out our passive aggressive side, and now that it has moved into Leo, we are feeling a jolt of courage, energy and maybe even good old recognizable anger. Rather than beating around the bush about what annoys us, we will tackle it head-on and do what action feels aligned with our higher consciousness, despite our fear. Mars in Leo connects the general to the King, allowing a line of communication from our higher Self to our primal active body.
Jupiter has also stopped its retrograde motion and is gathering speed to forward-moving. Since both Saturn and Jupiter spend a long time in Retrograde state, they take a long (ish) time to roll out of it, but the inspiration is awakening and we are remembering what we believe and how it motivates us. This Jupiter is giving dristhi to not only the Sun still in Cancer, but also Venus who is in exact degrees with the Sun this full moon. Venus still in Cancer is problematic for our relationships, especially when our passion (Mars) and feeling state (the Moon) have moved on from the emotional entanglement and are into getting sh@$t done! Our sense of relating to other adults is still feeling a bit used, and as if we are doing more than our partners are. This may be true, but the trick is to remember it is no one's fault but our own. If we give under the pretense of unconditional love, yet expect in return, we will always be disappointed. Try offering yourself the self-care you desire and need instead and worrying less about the other.

We not only have the difficulty of Venus in Cancer, but also that it is combust, close to the Sun. In this case, it is literally exact with the Sun, so we are likely to have a short fuse with our ability to tolerate a lack of niceties, harmony and beauty. If we feel taken advantage of our happiness will be cut short in a quick instant and Aslesha, the serpentine star, which both Sun and Venus are now in, will wrap itself around its victim and squeeze it to death in its attempt to hold what's dear near. This will be reflected right on the Moon in Dhanistha.

Mercury is also still in Cancer, creating a scenario where our speech and communication is watery, emotional, imprecise and expressing our feelings in roundabout ways to try not to displease anyone. Since we can't express our wants and needs as well as we hope and are feeling slighted easily and inclined to act selfishly, this is an alignment that will be challenging us in our partnerships over and over.


Dhanishta is a star of manifestation, drumming things into being and is located at the end of Capricorn and beginning of Aquarius. It is symbolized by a drum, showing how time is metered out and how the steady beat of sound brings forth all things. Dhanistha is ruled by the Vasus: Air, Water, Earth, Fire and Space, Sun, Moon and Stars. These are the rays of light that are the first manifestations that spring forth all the rest. This is the time to move out of what we feel and into what we want to do. Make things happen in the outside world and hopefully they will reflect what we hold dear in our heart space.


By the weekend, we will have both Sun and Venus joining Mars in Leo, so watch for the switch from whiny and down-trodden to kingly and queenly behavior, expecting everyone to bow down. The part of us that felt put-upon and used while Venus was in Cancer, is going to be humming a different tune soon enough, expecting others to “make up” for their behavior by putting us on a pedestal. Unfortunately, since we will all be having this experience, it is not too likely to happen that way. The pedestal will be full and the flash and poise will be everyone's to possess. With both Venus and Mars combust at that point, we can expect some lashing out in relationships. Short fuse on anger, short fuse on happiness and not getting our way every minute will have us crying, “off with their heads!”. Be careful of being a petty tyrant and of feeling like you are the teacher in your relationships. This will not go over well with most people.

The Sun is in its home sign in Leo, so we will be connected with our leadership, power and authority, but make sure you are directing that into productive places like your career, not your relationships! With Mercury still in Cancer for another couple weeks, communication will also likely be emotional and non-productive. Relationships are going to be the sufferers this next two months, as they have this past month and the best remedy is to make yourself happy and keep your expectations, complaints and teaching out of your partner's ears and eyes. Following through on projects, ideas and plans that make you happy and that you are just now feeling up to tackling, will also avert your attention from what your not getting from others and onto what you can give yourself.


With Saturn still retrograde in Sagittarius joined the south node, Ketu, the fear brigade is not quite over and we will still be riding that into the next year, but things are starting to move forward, evolve and rise up. We can see above the horizon line and peer over into what can be, even while we still sit behind tall walls of our own creation.
Happy Full Moon and may you manifest what you truly want in this world! Namaste.


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