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The Full Moon in Leo, which takes place February 16, 2022, always brings with it spontaneity, play, and the desire to connect with our heart, the center of our being. With Leo’s energy governing the full Moon, we are reminded to feel who we really are.
We are each unique in our own way, with talents that need to be honored and shared with those around us. The Leo full Moon is a time to find your message and send it to the world. Leo is the regal lion of the zodiac. It embodies the energies of leadership, compassion, vulnerability, strength, and love. Leo is the sign of kings and queens and reminds us that each of us has the potential to lead others through the full expression of ourselves. We must, though, be willing to be seen. Kings and queens are generally the center of attention in any room and confident enough to take up that space. From this platform, they lead. They share their energy. Feel into your willingness to take up the space you deserve this full Moon, and use that space to share your gifts with others.
Leo teaches us that hearing our hearts can take courage. In order to feel and amplify the positive vibrations of the heart, we must also be willing to feel and understand everything else the heart holds. We cannot open our hearts and feel only the good things. Our hearts contain all of our feelings, including our joy, love, compassion, and gratitude. It also holds our pain, regret, and fear. We have to take it all in, which can make us feel scared, vulnerable, and even ashamed. Leo teaches us to show up for ourselves with courage and strength. It reminds us that we can face anything. It also teaches us that love begins with accepting all parts of ourselves.
What the full Moon in Leo means
Astrological energies, like emotions, have a lower and a higher vibration. Think of each zodiac sign as a spectrum of frequencies. We align with a particular zodiac frequency at different points of our lives and take on its resulting qualities in mind, body, and spirit. The counterpart to the ego is the higher Self. Leo’s higher frequencies include the qualities of a benevolent leader. Leo aligns us with the vibrations of courage, compassion, empathy, and honor. When we tune in to this high side of Leo, we hear the messages of our hearts without judgment. We listen with only unconditional love. We wholeheartedly love and accept every aspect of ourselves. Furthermore, we express ourselves fully to the world without fear of rejection. In this high state of Leo, we embody the confidence and poise of a great leader who accepts approval but does not depend upon it. We find our highest Self and share that person with the world, unrestricted by the ego.
When working with the vibrations of Leo, we come up against the ego, which is Leo’s shadow. The ego is the part of us that yearns to be defined by something. It is how we identify ourselves, including the conditioned patterns we have formed about who we are in this life. It is also our inner critic, our self-defeating thoughts, and the part of us that feels separated from others. The ego can get in the way of us finding and expressing our true selves. It attaches to ideas of how we “should” behave in the world and how others “should” receive us.
When we align with Leo’s shadow side, we become demanding, need approval, and feel insecure. We seek external validation instead of feeling our power. We can even cause drama in our lives and the lives of others to gain the attention we need to feel secure within ourselves. This lower vibration of Leo disconnects us from our hearts and aligns us with the delusions of the ego. We latch onto our identities and forget that we are beings made of pure love, capable of deep compassion and unlimited joy. Spend some time thinking about where you may be aligning with these vibrations. Resist the urge to judge yourself. Judgment can drop you into an even lower vibration. Instead, accept these parts of yourself and bring them to your conscious awareness. When you become aware of your shadow sides, there is the potential for them to no longer control you.
The ego’s fuel is fear, and it can often lead us down dark paths of needing constant validation and approval of what we express to the world. The ego’s role should be to motivate us, remind us of our purpose when needed, and help us function in society. But it should not lead our lives. On this full Moon, we have the opportunity to recognize when the ego has taken the reins and, in its effort to define our existence, closed the full expression of the heart.
What the full Moon in Leo with the Sun in Aquarius means
During this Leo full Moon, we are working with the energy of Aquarius, where the Sun is positioned. Leo and Aquarius oppose each other in the sky and differ energetically in many ways. But they also have many similarities. This full Moon is an opportunity to find their common ground and harness their combined energy to help you create the breakthroughs needed to step into your heart and your highest Self.
Throughout this full Moon, ask yourself how you might be aligned with the lower vibration of each sign. When we embody Aquarius’s lower vibrations, we become overly judgmental and critical of others, especially those in authority positions. Instead of helping change what we do not like in the world, we complain and detach from the world. We disconnect from the vibration of love and acceptance and become aloof. We withhold our energy while acting superior to everyone around us. Notice if there are any places in your life where you may be aligning with these lower vibrations and, again without judgment, accept them. Accepting them will help you acknowledge the behavior. Through this awareness, you will shift it and find Aquarius’s higher vibrations. When we step into the highest frequencies of Aquarius, we can feel the infinite connection between the Universe and us. We understand that we are just one part of a bigger collective. We want to contribute our energy to making the world a better place by connecting with the vibration of love and acceptance.
When we align with Leo’s and Aquarius’s highest vibrations, we tap into our highest Self. When moving from the higher self, there is no need to compare or compete with others. We do not feel insecurity, lack, or unworthiness. When we operate from the higher Self, we are always connected to the heart’s message. We do not need to distract ourselves from our feelings, for we understand that the true nature of ourselves is love and beauty. From this place, we feel fulfilled in our lives and are confident in who we are and everything we do because we are constantly moving from the heart. We no longer worry about rejection or approval from others. To remain centered within the higher Self, we need to be deeply aware of when the ego takes over, then redirect our energy toward higher vibrations of compassion, love, and connection. Aligning with the higher Self allows us to honor our true essence without needing approval.
When we shift away from the lower vibrations of both Leo and Aquarius, we make space for the higher ones. We have the opportunity with this pair to vibrate to a higher level than ever before. We learn to express ourselves from a place of love and gratitude instead of a place of judgment or neediness. We embody the true age of Aquarius, in which everyone contributes their unique talents while working together for the good of everyone on the planet. Take the time this full Moon to feel what you want to give to the world and courageously create a life that embodies its message.
Other astrological aspects during the full Moon in Leo
On this full Moon, we have all planets stationed direct, from February 3 until April 29. When there are no planets retrograde, energy moves quickly around us. We feel motivated, plans unfold with ease, and the future seems full of possibilities. We might also take on too many projects or overcommit ourselves as we lean into the abundance of energy.
Notice how the forward-moving energy affects you on and around the full Moon. Align with Leo’s power to feel your heart and what it wants. Make your commitments from this place. Also, notice what your heart is saying no to in your life. Release anything that does not align with your heart, as you may have said yes to things for reasons other than your heart. With all planets moving direct, everything seems possible to the mind. You will know which commitments will still resonate with your soul after the summer’s series of planetary retrogrades begin.
Know that you can always make a course correction on your path. This full Moon is the perfect time to do that. What is meant for you can never miss you. It may be delayed, or you may not realize it’s happening at the moment, but your karma is yours. If something does not align with your heart, make the adjustment you need with courage and the willingness to feel. Acknowledge where you are fearful and find ways to let your heart lead you forward to new territory. Align with your life’s path this full Moon through your heart.
We have another important aspect this full Moon. Venus and Mars are conjunct in Capricorn, merging our love and our willingness to fight for it. With Venus and Mars together, it’s a time to commit your whole self to your heart. Feel into what you are willing to go to war over to align with your higher Self. What are you ready to break down within yourself to give way for your heart to lead? With these planets landing in Capricorn, they add a serious edge to this full Moon. Allow their meeting to merge all sides of you and find unity within your energy. Focus on walking the path of your heart to your higher Self.
What to do this full moon in Leo
Find some time to sit with yourself and listen. Feel into what you’ve avoided or shut down in your heart. Be open to learning. Listen without the mind and its thoughts interfering. We often think the mind is the center of our beings, but it’s not. The mind would like to trick us into thinking it is in control, but the heart is the one that leads us forward on our paths. The heart knows the direction we must travel to align with life’s purpose, and the heart knows how to tap into the infinite wisdom of the Universe. The mind is simply along for the ride.
Keep your focus on your heart, where all of your answers lie. Feel into who you are at the center of yourself, beyond the myriad of thoughts that pass through your consciousness. Wade through the emotions to the truth of you. Feel what helps you connect to your joy and aligns you with your soul’s journey. So many answers are held within your heart. The key is to be willing to feel the emotions you’d rather not feel in order to find them. When you allow your heart to open, you can adjust the vibration it emits to the world. You also can raise the vibration of the people around you. By opening your heart, you allow it to lead yourself and others to the highest frequency of all: love.
Excerpted from The Leo Full Moon Workbook by Jill Wintersteen.
About our contributor
Jill Wintersteen is the founder of Spirit Daughter, a lifestyle brand devoted to helping you live your best life through understanding the energy of the Universe. She also writes workbooks on each full Moon as well as other astrological events. Follow her on Instagram @spiritdaughter.
This content was originally published here.
