August 2021's Full 'Blue' Moon In Aquarius Will Have Transformative Effects On Your Love Life
Alex Sandoval
When it comes to signs who embrace, celebrate, and broadcast endlessly about their season, fixed fire sign Leo is one of the most vocal. So you probably already knew that every year, from about July 22 to August 22, the sun moves through the sign of the Lion. This dynamic SZN cranks up the volume on drama, luxury, and channeling your inner, confident Simba in order to roar about whatever's lighting you up inside. But every sign has its sister sign, or polar opposite, and Leo's is Aquarius, the fixed air sign known for prioritizing community over self. And this year, because we're getting two full moons during Leo season, we're getting two doses of future-minded, Aquarian energy.
On Sunday, August 22 at 8:02 a.m. ET/5:02 a.m. PT, the full moon — nicknamed the "sturgeon moon," and considered a blue moon because it's the second one in Aquarius in a row — falls at 29 degrees of the eccentric, rebellious fixed air sign Aquarius. (Blue moons are pretty rare, happening only every two and a half to three years.) Here's what it means and how you can make the most of the abundance and creative breakthroughs this full moon could present.
What Full Moons Mean
Before getting into the weeds on this particular full moon, let's recap what a full moon means as far as astrology is concerned. The moon is your emotional compass, ruling over your intuition and sense of security. Monthly, the point at which it reaches its most full, shimmery, and luminous tends to put extra emphasis on those lunar themes.
Full moons are also notorious for being wildly intense moments in time. That said, it's worth investigating what's really going on at the root of these OMG moments. Full moons amplify emotions — especially those that are often ignored or suppressed so you don't need to deal with anything uncomfortable. But this lunar phase tends to bring any pent-up feels to a boiling point so that you have to deal with it once and for all. That's why full moon drama tends to be the result of people reaching that point and projecting — or preferably, communicating about — any previously brushed-aside pain, trauma, or stress.
A full moon also serves as a culmination point of a regular astrological cycle. Everyone has narratives that kick off around a new moon and then come to a natural conclusion at a full moon six months later. This August 22 full moon in Aquarius is linked to the new moon that happened on February 11, 2021, which touted some similar themes to what we'll be seeing this month — specifically, love, relationships, and abundance. Now, anything you started around that time — especially in your relationships or related to beauty and money — could be reaching its organic conclusion.
This August 2021 full moon may also present the initial result of what you started manifesting back around the last new moon on August 8, which occurred in Leo. Two weeks ago, the fixed fire sign hosted a lunar event that was wired to spur breakthroughs and sudden change. Now, the first sprouts of whatever it is you planted then might start making themselves apparent.
No matter how a lunar event interacts with your natal chart, you could notice its intensity, but if it is hitting your chart in a significant way (more on that below), you could feel particularly antsy, emotional, or sensitive. But it can help to bear in mind that no matter how you're feeling it, full moons serve as valuable checkpoints for examining deep-rooted feelings and moving from one phase to the other.
Themes of the August 2021 Aquarius Full Moon
Air sign Aquarius, symbolized by the Water Bearer, is ruled by the rebellious, quirky planet of revolution, Uranus, and rules the eleventh house of networking, groups, and long-term wishes. People born under the sign of the Water Bearer — or with other personal planet placements (the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars) in the air sign — are idealistic, humanitarian, social, offbeat, free-spirited, and drawn to forging platonic bonds. But they can also be obstinately contrarian and, as the fixed air sign, susceptible to black-and-white thinking. Aquarians are hard-wired to strike out on their own, railing against convention, but when they get so entrenched in their ideals, they risk losing some of their signature future-mindedness. (Related: What to Know About Your Sun, Moon, and Rising Sign)
And that's why it actually makes a lot of sense that Saturn, the planet of restriction, tradition, discipline, and boundaries, was the original ruler of Aquarius. We now associate Saturn with Capricorn more than any other sign, but the Water Bearer definitely exudes Saturnian energy at times, which will come into play during this full moon in a refreshingly lovely way.
But first off, let's talk about the main aspect (aka angle) that the full moon makes, which is in relation to Jupiter, the planet of fortune and expansion. The largest planet in the solar system has a magnifying effect on just about everything it comes in contact with, and that's usually seen as positive, especially when the angle it's making to another planet or luminary is a harmonious one. And that should be the case this time, as we can expect the full moon and Jupiter's meet-up to bring luck, optimism, and abundance. Welcome growth or expansion might feel inevitable. Still, bearing in mind just how intense and emotional even the most benevolent full moon can be, even with the embarrassment of riches, Jupiter has a way of delivering overwhelming vibes.
In fact, a dose of Leo SZN drama and plenty of intensity — for better or worse — will be at the core of this full moon, because it's happening at the Anaretic degree (aka the 29th degree) of Aquarius while the sun sits at the very tail-end of Leo. (Each sign consist of 30 degrees.) So it's primed to bring about culmination points and endings even more than the usual full moon.
But those endings could actually be quite welcome and exciting, given lucky Jupiter's starring role — and another sweet aspect that's at play. Romantic Venus, now in Libra, is moving toward an uplifting trine to serious Saturn in Aquarius, promoting commitment and longevity in love. This full moon might inspire lots of couples to DTR, get engaged, or say "I do." It could also lead to less on-the-nose but satisfying leveling up in love, beauty, art, or earning, like committing to doing a passion project or getting down to business reorganizing your investment portfolio.
And bringing a wild card vibe to the table will be sexy Mars in Virgo on its way to a trine with game-changer Uranus in Taurus. This could set the stage for switching things up in the bedroom in a free-spirited, rebellious, devil-may-care way. (Need some inspo? See: Which Sex Position You Should Try According to Your Zodiac Sign)
All that said, this full moon could deliver a lot of well-deserved gifts, especially when it comes to love, relationships, and thrilling, steamy romance.
Who the Aquarius Full Moon Will Affect the Most
If you were born under the sign of the Water Bearer — approximately January 20 to February 18 — or with your personal planets (reminder: that's the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars) in Aquarius (something you can learn from your natal chart), you'll feel this full moon more than most. More specifically, if you have a personal planet that falls within five degrees of the full moon (29 degrees Aquarius), you could feel weighed down by the heavy-duty emotional messages of the event.
Similarly, if you were born in a fellow fixed sign — Taurus (fixed earth), Scorpio (fixed water), Aquarius (fixed air) — you'll feel the intensity of this full moon, which could fuel lots of luck in love.
The Romantic Takeaway
Every month, no matter what sign a full moon falls in, the lunar event offers an opportunity to reflect, release the past, and make the most of an ending, conclusion, or culmination point. Thanks to this particular full moon's fortunate, heartfelt, lovey-dovey, and relationship-solidifying tone, it could be time to say goodbye to one particular way of caring for someone else or showing up for yourself. And that's because you're ready for something more serious — and fulfilling. It could also be about recognizing that yes, sometimes, you get what you wished for — and even if the IRL result is beyond your wildest dreams, you deserve every second of it. (Related: What Moon Sign Compatibility Can Tell You About a Relationship)
The Sabian symbol (a system shared by a clairvoyant named Elsie Wheeler that illustrates the meaning of each degree of the zodiac) for Aquarius in this angle is "a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis." And that couldn't be more appropriate for this full moon, designed to close one chapter in order to bring you to the next, awe-inspiring section of your personal story.
Maressa Brown is a writer and astrologer with more than 15 years of experience. In addition to being Shape's resident astrologer, she contributes to InStyle, Parents, Astrology.com, and more. Follow her Instagram and Twitter at @MaressaSylvie.
