Shadow Work 🪐Days Vol. 13: August '25 Full Moon- Energy Breakdown + Shadow Work Prompts + Divination Spread!

“The Moon represents the innermost part of ourselves- our subconscious and intuition…The Moon also represents the nurturing mother, the divine feminine, the yin to the sun’s yang…The Moon’s gravitational pull is the driver of the Earth’s tides, representing the emotional waters of our collective conscious and unconscious…” (Witchy Wednesdays Vol. 3: the Moon!, on my socials)

Full Moons represent power, success, and completion. It is the culmination point of what has been brewing and manifesting in your life since the New Moon.

The last New Moon was in the fixed fire sign of Leo and coincided with the opening of the Lions Gate Portal as well as Mercury Retrograde in Leo. Any misalignments in/with your identity, self-expression, heart, and close circles have been revealed through these last couple of weeks, to push us into the next phase of our lives.

Over the last couple of days, Mercury has exited retrograde and entered post-retrograde shadow. It is now the peak of the Lions Gate Portal, a historic time of heightened spiritual connection, transformation, renewal, manifestation, shifting, upgrading, and enlightenment. 

This Full Moon is in the eccentric, intellectual, creative, social, independent, fixed air sign of Aquarius. Aquarius is ruled by the malefic planet Saturn, which is associated with time, endurance, aging, constructivism, responsibility, ambition, & intelligence. It brings forth “an intense awareness of reality” and the growth that brings (The Astrology Podcast, Ep 322). Aquarius is focused on innovating new social structures to serve and connect with society. An energy we desperately need right now. 

Aquarius is also where the tranformative, powerful Pluto is currently. Pluto is also in retrograde right now. There’s actually three other planets in retrograde at the moment- Chiron, Saturn, and Neptune (all in Aries). Furthermore, Pluto has also formed a Grand Kite with Saturn, Neptune, Uranus (in Gemini), and Mars (in Libra). 

“A Kite Pattern forms when a Grand Trine - three planets flowing in effortless harmony - is anchored by an opposition, connected through two sextiles. This creates a dynamic axis of tension, direction, and purpose, transforming passive gifts into active mission. While a Grand Trine alone may sometimes lack motivation, the opposition in a Kite propels it into movement, sharpening the soul's aim like a bow pulled taut before release.

This configuration is not just about ease or luck — it's about potential realized through tension. The apex of the kite, often called the focal planet, becomes the guiding star. Here, life calls the individual to act, to stretch beyond comfort, and to fly with intention. It's a powerful gift, but one that asks the soul to participate in its own ascension.”(The Kite Pattern in Astrology: Destiny by Zodi-ai, Medium, 2025)

This is a Grand Air Trine activated by the element of Fire, creating a Grand Kite. Air being the mind, intellect, ideas, thoughts, and social interactions. Fire being vitality, energy, passion, inspiration, creativity. This isn’t just any Grand Kite though. It marks the beginning of an era of intense rebirthing. Here is where I would like to note the following:

• The last time pluto was in aquarius was from 1777-1798, during the age of revolutions:

• the french revolution

• the american revolution

• the haitian revolution

• Since the birth of america, everytime uranus has been in gemini, the country has been at war.:

• WWII & the very beginning of the cold war (1941-1949)

• the civil war (1859-1866)

• the american revolution

• The last time Neptune was in Aries was from 1861-1875, also during the civil war. Historically, Neptune in Aries has coincided with the civil wars, rebellions, and the breaking down of empires, including (but not limited to)

• the persecution and spreading of christianity

• the crusades

• the hundred years war

• henry VIII declaring himself supreme leader

I saw a video the other day with someone asking when all the retrogrades will end, and I remember thinking to myself: even when these retrogrades end, the energy they are bringing won't really go away. This is just the beginning. We can no longer ignore how unsustainable, exploitative, and oppressive the western way of life is, and we will continue to feel the heat of this fire until we allow it to burn away that which furthers imperial destructiveness. Which includes every one of us and our lives, as we are all in one way, shape, or form, participating in the system/s that maintain imperialism. 

This is a historical time of immense change which we are all living through. This is being reflected by these planets, as astrologically this is also an unprecedented time. This is due to how all of the outer planets (Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune) are moving over the next few years. The outer planets are also often called generational planets, as their impact is (typically) felt much more intensely on a collective level, which often takes the form of shaping different generations throughout history. 

Whether we like it or not, whether we are ready or not, collective rebirth is here. And this is again, just the beginning. There’s plenty of oxygen to stoke these fires. We’re all tired of being exploited beyond our capacity. Collectively speaking, the breaking point is making itself known. And the only way out is through. 

This full moon is asking you: as the contractions of this rebirth intensify, what are you going to do? Will you cling to the ashes of individualism—scattering yourself in prideful isolation—or will you surrender to this transformation into a feather among the wings of the collective phoenix rising?

While it is an air sign, Aquarius is called the water bearer. This is because the sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and ideas nurtures and sustains all life. So, now is not the moment to let fear control you. It is the moment to allow it to inform you of where your courage and compassion are needed. In this time of collective rebirth, we all have a part to play. We are all needed. Reflect on your worth, your uniqueness, your quirks, your passions, your skills, your loves. And know that your experiential knowledge, your creativity, your perspective, YOU are needed. 

If you’d like to dive deeper into this energy and how it might be manifesting for you and your life, I have a couple recommendations. Firstly, take a look at what houses in your birth chart house the signs of Aquarius, Aries, Gemini, and Libra. 

Secondly, do the internal work, whether that be shadow work, meditation, divination, journaling, or whatever works best for you! To help you get started, here are 8 prompts designed to help you go more into depth on the workings of your subconscious in this powerfully transformative time. 

1A. How have internalized capitalist/productivist judgements and expectations dulled your inner fire and shaped your self worth? 

1B. How can you nurture your light—and others’—without unrealistic conditions?  

2A.  What grief have you carried alone that might actually be a collective wound? 

2B. How can you honor it as a shared wound and aid in collective healing?

3A. If capitalist systems were not a concern, what would you do with your life? 

3B. How might your community help you pursue and achieve this passion/desire/goal?

4A. How are you resisting your role in collective change? 

4B. What fear or individualistic ideal/goal is causing this?

4C. How might integrating collectivism into your life resolve this?

5A. What truth came to light this past Mercury Retrograde? 

5B. How can you use this clarity to confidently step into your most authentic self?

6A. What ideas, creativity, passions, hobbies, and/or skills have you not pursued or stopped practicing due to fear, burnout, or lack of resources?

6B. How can you reconnect with this/these practice/s?

7A What “ashes" of individualism (hyper-independence, self-shame due to unrealistic expectations/exploitation/manipulation, internalized racism/ableism/misogyny, etc) is/are life pushing you to alchemize?

7B. How will these lessons take flight; what changes will you make to honor what you have learned?

8A. What outdated structure (in your life or society) are you complicit in upholding? 8B. How can you withdraw your energy and redirect it toward building something collaborative?  

8C. What one life/routine change—no matter how small—can you take these next two weeks to align with Pluto’s demand for collective evolution?

If you choose to do a divination spread, this is the formation I recommend! 

7A 7B 8A 8B 8C

5A 5B 6A 6B

3A 3B 4A 4B 4C

1A 1B 2A 2B

If you use these prompts, let me know how they work out for you! Sending you love, courage, and lunar blessings!

<3, @Astraluna_Mariah_999