Hello, stargazers. Are you ready for Thanksgiving just yet? As the weeks get colder and we gear up for stuffing, turkey, and (my personal favorite) cranberry sauce, we can be thankful for at least one thing: eclipse season is over. What’s this mean for you? Well, our next full moon — a full beaver moon on November 27, 2023 — will not be the overwhelming lunar eclipse we had on October 28, 2023; instead, we’re getting something a little more manageable. The full beaver moon (we’ll talk more about the meaning behind the curious name in a moment) will arrive in Gemini, the air sign of the mischievous, ever-curious twins. One more thing to be grateful for: The full moon isn’t on Thanksgiving itself, as all clues point to this being a bit of a fiery one.
When is the next full moon?
This post-Thanksgiving full moon will be on Monday, November 27, 2023 at 4:16 a.m. (EST). You can certainly wake up in the middle of the night to see it (or stay up all night, your choice), but regardless of whether you see it or not, we will feel the influence, power, and vibration of a full moon a few days before and after the full moon.
When a full moon happens, it is not in a vacuum. Astrology is very much about cycles, so every full moon and every astrological event is part of a much larger cycle. You can see this moon as a period of a week or you can think of it as part of the cycle of this lunation, the last new moon (November 12, 2023) to the next (December 13, 2023) or the yearly cycle of Gemini full moons (the last one occurred November 8, 2022). In a nutshell, don’t sweat it if you’re a little late on full moon meditations.
What is the astrological meaning of a full moon?
Full moons are a time of culmination and anticipation, endings and realizations. Realization of something inside yourself or the realization of something inside you becoming concrete in the physical, outside world. An exciting time, indeed.
Still, they can also bring about a sad time for some. Steven Forrest, a pioneer of modern astrology, tells us, “The initial New Moon vision has come into full manifestation: it is now real (art and creativity are highly manifest), but it is also compromised, and caught up in polarized stand-offs…” In short, once something exciting happens, it also ends; once something happens, it is no longer full of possibility. They are also times of potent energy, which can be harnessed in any number of ways if you are inclined to practice moon rituals and magick.
What’s going on with November 2023’s Gemini full moon?
The moon is square Saturn in Pisces
Saturn governs rules and limits, so when it is squaring the moon, we may notice the feeling that something wants to control our emotions. This can manifest in someone telling you how to feel, as well as you not feeling heard. Since Saturn is in boundary-free Pisces, you may need to set better limitations with someone who doesn’t realize they’re making you uncomfortable.
The moon is opposite Mars
Mars rules our will and actions and the moon rules our emotions. Therefore, when these do oppose one another, there is often fighting. An opposition can sometimes apply to relationships and manifest as opposing views. The Mars-in-Sagittarius person will feel they are morally justified in their actions, while the moon-in-Gemini person may not be taking things too seriously and just trying to have fun. Unfortunately, this will only anger the Mars person more. Then again, emotions often run high after Thanksgiving, so this might not be entirely unexpected.
The moon makes a trine to Pluto & a sextile to Neptune
The dwarf planet Pluto’s trine to the moon gives us power to be our own authority and can also bring intense emotions. Neptune, the planet of illusion and fantasy, can soften things and make them seem not so bad — or, at the very least, may help us create our own safe little world to hole up in. Plus, if we take a pause, we may find ourselves in a deeper spiritual experience.
Why is it called a “full beaver moon”?
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the moniker “beaver moon” originates from early Native American tribes and was adopted into the cultural lexicon sometime in the late 1700s (the Almanac has been around since 1792). The Farmer’s Almanac also lists other historic names, including: the digging moon (a Tlingit name), deer rutting moon (Dakota and Lakota), whitefish moon (Algonquin), frost moon (Cree and Assiniboine), and freezing moon (Anishinaabe). Given the stark temperature drop that hit New York over the past week, the name “freezing moon” resonates most with me — much like the “full cold moon” of last December.
A final note on November 2023’s astrological forecast
Whatever your holiday plans, whether they’re with family, friends, a treasured pet, or even a solitary day of self-reflection, gratitude, and cooking, please be gentle and kind to yourself. And, no matter what anyone says, remember that it is OK to not spend these holidays with people you don’t want to invite over or go see. Seriously. Even the stars agree: Saturn in Pisces wants to teach us all how to establish and maintain boundaries. Not in a mean way, but in a loving and compassionate way. Please be safe and well, and keep stargazing.