A weekend Leo Full Moon is usually a recipe for going out on the prowl. However, this lunation cycle has a darker side that may leave you feeling on edge. Astrologers around the web share their advice for keeping your cool during the coming Full Moon on Jan. 23/24, 2016.

Full Moons

Heightened emotions and jangled nerves are the norm when the Moon is full. For the three days around the Full Moon, some may find it more difficult to sleep soundly, adding to the edgy feeling. Tides also run higher during Full Moons. And we bleed more profusely, making surgeries more complex.

Full Moon’s also reveal what we, as individuals and collectively, are working to bring out of the shadows and into the light. Astrologers help illuminate what’s in the darkness, as help us find our allies for acting with greater creativity and consciousness.

The second Full Moon of the winter season is sometimes called the Wolf Moon.

Let’s take a look at what they say about this week’s Full Moon in Leo:

The Leo Full Moon

Cafe Astrology calls the Leo Full Moon “proud and intensely individual — not content with simply being just one of the team. The Aquarius Sun, while individualistic as well, values independence and the ‘team.'”

Says Elsa Panizzon of Elsa-Elsa: “If you’re looking for a date night this would be a good choice … if you like drama that is, and things unexpected. If you like action and excitement.”

Mars tangles with the Full Moon

The reason for astrologer’s hesitation is that this typically playful Leo Full Moon is in a wide-but-approaching aspect to the feisty red-planet Mars. This adds an aggressive tinge to the already emotionally charged atmosphere.

In spite of Leo’s traditional association with the stage, the intricate context that surrounds the Full Moon … suggests that whatever goes on behind the scenes is going to be just as important as the main attraction. … The square to Mars in Scorpio can point to a tendency to overdo it and make a show of strength to prove our points, digging our heels in and becoming pushy and overbearing; occult actions and hidden motivations might somehow clash against Leo’s enthusiastic transparency and crystalline optimism.

Aeternalight Astrology

Clarissa of Viva Combusta! agrees:

“The Full Moon is square to action and aggression planet Mars, which at 10 degrees Scorpio, is in the Via Combusta and not in the mood to suffer fools or endure empty words or actions. When well aspected, a Leo Moon is a recipe for a fun night on the town, getting in touch with your inner child and artist, romance in all its forms.

“[But] this Leo Full Moon … will be more likely to bring out the drama, encouraging “special snowflake syndrome,” strong prideful streaks that interfere with reason. Both Leo and Scorpio are fixed signs, not prone to move or change unless it’s on their own terms; the square here can indicate there is a need for change that is met with resistance and resentment. Full Moon square Mars tends to bring out contradictory emotions and feelings, as well as giving expression to internal anger and frustrations.”

Mercury Meets Pluto

This Leo Full Moon occurs on the same day as fast-moving Mercury meets that denizen of the Underworld Pluto. This brings the traditional Messenger of the Gods down to darker, shadowy terrain.

Mercury conjunct Pluto suits the interrogation, probing and questioning of others and the use of extreme methods. It forces ideas and ideologies to yet greater extremes at both ends of the scale. … Enhanced mental powers, including psychic powers, will make it easier to control, coerce, deceive and spread propaganda. This aspect represents power struggles at the intellectual level with the use of lies, intimidation, threats and abuse.

Astrology King

Mercury conjunct Pluto can be associated with being hushed up or threatened if you dare speak out. Blackmail is possible with this aspect too. There is a great obsession with solving mysteries and uncovering the truth no matter how deeply buried it is. The subject will risk their life in order to solve a crime. This is the aspect of murder mysteries and who-dunnits.

Darkstar Astrology

Decan 1 of Leo

Each astrology sign can be divided into three parts astrologers call decans. Each decan adds its own flavor to a planet in its space.

Darkstar Astrology suggests if we find this Full Moon difficult, we may want to ask our ancestral peeps for support.  The Leo’s 1st decan “has an almost religious reverence towards ancestors. This ancestral connection may bring our spirit guides very near. It’s comforting to feel someone has your back and can bring you great confidence.”

Sabian Symbol: 4 Leo

Individual degrees of the Zodiac also carry their own symbolic resonance; the most widely used degree meaning system are known as the Sabian Symbols.  Emily Price (via Elephant Journal) take a look at the Sabian symbol for this Full Moon:

The keyword for this Sabian symbol is independence.

Sabian symbol drawings used to portray this degree of Leo have often related to a mature woman radically changing her hair against conventional expectation. One image portrays a mature woman defiantly cutting her hair into a bob (in the 1950s), and has received some adaptations, including a mature woman allowing her hair to grow long and flowing.

The concept beneath the image is “the will to meet the challenge of age in terms of society’s modern glorification of youth.” And who could possibly know more about applied intelligence than the mature woman who has lived, transformed and chosen to go her own way?

Emily Price/Elephant Journal

Summing it up

The Leo Full Moon’s usually playful energies are damped by a stressful aspect to feisty Mars, and an intense meeting of Mercury and Pluto. For assistance, relish your calm independence and remember your ancestors are standing by.

Lunaria Datebook

Last Moon Phase: New Moon in Capricorn, Jan. 9, 2016

Next Moon Phase: New Moon in Aquarius, Feb. 8, 2016 (Chinese New Year)

Full Moon January 2016 Dates and Times

San Francisco Saturday, Jan. 23, at 5:46 p.m. PST

New York       Saturday, Jan. 23, at 8:46 p.m. EST

Sao Paulo  Saturday, Jan. 23,  at 11:46 p.m. BRST

London  Sunday, Jan. 24, at 1:46 a.m. GMT

Istanbul Sunday, Jan. 24, at 3:46 a.m. EEST

Mumbai Sunday, Jan. 24, at 7:16 a.m. IST

Tokyo  Sunday, Jan. 24, at 10:46 a.m. JST

Sydney  Sunday, Jan. 24, at 12:46 p.m. AEST