Finding Balance in Uncertain Times: The Full Moon in Libra (April 12th)
On April 12th, we’ll experience a Full Moon in Libra, a cardinal air sign known for its focus on balance, harmony, and diplomacy. Libra’s energy encourages us to examine the dynamics of “you and me”—the give and take in our relationships and the effort to understand multiple perspectives. Ruled by Venus, Libra seeks connection but also justice, reminding us that harmony often requires action. Full moons illuminate, bringing clarity and culmination, and this lunation may highlight where we need more balance in our lives.
This full moon carries a complex energy because Venus, its ruling planet, is positioned in Pisces—where she is exalted and elevated—but also closely aligned with Saturn and the North Node, bringing restrictions and confusion. On the same day as the Full Moon, Venus stations direct after a weeks-long retrograde, amplifying her energy and creating a moment of pause and reflection. This retrograde has likely brought old themes or relationships back into focus, allowing us to resolve unfinished business. The Four of Swords, a tarot card associated with this segment of Libra, suggests a need for rest and introspection, aligning with the slower, more reflective energy of Venus as she begins moving forward.
We’ve been navigating chaotic and uncertain times in the United States, with many feeling off balance or out of sync. This full moon offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recover before Venus gains momentum and moves into Aries, where the energy becomes more action-oriented. If you’d like a deeper dive into the meaning of this full moon, I’ve created a video where I explore its astrology and tarot connection and how it aligns with the current moment. Below the video is a modified and expanded transcript where I’ve added some additional information about Morning Star Venus.
As always, the lunation will affect you differently depending on the placements in your birth chart. If you have planets at or near 23 degrees of the Cardinal Signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn), the Full Moon is more likely to impact you significantly. If you’d like to know more about how this lunation might affect you, you can book a reading below.
Transcript (modified and expanded)
On April 12th, we have a Full Moon in the sign of Libra. Libra is an air sign, a cardinal sign that likes to start things. It is ruled by Venus, the goddess of love, harmony, and beauty—but also the goddess of war and justice, especially when she’s in her “morning star” position, which is where she is at right now. I’ll unpack the complexity of this Full Moon in the upcoming video. If you enjoy it, please like and subscribe—it helps others find me.
Libra, is a cardinal air sign but also a sign representing diplomacy and balance. It’s about the balance between “you and me,” the effort to entertain and understand all perspectives. When I analyze a lunation—a Full Moon, New Moon, or eclipse—I always look to the planet ruling the lunation. In this case, that’s Venus.
Venus is in a complex position right now. On the positive side, she’s in Pisces, where she is exalted—held in high regard—and elevated. However, she’s also positioned with Saturn, a planet that represents restrictions, responsibilities, and challenges. Additionally, Venus is with the North Node in Pisces, which can distort our perception. Venus is also in her “morning star” phase, giving her a more assertive, even warrior-like quality. At the same time, she’s stationing direct on the day of the Full Moon.
Full Moon Chart, April 12, 2025
What Does It Mean for Venus to Be the Morning Star?
Venus rises in the eastern sky before the Sun when she is in her morning star phase. This visibility at dawn has long been associated with Venus's more assertive, yang-like energy. In ancient times, Venus, as the morning star, was linked to themes of conflict and war. Many cultures saw this phase of Venus as a call to action, a time to initiate bold movements or prepare for challenges. This contrasts with Venus’s evening star phase, which is associated with a softer, more receptive energy. In her morning star phase, Venus embodies an active, masculine (yang) force, urging us to take decisive steps and assert ourselves.
This association with war and conflict highlights Venus’s dual nature. While she is often celebrated as the goddess of love and harmony, she is also a protector of justice and a war strategist. Venus calls for boldness and courage in her morning star position, encouraging us to confront challenges head-on. This energy complements the cardinal nature of Libra, which, despite its focus on balance, does not shy away from initiating change or addressing imbalances.
Venus Stationing Direct: A Roller-Coaster of Energy
What does it mean for Venus to station direct? It means she’s been retrograde for a few weeks and is now preparing to move forward. Retrogrades are often about revisiting old karma. Since Venus governs relationships, you might have found that people from your past—partners or old friends—have reappeared, allowing you to work through unresolved issues. As Venus stations direct, she’ll move slowly, building up energy. Planets stationing direct often feel larger than life because of their slow movement. It’s like that moment on a roller coaster when you’re at the top, just before the plunge—that’s the energy of a planet stationing direct. This creates a buildup of energy around Venus during this Full Moon.
The Tarot Connection: Four of Swords
Another layer to this lunation is its connection to the tarot. Each 10-degree segment of the zodiac (“decan”) corresponds to a minor arcana card. For Libra III, the decan of Libra where this Full Moon occurs, the associated card is the Four of Swords.
The Four of Swords, can be interpreted intuitively through the imagery on the card. It depicts a man resting—or perhaps deceased—on a coffin. In her book 78 Degrees of Wisdom, Rachel Pollack notes that the images in the card reference both the Sleeping Beauty myth and the Fisher King’s quest for the Holy Grail. This imagery evokes a sense of rest, withdrawal from the world, and introspection. Pollack also notes that both Sleeping Beauty and The Fisher King needed outside forces to take action to wake them out of their slumber, suggesting that the stillness of the card may also relate to something more profound—to how we withdraw from the world when it becomes too much—dissociating or “checking out” in moments of trauma.
Four of Swords, Rider-Waite Tarot
When this card appears in a tarot reading, it often carries a message like, "You need to take a break. Slow down and rest." This interpretation is particularly relevant during this lunation because Venus is stationing direct and is slowed to the point where she is not moving in the sky. This full moon might be calling us to turn inward, rest, and recharge.
A Chaotic Time: Preparing for What’s Ahead
We’ve been living through a chaotic and uncertain time, especially in the United States, and many of us may feel out of balance. This Full Moon offers an opportunity to slow down and recover before Venus begins to move forward. After stationing direct, Venus will gain speed and eventually move into Aries, a sign ruled by Mars, the god of war. Aries energy can bring conflict, so this is a good time to prepare and sustain yourself for potentially more challenging times ahead.
Looking ahead to the next lunation—a New Moon—we see another layer of intensity. In the April 27 New Moon chart, Pluto, the god of transformation and power, opposes Mars, who will then be in Leo. A Mars-Pluto opposition often signals power struggles and heavy energy. This makes the current Full Moon a valuable moment to rest, reflect, and build strength for what’s to come.
Final Thoughts
I encourage you to take advantage of this time for self-reflection and self-care. If you’ve felt confused or out of balance recently, try to create space for recovery. This will help you make thoughtful decisions—decisions that align with your true self—as we move forward, whether in your personal life or in response to larger world events.
That said, we can’t completely hide away. As I mentioned, an element of the Four of Swords suggests not only rest and recovery but also a desire to check out and withdraw when life feels like it is “too much.” Both Sleeping Beauty and the Fisher King needed outsiders to awaken them out of their slumber. Similarly, if you have felt disoriented and confused around your personal relationships or world events, you may find that something “wakes” you up as Venus moves direct; after completing her retrograde journey, Venus often clarifies what action is necessary.
Venus can also represent women in mundane astrology. The coming weeks may bring a moment when women, particularly, “wake up” and take on more active roles in protesting and challenging the current administration's actions. As she picks up speed and moves into Aries, there will likely be a shift toward action and assertiveness.
I hope this was helpful. If you enjoyed the video, please like and subscribe. Let me know if any of this resonates—such as people from your past resurfacing during Venus retrograde. I love hearing how astrology is affecting everyone personally. Thanks so much!