Dear friends,
As autumn deepens and the leaves let go, the sky offers a
rare, beautiful gift: the brightest full moon of the Vedic year, rising in
fiery Aries within Ashwini, the nakshatra of the divine physicians. This moon
brings healing, renewal, and courageous new beginnings. In this content, I’ll
share what this full moon means, the planetary alignment behind it, the ancient
healing gift of the medicine horse, a look at the sky this coming Thursday, and
simple mind-body practices to help you receive its medicine.
When
to Watch
|
Location |
Exact Full
Moon |
|
Pacific
(Nanaimo, Vancouver) |
Sunday, Oct
25 · 9:12 PM PDT |
|
Universal
Time (UTC) |
Monday, Oct
26 · 04:12 |
|
India
(IST) |
Monday, Oct
26 · 9:42 AM |
Here on the West Coast, the
moon culminates on Sunday evening, so the night of October 25 is our night to
celebrate.
Ashwini:
The Nakshatra of Divine Physicians
Ashwini is the first of the 27 nakshatras, spanning
0°–13°20′ of Aries. Its symbol is the horse’s head, and its deities are the Ashwini
Kumaras, celestial twin healers who, in Vedic lore, restored sight, youth, and
vitality to those they touched. Ruled by Ketu, Ashwini carries swift,
intuitive, almost miraculous healing energy — the kind that arrives quickly
once we are ready to receive it.
With the Moon at 8°32′ Aries, this full moon sits in the
heart of Ashwini. It invites us to ask: What in my body, mind, or spirit is
ready to be restored? Where am I ready to begin again? Aries is the sign of the
first spark, so this is a wonderful moment to set health intentions with
courage rather than hesitation.
Medicine
Horses: Our Four-Legged Healers
Ashwini means “she who is born of a horse.” In Vedic
myth, the Ashwini Kumaras were born to Surya, the Sun, who had taken the form
of a mare, and the twins are often pictured with horses’ heads. Seven horses
draw the Sun’s chariot across the sky, carrying light and prana to all living
beings. And 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese calendar, which
makes this Ashwini full moon a doubly horse-blessed moon.
Across many Indigenous traditions of Turtle Island, the
horse is honoured as a medicine relative, a teacher of freedom, strength, and
the bond between earth and spirit. The Lakota name for the horse, Šúŋkawakȟáŋ,
is often translated as “sacred” or “mysterious dog.” Here in Canada,
residential school survivor Patrick Buffalo of Maskwacis, Alberta, developed
the Kisikaw (Day) Method of horse therapy. “They are healers,” he says. “The
horses are non-judgmental.” His aim is “to move that person from the head back
to the heart.”
Why do horses heal? As
prey animals, horses are exquisitely attuned to body language, breath, and
emotional state. They respond to what we truly feel, not what we pretend to
feel, so they act as a kind of living biofeedback. A 2023 systematic review and
meta-analysis of 15 studies found that equine-assisted services may reduce PTSD
symptoms in the short term, although the studies were small and more research
is needed. Researchers are also exploring whether heart-rate rhythms of horse,
client, and therapist begin to synchronize during sessions.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Horse (午, Wu) governs 11 AM to 1 PM, the peak hour of the
Heart meridian in the body clock. The Heart houses the Shen, our spirit.
Perhaps this is why time with horses so often feels like coming home to the
heart.
Ways
to receive horse medicine this full moon:
✦
Visit a stable or
sanctuary: stand quietly near a horse,
soften your gaze, and let your breath slow to match theirs.
✦
Try
equine-assisted learning: look for a
certified equine-assisted practitioner, many of whom offer gentle ground-based
sessions with no riding required.
✦
White horse
meditation: close your eyes and picture
a luminous white horse of Ashwini carrying you through moonlit fields, leaving
behind what no longer serves you.
✦
Journal: Where in my life am I longing to run free? Where am I
being asked to slow down and trust?
Planetary
Alignment at the Full Moon
✦
Moon in Aries
(Ashwini) opposite Sun in Libra: the
Moon’s fire meets the Sun’s airy search for balance. The Sun is debilitated in
Libra, so our outer energy may feel softer — honour the need for rest.
✦
Venus retrograde
in Libra (own sign): since October 3,
Venus has been asking us to review relationships, self-worth, and how we
nourish ourselves.
✦
Mercury
retrograde in Libra: Mercury turned
retrograde on October 24, so revisit, reflect, and double-check before signing
or sending.
✦
Mars and Jupiter
together in Cancer: Mars, ruler of
Aries, travels with Jupiter in its final degree before Jupiter enters Leo on
October 31. Mars casts its aspect onto Libra, energizing the Sun, Venus, and
Mercury — a push to act on what we have been reconsidering.
✦
Saturn retrograde
in Pisces; Rahu in Aquarius, Ketu in Leo: Ketu,
Ashwini’s ruler, sits in fire-sign Leo, forming a supportive fire trine with
the Moon — spiritual insight flows easily.
Health
& Healing Suggestions
✦
Cool the head: Aries governs the head and eyes. Research suggests that
screen breaks and regular hydration may help ease tension headaches and eye
strain.
✦
Support the
Lungs: In Traditional Chinese Medicine,
autumn belongs to the Metal element and the Lungs, which hold grief. Pears,
daikon, almonds, and white fungus may support moisture as the air turns dry.
✦
Nourish the
Kidneys: Libra rules the kidneys and
lower back. With the Sun weakened there, warm soups, black sesame, walnuts, and
early nights may help conserve vital energy.
✦
Breathe with the
moon: sit outside for ten minutes of
slow belly breathing. Studies suggest slow breathing calms the nervous system
and supports restful sleep.
A
Simple Full Moon Ritual
✦
Light a candle and
place a bowl of water beneath the moonlight.
✦
Write down one thing
you are ready to heal and one new beginning you welcome.
✦
Offer gratitude to
your ancestors, your body, the Ashwini twins, and the medicine horses who carry
healing to us.
✦ Rest early and let the moon’s medicine work while you sleep.
Work
With Me
If you would like to understand how this full moon
touches your own birth chart, or receive personal guidance on healing your body
naturally, I would be honoured to support you.
✦ Book an Intuitive Reading Session
✦ Book a Healing Coaching Session
The future of medicine is frequency healing. What about frequencies associated with each organ? I will dive into the specific healing tones for each organ in my upcoming workshop: "Mastering the Cosmic Elixir – Breathwork". These powerful healing tone sequences are paired with breathwork and unique body postures to activate energy flow in your body; you basically speak to your organ directly. Please check more details for this workshop here, and space is limited.
With light and gratitude,
Lucy, RD, Vedic Astrologer, TCM Practitioner, Energy Healer
