by Agni Jnana Yannanda
Featured image Jana Astanov Medusa series, 2015.
Full Moon May 12th, 2025, 12:55 PM EST
Tropical: Moon 22° Scorpio 12’, Sun 22° Taurus 12’
Sidereal: Moon 27° Aries 59’ Nakshatra Vishakha, Sun 27° Libra 59’ Nakshatra Krittika
Stars:
ALGOL, 26°10′ Taurus Tropical / 2° Taurus Sidereal
Medusa Rises: Reclaiming the Wild Feminine Under the Full Moon and Algol
To connect with Algol, also known as Medusa’s Head, is to remember that the sacred feminine is not always soft—it is also fierce, raw, and unrelenting in its truth. Algol carries the frequency of what has been demonized, feared, and severed from cultural memory: the wild woman, the priestess, the survivor, the voice that refuses to be silenced. In myth, Medusa was a powerful guardian whose gaze turned falsehood to stone—not out of malice, but as a form of energetic protection. Her story, often retold through the lens of patriarchal distortion, contains encoded wisdom about reclaiming agency, integrating trauma, and honoring the cyclical nature of death and rebirth.
To connect with Algol is to remember that there is power in the wound, vision in the dark, and liberation in the act of facing what society shuns. Medusa invites us to rewild ourselves—to shed the masks that make us palatable and instead embody the full spectrum of our being, even the parts that provoke discomfort or awe. In ritual, you might connect with Algol through mirror work, serpent symbolism, shadow integration practices, or by creating space for grief, rage, and ecstasy to coexist. Algol doesn’t demand perfection—she calls for presence, honesty, and the courage to look directly at what has been exiled, and in doing so, to retrieve the sacred power that lies there.
Algol, the most visible star in the constellation of Perseus, is also known as the Demon Star which is a rather menacing prognostic for the Full Moon. The stars of Perseus lie north of the ecliptic and express through the first half of Taurus. Perseus in the story of Andromeda and the Royal Family, is the hero who slays Medusa the Gorgon and rescues the princess Andromeda from being devoured by Cetus the Sea Monster. Perseus returns the princess to her parents King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia, the couple gets married and their first son, Perses, begins the history of Persia.
The stars in the constellation of Perseus express the quest in search of our destiny or place in the material world. Algol (astronomically Beta Persei) is the head of slain Medusa held in the hand of Perseus. To fight the demon Perseus cannot look at it directly but only in the reflection of his shield. Methaporically, this denotes the theme of our inner fears projected onto the external reality. We look at the monsters outside of the self, when in fact they are the repressed side of our psyche representing the shadow. This shadow repression conveys the energy of the Scorpio which is in the opposition to the constellation of Taurus. The fear and our shadow belong to the realm of Scorpio, and as they are being projected onto the material plane, we have to face our fears in order to transmute them and clear the path of our destiny – the star Algol initiates this process. The star brings us a physical challenge so as to activate our energies. It is that inner fear, that demon we need to slay in order to claim our creative personal power or be forever frozen (frozen Scorpio waters) in our tracks, unable to reach the fulfillment on this earthy plane and in this lifetime – a very pronounced theme on the Scorpio / Taurus axis which is highlighted by this Full Moon.
Ultimately, follow the grand rules of Astrofeminism and be mindful of the old patriarchal legends presenting women as menacing and evil. The story of Medusa encourages us to recognize our shadow side, so we can claim the dark feminine power as the source of transformation. Let this energy guide you rather than bring on irrational fear. Truth is there are a lot of successful people, including spiritual leaders with a prominent position of Algol on 2 degrees of Sidereal Taurus.
Jana Astanov, Medusa series, 2015
Western, Tropical Zodiac: Moon in Scorpio, Sun in Taurus
This Lunar Cycle started with a new moon on April 27th and culminates on May 12th with the Full Moon in Scorpio, in Western system and Libra, in Vedic.
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The Numinous Immersion: Emotional Alchemy and the Call of the North Node.
The Full Moon on May 12th, with the Moon at 22° Scorpio, forms a potent trine to the North Node at 25° Pisces, opening a channel for deep emotional insights and intuitive alignment with soul purpose. Scorpio’s penetrating energy invites us to confront what lies beneath the surface—be it emotional truths, ancestral patterns, or unconscious desires—while the trine to the North Node in Pisces encourages surrender, spiritual growth, and compassion as guiding principles.
This Full Moon illuminates the shadow with the promise of transformation, and the flowing trine between the Moon in Scorpio and North Node in Pisces suggests that healing and release can come through dreamwork, ritual, or immersion in the numinous. It’s a time when inner knowing and outer emotional expression align, revealing karmic openings or moments of destined understanding
Earth-based wisdom of the Sun-Uranus conjunction
On the opposite side of the sky, the Sun at 22° Taurus stands conjunct Uranus, sparking unexpected insights, shifts in self-worth, and awakenings connected to embodiment, resources, or Earth-based wisdom.
The Sun-Uranus conjunction in sextile to the Pisces North Node speaks of liberating ourselves from outdated values and embracing a more spiritually aligned path, particularly one that honors intuition and energetic sensitivity. This configuration invites us to step into the future not by pushing, but by listening—through attunement to our body, nature, and subtle signals. The sextile suggests opportunities to evolve if we are open to change and willing to detach from the known. Together, the lunation offers a dynamic interplay between inner transformation (Scorpio) and tangible, liberating shifts in how we live our values (Taurus), all in service of soul growth (Pisces).
Vedic, Sidereal: Moon in Libra, in Vishakha Nakshatra, Sun in Aries, in Krittika Nakshatra.
Moon in Vishakha Nakshatra
Vishakha Nakshatra is the 16th Nakshatra in Vedic astrology, spanning 20°00′ Libra to 3°20′ Scorpio in the zodiac. Vishakha is symbolized by a triumphant archway, representing goal-oriented focus and determination to succeed.
The presiding deities are Indra, king of the gods and Agni, the god of fire. Together, they represent power, transformation, and the ability to forge through challenges. Indra signifies leadership and authority, while Agni represents inner transformation and energy.
The archetypal energy of Vishakha is that of a warrior or seeker, constantly striving toward success or enlightenment. The influence of Indra and Agni creates a forceful energy that drives us to confront challenges head-on, often leading to victorious outcomes.
Vishakha’s wisdom
The lesson of Vishakha Nakshatra is about balance between material and spiritual pursuits. Vishakha teaches us that true success is not just about external achievements but also about inner transformation. The wisdom of this Nakshatra encourages to balance the ambitious drives with introspection, patience, and spiritual understanding. By doing so, we can achieve not only personal victories but also emotional and spiritual growth.
Vishakha Nakshatra carries the energy of transformation through action. Under its influence we should focus on balancing the need to achieve with emotional well-being and spiritual growth.
Sun in Krittika Nakshatra
Krittika Nakshatra is the third lunar mansion in Vedic astrology, it encompasses late Aries and early Taurus, spanning from 26°40′ Aries to 10° Taurus, ruled by the Sun, and Mars and Venus respectively. The Hindu deity that rules Krittika is Agni, the God of Fire who acts as the mediator between Heaven and Earth. He represents the sacred fire, used in rituals, meditation, and purification ceremonies which are particularly beneficial under the influence of this Moon Mansion. The other deity of this Nakshatra is Kartikeya, son of Shiva, whose foster mothers were the Krittikas known to us as the Pleiades or the “Seven Sisters”, the most mythical asterism of our skies.
Krittika Nakshatra is symbolized by a razor or knife, representing sharpness, precision, and the ability to cut through illusion.
Krittika’s wisdom
The key lesson of Krittika Nakshatra is to harness the transformative power of fire in a balanced and constructive way. While the fiery energy of Agni can purify and regenerate, it can also destroy when not used wisely. With strong energy of Krittika we must learn to balance the intellect and critical thinking with empathy and compassion, ensuring that our words and actions do not cause unnecessary harm. The wisdom of Krittika lies in its ability to cut through illusion and reveal the truth. Here, we are called to lead by example, using the clarity of vision and moral integrity to inspire others.
Krittika Nakshatra is a powerful force of transformation, clarity, and leadership. It teaches the value of cutting away what no longer serves and encourages individuals to step into their power with both confidence and compassion.
Wishing you a peaceful Full Moon
This Full Moon aligned with Algol invites a fierce reclamation of power, especially the kind that has been suppressed, shamed, or exiled. It’s a lunar moment that merges emotional intensity (Scorpio), revolutionary insight (Uranus), and soul-directed growth (North Node in Pisces), urging us to confront what has been buried and to transform it into wisdom. The presence of Algol—Medusa’s star—adds a mythic charge, reminding us that what has been demonized often holds sacred truth. This is a time to honor the wild feminine within and around us
Agni Jnana Yannanda
The One Who Speaks With The Stars
Agni Jnana is a poet, artist, and astrologer with a focus on Vedic, Western, and Star astrology. Originally from Poland’s Masuria Lake District, she now resides in the Shawangunk Mountains of upstate New York.
