✦ Astrology, Adaptogens, and Staying Human in Inhumane Times ✦
Occurring after the intense crescendo of the Aries–Libra eclipse season, this upcoming Full Moon in Libra (March 12th) marks a major turning point. The Aries New Moon on March 28th brought the final solar eclipse on this axis, closing a powerful cycle centered around identity, relationships, and balance.
Just a day later, Neptune entered Aries—marking the beginning of a brand-new era.
We’re collectively being called to turn our visions into action, to stop dreaming and start doing. Idealism is shifting into embodiment.
We’re trying to find our footing in an entirely new landscape—one that’s still shifting beneath us, even as chaos builds all around.
And there is chaos. Things feel deeply out of control. From the ongoing genocide in Gaza to the violence in Sudan and Congo, from skyrocketing costs of living to healthcare and food insecurity, the collective strain is real.
We’re also watching the rights of women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities being stripped, our contributions erased, and ICE patrolling neighborhoods looking to snatch people away.
It’s an unrelenting assault on the senses—a constant barrage of grief, fear, anger, and injustice.
Add in the recent stock market crash that just occurred during Mercury’s final days in retrograde, and it’s no wonder so many of us feel fried to the core.
Everyone I talk to—friends, family, and loved ones—is saying the same thing: it feels like one thing after another, a compound weight of global grief and personal struggle.
The Medicine Belying this Full Moon
But here’s where the astrology of this Full Moon offers something potent.
Libra, the sign of this lunation, brings the medicine of balance, justice, and peace. It reminds us of our capacity to recalibrate, to find grace under pressure, and to stay centered—even as the world spins wildly out of control.
This is a Full Moon about regaining your sense of composure. About remembering your internal compass.
It’s not about pretending everything is fine—because we know it’s not fine right now.
It’s about learning how to stay grounded while holding compassion and space for your heartbreak, anger, and hope, all at once.
Now, let’s get into the specifics of this latest Full Moon—and how you can use it to care for yourself and others as we navigate this period of time and space together.
Astrological Breakdown: What’s Happening This Full Moon
This Full Moon acts as a bridge between last month’s Aries–Libra eclipse cycle and the energy we’re in now. You may find that events, realizations, or emotional breakthroughs from that cycle are still bleeding into this moment.
Many of the same themes—partnerships, identity, and how we relate to others and ourselves—may be returning to the forefront, asking for a second look or a deeper level of integration.
But let’s see what else is cooking under the hood of this Full Moon, Astrologically.
Venus Conjunct Saturn + Retrograde Ending
Venus goes direct the same day as this Full Moon—and she’s tightly conjunct Saturn.
Venus rules money, values, beauty, and relationships, while Saturn brings restriction, pressure, and contraction.
This combo reflects the financial strain and the general pressure we’re all feeling around the people, places, and things we attribute value to.
And with Mercury—who traditionally rules commerce and trade—just coming out of retrograde? It’s no wonder we’re seeing:
⟶ Stock Market Crashes
⟶ Tariff Drama
⟶ Collective financial instability and anxiety
If you’re biting your nails over the stock market right now (and honestly, who isn’t—because what the actual f—ck just happened?), let’s take a closer look at the astrology behind it.
Moon in Libra Squares Mars
The Moon in Libra is squaring Mars, and that matters. The Moon governs our instincts, intuition, and emotional reactivity. Mars rules action, impulse, and drive.
When these two clash—especially with the Moon in a sign like Libra, who’s all about balance and rationale—it creates a tension between taking time to weigh or survey the entirety of a situation with tact and making a knee-jerk reaction.
So, if you’re feeling wobbly, uncertain, or like you need to act now—pause. Just pause right now.
That’s the Mars square talking, pressuring you to act hastily or on a whim. Instead:
✦ Take a breath.
✦ Slow your racing thoughts.
✦ Hold off on any rash decisions, especially ones tied to finances, major changes, or emotional outbursts.
This is just one example of how this lunation can stir the pot. If there’s a situation that has you feeling rattled, overwhelmed, or reactive, give yourself some grace and breathing room.
The answer will come. It always does.
How to Work with This Full Moon from a Medical Astrology Perspective
Let’s talk about the embodied astrology of this Full Moon—and how you can care for yourself through herbal and food-based support.
In Medical Astrology, each axis or sign pair governs a specific system in the body, working in tandem to maintain balance.
⟶ For the Aries–Libra polarity, this duo is all about reactivity and regulation.
✦ Aries governs the adrenals
✦ Libra governs the kidneys
This axis plays out in how we metabolize both stress and pleasure, for better or for worse.
It also corresponds to the physical relationship between these organs—where the adrenal glands (Aries) sit directly atop the kidneys (Libra), which excrete hormones in response to stress.
Why This Lunation Might Hit the Body Hard
With the Full Moon in Libra, the system’s resting vital force can become easily overstimulated.
The Libra Moon usually craves calm and emotional equilibrium—but a Full Moon’s intensity, paired with everything else happening in the skies and on Earth, can push the body into overload.
Many of you may be noticing signs of what’s commonly called adrenal fatigue, which can include:
⟶ Fatigue + burnout
⟶ Hormonal imbalance
⟶ Low sex drive
⟶ Difficulty recovering from stress or illness
⟶ Brain fog or poor memory
⟶ A surge in unhealthy coping mechanisms as a result of being stuck in survival mode
This lunation acts like a stress test on both ends of this axis—Aries (adrenals) and Libra (kidneys + regulation)—which is why it can manifest as adrenal depletion or imbalance in the body.
What is Adrenal Fatigue?
In adrenal fatigue, the adrenal glands become imbalanced due to prolonged or intense stress—either from a single acute event or, more often, from chronic, compounding stressors over time.
When this happens, the body’s output of regulatory hormones becomes dysregulated, putting strain on nearly every major system, including:
⟶ Metabolism
⟶ Mood
⟶ Immune response
⟶ Hormonal balance
Cortisol dysregulation, in particular, can interfere with the body’s delicate hormonal equilibrium—especially the relationship between estrogen, progesterone, and insulin.
Rebuilding Adrenal Vitality Through Adaptogens
We know this lunation carries the potential to burn the candle at both ends—so how do we support the body, particularly the adrenals (Aries) and hormonal balance (Libra)?
Let’s start here: these herbs don’t remove stress (despite how they're often marketed). Instead, adaptogens help your body adapt to stress more efficiently, building resilience over time.
For adrenal fatigue, we want adaptogens that are specifically indicated for adrenal function and support the regulation of stress hormones like cortisol.
Here are some of my favorite adaptogens for adrenal support:
✦ Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) – deeply calming and restorative
✦ Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) – supports cortisol balance and energy retention
✦ Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) – immunomodulating and grounding
✦ Holy Basil / Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) – uplifts mood and balances stress response
⟶ Author’s note: I take powdered ashwagandha daily (in capsule form) and have for years. The difference in my stress response—especially compared to my college days is honestly wild.
Adaptogens are remarkable in that while we may not be able to remove all the stressors in our lives, they help us adapt, regulate, and find pathways for healthier coping mechanisms.
Libra’s Coping Tools: Soothing or Sabotaging?
Libra, ruled by Venus, seeks harmony through pleasure, beauty, and connection. But when under pressure, that desire for balance can spiral into overindulgence or a heavy reliance on external comfort.
Common coping tools include:
✦ Excessive sugar + salty food cravings
✦ Alcohol, caffeine, and energy drinks
✦ Dopamine-rewarding behaviors (scrolling, shopping, romantic fantasizing)
These aren’t just habits—they’re often unconscious attempts to restore equilibrium when we’re energetically and emotionally drained.
In adrenal fatigue, the body literally craves sugar and stimulants to make up for what it can’t naturally produce anymore.
Basically:
Stress → Fatigue → Cravings → Overstimulation → Crash Out → Repeat
But let’s be clear—this isn’t about cutting out joy. I’m never going to tell you to give up all your sweet treats—because same, I crave them too. Especially as someone with a Vata constitution in Ayurveda, a little sweetness actually grounds and nourishes me.
Instead of obsessing over what to restrict, I like to ask:
✦ What can I add to my diet that supports my body more fully?
Cravings—especially for sugar—are super common when we’re depleted or dealing with adrenal fatigue. But quality matters.
There’s a big difference between the natural sugars found in fruit, honey, and maple syrup, and the refined sugars in things like soda or those ultra-sugary coffee drinks (guilty—I used to get a ton of hidden sugar that way!)
These days, I gravitate toward:
⟶ Creamy, gently sweet dishes like malt-o-meal with soy milk, berries, flax meal, coconut flakes, and a splash of maple syrup.
⟶ Bright, refreshing desserts like fruit-based sorbets and smoothies.
This isn’t about being strict—it’s about being mindful.
Natural sugars can be incredibly supportive when used intentionally, especially for constitutions (like Vata) that benefit from warmth, grounding, and nourishment.
The key is balance and awareness—not restriction.
Final Thoughts
This Full Moon is a powerful threshold—for rehabilitation and recalibration amidst the chaos, grief, and global overwhelm.
It’s asking you to:
✦ Pause, balance, and integrate everything stirred up during eclipse season
✦ Acknowledge burnout, and allow space for rest and recalibration
✦ Reflect on your values—what really matters to you, and how has that shifted?
✦ Own your wounds without identifying with them
✦ Reconnect to your why: your dreams, your people, your purpose
The world is not a gentle place right now—but this lunation is encouraging softness within you in spite of this. It’s here to offer the clarity and grounding you need to move forward with intention.
It’s not about numbing yourself to the suffering. It’s about waking up, standing in your truth, and doing what you can to help shape a future that feels: more human, more connected, and more just.
Happy Full Moon.
And Till Next Time, Mythical One,
Ayame (あやめ)
