The Story of the Horse’s Head

 Full moon Monday 26 October 2026, 3:12pm AEDT, at 9 degrees Aries in Ashwini nakshatra.

Hello Seekers,

The symbol of this full moon is a horse’s head. The story behind it has the Sun, an angry wife, a housemaid called Shadow, and a very long chase across a field.

Why this full moon is a special one

This full moon closes Devi Paksha, the fortnight of the goddess. Every year it begins with the nine nights of Navaratri, and if you missed my series last week, go back and catch up.

Most people stop at the tenth day, the victory day. In the Vedic tradition the cycle really completes here, on this full moon, which almost always lands in Ashwini. The nakshatra of new beginnings.

It’s natural to fear what’s unknown and new. But there’s a lot of potential waiting on the other side of it. So the question for this full moon is simple. What are you going to do differently?

The story of Ashwini

Surya, the Sun, was so brilliant and so hot that nobody could stand to be near him. So his father divided him into twelve parts, each one a sun within its own universe. The bits whittled away became Shiva’s trident, Skanda’s spear and Vishnu’s discus. Not a bad offcut.

Surya married Sanjna, the daughter of the divine architect. Her name means intellect. Even the divided Sun was too intense for her, so she needed time away. Before she left, she asked her housemaid to look after her husband. The housemaid’s name was Chhaya. Chhaya means shadow.

She left her shadow in charge of her husband. Never leave your shadow in charge of anything, Seekers.

Surya fell for Chhaya. Sanjna came home, found out, and was so furious she turned herself into a mare and galloped away. Surya realised the grave mistake he’d made, turned himself into a stallion, and galloped right after her.

He finally caught her in a beautiful meadow, and the Ashwin twins were conceived and born. The two horsemen.

They became the physicians of the gods. They ride a golden chariot, bringing healing down to the earth. And Ashwini carries that power to heal quickly, and to reach things fast.

Sometimes something begins to heal because it’s finally allowed to move.

What the horse’s head is telling you

The symbol is a horse’s head, drawn from three stars in the Ram constellation. It shows the power of the horse, its headstrong nature, and the grace and beauty of a horse in flight. It also brings out the childlike part of you. This is a great place for the Moon when you’re starting a journey, and it wants you to act.

This full moon is in Aries, ruled by Mars. Aries says, “I’m here. This is where I stand.” It’s the first nakshatra of the zodiac, and it carries initiation, immediacy, and the instinct to move the second something is ready.

It can also bring frustration. You might find yourself wondering whether being true to yourself will disappoint someone.

A crowded room across the sky

Directly opposite this full moon, in Libra, you have Venus retrograde, Mercury retrograde, and the Sun debilitated. This is one crowded room.

Venus retrograde is taking you back through your values. What matters now. What actually feels reciprocal. What have you agreed to that needs another look? Even the agreements you made with yourself.

Mercury retrograde brings another layer. Something you thought was settled may need another look, because you’re hearing it differently now. Let him teach you to listen before you speak again.

The Sun, the leader, is debilitated in Libra. It’s hard to locate yourself when everyone else’s needs, expectations and opinions are in the room. So here’s the question for this full moon. Is your self worth based on someone else?

Saturn is also retrograde in the twelfth house from the Moon, so a lot of this is happening quietly, behind the scenes.

If you don’t know where Venus, Mercury and the Sun sit in your own chart, use my free Vedic birth chart calculator. It’s the button at the top of that page. You’ll also get an email showing you how to find your signs.

The shadow of Ashwini

Ashwini has a shadow too, and it’s impatience. Mars wants it done yesterday.

With Venus and Mercury both retrograde, I’d give some of these conversations room to breathe. Retrogrades take us back over territory. They let us hear something again and see it from another angle. Let the emotional charge settle before you decide whether to act or wait. What matters is that your relationship with yourself stays intact while you make your choices.

A practice for this full moon

I’ve put together a ritual you can do on this full moon. Comment MOON on my Instagram reel and I’ll send it to you, along with the link to my free birth chart calculator so you can see where Venus, Mercury and the Sun sit in your chart. You can also go straight to the calculator here.

This is a beautiful time to set intentions, and to reconnect with the self that’s emerging, the one you already feel right there. Take a deep breath, and move forward with awareness.

Until next time Seekers, with love and gratitude, Geoff.