The Past and the Present
The Moon is our refuge, our home, a place where we feel safe, a place where we belong. In Astrology, she gives us information about our habitual patterns of reaction, our unconscious habits, our emotional needs, and our style of emotional expression. The Moon has to do with how we instinctively try to generate conditions of safety and security, with what home means to us, and with what feels familiar and comfortable. Every month, we witness the Moon go through all of her phases, reminding us that change is always taking place, that life moves in cycles, and that nothing stays the same forever.
Full Moons are the peak moment of the lunar cycle and bring an energy of release, completion, and closure. These events offer us an invitation to celebrate our progress, reap the rewards of our work, and let go of what no longer serves us. At this time of the month, the light of the Sun fully illuminates the Moon, facilitating new insights into our emotional world, our deepest needs, and the patterns that drive us.
When the Moon is in her home sign of Cancer, the power of her symbolism is magnified and we feel her energy more strongly than we usually do: our emotions feel more intense and we feel more sensitive to everything around us. This Full Moon opens a window to our inner world, our past, and our unconscious, and encourages us to reflect on how our early experiences, our childhood wounds, and our ancestral and family history continue to shape our present reality.
Full Moon in Cancer: a Safe Space to Feel
Cancer is the first Water sign of the Zodiac, the first one through which we come into contact with the world of emotions and recognize our vulnerability and sensitivity. As a Cardinal sign, Cancer begins a new and unfamiliar process, a new evolutionary journey: at this point in the Zodiac, we are called to embark on a journey within.
The Moon in Cancer is now forming an exact opposition to the Sun in Capricorn, and this Full Moon brings the spotlight on our personal, spiritual, and emotional maturation journey. During Capricorn season, the light of the Cancer Full Moon draws us inward, encouraging us to nurture ourselves, slow down, and allow ourselves to pause and feel in a culture that praises exhaustion as a badge of honor.
Our emotional world demands our attention these days: this event invites us to connect with the feeling of home within ourselves and create a safe space to feel, the only place where true healing, growth, and transformation can occur.
Full Moon conjunct Mars, opposite Pluto, square Chiron
The Full Moon in Cancer is conjunct with retrograde Mars, opposite Pluto in the early degrees of Aquarius, and square Chiron in Aries.
The conjunction between the Full Moon and retrograde Mars suggests a high degree of defensiveness, reactivity, and impulsivity. Around this time, it can be easier to take everything personally and we have to make an effort to be aware of the difference between what is happening and what we feel is happening. Since Mars is retrograde, we are already working on developing emotional self-awareness and acting intentionally, rather than impulsively, when strong emotions are present. Around the time of the Cancer Full Moon, this process goes into the spotlight.
The Moon and retrograde Mars are also opposing Pluto in the early degrees of Aquarius. Pluto’s activation adds a layer of intensity to our experiences and offers us an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of what actually lies beneath the surface when we feel triggered, angry, or frustrated. The opposition between the Full Moon, Mars, and Pluto is an invitation to transform outdated emotional patterns, confront something we have been avoiding, and release what no longer serves our growth.
The square between the Sun, the Full Moon, and Chiron in Aries brings our attention to the present impact of unhealed wounds and unmet needs from our past and our childhood and encourages us to take responsibility to nurture ourselves and take care of our inner child. Chiron’s activation invites us to cultivate self-compassion as we move through unprocessed pain and struggle with the unglamorous, often lonely parts of our healing journey.
