July 19, 2016: Capricorn Full Moon (exact at 3:56 pm PDT)

Issues of security are brought to the forefront during the Capricorn Full Moon. It urges us to look at our life through the lens of the questions, “Where do I feel at home?” and “How can I feel more safe and protected regardless of where I am?” and "What structures do I need to put in place so that I can further trust that I am nurturing myself?" In pure Capricorn fashion, these aren’t light-hearted questions, but they are ones whose answers can provide us with the riches of insight to live a more integrated and productive life.

What’s also highlighted during this Full Moon is the importance of maintaining a balanced sense of perspective. Cancer inspires us to both feel as well as value our feelings. It has flowing, soft, and undulating energy. Capricorn, on the other hand, is not focused as much on feelings but rather on diligent and responsible approaches to accomplishing tangible outcomes. The question becomes how the nurturer (Cancer) and the achiever (Capricorn) can co-exist.

One way it can be done is that instead of wallowing in our emotions, we take a serious look at them, inventorying what they may be revealing. Once insights are gleaned, see what practical ways you take action to structure facets of your life so that they will further nourish you. Also, with this Full Moon, we are reminded that while the past is essential, it’s important not to get stuck in it.

What came before may be an integral part of who you are but don’t let it pull you from the joys of the present. “Be here now,” as Ram Dass is famous for saying. Recognize that what you may have inherited is only one aspect of you, and while it may hold some value for helping you to build your own personal legacy, you are so much more than your past and from where you came.

With both Mercury and Venus connecting to Saturn, we may find that a recent understanding of the importance of finding and using our voice continues to gain our attention. We may become more aware of the work that's required to refine our ability to communicate in a heart-centered way.

This month’s Full Moon falls at 28 degrees of Cancer (Sun) and Capricorn (Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a Full Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Cancer, Capricorn, or the other cardinal signs—Aries and Libra—it may impact you more intensely.

CAPRICORN FULL MOON APOTHECARY SUGGESTIONS

Cancer is associated with the stomach, sinuses, body fluids, and breasts while Capricorn is associated with the skin, skeletal system, and joints. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this Full Moon.

Honeysuckle flower essence: Sometimes the past seems to have a pincer grip on us, just like the claws of a crab, the symbol for Cancer. When this happens, it can lead to a reduction in vitality, disturbing our ability to maintain the sense of presence required to fully participate in the present. If you need some energetic assistance releasing the shrouds of wistfulness and making peace with the past, consider trying Honeysuckle flower essence. (Flower essences are made from flower-infused water and work energetically to restore emotional and mental balance. You can find them in natural food stores or holistic pharmacies.)

Turtle meditation: The turtle, the animal that carries his home on his back no matter where he travels, is a great image to focus upon during this Full Moon. Invoke the image of the turtle today in your meditation, or even just look at pictures and read about these wise hard-shelled animals. The turtle is a great symbol of inner wisdom, a deliberate approach to life, and the sense of self-protection inherent within all of us.