January 12, 2016: Cancer Full Moon

On the Cancer Full Moon we often gain insights into the ways we contribute to both the world and the people to whom we are closest. We may also be better able to understand the role with which we are mainly identified, both by ourselves and others. This may be via the work we do, the family we nurture, the relationships that we tend, and/or other things that carve out our identity and bring us nurturance. Around this time, we may gain a greater sense of how we feel about the legacy we are creating and whether it truly aligns with our deepest needs and desires, whether it feeds the core of who we are.

We may feel extra sensitive around this Full Moon and experience a heightened need to feel safe, secure, and taken care of. At the same time, we may perceive that this conflicts with a desire to be a bedrock of strength for others. As such, it’s important to remember to own and express our feelings and that stating our needs is not a reflection of weakness but of internal strength.

This Full Moon may feel quite provocative and evocative. After all, it makes connections with Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto. It may be a time yet again when we are reminded of the importance of releasing that which is outworn, that which has past its expiration date, whether that be a habit, perspective, relationship, personal item, or something else. The subject of death, whether of someone we know or the idea of releasing something so that its hold over us begins to cease may also be something with which we strongly connect.

These experiences may come by way of surprises and out-of-the-blue occurrences. There’s an unexpected quality that streams through this time. This may not only be that events are unanticipated, it could be that our reactions are; for example, we may find that while in the past we weren’t open to a certain experience and held on tight to our regular patterns of being, we are more than ready to dive into something new, something fresh. We may very well be able to hear and respond to the siren’s song of opportunity for change, seeing it not as something threatening but as a ticket to an unbridled sense of personal freedom and authentic self-expression.

Also today, Venus unites with Neptune in Pisces. We are reminded of the healing potential of empathy and art, and how love can take many forms. Just watch out for the slippery: whether that's objects of value slipping through your fingertips or slippery people who spin a tale that's more smoke and mirrors than reliable.

This month’s Full Moon falls at 23 degrees of Capricorn (Sun) and Cancer (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 Capricorn, Cancer, or the other cardinal signs—Aries and Libra—it may impact you more intensely.

CANCER FULL MOON APOTHECARY SUGGESTIONS

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

Honeysuckle flower essence: With the Moon in Cancer, we may find that the past has 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.)

Frankincense essential oil: Frankincense is one of the most sacred of scents and one that aligns beautifully with the sagacity of Capricorn. Used in temple ceremonies for ages, it can help us to open to the mysteries of life as well as the cycles of creation and manifestation. Using it in a diffuser, adding some to a mister bottle of water to scent a room, or mixing it with a few drops of plain body oil and applying it as a perfume are some great ways to enjoy it. It’s also a great tonic for helping to support Capricorn-related rheumatic health so mix a drop or two with plain lotion, massaging it into your muscles, paying particular attention to your joints.

* The Full Moon is exact at 3:34 am PST