Mother & Child Reunion
This year’s Full Moon in Cancer falls with holidays in full swing. And in some kind of cosmic coincidence, it’s supporting and enhancing activities tied to the calendar down here on Planet Earth.
“The Cancer Full Moon lights up the parental axis, just in time for the annual celebration of the birth of a child.”
“Everything about this Full Moon is beautiful and its nurturing energy is just perfect for the Christmas season. It is also just fabulous for all festive indulgence and home-cooking that goes on at this time of year.”
-Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology
December 2018 Full Moon in Cancer
The December Full Moon is known as the Full Cold Moon, befitting the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. This year’s takes place one day after the solstice of December 21.
A Full Moon occurs when the Moon opposes the Sun. Emotions hit a crescendo, and all the more so when the Moon is in her home sign of Cancer.
Andrew Ifandis, Cosmos of Astrology, compares the Moon’s sign with the Sun in Capricorn:
A Full Moon in Cancer contrasts emotion with ambition, home with work, caring with responsibility.
In order to be able to provide for others we must find the provisions and this may sometimes make us so absorbed in the process of finding the means, that we forget our initial cause. A full moon in Cancer usually poses a dilemma between our need to feel secured and share love with our family, and our desire to be respected and successful.”
My forecast also examines the expression of the Cancer/Capricorn polarity:
“Issues of nurturing, caretaking, family and security are all over the cresting waves.
Do you feel safe? Cared for? Nourished? At home? Who’s the Mommy? Who’s the Daddy? Who’s the baby?
Answers, and reactions, will be all over the spectrum of maturity: pouty and cranky; tender, sensitive and loving; pragmatic and resourceful. It might bring heart-warming moments with loved ones…or drive home how unsupportive current conditions are.”
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Family issues may be complex, especially this time of year. Put baggage down for a minute, though. Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology, shows the positive potentials in the Moon’s family connection.
This position is very fertile, it has the feel of that spongy turf that grows around a lake and the water lilies that sit upon it. We are drawn to healing mud that this Full Moon in December has in abundance… The ambiance at this Full Moon is gentile and compromising. Those touched by this Full Moon will want to treat their loved ones like royalty. It’s a great period to do things that pamper yourself or indulge in home-made treats. Yay Christmas!”
The family connection is not only inescapable, but possibly cellular. Nicole O’Byrne, Inner Doorways, explains:
This is the season when family becomes our center focus and all the emotional stories that arrive when we are around the people that we love the most. Cancer is a water sign ruled by the Moon, she represents the Mother, how we nourish ourselves and how we perceive our life experiences. The Moon acts like a mirror, it reflects out into the world what we feel inside. Therefore, if our emotional bodies are feeling sensitive, protective and suspicious, our environment can become this reality. Being with a family that is loving or even hostile, they represent patterns within our DNA that we came to love, to heal and to learn from.”
Alpha & Omega
The Moon is at the very first degree of Cancer. My forecast describes the impact:
This Full Moon’s emotional culmination is raw, unfiltered and as non-rational as can be”
Arik Xander examines the effects of the Moon’s degree:
Whenever a Full Moon occurs in 0th degree, we have the unique opportunity to go back in time, to the seed level, and makes changes on the quantum level. This is because 0 represents the omega and alpha, where all potential is found and can be directed. It’s like having access to the command center of the archetype.
“With the Full Moon occurring in the 0th degree of the Cancer archetype, we can access the energy of the Summer Solstice, a time when the Sun begins to decrease in light. Interestingly enough, the Solar Month of Capricorn begins the Winter Solstice, when the light begins to increase. This year, the Winter Solstice begins on the Full Moon when we can connect back to the Summer Solstice to bring light back into our world at an accelerated rate….
“The house where this Full Moon at 0° Cancer is occurring is asking you to refill it with light and to repair connections. We will be able to not only stop interfering obstacles, but be able to make a strong connection to others, heal misunderstandings, avoid miscommunications, and express our heart’s desire. Codependent relationships can be released and we will find the perfect balance between work and home life.”
Open Sesame
As much as Cancer loves to cling to family and traditions, the skies are inviting the Crab to loosen its grip. Encouragement comes from the Moon’s out of sign sextile to Uranus, at the end of Aries.
Andrew Ifandis, Cosmos of Astrology, looks at what the radical change agent is offering to both luminaries.
“The Moon sextile to Uranus helps us to channel unconscious drives to home and family and to express them therein with truth and originality. Excitement becomes the prevailing mood that elevates the spirits of our loved ones.
“The Sun trine to Uranus is willing to change and move to new territory. Support is found and opportunities arise when we intuitively go with the flow and we remain open to the changes. We can easily make progress or try something new.”
Jamie Partridge, Astrology King, sees opportunity knocking.
“Moon sextile Uranus brings stimulating personal encounters and exciting events. You will feel more open to change in your life and may actively seek it out. This is a good Full Moon for trying something new in your domestic routine or personal life. You’re stronger than normal intuition can guide you in making quick decisions on which way to go.”
Liberation is on tap, even amid family ties, says Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology:
“Moon sextile Uranus brings an abundance of radical and innovative energy through an individual into the public eye. These are the worlds self-assured rebels who don’t give a fig about conforming to the status quo. The soft aspects bring to fruition personal freedom, revolution and electric genius that has been refined over many lifetimes. The more outlandish the subject behaves, the more the public seems to lap it up. The sextile is supposedly harmonious energy, but we still get some challenge with this aspect. Having such strong courage of one’s convictions will often provoke criticism, fear and even envy from the conformists. Often this aspect’s critics are the very people who would love to lead a more honest lifestyle but are far too constrained by the fear of being rejected by their fashion-conscious peers.”
Evolve & Fly
This Full Moon offers evolutionary growth you can believe in – and bank on. Andrew Ifandis, Cosmos of Astrology, finds this in the Moon’s opposition to the midpoint of Jupiter in Sagittarius and Pluto in Capricorn.
“This specific Full Moon in Cancer comes with a promise of fulfillment as it directly aspects the midpoint of Jupiter / Pluto at 00°02’ of Capricorn.
“The Jupiter / Pluto midpoint is potential for growth and wealth. A growth that can be spiritual, the result of transformative processes that expand us, or material, wealth that comes as the result of patience and accomplishments in our chosen profession.
“It is fortunate that the Sun of the lunation conjuncts this midpoint, an aspect that can bring success and ambitions met in professional matters.
“The Moon, directly opposite this midpoint, channels this growth potential right into the family dynamics. Success comes as the result of putting our hearts in what we do not only by self-ambition but also out of a genuine affection for our beloved ones in a responsible and practical manner.”
The Love Bug
Enveloping the Moon’s emotionality is a luscious trine between the lady and lord of love, Venus and Neptune, with Mars, ruler of our action, widely conjunct Neptune. They’re adding glamour, romance and gentleness. My forecast elaborates:
“The link casts a sweet, loving glow into the emotional tides. The aspect enhances the lure of memories and the sensation of living outside of ordinary time.
Now Venus is opening our hands and hearts to receive, to trust, believe and simply allow. And if we need a push, Mars is still close enough, just barely, to Neptune to go after what we want.
It’s the stuff of Hallmark Channel movies or commercials that end with a ring and a kiss.”
Says Jamie Partridge, Astrology King:
“Your love life will benefit from increased tenderness and compassion. While not particularly an indicator of steamy sex, this aspect encourages tender touch and smooching. Connecting to a companion at the spiritual level is more important, though tantric sex would be most enjoyable.”
Let It Begin With Me
The nurturing impulses and lovey-dovey vibe may lead back to a place you think unlikely at first: yourself. Saturn is sextiling both Venus and Neptune, and his current directive is: Grow up. My forecast explains:
“With this Moon’s line-up, being responsible to and for yourself could, paradoxically, involve letting the kid within come out. Maybe your parents didn’t do such a bang-up job years ago; maybe your current family, blood or chosen, isn’t adequately meeting your needs; maybe you haven’t taken good care of yourself either…but you’re in charge of you now.
“Saturn, the planet of adulting, is putting simple, incremental, concrete acts of stabilizing and commitment on offer. He’s in a door-opening aspect to both Venus and Neptune, who are making the doorways enticing indeed. Loving yourself, forgiving yourself, taking care of yourself are foundation pieces. They’re at your disposal now, and make it safe for your inner child to come out. And they provide a platform for extending love to others.”
Other considerations
The heavens are vast, and so are the techniques astrologers have used to explore them. Let’s look at how some of these add meaning, nuance and depth to the Full Moon in Cancer.
Fixed Stars
The closest is Menkalianan in the left shoulder of Auriga the Charioteer. Jamie Partridge, Astrology King, says it “is unhelpful when badly positioned. But the [Moon’s] sextile to Uranus means it should have little effect.”
Of greater impact is Betelgeuse in Orion, at 29 Gemini. Jamie Partridge, Astrology King, sums up its influence:
“Robson said it gives martial honor, preferment and wealth. Noonan adds great fortune and ‘kingly’ attributes.”
Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology, explores the underlying mythology:
“Betelgeuse is the famous bright red star in the shoulder of Orion. Technically this star belongs in Gemini decan 3, but it is close enough to this full Moon to make an impact. Orion is probably one of the easiest constellations to recognize in the sky with three stars in a row for Orion’s belt and the sapphire blue Rigel at his foot. This collection has fascinated sky watchers for millennia. For the Egyptians, Orion was Osiris, the greatest god of them all. The Greeks, however, rather down-graded him to the arrogant stalker of his huntress counterpart Artemis.
“Legend has it that the virgin goddess of the hunt grew annoyed at Orion’s constant boasting (That he could hunt down and dominate any animal on earth) so decided to bring him down a peg or two. She sent a scorpion to sting his foot, which made him blind. The fixed star Betelgeuse itself seems to have escaped most of the ill fortune suggested the mythology of the actual constellation, but as you will see in the research, sometimes Artemis’s punishment and the resulting rejection bleed through….
“Watch out for the scapegoating of Betelgeuse as Brady has said that ‘In extreme cases, members of one’s tribe are sacrificed to ensure the continued dominance of one’s genetic family.’”
Asteroids & Minor Planets
The Full Moon is making a t-square to Chiron, called the wounded healer and associated with overcoming abiding wounds to master physicality. My forecast explores the inherent dynamism:
“The love vibe could inspire you to get over family, parental and/or nurturing issues that have dogged you for years. The Full Moon is making an out-of-sign t-square to Chiron, who is in the final months of cleaning ancient wounds in the last degrees of Pisces. The configuration has the power to force healthier boundaries, to let people carry their own baggage, to shut down pity parties, maybe to move beyond feeling left out because you don’t celebrate Christmas and it is all around you. And to push you to make your own nurturing a priority. Perhaps see to it yourself, even.”
Decans
Each astrological sign can be divided into three sections, known as decans (10 degree divisions of the Zodiac). This Moon is in Cancer decan 1, which is ruled by Venus and the Moon.
In her forecast for the Full Moon Marina Marcario, Darkstar Astrology, notes:
“Moon in Cancer 1 inspires fantastic cooks and serves health therapists, especially those in the realms of nutrition or massage.”
In her general discussion of the decan, she elaborates:
“[The decan includes] the constellations of the Little Bear, the Twins, the Unicorn, the Dove and the Greater Dog….The Cancerian traits such as loyalty to the family, tenaciousness and grasping are made even stronger by the overlay of the dog of Canis Major’s loyal, devoted and faithful nature….Cancer decan 1 make formidable, outspoken fighters for the underdog and are relentless chasers of the truth….We mustn’t forget the magical Unicorn which is found here too. Cancer decan 1 show a fascination with magic and the moonlit sky at night.”
Sabian Symbols
Over the years, astrologers have devised systems to assign meaning to each degree of the Zodiac. The most popular of the past century has been the Sabian Symbols, proposed by Marc Edmund Jones.
The Sabian Symbol for the 1st degree of Cancer is: “On A Ship The Sailors Lower An Old Flag And Raise A New One.”
In his commentary on the Symbol, astrologer Dane Rudhyar gave as its Keynote, “A radical change of allegiance exteriorized in a symbolical act: a point of no return.”
Lunar Mansion
The Moon falls in Lunar Mansion 6, which the Arab astrologers called Al Nathrah (the Gap). Donna Woodwell of Donna Philosophica nicknamed it “The Eagle.”
The mansion’s purpose is to achieve victory.
Donna counsels: “Play to win. Focus effort on worthy goals. Challenge yourself. Celebrate your victories. Travel.
“Don’t: Run over others in your quest for glory. Give in to peer pressure. Give up.”
Summing It Up
This most emotional of Moons highlights family, traditions, home and nurturing. The lunation sparkles with love and glamour, and comes with doors that open onto new and freer possibilities.
My forecast suggests a game plan for it all:
“Celebrate magic, and memories, and lights that sparkle against a dark sky. Take comfort in traditions and favorite foods and, most of all, in the wonder of just being alive. Make wishes. Give hugs. Act on childlike impulses. Cut away the situations that hurt Open yourself to sustaining love. It’s a two-way street.”
Lunaria Datebook
Last Moon Phase: December New Moon in Sagittarius
Next Moon Phase: January New Moon in Capricorn
December 2018 Full Moon in Cancer Times and Dates:
San Francisco: Saturday, December 22, 9:48 a.m. PST
New York: Saturday, December 22, 12:48 p.m. EDT
São Paulo: Saturday, December 22, 3:48 p.m. BRST
London: Saturday, December 22, 5:48 p.m. BST
Istanbul: Saturday, December 22, 8:48 p.m. TRT
Mumbai: Saturday, December 22, 11:18 p.m. IST
Tokyo: Sunday, December 23 a.m. 2:48 JST
Sydney: Sunday, December 23, 4:48 a.m. AEST
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