Astro Full Moon in Cancer
06/01/23 @ 23:07
All Hail & Welcome to the first Astro article of 2023; Astro Full Wolf Moon in Cancer.
It has been a tough couple of years for all of us in so many different ways. We have loved & lost, lived & learned. Everything we have experienced carries with it lessons which help us to grow into the people we are or are evolving into. Whether we have experienced the peculiarities in a good or bad way, there is always something we take from our lessons in life & we should be able to understand this with gratitude. We’ve experienced a lot of change & in affect our daily & personal lives have really taken the toll. In reflection, let us ask ourselves;
what has been my teacher?
What have I learned?
What gifts have I received from my experiences which I am grateful for?
What has helped my growth & evolution?
Astro articles are part of my journeyings through the zodiac wheel & Celtic wheel of the year in addition to the Ogham tree cycle. The aim is to present you with an interpretation of the intricate nature of our cyclical cosmos. I begin by discussing the international phenomenon of naming the moons for this month. I also provide links to sites with dates of celebrations & observances in a non-bias approach to all pathways. I will also discuss the astrological implications of this months full moon phase & how this may effect us. Finally I will list the coming months astronomical events for you to enjoy, weather permitting.
Its all in the cosmos my lovelies. The intricate weaving of the cosmic energies which have an effect on our planet & all flora & fauna, including us as part of the circle of life. So without further ado….
Naming the moons
Our January full moon is known by many names throughout the world. Depending on where you are or what your spiritual persuasion is, the names of the moon tend to represent an agricultural event relevant to your geographical area. The Native American tribes people named this moon ‘Old Moon’, ‘Wolf Moon’, ‘Ice Moon’, ‘Moon after Yule’ or ‘Winter Moon’. Montana tribes called it the ‘Hard Time Moon’. The Canadians named the January full moon ‘Dwarf Seal Moon’. It is easy to see connections to weather & changes of seasonal hunting in these particular names, but that is not always the case with moon names. In China this months full moon is named ‘Holiday Moon’. This is indicative of the holiday season preceding the Chinese New Year celebrations, which usually take place some time between January & the end of February & depends on the lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar. In India we are in the month of Paush which celebrates Paush Purnima & Shakambhari Purnima. This is a celebration of the Goddess Shakambhari who is a incarnation of the Goddess Durga. It is said that the Goddess appeared to her people after a 100 year drought. Legend has it that Shakambhari presented from her body; fruits, vegetables, green leaves, herbs & flowers; which she has become closely associated with, to suffice the hunger of her people. Rituals & Pujas are observed on this day in her honour.
The British Celtic Medieval names for January’s Full moon are ‘Wolf Moon’, ‘Stay Home Moon’ or ‘Moon after Yule’. The Celtic tree calender dictates that we will be in the month of the Birch tree, Beith, from the 24th December to 20th January. This is considered a moon with feminine aspects, known as ‘Moon of Inception’, ‘Moon of New Beginning’. It carries with it aspects of child protection, purification & creativity. The Coligny calendar names this month as Riuros, ‘Cold Time’….makes sense doesn’t it?
A List of non-bias celebrations & observances can be found here:-
Astrology
Our beautiful celestial satellite aka the Moon, will enter full phase on 6 January 2023 at approximately 23:07 GMT.( You can check the time for full phase here at https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/ by entering your geographical area).
The Moon traverses the zodiac constellations at a rate of approximately 2 1/4 days per sign. The January Full Moon will be nicely placed in its home sign of Cancer. As Cancer is governed by the Moon we can expect to feel the intuitive watery energies of this sign expand into our beings at a great amplification rate.
Cancer is represented by the crab, which carries its home on its back, so we can expect home, relationships, family, important female role models & motherly relationships to play a huge part of what is to come over this phase, as well as feeling protective of immediate family. We are being encouraged by the cosmos to recognise & release old patterns & ways of thinking, to clear the way of those things that have bound us & held us back from achieving the life we have been visualising. We are essentially being asked to re-weave our story the way we want to see it & live it to fulfilment. To enable this flow, we are being brought to a place from which we can recognise our own strength, courage, loyalty & desire to protect our loved ones, all of which are qualities of the sign of the crab. Moreover, at this time we are also encouraged to stand for what we believe in & protect what we really love.
Ask:
What is really important to me?
What do I care passionately about?
What fuels my incentive?
In addition, we will be experiencing the creation of foundations from within which will give us the necessary cornerstone for what we will be putting our energies into this year. Think carefully about this.
Ask:
What do I want to blossom in myself & my surroundings?
What roots will I put down to grow into a bountiful harvest this year?
Which seeds will serve this purpose?
Remember we are what we think, this is how intentions work. The more energy we put into something, the more we will reap from that space. You reap what you sow! With this in mind, what sort of harvest do you wish for this year?
The Moon represents our inner child, inner personality, the past, intuition, feelings & internal dialogue as well as that which we need. In Cancer we are given an opportunity to put our home affairs in order. This is the sign of the home & domesticity, love, unconditional love, home & roots.
In opposition we have the Sun in Earthy Capricorn. The Sun represents our ego, personality, the now, what people see of us. Capricorn is more about our external selves, our achievements, rewards, conditional love, our sense of duty, responsibilities to the outside world.
The Cancer-Capricorn polarity reveals a need to find balance between the oppositions in our lives. Needs versus wants, home versus work, unconditional love versus conditional love, watery intuitive Cancer Versus Earthy practical Capricorn. We must find the balance between the two in order to forge on in our lives. To ignore one or the other is to our own detriment & will cause imbalance & disharmony in our relationships, home, work & family environments, career & achievements. As we feel the opposing energies of Cancer versus Capricorn, we will be faced with working with both water & earth energies. Water can enrich the earth in which we plant our seeds , so again think carefully about which seeds we will sow for this coming year of growth. The space where water & Earth meet is also known to be liminal & this moon is still connected to the last year in terms of closure, so be mindful & gentle on yourself. Self care, honouring ourselves within a Cancer Moon can help us to realign with ourselves & our true nature, guiding us toward greater realisation & compassion.
Full Moon is a time of fruition & a culmination of that which we sowed at new moon or New Year. It is also a time of release. We may experience or have already been experiencing a heaviness, which has been asphyxiating or making us feel impotent, challenged or tense, which may have a lot to do with Mars & Mercury retrogrades. This heaviness needs to be released. Please do not feel pressure to do this now however, be aware of the mind playing out scenarios repeatedly or frustration & stagnation in areas of life which have become highlighted at this time. Sit with it & feel into it until the place of being OK with it has settled. This is a reminder to slow down & readjust the way in which we are seeing things, to go within & unveil inner authenticity, reflect, realign, reconnect to our shadow selves. When we honour ourselves in this manner, we are guided to exceptional compassion & deeper self love, we are conversing with our heart. Open it gently, a little more at a time to release that which binds, even if this is for the benefit of self preservation. Let this feeling grow & expand.
Ask:
What in my life is not moving forward & does it still excite my heart?
Where have I placed boundaries which need to be released to enable forward motion?
What excites my heart & soul?
How can I expand in these areas more effectively?
Planetary influences
I am aware of this section being a little confusing. If you can stick with this part, it may explain in more depth, some of the energies which fully present themselves during this phase alongside Full Moon. I have shortened my ramblings for you.
Mercury conjunct Sun in Capricorn - Mercury planet of communication, travel & business remains in retrograde until 18/1. With retrogrades we find a slowing down of all the planets’ qualities.
Think before speaking, be mindful of words. Try not to make any big decisions or life changing moves just yet, think on it first & prepare. Mercury can help in aiding constructive thinking.
Mars retrograde in Gemini, (biquintile Sun in Capricorn) - should have less effect but can add to rising tensions, fogginess, feeling stuck & introspective.
Reassess projects, desires & the way we approach situations to manifest our desire. Mars is Rx until 12/1, which will indicate a fresher & more physically active approach thereafter.
Consider these 2 in aiding the heaviness together for the Full Moon in Cancer phase!
Uranus in Taurus sextile full Moon - Uranus planet of chaos & unpredictability is expecting us to pay attention to our approach & beliefs toward personal possessions & money. Think about how & where we value or undervalue ourselves (our worth) in addition to what it is we value the most in life.
Uranus & North Node conjunct in Taurus - Just to add to the above, any areas we have neglected will be highlighted. These are areas in which this Cancer Full Moon is asking us to readjust, rethink & either reconnect or release.
Venus Square North Node in Taurus - Venus is all about relationships & finances. North Node is all about areas of neglect. These areas will be illuminated during this phase. Think about relationships, innovation, the greater good for all concerned.
Overall we are being asked to shake things up in an emotional capacity, readying ourselves for a burst of positive forward motion. The slogan “be prepared” comes to mind. We are facing a time of completion, an end entering into a new, well thought out beginning, in which we face making huge decisions around our independence & sovereignty. Through reconnection to our shadow, inner being & heart we can find a meaningful pathway to journey forward on. Ah great blessings of abundance!!!!
Astronomy
January’s astronomical events are as follows:-
3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower.
Quadrantids is an above average shower, producing up to 40 meteors per hour at peak. possibly produced by dust grains left behind by extinct comet ' 2003 EH1', discovered in 2003. Shower runs annually; January 1-5; peaks night of the 3rd - morning of 4th. A nearly full moon blocks out fainter meteors. You may still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing after midnight. Meteors radiate from constellation Bootes, appearing anywhere in the sky.
6 - Full Moon.
Moon located on opposite side of Earth as the Sun, its face fully illuminated. Phase occurs at 23:09 UTC.
21 - New Moon.
Moon located on same side of Earth as the Sun, will not be visible in the night sky. Phase occurs at 20:55 UTC. Best time of month for observing faint objects; galaxies, star clusters as no moonlight interferes.
30 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation.
Planet Mercury 25° from the Sun. Best time to view Mercury at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
And so we come to the end of the 1st astro article of 2023! I could ramble on this for hours but I'll save you the ear/ eye ache!
My blessings to you & gratitude for joining me on another cosmic adventure, journeying through the natural forces & cosmic tides. Blessed be , merry meet & merry meet again.
Please join me again at new moon on or around 21 January 2023 for Astro New Moon in Aquarius. Until then Be blessed in all you do.
In love, light & all betwixt
Sheela
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Credits
Publications
Hall, J, 2019, The Astrology Bible, Godsfield Press, Octopus Publishing, London
Online resources
Adhar, S. 2021, https://ancientfootprints.wixsite.com/ancientfootprints
Images
lovetoknowhorrorscope
NASA
wildchild.ca