Tuesday, December 29, 2020, the moon reaches full phase at 7:28 pm PST. In the sign of Cancer. The full moon is illuminating our feeling nature, possibly a sense of relief as some of the holiday celebrations and familial expectations have waned. In just a few days it is the new year, 2021. Who has not yearned for the change of the coming year? I am certain the desire to leave behind this year is unlike any other in our modern history.
Many of us have been situated in our homes riding out quarantine measures for the pandemic we are all dealing with daily. However, some are paying a high price for taking risks in the past month unprotected. Though not all spread is feasible to be controlled by your individual choices, sometimes there are unpleasant outcomes this past month and as the cycle moves to fullness, some who thought they were safe have landed in our local hospitals. Thanksgiving visits that come with challenging consequences, took hold at the new moon. Now we see an intensity once again of rising concerns of the safety of our environment. Moon symbolism is powerful in the way the tide of current events flows, as the moon waxes what has been in focus gains in weight of importance in our collective consciousness. Can you sense the increased focus on staying at home in the past two weeks?
It may have felt like some release this past summer, though brief when we lifted one phase to some limited interactions and restaurants at quarter capacity or outside only, later this fall many lockdowns have been re-instated sending us back into our dwelling places. This full moon in Cancer may feel irritable to some people simply for the enduring need to be at home, in the same four walls, with limited chance to connect with others. Good perhaps for physical health to avoid the virus, but poor for our mental and spiritual selves. Introverts may ride this enduring lockdown with greater ease than extroverts that get energized with socializing and interacting with others. Have you thought during this year about your own preferences for socializing? How have you changed? Has this experience put an emphasis on something you want more than ever now that you have lived in lockdown for an extended period?
For some people it is not a struggle, they have adapted and take each new day in stride. They feel safe from the outer world and home truly is safe and the true comfort zone. However, for some, it feels like a prison, as they yearn even more for places to go, or meet amongst others, the desire is increased, so risks are taken. Those who thrive in the exchanges with people, places to visit, but also many for the places they do their work, in environments that are away from their home. I highlight this as it brings into focus a part of astrology, the elements. Fire signs and air signs need each other, they thrive in social situations, so this year has been challenging to find their fire or the mental. Air signs did have more opportunity for learning, but that is not always what keeps their cups full, the social exchanges stimulate their minds and ideas too. Water and earth signs likely found it easier to endure the time at home, in a broad sense as there is a quality within earth and water, the yin ruled signs that have adaptability that flows when at home. If fire and air sign ruled people were on lockdown with other fire and air ruled individuals that would have been a blessing simply as they would have energized each other at various times, but also could have expressed hot tempers of frustration too. Consider your sun, moon, and ascendant what are the dominant elements of these three for you? How was that challenging for this period of 2020? Or what attributes made it easier for you to adapt?
We are not out of the woods yet on managing this situation. It will take time in 2021 too, I think many thought it would be a faster turn-around. But truth is, anytime Pluto is part of the mix as it was througout 2020, but especially at the conjunction on January 12, 2020, it is a good 18 months to two years before that quality of time (Pluto, death and transformation) really drive the changes of the time. Adding Saturn extends the time. What can alter that enduring time is Uranus. Uranus is the planet of liberation and sudden change relative to Saturn and Pluto. Uranus in Taurus is now widely square to Jupiter and Saturn, but note that Uranus is a planet of preciseness. It will have to touch exactly by the square with Jupiter first, that will be an opening but not always the most pleasant because it is a square aspect. The exact Jupiter square to Uranus happens on January 17, 2021, around 2:37 PM PST. Sunday just a few days before the presidential inauguration and over the MLK holiday weekend. However, on January 14 the moon transiting through Aquarius may trigger Jupiter and Uranus with 43 minutes exact square. Mars applying to the conjunction with Uranus increases the symbolism of the volatility of that day and the few days before and after as well. This full moon accentuates our feelings, so whatever yours are will be amplified. Have the holidays left you needing more sleep? It is more important than ever to take care of your body which also impacts your mental clarity, your spiritual center. Holidays can leave many people drained, perhaps dissatisfied in many ways, it can show up as irritation, exhaustion, or deep sadness. Often is related to the expectations we placed upon the holidays. Sometimes we simply need rest, a bit of exercise, and a return to our healthy habits. While working from home some routines go lax and it is up to us to put them back in order. Being of service is another way for some individuals to bring meaning and bridges a connection from your head to your heart and is integrated into your lived experience. I share these thoughts with compassion for everyone seeking to deepen their meaning to life that may seem heavily constrained and restricted by the present situation.
This full moon in Cancer is opposite Mercury in Capricorn (14 degrees). The moon applies to Mercury then will oppose Pluto on December 31st, though the moon does enter the sign of Leo on December 31st around 10:58 am PST. The opposition of the moon to Pluto will be difficult for many people, because first the Moon will make a square with Mars in Aries which will be a significant disruption, and then the intensity of the demanding and unrelenting opposition from Pluto in Capricorn. December 30th will be a challenging day, so keep that in mind for what you plan for your day. It is even more demanding in the evening hours (Pacific time) for those with late cardinal angles and planets. Just passed midnight as the moon perfects the opposition with Pluto. Around 5:45 am PST the moon December 31st, perfecting the square to Mars in Aries, so early morning Thursday remember to yield to the whatever is, resistance and acting out is Mars as a disruptor. Steer clear of conflicts. For the east coast, this is happening at 8:45 am EST. This energy combination can show up as fires, electrical in nature with Saturn in Aquarius and Mars in Aries, but also violence that erupts suddenly too.
Technology can be problematic with this energy combination as well. Venus on the south node of the moon, which rules Taurus where Uranus is transiting may tie in higher education, foreign affairs, foreign diplomats, money markets, and perhpas food issues in some way. We recently learned of the new bill headed to Congress to help individuals in the United States that are seeking financial relief from loss of work, this time a $2000 relief is being sought. Will it be enough to catch so many falling out of the safety nets we had in place in our systems? How will this past year shape how we build future safety nets for our communities for needed housing, financial services, unemployment? Will we evolve and think bigger with a new understanding and create long-lasting and containers that flex better than they did time? We are increasingly reminded in the news that we have an unprecedented wealth gap that continues. In the United States, we have so many areas of our society’s systems (Capricorn) that need an overhaul. This situation has taken many of our safety nets over the threshold. How will that take shape within this new understanding? This Cancer full moon may have us asking all these kinds of questions relative to what is needed for the safety of future generations in the event that something, like we have endured, could be experienced again. Cancer moon is interested in protecting too, with the sun in Capricorn, there is light on the responsibility of leadership to consider these questions deeply for the health of the nation.
And to illuminate a new chapter about to open, as we end this year, you may think — what is coming astrologically for January 2021 as we move to a critical moment with a change of power?
It is going to be intense. Really intense the second and especially the third week of January. It is worthy of a separate article just for that. I will cover more of it in the coming new moon blog in January.
I think it important to view the macro and micro perspectives that astrology offers. We all operate our lives within the macro. Big decisions and events impact us emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually in our lives. With Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius, there is a shift, but the cycle is still new and it will take time (the nature of Saturn) to see the change. Of course, every individual has something to consider in their lived experience relative to the ingress of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius, but unless each person is pursuing that in an inquiry from their own astrology the experience is likely to be less tangible, it simply is hard for someone outside the awareness of astrology with knowledge of the archetypal differences to grasp. Astrology will help you see the themes ahead, and it can provide insights into when there is change, and the intensity of it.
In a nutshell, it will take some time to see and feel an improved situation in our collective lived experience. One is the logical perspective, knowing that vaccines are being administered at this time to healthcare workers. And that will show up as fewer cases and an improved situation. The astrology end of January and February archetypally is truly compelling for some amazing scientific leaps when the Sun reaches Aquarius, but there will still be the quality of time embedded with it with Saturn in Aquarius. End of this month until January 6th, Mars is still problematic in Aries for many things as it squares Pluto in Capricorn. It will then move into Taurus, it will be dampened a bit in an earth sign compared to when it was in Aries. However, Mars will once again square Jupiter and Saturn however now in the fixed sign of Taurus and Aquarius. A good image for Mars in Taurus is having your foot on both the brake and the accelerator. Mars will be disruptive, but different in how it plays out for us. When Mars reaches Uranus in Taurus, that can be volatile for land, earth, and other material world things such as food, food distribution, maybe toilet paper again, but truly the distribution of goods. Money, property, and people’s possessions will have unexpected issues or events to deal with in that combination of energy. Mars and Uranus together will just through a wrench into well-laid plans, just expect that disruption in January. It will be a bumpy ride, so patience should be your mantra some days, and go with the flow on other days. Some people may purge belongings with this combination of energy too, it is not always a negative experience. Your yoga practice will push your edges during this time, you can increase your body awareness, but I would say a slow flow is going to take you further this next four to five weeks.
So, as you are contemplating 2021 at this full moon and taking inventory of your 2020 lived experience remember to write it down. Get it out of your mind and onto some material thing, the written page. Into your journal or just a blank sheet of paper write every feeling down! Then after letting it out, take a moment for grief where appropriate and then gratitude on what you know now, what you have now, health, family, home, whatever is truly felt deeply, and then step outside with a metal bowl and burn the paper, just let it go. Sign off 2020 in a blazing silver bowl and give back to the universe. Breathe in the air filling your lungs absolutely FULL and exhale as if you were blowing a kiss to the moon. Inhale and exhale a few times because your breath is life. Letting go of unlived dreams from this year, saying thanks for what you are, and what you have will start the new year with this space within you. Doing such a simple exercise is healing and you will find it really does open something within you where LIFE will naturally flow.
The full moon in Cancer at the 9th degree has the Sabian symbol as Blaine Bovee says, “A tiny nude miss reaching in the water for a fish.” This image speaks to an elusive catch. The thing that is ungraspable and not just in the outer world, but also from within, and innocence and vulnerability within all of it. Be okay with not having the answers and knowing exactly how it will go. The key I capture from what Blaine points out in his description of this symbolism is to relax, because only in the relaxed state will you be able to receive (Cancer/feminine/yin) that which cannot be caught from one’s pursuit of it.
What small things are you doing to relax into the flow?
Life moves slowly sometimes, and sometimes the season calls for hibernation, for us humans that is real rest, consecutive deep periods of sleep, and quality REM. May you feel the flow with this Cancer full moon especially when it is in a trine aspect (120-degree angle) with Neptune at 18 degrees 27 minutes around 1:30 pm on December 30th. Write a poem, paint something, put down some lyrics, ponder the simple beauty of the winter landscape, put together your puzzles slowly losing yourself to time. It is up to you how you let your feelings and emotions tell your story. You will be glad you gave the gift of going slow and with the flow. Namaste. Bless this moment.
Leave a Reply