Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Full Moon @ 16 degrees Cancer 22'
January 6, 2023
3:08 PM PST
6:08 PM EST
This month's Full Moon in tropical Cancer is the first lunation of 2023, occurring just before the midpoint of Mercury's retrograde cycle in Capricorn. And forming a t-square with Chiron, this Full Moon has some critical healing breakthrough potential in the guise of sudden emotional/perceptual shifts.
The Moon is strongest in its home sign, Cancer, enhancing the feeling dimension, increasing sensitivity, and alongside its opposition to Mercury retrograde, empowering a reflective, retrospective outlook. As Full Moon's are natural moments of cumulative transition (and sometimes crisis), this lunation offers some enhanced opportunity for gaining clarity, insight, and a renewed point of view on an array of issues or situations brewing for some time.
Yet, the Moon in Cancer is all about feeling and intuiting into our experiences, and so shifts of mood, attitude, and gut feelings are likely to unfold alongside the cognitive dimension. And suppose we imagine the natural polarity and tension between Cancer/Capricorn. This is an interesting moment in which we can assess where we've been, what we've accomplished, and where we're headed (or where we'd like to be going).
It seems to be a perfect Full Moon for the start of the year, a time to check in on our emotional growth and development, tune in deeply, and assess what we desire to accomplish moving forward. There could be some synchronous mingling with the past (a sudden memory, running into an old acquaintance, or finding a forgotten item).
Yet, the most potent aspect of this Full Moon is Chiron's square and Uranus' aspects to both Sun/Mercury and Moon. There is the shadow dimension of this Full Moon that might amplify awareness of our vulnerabilities (or fears of vulnerability) or dwelling excessively on past mistakes/regrets. Of course, learning from the past is essential, but utilize this lunation for integration/processing of faults and fears.
Chiron invites us to accept/integrate our perceived defects rather than repress them. If you find yourself stuck in negative thought loops or perpetual "what if" moments, look to Uranus on the North Node in Taurus. Challenge how you've been approaching something, such as the traditional/conventional path, and open yourself to a new tactic or point of view. Actively seek a more radical position, if only as a thought experiment, and you'll begin to free up some space.