Winter Solstice Full Moon Astro-Tarot
December's full moon falls less than twenty four hours after the Winter Solstice here in the northern hemisphere, the Sun's ingress into Capricorn. It's a powerful time, the peak energy of the full moon strengthening the rebirth of the Sun. Even more striking, the full moon takes place at 0° of the Cancer Capricorn axis. All of these combined give a kind of supercharged rebirth energy, a clean slate, a brand new beginning. I can't decide if it's the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end. People keep telling me hopefully that they are feeling a powerful shift, the potential for real change. I hope they're right.
With the Sun in Capricorn and the Moon in Cancer, any issues we have around security are likely to be brought out, to demand our attention. What structures have we built to keep ourselves safe, to give us a solid foundation? Cancer is the sign of the crab and people with strong Cancer energy are known for their ability to retreat into their shell at the first sign of danger. Emotional security is key to Cancerians, whereas those with strong Capricorn energy may be more likely to rely on social conventions and similar structures to give them a sense of stability. This full moon might bring up issues around our work-life balance, our need to earn a living (Capricorn) whilst also feeding our soul (Cancer). The work that feeds our soul may not be the work that pays us enough to live on, if it pays at all. To me, "work" as a concept has become distorted in our society. It's only work if you go to an office, sit at a desk, be an employee. If I look after someone else's child and get paid for it, it's work, but if spend my days looking after my own children, it's not "work" and I have to put up with snide remarks about how I spend all my time going out for coffee. Work is anything which requires us to make an effort - caring for our families and our homes, doing the work our souls are called to, it all counts. Our society has made caring Cancer energy something we have to fit in around our "proper" work. Which says something distinctly not complimentary about the way we live, if you ask me.
The full Moon makes a tense aspect to Venus, asking us to question what we value. Are we living our values, truly? What desires have we buried (Venus in Scorpio) in pursuit of material security, social status, a need to belong? All of these are triggered by the Cancer Capricorn axis.
I have to admit, this wisdom reading came out more hopeful than I expected. What do you think?
Solstice / Sun in Capricorn - What seeds are germinating in the winter dark? - Page of Arrows
The seeds of new ideas, new ways of thinking, innovative ways to connect with each other, with the world. The Page of Arrows can indicate messages, technology
Full Moon in Cancer - How can we care for ourselves and others better? - Two of Wands
By taking decisive action, by deciding how and where we focus our energy. And then leading by example. We can't change the world by just talking about it, we need to act.
Moon sesquiquadrate Venus - How are we nourishing our self-worth? - the Fool
Hmm. Self-worth born of spontaneity, of letting go of our fears, our insecurities, our "shoulds". We take the leap, we allow ourselves to emerge from the transforming pain and be our own beautiful unique selves.
All of these cards reinforce that sense of a powerful new beginning. It's a little like the energy of an Ace - we are on the cusp of something, but it's not clear yet quite what it might be, what form it might take. For now, we need to trust the process, to align ourselves with it, to allow it to develop rather than forcing it. We need to be the Fool, to dare to hope, to act from our hearts even when the world seems to be collapsing around us.
Personally, I'm feeling all expansive this week, with Jupiter hitting my MC and my Neptune in quick succession, and the news that I have finally, after over a decade of work, gained my astrology diploma. Plenty of Capricornian hard work to get there, but oh the sense of achievement!
On which note, don't forget - a third off full astrology readings in January - start your 2019 feeling as expansive as me!!