Cancer Full Moon

Cancer Full Moon Times and Dates

Tuesday or Wednesday, 26 or 27 December 2023

4:33 PM, 26 December, West Coast, USA

7:33 PM, 26 December, East Coast, USA

1:33 AM, 27 December, Rome, Italy 

4 degrees Cancer

Full Moon in Cancer and the Capricorn Solstice

The full moon in Cancer happens after the solstice this year, which was on Thursday December 21. This is the time of the year where we have the shortest days in the northern hemisphere and the longest nights. If you are down under in the southern hemisphere, this marks the time of the year when you have your longest days and shortest nights.

I like to use the symbolism of the solstices and equinoxes as reminders for us to look at how we are managing balance in our lives. 

The solstices show us the extremes of imbalance through the amount of light and darkness we experience while the equinoxes show us balance through equal amounts of light and darkness, or sunlight and moonlight. 

Every year around this time we have the solstice, marked by when the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn.

Cancer Full Moon in Cancer and Sun in Capricorn

A full moon is when the Moon takes the most amount of light from the Sun, beaming its light from the opposite sign of the full moon. That means the Sun is in the opposite sign of Cancer, which is Capricorn. 

Cancer is a water sign known for its qualities of nurturing, sentimentality and sensitivity. The shadow side of Cancer is to approach things indirectly, moving sideways like the crab and potentially passive aggressive behavior.

The Sun is traveling through the zodiac sign Capricorn, an earth sign known for discipline, creating structure and proficiency in boundary setting. The shadow side of Capricorn is rigidity, ruthlessness, pessimism and controlling behavior.

Cardinal Mode of Cancer and Capricorn

Both Cancer and Capricorn are cardinal signs, which actively take leadership roles. As a water and cardinal sign, Cancer will not hesitate to take action and has the advantage of intuition. That means placements in Cancer have the tendency to act quick based on a hunch or what they feel is the right thing to do.

Capricorn is an earth and cardinal sign. Though it may not act as quickly as Cancer, Capricorn placements will take on a strategic leadership role. Using discipline, tenacity and a facts first approach, Capricorn moves steadily toward a goal and isn’t easily swayed from its leadership path.

Mercury Retrograde and Mars Conjunction

The full moon in Cancer takes place when Mercury is already retrograde and just after the holidays. For more information on Mercury retrograde in general, read the ‘Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide.’

Since we are living in the age of technology where the majority of us encounter a never ending stream of input from the television, computer, smart phones, and watches. Even our appliances and homes can talk to us now through the internet of things, it’s no surprise that we find ourselves busier and more tired than ever.

Mercury retrograde is a time best used for reviewing, refining and realigning things that have already started. Whether it’s a project, an unresolved issue in a relationship, starting a new business, or whatever is on your plate right now occupying your thoughts and time, take a pause and reflect back on those things.

Mercury retrograde started in Capricorn and moved into Sagittarius. Those are the two astrology houses that will give you more information on what is activated during this Mercury retrograde cycle. You can look up the meanings of those houses in my ‘Astrology Houses’ blog.

Look at the topics, themes and people associated with the houses of Sagittarius and Capricorn in your chart and reflect back on those themes looking back to late November. 

Full Moons are about releasing, culminations or endings, compromise, making choices, and bursting with energy. Remember that this full moon happens while Mercury is retrograde so this is a good time to let go and release those things that are slowing you down.

Mercury Retrograde and Mars Conjunction

Mercury retrograde is a time where you can become more aware of how to rework, redesign, refine or realign your priorities. With the Mercury retrograde conjunct the planet Mars in Sagittarius, there is an extra spark of energy. Your thoughts may go all over the place and your passion and creativity is heightened.

Plus, Mars conjunct Mercury retrograde is supercharging the Sagittarius part of your chart.

Take advantage of this time period to find creative solutions to things that are stuck. If you have been trying to untangle a problem or find a new way to push forward on something, Mars with Mercury retrograde may offer you a multitude of solutions.

You will get the most out of this energy by applying it to unresolved business and moving along projects that have already started. You may come up with a list of ideas to push things forward after the new year when Mercury goes direct.

Remember that your mind and thinking may be on fire, because that is the element of Sagittarius, where Mercury and Mars are conjunct.

Rather than fighting this period where mental thinking may be in high gear and going in all directions, grab a pen and paper and capture all of the creative ideas that come up for you during this last part of 2023.

Mercury will go direct right at the new year. By taking the time to rest and relax now, you will be ready to go and achieve your priorities as the new year kicks off.

Mercury Retrograde Dates:

• Pre-shadow: 25 November 2023

• Retrograde: 13 December 2023

• Direct: 1 January 2024

• Post-shadow: 20 January 2024

• 8.29 Capricorn to 22.11 Sagittarius

Mars and Mercury Retrograde Square Neptune

At the Cancer full moon, the Mars and Mercury retrograde conjunction will make a square with illusive Neptune. This can help with visioning, if you rely on your intuition. It can also mean that you struggle to sort out reality from illusion and can bring information to the forefront that may not be what it seems.

Mercury retrograde wants you to reflect back, and this is a warning that you may be seeing things differently than reality. It may be wishful thinking, you may be projecting or you may just be overly judgmental toward yourself. Keep in mind that your own perspective of the past is just that, yours.

Others may have a different perspective than you and this may be the theme of what you are sorting out during the Mercury retrograde. Reflect back and allow all of the information to come in. Be open to others versions of the past, but wait until after the new year to take action. By then, things should be more clear.

Personalize Astrology Reports Based on Your Chart

I always recommend that you look at your chart when listening to my video or reading my blog, or any other astrology report you tune into. By looking at the activated house(s) by finding the highlighted signs during a particular time period, you can get far more personalized information. 

If you don’t know your chart off the top of your head, or you haven’t gotten a free copy of your chart yet, go get it right now. You can get a free natal chart at Astro.com or Astro-Seek.com.

The signs activated by planetary movement at the Cancer full moon are: 

• Cancer, where the full moon is

• Capricorn, the sign the Sun is traveling through and shining its light from to the moon

• Sagittarius, where Mars and the Mercury retrograde are conjunct

• Pisces, where Saturn is traveling and square to the Sun and Moon just before the full moon

• Taurus, where Jupiter is making a trine to the full moon and trine the Sun

Look in your chart to see if you have placements in these signs, and particularly by degree. The houses that are activated may offer you insight as to what is happening for you.

By finding these signs in your chart occupying an astrology house, you will be able to see more personally what parts of your chart are activated. Understanding the topics, themes and people associated with those houses will give you the information you need to reflect deeper on the life themes coming up for you now.

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Chiron Goes Direct

I mention this even though many of you won’t notice this energy. But if Chiron is activating something in your chart, it can be significant. As a traditional astrologer I hadn’t used Chiron for a while in my work. But when I turned 51 and had a Chiron return, I took note. Chiron isn’t something to ignore in astrology.

This was reaffirmed for me as Chiron has transited over my natal Saturn and Moon placements in Aries. So I want to mention this to you in case you have a placement in your chart that is on or around 15 degrees of Aries, or the other cardinal signs Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

Chiron entered Aries in 2018 and it will remain there until June of 2026 when it will move into Taurus. Due to retrograde motion, it will dip back into Aries again later in 2026 through 2027 where it will stay for many years in Taurus. 

Chiron is a slow moving asteroid named after the centaur in Greek mythology. It will be felt by you if you have any placements in any of the cardinal signs around 15 degrees. The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. 

If you are 51 years old, you are experiencing a Chiron return. This year would be an important year to learn more about Chiron.

In your astrology chart, Chiron’s symbol looks like a lowercase k with an extended line and a circle underneath. It represents where we have experienced a wounding in our life and our effort to heal them. It represents where you can transform pain into power.

As humans, we all experience some type of wounding in life, it's part of the human experience. So don’t take this information to create pain today, but reflect back on how far you have come from any hurts from the past. Mercury retrograde at this time can help with reflection and reframing the past for healing.

Where Chiron is transiting can stir up some deep emotions if it is activating a natal placement in your chart. 

To work with Chiron energy, consider how you have grown and healed, where you have gained wisdom from wounding, how you have gained strength from vulnerability and how you have embraced your past hurts and transformed them through healing to strength.

Working with Chiron activations can help you gain greater self-awareness, foster compassion and signify a time of personal growth. Chiron's significance lies in its ability to show us how our deepest wounds can also be a source of strength, and how we can heal others through our own inner work.

Use a small orb of degree when you look at your chart to see if Chiron is active now in your chart.

Jupiter, Saturn, Sun and Cancer Full Moon

The sextile between the Moon and Jupiter and trine between the Sun and Jupiter is pleasant. The energetic vibes of these aspects brings in some optimism and extra energy. Jupiter is in Taurus and the Sun is in Capricorn, both earth signs.

Earth signs are practical and are about manifesting something that is tangible. This is grounding energy that will help you work with the Mercury retrograde in a more practical way. Mercury retrograde is in fire sign Sagittarius along with Mars. 

Sagittarius is a fire sign that can run away and disperse if it is unchecked. Jupiter making contact with the Sun and Moon at the Cancer full moon helps keep your feet on the ground as you work with the variety of energetics going on at the full moon.

As the Sun and Moon move toward their aspects with Jupiter at the full moon, they are moving away from aspecting Saturn. This reinforces the grounding quality of the full moon. You have Jupiter, the gas pedal feeding you smooth and easy energy to envision and Saturn, the brake, to remind you to stay within the guard rails.

These aspects will pass quickly, but will be prominent at the Cancer full moon. 

Cancer Full Moon Inspirational Quote

The Cancer Full Moon Quote I found for you is from the wrapper of a Dove mini chocolate. I love this quote and I think it’s fitting as we emerge from the Capricorn solstice, continue through the Mercury retrograde, complete 2023 and work with full moon energy. 

‘When life isn’t going right, go left.’ -Haylea S., South Dakota

Cancer Full Moon Activity Ideas

• Do a full moon ritual for Cancer’s element water, use my guide with a ritual for each element by clicking here

• Go with the flow of Mercury retrograde by engaging in reflection, through this process, you can resolve unfinished relationship issues, refine projects and realign your goals

• Rest and relax

• Make comfort food that feels nurturing to you

• Cancer is a sentimental sign that relates to family and tradition, make a family recipe or pick up food that is in your family’s tradition and culture

• It’s the holidays so spend time with those you love, whether it’s your family of origin or your family that you have chosen, spending time relaxing with those you love is the best way to honor, nurture and care for yourself

• Do an end of the year 2023 ritual and feel free to use mine:

• Write a list of what you accomplished and what you are proud of

• Write a list of what you are happy to leave behind in 2023

• Review last years goals if you wrote them

• Write goals for 2024, including your well-being plan

• Create a vision board based on your goals

Cancer Full Moon Wrap Up

The Cancer full moon in December of 2023 collides with Mercury retrograde and arrives days after the Capricorn solstice. Finish off the year by reflecting back so you can refine, realign and solidify your plan for 2024. Jupiter sends helpful vibes while Mars sparks the Mercury retrograde with a boost of energy.

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