The Terrifying Catharsis which Restores Personal Agency
So this full moon, if you’re not already feeling it, is gonna be a doozy. Emotional (Cancer) and Intense (Capricorn)!! I for one am experiencing what I call dredging the lake for bodies. I was amazed at some old stuck emotions that came up yesterday to be felt and let go, things I thought were way in the past. Cancer is the sign of nostalgia, and her planet the Moon rules memory. With the Moon opposite her Palace, she is looking longingly toward home, and perhaps feeling all the feels of lost loves and past lives. Anchoring our hearts in this watery mess may feel a little difficult, but Venus in Cancer does lend us some assistance, reminding us that true love is eternal despite fleeting desires, and that home is really where the heart is no matter where you find yourself.
Cancer season asks the questions of vulnerability and security, nurture and comfort. What self soothing habits do you have which are healthy and nourishing, and which old patterns of anesthetizing and dissociation can be resolved at this time? It’s so important to remain hydrated and get the nutrition you need to support these emotional processes, to keep from descending into the depths of a catatonic stupor! We’re facing more than a usual full moon, we have a double opposition happening, increasing the push and pull of this polarity.
Pluto holds the Capricorn territory, long digging into that 26° point, he finds himself in a stand off with Venus today at 26° Cancer. Hades and Persephone are quite the dramatic domestic pair, and this opposition brings themes of sexual intensity, even violence, and can do a lot to stir up traumas that are associated with rape, stalking, or kidnapping. With the long standing separation between them every summer, I imagine Persephone would find herself in a sort of paralytic state of fear when faced with the inevitability of returning to Hell each winter, knowing she was powerless to change the circumstances. This opposition highlights the threat of these encounters, past and future, and will show us our deepest fears around the loss of agency in our lives. It may also serve to highlight our obsessive thoughts, bringing to the forefront of our minds the tape loops which play incessantly in the background, of what desires are repressed and which longings we are afraid of acting on.
The Moon will pass over Pluto shortly following the full lunation, as if she’s petitioning to him on behalf of Venus, maybe even tending to Pluto’s wounds as well. The Moon is the Mother of All and does not withhold her love or light, and here she is still shining brightly, casting benevolent rays of soft understanding. Perhaps she’ll pull the thorn from the lion’s paw and Pluto will be able to let go of his obsessive hold on Venus for the time being.
The Moon in Capricorn can be a bit cold, like today’s Solar Sabian symbol ( Cancer 3: AN ARCTIC EXPLORER LEADS A REINDEER THROUGH ICY CANYONS) and it was interesting to note a chill in the air last night… The danger with this lunation phase is in cutting off emotion because it’s too intense, and becoming a bit defensive or numb.
Mars in Leo gives us the courage we need to face our fears, and the ability to take loving action towards our goals. His coming opposition to Saturn in Aquarius helps us hold healthy boundaries with an open heart. Small mercies. 💘🙏 His health advice today is to get into the hot tub or sauna and sweat it out.
Journaling this Moon phase, you can ask the questions, where in life have I lost myself in victimization and powerlessness? How do I let past memories bog me down and prevent me from making empowered steps towards my goals? Which past events can I forgive now which will allow me to be lighter and more available to the present? What healthy personal comforts are available to me which can soothe my insecurities and ease my worries? Which relationships are safe for me at this time to express myself in a space of compassionate non-judgement, and which relationships are too toxic to continue on their current trajectory? What action steps can I take to resolve my fears by facing them with courage? How can i redirect my thoughts to more positive possibilities for the future so that I do not remain stuck in nostalgia or pain?
Happy Moon gazing everyone. Blessed be. 🙏♋💫
~Carri
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