Full Moon in Cancer
Today marks the first full moon of 2023, and it’s in the watery sign of Cancer.
Cancer is represented by the Crab - a tough exterior with a soft, gushy inside. Ruled by the Moon, this water sign’s emotional state can be as ever-changing as the tides. Cancers, like Geminis (my Sun sign), are a series of walking contradictions, but at their core is the desire for security and a deep loyalty to those they love.
Use this full moon in Cancer to shed the armor you’ve built to keep yourself “safe,” and reconnect with your heart’s true desires. Free yourself from the burden of your armor’s heavy weight and bare your soul to someone who’s earned the right to hear your story. Note: that second part is important. Not everyone in our lives, regardless of their title (i.e. sister, mother, father, brother), has earned the right to experience the fullest expression of who we are. It would really be great if they did, but that isn’t always the case. So find someone who truly loves and accepts all facets of your authentic self (good and bad), and have a deep, soulful conversation with them about your fears and desires.
There’s always a lot of energy around renewing ourselves at the beginning of the year, so the first full moon is a great time to shake off anything we don’t want to take with us into this new year. Spend time healing and connecting with your emotional self and re-examine the stories you tell yourself, “the record that’s playing in your head,” as my therapist calls it. Or we can modernize it and think of our daily inner Spotify playlist. Are you playing track after track of negative self-talk? Constantly too hard on yourself for making a mistake or overanalyzing the ways you’ve been hurt, thinking the Universe is out to get you? Release those feelings. Get them down on paper first or share them with a trusted friend. Then, create a new playlist for your brain and fill it with positive affirmations. Full Moons are also a great time to express gratitude for what you have and take pride in your accomplishments. What are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing this past year, month, week, or even day? It doesn’t have to be related to your career. Actually, it’s better if it’s not. As I’m learning, many of us (including myself - BIG TIME) tie our self-worth to what we accomplish in our career. But then if our career goes south… well, so does our self-worth. So try to think of things you’re proud of that have nothing to do with “work.” Did you develop a self-care practice that you’re proud of? Meditate or do yoga regularly? Cancer is the sign of nurturance and as a cardinal sign, it’s also an initiator, so this is a great time to develop self-care practices. Did you finally forgive someone for a hurt you’ve been holding on to? How did you, personally, spiritually, grow this past year?
Releasing the negative self-talk, the doubts, the fears… with all that stripped away, what can you make room for? Set aside some time to meditate in a safe, quiet space. Tap into your third eye, your intuition, and ask yourself: What would I do if I knew I could not fail? Journal your response, and let this be your guiding light in 2023.
Cancer Full Moon Affirmations:
I have people in my life who love and accept me exactly as I am. Who truly “get” me.
I am an emotional being, and I trust and listen to my feelings.
I take care of myself first so that I can abundantly give to others. (This one is from Brittney Carmichael, one of my favorite self-love teachers.)
Cancer Full Moon Self-Care Rituals:
Have a heart-to-heart with a good friend.
Take a foot bath. (Or a full bath!)
Create a ritual to release your negative self-talk.
Meditate, connect to your third eye, and use the above journal prompt - “What would I do if I knew I could not fail?”
See which house Cancer falls in within your birth chart, and create your own self-care rituals around this aspect of your life.
*Take a look at where Cancer falls in your birth chart. If you don’t have one, you can create a free one at astro.com or astro-charts.com. It’s best if you know your exact birth time and location to create the most accurate chart based on your rising (aka “ascendant”) sign - the sign that was on the horizon at the moment of your birth - which changes every two hours. A birth chart based on your rising sign is much more specific to you, and will show you which planets and signs are in which houses. Look to which house Cancer is in and try to show some love to those aspects of your life. For example, as a Scorpio Rising, Cancer rules over my 9th house, the House of Adventure, Travel, Learning, and Expansion. Some good self-care rituals for me might involve getting out of my house and going somewhere new for a hike or a day trip. Or spending some time reading, learning something new, or completing a module in one of the many eCourses I’ve purchased that are collecting virtual dust.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post! It’s a little different than what I typically share on this blog, but part of my “resolutions” for this year is to incorporate my spirituality more into my daily life and businesses. So if you enjoyed this, you can look forward to more moon phase interpretations and self-care rituals, moonbeams!
🌙 Sami
