Full Moon in Cancer: Where Waters Flow
Tonight the Moon shines full in the astrological sign of Cancer. This is a water sign whose ruling planet is the Moon, so the energy is intensely emotional, flowing and healing in its application. Wherever emotions have dried up, become stagnant or are blocked will be under the watchful gaze of the intuitive moon’s eye. Cancer is a Cardinal sign giving the additional support to get those waters moving smoothly and unimpeded as the Cardinal action of initializing stirs the murky depths. The potency of this Full Moon’s energy lies in the ability to connect fully with those aspects of yourself that nurture and feel most like “home” to you.
Being the first Full Moon of the year, there is great potential to reset the template we use to as our emotional response to our surroundings and those people within them. Cultivating strong and resilient emotional health is an important component in how we attract people and things that nurture and enable us to grow. A primary and natural directive of Cancer’s flow is to create stability, trust and love so that the individual may move through stormy and calm seas knowing that they are anchored and supported by friends, family and loved ones. An aspect that is often overlooked is that of self-care and self-love and the ability to “mother” yourself. Intuition or the “gut response” is developed when one allows the emotional tides to flow in accord with the natural laws that govern them, rather than setting up barriers and dams that shut down those gates of inspiration.
Venus is still retrograde and the call to reach back to heal relationships and the way in which we are governed by our emotions acts as amplification to the depth of insight to be gathered during a Cancerian Full Moon. It is this subtle balance between looking back at what has supported and nurtured; releasing what has not and moving what remains into the fullness of Mother Moon’s loving scrutiny. It is the tenderness and ruthlessness of this Mother’s love that creates the multiple streams of flow, opening her children to deeper connection one to the other; yet all deriving their strength and filter from the same Source and space of emotional strength.
When a Full Moon occurs, the Moon and Sun are in opposing astrological signs. This Full Moon occurs as the Sun is in the astrological sign of Capricorn- the Sea Goat. Capricorn is an Earth sign and its energy is focused on creating stable and structured foundations that enhance the manifest and physical experience. The dynamics of this Cancer (Water)/ Capricorn (Earth) polarity offers opportunity to hold onto that place of structure, strength and anchor (Sun in Capricorn) as we extend our intuitive (Moon) and emotional (in Cancer) nature outward. Imagine the waters of the ocean as the tides ebb and flow. As the tide comes in towards the shoreline it brings with it the bounty of whatever has been carried in with it. These shells, driftwood and sea creatures are caught in the continual flow that incrementally comes closer to the physical anchor of sand and shore. It enriches and adds to what has been previously accumulated and now acts as foundation. As the tide flows once again towards the immensity and vastness of the ocean, it carries with it some of these newly formed foundations. Particles of sand and more move out again towards the sea. This is the necessary cycle and this is the dynamics of opposites of movement working to support and enliven the other.
The Water/Earth polarity that is held within tonight’s Full Moon can aid us in bringing into manifestation a balance of self-love and love for others; emotions that are strong and intuitively guided grounded in both earth and Divine wisdom and the reinventing of the place(es) we call home and those we can turn to for support as family.
I would like to share with you a pathworking that may be used during this Full Moon’s energy as part of your personal working. It engages the elements of earth and sky, moon and your own inner sun of power.
A Pathworking of Release and Empowerment (1.)
Relax your mind and body as you sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and take 3 deep breaths; slowly inhaling 1..2..3 and exhaling.. 1..2..3. Allow your body to establish a gentle, even rhythm of breath; taking you to a restful, peaceful state of consciousness.
As your breathing becomes restful allow your consciousness to shift upwards; passing up through the ceiling of the room you are sitting in room and up through the roof of the building. Continue this ascent upwards and out into the moonlit sky. You are aware of the rooftops below and the velvety sky above.
As you travel upwards you become aware of a thick brown and green mist forming around you. You become aware of the smell of rich, loamy, brown earth and you feel the texture and support of soft brown dirt beneath your feet. You realize that you are standing in the midst of a lush green forest with trees forming a canopy above and the support of rich brown earth underfoot. Take a moment to take in the smells, the energy and the feel of this perfect space.
As you look towards the canopy of trees above you are aware of a glowing white orb slowing descending towards you. As this orb of pure white light descends to within arms length, you realize that this place and orb of healing light have been created to bind, contain and transform that which troubles or burdens you.
Now, in this place of perfect grounding and trust, give form to those things that you wish to release. Give form to those issues and situations which cause you concern. Give form to all that you feel is of challenge and obstacle at this time preventing you from being your highest self. With intent and will reach out, gather these forms together and push them into the center of the brilliance of the sphere in front of you binding them together into this single orb of release. Once the orb is filled with all that you wish to release, reach out and grasp it in your hands, holding it outstretched and away from you. Take a moment and take note of the feel and the weight of it. Feel the energy of all that you released to it pulsing within.
Slowly place the sphere into the softness of the earth below, pushing it deep within the ground and allowing the earth to absorb and transform that which has caused you concern. The Great Mother is taking this weight from you and offering you peace and relief. Brush the dirt from your hands and take a moment to savor the feeling of this lightness of being; of the weight of your burdens no longer a part of your being.
As you think on this, you become aware of something shining in the moonlight, and as you take a few steps forward you realize that it is the reflection of the surface of a small pond a few feet ahead of you. The water sparkles like diamonds in the moonlight and it radiates peace and serenity. You feel that if only you could touch it, and slide into the shimmering liquid that it would wash away all the remaining tension that you have.
Slowly you remove your clothes and drape them over the nearby bush. You step to the edge of the water, sit down on the grass and dangle your feet in the pond, noting that the water is surprisingly warm. The pond is not deep, so you slide in and sit with your head against the bank your head gently resting on the soft grass at water’s edge. As you close your eyes and relax into the warm water you feel all of the tension and concern slipping away; drawn deep into the cleansing waters. Take a moment and truly feel the peace and calm enveloping you. Rest in the gentle support of the healing waters and feel every cell of your being opening to renewal.
Something gently brushes against your feet and you open your eyes to see that a lily pad is floating towards you with something shiny on it. As the flower moves closer you notice a sparkling powder in the center. You take a little of the powder and wet it. It lathers and foams forming bubbles and you begin to wash your body with the foam. It tingles against your skin, energizing and revitalizing wherever it touches. Take a moment to relish the feel of this energizing foam and when you are ready slip down into the water and wash the foam from your body. As you wipe the water from your eyes you see that a goblet of fine crystal, filled with a golden liquid has been placed on the grassy edge of the pond. Curious, you take the goblet in your hand and hesitate a moment before lifting it to your lips. You only hesitate a moment because you know that you are in a place of perfect love and perfect trust and that all in this special place are gifts from the Goddess and Her world of Nature.
You slowly tilt the goblet and allow the liquid to flow down your throat and you know intuitively that this is a liqueur of inner strength and self-confidence. The nectar that all have savored who would live their truths and stay strong on their course of purpose. As the nectar fills your being, turn your thoughts to how you would wish to be a stronger person. What truths you would wish to manifest in your life. What the essence of the truth in your heart is and the ways in which you could walk your path in deeper trust and greater love.
As you finish the last drops of liquid you look around and now feel more solid, stable and more substantial and capable of handling any situation which may arise in your life. You gently place the empty goblet on the soft earth and put your clothes on; readying yourself to return to the physical world in a renewed and more loving state. You feel rested and imbued with inner peace. When you are dressed take another look at the pond and know within your heart that this place will always be waiting for you any time you have need. As this thought runs through you and you focus on the inner strength you now feel, you become aware that the pond and forest and earth are beginning to fade from sight. Everything swirling back into an olive colored mist and you feel yourself slowly descending down. You pass once again through the moonlit night sky and the tops of roofs become more visible as you descend downward. You pass easily through the outside of the building in which you began this journey and come to rest gently back in the room you started from. You become aware of your physical body resting comfortably in your room and as you gently allow your consciousness to slip back into your physical body you become more aware of the sounds, smells and energies in your space. Take a few deep breaths and when you are ready gently flutter your eyes open, returning to the here and now.
Resource:
The Enchanted Gate: Musings on the Magick of the Natural World
R. Fennelly. First Edition: February 2013
Temple of the Cosmic Spheres 