Full Moon in Cancer

“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” Dorothy Gale, The Wizard of Oz

The time it takes for the moon to complete one orbit around the earth and return to the same phase – full moon to full moon, for example – is approximately 29.5 days, known as a synodic month. The moon appears full to us when it is positioned directly opposite the sun in the sky as observed from the earth. During a full moon the earth, moon, and sun are approximately positioned in a straight line. This alignment enhances the gravitational pull on the earth, leading to higher high tides and lower low tides, which we call spring tides. This gravitational interaction directly influences how our seas behave. It intensifies their peaks and troughs. This is a climax of not only light and energy, but also the dynamic movement and shape of water. This full moon takes place in the sign of Cancer, which is ruled by the moon and is the first water sign of the zodiac.

There is something very powerful about the full moon being in the sign it rules. It is totally at home here. Completely authentic. Cancer is deeply connected to home and what that means to us on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. In a healthy home environment, we are accepted and embraced for who we are. We feel safe. Most of us don’t give it all – our complete inner truth – to the external world. There are parts of ourselves that we keep to ourselves. Where is the safe place to be it all? Does our own inner home provide the total freedom of safety and support to be our authentic self; to express ourselves honestly and truly? Do we self-censor? This moon is an opportunity – an invitation – to deeply connect to the sanctuary within. As Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home.”

During a full moon, we work with an axis of energy, with the moon sitting in the opposite sign of the sun. During this full moon, we are working with the Cancer-Capricorn axis. As we have discussed, Cancer represents the home. By extension it is associated with the nurturer, the caregiver, and the archetypal mother. A role traditionally associated with the home. Capricorn, on the other hand, is associated with authority, structure, and responsibility – the archetypal father figure. Again, this parental figure is tied to the home and our experience of it. What this moon wants us to shine a light on is our inner parent. The way we talk to ourselves. The way we treat ourselves.

“To understand what functions the Inner Parent has, it is enough to remember real parents. What are parents responsible for? For the control of everything and everyone, for evaluating our successes and achievements, for support, for regulations, punishment, and encouragement. It is easy to guess that each of us has our own Inner Parent – kind, supportive, rigidly controlling, manipulative, blaming, devaluing, etc.

In fact, a good parent is the one that can be different: to a certain extent, they exercise control and set limits (because any child needs boundaries), and at the same time, they support and empathize, give a hug when you fall, praise, say encouraging words. However, often in our Inner Parents, only one function is realized – the negative one. It goes to great lengths to devalue, scold, give a slap on the wrist, or deprive of something important. And then our lives become sad and uncomfortable. How else could it be? There is no parental warmth … there are only slaps in the face and instructions.

To understand what YOUR Inner Parent is like, recall:

– What do you tell yourself when you make a mistake? Is this a supportive statement (“It’s OK, you can do it”, “Be patient a little”) or vice versa (“What an idiot!”, “Well, as always, you have to be so stupid!”)?

– Do you know how to support yourself? How do you do that?

– Do you have the right to make a mistake?

– What do you call yourself in difficult moments?”

This potent full moon in Cancer is offering us the opportunity to understand and change the way we inner parent. This is a portal for compassion, safety, nurture and safety. Tap into it. Quite simply, practice being nice to yourself and see what happens!

This full moon is the last of 2023 and takes place days after the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This is a natural time of reflection. To think about our journey through the year. To celebrate our successes and assess what we perceive to be failures (and these perceived failures may be related to the harsh voice of a critical inner parent). An expansive, positive sextile to Jupiter in Taurus helps support this self-reflection in a balanced and healthy way. It allows us to assess what has happened and then respond by opening up to the abundance that is possible; to materialising our dreams. A great way to celebrate our wins and talk our dreams into existence is discussing them with our most trusted and loved people. Make this a super fun, festive celebration!

How to work with the energy of this full moon? It is very simple. Be kind to yourself. If this is not easy for you, practice. Practice compassion. Use a soft-focus lens to look at 2023. Praise yourself. This is a moment of deep emotional clarity and, if we can meet it with self-compassion, it will be hugely transformative.

If you feel called to, this meditation by Kristin Neff is tailored specifically to cultivate self-compassion.

Image credit: : Francesco Ungaro on UnSplash

Inner Parent material from: Mind Spa

Lynsey Allett22 December 2023