I write this about this Full Moon with a very heavy heart as I reflect on the great deal of loss and suffering that has been inflicted in Southern California in the buildup to this lunation.
As of writing this, over 12,000 structures have been destroyed, 16 people have perished, and over 62 square miles of earth have been scorched. The palisades fire, the largest by far, is only 11% contained as of writing this.
It is not lost on me that this has been occuring in the build up to the full moon in Cancer, which, like all full moons, carries associations with release and letting go, with the actual content and focus of the release being determined by the sign placement of the lunation. Here in Cancer, the sign of the moon, the lessons and themes have always centered on comforts, attachments, safety blankets, and - uncomfortably enough - homes.
In the past, I have always written about the Cancer full moon being an opportunity to release comforts and attachments to things that stand in the way of the higher ideals and work that our spirit is pursuing. I’ve always intended this to be applied on a smaller-scale about small comforts or even addictions that make us feel nourished in the moment but might get in the way of our spiritual path. But now it would feel tone-deaf to write about the value of letting go of these kinds of practices when so many people have been forced to lose so much.
Sometimes, the universe takes things from us. Sometimes loss and release are less about optional opportunities to grow as people and more about undergoing nightmarish circumstances that we can’t escape.
There is a dark, malefic quality to everyone’s experience on earth that cannot be avoided. Nor should it be glossed over with trite platitude from the hippy new age gospel that loves to put positive reframes on everything and cast all suffering in the terms of “shadow integration” and “alchemization.”
To everyone reading this who has suffered from this extreme loss, know that my heart goes out to you. I’m attaching a link to a list of resources that may be of help to you here. And you can follow this link to find a list of restaurants that are offering free food to first responders and evacuees. We’ll be doing a group ritual for you in the school that I run with my wife.
I’ll provide some more astrological commentary and context to describe what I see going on. I hope that this can provide some helpful detachment and perspective that helps you to distance from the experience. For students and enthusiasts of astrology, I hope that this contributes to your astrological education and learning. For those reading this who have gone through recent tremendous loss, know that the work is already being done for you.
This full moon is occuring on Monday the 13th at 5:25pm in the sign of Cancer. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, the mother of the zodiac, giving Cancer extremely strong lunar themes of compassion, care, and material support for the goals and intentions of our spirits. Whereas the Sun rules the noetic light of our higher selves and the intentions they carry, the moon rules all the physical support structures that help the soul get where its going - from the environment and general context to the spirit’s physical vessel.
Being ruled by the mother of the zodiac, Cancer’s impulse is to take care of our needs, make us feel loved, and nourish us however possible. Cancer’s aim is to have what you need and feel materially and emotionally safe and suppported. The Sun, however, is in the sign of Capricorn. This sign is associated with asceticism, duty, and hard work. Instead of easily receiving what you need, you must learn to do without.
This full moon occurs during the Sun’s journey through Capricorn, which creates many opportunities to begin forming long-last, grounded change to our lives that will bring in the kind of world we would like to inhabit. We can create long-lasting change in our lives that sets us up to live the kind of life we are striving for. At the same time, it can bring some of the harshest lessons of the season - especially for people in the norther hemisphere living in the dead of winter. At the full moon, we are called to release attachments to people and things that get in the way of living the kind of life we actually want to be living.
We all have habits, behaviors, people, etc. that we use for emotional nourishment and fulfilment. They make us feel safe, okay, loved, and taken care of. There is nothing inherently wrong with the things that we use to make ourselves feel this way.
But sometimes the things that we use for emotional safety and nourishment actually keep us from living out our purpose, fulfilling our mission, and completing the work that we came here for. Ultimately, they inhibit our total flourishing, because we become so preoccupied with feeling safe and getting whatever we want that we can’t actually do the things that will make us truly happy.
In the end, we can become attached and addicted, and we live a miserable life that superficially should be enjoyable. We settle for instant satisfaction and behaviors that are nourishing on the surface, but that pale in comparison to the beauty of a life that can only be built through hard work and dedication.
Use this full moon period to release attachments to comforts and safety blankets that ultimately keep you from achieving what you want and building the kind of life for yourself that you dream of.
What is it that will make you truly happy? What must you do to truly achieve the life of your dreams? What attitudes and habits keep you from achieving this life?
And for those reading this for whom loss of possessions and comfort is not an abstraction or happening through choice: is it possible that, on the other side of this loss, there will be greater freedom, and greater connection what you actually want out of life, as you rebuild your material kingdom out of the ashes of what you have lost? Is there any part of you that may feel less weighed down?
This full moon is happening in close conjunction Mars in Cancer. Mars rules eruptions, violence, discord, and of course, fire. Mars is also in fall in Cancer, meaning that he has particularly nastier and more volatile.
It is noteworthy that the last time Mars went retrograde in a fire sign, a great swath of forests in Oregon went up in flame. I wondered if something similar would happen during this retrograde season, but I initially ascribed the action of this Mars retrograde to the killing of the United Healthcare CEO that occured during Mars’ station. From now on, I’ll always be more alert to potential fires and natural disasters when Mars retrogrades in fire signs.
Green Calcite is a specific for addiction withdrawal symptoms. Leopardskin Jasper works on addictions to more yang addictions such as caffeine and alcohol, and amethyst on more yin, numbing substances.
Let go of those safety blankets that you know you have outgrown. Don’t walk around with crutches after your body has healed. Don’t succumb to the numbness of a sterilized, pain-free existence. Create space for the divine energies of the heavens to fill your life with other things that are far more meaningful.
If you do, you will find more joy and happiness on the other side than you can ever get by remaining in your comfort zone.