Winter Solstice and Cancer Full Moon 2018
December 21; 2:23 pm and December 22; 9:48am PST
December 21, 2018 marks the Winter Solstice, which is the official beginning of winter and the darkest day of the year. During this day, the Sun moves from the adventurous Fire sign, Sagittarius, to the steady, somber Earth sign of Capricorn. Ancient Solstice Festivals were the last big feasts before food became scarce during the hard winter months. The energy of this season encourages us to slow down and turn inward; to reflect on our experiences, growth, and evolution that occurred in the prior months. It’s a time for retreating and working on things in a ‘behind the scenes’ way. Use this time to review your goals in light of your accomplishments for this past year. Are you where you want to be physically, spiritually, emotionally, career-wise, and personally? If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, then adjust your plans accordingly. The period of Capricorn is, in many ways, a time when we prepare for a rebirth. As the Sun sets on the shortest day of the year, it rises the next bringing with it gradually increasing light and the opportunity to manifest what we want in life.
The day after the Solstice, at 9:48am we have a Full Moon at 0◦ Cancer. We have five consecutive Full Moons at 0◦, the first was November 22, and the Full Moon in April 2019 will be at 29◦. In astrology, 0◦ and 29◦ are critical points and signify strong energy of endings and beginnings. Adding to the energy of change, the power planet, Pluto, is crossing the Ecliptic, which it last did in 1930 and will not do again for another 161 years. It is also very close to the transiting South Node and that intensifies the evolutionary process. We all feel it and know it’s coming, and these energetic indicators tell us that 2019 will be year when we will see many changes.
This month’s Full Moon is in the cardinal sign of Cancer and sits on the World Axis. Cardinal signs tend to bring events into the open so we may see something significant that occurs from a global perspective. Perhaps, even some idea of how the major conjunction of Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter, occurring in early 2020, will manifest within world governments.
Every Full Moon is a culmination and, as such, can be an emotional time, but this Full Moon has the potential to be emotion on steroids. It is accompanied by Venus in Scorpio, and Mars, Neptune, and Chiron in Pisces. These are all emotional, intuitive, and sensitive water signs, with Scorpio being the most intense. We can expect to be ultra-sensitive emotionally and energetically. Tapping into our emotions and allowing them freedom can be very cathartic, so don’t hold back, but do consider protecting your energy field from unwanted intrusion. We’ll be more vulnerable during this time.
Change is always easier when we are on solid footing so use the strength of the Capricorn goat to ground yourself and decide how you will progress into the New Year. The New Moon of January is in the steady sign of Capricorn. This is the perfect time to put your intentions into action. Enjoy this holiday time, but also use it to get fully in touch with what you desire to manifest in 2019 so that you’re ready to go when the New Year opens. Happy Holidays!
… Beth Lauderdale, Evolutionary Astrology
