Climbing the Mountain with Care at the Capricorn Full Moon
The Capricorn Full Moon takes place at 18°50' on Thursday, July 10th at 1:38pm Pacific/4:38pm Eastern.
The beauty of the Full Moon glow lights up the night sky, casting an orange tint upon the atmosphere that surrounds her. A brilliant reminder of magic in its simplest form, her presence rekindles the part of us that knows through feeling, that understands through immersing ourselves in the deep, inner world that contains our most secreted yearnings. Capable of captivating us in ways that only our souls can fathom, she shines light upon the places that are meant to be nurtured into shape and form, but only at the right time and in the right manner. Until then, we are encouraged to let her luminous nature brighten us from within and without, allowing ourselves to be entranced in her enchantments so that we might know them in all the ways we possibly can.
When the Full Moon is in the sign of Capricorn, it is perhaps the least romantic expression we’ll experience of this ‘Grand Celestial Lady’. Yet, there are gifts when the Moon is in the sign of the Father and the Elder, especially when the Sun is in Cancer, always that case at a Cap Full Moon. These we will eventually come to. Another consolation here is that with the “lucky planet” Jupiter in the sign of the Mother and the Healer for the next year, more of this intriguing lunar energy is prevalent in the Cosmos and therefore the Earth below, as well as within our own embodied experiences.
Cancer reminds us that we are here to learn self-care and self-nurturance through the story of our own lives, actively giving ourselves what we need psycho-spiritually, psycho-emotionally, physically, and energetically, in order to be the most clear versions of ourselves we can be. When we are willing to take the time and spend the energy in practices and activities that support this aim, tending to all the parts of ourselves that need a bit of TLC, we are more easily able to share the same sentiments and attitudes with those with whom we share our lives, offering these gifts as byproducts of important processes in which we’re regularly engaging. In other words, when we take care of ourselves in the ways we know we need to be, we are more likely to share this version of who we are with those who are closest to us, treating them with the care and respect they also likely need. We become more able to offer considerateness and compassion to the world around us simply because we have chosen to meet ourselves in a similar spirit. And in times like these, this certainly goes a long way.
Cancerian energy is traditionally associated with family, the land to which we are connected, and the place or places we call home. It reminds us of the importance of leaning into our biological families, as well as those we consider to be soul family, be they human, animal, or even plant, and to nourish ourselves with the company with whom we feel we truly belong, no matter which version of ourselves shows up on a given day. As mentioned in the Cancer New Moon post, we’re invited to deepen the connections with soul family of all sorts, basking in the energy we receive by the grace of belonging to it and them. Being tended to and nourished through these experiences calls upon the part of us that feels comfortable in itself, loved and supported because we are who we are, and we can then live that into our lives in more integrated and purposeful ways.
We are meant to feel deeply and fully, letting the rich, inner terrain show us what it knows and teach us what we may have forgotten along the way. We are similarly encouraged to steep ourselves in “the cave of the heart,” the space within that holds all possibilities, that in which we gestate our consciousness. The place that gives birth to all eventual realities, we are invited to immerse ourselves here in this innermost space to fully know the longings that live within, ultimately bringing them forth when the deepest part of us knows it is time to do so. Yet we must know them completely in a way that goes far beyond the mind, for this is Cancer’s approach and its gift. When it is time to give shape to them in the here and now, Cancer’s opposite sign, Capricorn, is of infinite help.
Capricorn, the legendary Sea-Goat of the zodiac, knows how to climb mountains, ford channels, and endure whatever may come, no matter how challenging things may get. It has a long game understanding of reality and is able to strategize in order to get where it needs to go, putting one foot in front of the other to make its dreams a reality. Inherently practical, Capricorn does not skimp on patience, for it knows how to see something through with perseverance and persistence. Its fortitude truly gets it far, as does its ability to follow through in every endeavor it undertakes.
When the Moon is here, we’ve the feeling of wanting to accomplish something we may have dreamt or begun long ago, continuing to carry the torch in a way that begets integrity and makes us elders through the long journey we’ve embarked upon. Even if we’ve chosen to shift our course here and there, we are meant to ultimately be energized by our pursuit, letting the deep dream we discovered within the cave of our hearts inspire our ability to manifest the seed that was once only that and has now begun to bear fruit.
Capricornian energy carries a fierce work ethic that certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, but assuaged by Cancer’s nurturing energy, it has the capacity to remember its mission, calling it forth from the depths of itself with forbearance, but also with grace and care. The axis of fullness between these two signs reminds us that “the journey of 10,000 steps begins with the first,” but even before this, there existed a soul longing that yearned to be fulfilled, and Capricorn’s ability to climb the mountain nourishes Cancer’s dream until it comes true. When we bridge the best of both energies, we recognize that it is practical to take care of ourselves on the approach to where we’re headed, honoring whatever arises in our emotional experiences so we don’t become bogged down by their weight. We learn that it is prudent to spend time with those we love, for they will not be here forever, and neither will we. We remember that tending to those we hold dear is nourishing to our own hearts, for climbing the mountain all by ourselves is necessary at times, but we are not meant to go the whole way alone.
There is a time and a place for the energy of the Great Mother, just as there is a time and a place for that of the Great Father. May we know how to engage with each appropriately and accordingly, tending to ourselves and others with love and care, so that we may climb the mountains we are meant to with fortitude and follow through, remembering that this life is where we are meant to nourish our dreams into reality, bringing the magic that is innately within into the outer world that is innately magical.
May your Full Moon be blessed, and may the beauty of this special time light you up in the deepest and most profound of ways.
