Winter Solstice & Full Moon in Cancer: F%$k off 2018!

***Winter Solstice on December 21st, 2018 at 2:23pm (PST)***Full Moon 0° Cancer on December 22, 2018 at 9:48am (PST)***

Happy Winter Solstice my fellow spoonies and stargazers! I can’t remember the last time I was this eager to say goodbye to a year. Almost everyone I know has had a challenging year in some way or another. The good news is that we made it through the year of retrogrades, and are out of the shadows of all of them, with the exception of Chiron (we’ll be in the post shadow period of Chiron retrograde until February, but it is direct, and we can begin to move forward with our healing). The days are slowly getting longer, and the energy is going to feel lighter in the coming weeks. As the waxing moon lights up the longest night of the year, it’s time to release the past year and look towards what we want to bring about in the year ahead.

Let’s talk about Chiron…The full moon on Saturday morning is at home in the sign of Cancer. Looking at the chart for this moon, it feels like a good time to hibernate and swim around in our emotional waters. This full moon and the sun are in a square with Chiron—the “wounded healer” planetoid that helps us go inside and heal our deep emotional wounds. As a spoonie, I find Chiron transits particularly powerful—many of us find that our emotional wounds come out in our physical health, or at the very least can exacerbate our symptoms. Chiron recently went direct on December 8th, and we’ll be in its post retrograde shadow until February. This square is with the full moon and is really going to have us reviewing what wounds have been coming up since July 3rd (when Chiron first went retrograde)—look back to this past summer and think about what emotional wounds have come to the surface. The beauty of Chiron is that it offers us an opportunity to really look at those traumas and pain, and figure out how to heal them. This is a great moon to hibernate a little, give yourself time and space to open up and be fully connected with yourself.

With the full moon in Cancer lighting up this Chiron square, woooo are we gonna be feeling alllllll of the feelings. Let them out in a way that feels healthy and safe—full moons are for releasing, so try not to shy away from intense feelings or stuff them down. Sit with them, listen to what your pain has to say, and see how much of it you can let go. Sometimes that Cancer energy can have us wanting to hold onto our pain, so let this Chiron square shake it loose. Take a salt bath, listen to music that helps you cry and let it out, pull some tarot cards for a different perspective (or ask a friend to pull some for you), nurture yourself.
To find out which  areas of your life will be most affected by this Chiron transit, look in your chart for the houses that have Cancer (the moon rules Cancer, AND this full moon is at 0° Cancer) and Leo (the sun and Leo are like 🤞🏽). Look for this symbol in your chart to see which house it’s sparking healing for you: To see what house the full moon is lighting up, look for the Cancer symbol ♋️ close to 0°. You can get a free chart here.

On Dec. 17th we left the post shadow period of Venus retrograde, and on Dec. 24th we leave the post shadow of Mercury retrograde. If this moon has you feeling overwhelmed, hang in, things really are going to lighten up here soon and feel a little easier. Maybe you’re already feeling that a little bit!

Tarotscopes: Full Moon December 22, 2018

(Deck: the Constellation Tarot by Iryna 

Capricorn/Capricorn Rising (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19): This full moon lights up your 7th house of relationships and partnerships. What are you leaving behind, and what are you bringing in to this new year as far as your relationships go? What have you been healing in your relationships this year? The Cancer moon and the energy of Winter Solstice bring the opportunity to release old patterns in relationships that aren’t serving you, and can breathe new life, growth, and beginnings. I pulled Polaris (the Star in traditional tarot) for you Capricorns—hope, a happier outlook for the future. If you’re coming out of a period of things being shaken up, and you’ve been finding yourself in a position of rebuilding, this card brings a message of leaving the rubbish behind, and moving towards a more hopeful and healing energy.

Aquarius/Aquarius Rising (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18): This full moon falls in your 6th house of health and service to others, which also influences your routines and how you organize your life. This Cancer moon brings you the opportunity to let go of whatever is not working in your daily routines, your health patterns, your organizational systems. What can you release, and what do you want to bring into these areas of life with this new beginning? Write down the things you want to let go of, the parts of your routine that are unnecessary or holding you back, and set your intentions to let go of them. This is a particularly good moon to really amp up your self-care! I pulled the King of Pentacles for you—this moon could bring inspiration to your career (write down any business ideas that come up), motivate you in some way related to your health. Start those meditations you’ve been thinking about doing, try those restorative yoga videos, commit to a regular self-care routine.

Pisces/Pisces Rising (Feb. 19 – Mar. 20): This full moon lights up your 5th house of self-expression, creativity, romance, and pleasure. What do you want to let go of regarding how you express yourself to others? What do you want to bring into this new chapter—healthier romantic dynamics, more fulfilling activities just for the sake of joy, power in the vulnerability of expressing your truth? I pulled the 2 of Pentacles for you fierce fishies. Maybe you’ve been juggling a lot, and that’s not leaving much room for fun, for letting out creative energy, for feeling pleasure. Feeling something pleasurable is particularly important if you’re living with chronic pain, illness, or depression. We’re so often in survival mode, we forget to take time to just have fun. This Cancer moon wants you to nurture this part of your life—what can you release to make room for more of what makes you feel good?

Aries/Aries Rising (Mar. 21 – Apr. 19): This Cancer full moon falls in your 4th house of your foundations: home, security, children, parents/parenting, and nurturing. That makes this a good moon for some winter cleaning (getting your home organized and cozy—if you don’t have the spoons to do this by yourself, ask someone near and dear for a helping hand), and for connecting with loved ones you consider family. What are you letting go of in these areas of life, as this year wraps up? What can you let go of that is hindering your sense of safety, what behaviors in relationships with parents/children/family do you want to let go of? What do you want to bring in to this house in this new year? I pulled the 2 of swords for Aries. Where have you been feeling stuck between two clashing ideas/viewpoints/thoughts? If you’ve been putting off making a decision because there are things that make sense on both sides, this full moon could light your way to making a choice, or coming to a resolution.

Taurus/Taurus Rising (Apr. 20 – May 20): This full moon lights up your 3rd house of communications, neighbors, siblings, and short trips. What have you been working on this year in terms of how you communicate with the world around you, how you interact with your siblings (I think this can include soul siblings—people you feel that sibling energy with), even your neighborly interactions? What needs to change or be released in this area of life? Think about what has been coming up in this area, what you’ve been healing or want to heal. I pulled Corona Borealis (The Lovers in traditional tarot) for you bulls—while this card can sometimes be about romantic lovers, it’s very often about coming into harmony and balance, and sometimes about making a decision between two paths, making a choice of some kind. My feeling is that this Cancer moon brings an opportunity to nurture some of your close relationships, and perhaps shine a light on where you can heal and grow in the way you communicate your feelings, bringing things into balance for this fresh start and for the new year.

Gemini/Gemini Rising (May 21 – Jun. 20): This full moon in Cancer falls in your 2nd house of your physical surroundings, self-esteem, and personal finances. This makes it a good moon to tie up any boring financial matters that need wrapping up before the new year, and clear up anything around your home and material surroundings—what clutter can you clear, what can you let go of so that your immediate environment is pleasant and healthy? Clear out what you can,  so you can sink into the fun and magic of the season (even if you’re stuck at home, or are having trouble going out, it’s a good time to start some new traditions with friends and family—bring them to you). I pulled the Phoenix for you—in many ways this last full moon of the year is the culmination of a lot of the changes you’ve been making, and all you’ve been learning. This moon brings the opportunity to release what you don’t need, so that you can have this beautiful rebirth you’ve been working towards all year.

Cancer/Cancer Rising (Jun. 21 – Jul. 22): This full moon lights up your 1st house of self, beginnings, physical appearance, and leadership. This Cancer moon is already about a new beginning, so for us crabs we get an extra boost as this falls in our house of fresh starts. It’s a good time to set some hardcore intentions to let go of any harmful or negative self-talk and thoughts about ourselves, let go of any fears about change and new beginnings, so that we can embrace this new chapter ahead of us. I pulled the 7 of cups for us crabs—this is a good time to really think about what we want for ourselves in this new beginning. A lot of new choices and opportunities might be coming our way, and it will help to have a clear idea of what we want in advance.This is also a card for not letting things get too hectic or out of control, so remember to ground yourself this full moon, and nurture yourself.Now is the time to find some clarity about how you want to feel about yourself in this next phase. I know it can be hard for us to let go of past hurt, so try to give yourself some space to let it out this weekend.

Leo/Leo Rising (Jul. 23 – Aug. 22): This full moon falls in your 12th house of soul growth, endings, secrets, and things hidden beneath the surface. This has been a year of much learning and growth for so many of us, and this last full moon of the year doesn’t just signify the end of a big growth cycle; it also brings in a new year, a new cycle. What is wrapping up for you here at the end of the year? What has come to light, or been revealed to you this year, especially about yourself (and especially on a deeper, soul level)? I pulled Hercules (Strength in traditional tarot) for you lions. Take stock of all of the obstacles you’ve overcome this year, of all the inner strength and self control you’ve exerted through trying circumstances. Bring that strength and fortitude with you into this new year, and release self-doubt and hurt from the trials of the year past. You are stronger than you know, and like the Lion from Oz, you’ve had all the courage you need deep within you all along.

Virgo/Virgo Rising (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22): This full moon lights up your 11th house of goals, friends and acquaintances, inner purpose, hopes, and wishes. What are your hopes and dreams for the year ahead? What personal goals did you accomplish this year, and which of those have changed as you move into the year ahead? What disappointments can you let go of in any 11th house areas of life? If you have been feeling on the outskirts, or not as connected as you’d like to be, this moon marks a new beginning where you can begin to make new connections, and feel more a part of things. I pulled the 10 of Wands for you—what extra burdens have you been carrying this year, and which ones can you let go of to lighten your load? Take some time this weekend to look at where you can ease up on restricting yourself, or holding yourself back from hope, and letting go of all that weighs you down. This moon will help you release and free up room for new hopes and dreams, for new acquaintances and friendships, for finding connections again.

Libra/Libra Rising (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22): This full moon falls in your 10th house of career, reputation, and responsibility. This can be a difficult area of life to reflect on for spoonies—often our health issues prevent us from working, and it can be hard to think about our place in society when we compare ourselves to others. This full moon think about all that you contribute (often spoonies are some of the best emotional supporters, and that is extremely valuable to society), think about what you have accomplished with your health journey, with your own inner growth, with your relationships. If you are able to work, take this full moon time to look at what you have accomplished, see the opportunities ahead, and let go of any disappointments. I pulled Cetus the sea monster (the Devil in traditional tarot) for you—take an honest look at what brings you pleasure and joy, and see where you’ve been feeling restricted this year. Where can you release yourself from unnecessary restrictions that you’ve placed on yourself? While we often are restricted physically in many ways by our health issues, we can also unwittingly hold ourselves back in ways we don’t need to. This full moon could help shed a light on the unnecessary restrictions, and discover the keys you hold to open any locks that hold you back.

Scorpio/Scorpio Rising (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): This full moon lights up your 9th house of higher learning, travel, adventure, and personal philosophy. Think back to what you have learned this year, and where your belief system has changed or evolved. Are there any philosophies or beliefs you have been letting go of, or may have changed this past year? This moon could also bring you a sense of adventure, and while many of us might want to hibernate a bit, you might do well to stepout a bit, if you can. This moon can be really nice for you,  expand your mind, and ultimately could lighten up your spirit. I pulled the 9 of wands for you—this card is letting you know you have the strength and energy to get through this, you’re in the final push of what you’ve been working through. This is also a card that’s great if you’ve been facing adversity with your health and other 9th house areas of life. The 9 of Wands is letting you know you’ll come out of it ahead. You’ve worked hard for the stability you have, and it’s paying off in this new chapter ahead.

Sagittarius/Sagittarius Rising (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21): This full moon falls in your 8th house of transformation, feelings about change, sexuality, death, rebirth, how you handle crises, and others’ money. With the Cancer moon in this house, it could really stir up some intense emotions, especially surrounding the deep waters of the 8th house. If these strong feelings come up, try to let yourself feel them and release them without giving them too much power. Ground yourself in what is really important to you, and see where you can release any feelings of bitterness or resentment that could be holding you back. I pulled the 6 of wands for you fiery Sagittarians, a message that you’ve got this. Whatever emotional storms might brew this weekend, you’ve already been through the hardest stuff this past year. The 6 of Wands shows up when things are about to get better—everything you’ve been going through, working on, and struggling  with is going to work out okay—you’re coming into this new chapter victorious in some important way.

Health Notes

From medical astrologer Diane L. Cramer:
“Cancer, which is moist, can be fluctuating but tenacious. It is a sign of nurturing and protectiveness. It rules all coverings and containers in the body. It rules mucous membranes, the sinus cavities, cheeks of the face, bone marrow, the stomach, chest cavity, the uterus, pleura, body fluids, the endocardium, pericardium, meninges, the glycogen storage of the liver, the spleen in its storage capacity and the posterior pituitary gland. It also rules the breasts, eye sockets and the abdominal sac—the peritoneum. It rules chymification—gastric digestion and probably rules the rib cage in its role of protection. Cancer, rather than Capricorn, most likely rules the gallbladder since it is principally an organ of storage while Capricorn could rule gallstones.” —Diane L. Cramer  (How to Give an Astrological Health Reading)

Take extra care of these parts, especially if you already have issues in these areas of the body. As with any full moon, take more time for self-care this weekend.

Quotes From the Pros

(Click names to see their websites)

“Moon sextile Uranus brings an abundance of radical and innovative energy through an individual into the public eye. These are the worlds self-assured rebels who don’t give a fig about conforming to the status quo. The soft aspects brings to fruition personal freedom, revolution and electric genius that has been refined over many lifetimes. The more outlandish the subject behaves, the more the public seems to lap it up. The sextile is supposedly harmonious energy, but we still get some challenge with this aspect. Having such strong courage of one’s convictions will often provoke criticism, fear and even envy from the conformists. Often this aspect’s critics are the very people who would love to lead a more honest lifestyle but are far too constrained by the fear of being rejected by their fashion-conscious peers.”—Marina of Darkstar Astrology

“Cancer the Crab doesn’t let go easily; just look at those claws. Inside each of us there’s a little Cancer-shaped box with a secret cache of beloved objects, people, and memories that we treasure and hold on to for dear life. They make us feel connected with someone we used to be, someplace we used to live, or loved ones who are gone. Part of a glowing, lacquered shell of familiarity and warmth, these treasures feel like home.” —April Elliott Kent ”Astrological Transits”

“…you need to access your softness, your tenderness and vulnerability, nerability, and you need to create a safe and quiet space in which to allow yourself to reveal those insides, even if just to yourself. By the end of this progression you will be in touch with what nurtures you and what you want to nurture…The Cancer progression is not about fierce and relentless growth like Virgo is, where the sometimes harsh analysis of one’s flaws enables the problem (and its solution) to be identified, but about gentle ways of encouraging growth, by creating a safe environment ronment for something to blossom. Allowing yourself to catch up to yourself and swim a little in your feelings can help you learn to listen to what you need to inspire your gentle growth and healing.” —Amy Herring “Astrology of the Moon: An Illuminating Journey Through the Signs and Houses”

Hope you enjoyed these Winter Solstice musings and tarotscopes! See you in a few weeks for the first New Moon of the year! Lots of self-care and self-love until then! Comment below and let me know what you’re letting go of, what you want to bring in, or just share your thoughts with me!

Love & Solidarity,

Leah Ruthe Chatterjee