Full Moon Feels: A Cancer Full Moon Guide

Plus, this Week in the Stars January 13th - 19th, 2025

Before I jump into the bounty of the Full Moon and share insights on the week ahead, I’m excited to share that I got be a guest on my incredible friend and fellow astrologer’s podcast! First of all, if you aren’t following Alison Dale’s work, you should. She combines astrology, human design, i-ching, the genekeys and a myriad of other esoteric practices in an approachable and digestible way that gives such a holistic and fascinating perspective on the cycles of life. She is also a fabulous breath work practitioner and brings this into her work. Find her on IG or Substack under Astrosomatics and check-out my episode with her musing about Capricorn season as we enter the final week of the sea-goat!

Let’s Get Lunar: Your Guide to the Cancer Full Moon 🌕

We welcome the first Full Moon of 2025 on Monday, January 13th at 3:27 pm MST. We are still in Capricorn season, meaning we will be greeting our yearly Full Moon in Cancer. It feels quite auspicious to have the Full Moon in her home of Cancer on the day of the Moon, Mo(o)nday! To me, this is an indicator of finding a nest or safe space within the feelings that are inevitably going to be arising during this time.

Societally we haven't necessarily been taught to feel our feels or been told it's ok to cry, but this moon reminds us that not only is it safe to do those things, it's teaching us HOW to feel our feels. And honestly, it's a nice little wink from our evening luminary of support despite some of the challenges that may arise at this time due to the numerous aspects the Moon is making - the most major being a conjunction to Mars who is retrograde and a loose opposition to Pluto…woof to say the least. And ya know emotions are ALREADY bigger during the Full Moon - this is all just making everything even BIGGER.

The lunation will without a doubt be full of all sorts of feelings that have already been bubbling to the surface with Mars recently having retrograded back into the sign of Cancer. Our vulnerability can be a catalyst for so much else in our lives, and that's something to lean into.

Remember how we talked about Mars rx learning to crab walk through Cancer last week? Well, this Full Moon is amping up all those feels we've been side-stepping through. Societally we haven't necessarily been taught to feel our feels or been told it's ok to cry, but this moon reminds us that not only is it safe to do those things, it's actually teaching us HOW to feel our feels. Mars rx is adding an edge to these emotions - wanting to protect our soft spots while simultaneously needing to express them.

Here's the thing about Cancer that often gets overlooked imo - it's a cardinal sign, meaning it initiates. While we might think vulnerability makes us weak, it's often what propels us into our next chapter. Our sensitivity, when we actually let ourselves feel it, can be an invaluable compass.

Generally speaking the vibes are:

• Nostalgic af - old memories, relationships and patterns might be surfacing

• Reflective on structures of family, home or belonging - what needs to be addressed to turn the corner?

• This is a pivotal moment in the Mars retrograde cycle - what have you learned from this forced slow down?

• Mars may “fall” in Cancer, but you are learning that emotions can provide strategy. What kind of strategy is your internal, emotional landscape providing? How can you harvest the emotions of this time for later use or motivation?

• Your feelings might be your best compass right now - following them could be the path of least resistance (and honestly, we all deserve that rn)

• Learning to trust that your sensitivity is actually your superpower
  

The Transits at Play

This Full Moon comes with some potent planetary aspects that are asking us to feel it all:

Moon conjunct Mars Rx in Cancer

• Emotions and actions merge as Mars rx asks us to review HOW we respond to our feelings

• Old patterns around emotional reactions might surface (or have been resurfacing) - especially around family or home

• Pay attention to where you're getting defensive. Rather than acting from triggers, you have a chance to notice what makes you feel threatened and flip the script.

Moon sextile Uranus in Taurus

• You may find unexpected ways to meet emotional needs

• Excellent for breaking free from stale comfort zones or emotional ruts

• Could bring sudden clarity about what actually makes us feel secure vs what we're doing out of habit. Where can you experiment with new ways of creating safety and stability?
  

Moon trine Neptune in Pisces

• Dreams, intuition and synchronicities are turned up to 11 - pay attention, take notes!

• Perfect time for meditation, divination, or any practice that helps you drop into your feelings that this lunation is delivering

• Creative expression might help process emotions that are too big for words

Moon square to Chiron in Aries

• Old wounds around asserting our needs in family systems might get triggered

• An opportunity to notice where we abandon ourselves to keep others comfortable

• Are there mechanisms you have in place to protect little you, your inner child that could be updated? This could be a moment of reparenting or updating the iOS on some old or outdated means of protection.

Ritual Ideas:

1. Bath Magick: You know how much I love a ritual bath! I often joke that the bath tub is my favorite cauldron. It is also without fail where my greatest channel happens.
Sometimes the simplest, lowest effort rituals provide the deepest insights, and honestly, what we need most during this Full Moon is just a safe space to feel whatever may be coming up. The warm bath always creates that container for me - a place where I can cry, rest, connect dots, channel or just float. This Full Moon is going to look different for all of us, and the bathtub can provide the container for whatever may be coming up at this time.

Here’s my simple ritual:
Brew a large jar of tea with any mix of the following: lavender, mugwort, motherwort, jasmine or lemon balm. Add in 1/4 oat milk to your brew. Grab a journal and pen.
Run you bath and add in your favorite bath salts, asking that the salt provide you grounding and protection when you enter the bath. As the water runs state your intentions for this bath and ask the Moon and Water Sprits for their support at this time. Pour your tea and oat milk mixture into the bath. Allow yourself to soak in the goodness and connect with your intuition - write down any and all downloads that come through. Or cry. Or laugh. Or just feel warm and held. Let it be whatever it needs to be.

2. Inner Child Altar: What did little you need that they never got? Or what comfort objects did they always turn to that you've abandoned in your adulthood? Sometimes the most powerful magic comes from creating the safe space your inner child always needed.

Create Their Cozy Corner:

• Photos of young you

• Stuffed animals (old friends or new protectors)

• Favorite childhood snacks or treats

• Items in their favorite colors

• Soft blankets or pillows that feel nurturing

• Books that made you feel seen

• Art supplies for creative expression

• Special rocks, crystals, or treasures

• Notes of encouragement you wished you'd heard

• Objects that sparked joy or imagination

The point isn't to build an elaborate shrine - maybe it's just your softest blanket and a few precious items on your nightstand. What matters is creating a space that whispers "you're safe here, your feelings matter, and it's okay to need comfort."

Let this altar be a touchstone when big feelings arise. Visit it when you need grounding, add to it as memories surface about what little you loved, or simply sit with it when you need to feel held. During this Cancer Full Moon, this space can become your emotional sanctuary.

Remember: there's no wrong way to build this altar. Trust what calls to you - your inner child knows what they need. ✨


3. Community Care: A Prayer for LA
As we move through this powerful Cancer Full Moon—a time of emotional depth and collective nurturing—I find my heart with all the beings impacted by the fires in Los Angeles. I offer you to take a moment to embody the true spirit of Cancer: creating safety, offering support, and holding space for those who have been displaced or affected. If you have a way you are supporting LA at this time that others may want to partake in, please drop in the comments!

Beyond mutual aid, donations or time, clothing or other resources, I think it is important to extend magickal support. Here is an easy way to create and altar and send prayers to LA:

Create a simple altar with anything that represents LA to you. Add a candle, a small bowl of water and crystals for healing or protection. Create a circle of salt around your altar items. As you light the candle speak this prayer:

"Gentle Moon, with silvery grace, Wrap LA in your protective embrace.
Soothe the lands where embers raced, Comfort hearts have been displaced.
So mote it be and so it is.”


4: A Tarot Spread for the Full Moon

Card 1: What emotional pattern is ready for release

Card 2: What needs more protection right now

Card 3: How I can better nurture myself

Card 4: What strength I'm not seeing in my sensitivity

Card 5: Message from the Moon

Since the Full Moon falls on a Monday this week I combined by free and paid publications because it just made sense. To keep reading you will need to upgrade to a paid subscription (or free preview). What lies ahead is insight on the lunar cycle for the rest of the week, as well as an overview of the transits and what they may bring up or feel like.