December’s Cold Full Moon in Cancer runs from the 28th until the 29th. Arriving during the time of year when in the Northern Hemisphere the land is traditionally at its coldest, this Full Moon’s name comes from the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) people: the easternmost tribe of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) in North America.
We commenced 2020 on January 10th with a Cancer Full Moon, and are ending with one too. In January, the Full Moon was accompanied by a Lunar Eclipse, lending it a more charged energy. This time around, our Full Moon in Cancer is substantially softer. Sensitive Cancer is ruled by the Moon, which represents our emotions and relationship with emotional needs and our sense of security. Self-nurturing has been a running theme throughout this fall and winter, and is a priority now as well.
Repressed emotions surface with help from “Awakener” Uranus known for bringing on change along with a bit of upheaval. 2020 is ending on big emotions, and Uranus helps us release and clear up things that need attention. This is an integral time to banish the vestiges of 2020 as we embark on this new road ushered in by the Great Conjunction. This release will be liberating, helping us lift the weight off our shoulders. Soothing centaur Chiron brings healing to guide us through this as gently as possible.
With Venus coming together with this Full Moon, we are drawn to reach out to our loved ones. As most of us will be sequestering for New Year’s Eve (author’s note: this is how I typically spend New Year’s Eve, as I follow my mom’s observation that it is a “holiday for amateurs”), why not schedule some video chats? Socially distant drinking and cursing the year that was is a great opportunity to spend time with friends who live far away. In a typical year, you might not normally ever get a chance to celebrate New Year’s with them, so use now to your advantage.
This is also a great time for switching up our day-to-day slog by picking up an old hobby or starting on a new one. The coming winter doldrums with an added layer of second wave lockdowns (at least in my neck of the woods) is a recipe for some sort of (hopefully not violent and way less dramatic) Shining situation. You’ll find that mixing things up and diving into a fun and fulfilling new project will clear the air and get your creative needs churning.
Interestingly, in numerology, 2020 is a number 4 year, while Cancer is the 4th zodiac sign. Number 4 in numerology is representative of the home, the authentic self and feeling at peace with who we are. 2020 was a year like no other, and themes of safety and security have been constants within the collective zeitgeist.
Over the course of this challenging year, we’ve had to learn to create a sense of safety for ourselves, to lean into the things that make us feel good, whatever they may be. The Moon comes to remind us that all the comfort, warmth and love we manifest are inherently from our very selves.