Soli-Lunar Cycle: Full Moon, Capricorn/Cancer, January 6

The Full Moon occurs on January 6 at 3:08 pm PT with the Sun at 16° Capricorn and the Moon at 16° Cancer. A mere 14 hours thereafter, the Inferior Conjunction between the Sun and retrograde Mercury follows on January 7 at the same degree. When two significant transits occur synchronistically, they become more intense and often even unpredictable. These two transits are quite different in nature. The Full Moon is a time of culmination and realization, while the Inferior Conjunction resembles a New Moon, where a seed idea begins to germinate, but its nature is amorphous. To remain grounded, effort must be made to bridge the gap between the two disparate themes.

Let’s go back to the beginning of the cycle at the Capricorn New Moon which was square Jupiter in Aries. This indicated an influx of dynamic energy and a desire to start new projects. Yet patience and a step-by-step approach was required with five planets in Capricorn and Mars still in its rare bi-annual retrograde motion. The situation remains the same today, perhaps even more so, with tensions rising because our desire to act is continually challenged by the reality that we are unsure of the best course of action.

Because Mercury Retrograde is concerned with receiving new information, which often changes a planned course of action, the ordinary momentum we might expect from a Full Moon cannot be achieved at this time. Additionally, retrograde Mars is barely moving and will turn direct in four days. In other words, the impulse to act is intensifying at the Full Moon, but perseverance and restraint remain important. If you rely on what you know and accept what you do not, you can maintain stability by taking things slowly and methodically and remaining open-minded and flexible.

The influence of retrograde Uranus at 15° Taurus that started with this lunar cycle is still in effect. Uranus is barely moving and building maximum potency as it prepares to turn direct on January 22, further intensifying the unpredictability of the dual Full Moon and Inferior Conjunction alignments. Uranus, which often correlates to sudden changes or insights, is now closely trine the Sun and sextile the Moon, suggesting we may be more open to new ideas or spontaneously getting a fresh perspective on an old mindset that has ceased working for us. If we resist needed change or if we’re lacking clarity on how to proceed, this can result in a feeling of anxiousness or stressed nervous systems.

Because Full Moons often trigger intense feelings, it can be most helpful to be mindful of our feelings at times like this. If we’re unclear, we could simply start asking ourselves questions so we can discover the real nature of what we’re feeling and the root causes of any negativity. A sense of unease often reveals to us that we are not listening to what our heart and soul are telling us. We are so accustomed to allowing our mind to operate from automatic programming that we don’t even question what we are doing, much less where we got an idea from or how we feel about it. Uranus in Taurus asks us to be our own authority, to question our true values and how well they align with our thoughts and actions. Uranus’ alignment with the Moon in Cancer suggests the key may be in questioning internal belief systems resulting from early childhood programming, which stealthily operates beneath the surface of our consciousness. Making an effort to bring the unconscious to consciousness is an essential part of the Uranian awakening process that leads to greater Self-awareness.