THIS Full Moon in Cancer

Here's the amazing Chart for the Full Moon at 10 degrees Cancer and Lunar Eclipse. For some it falls on the 31st (exact at 2:13 pm EST or 11:13 am PST.) The Lunar Eclipse follows 10 minutes later.

Eclipse Sandwich

This is the First Act of a two-part show of eclipses. The Second Act is the New Moon in Capricorn/Solar Eclipse on January 14th. Both eclipses engage fully the Cancer-Capricorn polarity. Cancer is the emotional water sign that seeks a sense of inner security. Capricorn drives us to conform to societal standards, but it's also the sign of embodying authority. What's revealed (Full Moon) and any sudden events (Lunar Eclipse) may involve the following themes:

• Dramatic earth change events involving tides.
• Loss of external security, which prompts the search for internal security.
• The moral courage to question "the way things are."
• Taking responsibility for your own actions.
• Looking at how you've used your natural talents, resources.
• Reclaiming yourself as true authority.
• The Earth's shadow is cast on the Moon -- we can feel her presence as an entity more directly.

Emotional Sovereignty

This Full Moon hits close to home, literally, as it's two degrees off my own Cancer Sun. It's also three degrees of the U.S. Sun going by the Sibley Chart . The general themes of a Full Moon in Cancer have to do with illumination of deep emotional needs. These are to feel intimately held by those we love, in a safe zone where we can emerge fully and show our full self. I know from my own journey that until there's an internalized 'safe zone,' the world can be a scary, even nightmarish place.

A Cancer adrift on the sea of emotions is reactive, going between the extremes of overreacting, and pulling deep within the shell. Whether a person, or in a national chart, this makes Cancer vulnerable to being the lost child, often prey to some kind of external authority. Cancer as a cardinal sign strives for emotional independence.

This Full Moon in Cancer, especially since it comes with a Lunar Eclipse , may bring shocks to our sense of security. This is a rich time to see fully what's driving our unconscious reactions. It's an invitation to restore or strengthen our own inner home base security. From that solid emotional foundation, we know we can't be manipulated by our insecurities and fears. We gain a certain kind of freedom to live authentically, because the emotional pool is no longer tainted.

Staring at Goats (with thanks to Robert Phoenix)

This is a unique Full Moon in Cancer. There are FOUR planets in Capricorn in opposition, along with humanity's directional pointer, the North Node. The shadow side of Capricorn is power-mad authority. With Pluto there, any compulsions to be greedy, make war, or enclose the world in a global authoritarian state are intensified. But the strength of Capricorn -- which we can tap into now -- is the ability to grow with both depth and height. It's the ability to re-create the establishment, from the ground up.

This mighty stellium in Capricorn draws us out of the comfort zone, maybe kicking and screaming. But there's a chance here to discover hidden creative gifts with Venus in Capricorn. Venus in this serious-minded sign helps us lose our habits of dependency, and take charge of our lives. We can emerge from stagnation in relationships, and look for purposeful ties.

Society Itself Up For Review

Mercury is looking back in its retrograde , and reviewing these issues of authority, making your mark, legacies, traditions, societal conditioning. Mercury in Capricorn Rx can get us musing about things like the economy, and where we fit into that system. The entire enchilada is up for review, and we're sure to see very emotional outbursts that call those in power to account. There's an opening here to reclaim an authority that many of us have given away.

This kind of opposition brings out extremes in either direction, until balance is achieved. It's a timely set-up to look at how debt chains keep you enslaved and fearful. Or how the corporate (Capricorn) message runs counter to your sense of what's true. This is a time of seeing with the heart, with a kind of emotional intelligence that has its own logic.

Moral Conscience

I predict we'll see more people overcoming their fears, and living true to their convictions. At this Full Moon, there are squares (tensions) from both the Cancer Moon and three planets in Capricorn. That makes this Full Moon a powerful portal moment, when imbalances may be harshly dealt with. We may see powerful speeches that ignite a fire in the mind.

Your Creative Gift

Why are you alive now? This Mars retrograde in Leo may have you re-igniting old passions. Some of these are clues to your heroic mission! Your uniqueness is needed, and infuses life into the whole. There are too many dead zones in our world. Your spark helps create radiant zones like astrologer Michael St. Clair encourages, starting with yourself.

Mars retrograde is in opposition to the powerful Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in Aquarius. This is a once-in-a-Blue-Moon moment to hitch your special destiny to the particular social needs now. Once that happens, as evolutionary astrologer Deva Green writes, "the inherent leadership abilities and strength of will of Leo can shine." The house in the birth chart that's hosting transiting Mars in Leo holds clues to that "special destiny."