Full Moon in Cancer: Carrying the Responsibility

Jan 172011
On Wednesday January 19, the Cosmos treats us to a Full Moon in Cancer. If you look at the accompanying chart, see how the Moon takes the handle in a planetary bucket formation. Think of the symbolism of a bucket or pail: how much (or how little) can be carried in it? How light (or how heavy) is the bucket you’re holding now? What are you ready to spill out (Cancer operates through the water element, after all), or how much more are you prepared (or not) to add? Are there holes in the bucket that need to be patched up?
Taking that bucket metaphor further, this Full Moon is about carrying family responsibilities (Cancer), or any number of domestic issues, such as caring for a parent or elder in the family (Sun in Capricorn). This is likely really hitting home (pun intended) if you’re born with Cancer Sun or Ascendant. Since everyone has Cancer the Crab’s tenacious energy, look to your chart to find the house with Cancer on its cusp. This area of life is calling you to rise to a potentially climactic moment with the fullness of your highest self.
There’s something very insular about Cancer’s energy, and this is intensified by the Full Moon’s presence here. The Moon rules Cancer, after all. We are all called to take responsibility for our emotional responses; and to look to ourselves, and members of our spiritual family, to strengthen the ties that will yield greater emotional and financial security. Allow the heightened intuition that this lunation brings to guide you, as you seek to make life more comfortable for yourself and others this week.

Venus in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Pisces are symbolically connected in various ways now: each planet brings us into themes involving a journey, or assessing your philosophical or spiritual stand on varying issues. Because Jupiter is the planetary ambassador of Sagittarius, he currently “rules” Venus – and from the sign in which Venus is exalted, no less. We may employ different vehicles, maps and routes, but we are surely all on a journey that takes us into wildly different territory from any one we’ve experienced before. Your awareness of the direction you’re being asked to move in will be abundantly clear now.

Both Jupiter and Saturn (in Venus’ home of Libra) take the outer edge of the celestial bucket, symbolizing a need to rise to the current situations in your life, and to lead through compassionate (Pisces) and gracious (Libra) example. Truth be told, doing what’s ultimately ‘right’ may pinch, if the Moon’s awkward quincunx to Chiron is any indication. And yet the reward is potentially great, if you take into account a trine from Moon to Jupiter, as well as a sextile from Sun to Jupiter.

It’s fascinating to me that all three of these celestial bodies are sitting on the final degrees of the signs they’re in. Like guardians at the portal between signs, they suggest that, not only are there lessons about emotional maturity and social responsibility that we’ve been pushed to master by now, but that these very tools we’ve developed will keep us grounded as we enter those in between spaces in our lives.

Whatever it is that you’ve been waiting for – even if it’s just to move out of limbo land – is in the process of being born this week. And, while birthing can result in a miracle, it also takes time – and yes, some pain – to push that baby out, so to speak. Let’s accept the role we’ve played in bringing new situations into our lives, while ushering all that is ready to pass from our lives with gratitude and integrity.

Michelle Piller, Starstruck Astrology

Michelle Suzanne

Michelle Suzanne is the author of Starstruck. You can also read her weekly love scopes at Sasstrology, where she co-hosts the Astrology Rocks podcast with Jeffrey Kishner.

2 Responses to “Full Moon in Cancer: Carrying the Responsibility”

Comments (2)
  1. Anonymous says:
    January 17, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    "It’s fascinating to me that all three of these celestial bodies are sitting on the final degrees of the signs they’re in. Like guardians at the portal between signs, they suggest that, not only are there lessons about emotional maturity and social responsibility that we’ve been pushed to master by now, but that these very tools we’ve developed will keep us grounded as we enter those in between spaces in our lives"

    My gosh – that is one hell of a profound quote…

    Thank you for you dedication and as always inspiration during these emotionally challenging astrological times…

    Jaime L. Dragoo
    Virgo 9-20-64

  2. Anonymous says:
    February 8, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    Hi Michelle,
    Thank you so much for this post. Indeed, the paragraph Jaime took there, is really crystal clear on the deeper levels we need to understand for ourselves while going through some emotionally rocky waters (and moons!). It is good to read the core task pinned down like that, to read it over, to plant in in our heart, which keeps us on the right priority. On top, I've really struggled all day with this feeling of wanting to cry, cry, cry. And when reading the last paragraph here, I finally cracked, although I needed to add "embrace" and "forgive" to your "accept", as to finally start mending some pieces of myself together at this point, after an extended stay in limbo-land, indeed. Thank you for these words and insights, and for sharing the expressions and rephrasing the meaning of it all like this. I truly needed to read this to leap forward now, following the guidance of the Jupiter & Uranus vibes.