Wendy Cicchetti

Each Full Moon marks a turning point, a time of fruition when we see the results of past actions. As manifestations come to light, we have the opportunity to continue on the same path, or change course. This Full Moon may serve as a particularly dramatic turning point, as it activates Capricorn, the sign of completions and consequences. And the Moonclosely conjoins Saturn, known as the Lord of Karma. The emotional tone of this lunation is more sobering than celebratory, but it can help us to clarify our priorities and realign with what’s most meaningful to us.

Karma is simply the law of cause and effect, the principle that we reap what we sow. As the Full Moon culminates conjunct Saturn, what’s been operating on a more subtle or unconscious level crystallizes into form, giving clear feedback about the seeds we have sown. If we don’t like what’s manifesting, we can use this Full Moon as a turning point to start investing our energy in a different direction. No matter how entrenched circumstances may seem, nothing is set in stone. Rather than getting caught up in the potential negativity and depressiveness of Capricorn, we can trust in our power to release the past and forge a new path.

Capricorn is the sign of responsibility, and this Full Moon reveals where we’ve fallen into avoidance or procrastination and where we need to step up and take charge. On the other hand, we could become aware of having assumed too much responsibility, or taken on a burden that isn’t really ours. In that case, we might need to say “no,” set a boundary, and pull back our energy.

Ultimately, the Capricorn Full Moon calls for emotional responsibility — the ability to respond when strong feelings get triggered. Stepping away from the drama and pulling our attention inward for solitude and reflection could be the best strategy. The more grounded and centered we are within ourselves, the safer we’ll feel to be open-hearted and vulnerable with others.

Chiron in Aries forms a challenging square to the Sun, the Moon, and Saturn, potentially stirring up wounds around confidence, courage, power, and assertion. Anger could arise now, especially anger that’s long been repressed, as Mars, the ruler of Aries, is retrogradeand conjunct the South Node — the karmic past. We may revisit feelings from times when we failed to stand up for ourselves, when we acted from wanting to please others rather than honoring our authentic desires and true self. Chiron’s supportive trine to both Mercury in late Cancer and the North Node in Leo points to a path for healing. Rather than over-asserting ourselves to protect our wounded places, we’re advised to speak our truth with love and vulnerability, while holding ourselves and others in compassion.

This is a time of restructuring. The balance between our inner emotional life and what we’re manifesting in the world — the Cancer–Capricorn axis — may be especially up for renegotiation. This Full Moon asks: Are we putting so much energy toward taking care of others that we’re neglecting to pursue our own goals? Or are we so focused on our work that we’re neglecting our personal life: family, intimacy, home, and self-care? We may also consider how nurtured we feel by our work, and see steps we can take to increase our sense of fulfillment. A trine from the Moon and Saturn to Uranus in Taurus can support us to break free from patterns of behavior that are out of alignment with our deepest values.

Written by Emily Trinkaus for the Mountain Astrologer Magazine