No one’s going to rescue you; you’ve got to find your own way to climb out of the fog. That may be the ultimate message of this week’s Capricorn Full Moon on July 19/20.

Mary Pat Lynch of Rising Moon Astrology summed it up this way:

“If you have been feeling discouraged, overwhelmed and stuck, this Full Moon can open a door and let a little light in. If you are already engaged in deep inner work, the Moon might light up the next steps. As difficult as it might be to take those steps, seeing where they are offers the hope that the way exists.”

Let’s see what other hints astrologers from around the web offer as to where the best hand- and toe-holds might be.

What’s in a Full Moon?

A Full Moon is impossible to miss. On an evening near the Full Moon, her light dominates the sky — so bright it casts Moon shadows on the ground.

In a sense, the Full Moon is the culmination of seeds planted during the previous New Moon… and the recent Cancer New Moon was unsually intense.

Jaime Partridge of Astrology King lists a few things to look out for:

The Full Moon “represents a conflict or crisis that has developed since the July 4 New Moon. You may be experiencing feelings of inadequacy or weakness resulting from the New Moon themes of anxiety, guilt and fear.

“Others may try to bring you down by attacking your personal life, or you may have to juggle the polarity of home and work, or your needs and responsibilities versus those of others. In your personal life there may be increased tension between you and family members, with extra emotional burdens being placed on you.”

(If Full Moons leave you feeling out-of-sorts, Astrology Hub has you covered. Check out this free PDF “Full Moon Essentials: A 7-Step Guide for Managing Emotions, Stress & Overwhelm.” )

Got Your Goat

This Full Moon is colored by Capricorn, a cardinal earth sign governed by Saturn. The Moon’s in its detriment in Capricorn — meaning it’s got to work a little harder to achieve its desire for comfort and security.

“The symbol for Capricorn is usually seen as the Mountain Goat, forever climbing up the difficult steep grade. For what purpose does the goat do this, though? It is usually more accurate to remember that the image for Capricorn was initially the Sea-Goat… The Sea-Goat had the body of a goat with a tail attached that was a strange mix of serpent and fish. It was a subterranean sea creature that was evolving into a land creature. It swam in deep, murky waters but became able to place its hooves on solid ground and climb upwards and onwards, without losing the psychic memory of where it came from.”

Clarissa, Viva Combusta!

Whereas when the Moon is in Cancer and we’re submerged in womb-like waters that allow us to dive deep into where we’ve come from, Capricorn’s advice is more blunt.

“Grow up. No one can rescue you but yourself,” it admonishes.

Kathy Biehl of Empowerment Unlimited phrases it more diplomatically:

The Capricorn Full Moon invites looking at the ground beneath your feet and where it’s leading. Remember that? You haven’t seen much of it this year, what with the fog and dust and general wooziness that’s beset us all. It’s clamoring for attention now, though.

“You’ve been regaining awareness of it over the past couple of weeks, which have felt like coming out of a daze, or a dream. The Cancer New Moon brought you a good, long soak in emotional needs and impulses, mostly your own. The effect is still with you. It’s sensitized you, awakened your inner child and molded the way you are viewing and experiencing the fundamentals in your life.

“Aren’t you more attuned to what feels safe and secure, what nourishes you, and what does not?  Recently this focus has been on immediate nurturing (and wishing someone would deliver it). The Full Moon shifts the questions to how to provide for and safeguard sustenance for the long haul.”

It’s a timely message on both a personal, and a collective, level, given the news of recent weeks.

Says Clarissa of Viva Combusta!

“[It’s] a complicated, multi-layered story ready to unfold. I wouldn’t expect less of a Full Moon in Capricorn, the cardinal sign I associate with pivot points of evolution. Ruled by Saturn, Full (and New) Moons in Capricorn ask us to cool our emotions for the time being and take a serious look at where we’re going, how we’re getting there, and if we’re doing it the right, mature way. It is a time of consequences, which Capricorn reminds us of like no other sign does.

“This Full Moon in Capricorn will highlight the parts of ourselves that still need to mature. Capricorn is also closely tied to both personal authority and actual authority figures (be they public servants, politicians, employers, parents…) and as such I’m looking to the Capricorn Full Moon to also highlight the ways in which we have personal authority that deserve respect and recognition and how/why we respect — or don’t respect — others authority.”

Moon Shadings: Aspects to the Moon

The Full (or New) Moon is always colored by the condition of other, related planets. From them we gather a few hints on the best route to take.

Saturn harmonizes with Mercury & Venus

Ruby Slipper Astrology’s Nina Gilchrist takes a look at Saturn:

“Saturn Retrograde (ruler of Capricorn) is a major player during this Moon. A few hours before the Full Moon on July 19, Saturn in Sagittarius will trine Mercury in Leo, while building to a trine with Venus in Leo, exact on July 20. These are excellent aspects for commitment and formalization.

“Saturn anchors bold, expressive words (Mercury) and wants (Venus). They can crystallize into something beautiful, as your efforts to create/get noticed come to fruition and make you proud.”

Moon makes-up with Mars

The Moon’s just past an easy-going sextile with Mars in it’s own sign Scorpio. Says Marina Macario of Darkstar Astrology:

It’s “an extremely passionate aspect, but it really does need to express this energy physically or sexually otherwise anger-management can become a big problem. Mood can change very quickly, but the frantic tide can be very creative. Moon sextile Mars will be passionate about their artistic products and be very driven to project them into the world. This Full Moon will express itself vigorously and ardently.”

Mars is also in a difficult aspect to the fixed star Algol, which the ancients considered one of the most difficult stars in the sky:

“Mars at 25 degrees Scorpio sextiles the Full Moon, bringing healthy energy into the mix. Mars has been in a bad way all year and can use some softening from the Moon, even if the Moon is in [its detriment]. Though, here too there is a different story unfolding; Mars at 25 degrees Scorpio is nearly exact in opposition to the hugely malefic fixed star Algol. Mars can show energy and excitement and passion, or it can show anger and violence; Algol does tends towards ultraviolence.”

Clarissa, Viva Combusta!

Uranus: Think outside the box

Unconventional Uranus is also in a just-passed, but tense, alignment with the Sun and Moon.  Uranus in Mars-ruled Aries urges us to break new ground, regardless of other’s opinions:

“More patterns point to this same idea of taking action. The Full Moon is also in a T-square with Uranus; the Revolutionary squares the Sun and Moon. Both Capricorn and Cancer have a tendency to stick with tradition, doing what has always been done. Uranus is pushing against that, saying, we already know what-we’ve-always-done ain’t working. Time for something new. Uranus does not offer easy solutions. He wants us to step up with integrity, bringing our truest self into the world despite the consequences.”

Mary Pat Lynch, Rising Moon Astrology

(Mars and Uranus are also in a fading awkward inconjunct with one another — both in edgy Mars signs. There’s an action imperative in the wings!)

Other Considerations

A few other factors astrologers have considered to add even more nuance to the equation include such things as fixed stars and asteroids near sensitive points, degree meanings and the lunar zodiac (to name just a few).

Grand Water Trine with Chiron

The quasi-asteroid centaur Chiron in Pisces has formed a easy-moving grand water trine with the Sun in Cancer and Mars in Scorpio for several weeks. Chiron is known as the “wounded healer” in modern astrology circles.

“An elixir of nurturing, motivation and healing is coursing through the skies, because of the open current, or grand trine, from the Cancer Sun to Mars in Scorpio and Chiron in Pisces. (The latter two bodies are pouring cooperation directly into the Capricorn Moon as well.) The mix fosters bold, fearless, loving resolve and follow through, whether that’s baring our heart to another or cutting a connection for the good of all concerned. 

“With Mars making its third pass since spring over the final degrees of Scorpio, the healing coming off the action is penetrating to the max, extending to deep, scary, scarred places we have kept hidden, even from ourselves. 

“The lineup also favors connections with a therapeutic impact on our core and abiding wounds. They are in line with the approach of Imago therapy, pioneered by Harville Hendrix: that we work out childhood issues in our closest adult relationships, and can experience healing when a partner provides the special flavor of love and understanding we didn’t receive from a parent. “

Kathy Biehl, Empowerment Unlimited

“The Grand Water Trine is just as likely to highlight something personal, possibly very private. The Full Moon’s light may illuminate a place where we need to step up within ourselves, acknowledging a truth we have avoided or perhaps could not see clearly before. We might see a relationship in a new light. We might see something we need to do that we would prefer to avoid but just can’t any more. The choice to act is always ours. The gift of this Full Moon is a way out of the impasse, given with the grit and determination of Capricorn to keep going until we reach our goal.”

Mary Pat Lynch, Rising Moon Astrology

Fixed Stars

A couple of fixed stars enter the lineup, adding their light to the mix:

Jamie Partridge, Astrology King, looks at the star Procyon with the Sun:

“While giving wealth and renown, Procyon also brings vigorous activity, a hot temper and violence. An association with rise and success followed by a fall from high position can be avoided if linked planets and aspects point to a patient and conservative approach.

“The Sun in particular with this star gives help from friends, gifts and legacies if not afflicted, courage, and military or business advancement after great struggles and expense.”

And Marino Macario, Darkstar Astrology, looks to Beta Indi near the Moon:

“Full Moon on Beta Indi found in the small constellation of Indus  the Indian. Indus shares its root with Indigo, which represents the third eye in the 6th chakra. Indigo the blue dye, originates from India, as does the Chakra system itself.  The 6th chakra is believed to be related to intuition and gnosis (spiritual knowledge).”

Sabian Symbol

The Sabian Symbol for the degree of the Full Moon is “A large aviary”

“The enjoyment of spiritual values by the soul able to familiar itself with their implications, wrote astrologer Dane Rudyar in his commentary on the Sabian Symbols. “Birds symbolize spiritual forces or desires contained within a mind open to the light of psychic or soul realities, and bringing joy and harmony to the consciousness.”

Lunar Mansion

The Moon has its own zodiac; in Western astrology, lunar zodiac signs are known as “lunar mansions.”

The Capricorn Full Moon falls in lunar mansion 24 Al Sa’ad al Su’ud, which I call “The mother” for short. When the Moon is in this mansion, it’s a good time to nurture yourself and your projects. Ask for help where you need it, but don’t expect someone else to do it for you.

Summing It Up

There no room for self-indulgence under the Capricorn Full Moon. You’re the only one who can take action to make your situation better. Shake off your fog, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to climb mountains.

full moon essentials

Lunaria Datebook

Last Moon Phase: New Moon in Cancer

Next Moon Phase: New Moon in Leo

Full Moon July 2016 Dates and Times

San Francisco: Tuesday, July 19, 3:56 p.m. PDT

New York: Tuesday, July 19, 6:56 p.m. EDT

São Paulo Paulo: Tuesday, July 19, 7:56 p.m. BRST

London: Tuesday, July 19, 11:56 p.m. GDT

Istanbul: Wednesday, July 20, 1:56 a.m. EEDT

Mumbai: Wednesday, July 20, 4:26 a.m. IST

Tokyo: Wednesday, July 20, 7:56 a.m. JST

Sydney: Wednesday, July 20, 8:56 a.m. AEST

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