FULL MOON FORECAST: JULY
Capricorn Full Moon - July 3, 2023 - 6:38am
It’s officially Summer!
On June 21, the sun moved into Cancer which marks the longest day of the year; the summer solstice. At that moment, our days began growing shorter and shorter. This moment also signifies that we are halfway through the calendar year. Did reading that create a visceral reaction in you? That sense of a cool-tempered brush-with-reality is the broader theme of this lunation.
how does a full moon impact me?
Full moons by their very nature are a tense aspect. Tense, however, isn’t synonymous with bad. Sometimes tension is the only thing that can make us move or get our attention. Tension and pressure help bring deep things into our awareness. That’s not always comfortable but this is where growth happens.
During a full moon the sun is exactly opposite of the moon.
“In astrology the sun represents our individual vitality and livelihood; the moon is representative of all things we find comfort in and how we nurture and nourish ourselves.”
Each month these two energies illuminate a spectrum within us and become aware of each other. This is a highly energetic time; a time when something comes to light, gets released or gains recognition. This month, we will all experience some sort of reminder that time has passed and will continue to do so. What’s in focus now is how that makes you feel and where you are responsible—or not responsible enough—for being where you are at this point in the story.
Cancer / Capricorn Spectrum
Capricorn, the cardinal earth sign, is a Saturn-ruled sign. The Saturnian archetype is often viewed as patriarchal or paternal. Saturn is our planetary timekeeper; our supreme elder. Saturn’s gift is the wisdom we gain through the experience of time; it’s the responsibilities we must manage and the tasks we need to care for in order to get to where we want to be.
Cancer, the cardinal water sign ruled by the moon is home base; it’s what’s comfortable and safe. It’s where we return home each day. It’s the home we carry with us through the journey of time. The Cancerian archetype is symbolic of home and our families in the physical sense as well as the culture of what home feels like. It's our soft underbelly; our parts that we protect with an outer shell. This energy is more tender and squishy than the other more Saturnian side of the spectrum.
The Capricorn Full Moon
There has been something in the works, something that you’ve been working on or towards. It’s as if you’ve been chiseling away at something over a stretch of time. This full moon is an invitation to reflect back on just how far you’ve come. Sure, you may still have work to do, but pause here. Remember back to when you first began your trek and honor the distance you’ve traversed to get where you are now. You’re likely to see a part of the story in a new light this week and may need to do a little course-correcting. That’s okay, do it! Saturn always rewards hard work handsomely. Saturnian lessons and gifts last a lifetime.
“You’re being encouraged to recognize areas where you’ve not been as responsible as you should have been. With that same lens you should also look back and feel a sense of accomplishment or pride for where you are now. Honor the hard work you’ve put in and the hurdles you’ve overcome. ”
This is also time to think about where you may have been overly responsible or too much of an authoritarian presence and let go a little bit. Some of us have been so dedicated to our goals or filling a role in some system/structure that we have forgotten to nurture and care for our own needs.
Check-in and make sure you still know who you are and if you’re working towards your own goals or someone else’s. Consider how the work you do contributes to the culture of your home. Maybe you’ve taken on too much and have nothing left at the end of each day. If that’s you, course correct!
It’s more than just a full moon
The full moon is opposite Mercury in Cancer. Mercury is also forming a square with the wounded healer Chiron. Mercury is the planet that symbolizes thought, communication, intellect and memory. When Mercury opposes the moon we are able to think more clearly about how things around us make us feel. We are able to formulate new ideas and thoughts around ways we are caring for ourselves and our families.
Considering the signs involved in this configuration, I expect elevated tension between appearing overly sensitive or coming across as insensitive and cold. Many of us will find we are sitting further to one side of that scope than the other and some of us will genuinely feel caught in the middle. Due to the fast-moving nature of the planets involved here, whatever it is you’re feeling won’t last too long.
The moon in Capricorn is also forming harmonious aspects with Saturn in Pisces and Jupiter in Taurus so there is abundance or recognition up for grabs. Perhaps you receive a pay raise, or the project you have been molding gets notice.
As I said above, this may not be the final resting place or finish line, but there’s reason to pause for celebration.
This full moon is happening very close to the Fourth of July here in the US. This further punctuates the scope of emotions we are dabbling in under the influence of this lunation. At the risk of sounding divisive, I feel that on the collective level, emotions will range from a deeply felt sense of pride and desire to preserve the past and honor tradition (patriotism) to the feeling of tidal waves of sadness about who and how the structure of our country has supported in the past and what that means moving forward.
Develop a personal relationship with the moon
You don’t have to be a student of astrology to follow along with these cosmically inspired prompts. These prompts are invitations to channel the energy of the cosmos on the earthly plane; an opportunity to engage with life in a deeper way. These prompts are inspired by the cosmos but created with busy lifestyles in mind.
You are not limited to the day of the full moon for your practice. You can do as many of these prompts as you wish, anytime. I also encourage you to add to them or customize them to fit into your life.
Remember back to the beginning of the year. Where did you want to be now, then?
Listen to music from years past or from special moments in time. I've personally been listening to my grungey emo music from my early twenties.
Read through old notes, planners, journals or scrapbooks. After a moment of reflection, look further down the road. What still lies ahead? If you continue on as you have been, where will you end up? This is when we take responsibility for our actions and how we’ve really spent our precious time, and with whom we spend it. Time is a finite resource after all.
Identify your family and who you turn to when you need to be cared for and nurtured. This can be a blood-related family member or chosen family. If it’s possible, gather them and share a meal together.
Mandee Sheeler is The St. Louisan Resident Astrologer, a writer, a producer and available for private consultations. Get in touch with Mandee by visiting her website.
Photography by Javardh,