Why Is It A Full Moon in Cancer?

Why do we say the Full Moon is in Cancer in the middle of winter?

It’s a great question and it can be particularly confusing if we don't see the chart showing where all the heavenly bodies are in the sky...!

In the chart shown, you can see right near the top of the chart a crescent moon symbol which represents the Moon in our sky. If you follow the thick red line to the lower left bottom of the chart, you will see the circle within a circle symbol which represents the Sun. (swipe to see the symbols showing what sign each body is in)

A full moon is when the Sun is 180° opposite the Moon. In order to have a full moon, when the Sun is in the sign of Capricorn,the Moon would have to be in the sign of Cancer.

The Sun takes one year to go around the zodiac wheel, but the Moon travels through all 12 signs in just one month! So on the day that the Moon falls in the sign and degree opposite to where the Sun currently is, we have our full moon, and we look to which sign the Moon is in to name it.

The same is true for a new moon, however this time, the Moon is in the same sign and degree as the Sun. Again, because of how quickly the Moon travels through the sky, we have this once a month--or 'moonth' as Rick Levine calls it.

So every month will have a new moon in the SAME zodiac sign as the Sun, and a full moon in the OPPOSITE zodiac sign of the Sun.

We could say that this Full Moon in Cancer later today is the culmination of the New Moon in Cancer we had earlier in the year on July 20th.

The seeds we sow with the New Moon in Capricorn on January 13, 2021 will be ready to harvest with the Full Moon in Capricorn on June 24, 2021, and so forth.