Before we get into what to expect on this Capricorn Full Moon on July 3rd, we need to situate this lunation in a greater cosmic puzzle. To wit: the Moon rules Cancer, the season we’re in until July 22nd. That means, in general, the Moon will be super strong for the next few weeks. Such strength can manifest in various ways, all of which involve increased emotional attunement (since the Moon is, of course, our emotional centre).

So, for example, we might find ourselves trusting our feelings more (“there’s something fishy about this job offer–maybe I should say no”).

Or maybe we’re more willing to be vulnerable (“I know we’ve only been dating for three months, but I want to share with you my troubled past”).

Or we may express a hyper-sensitivity to art, music, literature (“this video installation at the Tate Modern – depicting, as it does, Venetian blinds being opened and closed in slow motion–could be the most beautiful thing I’ve seen”).

But, while the Moon, during Cancer season, is in a generally auspicious astrological place, we must also remember that it is always moving, such that it transits through all 12 zodiac signs in one month. In other words, while it’s happy in Cancer, the Moon will be having some bad hair days, too, namely during jaunts  through signs it doesn’t get on well with.

Perhaps the biggest bad hair day of Cancer season, in this regard, will be the Full Moon in Capricorn. Capricorn is a sign that literally opposes Cancer on the zodiac wheel. Where Cancer is soft, maternal, watery, and caring (hence providing a lovely place for the Moon), Capricorn is gruff, commercial, earthy, and grim Saturn-ruled. This doesn’t sound like the best seat at the table for our delicate little luminary.

And yet, we mustn’t become fatalistic about transits. We need to learn to work with them. The stars merely deal us our hand – but we are the ones that play it. What that means for a slightly difficult lunation, like this Full Moon in Capricorn, is that we have to be clever to use this energy to our best advantage.

Think of this Capricorn Full Moon, then, as a taking-care-of-business transit. The Goat is our cardinal earth sign. “Cardinal” suggests initiatory energy. It’s about going out and getting something done. Capricorn’s earthiness, when combined with its cardinality, indicates a sign that particularly wants to make things happen around worldly, commercial ventures.

Such energy is opposite Cancer (which is why these two are 180 degrees from each other on the zodiac’s wheel). Cancer is our most private sign, preferring evenings shut off from the very world that Capricorn’s cardinal earth energy wants to dominate, master, control and profit from.

To align with a Capricorn Full Moon, we need to exit the comfortable emotional shell associated with Cancer (aka the Crab). Rather, we should set our sights on  attacking something on a long-standing “To Do” list, whether that relates to work, family, communication, or a doctor's appointment. The goal here: do something that has material, tangible results. Capricorn is an earth sign, it’s not for airy plans or watery feelings.

And it is precisely this lack of Cancerian “wateriness” that could make the transit particularly rough for water signs. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces: you don’t really jibe with Capricorn. All the more reason, therefore, to work with its earth energy. Be hard-nosed on a contract, a negotiation, a conversation – and don’t worry, being hard-nosed doesn’t equate to having a hard heart.

Of course, the earth signs (Capricorn, Virgo, and Taurus) will have an easier time aligning with this somewhat less emotive Full Moon. In fact, you will probably welcome this lunar respite from all the feels. Here, we have a date to lean into a set of tasks without worrying about sympathetic responses.  (Let’s add Aquarius into this group, too: it’s ruled by disciplined Saturn, like Capricorn).

Aries and Libra (both cardinal energy) align by cardinal modality with Capricorn Full Moon. Whenever modalities match up (mutable with mutable, say), it’s as if the cosmos is giving us extra fuel. Here is to you driving a plan forward on July 3rd.

Finally, the remaining signs–Sagittarius, Leo, and Gemini. You have the Moon lighting up your Cash zone (Sadge), your Health zone (Leo), and your zone of Shared Finances and Debt (Gem). Take a pragmatic look at money or diet this lunation. No emotional eating or spending, for it is better to go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt.

Photo by Melanie Magdalena on Unsplash