Full Moon in Capricorn, June 23, 2013

Family Tree by Norman Rockwell

Is it time to examine our concepts about family? This Full Moon at 02° 10′ Capricorn on 23 June 2013, 04:32 AM PDT presents us with a wonderful opportunity to think about the people who are a part of our families, both by blood and in spirit. This Full Moon is unique because the Moon rules Cancer, further emphasizing the connection between the Sun and Moon.

The Grand Trine in water signs expands into a Kite Pattern with the lunar axis running through it. The Sun in Cancer, Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Scorpio form the Grand Trine with the Capricorn Moon sextile Neptune and Saturn making it a Kite. This is what astrologer Nicholas Campion says about this pattern:

“All three planets in a grand trine are connected to a fourth planet, one by an opposition and the other two by sextiles. This is useful combination of tense and harmonious aspects in which the two planets connected by trines and sextiles provide outlets for the tension of the opposition.”

The Kite is much more dynamic than the Grand Trine due to the opposition, in this case the lunar axis. The Cancer Sun is the focal point for the other three planets and the reason I feel family is the overriding theme of this lunation.

When we think of family, it is our blood relatives we think of first. However as we grow up and move out into the world we begin to connect to other people who can become our chosen family. Most of us move back and forth between these groups over the course of our lives.

On one hand, Neptune in Pisces encourages us to stretch our familial boundaries to include those with whom we share a spiritual connection. Saturn in Scorpio, on the other hand, prefers to be more discriminating. Due to the harmonious nature of the trine between these planets, it is possible to choose our new family wisely. For instance, I have met many people thru the internet over the years I feel surprising close to and with whom I have excellent synastry . . . my cyber-family! I bet I’m far from the only person who feels that way either.

Venus and Mercury are still conjoined in Cancer, adding sensitivity and warmth to conversations. This conjunction rides out the lunation on its own and in this case is a good thing. Those who have planets and Angles from 22° to 24° in the water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) will benefit the most. If you need to mend fences with mom or dad, this is a good time to do so.

Mars in Gemini is very widely sextile to Uranus in Aries so the sparks this aspect is generating are beginning to sputter out. With less fuel to egg him on, Mars will be less of an irritant thankfully.

The Uranus-Pluto square is still within orb but the worst of the stridency has faded somewhat. Unless you have planets or Angles from 10° to 12° in the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn), you probably won’t feel this square on a personal level. The mundane effects do roll on . . . as one can see in the news cycle.

Cardinal energy dominates this Full Moon with more earth and water than fire and air, a fertile combination. We may think of starting a family or reconnecting with extended family members we haven’t seen in awhile. Follow your heart in these matters and you probably won’t go wrong. Spread a little kindness around!

On a personal note: It is a mixed bag for me as is always the case when planets are in Cancer because they square my Libra planets and are trine my Scorpio ones. This time Mercury-Venus in Cancer square my Libra Sun-Chiron whilst trine my Mercury-ASC in Scorpio. The Kite planets harmoniously connect to my natal twelfth house Jupiter in Scorpio, all to the good. “Bittersweet” is how this usually works out! 😀

The one great aspect is Jupiter in Gemini exactly trine my 29° Libra Sun! I happen to know several of you have your Sun at 29° too, so hopefully you’ll be getting Jupiter’s kisses! Enjoy!