We bask in the beauty of 2018’s last full moon on December 22. This closely follows the Winter Solstice – the shortest day and the longest night – of December 21 (2:23 PM Pacific Time | December 22 6:23 AM SGT). The next time these two events come so close together will be in 2094, according to Space.com.
December 22 2018 Full Moon
The December full moon is called the Full Cold Moon by the Algonquin tribes. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, this is when “the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark.” Other First Nations aptly call it the Long Nights Moon. (Also according to the almanac, December 22 is one of the best days for grafting and pollinating – check out other best days.)
In some places, this December 22 2018 Full Moon will be the longest full moon in almost ten years. In Vancouver, Canada, we get over 15 hours of viewing time!
Wisdom about the Full Moon & Moon in Cancer
- The astrological sign Cancer rules the chest – stomach, breasts, and diaphragm. These areas may be more sensitive when the Moon is in Cancer. It is also a good time to support them holistically. Check out these self-care tips by zodiac signs.
- Surgery is not advised on full moons. According to Susan Levitt, it’s best to avoid surgery four days leading to and three days following a Full Moon, as you get more bruising and swelling.
The energy of the Full Moon is the energy of that reservoir, brimming full or overfilled. It is not that dynamic; there is a feeling of saturation with energy, of having too much of it.
The subconscious is at the highest point in its activity during the Full Moon, and so this is a great time for artists, composers, and other creative people. They are full of images and ideas, and they are usually very busy at this time.
- The Full Moon, being the climax of the cycle, is “a very powerful time for inner work – for looking within, healing, shifting blocks, and shedding the past,” according to Yasmin Boland, in Moonlogy.
- Moon in Cancer – “Your feeling of safety is now related to your home, family, and related activities such as cooking and gardening. You may be prone to emotional fluctuations; you should learn to forgive and forget in order to avoid depression from thinking too much about things. Your perception of the world can be very subjective; try to create a certain distance without being bitter. Due to your rich emotional manifestation you can create a real sense of belonging in the world.” [source]
- According to Mystic Mama, the theme for this month is “shapeshifting into new forms.” Perhaps we can extend family and enlarge our circle to include all our brothers and sisters. The December 2018 Mystic Mama blog post reminds us that “no matter what the weather report currently is, what the collective energy of the times we are in is, we always have the power to move into a new frequency that allows our full truth to bloom, become unbound and simultaneously held in the Real prairie of vibration and feeling.”
We started 2018 with a Full Moon in Cancer. Now we are wrapping up this Gregorian year with another Full Moon in Cancer. What themes surfaced for you then? They may pay another visit for us to take a deeper look, or to release more completely. Full Moons are a potent time for letting go and for forgiveness, as well as gratitude.
I love these ritual ideas from Astrostyle for the December 22 2018 Full Moon! With Cancer, being a Water Sign, water blessings and cleansings are a wonderful way to tap into the energy of Cancer. At full (and new) moons, we are more sensitive. We absorb much more. So this is a great time for doing a detox or purification. Do an elimination diet. Eat organic. Drink lots of pure liquids. Add epsom salt to your bath.
As we round off this year, what can we be even more grateful for? What is our security blanket? How can we make a home wherever we are? In what meaning ways can we be more nurturing, to ourself and to others? How can we feel more, trust our heart and heart intelligence, even more?
The December 22 2018 Full Moon in Cancer is a beautiful time to let go of our misplaced sources of security.
