Astrologically, this is a pretty big year for the Feminine, and starting off the New Year with a Full Moon in Cancer throws us straight into the outstretched arms of the Cosmic Mother.
The kind of arms that you want to run into and be held by. The kind that of love that loves you no matter what ... But also the kind that lovingly won’t put up with your excuses any longer.
Because Mama knows you’ve got work to do - and she’s using this Moon to urge you to get to it.
Balanced with Capricorn, we are asked to be practical, to take steps needed to move forward with the Feminine in our INNER world so that we can fully step OUT into the world.
Whether it’s stepping out as a leader, an embodied form of expression, a speaker, a teacher, a humanitarian, a parent: the stars tell us that this year we are literally leading from the Feminine, and so this Moon says: yes it’s time to do the work, but to remember that “the work” always starts on the inside.
The Cosmic Mother heightens our ability to tune into what we need to nurture ourselves, others and the world around us. Cancer is a deeply feeling creature, and as the Cosmic Mother, she is attuned to the needs of those around her, but knows how to fill her own cup first. She knows the more she nourishes herself the more nourishment she has to give.
The past few moons we’ve been rich in rising awareness. Patterns, pain, triggers, fears have all surfaced. Not surprisingly, the rising waters have been leading us to this powerful Feminine Moon. This moon says be practical but maintain the connection to the wisdom that arises from those feeling states.
I’m not usually one for running into the New Year with resolutions (just the word “resolution” riles me up ... click here if you want to see what I think about making resolutions a reality on last weeks Babe Q + A).
But this New Year, there is some serious practical magic afoot with the Feminine Power emanating from the combination of Cancer and Capricorn.
So - before you keep reading - pause and take a few deep breaths and think / feel into what’s been real for you the past few months.
Whatever you’ve been feeling / healing / experiencing has been leading you here. To this Moon, to this day, to this time.
It’s all arising to ask you ... WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE? WHAT WORK DO YOU NEED TO DO? WHERE DO YOU NEED TO STEP UP?
The Cosmic Mother sees your pain, struggle, fear. She knows where you’ve been, she knows what’s up. Her arms are a judgement free zone for you to realize what you need in order to be unapologetically YOURSELF. Because who you are is as unique as the Feminine Power that desires to express through you.
This power is a curious thing. It requires courage. It requires depth. It requires release. It requires ferocity. It requires surrender. It requires action. It requires an ever evolving embrace of the paradox that is the heart of your Feminine potential.
She is cyclical. Mysterious. Mystical. Soft. Strong. Sensual. Fierce. Divine. She is the force for creation, and inner DESIRE that feeds the impulse to create within you.
This is the potential that WANTS TO RISE in you but it needs you to ACT ON WHAT YOU WANT in order to do so.
I’m not just talking superficial desires. I’m talking the real deal.
I’m talking the kind of desire that when you finally have the courage to admit it yourself you get hit in the heart a knowing that feels like “FUCK that’s huge but there’s now way I can’t do it”.
That kind of desire.
The kind of desire that leads to the action and creation that the world needs from you as much as you need it from yourself.
I spent New Years Eve revisiting the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra. The ancient text is narrated by cosmic lovers, Shakti, who is the Feminine CREATIVE power that animates the universe, and Shiva, the Masculine all pervading God of CONSCIOUSNESS.
The name loosely translated means, “the terror and joy of realizing oneness with the soul” (nbd) ... and its a really gorgeous interpretation of how to live intimately with ourselves and the world around us.
And it was so striking to read at this point in time, because I think this is where a lot of us find ourselves these days.
There is a depth that can’t be avoided. There are truths that can’t be covered up. There are parts of ourselves that are literally waiting to experience what it would really be like to access the potential of being RADICALLY ALIVE if we let ourselves go there.
There’s a craving for intimacy and an urgency to show up ... as ourselves, for ourselves and for one another.
This is the joy and the terror of accepting yourself. The joy and terror of showing up for yourself. The joy and terror of having the courage to step up. The joy and terror of leaving who the world taught you to be behind. The joy and terror of allowing your true self to emerge.
Despite falling on the “New Year, this moon isn’t really about resolutions: it’s about integrity and embodiment.
It’s about nourishment and the the sustainable choices that lead you to create sustainable change over time.
This Moon wants you to sit with what you need and what you want. To really sit with it. To reflect on what’s working and what’s not and to be real with creating a game plan for what your true needs for nourishment are.
We are at a pivotal time in our evolution on this planet. Positive change is rising at the same rate as devastating destruction. Awakening consciousness is being met with dark forces.
We need you in your truest Feminine Expression in order to get through this pickle. We need you in your body and in your power and we need you to take of yourself so you can take care of the planet.
Your desires and nourishment are key pieces of the puzzle that have been waiting to fall into place. But this Moon says: no more waiting.
It’s time for you to stop side-stepping and use the energy of Capricorn to act.
As the billy goat, Cap is incredibly grounded, stable and goal oriented and Earthy. Cap climbs the mountain, gets back to the bottom and decides to summit it again just because he can.
Cap can be unrelenting but is incredibly dedicated and isn’t afraid to fight for what he wants or take the risky route. But what really matters to Cap is that he continues to rise.
So he climbs with intention and uses his instincts. He nourishes himself along the journey. He’s always calculates risk vs consequence and knows that NOT taking action is the biggest risk of all.
This Moon sets the scene for creative desire, intimate honesty and Feminine Potential: and when it comes to our needs, our Feminine Power, our true desires ... it takes a deep vulnerability to admit who we really are, what are wounds are, what we really want - usually because somewhere along the way we were told who we were or who we wanted to become wasn’t okay.
But this Moon, Cosmic Mama is here to remind you that part of accessing your Feminine Power is Reclaiming what’s kept you from it.
It takes deep courage to ACT in service of ourselves - but action taken from this place of integrity and embodiment - is also in service of something bigger than ourselves.
I believe the biggest way women can reclaim our power starts with reclaiming our own bodies. And when we learn how to work with the inner well of sensual wisdom and power that resides within - the world responds.
If this resonates or you feel called to heal, discover or activate your Feminine Potential: The Moon Map and Shakti Body are coming for you later this month.
These will both provide embodied and supportive experiences to:
+ dive into your Feminine Power and activate your Shakti
+ learn how to have a positive relationship with your cycle every month
+ feel safe, at home and sexy in your skin
+ freedom from shame and body image issues
+ sexual confidence, sensual confidence and self confidence
+ a deeper and more meaningful relationship with yourself as a woman
If Sensuality Practices, OYoga, Cycle Tracking, Sexual Confidence or Feminine Embodiment are key needs or desires for the year, sign up for the newsletter and stay tuned for a special early invite.
Happy New Year + Big Love,
Ashly
