Welcome to the Cancer Full Moon, the time in the lunar calendar when the spotlight is on home and family as well as the duties and responsibilities that come with it. Ruled by the Moon, Cancer also reminds us of the past as well as our most fundamental needs. The full moon will be exact on January 3, 2026 at 5:02 am ET, 13 degrees Cancer-Capricorn. That’s 2:02 am Los Angeles, 10:02 am London, 12:02 pm Johannesburg, 3:32 pm New Delhi, 9:02 pm Sydney, and 11:02 pm Auckland.
Full moons are decision points. They can bring events to the forefront, sometimes dynamically so. The seeds that we planted two weeks before at the time of the new moon have now come to fruition. (In this case, the December 19 Sagittarius New Moon.) What are we choosing?
This is our first full moon of the year. Playing off Capricorn Season’s lean into structure and worldly responsibilities, a Cancer Full Moon reminds us of what’s really important, getting to the very heart of our lives. What are the structures and responsibilities of our lives if not built on something that supports us?
In astrology, Cancer is the 4th sign. We find it at the base of the wheel, symbolizing its fundamental status in holding up our lives. It’s the sign of home and family, of roots and foundations, care and nurture. Without a place to call home, without the connection of family or those who are like family, our lives lack a critical nutrient.
Now that we are in the New Year, it’s time to take stock. Are we getting our needs met? Are we investing in our emotional core? In the relationships and connections that create connection and continuity? What is the role of family in our lives? Where is home and who is home?
The full moon is joined by Jupiter in Cancer, in the sign of its exaltation. Jupiter always inspires us to want more. And in the case of Cancer, to desire more connection, more care, a place or even a new place to call home. With oppositions to Mercury, Venus, and Mars in Capricorn, this full moon may bring a reality check, a push to take action and to work towards our dreams.
A square to Chiron in Aries, however, presses on a pain point, one that may run very deep. Home and family are often subjects that come with a heavy past and a lot of pain. Can we dream big with Jupiter in Cancer while navigating the aches of past experiences and losses?
Thankfully the full moon makes a trine to Saturn and Neptune in Pisces, which reveals that we have support to make the changes our hearts desire. We just need to be willing to let go of the past, to surrender to whatever wants to leave our lives so something better can come in.
Now that we are in the New Year, what will it mean for you and your sun sign? Watch my webinar, The Astrology of 2026, an overview of the year ahead with monthly reviews and planning as well as sign-by-sign guides. Get the Astrology of 2026 webinar in the link below.
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