The essence of any Full Moon is the opposition – two signs in compatible elements and on opposite sides of the zodiac. On this Full Moon, the Sun is in watery Cancer opposing the Moon in the feminine earth sign of Capricorn, drawing attention to the need to balance what nurtures us with our public life.

For some reason Capricorn has become associated with the need for dominance and competition, especially in the professional arena. But there is another side to this pragmatic sign, much deeper and wilder and intensely creative. There is an earthy, passionate sensuality with the ability to throw aside constraints and abandon oneself to the pursuit of pleasure beneath the conventional, pin-striped suits. If you are familiar with the many faces of David Bowie, he is a great example of this complex sign.

Just as Capricorn is more than a stuffed shirt, so is Cancer more than a moody homebody. Cancer hides many treasures behind its protective shell, often including a sharp sense of humor as well as a sensitive soul. Capricorn is clearly a cardinal sign but so is Cancer. If you have friends and family with a strong Cancer signature, pay attention to how persistent they can be in getting their way.

For those of us like myself who have planets or angles at 14-17° in Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, the extra punch of the lunar eclipse will zap us awake! Check to see where the Cancer-Capricorn axis falls in your chart and take note of events both leading up to this lunation as well as the weeks following it. Eclipses have a broader impact than most lunations.

Saturn in Virgo plays a supporting role to the Sun and Moon, because it is trine to the Moon and sextile the Sun. We could miss the importance of this support because of the flowing nature of those aspects, so pay attention to any opportunities offering advancement. Saturn is playing nice right now and suggesting rather than demanding. The next Saturn-Uranus opposition on September 15 will be far less kind.

Venus has moved into Gemini and is pulling away from Mars, who is still in Taurus. However, she is not a happy camper, because Pluto in Capricorn is holding her accountable via an inconjunct. This is another lesson in learning what we truly value. Pluto is not about to let up on teaching everyone about living a frugal lifestyle. Think Bernie Madoff settling into his new accommodations for the rest of his life.

But it is Mars in practical, well-grounded Taurus squaring Neptune & Co. that could bring people sharply down to earth once more. There are many folktales teaching the importance of making sure a good, solid foundation is in place before building. If there is a weak point (Chiron) we ignored in the pursuit of our dreams (Jupiter-Neptune), it has either already brought the house of cards down or will soon. Now is a good time to take advantage of the clarity offered by this square and the supportive sextile between Mars and Uranus in Pisces, to repair and rebuild. If the new foundation is done right, there is a much greater chance of achieving your hopes and dreams.

There is no fire in this chart. The preponderance is strongly in earth and water, with just a small leavening of air. Using confrontational tactics and throwing out demands will not be as effective as spending time listening closely to what others are saying. The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 16 Cancer, A man studying a mandala in front of him, with the help of a very ancient book, with the keyword CONCENTRATION, supports this notion.

For the Moon at 16 Capricorn, the Sabian symbol reminds us to take time to play well with others: School grounds filled with boys and girls in gymnasium suits. The keyword is EXERCISE. Take a walk with friends in the park to regroup before heading back to the drawing board.

If there ever was a time for identifying and clearing out emotional baggage, this lunar eclipse is it. Shine a light into all the hidden corners of your psyche and haul out the garbage to throw away. If you have a favorite cleansing ritual, use it extensively. We are halfway through the period between the first New Moon in Cancer and the second one, a solar eclipse, on July 21-22. Saturn is in a great position now to help with this project, too.

Please remember to be kind to yourself and especially to your nearest and dearest, as those are the folks we most often take out our angst on. These are tough times for many people, and it is by paying kindness ahead that we can all benefit.

Many blessings and good wishes to all.

posted by Neith . . .

**Please read Pat’s weekly forecast for this week, July 6, for her thoughts this week’s eclipse.

Image: This beautiful photo was taken by Andreas D. Skjervold, Bodø, Norway on Aug. 16, 2008. It is one of several wonderful photos of eclipses at The Eclipse Photo Gallery website.