The beauty of embracing the energy of the Full Moon for my “Deb’s Picks” is that it offers me an endless supply of topics! And since the Full Moon always reflects two seemingly opposing energies (the Moon is in the opposite astrological sign from the Sun), there’s always a fascinating juxtapostion to play with.
The Sun is in watery, emotional Cancer from June 20th-July 22nd and prompts us to listen to our intuition, to nurture ourselves and others, and to explore our sense of belonging. Since it’s ruled by the Moon, we’re also drawn to look at how we feel safe and secure in our home… both our physical home, but also our inner, “emotional” home.
[And if you really want to dive deeper into that comforting Cancer vibe, definitely watch the recording of my virtual Cancer New Moon SisterCircle that I facilitated through the Wellness Universe on June 25th. Our theme was “Making Home a Sacred Space” and I think you’ll enjoy reflecting on your own connection to “home”, both inner and outer”.]
Now with the earth-y Capricorn Full Moon coming up on Thursday, July 10th, we have a whole other set of energies to integrate with that gentle Cancer Sun. As flow-y as Cancer can be, Capricorn is all about creating structure, being disciplined, and taking responsibility. Ruled by steady, grounded Saturn, Capricorn urges us to honor our goals, to set boundaries, and to establish practical strategies and routines in our life and work.
So, a powerful way to weave together this Capricorn/Cancer combo might be to really, truly commit to a establishing an ongoing habit of self-nurturing. Not something you should be doing, but something that soothes your soul. And NOT something that isn’t healthy for you (yes, Trader Joe’s coffee ice cream definitely soothes me, but not so great on a daily basis!)
What’s a soul-embracing practice you’ve been yearning to anchor in your life??
Creating a regular meditation or exercise practice is always a great idea, but also really hard to start if you don’t have some kind of structure in place. Maybe commit to a specific time each morning (or evening) — I got serious about meditating in the morning during the pandemic… before then, it was whenever it “fit in” which meant it often didn’t happen. Now I do it wherever I am, and preferably under a tree — that’s one of my favorite ones in the photo, in the woods where we go on the weekends in the summer. But I have “my trees” in Riverside Park, in Central Park I go regularly, too!
It also helps to enlist the support of friends or family to do it with you, then check in with each other. Or enroll in a regular class — pay money for it so you’ll feel compelled to show up.
A more mundane, serious (thank you, Saturn) application of these energies could be to make a plan to acheive your goals at work that also honors your commitment to your emotional well-being. If you have to work late, take a break and call a friend who will cheer you on. Or if you’re looking ahead to retirement, get some professional support (see below!)
Another direction to take with this Full Moon would be to focus (Capricorn) on releasing emotional baggage and old patterns (Cancer) that no longer serve you. You can do that through powerful workshops or terrific body-based therapies… I’ve highlighted some of those my my Deb’s Picks below as well.
And then, be sure to join us for my upcoming Capricorn/Cancer Full Moon TeleMeditation on Thursday, July 10th at Noon — click HERE for details on how to join us. Hope to “hear” you then! (And if you miss it, contact me and I’ll send you the recording, or look for it on Facebook & Instagram)
RETREAT CENTERS FOR WELL-BEING
I’ve highlighted the Kripalu Center many times as a terrific resource for structured classes and programs to nurture your spiritual and emotional well-being, and they also offer classes online. Some others are the Omega Institute in upstate New York, Esalen Institute in California, and the Art of Living Retreat Center in N. Carolina. Click on the link for a directory of retreat centers in the US. Then explore what’s near you and make a nurturing plan during this Full Moon.
DON’T JUST RETIRE – THRIVE webinar w/ Phyllis Rosen & Kara Flinn Thurs., July 17; 6:30-7:30
If you, or anyone you know, are considering retiring, you definitely need to join my fabulous friend and retirement life planning and career management coach, Phyllis Rosen, for this FREE webinar! Together with Kara Flinn, a personal finance consultant and well-being coach, you’ll get powerful guidance to help you navigate the complex journey into retirement — helping you achieve financial confidence, emotional balance, strong social connections, and a deep sense of personal fulfillment. Kara and Phyllis share a core belief that retirement is not just a phase to enter, but a life stage to design intentionally. They’ll support you in setting meaningful intentions for your next chapter — while transforming fear into excitement and possibility. Sounds like a great way to bring Capricorn’s focus to create an emotionally fulfilling retirement, doesn’t it?! CLICK on the link above to register.
SOMATIC EXPERIENCING (SE) WITH REV. LYNN BOURBEAU
SE is one of those body-based therapies I mentioned above that can help you release emotional baggage and let go of negative habits. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or have experienced trauma, any number of sensations can hijack your nervous system — anxiety, panic, anger, hopelessness, rage, depression, sadness, body aches and ailments. If there’s anyone who can help you calm down and re-calibrate before you go over the edge, it’s my dear friend, Lynn. This Cap/Cancer duet could be a perfect time to confront your inner demons and re-discover joy. Click on her photo and check out her website.
IMAGO WEEKEND RELATIONSHIP WORKSHOPS
This one falls in the Capricorn/Cancer category of bringing structure to the emotional and relational parts of our lives. Harville Hendrix is the father of modern relationship therapy and his books are classics, offering his powerful Imago Therapy process to examine the issues that have kept singles from attracting their ideal partner, or for couples to create dynamic, fulfilling relationships. Definitely take a look at his books or click on the photo to get a listing of upcoming workshops around the country.
DEB’S WORKBOOKS for LIFE AND WORK WELL-BEING
As a coach, I love working with folks “organically” — exploring any area of their lives and work that they want to move to the next level. That said, I also love taking them through ready-made workbooks with terrific exercises to improve their relationships, or for singles, to find “the one”. Some people work better with homework (there’s that structure thing again) — I often say it’s like using our rational left-brains in service of our emotional right brains! I focused on relationships in my April Deb’s Picks so you can get lots of resources there, too. OR for those who are on the verge (or in the middle) of a big life change, I’ve got a great workbook for that as well — Laura Berman Fortgang’s “Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction” program. You can click HERE to learn more about these specialized workbooks and a few others I didn’t mention here.
I hope some of these Picks will inspire you to find new ways to be more disciplined in supporting your emotional and spiritual needs. And as always, if you have any events or resources to share, I’d love to hear them.
With focused, soul-full blessings, Deborah