Tarot Spreads: New Moon in Capricorn + Full Moon in Cancer

Let’s get climbing … in a soulful way

With the new energy of this new season, new moon, I thought I would switch things up with my tarot spreads and bring back some of my old astrological inspirations. My goal is to provide a New Moon tarot spread and Full Moon tarot spread each month for the relevant season. And if you’re a newsletter subscriber, you will also get a sign-based affirmation for the lunar cycle! (That’s the hope at least. But we all know that not all New Year resolutions work out great.)

If you’ve paid attention to moon transits in astrology or you’ve read my Working with the Moon blog post, you know that Capricorn season always has a New Moon in Capricorn and a Full Moon in Cancer. (Every few years, there’s a second one of those in the season too because there are 13 lunar cycles in one solar cycle through 12 signs.)

I’m listing the New Moon in Capricorn spread first since it’s Capricorn season, but the Full Moon in Cancer will actually happen first in the 2023–2024 season.

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New Moon in Capricorn

In the 2023–2024 season, we have the New Moon in Capricorn (20º Capricorn 44’) happening January 11, 2024 (6:57AM US Eastern Time), but you can use this spread for any New Moon in Capricorn. The fundamentals are the same.

Clearing: What flights of fancy is it time to get serious about?

Transitional pause: What recent learning serves as the foundation for my future ambitions?

New seeds: What grand design am I ready to start building?

Light in darkness: How can my envy help me understand my ambition?

Planetary boon: What responsibilities am I encouraged to reward?

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Full Moon in Cancer

In the 2023–2024 season, we have the Full Moon in Cancer (4º Cancer 58’) happening December 26, 2023 (7:33PM US Eastern Time), but you can use this spread for any Full Moon in Cancer. The fundamentals are the same.

Fuel: How can I express my emotions in a way that nurtures them?

Magical peak: Where in my life can I call in my soul family?

Purging: What emotional rubble can I release into the Void?

Clear mirror: Where does my inner knowing conflict with external desires?

Dancing luminaries: How can I honor my spirit through this material body?

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Looking to make the most of this Capricorn season or just eager to get to know Capricorn energy? It’s the perfect time for the Ice Breaker Workbook, a set of 10 Capricorn-inspired divination exercises.

And if you’re looking to bring zodiacal Cancer energy into your life this Full Moon, consider the Wave Skimmer Workbook as well.

The Wave Skimmer Workbook [PDF]

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Creating the Spreads

Each of the spreads is based on five core categories that will be the same each New Moon or Full Moon. There are certain aspects of a New Moon or a Full Moon that are fundamental to that particular lunar phase, regardless of sign. If you’re curious how I created the spreads and want to use some of my techniques and thought processes to create your own spread, go for it! Be sure to share it with me so I can see what you’ve created. Comment below with the questions or share a link to your own blog or Instagram post. Others may want to work with the spread if you’re open to it!

New Moon

Every New Moon is coming from a clearing energy thanks to the waning phase. For this spread situated in a short period of time, that position is informed by the previous astrological sign. (That’s different from working with a full six-month lunar cycle, where the overarching energy is all of that one sign.)

The Dark Moon is then the point of sacred pause where you really need to let the energies of the old sign end and the energies of the new sign form before you act. It’s contemplative and quiet and internal.

And the first sliver of the waxing phase allows you to start planting new seeds in the primary strengths of that sign.

Those three facets of the New Moon make up the first three positions and the central line of the spread. For many folks, that’s all they really need. However, I like to take tarot beyond the basics.

The fourth position, below the main events, is tied to the shadows of that particular sign and offers a way to turn seemingly negative experiences, emotions, or habits into something more useful for the querent.

And the fifth position, above the main events, is something positive based on the planetary ruler of the sign in which all of this is happening. That’s because the Moon and Sun are both in that sign, so they are both influenced by the same planetary ruler. Let’s see what that planet has to offer.

Full Moon

Every Full Moon is at the height of its power in the sign opposite the Sun’s sign. It’s coming from a place of building energy that passes through the previous sign on its way to its brightest point, so it uses that sign’s energy to help it grow and move.

Then at its Full phase, it’s a pure and light expression of the sign. For this short-term tarot spread (rather than a six-month lunar cycle), the card position offers a fleeting magical quality that is a celebration of all that can be achieved through the sign.

After that, it quickly shifts into a waning phase, and you’re able to eliminate negative aspects of your life through the positive characteristics of that sign. This is similar to the New Moon’s Clearing card position, but it’s proactive rather than reactive.

Those three facets of the Full Moon make up the first three positions and the central line of the spread. For many folks, that’s also all they really need. But as you know, I like to take tarot beyond the basics.

The fourth position, below the main events, is tied to the conflict of the Sun and Moon’s signs that is made more obvious thanks to illumination from both sides. It can help you see and eventually address the conflict to help you heal through the light of the Full Moon.

And the fifth position, above the main events, is a positive interaction between the two opposing energies that house the luminaries (Sun and Moon). Oppositions are often seen as challenging, but there’s as much positive potential in them. The same conflict seen in the fourth position is also a combining of complementary energies that can be used for a positive outcome.

Creating Questions for the Signs

What changes in each of those two basic spreads is how the astrological energies affect the question inspired by that core category.

In the New Moon in Capricorn spread, I needed to consider Capricorn, Sagittarius, and Saturn. Capricorn is all about building far-reaching plans and slowly climbing upward to your reach your ambitions. Sagittarius, which is the sign the Moon has most recently left, is all about expanding your horizons. And Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, is all about responsibility and, despite simplistic views of Saturn as just a bad guy, the planet rewards hard work and honest efforts.

In the Full Moon in Cancer spread, I needed to consider Capricorn, Cancer, and their areas of contrast and complementing. While Capricorn is very externally focused and driven by status and work, Cancer is more internally attuned and driven by emotion and intuition, as well as family and home. Gemini, as the sign preceding Cancer, also gets a nod in the first question. It is the sign of the lungs, communication, and expression, so that’s how it adds fuel.

Layout

As for the layout, I’ve placed the five cards for each spread in a classic cross position. I like five-card crosses because they offer up multiple points of interaction and symbolic patterning without creating something that’s totally overwhelming for the reader.

• You have five one-card readings in response to five specific questions.

• You also have two three-card readings, a horizontal spread that is based on a classic three-card trajectory and a vertical spread that helps demonstrate the highs and lows or the above and below aspects of the spread.

• And you have one big picture of five cards that will likely reveal interesting underlying patterns when you look at the cards all together.

Want help creating your own layouts?

You’ve got options! Join my upcoming semester of tarot and take advantage of 20+ office hours, where we can talk through your ideas and how best to ask the questions that matter most and create a custom signature layout for you.

Can’t wait? Sign up for my intensive fundamentals course for new and experienced readers, Read Tarot like a Nerd, where we get into the heart of asking questions that matter, along with a dozen or two other valuable topics to take your tarot readings beyond the basics. Or check out my Saturday seminars, including past recordings of Reading the Big Picture and Getting Intentional, which will help you create your own spreads.

And if you’re curious about the astrology of tarot, I’ve got a course for that.