The July Full Moon of 2023 – The Buck Moon in Capricorn

The phases of the moon are among the most fascinating astronomical behaviors we can observe with the naked eye and deeply rich sources of thought and interpretation in Astrology. Among the 9 phases – New, Waxing Crescent, 1^st Quarter Half, Waxing Gibbous, Full, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter Half, Waning Crescent, and Balsamic – the New and Full Moons capture most of the attention. This article will look at the current Full Moon and talk about the kind of “harvest” you should bring in emotionally during this full moon. Keep on reading to learn about the Buck Moon in Capricorn…

Full Moon – Reap What You Have Sown!

The Full Moon for July will occur on the 3^rd at 11 degrees and 18 minutes in the sign of Capricorn; in my Eastern Standard Time zone it will happen at 7:39 am.

It takes 29.5 days from one Full Moon to the next, spending approximately 2 and ½ days in a sign. The day before and the day after comprise what would be the peak time of the Full Moon energy. The Full Moon is the time of “the harvest”, when what began with the New Moon reaches full potential before waning, fading, and preparing for a new cycle.

Each month has a certain type of Full Moon; July’s Moon is the Buck Moon. Other names for this moon are the Salmon Moon, Raspberry Moon, and Thunder Moon.

There are also several special types of Full Moons: The Blood Moon, which happens during a total lunar eclipse; a Supermoon, which happens when the Moon is full and closest to the Earth; and the Blue Moon (“once in a blue moon”), which is a second Full Moon in a calendar month (occurring once every 2 and ½ years) or the second Full Moon in the same astrological sign.

Full Moon in Capricorn – Feeling the Need to Accomplish

This Full Moon will take place in the 2^nd decan (middle 10 degrees) of Capricorn, making it a Capricorn/Taurus Full Moon. The planetary influences involve Saturn as the ruler for Capricorn and Venus as the ruler for Taurus. Thus, this Full Moon will be about what we do to achieve status in life (Capricorn) and how we establish our security (Taurus).

Since the Moon is in Capricorn, its energy is productive, goal-oriented, and serious. This Full Moon is going to require us to reflect on what we most need to do to be successful. The intensity of this Full Moon around what skills we need to prosper cannot be emphasized enough. Thanks to the decan placement, this Full Moon will be about how we need to be productive (Capricorn) in order to take care of ourselves and others (Sun in Cancer) through our need to accumulate the resources necessary to feel safe (Taurus).

With this Full Moon at 11d18m, the Sabian Symbol is 12 Taurus, “Window shoppers.” Jones says, “This is a symbol of human imagination as the real corrective for man’s experience, enabling each individual to know in advance whether the choices he will make are in line with his desires. Implicit in the passive symbolism is the continual demand that action follow each tentative examination of life’s possibilities, and that some latent phase of self-awareness be quickened in consciousness as a result.” The key word is: VISUALIZATION.

The Numbers of This Full Moon

This Full Moon will occur on 07/03/2023, which totals 17, which reduces to 8. Eight is the number for ambition, power, and material success. It represents the energy of achievement and abundance. The number 8 also carries the lesson of balance, reminding us to find harmony between material pursuits and spiritual growth. Since the Full Moon happens on the 3^rd, we must do this work with creativity, communication, and social interaction. It symbolizes self-expression, optimism, and the joy of living.

The Full Moon in Your Chart

The Full Moon will occur in a specific location of your chart and in special relationship with various points in your chart if you have points near the same degree in the same sign, at the opposing degree (180 degrees away from a point in your chart), three signs before or after the Full Moon degree and sign (90 degrees away), or four signs before or after the Full Moon degree and sign (120 degrees away).

Respectively these would be a conjunction (the Full Moon merging with a point in your chart), an opposition (the Full Moon seeking balance with a point in your chart), a square (the Full Moon challenging a point in your chart), and a trine (the Full Moon supporting a point in your chart). It is possible that the degree and sign of the Full Moon may not form any of these relationships and its effect, for this time, would be minimal or difficult to observe.

If you happen to be born during a Full Moon, then you will feel every Full Moon in some significant or acute way because it is consistent with your birth Moon phase. It is well worth your effort to find out the Moon phase at the time of your birth. If you learn your birth Moon phase, you will likely discover that same phase each month has a strong impact on your emotional state.

With this Full Moon, I get the impact of its energy in my 3^rd House of Communication (Moon placement on 07/03/2023) and my 9^th House of Mastership (Sun placement between 6/20 and 07/20), so this Full Moon will energize me to look at how I communicate (Capricorn ruling my 3^rd House) and how it affects my pursuit of expert knowledge (Cancer ruling my 9^th House).

As this Full Moon approaches, think about what you want to “harvest” regarding what you most strongly believe, at an emotional level, to help you navigate your way through the world (Sagittarius Moon) as you try to understand who you are (Gemini Sun).