Embracing the First Full Moon of the New Year

Moon Magick
Written By Dani Keating

Full Moon by Alsen

On Monday, January 13, at 5:27 PM ET, the first full moon of 2025 graces us with its luminous presence in the nurturing and intuitive sign of Cancer. Known as the Cold Moon, this celestial event invites us to embrace the energy of new beginnings, heightened emotions, and the powerful pull of our inner world. With the moon in its home sign, Cancer, we are called to honor the themes of home, family, emotional security, and self-care.

Cancer’s ruling element is water, making this full moon an especially potent time for deep emotional reflection and intuitive clarity. The Cold Moon, nestled in the heart of winter, encourages us to shed old emotional baggage, reconnect with our inner sanctuary, and set intentions for a year filled with authentic connection and nourishment.

The Power of the Moon in Cancer

Cancer’s energy is deeply tied to the themes of nurturing, intuition, and emotional wisdom. Under this full moon, emotions may rise to the surface, urging us to confront and heal old wounds. This is a time to honor your emotional needs, create sacred spaces, and reconnect with the rhythms of your heart and home. The moon’s energy amplifies intuition, offering clarity on matters close to your heart and empowering you to make decisions aligned with your inner truth.

Rituals to Harness the Energy of the Cold Moon

Moonlit Sanctuary: A Ritual for Emotional Healing

Create a serene space in your home to conduct full moon rituals.

  • Create a serene space in your home, dim the lights, and light white or silver candles.

  • Prepare a warm bath infused with sea salt, chamomile, and rose petals, or create a foot soak if a bath isn’t possible.

  • As you soak, visualize the water cleansing away emotional burdens and filling you with peace.

  • Repeat the incantation: “Under the moon’s silver light, I release what no longer feels right. With Cancer’s nurturing embrace, I welcome peace, love, and grace.”

Moon Water Charging and Crystal Cleansing

  • Place a clear glass jar of water under the moonlight, allowing it to absorb the moon’s energy.

  • Surround the jar with crystals such as moonstone, selenite, and clear quartz.

  • Say: “Moon of Cancer, radiant and bright, imbue this water with your light. Let it heal and guide my way, through the night and every day.”

  • Use the charged moon water for cleansing your space, anointing your skin, or watering your plants to spread its nurturing energy.

A Candlelit Intention Ceremony

  • Write down your intentions for emotional growth, self-care, and meaningful connections.

  • Light a blue or white candle and hold your paper, envisioning your intentions manifesting.

  • Speak aloud: “With this Cold Moon, I set my path, guided by Cancer’s gentle wrath. My heart is open, my spirit free, I create the life meant for me.”

  • Burn the paper in a fire-safe dish, releasing your intentions to the universe.

Preparing for the Sun to Enter Aquarius

As the sun moves into Aquarius on January 19, the energy shifts from introspective Cancer to the innovative and forward-thinking energy of Aquarius. Use the time between the Cold Moon and the solar transition to focus on:

  • Decluttering your space: Release what no longer serves your highest good, both emotionally and physically.

  • Vision-boarding: Aquarius thrives on creative and revolutionary ideas. Begin crafting a visual representation of your goals for the year. 

  • Group connections: Reach out to friends or communities that inspire you, aligning with Aquarius’s love for collaboration and innovation.

Teas and Incantations for the Cold Moon

Ritualize this time with tea and incantations

  • Chamomile and Lavender Tea: To soothe heightened emotions and encourage restful sleep. Incantation: “With each sip, I find my peace, my worries fade, my calm increase.”

  • Peppermint and Ginger Tea: To invigorate the senses and align with Cancer’s digestive focus. Incantation:“With each sip, I’m renewed and whole, nurturing body, heart, and soul.”

  • Rose and Hibiscus Tea: To open the heart and foster self-love. Incantation: “Love flows within, around, and through, under this moon, my heart renews.”

Additional Practices for the Cold Moon

  • Journal prompts: Reflect on questions such as, “What does emotional security mean to me?” and “How can I nurture myself more deeply this year?”

  • Create a gratitude altar: Honor the blessings in your life with symbols of gratitude, such as photos, meaningful objects, or written notes of thanks.

  • Meditate with lunar energy: Visualize the moon’s light filling you with warmth and intuition, illuminating your path forward.

The Cold Moon in Cancer is a sacred invitation to nurture your inner world and cultivate a foundation of emotional strength and compassion. By engaging in these rituals and practices, you align with the moon’s energy, empowering you to step into the new year with clarity, purpose, and heart-centered intention.

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Dani Keating
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