As the first full moon of the year, the Wolf Moon carries profound spiritual significance. Wondering how you can work with this energy? Let’s dive in.

What Is a Supermoon?

Saturday’s Wolf Moon, aka January’s full moon, is considered a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the full moon is at or near its closest point to Earth, making it appear even bigger than usual.

As NASA explains, “The Moon travels around our planet in an elliptical orbit, or an elongated circle, with Earth closer to one side of the ellipse. Each month, the Moon passes through the point closest to Earth (perigee) and the point farthest from Earth (apogee).”

A supermoon occurs when the moon passes through the perigee during the full moon stage. The moon can appear up to 14 percent larger at perigee than at apogee.

What Is a Wolf Moon?

Not only are we experiencing a supermoon this weekend, but it’s also known as the Wolf Moon, which holds significant symbolism. More on that later.

In simple terms, the Wolf Moon refers to the full moon that falls in January. Why? 

“The howling of wolves was often heard at this time of year,” The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains. “It was traditionally thought that wolves howled due to hunger, but we now know that wolves use howls to define territory, locate pack members, reinforce social bonds, and gather for hunting. European settlers may have used the term ‘Wolf Moon’ even before they came to North America.”

Of course, the Wolf Moon isn’t the only name for January’s full moon. Others include Center Moon, Cold Moon, Frost Exploding Moon, Freeze Up Moon, Severe Moon, and Hard Moon, among countless others. 

My personal favorite is “Greetings Moon,” which was named by Western Abenaki. It feels like the perfect title for the first moon of the new year.

Full Moon in Cancer

This particular full moon will occur in Cancer, a water sign known for its empathetic, gentle, and sensitive nature.

According to Astroseek, when the moon enters Cancer, “You may be prone to emotional fluctuations; you should learn to forgive and forget in order to avoid depression from thinking too much about things.” 

Additionally, you might have a more subjective view of the world. Allow yourself space and solitude, especially if you’re falling into neediness. Be intentional with your words and actions.

When a full moon occurs in a sign, it amplifies the experience even more. So, as we just covered, the full moon in Cancer might trigger dependency and insecurity. Don’t fight or avoid this energy. Rather, dive into it without any judgment. 

Be present with yourself, journaling through your feelings and any emotional wounds that might come up. If approached with honesty and care, it can help you gain more confidence and self-assurance. 

Wolf Moon Symbolism

The Wolf Moon is deeply symbolic. As the first of the year, it represents renewal, reflection, and community. Just as the wolves locate and gather pack members to reinforce social bonds, we, too, should look to our community for connection and fulfillment. 

As the moon in Cancer reminds us, it’s okay to crave external support—so long as you’re not losing your own independence. Practice gratitude, celebrate milestones, release old wounds, forgive yourself and others, and prepare for the year ahead.

The post January’s Wolf Supermoon Will Offer the Perfect Start to the New Year appeared first on VICE.

As if Mercury retrograde on November 9 wasn’t already enough, Jupiter retrograde begins just two days later. That’s right, on November 11, the planet of growth, luck, and abundance will be retrograding in the astrological sign of Cancer. According to experts, this will kickstart a period of deep karmic healing (and accountability) and emotional renewal, lasting until March 2026.

“Jupiter in Cancer turns reflection into revelation,” says Rachel Ruth Tate, certified astrologer at Casinos Analyzer. “As our greater benefic, the planet of higher good, philosophy, and expansion asks us to reap our blessings in retrospect and see the wisdom in hindsight. This is a season to realign beliefs, reconsider loyalties, and nurture what truly sustains us—especially with an exalted Jupiter moving through Cancer, the Moon’s caring and collective sign.”

While everyone will experience the effects of Jupiter retrograde, three zodiac signs in particular will feel it the most. According to Tate, Pisces, Sagittarius, and Cancer are in for quite the ride. Here’s what each sign can expect going into Jupiter retrograde.

1. Pisces

If you’re a Pisces, buckle up for an emotional autumn season.

“All of our Jupiterian friends will be sensing this retrograde to their depths, but with Saturn making a tight aspect to Jupiter from your sign, Pisces, nobody will be more sensitive during this time than you,” says Tate. “Jupiter’s retrograde station will be both a burden and a blessing, a duality which will seem natural to a sign represented by the two fish.”

Try to see the positives in this retrograde, Pisces. While you might experience more pain and emotional turmoil than other signs, you also feel love, joy, and excitement more deeply. Sometimes, that’s a worthwhile trade-off.

“You know all too well that all things end or pass away, and your big heart always chooses to love anyway, which is why your sign is blessed with the gifts of compassion and empathy,” Tate explains. “This Jupiter retrograde won’t break you, but it may just break you open!”

2. Sagittarius

Sagittarius, your wild soul craves adventure and freedom, but this season might force you to slow down.

“You have a lot going on, Jupiter-ruled friends, not just with THIS retrograde station, but with Mercury also already retrograde in your sign,” Tate says. “This cosmic moment feels like a very serious ‘life review’ for you, normally playful, high-spirited folks. While the slowdown may dampen your enthusiasm temporarily, Sagittarius, trust you’ll be back in full life-of-the-party mode by Christmas time!” 

Trust that this time is meant to heal you, not tame your fire or take you off-track.

“This autumn season comes to give you the gifts of profound wisdom and personal reflection, if you are open to receiving them,” Tate continues. “Let yourself go back to the drawing board with what’s not working for you this Jupiter retrograde, and the edits you will be able to make may surprise and delight you.

3. Cancer

Since the Jupiter retrograde occurs in your sign, Cancer, you will feel its effects the most.

“Not only is Jupiter stationing retrograde in your sign, but it is also your ruler by exaltation and has a lot to say about your greatest successes in life,” Tate says. “As the planet of growth slides backwards in your sign, you are sure to be served a heaping helping of nostalgia with a side of wistfulness.” 

Of course, this isn’t exactly new to you—and it’s not a bad thing, either. In fact, you’ll likely come out of this retrograde feeling blessed and abundant.

“You, Cancer, are perhaps in the best position to reap the rewards of this retrograde season, with all of the heavy happenings in water signs bolstering your emotional reserves, as opposed to depleting them,” Tate continues. “Nobody nurtures themselves and others better than you do, so share what you learn. A rising tide lifts all ships, after all!”

The post Jupiter Retrograde Is Coming, and These 3 Signs Will Feel It the Most appeared first on VICE.

Of course, this does not excuse disloyalty and betrayal. Unfortunately, however, some people take advantage of kind, empathetic, and trusting individuals. Many cheaters will capitalize on such personality traits to deceive or even manipulate their partners.

Through her work, Emily Conway, CEO of adult toy company Dragon Toys, has observed the personality traits linked to the star signs and identified some of the relationship patterns associated with them.

“There are definitely patterns that suggest some people might be more susceptible to having unfaithful partners,” she explained.

This doesn’t mean victims should change who they are or hide these beautiful parts of themselves. Rather, it’s important to find balance and be aware of their vulnerabilities in this cruel dating world.

Here are the five zodiac signs Conway believes are the most vulnerable to being cheated on.

1. Pisces

As a water sign, Pisces are known to be sensitive and dreamy, meaning they might romanticize someone who isn’t actually good for them. Their trusting and empathetic nature sometimes works against them in relationships.

“Pisces are supposed to be hopeless romantics who believe in fairy-tale love,” said Conway. “This beautiful trait can unfortunately make them overlook red flags because they’re so invested in the fantasy of their relationship.”

2. Cancer

Another water sign (unsurprisingly), Cancers are known to fall fast and hard. When with the wrong person, this might mean they downplay concerning behavior and grow too attached too soon. 

“Cancers are known to invest so much of themselves emotionally that they might tolerate behavior they shouldn’t, simply because they’ve already given so much,” Conway explained. “They’re nurturers by nature, so they often think they can love someone enough to change them.”

3. Libra

As the flirty, charming, and sociable sign of the zodiac, Libras are often mushes when they’re in love. In fact, they’re ruled by Venus, the planet of love and beauty. As such, they might have rose-colored glasses when lovingly gazing at their partner.

Not to mention, as the peacemakers of the zodiac, they tend to avoid conflict at all costs. In relationships, this can breed a ton of resentment and cause major disconnects.

“Libras are known to sweep relationship problems under the rug to maintain harmony,” said Conway. “They might notice their partner becoming distant or secretive but choose not to rock the boat by bringing it up.”

4. Sagittarius

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t shocked at the first few zodiac signs most likely to be cheated on (sorry, water signs), but I was not expecting to see Sagittarius. This free-spirited, fiery sign is always on the go. They’re rarely bothered by relationship woes. 

But perhaps that’s why they’re more prone to missing red flags.

“Sagittarian personalities value their independence so much that they might not notice when their partner starts seeking emotional connection elsewhere,” Conway said. “They usually assume everyone values space as much as they do.”

5. Virgo

Another shocking addition to this list is the detail-oriented, logical sign of Virgo. However, these exact traits might contribute to their demise.

“A typical Virgo might notice their partner’s phone habits have changed or they’re working late more often, but they’ll analyze it to death rather than trusting their gut instincts,” Conway said. “They want logical proof before they’ll believe something’s wrong.”

Conway noted that Virgos might even take the blame or strive for perfection within themselves rather than consider their partner’s faults.

The post The 5 Zodiac Signs Most Likely to Be Cheated On appeared first on VICE.

Cancer, you’re not the only sign with intense feelings. We all have them. But moody Cancers feel emotions so strongly that they tend to hijack situations whenever they feel they’re having a “crisis,” which is constantly.

For example, a Cancer can never stop blabbering over brunch about how they still feel abandoned, even though their breakup was three months ago. Meanwhile, another friend just got dumped last night. The world would be an easier place if Cancers could simply remember that other people also have feelings—maybe ask everyone else how their weekend was before you plunge into your emotional crisis that everyone has already heard about?

As anyone who has dated a Cancer can tell you, they are moody as hell, and they can be extremely thin-skinned despite their tough crab shells. If some jerk throws out one mean remark, Cancer will feel incredibly wounded, spin out, and spend all night rehashing it. Cancers also tend to overreact when their lovers have bad days. Maybe it’s not about you, Cancer; maybe he’s just constipated.

The secret to dating a Cancer is tell them you believe in them 100 percent and that they are gorgeous, talented, and destined for success. They will perk right up and get so sentimental and saccharine towards that you may feel like vomiting—but at least it will get them to stop being such a crybaby.

Cancers dish but can’t take, and then wonder why people break up with them or pass them over professionally.

In intimacy and in work, Cancers struggle with criticism. We are all human beings, and we all make mistakes. Part of being in a relationship is that your partner is going to call you on your shit when you screw up. Similarly, we all know that our bosses are going to bust our chops when we’re working slowly because a hangover or if we say something stupid at a meeting. Cancers take such garden-variety criticism too personally, and they misperceive accountability as people hating them deeply. This flaw becomes particularly ironic when Cancers overreact and lash out, defensively calling others out without any reservation. Cancers dish but can’t take, and then wonder why people break up with them or pass them over professionally.

The moon rules Cancer. It’s a bit confusing to google more about this because the moon connects with the body, emotional needs, and the mother. That’s a lot. What’s crucial about the lunar aspect is that Cancers want to nurture and be nurtured. As adults, we all must leave the nest and make it on our own in the wild. And that leaves Cancers constantly upset about how they aren’t being coddled more through tough situations.

Cancer is a water sign, and Cancer season coincides with the annual flooding of the Nile in Egypt. This flood fertilized the soil for the year and led to an abundant harvest. This symbolism is crucial for understanding Cancers: They experience emotions as overwhelming floods. On the flip side, however, Cancers are unusually skilled at washing away other people’s pain and at nourishing and fertilizing others spiritually. Cancers need to quit catastrophizing and freaking out over shit constantly, and instead focus on how to be strategic flooders that breach the inner dams and emotional blocks holding other folks back.

Everyone knows the ancient symbol for Cancer is the crab. There’s a lesser known reason for this: In Greek mythology, it’s said that the hero Hercules became a target of the goddess Hera’s ire. (Hera hated Hercules because her husband Zeus had cheated on her with another woman to sire Hercules. She could never forgive this bastard child for existing.)

In her quest for vengeance, Hera had Hercules fight the monstrous hydra; when Hercules began to vanquish this beast against all odds, Hera also sent a giant crab to attack the hero and to interfere with the victory. With some help, Hercules eventually defeated both the hydra and the crab. In spite, Hera had the crab put in the sky, just to show Zeus she never would forget about his infidelity. In ancient literature, goddesses sometimes couldn’t get over stuff, and everyone rolled their eyes at them. There is a bit of Hera in many Cancers: unable to let go of the drama.

Princess Diana is an intriguing Cancer case study. As we all know, Prince Charles had a lifelong love affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. When confronted, Prince Charles reportedly told Diana point-blank, “Well, I refuse to be the only Prince of Wales who never had a mistress.” Now, if Diana had been a Gemini, she probably would have decided Charles is sort of ugly anyways, and that she could play with hotter men on the side. Why didn’t she just keep up appearances, wear Versace, and live in a palace for the rest of her life with no actual problems?

Because Diana was a Cancer, she couldn’t get over the cheating, and she took vengeance on Charles and the royal family, secretly telling reporters about how horribly the Royal Family had treated her. But there was also a positive side: Scorned by her husband, Diana went into Cancer overdrive and used her position to nurture oppressed people. She took her kids out of the palace into soup kitchens, met with AIDS patients when stigma against the disease was at its height, and campaigned against landmines. She broke taboos by speaking publicly about her bulimia, depression, and how Charles’s affair shattered her—which allowed everyone in England and around the world to feel a little less shame over being human, too.

Cancer season takes place at the start of summer. This is the time of year when water lilies bloom in ponds. Real ponds in the wild are nasty and impure; this idea of a crystal-clear pond is a man-made delusion. But beautiful water lilies can still flower in this muck. Cancers: Stop perseverating over dirty water, accept that life is not as pristine as you wished, enjoy the flowers that come up, and let it go.

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