The Full Moon for January is upon us - this month, depending on your hemisphere, we are approaching the Wolf Moon or the Buck Moon. This month, the Full Moon in Cancer will take place on 2026-01-03T10:02:00Z EST. To check the exact time of the Full Moon in your area, you can use the moon calendar from Astro Seek (click here).
In this post, we will take a moment to explore what a Full Moon is and how the sign of Cancer might affect the energy of this moon. As usual, there will be links, ideas, and inspiration for spells, rituals, and meditations!
What is a Full Moon?
If you need a recap of a Full Moon, click here! 🌕
A full moon happens when the moon is directly opposite the sun from the Earth. This means that the side of the moon facing Earth is fully illuminated by the sun, making it appear as a complete circle of light in the night sky.
As with anything in witchcraft, there are many different beliefs on what type of magick should be done during a Full Moon. Some witches believe banishing should be done. Others believe intentions should be set for manifestations. Still, others (such as myself) believe that the Full Moon is the best time for literally any spell you want because the energy is at its highest.
During the Full Moon, the Triple Goddess becomes the Mother of all beings. It’s a great time to work on intuition, spells of love, and prosperity. The Power of all Magic is truly at its peak, this lunar phase is key to either accept or reject projects, transformations, and manifestations that we initiated during the New Moon. - Spells and Things To Do on a Full Moon | Spells8
Northern Hemisphere – The Wolf Moon 
In the Northern Hemisphere, January’s Full Moon is often known as the Wolf Moon. This is because the Native American tribe this name comes from would often notice the howling of wolves during January. This mostly takes place in the Northern parts of North America, though it may happen elsewhere, too. There are other names for January’s Full Moon, though! These include the Center Moon, marking the halfway point of winter, as well as the Cold Moon and the Hard Moon.
Southern Hemisphere – The Buck Moon 
In the Southern Hemisphere, you may know the Full Moon in January as the Buck Moon. This is the height of Summer, and the velvet-covered antlers of male deer complete their growth, forming pointed tips and magnificent racks. This Full Moon name comes from North American Indigenous folklore – if you find that it does not fit your region, you might like one of these alternative names instead: Thunder Moon, Mead Moon, or Hay Moon.
A Note On Moon Names
The Full Moon names that are commonly seen among Western witchcraft traditions generally come from North American Indigenous folklore. This means that a Full Moon name might not resonate with your region. That is perfectly okay! Feel free to adapt any of the Full Moon names to suit where you live!
The Sign of Cancer 
The Zodiac sign of Cancer is a cardinal water sign ruled by the Moon. Cancer is heavily tied to emotions and intuition, letting things ebb and flow like the fluidity of the water it is connected to. Cancers are sentimental and enjoy spending time at home, a place that offers them safety and comfort. They love deeply and are loyal to the people they care about.
Cancers tend to be highly empathic, able to sense the energies of those around them and intuit how they feel and what they need. This makes them wonderful friends and partners. However, these crab-like Cancers also have their hard exterior. They may appear clingy and overly emotional if they let their energy run amok.
Learn more about Cancer → The 12 Signs of the Zodiac - Stellar Astrology Course
Magick for the Cancer Full Moon
The Full Moon is a time of great energy, often used by witches for spells of great importance or energetic need. This energy combines with the sign of Cancer to bring us closer to our emotional connections. Cancer is associated with empathy and intuition, allowing us to become closer to the people we care about. This would be a wonderful time to work magic associated with self-love, community health, a happy home life, and mutual aid.
Activities for the Cancer Full Moon
There are many things you can do for the full moon, but these activities will be enhanced by the specific energy of this Full Moon in Cancer!
Golden Glow Self-Love Spell
Magic and spells with the aim of self-love, inner peace, and personal healing will all be boosted by the energy of this full moon and cancer. This golden glow self-love spell might be just what you need! This spell was designed to use absolutely no tools or ingredients, just your energy and your intent! So, if you find yourself needing a bit more self-love and inner peace, this is a wonderful spell to get you started.
Spell for Global Healing and Compassion
The sign of Cancer connects us with our emotional side, the side of us that yearns for human connection and peace. The spell was written by @SilverBear to extend peace and healing out into the world. Whether your world is big or small, you might benefit from casting this spell to help heal the world around you. You only need a few ingredients, something as simple as a bowl, some herbs, and a candle.
→ Get the Spell: 🌿 Spell for Global Healing and Compassion
Full Moon Intuition Spell Jar
I haven’t yet met a witch who does not like a good spell jar! This spell jar was designed by @christina4 and is meant to enhance your intuition. It was specifically designed to be created during a Full Moon at the height of the moon’s power to enhance the effect of the ingredients that are added to the jar. If you are struggling with your intuition, lean on the energy of Cancer and craft a spell jar to help boost your intuition.
Remember, the energy of the Full Moon isn’t just for the one day that it reaches its peak. Personally, I give myself a three-day window for the Full Moon: the day before, the day of, and the day after. This works well for my practice and it may work for yours, too!
Do you plan to work with this Full Moon? What are your favorite ways to work with a Full Moon?
Let’s hear about it!