Lunar Calendar for Sunday, January 12, 2025
Moon in Cancer · waxing gibbous · lunar day 13
- 97% illuminated
- Element Water
- Wet day
- 233,907 miles (376,437 km)
At , the Moon moves into Cancer.
Cancer days turn feelings inward and deepen them. Home, family, and memory draw more than the world outside. Moods shift quickly, so take things less personally today.
Waxing gibbous
More than half of the Moon is lit, and the disk fills out night by night toward the full moon. It dominates the late-evening sky. In lunar tradition, the days before a full moon are the peak of the building phase, when projects and preparations come to a head.
On its monthly path across the sky, the Moon is now descending: seen from the Northern Hemisphere, each day it crosses the sky a little lower than the day before. In planting tradition, the descending Moon draws strength toward the roots—a time for planting, transplanting, and pruning.
Element of the day
- Element
- Water
- Day character
- Wet
A wet water day in Cancer is calm and receptive; plants enjoy the moisture, and the body asks for fluids.
Lunar day 13
The thirteenth lunar day is a learning day; new information tends to settle more easily than usual.
Lunar days are counted from the new moon: day 1 begins at the new moon, and a cycle has 29 or 30 of them. Tradition gives each day its own character.
Health by lunar tradition
In lunar tradition, extra care goes to the chest, breasts, lungs, stomach, liver, and gallbladder.
Under a waxing Moon, tradition favors gentle care for the chest: a warm shower, slow stretches that open the rib cage, and a short breathing routine. A classic exercise is to press the palms together in front of the chest, hold for a count of seven, and release.
Cancer days belong to the chest and the digestion. Tradition holds that alcohol and tobacco weigh on the body more than usual now, and that a late night costs more the next morning. Eat lightly and slowly.
Bitter greens such as arugula, endive, and dandelion are the traditional companions of the liver on Cancer days.
January is short on daylight: step outside at midday for at least a quarter of an hour, since even a gray sky is far brighter than indoor light. Keep a regular sleep schedule, and look to food for vitamin D; the winter sun is too low to make much of it.
Food by lunar tradition
- Favored today
- Carbohydrates and starches
Cancer days are starch days in lunar tradition, which also asks for care from anyone with a sensitive gallbladder. Bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta are said to sit well with most people today, though some feel bloated after a small portion.
With the Moon waxing, tradition keeps bread and pasta to moderate portions.
Before the full moon, tradition holds, food nourishes most: an ideal time to top up minerals and vitamins.
January cooking rests on the stored harvest: cabbage and sauerkraut, root vegetables, winter squash, apples, and nuts. Citrus is at its best now, and fermented vegetables add vitamin C of their own.
Reach for seasonal foods that suit the day: potatoes, barley, and oatmeal.
Tip of the day: baked potatoes in their skins make a full meal today; a yogurt dip and vegetables are enough.
Garden by the moon
- Plant part
- Leaf
January in the garden belongs to planning: draw up the planting plan, order seeds, and check stored produce, discarding anything that has started to rot. Keep the bird feeders full. Prune apple and pear trees only on frost-free days; cuts heal poorly in a hard freeze.
Cancer days are leaf days: lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, and cabbage get the attention, and watering counts for more than usual. Herbalists gather leaves of herbs for the chest, stomach, and liver on Cancer days.
In winter, move lunar gardening indoors: under a waxing Moon, windowsill sowings are said to do well, and cress, sprouts, and potted herbs to grow faster.
On leaf days the leafy vegetables and herbs ask for attention: Brussels sprouts, kale, and cress.
The harvest is coming in: kale and Brussels sprouts.
Seasonal advice is for the Northern Hemisphere’s temperate zone; south of the equator, swap the seasons. For the best days of the month, see planting by the moon and the lunar hair calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What moon is January 12th?
On January 12, 2025, the Moon was waxing gibbous, 97% lit, in the sign of Cancer. It was day 13 of the lunar cycle.
Is January 12, 2025 a full moon?
No. On January 12, 2025, the Moon was waxing gibbous. The nearest full moon after that date was January 13, 2025.
What day is the full moon in January 2025?
The full moon in January 2025 was the Wolf Moon on January 13, 2025, at 10:27 PM UTC.
The whole month day by day: lunar calendar January 2025; the whole year at a glance: lunar calendar 2025. Full moon in January 2025 · New moon in January 2025