July 5 6:57 PM EST
This new moon, in the sign of the energetic womb Cancer, helps us reconnect to our most primal core needs- and the senses and emotions that assist us in discerning them. In some ways we all come into this world with the same hardware, and a similar macro blueprint for healing (shadow work, forgiveness & nonjudgement and unity consciousness). In other ways, we are each “wired” individually – as can be seen by our birth chart, amongst other things. In astrology, the moon- the ruler of Cancer- offers us a lot of information about our unique wiring at a subconscious emotional level. Not only does it describe our relationship with our mother and the kind of early nurturing we received (which naturally reinforces our energetic pattern), but it also describes our emotional “apparatus” for navigating life and interacting with the environment around us. This is a big job ! It’s no surprise that along with the other 3 cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Capricorn), Cancer represents one of the 4 core directions and angles in the birth chart. Until we have wisdom, self-awareness, and eventually mastery over this part of ourselves, we can feel the effects of confusion, reactivity, and emotional disequilibrium in our lives.
Every year, the Cancer new moon, is a potent invitation to take a gentle closer look at these inner (and outer) patterns in our lives so that we can investigate our “triggers” and our experience and make the best decisions we can in the present moment about what we truly need and the healthiest ways to get those needs met.
All of these themes are majorly reinforced by this particular Cancer new moon. It occurs at 14 degrees of that sign, which is conjunct Sirius at 13 degrees. Sirius is the brightest star in our night sky and besides for the sun, was a focal point of many ancient spiritual systems including the Egyptians who built their pyramids in alignment with Sirius. The energy of Sirius is that of the “celestial elder” who embodies an advanced strata of consciousness and vibration that we are working towards, learning from, and benefitting from. So Sirius conjunct the new moon is an extra bit of “divine guidance” helping us zoom out and see the big picture, FEEL the big picture, so that we can lovingly observe and transform more blocked and traumatized parts of our psyche that unconsciously want to keep us playing out old immature emotional patterns.
This is very particular to each individual but we would all benefit now from taking some time to consider our moon sign, and any natal lunar aspects we have. Even taking time to meditate, journal or free write on these subject could see major insights and breakthroughs bubbling to the surface that will help us in our journey.
The new moon is receiving only positive aspects from other planets so we are VERY supported in examining this sensitive subject matter over the course of the next lunar month. The new moon is conjunct Venus at 22 degrees Cancer. With her emphasis on value and values, relationships and abundance, Venus here reminds us of our true nature as one who is “in the garden”. Like the energy of the Empress in the Tarot (a card ruled by Venus), Venus reminds us that we are never “outside” of God’s love or the mystery of the universe, and that when we truly know this from the core of our being, our lives transform and we are able to relax into the deep knowing, surrender and receiving of our highest good. We need not push, struggle or force. We need not engage in those lunar behaviors we may have once used to ‘get our needs met’ that are no longer serving us. We actually CAN have a more easeful experience.
The sun/moon/Venus conjunction is being beautifully supported by a sextile to the Mars/Uranus conjunction in the mid/late degrees of Taurus. This is extra helpful. We all know how hard it is to break patterns ! Taurus is perhaps the most fixed of all the signs since it is fixed Earth and resistant to change. But radical and innovative Uranus in Taurus since 2018 has been “forcing” us to see what needs to change in the “fixed landscape” of our lives individually and collectively. So much has been shifted around us that we have had “no choice” but to begin to look at different options and new ways of doing things. After Uranus moves into Gemini in 2025/2026, it won’t return back to Taurus for another 80 years. So we are in the final throes of a certain level of structural upheaval. And Mars conjunct Uranus in Taurus during this new moon is extra helpful in dislodging those *inner structures* that have been keeping us stuck. The insights can come with the new moon, and with Mars/Uranus there in the wings the epiphanies click (Uranus) and adjustments can be made in our actions (Mars).
This whole story is further supported and reinforced by the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune (within 10 degree orb now for the first time since 1989) in mid/late Pisces also trine to the new moon and sextile Mars/Uranus. At a macro level, the Saturn Neptune conjunction that we will be experiencing for the next two years is vastly important and will see increased “dissolving” (Neptune) of the traditional structures (Saturn) of power and authority that have been breaking apart since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008.
At a personal level, we can also capitalize on this Saturn/Neptune conjunction to help us energetically *rebuild* our internal spiritual (Pisces) structures and foundations (Saturn) so that they are more reflective of the loving and supportive spiritual realities of the universe (Neptune). When our emotional wiring is outdated and we are being thrown off our equilibrium (by the deliberately fear-based news cycle, for example, and other stressors in our environment) then we can “spiral” into old patterns and fearful thinking. On the lower end of the vibrational spectrum, this is exactly what Saturn/Neptune can expose.
Which is why it’s especially significant now that the Saturn/Neptune conjunction is optimally supporting the Cancer new moon. And all of them are being strengthened by Mars/Uranus. NOW is our chance to see, heal, re-pattern, reprogram so that our internal lunar Cancerian world SUPPORTS us in navigating life and meeting our needs, rather than cripples us with worry, defensiveness and unnecessary drama.
If we are open to it, we CAN see things differently now. We can be shown a better higher way. Pluto, the planet of deep transformation and power, is at 1 degree of Aquarius opposing both Mercury at 5 degrees Leo and Venus at 22 degrees Cancer. Venus and Mercury are the inner planets that (along with the moon) have the most “sway” over our daily experiences and the way we process information and relate to others. With Pluto opposing Mercury and Venus at the new moon, especially in light of all of the POSITIVE aspects of this new moon, we have another real ally in shifting our internal patterns.
Pluto is not seeking to “punish” us or create difficult experiences (neither is Saturn, for the record)- but they both serve to expose that which needs to be seen so that we know what needs to be healed, shifted or adjusted. This usually comes in the form of real world circumstances and events in our lives that provide an opportunity to either ‘choose differently’ or repeat the same pattern.
So we can be EXTRA conscious and aware over the next month in all situations of how we are showing up and empower ourselves to choose from a place of emotional maturity rather than fear or subconscious patterning. When we do that we may experience an instantaneous positive feedback loop thanks to Mars/Uranus cheering us on. The door swings open. We get a great result. This helps us recognize that it really IS worth it to try to break old habits and move to a higher level of our expression in the world. And if we stumble, we have unlimited patience and compassion with ourselves as we can know with absolute certainty that another opportunity in our relationships (Venus) and our communication (Mercury) will come around the corner again shortly.
In fact there are LOTS of opportunities swirling around thanks to abundant Jupiter now in multifaceted Gemini. Jupiter plays big and dares to dream. And Gemini is the multi-tasker and information-gatherer of the zodiac. So Jupiter in Gemini for the next year is a veritable swirl of ideas, information, “news”, correspondence, possibilities and potentialities. If/when we stumble in one situation, we can be gentle with ourselves (again, breaking emotional patterns can be hard!), extract the lessons, forgive and give it another shot the next time. A blessing of Jupiter in Gemini is also that we can be learning (Gemini) lots of helpful information about what assists us in taking care of ourselves (Cancer new moon) in a higher way. We can enlist the turbo charged data-gathering fervor of Jupiter in Gemini to give us all of the information, ideas, “hacks” we need to refine, instill and implement a more “up to date” customized emotional operating system.
There are two other themes, besides for upgrading our emotional operating system, that are very present during this new moon. One of them is the womb that we are creating for ourselves, in our homes and daily lives. Is it peaceful? Is it harmonious? Does it meet our needs? We are again supported in answering those questions honestly, even if it means we have to address certain things. The opposition of Pluto in Aquarius to Venus and Mercury in Leo hints this potential to have to hash certain things out. But again with the overwhelmingly supportive aspects to the new moon, what may normally feel like a very intense or high stakes conversation can be handled with maturity and assurance. And our womb/home may also be a focal point now. There could be moves on the horizon or discussions swirling about real estate or domestic matters.
Secondly, we have the next step out of the womb: the birth canal. We may be in the birth canal phase with certain projects or priorities. It’s a good time to get grounded and use our momentum and reserves wisely as we make a concerted “final push”. Shifting from Geminian multi-tasking to Cancerian intensive self-focus is a lesson is narrowing our focus and applying our concentration and the information we have accrued (Gemini) wisely in order to properly gestate the seed (Cancer) of something new. The birth itself is heralded by Leo season. So we can look forward to that time to see some of the fruits of our labor.
It is worth mentioning, in conclusion, that this Cancer new moon is sandwiched between TWO Capricorn full moons. One occurred just after the solstice, and the other will occur 28 days later just before the sun enters Leo. Ruled by karmic Saturn, the full moon in Capricorn brings a special emphasis to the results and effects of choices. And in the broadest sense, full moons are about relationships- they highlight the interdependent relationship between the sun and moon. So how we emotionally interact with OURSELVES (Cancer new moon) creates an energetic ripple effect (Saturn) that is then mirrored back to us in all of our interactions. When we cannot emotionally care for ourselves, we struggle to create the kind of reciprocal, harmonious personal and professional connections we desire.
Yet another foundational reason that learning to take good care of ourselves is one of our highest priorities. It is the root from which everything else in our life sprouts. And indeed Cancer is the 4th sign and 4th house in astrology, the bottom of our chart- the roots that support the tree of our life. And that make possible the skywards blossoming of “our tree” and our place in the world- as symbolized by Capricorn and the uppermost 10th house. We have the chance now to get to the “root of the root” and not merely plaster over or look for quick fixes in our life, but to see and know and adjust at the most primal level. With two Capricorn full moons, the effects in our relationships are showing up all around us. So the feedback and mirroring we are getting is potent. If we can trust that we are supported now – TRULY supported by the Divine Feminine archetype that is the Great Mother and primordial giving nature of Source that the Moon and Cancer are so connected to – then we can allow ourselves to be LOVED into a higher way of being in the world. And begin to love ourselves that way too.
*art by @indg0
vibrational-astrology.com 