The Birthing New Moon in Cancer

Afterglow                                                                                                                    Catherine Al-Meten Meyers
"Dare alla Luce" (To give to the light; to give birth.)

July’s New Moon in Cancer peaks at 4:01 A.M. PDT. The New Moon in Cancer at 12/14 degrees sits squarely in the middle decan of Cancer, enhancing the effect of this powerful alignment of the Moon, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Sirius (the Dog Star). Cancer is the archetype of the Great Mother, nurturer, birther, caregiver. The Cancer New Moon is a time of seeding new life through changes, though the new beginnings are done with some uncertainty and with a sense of emotional vulnerability. The Great Mother is the container of all growth both physical and spiritual. Cancer is also the ruler of our emotional foundations. Wherever Cancer reigns in our lives is where we find ourselves most vulnerable, protective, and in some cases, withdrawn.

Cancer has  a tendency to make us cling to whatever we know and are familiar with even when all signs point to the need to change. Wherever Cancer rules in your life is the area where you may be most protective and afraid. This New Moon and all that is going on with it, is a time when you will be stirred to do two things. First, remember who you really are. And second, examine how you are using your gifts, power, and energy, and determine what patterns are holding you back and which ones are helping you embrace your emotional truth as you make choices for growth that enhance your life.  

The New Moon in Cancer aligns with Sirius, the Dog Star ( fixed star). This  triggers a square to Saturn in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces. When the Moon was last in Gemini, it triggered the Grand Cross, and this New Moon in Cancer now sets off a period of karmic realignment. What needs to change, will change. In astrological terms, when a square occurs, a crisis  of some type is triggered to push whatever change is needed. A quincunx signals some kind of adjustment is needed, and a trine indicates a resolution can be reached. Oppositions indicate that two diametrically conflicting issues need to come to some type of resolution. All these aspects happen regularly, however when the New Moon sets something off, it is a strong indication that a major change is underway or needed.

This New Moon in Cancer is a quirky, eccentric, and somewhat magical wild woman kind of phase.  Lunar energy evokes the emotional vulnerability that is necessary to stimulate real change and creativity. Standing in our own truth, stepping out into the unknown despite our fears and anxiety, and claiming our place and power in whatever we choose to do, is crucial at this time. If we give up, give away our power, or simply lay down our dreams, we will lose the life force that is vital for our survival, growth, and development, not to mention happiness and fulfillment. This New Moon in Cancer enters our lives to demand that we expect the unexpected, and steer ourselves away from conventional wisdom to unusual and out-of-the-box kinds of answers, solutions, and changes.

Cancer stirs up our need for safety, security, and a sense of boundaries and home. It also finds many of us clinging to dear life to outworn and ineffective patterns of belief and behavior. The Sun is also in Cancer, and it forms a quincunx to Saturn, the Great Teacher. This is a serious karmic aspect where we will find answers and inspiration coming from some pretty odd and out of the way places and sources.  Again, this New Moon with the Sun and Moon both in Cancer is telling us nothing is business as usual. Solutions come from outside the usual places, and with Saturn in fiery Sagittarius, what is going on beneath the surface may be either stirring in the unconscious and/or appearing as some form of underhanded or deceitful actions.

The Sun and the Moon are both conjunct Mercury, and this is considered a highly volatile and combustible aspect. What has been suppressed, withheld, or hidden is now flushed out. There is an element of the Trickster to this aspect, and so we can use the power of our thoughts and words to create some magical and surprising last-minute answers to perplexing problems or supposedly impossible situations. This New Moon in Cancer and all the powerful allies help us conjure up ideas, inspiration, and a real sense of knowing what we really long for and desire. Now is the time to be completely truthful with ourselves, and allow ourselves, as we really are, to be who we are and to claim be receptive to allowing ourselves to ask for what we want. When we hem and haw and fail to be truthful about what we need and want, we only serve to hinder our progress. Get out of your own way, and allow yourself to feel the alignment with the Divine Principles that guide, guard, and reveal Truth in our lives.

The New Moon in Cancer conjunct Mercury may make us feel a bit clingy, nostalgic, and wishy washy. It may also remind us of what has made us happy and fulfilled in the past. Remember though, the past is to remind us of what we can achieve, decide, do, and comprehend; it is not to be relived. Use your memories and knowledge to move forward, to conquer new territory in your journey.

Jupiter, the North Node, Saturn, and Mercury are all in mutable signs, meaning that there is an element of flexibility, indecision, or confusion attached to anything related to the issues they trigger in your life and the collective lives of all. This may make it somewhat difficult to follow through or even get down to business. Just notice this, and note which areas of your life this seems to affect. It won’t last forever, but while these planets and the North Node are mutable, it means we also have more choice. Use your power to choose wisely.

The expression, ‘thoughts are things’ is true now more than ever. With this New Moon in Cancer and all the planetary alignments and aspects, it is indeed a magical time. We can use our energy, ideas, dreams, plans, prayers, and all forms of communication to build a beautiful home for ourselves. We can envision and create beautiful domestic settings as well as compassionate and loving ways of interacting with one another as a whole community. Because the Sun is also conjunct Mercury, we also need to note that the fusion of ego and mind can be a dangerous and destructive aspect. When we allow our ego needs to dictate and overrule or overwhelm sound intellectual thought and decision making, we can run into trouble with both compromise and clear communication.  Some may go to absurd extremes to prove their own egocentric point in an effort to rebel against society’s conventions. This can do more harm than good. If we muddy the waters by creating bigger problems or by confusing already complex issues, we miss the point and waste the energy of this essential time. Avoid pushing your point-of-view on anyone.

The New Moon conjunct Sirius (the Dog Star) indicates success in business and contact with influential friends. It can also set off temper tantrums.  In mythology, Sirius is the goddess Isis, beloved wife of Osiris). The Dog Star and the Goddess Isis represents resurrection, rebirth. She breathes life into what had been dead. When the Nile River flooded in ancient times, it was thought that the Goddess had breathed life into the land and the people. This is a sign that we are in need of nurturing and being nurtured. We need to take good care of ourselves, and avoid overdoing with anything that would be harmful to our bodies, minds, or souls. These are the dry days when things are bursting into bloom, when passions are heating up, and when emotions are as well. Sirius appearing in the night sky symbolizes the start to the dog days of summer, a time for healing to take place.

The Moon in Cancer trining Neptune in Pisces signals an emotional cooling off period. When Neptune is triggered by a square as it is with Saturn, it heats up things. The Moon helps us cool off and take a much-needed rest. There will be an almost make believe feeling to this New Moon time. It is going to be at least as strong as some of the most volatile full moons. Art released (or created) at this time, will receive great notice. We will be feeling things very deeply, and we will sense the very tangible nature of our emotions. We will feel more connected and part of our surroundings, and of course it’s a wonderful time to be out in the natural world enjoying the beauty and richness of the elements. As the Sun in Cancer trine Neptune can make us more susceptible to drugs and alcohol and other forms of escapism, exercise caution.

A very emotional and vulnerable time, we need to remain well grounded. Be with people you trust and honor that which is tried and true--what always meets you where you really are. It’s a wonderful time for some rich spiritual growth and development. The Moon and Sun will oppose Pluto, the Great Transformer. This signals some strange emotions, some odd empathic experiences, and a great deal of sensitivity. Dreams can be intense and lovely. It is a heart-focused time, so make sure whatever you are spending your time doing is something that includes connecting with and serving others in some way. For some the Pluto opposition can also stir up painful, raw memories, or trigger some ugly confrontations. You may have to face some uncomfortable truths. Sometimes we want to ignore that or bury them, hoping against hope things will change. It’s best to face what is, so you can grow and find true happiness within and with others. Now is the time, at this New Moon to decide whether it is best to perpetrate a cycle or break it. The choice is up to you.

The stellium of planets in Cancer, the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, and Venus, all signal a time of great romance. Memories will be stirred, again to remind us of what we are capable of feeling but not to make us long to relive them. Something new is on the horizon now. Bring with you only that which helps and uplifts you for what you are now to learn, do, and become. Mars is now stationary direct after its long retrograde cycle. So while it is not rushing full speed ahead yet, you will feel the energy shifting around movement and activities and changes you have longed to make.  This New Moon in Cancer comes at a time of celebration in the U.S., and at a time in the world of great upheaval and hope. People are longing for change, and what we need to understand is that where we can most bring about change is within ourselves. When we fail to bring forth what we are meant to do, be, create, or honor, we fail to grow. Through our growth as both physical and spiritual beings, we can help others better, we can live out our purpose, and we can find deeper fulfillment. The New Moon in Cancer is a time for cherishing and nurturing as well as helping create a more perfect union among all people, everywhere.

At this New Moon in Cancer, do what it is you need to do to give birth to the Light within you.