Waning Moon in Cancer

portcullis at Cahir Castle

The Moon entered her own castle in the sign of Cancer overnight. This is where the Moon feels most secure, most nurtured, and most connected. It can also be where she feels most embattled, prepared to raise the drawbridge, lower the portcullis, and deny entry to one and all.

At 4:06am EDT, the Moon challenged Jupiter in the warrior sign of Aries. Can Jupiter's expansive, pioneering spirit find a home today with a protective Cancer Moon? These two share a love of tradition and a connection to the ancestors, but one is off on a quest and one wants to stay home. Today you might feel like Frodo, given a journey when he wants only to sit by his fireside, or like Eowyn, forced to tend the home fires when she's ready to take up her sword and do battle.

At 7:46am comes an opposition to transformative Pluto in determined Capricorn. Once again, the dialogue is between the safe harbors of home (Cancer Moon) and the call to walk our talk in the world and face its perils (Capricorn Pluto). Pluto's challenges are ignored at great cost, so perhaps the Cancer Moon needs to think in terms of preparing a secure home base before striking out on the path to adventure and achievement. What do we need to have a safe place somewhere?

At 8:35am, the Sun and Mercury reach their conjunction within Mercury's retrograde time. This is the New Mercury, when we turn a corner in our thinking and communication, reconsider old ways, rethink past decisions, review our goals, and strengthen what is best and brightest in our mental habits.

By 10:34am, the Moon challenges Saturn in square. This is the last point the Moon touches today, within the Cardinal Cross still active in the sky. Saturn, planet of tradition, has much in common with the Cancer Moon. The challenge here is between Cardinal Air and Cardinal Water ... does thought come first, or feeling? Practicality and logic, or intuition and emotion? Head or heart? We need both, of course, but finding the dynamic balance here is not always easy.

A Priestess

Later in the day, the Moon flows energy in sextile with Mercury, retrograde in Virgo. Perhaps Virgo's practical approach, focused on service, can help the Moon channel emotional energy in healing ways. Mercury retrograde feels safe within the circle of Cancer's loving concern, finding a respite from the pressures of the world.

Today's last aspect is a sextile with the Sun at 10:44pm EDT. Nearing the end of the lunar cycle, this flow of energy in sextile offers a time of insight and understanding.

The Cancer Moon prefers home, establishing strong boundaries within which she can protect and nurture her family and her tribe. Today brings challenges from other planets reminding us that the world is always with us, and whether our challenges are outside or within, the call to adventure will come.