Waning Moon in Cancer

This note covers the Moon's transits for today and tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Moon in Cancer, in her disseminating, waning phase, seems ideal for a holiday focused on family. In the U.S., we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, a time when extended families gather, share a meal, experience (we hope) a sense of togetherness and gratitude, and watch football.

The Cancer Moon is tender hearted, and can be sensitive and easily wounded. Fiercely protective of tribe and family, Cancerians put up strong outer defenses to protect inner vulnerability.

This holiday commemorates a time when European settlers received food and other aid from Native people, allowing them to survive the winter. While offering vital assistance is certainly emblematic of the best of Cancer's spirit, we know the settlers did not respond in kind. The narrowness of their "us vs. them" approach began in fear and self righteousness, led to devastation and violence, and created a legacy of pain and betrayal we carry today.

Family and tribe are essential but difficult boundaries to create, and to maintain. The Moon today opposes Pluto in Capricorn, the tender, home-centered Mother, sometimes fearful of what is outside, in dialogue with the fierce, determined Phoenix, pushing us out into the world to confront our deepest fears and transform ourselves.

These two are aligned with the Nodes of the Moon, Pluto sitting with the North Node, where we are meant to go in this lifetime, while the Moon remains with the South Node, reminding us of our strengths but also (perhaps) holding us back, telling us of all the dangers and discomforts we'll face "outside."

Later, the Moon squares Saturn in Libra, the Father who respects tradition but demands accountability. Yes, the Cancer Moon is all about home and family, but these transits remind us of the many ways the world is still with us, and that sometimes our most challenging issues are the ones we face at home.

Tomorrow (Thursday), Mercury in Sagittarius squares Jupiter in Pisces, a reminder that the excesses of the season––food, drink, emotions, talk––can create tension as well as balance.

Later, the Moon will flow energy in trine with Uranus and Jupiter, while creating inconjunct angles-of-adjustment with Neptune and Chiron. We can open ourselves to intuitive guidance, reading the currents of whatever situation we find ourselves in, while maintaining conscious awareness. This is not a time to be on automatic pilot, or just "go with the flow."

The Moon's final aspect in Cancer is a square to Venus in Libra, one more reminder that maintaining balanced relationships is not always easy. The Moon then enters her time-between-times, resting before stepping into Leo's spotlight at 1:01am EST Friday. Expect dramatic dreams, or late night drama of other kinds, Thursday night.

The Moon's transit through Cancer offers us the warmth of family traditions, and the protection of our tribe. At the same time, we are reminded that walls can lock us in, and boundaries are maintained at a cost. We're challenged to find our balance between protection and growth, and safety and compassion.

Images of families from WikiMedia Commons.