Moon in Cancer

Sunday morning through Tuesday afternoon

nesting

The Moon steps into Cancer––her castle, her nest, her home––at 10:29am EDT Sunday. Cancer's ancient name was the Gate of Man, the door through which souls incarnated on Earth. Cardinal Water, this sign carries the archetype of the Mother, the opening through which we all enter this existence.

When the Moon enters Cancer, we want to draw our loved ones around us and snuggle in, reveling in the comforts and safety of home. In these times of tumult, this might feel more like an intense desire to hunker down. But the pace of change is too great; it's not a time to stand still, or clinging to the status quo. The question is, what's the best way to move?

The Moon's first aspect in Cancer is a challenging square to Uranus, newly born in Aries. Will the impulse to act move forward unchecked? Or will we allow feeling and intuition, as well as respect for tradition, to guide us?

Sunday's aspects explore this question fully, as Mercury in Aries squares Pluto in Capricorn, the Moon opposes Pluto, and the Moon squares Mercury. Pluto in Capricorn continues step by step with his deep transformation. Mercury in fiery Aries is ready to move, fast, now. The Cancer Moon can resist, digging in her heels; Cancer is a traditionalist who does not welcome change. Or, this Moon can acknowledge that change is also part of life, with traditions of its own, and open our hearts to intuitive guidance as we search for the best way.

On Monday, the Moon continues asking tough questions as she squares Jupiter in Aries (how much is too much?) and Saturn in Libra (where can we find beauty and balance?). Mars in Pisces asks Saturn a similar question, forming an inconjunct angle-of-adjustment. Then, the Moon and Mars join energies in a flowing trine, cosmic vision and the wisdom of the body, together. Perhaps Venus can help Saturn find the place of balance, as they form a flowing trine Monday evening.

Tuesday morning brings a flowing trine between the Sun and Moon, Pisces and Cancer communing in a moment of understanding. Then, the Moon moves into inconjunct angles-of-adjustment with Ceres the Grain Mother, and with Neptune, at the end of Aquarius. How will our understanding of the past (the Moon in Cancer) be changed by the unfolding future (Neptune in Aquarius)?

The last few days have seen incredible upheavals in the world we know; earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis of devastating power. These days of the Cancer Moon are likely to intensify our feelings about what we've witnessed. We can choose whether to retreat into fear, or reach out in compassion, finding moments of grace in the midst of tragedy. As the Moon moves in Leo on Tuesday afternoon, the time to act arrives.