Moon into Cancer: Finding Refuge

Friday afternoon through early Monday morning

spicy hot chocolate

As we head into the weekend, the Moon heads home. Cancer is the Moon's home sign, her safe place. If we're feeling beleaguered (and who hasn't?), this Moon transit through Cancer can help us reconnect with our roots, finding what nourishes us and brings us comfort.

There's still lots of edgy energy around, as Uranus, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars are still channeling Aries' driving fire, with Saturn trying to hold the line, in opposition in Libra. Adding in Pluto in Capricorn completes the lineup of difficult aspects for this Cancer Moon.

The Moon's first aspect, thankfully, is a flowing trine to Neptune in Pisces, a chance for these two Water signs to connect and support each other. Friday afternoon, Neptune welcomes the Moon home with a deeply felt hug.

Saturday opens with a challenging square to Uranus, following by an opposition to Pluto later in the morning, and a square to Saturn in the evening. The Moon in Cancer just wants a little peace, not comfortable with the pace of change the powerful outer planets are setting. There could be a feeling here of digging in our heels and saying no.

mother and child

Perhaps a better way to work with these challenging Moon aspects is to say, ok, I know changes are coming, but I need a break. Squares and oppositions are all about finding a dynamic balance, and today we might ask for time to relax and rejuvenate, because taking care of ourselves and our home base makes everything else work better.

Sunday opens with a flowing sextile between the Moon and the Sun, the time in the waxing lunar cycle when we begin to see the shape our emerging wishes and intentions might take. This first glimmer motivates the Cancer Moon to be nurturing and protective, in the face of an onslaught of squares from the planets in late Aries: Venus and Mercury Sunday morning, Jupiter in the afternoon, and Mars overnight.

These squares look for the delicate balance every young thing needs between protection and challenge, peace and stimulation, the comfort of home and the excitement of the world outside. Sunday needs to include a mixture of both, to satisfy the careful Cancerian Moon, and the risk-loving Aries planets.

Sunday in the United States is Mother's Day, and the Cancer Moon connects us with a powerful Mother archetype. Whether our mothers were protective or pushing us out the door, warm or cool, in tune with our needs or not, Mother is where we all come from. Today we explore what mothering means to us, where we've experienced it, what kind of mothering we need now, and where we might find it.

At 5:35am EDT Monday morning, the Moon steps into Leo's spotlight, ready to shine. The nurturing energy of this Cancer transit, without anxiety or overprotectiveness, prepares us to revel in the warmth and creative passion of Leo.