Moon into Cancer: Under the Covers

Tuesday afternoon through Thursday evening

We're in the last quarter of the waning cycle––time to let go of what we've completed, what we don't need, and what's holding us back. We're also heading for the Fall Equinox, the initiation of Autumn, season of harvest, release, and, yes, death.

Bed and cradle, Cherokee Heritage Center

Without endings, there's no space for beginnings. We need to open our hands to let go, so we can receive. But in these days of the Cancer Moon, we feel like pulling the covers up over our heads and saying, "Noooooooooo, come back later, I'm not ready."

Cancer is the sign of home, nesting, nurturing, family, tribe and tradition. The Moon rules Cancer and she's strong here. Cancer is cardinal Water, and yet her way is, sometimes, to hold on. The Cancer Moon deeply values the old ways and honors the ancestors. With this strong commitment to tradition comes difficulty in letting go.

The Moon enters Cancer at 2:53pm EDT, and after a restful afternoon, squares off with Uranus in Aries at 8:10pm. Uranus is the revolutionary ready to toss out everything from the past, and the trickster holding something precious over the cliff just to see the Cancer Moon squirm. We need the clarity to let Uranus know what is vital to preserve from the past, and the courage to let go of what's ready to die.

Just after midnight, the Moon opposes Pluto the alchemist, another powerful agent of change. Again, we need to know what to keep and what to save, as all goes into the cauldron of transformation.

Wednesday morning brings another square, this one with Venus in Libra. The challenge between these two can be resolved creatively: How can we re-present the heart of our traditions, in forms that celebrate their vitality in a new age? A following sextile with Jupiter offers the grace to find a way.

Sommer by von Kalckreuth

Wednesday evening will be a time of adjustment, as Mars forms an inconjunct with Chiron, the Sun forms an inconjunct with Neptune, and the Moon squares Saturn. We feel a need to act in the real world (Mars, Sun and Saturn) in a way that honors our dreams and visions, and brings healing (Chiron, Neptune and the Moon). The path will not be obvious, but a way can be found.

Thursday morning, the Moon sextiles Mercury, offering clarity and detail. Venus and Jupiter will be inconjunct, and yet this connection is one of creative tension: Venus and Jupiter are easy partners, and the signs involved (Taurus and Libra) are ruled by Venus. Creative work is supported, especially revision or anything requiring attention to detail.

Thursday night (9:22pm EDT), the Sun and Moon reach their waning sextile, when we might find peace around the whole issue of letting go. This is the Moon's last aspect in Cancer, opening a brief void-of-course period until the Moon enters regal Leo at 9:55pm EDT.

This Moon transit through Cancer is a time to connect with feelings about letting go, giving away, and receiving. We can notice where we want to hold on, and gently decide where we need to let go. As we do, we can celebrate the harvest, appreciating what we've grown and who we've become. Baking pies is also good :)