Healing Waters: Moving from the Full Moon to the New

Supermoon over Washington, DC

Disseminating Moon in Aquarius
June 26, 2013 12:12 pm EDT

Last Quarter Moon in Aries
June 30, 2013 12:54 am EDT

Balsamic Moon in Taurus
July 4, 2013 12:01 am EDT

Saturn turns direct
July 8, 2013 1:12 am EDT

New Moon in Cancer
July 8, 2013 3:14 am EDT

The echoes of the Full Super Moon still reverberate, as amazing images of her giant, glowing face over beautiful landscapes show up all over the 'net.

This image of the Full Moon rising behind the Washington Monument points to how important this time of year is for the USA astrologically. Born on July 4, the USA has a Cancer Sun, and political astrologers have had much to say lately about where things are going for the nation.

My focus is on the personal realms, and much is happening here as well. We're now in the waning half of the lunar cycle, a time of looking at what's been brought to light, appreciating our achievements, sharing the results, and letting go of what's finished.

The ongoing Grand Water Trine dominates this waning cycle, with Neptune and Saturn staying tightly coupled, and the third point continually activated by the Sun, Jupiter, Lilith, and the Moon. Deep emotions will continue to come up to be experienced, explored, healed, released.

Throughout the cycle, we're offered support for the emotional work we're invited to do. Specific energies of thinking and action will shift into place, tossing us spars to hold on to, then pulling the lifeboat alongside and helping us climb in.

The New Moon to come is in the heart-centered sign of Cancer, castle of the Moon and home of homes. When we reach it, we'll have the chance to renew our hearts from a place of understanding and insight––if we've accepted the invitations offered along the way.

Tomorrow, June 26, we reach the Disseminating Moon. This is the day Mercury turns retrograde in Cancer, which might leave us feeling mired in messy emotions. And here's the Moon with an invitation to insight: She's in cerebral, objective Aquarius, conjunct fair-minded Juno and flowing energy in trine with Mars and Pallas Athena in Gemini.

With the Moon and Mars, Juno and Athena, in Air signs, we get perspective, movement, ideas. New ways of seeing help sort out murky feelings. Pay attention to heart and mind both; they need each other.

June 30 brings the Last Quarter Moon, and a jolt of energy. This Moon's in fiery Aries, joining revolutionary Uranus. No chance to stay stuck here! What needs to change? Got it? Let's change it!

This Last Quarter Moon squares the Sun (that's what the Last Quarter means) and also squares Pluto the alchemist, who is opposite the Sun. More push to change! Transform!

With the Moon and Sun activating the Pluto–Uranus square, we could see big events happening on the world stage. Yet these are strong personal energies too: We're called to reinvent ourselves, to align with what is.

With the Balsamic Moon on July 4, the push to make significant changes continues.  The Moon is in patient, grounded Taurus. A Taurus Moon can be stubborn, so there might be some feeling of not wanting to let go, of needing to hold on to the past, the way things have been.

Let's look again: this Moon's key aspects are two quintiles, an unusual aspect that brings creativity. Those quintiles reach out on either side to Venus in Leo and Chiron in Pisces. What does this pattern offer us?

The Balsamic Moon is THE time to let go of what's finished for us. With all the deep work we've been doing lately, this could feel hard––even impossible. Yet here is the Moon in Taurus, the sign of self-nurturing, creating a crucible of healing and personal expression with Chiron and Venus.

This pattern calls out for a ritual of release, a personal creative act that acknowledges all we have been through, honors all we have felt, and gently lets go of whatever needs to move away from us. Nothing harsh, something loving.

The New Moon in Cancer will bring many openings, which I'll write of later. What you need to know now is that less than two hours before the New Moon arrives, Saturn will turn direct after what seems like another forever-long retrograde.

Saturn is slowing down now, preparing to stop and turn. This places him in a powerful position, adding to the emotional depth and weight of these next weeks. At the New Moon, the place of beginning, he'll be direct in motion again, ready to create and build.

This is a time to go with the flow, knowing light and fire and air will be there to keep our heads (and hearts) above water. We can explore the depths, find our treasure, and carry it safely home.