image credit - Thomas Cole, The Arcadian State
The Moon has spent the last two weeks waning in light, ebbing away from her maximal illumination as she returns to her heavenly consort, the Sun. During this lunar de-crescendo, we have been able to rest, restore, and reap the rewards of the previous growth during the last lunar cycle.Now, the next new moon is almost upon us, and it is time to prepare for the next lunar cycle.
This new Moon occurs under the sign of Cancer – the Moon’s home. Cancer coincides with the month immediately following the summer solstice, when the days are at their brightest and summer has just begun. It is associate with victory, achievement, and golden ages. It is also associated with profound maternal acceptance and openness that the gentleness of this portion of the year gives rise to.
Cancer promotes and supports everything that the moon stands for - nurture, compassion, intuition, as well as acceptance of the present moment. Cancer feels its way through life, listening to one’s inner voice and guidance and responding with openness and compassion to everyone it meets along the way.
There is strong correspondence between the sign of Cancer and her ruler the Moon, the queen of dreamtime and intuition. Cancer season encourages the exploration of the inner life, the dreamtime, and the unconscious realms. Messages and guidance from the other side frequently arrive around the time of the Cancer new moon. Pay attention to your dreams!
When the Moon is reborn in the sign of Cancer, whatever feels right intuitively becomes the priority. Our voice of inner knowing becomes our north star. Of all the lunations, this one creates the greatest openings to your inner wisdom.
Follow your gut, follow your instinct, follow your flow. It won’t lead you astray. By doing so, you will naturally arrive at the situations, relationships, and material blessings that provide deeper, soul-nourishing satisfaction and joy.
This new moon happens in the third decan of Cancer. This decan is ruled by by the Moon, making this an especially potent sign for the moon to be reborn. This decan was associated by the Ancient Greeks with Hekate, the great lunar psychopomp and stewardess of the dead. You can be profoundly guided during this time, so long as you can surrender and let go.
What do you want to receive that will help you feel nourished and cared for? How can you surrender to your calling and allow your intuition to lead you where you need to go?
Cancer and the Moon are benefic, constructive energies, associated with things and qualities that people like. But there is a shadow to this sign: the maternal, accepting qualities of Cancer can also lead to indulgence. Remember that what you truly want for nourishment and healing will not necessarily feel the most comfortable and enjoyable. The desires of the True Self are often different from the egoic self.
Your inner knowing will not lead you into a path of hedonism. If what you are doing doesn’t really lead to healing, it will just create stuckness and inertia.
Saturn forms a square to the Moon during this lunation. Aligning with the True Self will require you to shed old egoic identities and habits that no longer serve you. Saturn will thresh away the behaviors you have outgrown. This process may challenge you, but it is ultimately for your highest good and greatest growth.
There is also a close conjunction with a retrograde Mercury. Messages, teachings, and even visions may come through quite strongly during this lunation. But do not act on them right away. Allow them to percolate in your awareness for some time; act only when you are truly clear.
As always, examine the house in which the Moon conjoins the Sun. If you’re Taurus rising, it will be your 3rd house of community. If Aries rising, then is in your 4th house of home. This will tell you where to expect the most developments in your life to occur during this upcoming lunar cycle.
Your Spirit already knows the answers. Your True Self already dwells where you are trying to go. If you can abide in stillness and serenity during this lunation, then you’ll open the way to wisdom and inner gnosis you’re looking for.