Cancer New Moon

July 18, 2012: Cancer New Moon (exact at 9:23 pm PDT)

A Cancer New Moon provides an opportunity to resolve some familial wounds. This is because Cancer is the sign of the family, the home, and the past. The sign of the Crab is associated with that which gives us roots and grounded nurturance. It relates to those whom we call our tribe, or wish to call our tribe. When Cancer energy is strong we are more inclined to come from a place of subjective emotions and want to fiercely protect that which we love.

You may feel you are being urged to begin a new chapter of your life. And yet, it’s natural that you may feel like you are facing some resistance. This may be even more evident today given that structured Saturn is squaring the Sun and Moon. Try to work through the fear of change that Saturn can inspire by focusing on channelling its planetary energy another way. See if you can use it to help you create a structured plan that will allow you to achieve the changes you want in your life, knowing that they are built upon a solid foundation. When’s Saturn’s strong, we have to do the work—there’s no proverbial “free lunch”—yet if we are responsible and accountable we also get the jewels. This includes a greater sense of authority, the sense that we are actually being responsible for authoring our lives.

One of the challenges to be aware of today is that the energetics are rife for an upswing in fiery volatility. This seems especially true if we’ve been repressing our desires, notably in the pursuit of having “everyone just get along.” The reason for this is Mars in Libra’s tie-in with the Uranus/Pluto square. On the constructive side, we can use a deeply accessed sense of power to transform a relationship. A key strategy in doing so is using an approach that seems out-of-the-ordinary but which once pursued seems really natural and makes utter sense, with the results being a sense of great liberation.

This month’s New Moon falls at 27 degrees of Cancer (Sun and Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of the New Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Cancer or the other cardinal signs—Aries, Libra, Capricorn—it may impact you more intensely.

New Moon Apothecary Suggestions

Cancer rules the stomach, sinuses, body fluids, and breasts. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this New Moon.

Jasmine essential oil: As the jasmine flower is governed by the Moon—the planetary ruler of Cancer—enjoying its aroma can help support the energetics of this New Moon. Jasmine has a rapturous fragrance that arouses our ability to connect to the feminine spirit within us. It’s a lauded aphrodisiac as well. Use it as perfume, combine it with body oil for a sensuality-inspiring massage, or sprinkle a few drops in a bath and soak in its feminine revelry.

Mariposa Lily flower essence: Cancer is the sign of the mother and the maternal nature that exists within all of us. Yet, some people feel disconnected from a sense of maternal nurturance. It may be that they perceived their mother didn’t meet their needs, an imprint that then shapes their connection to expressing warmth and radiance as well as nourishing themselves and others. If issues related to your mother and the caring feminine energy within you are arising during this time, consider Mariposa Lily flower essence. It helps to inspire maternal consciousness and a sense of warmth and caring, enlivening a reconnection to mother and the mother archetype. (Flower essences are made from flower-infused water and work energetically to restore emotional and mental balance. You can find them in natural food stores or holistic pharmacies.)