July 2024 - New Moon in Cancer
This new moon brings the potential to begin something with the care it deserves. We must make sure we're motivated by extending or receiving care, however, and not "taking care". When we’re careful to avoid vulnerability we also avoid connection, and this new moon is asking us to invest in the responsibility to others that brings richness and meaning, while examining the responsibilities that are no longer needed or welcome.
The Energy
On July 5th we have a new moon at 14º23’ of Cancer.
There’s a few other transits active at the same same time. Here’s a breakdown of the energy at play, and the challenges and opportunities this new moon brings.
Saturn in Pisces sextile Mars in Taurus (exact) 🐂
This transit adds a spark of energy to make material changes as a result of this new moon. In its positive expression, it can help us start a new project from a solid, thoughtful foundation and be open to new solutions to old problems. In its negative expression, that spark would have us leaning on old habits, particularly if they involve stubbornness or a lack of boundaries — two sides of the same reactive coin.
Saturn in Pisces trine to Venus in Cancer 🏡
This transit offers a beautiful supportive energy from earlier in the week, helping us to connect meaningfully with each other. There is a risk of being too security-minded and loosening your boundaries to feel accepted or safe. In its positive expression, we can feel fulfilled by caring for others, and start new, lasting practices which deepen our empathy and compassion for ourselves and others. This is an important energy to tap into, especially given the…
Chiron in Aries square to Venus in Cancer 😿
Unfortunately, this transit brings out core wounding around the things we value and our sense of emotional safety. You may find yourself feeling dismay at your finances, body, aesthetics or love life. With Venus in Cancer, we may have conflicts with our families or the people we share a home with. With Chiron in Aries, the conflict will be between your autonomy and agency (your ability to do what you want, when you want) and your responsibility to care for others. Our shared history and close ties will feel heavy this new moon, putting interdependence and independence at odds.
Pluto in Aquarius opposite Mercury in Leo 🤺
This, unfortunately, can create ego conflicts and power struggles. Oppositions tend to play out interpersonally, so you may find that you or someone else is representing the individual (Leo) and struggling against the power of the collective (Aquarius). Mercury in Leo wants to do things "because I said so", while Pluto in Aquarius wants to do anything except what's expected. Watch out for the ways you may be on one or both of those extremes. In its positive expression, this can be like a tough love therapy session — when you put our ego aside, this aspect can bring us enough bravery to think differently about something painful.
Jupiter in Gemini sextile Mercury in Leo 🤓
This transit will be exact the following week, but its energy can still be felt this new moon. Jupiter in Gemini is expansive, exploratory and extremely curious. Mercury in Leo is bold and brave enough to think innovatively. This risk is being too dogmatic in your thinking, being certain only you know the right answer. The potential is to be open to new ways of thinking, and bravely offering your ideas to a collective brainstorm.
Pluto in Aquarius sextile Neptune in Pisces 🎳
Because this transit is between two slow-moving planets, it has been active in the last few lunations. Pluto in Aquarius wants to upturn old power structures, to do things differently. Neptune in Pisces can be dissociative and idealistic, tempted to oversimplify things. Add the nationalistic energy of Cancer and it’s easy to see why radical thinking and cult-like mentality may result. In its positive expression, these energies will sit in the background deepening our empathy and understanding of our interconnectedness, though it will take a tolerance for discomfort to tap into that energy.
Reflections and Activities:
Who are you nurturing in your life? What responsibility does that entail? What about it fills you up? What is only draining?
What do you believe to be true about the world? Examine where you may be oversimplifying things for the sake of your own perceived safety.
Practice writing down gray area facts. “I feel X, but I also know X.” Allowing nuance and contradiction to exist all around you will be a helpful practice this new moon.
I hope this new moon helps you start something beautiful and new, grounded in the understanding that the people we love the most cause us the most pain, but bring us the most love and meaning through it.
As always, wishing you the best out there.
