A New Moon is the monthly rebirth of the Lunar Cycle each month when the Cosmos breathes in the light/the energy of this Cancerian moment. The Moon joins the Sun once again beginning a renewal of awareness in Cancer which is ruled by the Moon deeply enhancing the impact of/availability of the Moon. In addition to the yearly New Moon in Cancer, this year for the first time since 2013/14 Jupiter is also in Cancer.

Mercury currently in Cancer joins the Cancer chorus beckoning us to her watery home where sensitivity, comfort, fluidity, emotion and needs live in each of us. Cancer is the deepest foundation of our being where we care for our needs, connect with those dearest to us, recharge our energies, find inner quiet, rest from the busyness of our outer lives, enter sanctuary.

This year’s meeting of the Sun and Moon in Cancer is challenged by Saturn, Neptune and Pluto. Saturn demands an accounting for each of us; what are we doing to live more responsibly for our own wellbeing and for the wellbeing of those in our world. How can we care for ourselves and others with more awareness, more empathy, more support. Neptune reveals our deepest illusions, our disappointments, our grief, our lost dreams yet it is through the meeting with our brokenness that a more true, more powerful, more heartfelt vision and compassion can develop for ourselves and others.

Pluto forces us to see, to confront, to not look away from our greatest fears, our most unpleasant shadows, ultimately to surrender to letting go of all that prevents us from living consciously. In their own ways, each of these planets is the force of reality, heart and will calling us painfully to see true, to be honest, to forgive, to love. It is time to grow, to commit.

In this time of challenge and crisis, Cancer’s emotional grounding is crucial to our ability to grow into, grow through, grow fully our empowered humanity. Returning to the sign of birth, of home, of family, of lineage, of the inner ground that supports us now and always is what can and must hold us now with more attention to our inner emotional strength.

It is coming home, is being at home in ourselves, with those who are family whether biological or soul family, in places that nurture us, in surroundings that soothe us that can heal our hearts. Cancer is the quiet deep breathing into the core of the inner world, our inner core, into connection with our bodies, with our earthly mother, with nature, with our companion animals, with the peace residing in our being.

Jupiter in Cancer invites us to say yes to ease, to rest, to intuition, to soulful relationship with our bodies. As a baby well fed, wrapped comfortably in soft clothing nestles in the arms of its comforting, loving mother feeling held, safe, warm, comfortable and quietly resting, so we can find our own inner mother, find the internal peace of our inner softness and gentle ease. From here we can re-enter the world resilient and calmly, peacefully present to be and do what is needed. Rest to awaken and act.