Tag Archives: Cancer

Let’s Talk about Mars and Pluto

It’s Scorpio season, a time of darkening. The sun moved into Scorpio on October 22nd. Scorpio season is one of transformation. In the Northern Hemisphere, the leaves are changing and falling, the air (for some) is getting colder, and there’s a holiday smack in the middle of it when people dress as ghosts and focus on death.

This Scorpio season, the big astrological story is an appropriately timed opposition between Mars and Pluto. You want it darker? Mars will be at the very last degree of Cancer, and Pluto at the very last degree of Capricorn. This will be exact on November 3rd, but we’re already feeling this, and this energy will be very present during the new moon in Scorpio on November 1st.

An opposition is like a culmination point, often with difficulty surrounding it, like the agonizing climb up last terrain to scale before arriving at the apex (I mean, I assume, I’ve never rock-climbed). Mars is the planet of action and drive, and Pluto is the planet of power. Cancer is a sign that’s about nurturing and the familial but also about tribalism. Pluto’s at the last degree of Capricorn for the very last time (finally) for hundreds of years, and Capricorn is a sign that is about power and structure, especially deeply entrenched structures, like capitalism and patriarchy.

So this opposition, which occurs right before Election Day in the U.S., signifies a struggle and ultimate culmination between actions and entrenched power. And with Cancer’s significations  encompassing both family and motherhood one on hand and tribalism and nativism on the other, we’re seeing two strands of aggression and activity. For many, this time is about trying to chip away at the patriarchal structures and people that have been and are currently trying to stymie the power of women in myriad ways, the most prominent being limiting bodily autonomy; for another bloc, it’s a fight to hang on to power, what they see as preserving their ideal version of this country, based on identification with whiteness, maleness, and wealth. 

No big deal, right? 

Here’s where we need to pull the focus in. A lot of astrologers have been pretty freaked out by the Mars-Pluto opposition and rightfully so (I started writing this before the Tr**p r*lly at the Garden, but that level of darkness feels very Mars opp Pluto). When we talk about the themes, we’re talking big picture, 40,000 feet type stuff. But in your own individual life, this really just could mean that you vote, in the way you plan to, and for a few weeks, you have to deal with some frustrating, disgusting, and anxiety-evoking news in the zeitgeist. It’s probably going to feel scary at its worst and mostly infuriating. It’s a good time to remember to set screen time limits and not doom scroll even though it’s going to be really tempting, with the Sun in Scorpio, a sign that is associated with obsession and compulsion. The shadow side of Scorpio wants you to allow yourself to dive deeper into a pit of rage and disgust. The more enlightened side wants you to trust your inner knowing and recognize others for exactly who they are, with crystalline precision and with no rose-colored illusions.

After the election in 2016, I felt totally untethered, as if I was waking up to an alternate reality. I could be a fool, or maybe it’s because I’ve since started taking Zoloft (shoutout to modern medicine!), but I don’t feel that way now. Will that change after November? Unclear. But even with all the absolutely horrific things happening in the world, I am hopeful. Is it because Pluto’s going to go into Aquarius, and we’ll all be able to upload our souls to the cloud and live eternally as part of some physics of the universe that we’re not even aware of yet? TBD!

This dark, fraught energy we’re experiencing now shifts in mid November, and late November gets easier, so hang in there and try to weather the current shitstorm until then.

Cancer Season and the Full Moon in Capricorn

We are about to enter Cancer season. The cavalcade of planets that has been hurtling through Gemini is now, one by one (save for Jupiter), transitioning into the sign of the crab. On the way, each–first Venus, then Mercury, then the sun–makes a tense angle with Neptune (ugh, Neptune). We may experience some disillusionments. If you have had some harsh realizations in the past few days, you’re not alone. I hope they were more like aha moments than rude awakenings.

On Thursday, with the sun’s ingress into Cancer, we get the solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the longest day of the year. And then on Friday, right on the heels of the solstice, we have a full moon in Capricorn. 

The Cancer-Capricorn axis feels really different from the Gemini-Sagittarius one. Gemini-Sagittarius is about the tension between the pithy and the verbose, between thinking quick and delving deep. The Cancer-Capricorn axis is about the tension between our emotions and our responsibilities. Cancer is feelings; Capricorn says, “fuck your feelings.” Both signs carry with them the sense of obligation. Cancer, ruled by the moon, is associated with loyalty and protectiveness, and Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, with diligence and discipline. 

Cancer is connected with the Chariot card in the Tarot, which definitely gives off Capricornian vibes as well. The chariot protects the person within, as they progress to their destination. Being armored while forging a path speaks to both Cancer and Capricorn qualities. 

This Capricorn full moon invites us to examine what we are working for. Is it worth it? How does it make you feel? 

What’s our beautiful reward for all the time and the care we give, whether it’s to our jobs, our careers, to others, to our bodies, to our minds? 

The juxtaposition of the solstice with the full moon makes it a time for both releasing and beginning a new cycle. Cancer and Capricorn are both cardinal signs, meaning they each begin a season and usher in something new. This represents a time to consider what plans you want to execute over the next year and what you need to shed in order to achieve your desired ends. Whatever our goals are, it’s important they nurture us and fulfill us emotionally.

Because Neptune (again–ugh, Neptune) is forming a t-square to the moon and the sun, thinking about what we want to achieve isn’t necessarily going to be easy. You may have a hard time putting your finger on exactly what it is you want, and you may feel especially tired and depleted. The end of this week could be a time when you feel pulled between your personal feelings and your public ambitions or your devotion to your family and other more practical commitments, and Neptune irritatingly throws a shroud of confusion over it all.  

Hang in there, because as the planets continue to move through Cancer, they’ll break free of the Neptunian influence, the fog will lift, and more clarity will become available regarding Cancerian topics: home (both physical and the sense of home), family (both blood and chosen), and care. And we get a rare second full moon in Capricorn later this month, which represents another chance at harnessing the full moon energy under different (albeit still complex…we’ll get there later) astrological circumstances.

Does that make sense? Or does it all sound like gobbledygook? If so, blame Neptune. Happy Solstice! 

Full Moon in Capricorn

There is a full moon in Capricorn on July 3rd at 7:38 am EDT. Full moons in Capricorn are about balancing our pragmatism and our feelings. They occur in the midst of emo Cancer reason, and the moon is the ruler of Cancer. Capricorn, a cardinal earth sign, is all about getting shit done, so there’s a push and pull between the Saturnian urge to get down to brass tacks and forge ahead and the moon’s desire to honor our deepest feelings. Full moons are always about culmination and release, and this full moon encourages us to release the pessimism we may have been harboring about our goals and to use our wise minds (the intersection of our reasonable and our emotional minds).

Mercury, which is currently in Cancer and close to the sun, will influence this full moon, so communication is important, even if it’s just journaling or making lists for yourself. The day before the moon is full, Venus in Leo forms a square with Uranus in Taurus, so there could be twists, turns, and surprises in Venus-ruled areas (finances, relationships, resources) of your life. This full moon brings some grounding energy, though, because of its Saturnian earthiness. Also, the sun and moon are forming nice aspects with both Jupiter in Taurus and Saturn in Pisces, which lends a particularly helpful practicality. 

The full moon is taking place at 11 degrees of Capricorn, so you’ll feel it more intensely if you’re a Capricorn or Cancer rising or if you have an personal planets (the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars) and/or sensitive angles (your ascendant, descendent, midheaven, or IC) between 7 and 15 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, or Libra. 

I was going to write horoscopes for each sign, but I’m doing this late (sorry!) and if you’re feeling this moon, you already know how it’s unfolding for you, because its energy is already very present. For all signs, though, it’s a good time for making a concerted effort to balance emotions with rationality and proceeding accordingly.

Cancer Season: That Summer Feeling

On June 21st, the day of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun moved into Cancer, where it will be until late on July 22nd. Cancer is a cardinal sign, representing the beginning of a new season, and it’s a water sign, symbolized by the crab. Cancer is ruled by the moon, so when the sun is in Cancer, it’s answering to the fast-moving moon. The moon changes signs every couple days, which makes Cancer season super moody. 

Cancer is associated with home, family, and feeling rooted. It’s sentimental and nostalgic, concerned with memory and the way we feel or felt. Jonathan Richman’s song “That Summer Feeling” perfectly encapsulates the Cancerian vibe. (His natal Venus is in Cancer.) 

Venus’s current journey through Leo is encouraging us to be social this summer, but Cancer can be a bit of a homebody. The best way to merge these energies is to socialize with those that feel like home to you. Cancer season brings about a desire to visit our hometowns or reunite with family or old friends, which is a good way to recharge. It offers some respite after the chaos and buzziness of Gemini season. 

This year, Cancer season brings with it some bumpy transits. Mars squares off with Uranus on June 26th, which can bring sudden, unexpected shocks. And Mars opposes Saturn on July 20th, which means there will be a push-and-pull between action and will (Mars) and structure and systems (Saturn). So those dates are ones to pay attention to and try to be patient and take it easy. However, with Saturn and Neptune both in another water sign, Pisces, the sun will make trines, or positive aspects, with each of these planets as it moves through Cancer over the next few weeks, which will be helpful. 

Regarding people with Cancer placements in their birth charts, they are often moody, sensitive, intuitive, and empathetic. Like crabs, they wear armor, so they may come off as hard, but inside they are soft and vulnerable. Cancers are thought to be conflict avoidant, shifting side to side to avoid head-on impact. However, they feel deeply and can be fiercely protective and loyal, so if you come for a Cancer’s loved one, the pinchers will come out. This protective quality contributes to the nurturing nature of Cancers, which is considered to be the mothering sign of the zodiac. Ruled by the moon, those with Cancer placements, even if they themselves don’t become mothers, are often cast in mothering roles by others. (Cancer men especially can have mother issues, which is why they can sometimes get a bad rap.)

For Bravo watchers, Vanderpump Rules is teeming with Cancers: Ariana, Sandoval, Stassi, and Jax are all Cancer suns, and those four actually have quite a bit in common. They are all extremely sensitive, even though they present as tough. 

They’re all very intuitive and can read other people and situations really well, which, as a shadow quality, can make Cancers good at manipulating others. Even Jax of all people has been weirdly right about a lot of things, especially looking back in the wake of Scandoval, and of course, he has used his intuition to his advantage, continually playing upon the sympathy of others and finding easy scapegoats in order to ingratiate himself back into the group after his truly terrible behavior time and time again. Sandoval has done the same thing, just in a very different way, but it will be interesting to see how that works or doesn’t work now.

Ariana’s diehard loyalty to Tom, despite his shortcomings and repeated mistakes in their relationship, is pure Cancer. I recently rewatched part of season 3 of VPR because Bravo was showing a marathon, and the way that Ariana staunchly defended Sandoval in the whole Miami girl situation, confronting Miami girl and excoriating Kristen (to a somewhat cruel degree) even though she knew Tom had, in fact, slept with Miami girl, is very Cancerian, for better or worse. 

Cancer season is a great time for spending a Sunday in and binge watching, so if you haven’t seen Vanderpump Rules, who even are you? I highly recommend it. It’s up there with Mad Men for the greatest show of our time and astrological archetypes are on full display. 

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The Wolf Moon

Mercury went retrograde on December 29th, so 2023 starts off in the midst of both Mercury and Mars retrogrades. These transits imbue the beginning of the new year with a reflective quality. Start slow.

This is further emphasized by the full Moon, the Wolf Moon, which takes place on Friday, January 6th, at 6:08pm EST, at 16 degrees of Cancer, opposite the Sun in Capricorn. Full Moons are a time for reflecting on our pasts, looking inward, and releasing what we are longer served by. The Moon is also opposite (within 1 degree) the retrograde Mercury, making it even more ripe for thinking about what we want to discard.

And with the Moon in Cancer, its domicile, the air is extra charged. Cancer is a cardinal water sign. It’s strongly emotional, fiercely protective, and highly perceptive. This Moon is also in a sextile with Uranus, meaning that it is in communication with the planet of disruption. All of this indicates that Friday and the couple days leading up to it may feel very tense and volatile, with some long-held and perhaps even repressed, untapped emotions rushing to the forefront of our consciousness.

This is how it may play out for you depending on your rising and Sun signs.

Cancer & Cancer Rising: The ultra-emotional effects of the full Moon may be felt extra acutely for those with it occurring in the first house. If you are harboring thoughts of self-loathing or if there are self-destructive habits that are holding you back from being the person you want to be, this is the time to let them go. 

Leo & Leo Rising: You may be feeling compelled to retreat from everything. If that’s the case, don’t force yourself to be social. It’s ok to spend the weekend in splendid isolation, as Warren Zevon would say. “Putting tin foil up on the windows, lying down in the dark to dream” may be the most productive way to process for the time being.

Virgo & Virgo Rising: Sometimes we give more than we get when it comes to our social circle, and for Virgos, who are predisposed to planning and caretaking, this can be especially true. Take a few breaths before you blow up at your friends for being thoughtless. Let them make the dinner reservations.

Libra & Libra Rising: Is your imposter syndrome preventing you from making a career shift or putting yourself out there in the world? Consider your strengths. You’re a magnetic Libra, so people are naturally drawn to you. Release your insecurities, put yourself out there, and try not to feel weighed down by any old baggage.

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: You may be feeling very restless right now, either full of wanderlust or in desperate need to escape from your current circumstances. Journaling is a healthy exercise, as is dreaming about long-distance travel so you have something to look forward to. If you do book anything, just double check all the details, and do so again once Mercury goes direct on January 18th.

Sagittarius & Sag Rising:  Feelings of obligation or indebtedness may overwhelm you. If you owe something, it’s a productive time for paying down that debt as best you can. If the debts are imagined or due to old unwritten emotional contracts, think about how you can rewrite those to better serve yourself.

Capricorn & Cap Rising: You may feel extra tender or extra combustible in your one-on-one relationships. Focus on letting go of small irritations and/or productively working through old wounds when it comes to the deeper issues. You may want to save the discussions with your partner until later, though.

Aquarius & Aqua Rising: Work may be more fraught in the days leading up to and on the day of the full Moon, and you may experience challenges keeping your cool with your colleagues. Step away and take time to collect yourself before popping off on an unsuspecting co-worker. They don’t know they are being annoying!

Pisces & Pisces Rising: Sometimes life seems unfair not because of any grave injustice (of which there are multitudes) but because everyone else seems to be doing whatever they want and we feel we cannot. It may be helpful at this time to remember that most people have their own burdens even if you’re not aware of them, and you are also allowed to do what you want. This weekend, shirk your responsibilities to have fun, whatever that means for you (Netflix).

Aries & Aries Rising: Your past, especially the wounds stemming from early life and the parenting you received or lack thereof, may be unusually present for you at this time. If you are reading this, I’m assuming you are an adult. Thinking about how your adult self can now heal your younger self can bring catharsis. The concept of “reparenting” oneself gets discussed a lot in the woo zeitgeist, but this would be a good time for considering doing so.

Taurus & Taurus Rising: This Moon may bring feelings of frustration with not being listened to or not being able to get your point across. You may feel like you’re just banging your head against a proverbial wall. This is a good time for reassessing how you communicate. It might be you, not them. And it also might be them, and if that’s the case, better to take a beat, be adaptable, and try again later.

Gemini & Gemini Rising: The astrology of the start of the year and this full Moon encourage you to take stock of where you are putting your money, time, and energy. Are your investments aligned with what you actually care about? You may be tempted to shop and spend money carelessly to chase emotional fulfillment, but this is a good time for thinking about what it is you actually want and really need to feel satisfied.

Hang in there! Once Mercury goes direct on January 18th, we should all be thinking with a little more clarity that will help us to look forward. And remember, astrology is open to interpretation and does not predict the future. Rather, whatever is going on here on Earth can be thought of as a reflection of what’s happening in the universe and vice versa and should be taken with a grain of salt.