Embracing the New Moon: cultivating intentions from the inside out

Happy New Moon in Cancer to all out there! Sandwiched between two Full Moons both in opposite sign Capricorn, the annual New Moon in Cancer is offering us a lunar reset point today. Being the astrological midyear New Moon, this is an opening to reflect on how the year has panned out so far and if you wish, to modify or reset any intentions made at the start of 2024.

If you live in the Northern hemisphere Cancer season might be Summer when the work or school year begins to wrap up, you get a holiday break or more time reconnecting with family, nature or friends. Or if you live in the Southern hemisphere like I do it might be a time for conserving energy, hibernation or greater stillness- and hot drinks or comforting food!

Both Summer and Winter are the peak seasonal times that lend themselves to celebrating what the Danish famously call Hygge- a feeling that can’t be defined as only one thing but I would sum up as anything which nurtures a heightened, grateful and present feeling of wellbeing. So that might come from the pleasure in simple things, in sharing food, a beautiful sunny moment, lying on your back in a natural setting or a feeling of intimate togetherness.

To be totally free of care or worry in these moments can be a profoundly memorable and healing experience. These require a trust and relaxation into the present, producing a heart coherent state that triggers heart felt gratitude and appreciation of what is. This is the feeling domain where Cancer can excel as a creative force, geared towards providing the necessary container or setting that it would like to experience itself.

The Moon is at home in Cancer, the Moon being it’s planetary ruler. In joining the Sun at the same degree, the reflected light of the Sun falls on matters pertaining to where we dwell- which is as much of our interior self as an actual home dwelling- or to whom or what we tend to, which may include family, children, pets, objects or property.

As the first Water sign of the Zodiac, Cancer represents a sensitivity to emotional currents, an empathic ability to absorb what’s in the environment like a sponge. On a deeper level Cancer links us in a primal way back to the womb and being sheltered by our mother, the maternal experience, to nourishment, sustenance and instinctual response.

The Moon connects to the subconscious realm which holds all memories and past experience. The stories of the past can repeatedly exert influence on the way we perceive and react plugging us into patterns of identification and dependence on lower frequency states such as anger, guilt or shame. It was a revelation to discover that we get addicted to chemicals released in our bodies in stressful dynamics or situations! This is where learning to bring the conscious light of awareness (the Sun) to these shadow expressions is a choice to to bring back different parts of ourselves towards connection and wholeness

In the bigger scheme, the Moon governs waves of mass consciousness, the public sway of opinion or “viral” influences. This is where we respond collectively to imagery or powerful triggers of emotion- a a propaganda technique used in main stream media which could be used so constructively for empowerment and evolution....

Astrologically this New Moon is aligned close to Venus in Cancer which is currently hidden from view behind the Sun on her cyclical journey. Chiron in Aries is in a tense aspect to Venus over the next day or two, illuminating vulnerable feelings in relation to us or our relationships.

Venus is receiving a very harmonious beam from Saturn to help us all distinguish what’s no longer supportive on an emotional level. This is helpful for providing an inner sense of centeredness especially when it's difficult to separate what we think from what we feel

Mars in Taurus also helps to provide some stability with all this Water element emphasis, encouraging a practical, creative or hands on approach. Gardening or cooking could be very grounding at this time!

Mars is moving into a conjunction with Uranus over the coming 10 days which highlights unexpected, unpredictable potentially wild card developments but I’ll be writing more about this in another post.

On a final note, Ceres, the dwarf planet connected to fertility, agriculture and nourishment is in Capricorn in direct opposition to the Sun and Moon at 14° Cancer. Ceres governs a love of what is simple, natural, wholesome or good for you but in opposition here there may be a feeling of needing to make do with less or a awareness of issues around the food we eat, around farming and food production and the economics involved.

On a personal level what nourishes us truly is worthy of consideration. Are we taking care of our bodies factoring in mind and spirit in the equation?

Questions to ask while creating intentions :

If you were to describe your internal landscape where you dwell right now, what does it look like and how do you feel?

What truly nourishes and sustains you on a deep level?

What experiences, pastimes or relationships inspire a feeling of wellbeing and gratitude and can you create more room for them?