New Moons are potent times to forge alliances with the gods. Visit the invisible world. Bow and open yourself to their touch. Make an offering. Humans have been rendezvousing with these archetypes for thousands of years. When you call out to the zodiac, the gods do respond!
Water was Cancer’s first language. As a child, she babbled like a brook, thundered like a waterfall, and sank deep into thought like a well. Speaking this way, she learned how to feel all of her feelings completely. When somebody vulnerable is in danger, her heart can storm like the ocean. But most days she flows like a cool mountain stream, soothing harsh edges, blessing the roots, and finding out everyone’s secrets. She’s the Moon’s own daughter. When Cancer smiles her Moon-face smile, you can’t help but feel loved and safe. Into summer’s landscape, she carries safety pins, a damp cloth for soothing brows, colorful band-aids, and a miracle tea that makes you feel like you’ve enjoyed a peaceful sleep with happy dreams.
Visit Cancer and she’ll watch you like a pot that might boil over. “Here, you look like you need this,” she’ll say, handing you something home-baked and delicious. She knows what the birds are thinking. She can cry at the drop of a hat. Her sensitivity used to make me wonder about the durability of her blessings. But over time I learned that she’s nobody’s fool. She has a genuine talent for making things grow. Just look at her garden! When she sits so calmly next to you, she’s steady as a mother watching a sleeping infant. She’ll feed you with quiet spoons of strength, protection, and the knowledge that wherever you are is your home. If you accept what she offers this cycle, her blessings can nurture you for months to come.
It’s easy to call in Cancer. Just find a safe place and come to stillness. Let your weary mind go, as if you were dropping into a cool bath on a hot summer day. Sink into the good that sustains you. Cancer is a water sign—its energy is fluid, cleansing, and receptive. Water sign cycles are particularly sweet for making tender connections with loved ones. They’re auspicious for spiritual practice too; whatever you sit with now can be more deeply absorbed. Listen to your intuition. Follow the intricate paths of your imagination. Commit to your creativity.
Each Moon cycle brings new energy for growth. But what specifically should you grow now? Astrology typically answers “what” questions by looking at houses. Look to the house of your birth chart with Cancer on the cusp: here’s your personal seed bed this month. This is the place where you usually “do” this sign, where the Moon is most at home, and the dance of her phases is most relevant. The New Moon may bring a unique opportunity here… but you must tune in.
Cancer’s Response
Waiting for Cancer to show up is the fun part. No way can I predict it for you. You may get a brilliant new idea for a creative project—or a sudden urge to really clean your house. It’s amazing what clearing and organizing your space can do. It’s like birds building the nest before the eggs appear. Or perhaps you’ll be asked to act as Cancer’s agent. You might bake a cake for a friend who’s in the doldrums. A child or lost cat might need your help. Cancer’s message? Notice how much you receive whenever you selflessly give.
But what if nothing wonderful happens? What if you simply feel stuck? That’s a sign that you’re under the spell of the Dark Mother, the one who resists your growth. She’s the one who always keeps you from the party because something bad could happen. On the first day of your diet, she likes to surprise you with your favorite dessert. According to Jungian analyst Marion Woodman, the Dark Mother is like “a great lizard lounging in the depths of the unconscious.” She is threatened by change. She wants you mired in inertia, feeling so incapable, that you can’t aspire to anything new. In the old days, knights took swords to the dark-mother dragons hiding in their caves. But now, with an open heart and courageous awareness, you can simply relax and coax your inner dragon into the light. There you can see how fearful she is. Speak softly, stroke her brow, and tell her everything is going to be all right. Once you gain her trust, the old dragon will change before your eyes into a willing and magical partner.
If you’d like to explore the archetypes in even greater depth, if you like to journal and/or muse on the positions of the Sun and Moon, you may enjoy my enrolling in my Moon Workshop (by snail-mail or email). It’s designed to deepen your relationship with the guardians of natural time, the Sun, the Moon, and the zodiac.
Thank you. I look forward to enrolling in your moon workshop soon!
Hi Dana, I so love Mooncircles, your articles, blogs, and insights, which inspire me throughout every month! Thank you for the gift of your work!
I have TWO Questions: 1) how do I access last month’s new moon (or was it full moon??) in Capricorn. You wrote about Cancer and Capricorn neighbors and the benefits of fences. This article so resonated with me as I have been told that I have very heavy Capricorn/Saturn aspects in my chart and Mars in Cancer. I would like to re-read the article for reference and am not seeing how to pull it up again. Can you guide me back to it please?
Question 2) Is the chart like the face of a clock with 12 at the very top and 6 at the very bottom? It may seem silly, but I still am not sure how to read this. I have Mars in Cancer, 18 degrees, but what house/ cusp does that fall in?
I am including my DOB: 11/29/60, 11:20 am, Lansing Mi. Like everyone I know, I have been in a state of deepening financial hardship, uncertainty re: work, housing, and relationship for several years. The transformation is quickening and the light grows brighter, the sky more blue, my doubts and turmoil greatly lessened even without resolution. I have a steady practice of yoga and meditation that keep me grounded and I am watching/feeling for signs in choosing direction.
I want pursue your statement: Look to the house of your birth chart with Cancer on the cusp: …”here’s your personal seed bed this month.”I hope you can shed further light.
With grateful blessings,
Nalyn
Hi Nalyn,
Alas, it’s our policy just to post the current and previous lunations. But if you’d like to read that post again (a fine one by April Elliott Kent), paste this URL into your broswer: link to mooncircles.com . As for your second question, yes; consider the chart like the face of a clock. The 12 position is the top, or 10th house; the 6 position is the bottom, or 4th house. Cancer is just below the 3 o’clock position in your chart, in the 6th house. That’s your seed bed, the area associated with work and health. Sounds like very relevant themes for you: good luck!
I recently found your website and have enjoyed reading all the articles. Some very good advice and insights, in a well-written, easy-to-read format. Thank you! I look forward to the next installment.
Dana, beautiful, and possible smiling to the moon, when our heart is crying…
It´s the third time, i read your Article, and now, I CAN FACE IT WITH HOPE… i´M FEELING ON WAY OUT, AND 6 MONTHS UP TO TAKE CARE, TO FACE A RESOLUTION
GOD BESSING YOU
mARIA
Thanks for all your Advice. Thank for your Articles, and I say: Thank for your rapid help, when I asked for.
Let me tell you, that´s Crab article, as well LABOURS, MA. All are on my night table…
I´ve no more ink, why becames so difficult to comunicate.
As always,
with friendship
Maria
Dearest Dana,
Very quite outsider, full of thoughts and solutions inside… I´m replying just to let you know, how I admire you, and I like the way how you manage,
from my heart to yours… happy cancer new moon…
The Dark Mother has visited me this new moon. With my own midheaven at 16 degrees 18 minutes of Cancer, a chronic deep and mysterious ear infection has made itself felt again this weekend, and last night I was up spiritually healing myself but am still feeling ill this morning. There’s a call for more healing but I’m not sure how, so I’ll be asking for Mother’s continuing guidance as part of this initiation. By the way, what is the connection between the sign of Cancer and the cancer disease itself, if any? How did the names get connected? In nourishment, Lindy
Go slow… the Moon is void today, so the healing will come through rest and the empty spaces, through which the Mother may send the information you need. Cancer, the sign, and cancer, the disease, come from the same root word meaning “crab.” The crab has a long association with the mother goddess. Hippocrates thought that tumors looked like crabs, hence the name.
Thanks, Dana, good advice–staying home from work today, and following the information I am receiving. And interesting background info about the name. In my healing meditation in the middle of the night, I “saw” some energy in the ear with several legs!
Greetings Dana! Wonderful post! I have so enjoyed and embraced your workshop the past 6 months! I’m off to do some traveling this month,( both physical and mental). I’m packing my journal and new awareness, and will be dragging my “Dark Mother” to a place we’ve never been! Thank you for your Lunar wisdom! I am feeling the rhythm and learning to flow with it.
Sincerest Blessings,
Elizabeth
Wonderful! May you and your journal and Dark Mother have a soul-and-mind-and-heart-nourishing nourishing month!
Hi Dana
I love reading your monthly columns and I wonder if you can help me figure something out. When you say “Look to the house of your birth chart with Cancer on the cusp” I’m not understanding what that means in my own chart.
For example, from astrodienst these are the positions of my houses:
Ascendant Gemini 6°26’36
2nd House Gemini 27°13’03
3rd House Cancer 14°09’12
Imum Coeli Leo 2°21’45
5th House Leo 26°55’41
6th House Libra 7°58’50
Descendant Sagittarius 6°26’36
8th House Sagittarius 27°13’03
9th House Capricorn 14°09’12
Medium Coeli Aquarius 2°21’45
11th House Aquarius 26°55’41
12th House Aries 7°58’50
Does this mean that, for example there is nothing on a virgo cusp or pisces cusp
And for this month, does is mean that cancer is on the third cusp (even though, when I look at my chart, cancer spans part of the second and part of the third house)?
Yes, Cancer is on your third house cusp; the first 13 degrees of Cancer appears at the end of the second house. The New Moon is at 16 degrees Cancer, so that falls in your third house. Generally we say the sign is strongest in the house that is on the cusp (stronger in your third than in your second), but that’s just a general rule. Life should tell you which house is more energized for you now. The second is about money and values; the third is about learning, communication, neighbors and siblings.
Thanks so much for the clarification, Dana – it all makes sense to this Gemini mind now!
And Lindy; hope the ear infection clears up soon x
Life tells us where to focus even more expertly than the chart. With Cancer, go where your feelings most draw you now. Sending you blessings. Know that the Moon, the Divine Feminine goddess, holds us, especially when things are shaky.
Dear Dana, I enjoy so much your monthly postings on the new moon! thank you so much. I’m a 22 decree cancer moon and this new moon catch me coming back from my natal town. I had to travel unexpectedly since my grandmother passed away. I had to say goodbye to this lovely and wise capricorn lady who lived fully her 97 years. I’ll meditate on her strenght and also on the “dark mother” who lives within me, the one that makes me so scared and fragile… I recently lost my job and I’m facing a separation… so home is really shaky right now! I hope this new moon grant me her magic. Both my IX and MC are cancer cusps, but this one falls on the X. Should I consider both? blessings and love.
is it me today, feeling the depths of your words…? or is it you, dana…? o, yes…, we are both doing great in the safe space of our magical friends lap… blessings, everyone.
Excellent article Dana, and as usual, I enjoy and learn so much when I read your column. You seem to tune right into some of the most interesting facets related to transits, archetypes, and passages. I love your comments on the Dark Mother…when we resist our creativity and growth. Lovely, and enjoy the New Moon and all it brings to you.
Dana,
Thank you for your work which I have enjoyed over many years.
We share a passion for the moon and intuitive living. I am a Cancer, borh 9 July 1954. At this point in my life I am embarking on a major change: relocation to central American to be with my future spouse. I will be leaving the corporate world to fulfill this intention, trusting my intuition and God.
I am interested in your Moon Workshop (via e-mail).
Kindly advise.
Thanking you.
Kenny Cousins
Congratulations on making this major life-change. Cancers don’t uproot themselves lightly, as security is important. Keep the Moon as your ally. She is everywhere. Of course I would be delighted if you enrolled in the workshop: info is here.
Dana,
First, let me say that I have just recently started reading your colunn this year, and I absolutely love it. You provide a full perspective.
Secondly, I am a little curious about a letter written to you by Kenny, July 9 Cancer. Did he ever follow-up with you concerning the big move he was making? He was leaving the corporate world and moving out of the country to be with his love.
Hi Gwen, thanks for your kind words! (Regarding Kenny, you may have me confused with Julia, who writes the Oracle column. I know our voices can seem to blend together on this site!) .. oh der, I see I’ve mercury retro’d here as you were referring to the comment above! When I got the email with your comment, it was without the context. But, no, I haven’t heard from Kenny; perhaps he’ll see this and update us!