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Cancer Full Moon: Weird Family

By Jessica Shepherd

I grew up in one of those “weird” families. Maybe yours was, too. The parental units weren’t exactly hippies, but they didn’t mix well with the status quo, either. They didn’t wear Birkenstocks or smoke pot with their guitar-playing friends (or, not that I know of), but neither were there potlucks, potluck parties and PTA meetings. While the other kids in my suburban neighborhood took dance or sports lessons, their big ploy was to get me to take mime (huh?) or meditation classes. Since neither activity had social support from my peers, and so threatened my perilous ten-year-old self’s social status, I wasn’t interested. But if I was awash in the anxiety of social awkwardness, so were my parents. I could feel it at parent-teacher conferences, supermarket trips and visit to friends’ houses, both theirs and mine. We simply didn’t fit in with what was going on around us.

I remember watching National Lampoon’s Vacation (after I left home, as we weren’t allowed to watch movies growing up) and taking comfort in their parallel strangeness. Radicalising Uranus is conjunct my Libra Ascendant, oppose my Moon, and exactly square my IC, the fourth house cusp angle of home and family. Over the years, I played the outsider and alien role in various ways. It took time, but eventually this lifelong feeling of being out of step with so much of society and culture was assuaged by my connection to astrology and the people in our “tribe”. Today, my truest, deepest heart-“kin” are those who speak my language, who share this common bond.

For as much as I deplored being the weird family on the street, I have a different, more mature, vantage point today. I see that those who led “normal” lives- including the one that I coveted in my friends, as a kid- didn’t always lead the most interesting, growth-filled, dynamic ones. Often it was quite the opposite. Maybe, today, normal is a setting on the dryer, as the Facebook jpeg circulating, says, but I suspect there are probably as many kids feeling alienated now as there were when I grew up. Let alone, adults, whose child self re-experiences this alienation in surprising, painful moments.

My younger sister (Uranus in her natal fourth house) felt displaced in our family, too, so she adopted herself into a new one when she was about twelve years old. Brave girl. At first it looked exactly like teenaged rebellion; she later told me she had decided to go where the unconditional love was. If you can imagine all the various ways a family can shame a kid for leaving, you know what a hard path she had. Yet as she matured, she took another look at her extended blood ties and has since formed strong, solid bonds. Despite that, misunderstanding still arises; people still confuse the definition of “family” with an archaic form of blood loyalty. “It’s complicated,” they say. But alienation ensues.

This Full Moon falls in Cancer, sign of hearth, heart and home and on the same day as Uranus, the Great Awakener –planet of all things and people unusual and weird — changes direction. Themes of alienation, other-ness and progress co-exist with togetherness, kin-ship and nostalgia for the past. It’s an uncomfortable, but not impossible, relationship.  We just may need to do things differently than traditional social or familial dictates. We just may need to throw a circuit breaker into the system, to shake things up, cry freedom. Not merely to go our own way, but to redefine the map of the heart, to show others how to love, and how we wish to be loved. Because without the freedom to pursue our own authentic heart path, blood bonds are nothing more than bondage. 

Remember the old Coca-Cola commercial, “I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony?”  “I’d like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love…” It’s my Uranus in Libra slash Sun in Cancer torch song. I’ve long-loved that commercial, where people of different nationalities, cultures, stripes, create harmony. I may’ve created a new one with my partner, a partnership in which we’ve placed the freedom to self-actualise as a clear and present guiding value, but I also feel a deep kinship, familiarity with my more global astrological tribe, with you. The “nuclear family” never fit my experience. Family is a feeling in your heart. The recognition that: These, these people, are my people. I can get that feeling in a room full of like-minded strangers. I can get that feeling when a client becomes a friend, and while tickling the belly of my laughing niece. When I do, I’ve come home.

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About Jessica Shepherd

Jessica Shepherd is a writer, astrologer and health coach who has studied and practiced modern astrology since 1992. She is the author of A Love Alchemist’s Notebook: Magical Secrets For Drawing Your True Love Into Your Life (Llewellyn, 2010) and the books Venus Signs: Discover Your Erotic Gifts and Secret Desires Through Astrology
(Llewellyn, 2015) and Karmic Dates and Momentary Mates: The Astrology of the Fifth House (Moonkissd, 2014). In 2018, after living in California for twenty years, she relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii with her husband, dog, and cat. Find out more about Jessica at Moonkissd (www.moonkissd.com).

Comments

  1. Tara says

    Dec 25, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    Jessica, From my Cancer moon and 4th house Uranus, thank you! TM Sinclair

    Reply
    • Jessica Shepherd says

      Dec 26, 2015 at 10:41 am

      You are welcome, Tara 🙂

      Reply
  2. Catherine Al-Meten Meyers says

    Dec 25, 2015 at 8:04 am

    Dear Jessica, I think there must be a lot more people with similar experiences of family. It’s nice when we get to feeling at home with ourselves and finding that family is what it is or was, and we can grow, learn, and heal from some of the more challenging experiences. And we find ourselves at home with those who recognize, affirm, and like us as we are. I really enjoyed reading and identifying with what you had to say. Merry Christmas. PS I too have found that the more I understand astrology, the better I understand myself and the different types of people who make the world go round.

    Reply
    • Jessica Shepherd says

      Dec 26, 2015 at 10:40 am

      Thank you, Catherine. Yes, astrology is the gift that keeps on giving. Happy Holidays!

      Reply
  3. Rafah says

    Dec 24, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    These articles are poignantly great, true to heart. Thank you. Merry Xmas, and happy full moon x

    Reply

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The Moon is in its
Full Phase

in the
Sign of Sagittarius


Today's Lunar Aspects (Greenwich Mean Time)
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  • Moon trine Venus, 2:48am  May 14 2025
  • Moon trine Mars, 8:27am  May 14 2025

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The Morning Star

in the sign of Aries


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Astrologers use a variety of house systems, or methods of dividing up the sky into twelve sections. I use the Porphyry house system; another popular house system is Placidus (this is the default on https://astro.com). If the chart I send you looks different from what you are used to seeing, then likely a system other than Porphyry was used. Whole signs, Equal House, Regiomantus, and Campanus are examples of other systems. If you find all of this confusing, do not worry. It is likely not critical to your report.

m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.