The Moon, which entered Cancer a few hours before midnight EDT, completes a cardinal grand cross on its way to the Cancer New Moon later this week. A grand cross is when there are planets at four intervals of 90 degrees in the solar system. Today, that would be Uranus in Aries, the Moon in Cancer, Mars in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn — three powerhouses and one very sensitive personal point, the Moon.
Looked at one way, this astrology looks like a crab molting its shell. You might feel varying degrees of anticipation/pressure/frustration, something associated with the Cancer Moon picking up so many planets so different from itself; you might experience a sense of relief, vulnerability and a sense of newness — even confidence — as the week progresses.
The Moon makes contact with the ongoing Uranus-Pluto square regularly, about every week or so, each time it enters one of the four cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn). At 11:34 am EDT today it squares Mars in Libra and nearly simultaneously, opposes Pluto in Capricorn exactly, and is square to Uranus in Aries. This is an unusual setup; it may turn out to be historic. The Moon focuses the energy emotionally, so we’re really getting the feeling of what it’s like to be alive in our era, with all of its complexity.
In general, Mars aspects often come with a sense of initiative, drive, feeling antsy (including physical restlessness), sexual energy or anger — any one or several of those feelings at once.
When you put Mars in a square or opposition to Uranus, Pluto or the Moon, the tension can erupt suddenly with force. That might sound unsettling – frightening, even. Remember, however, that the Moon is in Cancer, its home sign for this grand cross. On the one hand, this indicates we will all be feeling the pressure and get-up-and-go of Mars in this situation palpably. On the other hand, Cancer also tends to be a nurturing, home-oriented sign.
The Moon’s influence in this grand cross could be the extra sensitivity to your emotional undercurrents needed to remember empathy and compassion toward yourself and others. With some extra awareness of the forces and themes at work this week, you have an opportunity to direct your energy and actions creatively.
Lets go back to that image of a molting crab, both personally and collectively. The Cancer Moon in the revolutionary-evolutionary Uranus-Pluto square, with an added push from Mars, equals splitting the carapace. It takes pressure to split the old, hard shell and break through. As scary as that can be, it’s a true release from something that has been outgrown. When the new shell is revealed, it’s still soft. It takes some time to firm up and become as protective as the old one, and for us to trust it.
This can feel incredibly vulnerable. Fitting with the waning Moon and the last days of the Sun in a sign, it’s not a time to blaze forward with new endeavors. Rather, take the next couple days to get a feel for your new shell as you wrap up existing projects. What else is ready to be shed from your life, materially, emotionally or otherwise? See if you can travel toward the integration of your inner opposites rather than chasing the eternally unavailable ‘cosmic other’.
Thursday we get the Cancer New Moon. This is when you can begin gently stepping out with the soft, new shell. It may only be a subtle shift for you, but the timing will likely feel more natural to begin whatever you have your eye on.
Six hours after the Sun and Moon make their conjunction, the Moon steps into the glow of Leo (or glare, depending on how you’re feeling with your newness). Take heart; letting your inner light shine or reflecting that of others could mitigate any lingering sense of vulnerability with the new decisions and actions you’re taking.
Pay attention to what others are reflecting back at you. Mercury newly retrograde in Leo might have you thinking that everyone else can see through your thin new shell & see how soft it is, but they can’t, really. Honest. It’s more likely that they see the new shell and its potential for growth. In any case, by the end of the week (Sunday July 22) the Sun moves into Leo, its home sign, bolstering confidence as only the bold Leo Sun can.
goddamn fuck, fuck it…
still just getting up off floor from this… wha?
aries with sun at 8 degrees aries, (where uranus went retrograde week before
my moon is in cancer at 27 degrees, I’m looking at this, jupiter trine mars on new moon
conjunct my natal moon, then conjunct uranus a couple days later right after it went
retro on my natal sun.
Let me tell you all something…. you dont know shit about jupiter or uranus…
wtf
where the hell am I ?
“anticipation/pressure/frustration,” and “molting crab,” perfect images for me today, starting my new job. Slept surprisingly well last night though not long enough, but I remember a sweet sensation of falling through my fear, waking up often, but able to fall asleep again and rest enough. And then the first day, absolutely no big deal, some nice connections, a friend from my recovery program is at one of my schools, so nice; just the usual things to do that I have done before, my time spent productively, a problem solved, a misplaced cell phone found, four friends checking in with me about how it all went. Definitely a rise in energy, awareness of the need to be circumspect in thought, word and deed in my new job setting, but it’s all to the good. I do feel like soft-shell crab, being a Cancer and all, but also like my shell is alive with beautiful iridescent swirls of color moving, slipping, sliding all over it, maybe to settle when it finally hardens, who knows. This is the first job search I have ever had where I truly felt I was working with the guidance of all benevolent powers of the universe. No terrible dreams portending chaos or huge shit sandwich like I had before the last job I took. So interesting. Love that the cracks in the facade are opening up and more truth is shining through, about the FDA, financial markets, etc.; we have had a truth deficit for way too long. Can’t have a new world, until we really SEE what the old world looks like…..and there’s a new world coming, just around the corner…..
the two young people having aneurysms so close together is really astonishing and heartbreaking. every time i see that comment…
Thank you Amanda, for an insightful article; I’ve just read this after sending an email to my partner (himself a crab, me a bull) describing a fairly destructive pattern that i finally managed to catch hold of after an emotional and disappointing weekend together. I’m hoping he’ll read my ‘take’ on what influences our times together in the spirit of ‘food for thought’ rather than blame, as it’s a pattern that we have both had our part in. In such moments when I realize I’ve caught myself doing something that I’ve been seeing completely differently up until that moment – and making it someone else’s ‘fault’ – in this case his – I feel like I wake up from a dream as the veil falls. It feels so uncomfortable because there is fear of rejection and a release all in the same experience. It’s been an intense couple of days all in all. Very Mercury retrograde!
I have an incredible tip today, 🙂 I exceeded the effect that could cause this grand square, as this appointment would of create emotional shaking, I used this energy to change a habit in me.
Exactly the creative energy that is what I wanted to live and I have led my will in this direction, thank you Amanda for your article
Cancer’s mission on this earth (that is from a Cancerian) is the reverse of this:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loWXMtjUZWM&feature=related
In fact, it might be everybody’s job here on the planet. Much love, whatever that is…something amazing I think.
Thank you, Amanda. This is a lovely, insightful and helpful piece. Your hard-shell/soft-shell euphemism (a soft analogy in place of a hard one) is right on the cross-hairs.
Hello Amanda, thank you for your clear outlines. May I ask what the difference is between Venus power/energy in sexuality (Eros) like the power we were reading about during the transit of the sun, and Mars power/energy. I know there is the basic theme of attraction and initiative, but there has to be something more. Both feel equally transformative or powerful. If we fill something with Eros (Venus) to make it grow and become a part of an our lives, isn’t that “filling” an activation or Mars energy? Or, if we initiate ourselves (Mars) to our life’s dreams, or even in sex, isn’t that a Venus energy, esp in orgasm as it has the feeling of filling something with incredible energy?
If Venus is the energy of the “womb creation” and has this apparent self fertilizing quality through its self nourishment, what is Mars doing?
“When you put Mars in a square or opposition to Uranus, Pluto or the Moon, the tension can erupt suddenly with force.”
A 24 year old son of a friend of mine had a stroke and brain aneurysm this weekend. He is in critical condition right now. His mom has MS and can hardly cope with this.
Then yesterday another 21 year old woman had a brain aneurysm happen suddenly and unexpectedly. She is clinically brain dead today. She is the cousin of another friend of mine.
Both young people bled a lot.
Talk about Mars (bleeding) erutpting with sudden force (Uranus). This is horrible for the families involved.
Thank you, Amanda. the visuals with the Sun and Moon’s movements related to one another and Mars, Pluto and Uranus helps me visualize what I am experiencing in the invisible realms.
“it may turn out to be historic. The Moon focuses the energy emotionally, so we’re really getting the feeling of what it’s like to be alive in our era, with all of its complexity.” Oh, Yes.
And vis a vis the molting crab I offer Mark Nepo’s wisdom I have been drinking in the past 2 months
“The courage of the seed is that once cracking it cracks all the way.”
xoxo
+_+
Thank you Amanda. Your listening is acute, your interpretation astute. Yes, I have been feeling the pressure. Cr-a-a-a-K! what a relief. Molting sea creatures find a rock to hide under in the first vulnerable hours. That sounds like a plan for me, and I have a task to complete that will set the stage for a new launch. Perfect.
Thanks Cara. Just wrote to you – hope you got it.
Huffy, Can I have your email for OT convo? Mine is susanetta {chiocciola} gmail {punto} com. Grazie cara!
Thank you, carissima Susanetta! Just had another gruelling job interview – think it went well….
Paola – hope you manage to get your computer sorted asap. Much of my work is on the computer, and has to be done at high speed, so I really feel for you!
Amanda: Thank you for your counsel, your imagery, and for bringing our attention to the what is indeed an unusual lunar role of fostering focus (that’s really cool).
What else is ready to be shed from your life, materially, emotionally or otherwise? See if you can travel toward the integration of your inner opposites rather than chasing the eternally unavailable ‘cosmic other’.
Great advice, thanks Amanda!
Happy Birthday Cancer friends. SCollina, Huffy, and others I may have missed (insert names here)…
Oh, I want to molt! I want to molt so badly. Life in this old shell is making me so scary tired.
Thank you for the exact description to what I’m feeling <3
Thank you, Amanda! And the chart itself caught my eye and gave me pause. Some beautiful, angular symmetry going on there.
My personal version of the day, with Mars in the picture and Mercury retrograde is: extremely angry (at myself – too) for something that happened yesterday, and trying to complete a three months job on a computer that switches itself off spontaneously every 15 minutes or so.
Many thanks and gratitude, dear Amanda, from a molting, and melting crab.