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.