Ritual for New Moon in Cancer
The sign of Cancer is the Fourth House of a horoscope in the natural zodiac, the home. It's our "roots," the home we came from—but it's also where we live now. With a lunation in Cancer, I often think of the need to "put my house in order." When there's been too much going on, the clutter builds up, it becomes hard to find something I need and know I should have...and that begins to rattle feelings (another Cancer keyword associated with ruler Moon). So, a good ritual for this New Moon could be to set the "house" in order and thus begin the month with space, mind and feelings prepared to move forward happily and effectively toward your chosen goal. So, I suggest you pick your area of frustration, be it an area of your house or desk, or the weeds that have suddenly sprung up to spoil the lovely garden you started a month or so ago, and make a ritual of creating order and beauty in that spot. As you work, I feel confident that you'll also find your mind and feelings become much more clearly focused on your goals for the month ahead. It always works for me.
It's also well to clear yourself & your space at this New Moon because you'll be better prepared to take best advantage of a few aspects of the planets between now and First Quarter. For example, the square of Mercury to Uranus and the opposition of Moon to Neptune on July 5, the final day of New Moon phase, could be sparks of inspiration if you're ready to use them well, or rattled nerves and/or confusion if you're not. There are always multiple meanings for any planetary combination. Hard aspects such as square and opposition reflect action. But, we ALWAYS have choices of how we'll express action, whether we initiate it or must respond to it.
So, choose your task and assemble whatever tools you need to create order in your space. Center yourself before you begin. Visualize sending psychic roots down into the ground, through the floor and foundation (if you're indoors) and through all the layers of soil, rock, water, sand, clay into the molten center heart of Earth Mother and bring some of her energy up through those roots into your body. Feel her energy within, filling you—body, mind and spirit. The visualize Moon, conjoined with Sun, and open yourself to the power of New Moon. Feel rays of light flowing down toward you and receive them into your body, flowing throughout, blending with Earth energy. State your goal, and begin.
Organize, clean, store or discard whatever is not pertinent to your goal, and order your chosen area. Stay focused on this work until this place you've chosen is once again attractively restored to what suits your purpose. You might then bless it with a sprinkling of consecrated water, or incense, or by circling it with a lighted white candle as you say:
Within this space, by my intent
Mind, body, spirit now are free
My New Moon goal is clearly set
By waxing light, now blessed be.
Goddess, guide me as I build
My goal into reality!
Crescent Moon, 29 Leo 44, July 6 at 6:35 am EDT
First Quarter Moon, 18 Libra 18, July 10 at 12:35 am EDT
I'll take these two phases together this month: Crescent phase begins in the middle of a short void-of course Moon period before Moon enters Virgo at 7:04 am EDT. As Virgo, by sign, might suggest (and planetary aspects reinforce) this is a week to accept and fulfill responsibilities. Remain focused on your New Moon goals and do the work you need to do toward them, but avoid over-extending yourself. Even if frustrations interfere, you can work around them if you're patient.
A conjunction of Mars to Saturn is moving toward perfection in the 5th degree of Virgo on July 10, just after First Quarter phase begins. If you have Sun, Moon or other personal points of your own chart close to that degree in Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius, you are likely more potently experiencing the pressures of all this, but even if you're not, you may be experiencing some of it from those around you. Keep in mind, that no aspect is inherently "bad" or "good," and we always have a choice in how we express or respond to its theme. First quarter has been characterized as a "crisis of action," by the great astrological philosopher Dane Rudhyar who first defined the eight lunar phases. Here we may best avoid making it a "crisis" with generous amounts of patience toward others and with ourselves. Though the following few short quotes from my book Future Signs are about conjunctions of transiting planet to natal planet, the basic themes still apply:
Mars conjunct natal Saturn: Limitations from circumstances or from others could cause frustrations, even anger. Risk-taking and competitive activities are not favored at this time. What you can do very well is routine work that requires concentration and discipline. Find such work to do and do it. You'll not onlly feel good about your accomplishment, but you'll also dissipate any irritability you may be experiencing.
Saturn conjunct natal Mars: Feeling frustrated...? You can accomplish a lot now, but blind struggle or impulse won't work. Fighting your limitations is less productive than learning ways to work within them. Your path to success is careful planning within a realistic assessment of the situation...Work should be done for its own sake, not to win...the more you can achieve in tangible accomplishment—strike one more thing off your list—the more energy you will feel.
Gibbous Moon, 07 Sagittarius 11, July 14 at 2:22 am EDT
Everything is likely to seem brighter in this phase.Today includes the perfection of a trine of Sun to Uranus. Most of the flow through Sag is harmonious, and Moon through Capricorn leading toward full also suggests good potential for productivity, and also perhaps enjoyable times with others. Be alert to how you can use this time to move toward the sense of fulfillment we hope for when the Moon is full.
Full Moon, 26 Capricorn 04, July 18 at 3:59 pm EDT
Moon now reflects the full light of Sun in Cancer from the sign of opposition—a complementary opposite, calling for balance. With this polarity, responsibilties need to be balanced with emotional needs. This could be fulfilled through time we spend with others who are close to us, or perhaps through time spent alone. Do try to spend some time outdoors at night, walking within the magical light and shadows of Full Moon, with reflection on the spiritual...and perhaps with a ritual to honor and thank others who have significantly influenced our lives. This could be a magical working for you to do alone, or it could easily be adapted to one shared with others.
Ritual for Full Moon in Capricorn
We all have many others in our lives who have influenced us in many ways, who've helped us hone our skills, who've aided our spiritual growth, who've taught us, nurtured us, or even helped us learn valuable lessons through trial. Let's create something special to honor them. Here are some ways that could be incorporated into any ritual circle. Assemble photographs of each person you want to honor, or choose a small token to represent each one. Assemble them on an altar, or in a space you create within a natural outdoor area (a stump, a stone, a clearing). Once placed, you could ceremoniously place a votive candle before each photo or token as you thank that person for what he or she has meant to you. Or alternatively, you could plant a seed or a plant for each one, as you offer appropriate thanks. Or, or additonally, you could pour beverage in a chalice and offer a toast to each one, as you acknowledge and express your thanks for what each has contributed to your life.
Disseminating Moon, 14 Pisces 45, July 22 at 12:35 pm EDT
The onset of this phase is quickly followed by lunar aspects of trine Mercury, then conjunct Uranus shortly prior to Mercury's perfection of trine Uranus. This holds the potential of something new to discover or share, or perhaps just a fun respite from the usual. What could it be? Something that just "happens," or perhaps an energy that we can precipitate to share with others? Moon moving on into fiery Aries early tomorrow suggests a lively period for the remainder of this phase. In any case, this phase is about spreading the word. It could be a good time to share your progress toward your goal with someone whom you trust to give you good feedback.
Last Quarter Moon, 3 Taurus 10, July 25 at 2:41 pm EDT
Moon into slower and steady Taurus progresses through mostly harmonious aspects from now until the wee hours of Sunday, July 27 (0:52 am EDT) when she is void-of-course (likely while most of us in this time zone are sleeping). If energy seems to slow at the beginning of the phase, it may lighten with Mercury's ingress into the fire sign of Leo early July 26th. This phase, called "the crisis of consciousness" by Rudhyar, is when we begin to wind down and reassess whatever we're doing, and perhaps decide to let go of some aspects of it, or maybe do some revisions. Moon's movement on into Gemini (July 27, 11:55 am EDT) may stimulate ideas along these lines.
Balsamic Moon, 21 Gemini 23, July 28 at 11:06 pm EDT
Dark Moon, Crone's Moon. Time to reflect an savor what we've gained from this lunar cycle, and let go of what hasn't worked as we'd like, or what is no longer needed. If you can get yourself up in the early morning of this phase to go out and view the slender waning crescent that appears in the eastern sky before sunrise, that would be an ideal time and place for a ritual of release:
Ritual for Balsamic Moon in Gemini
Write what you would let go of in your life on paper—thin or tissue paper is best. As you stand beneath Crone's Crescent, call the Dark Goddess to assist in your release. Then, tear the paper into tiny pieces with intent as you visualize what it symbolizes to you. Stand in the open, unprotected from any breezes and hold the tiny scraps of paper in your open palms until all are blown away. Repeat this charm:
By wind begone, by wind be free,
With harm to none, now fly from me.
Forever gone, so mote it be!
Learn all about the lunar phase cycle, in your natal chart, by progression through your lifetime, and within monthy transits in
Moon Tides, Soul Passages
Book includes easy to install and use software that will give you
all personal info you need to make best use of the book's interpretations.
