Let's break down the energetic opportunities at hand and what to be mindful of on our daily journeys…
The Sun and New Moon align in Cancer.
Ruled by the moon and representing the fourth astrological house, the Sun in Cancer brings focus to our home, roots, family, self-care, emotions, foundations, motherhood, and femininity. These are themes to consider breathing new life into and/or paying close attention to how the Universe has been offering you opportunities for renewal in these areas of your life.
During New Moons, most people only focus on manifesting as an action but as always, I urge you to focus on manifestation as something that's always happening. Our thoughts and actions are always manifesting our reality. During this New Moon and all, consider what has manifested for you and what you want to intentionally manifest in terms of your home, foundations, and your relationships with your family and yourself.
On Saturday, the Sun will shift into Leo, commencing Leo season. Leo is a fire sign ruled by the Sun, characterized by its creativity, passion, and courageous energy, so that season will give us the opportunity to awaken the lioness in all of us.
What it means for us: The Sun and Moon in aspect to Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Eris.
The Sun coming into contact with Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Eris is important because they are the outer planets or transpersonal planets that lie beyond those we see in the solar system. Energetically, they symbolize the patterns outside our personal lives, what we have in common with others in our generation.
Astrologer Divine Harmony says, "Transpersonal energy can be amazing as it can get us in touch with that which lies beyond the ego and the small self. Uranus' Higher Wisdom, Neptune's Higher Love, Pluto's Higher Power and Eris' Higher Chaos are all accessible, but we need to ground these energies and use them wisely as transpersonal energy can lead to great transformation or great destruction pending how we wield it."
Let's talk about it.
The New Moon aligns harmoniously with Uranus (unexpected but necessary change, and deconstruction) and Neptune (spirituality and delusion), blending the wisdom of Uranus and the compassion of Neptune throughout this cycle. It reminds us to lead more with our spirit and less with our mind, to be open to guidance from our spiritual team and higher selves, which will lead us where we need to go for maximum expansion.
Uranus in Taurus brings somatic and earthly wisdom, emphasizing the significance of listening to our bodies and connecting with nature. With Neptune in a supportive aspect to the New Moon, our dreams, intuition, and creativity have the freedom to guide us, so pay attention to what's showing up for you beyond the veils of day-to-day life. Journaling is an ideal self-care and spiritual practice right now (and always).
On the other hand, the New Moon's aspects to Pluto (death, rebirth, and transformation) and Eris (chaos, strife, and discord) are not so harmonious. Its harsh energies expose the truth of our relationship to power dynamics and any existing imbalances. This urges us to look within and ask how we relate to our power.
Do you often give your power away or misuse it to control others? Why?
Because the New Moon is in Cancer during this face-off, we also have the opportunity to consider how our foundations and family experiences play(ed) a role in our relationship to power. Ask yourself:
- What did I learn about power during my upbringing?
- How did those thoughts and perceptions especially shape my life, relationships and connections?
These can be difficult questions to ask ourselves unbiasedly, which is why the Universe positions itself to show us our lessons instead. Eris especially uncovers anything that's hidden. The tense nature of these energetic interactions can and will lead to sudden and unexpected revelations, which could be rattling on the nervous system and our relationships, so be patient and awake to the ways that you'll be shown how you use your power and how you can improve for your highest and greatest good, and the highest and greatest good of all.
Speaking of rattling relationships…
What it means for us: Venus stations retrograde in Leo.
Venus, planet of love, relationships, money, and beauty, will be retrograding in fire sign Leo from July 22nd until September 3rd.
As you might know, retrogrades refer to the apparent backward motion of a planet in its orbit as observed from Earth. The energy associated with the planet tends to become more introspective and inwardly focused as unresolved issues, hidden matters, and unfinished business related to the planet's domain come forward. Retrogrades invite us to review, reflect, and reassess the areas of life ruled by that particular planet in your life.
In the case of this Venus retrograde, our relationships, finances, values, and self-worth are under the spotlight, but to pinpoint exactly how it's affecting you, look at your birth chart and what astrological house Leo rules. Those are the themes you should personally be reflecting on. (ie. Cancer Risings will have 2nd house themes come up for reflection, Gemini risings their 3rd house, Taurus risings their 4th house, etc.)
I never want to fear monger, especially when it comes to celestial moments, but don't dismiss this as just another retrograde. All retrogrades are very useful but as we move past the middle of 2023 and into the latter half of the year, we have a true opportunity to recalibrate. Venus ruling our most human actions and primal actions, Venus Rx gives us a real chance to shift into higher gears, to release our attachments to patterns that take us away from where we want to be, and review the scripts we recite to ourselves and the roles we play in life.
What is means for us: North and South have shifted for a new period of growth until 2025.
The cosmic Nodes have shifted, changing the what and why of our personal journeys.
The points where the paths of the Sun and the Moon cross are called the Lunar Nodes. These nodes, North and South, are believed to be highly energetic points guiding us to see what we have to learn and integrate, represented by the North Node, and what we have realize and leave behind, represented by the South Node.
The North Node, representing what we have to learn and do for higher alignment, has been in earth sign Taurus, revealing what we need to shift whether we like it or not.
With the North Node in Taurus for the last 18 months, our higher evolution depended on our ability to cultivate patience, persistence, forgiveness, and gratitude. As it shifts into Aries, the cardinal fire sign of initiation, it starts a new season of growth focused on passionate, forward action.
The South Node, representing the shadows we need to understand and shed for higher alignment, has been in water sign Scorpio, revealing our fears, traumas, and anything that keeps us attached to structures and relationships that no longer serve us. With the South Node in Scorpio for the last 18 months, our growth was dependent on our ability to acknowledge, shed, grieve, and let go of our shadows and anything we were holding onto unnecessarily.
As it shifts into Libra, the cardinal air sign of relationships, money, and beauty, we're positioned to shed some more, this time with a focus on our relationships, how we handle our people (social justice is highlighted), and how we handle our resources and finances.
Astrologer Chani Nicholas says: "When the lunar nodes change signs, we begin a new learning path in the areas of our natal chart connected with those signs. Wherever Aries and Libra are in your chart, those house themes will be your teachers for the next 18 months. The part of your chart that contains Aries will be a place of increase and hunger, and the part of your chart that contains Libra will be a place of letting go and purifying. On a collective level, the North Node in Aries stimulates our bravery, boldness, and desire for excitement, while the South Node in Libra helps us release what is no longer ours to carry, especially within relationships and social justice issues."
What it means for us: Mars in Virgo.
Mars, the planet of action and war, just shifted in Virgo until August 27th, the focused earth sign of the Virgin.
"While Mars is in Virgo, we may be more strongly motivated to pay attention to details, to learn new skills, to improve methods, and to do our best work. Our standards are very high, both for ourselves and for others. Actions are taken to improve health and to bring physical systems into a more perfect form." – Astrologer Pam Younghans
We will need to watch a tendency to be overly critical, to be controlling, and to get angry when things don't turn out exactly as we want them to. Make space for the unexpected to happen for you, for the Divine to maneuver your life in ways beyond your comprehension and in alignment with your expansion and liberation, and the liberation of the world around you.
Self-care tip: Make space to put our work down and chill + be proactive about our nervous system regulation (Virgo rules the nervous system).
