The July 17 New Moon in Cancer kicks off a week of Astrological alterations, driving us into a new direction, but likely intimidating at a glance.
In the polarity and duality of Astro balance, the leaderships of Capricorn-Cancer have kept decisions and dreams on their toes. The New Moon in Cancer’s strong seductive current is a siren song that does not choose violence but softness, a marriage that meets on the rocky shore with the iridescent sea in sweet caress. Best of both worlds, we were urged to review our ambitions against Time and Energy, the dregs of Reality. Carving a more stable support system is helped by hard facts, though at first we may have felt hindered by the limitations of Capricorn’s brightest lunation.
Allowing acceptance instead of illusions has lead us to the New Moon in Cancer with grace. The Full Moon in Capricorn clashed with Cancer Season but New Moon-time benefits from allowing clarity from previous Moon Cycles. Before setting positive intentions, we can problem solve at peace. Cancer and Cap crave safety and security for the overworked physical and tapped-out emotional self. In this, we dive into healing waters - to rest, to connect with the body, to soothe the mind - integrating wholeness from the Full-to-New of the recent fortnight.
Tomorrow’s New Moon in Cancer steps out of its cavern of Crab symbolism and specialties. The New Moon aligns with a major Moon change lasting roughly a year and a half, super-powering Cancer’s last hurrah, solidifying inner circle intentions and the pace in which we want to live our lives. About a week later slips into a Zodiac switch along with a couple of important retrogrades:
7/17/2023 - 1/11/2025 THE ARIES-LIBRA NODE CYCLE
One of the most major Moon-related astrological events of 2023 is very near the New Moon in Cancer: the Nodes cross over to Aries-Libra until 2025.
Moving away from the previous years’ Taurus/Scorpio Axis, the North Node in Aries and the South Node in Libra is incredibly action-packed territory. As Cardinal Signs, just like Capricorn and Cancer, these Signs have “new beginning” energy. In the Northern Hemisphere, Aries begins with Spring and Libra begins with Autumn. Aries is the Adventurer, bounding into the unknown with a bright curious “can-do” attitude, complimenting the North Node’s significance of forward direction. Libra is much like Persephone, descending into the Underworld of sacred secrets and poetic struggle.
Though the South Node represents a Past we are moving away from, Libra in this position can make progressive exploration re: people-pleasing, codependency, and how the wants and wishes we have towards others’ might be holding us back. A South Node in Libra can improve our relationships, complimenting the North Node in Aries who leaps ahead, not afraid to embrace discovery and perhaps find oneself in the process.
Engagement and Activation are the core themes of this Aries-Libra Nodal Cycle.
As the Nodes of the Moon determine Eclipses, we’ll continually see these concepts emphasized, especially around the upcoming Autumnal Eclipse Season in October. We had a little taste of an Aries Eclipse in April and will still have a linger of a Taurus Eclipse around Halloween. The last time the Nodes were in Aries-Libra was around 2004, so reviewing what we were doing and how we were feeling during those years may give us a bit of insight (also see where Aries and Libra falls in your chart). Aside from influencing our personal lives, trends in culture will lean to Aries-Libra until January 2025.
7/22 - 9/3 VENUS RX IN LEO
Retrogrades are always an opportunity to reflect, but Venus Retrograde tends to get our panties in a twist… or for this Venus Rx, our panty lions. Venus will be Retrograde in the regal fixed fire sign of Leo from July 22 to September 3, its shadow period ending October 17. Due to the planet’s immense impact on our relationships, image, finance, Venus Rx has a reputation of messing with big-focus fineries. Humans deeply value our connections, lifestyles and creative expressions and from a glance Venus Rx is a bad omen.
The Material World is extremely intertwined with Venusian energy: aesthetic, design, sex, love, status, wealth and so on are all in Venus’s Palace of Pleasures.
Even though Retrogrades have a reputation of being chaotic and confusing, a backspin in Venus can upgrade our values. Beyond Love and Beauty, as always it is best to look deeper than the sensationalism of pop astrology. Venus Rx has much more to offer beyond romantic relationships and appearances, though imagining what we want our lives to look like is good Retrograde practice. It’s time to tune into our wants and needs, personally and globally.
With Venus Retrograde in Leo, we have the Lion’s blessing of rediscovering our confidence, getting back to the heart of the matter, honoring honesty and pinpointing what stands in the way of our creativity and vitality. The prime recommendation is to not rush into too many drastic and dramatic changes, but to find a steady stamina to carefully re-connect, which is what any Retrograde is all about. Venus Rx in Leo can be an opportune time to practice generosity, healthy choices and heartfelt commitments, a gorgeous way to feed our communal abundance and heal any selfish scarcity mindsets.
Different perspectives of Love and Beauty can optimize this Retrograde. Reviewing how we throw money at certain products to make us feel better about ourselves, yet only leaves us feeling empty, may be worth pondering. It is possible an ex or a situationship that reminds us of a past hurt may appear but our internal conflict may persevere to evolve our approach to desire and attraction. Venus Leo reminds us to see our worth, what we want to give attention to and how to live in our truest light. Venus Leo wants us to enjoy our life, give and receive love, and be expressive and fulfilled.
7/23 CHIRON RX IN ARIES
Alongside Venus Retrograde arrives Wounded Healer Chiron’s own backspin, from roughly July 23 to December 14. Not a planet or an asteroid, this unique cosmic entity has a strong astrological grasp on our personal trauma. Chiron Retrograde can bring difficulties to surface, but Aries’ placement here gives an advantage in processing and doing the actual work.
Leo Season has a strong fire and desire for experience and the pain of Chiron can be soothed by the Lion’s matter-of-fact fierceness. Leo’s signature respect of self says, “yes, this happened to me, but it does not define me.” Standing up for ourselves and guarding our sphere of what is acceptable treatment and behavior, from others or even when this applies to our own actions, Venus Rx + Chiron Rx notes where standards of conduct may have slipped.
Our next Muse will focus further on Leo Season and the Aquarius Full Moon.
ATL folks, please join us for our zine release + poetry + party at Argosy on August 3! We will be celebrating our annual publication near the Sturgeon Aquarius Moon.
With the exception of the event design, images in this post are by Margriet Smulders.