Tomorrow morning, we enter the Balsamic phase with a fascinating chart to work with.
In this phase, the Moon loses light in the sky, completely disappearing as the New Moon draws near. It’s time to let go. We’re invited to release anything and everything that is complete, no longer needed, hurtful, more than we can manage, or whatever else needs to go.
The Moon at 11º Cancer is in her home place, inside the walled garden of the second decan. She joins two powerful forces there: Jupiter at 15º Cancer, the height of his exaltation, and the fixed star Sirius at 14º Cancer.
Sirius, the dog star, is the brightest in the sky, powerful, offering elevation and recognition. This is also the star of high summer, bringing the heat of the Sun in Leo with its power to burn. We don’t want to reach for too much with Sirius around.
All three sit in a protected, creative, fruitful place designed to protect what is new and tender. This decan is ruled by Mercury, who brings the power to frame tender and intense emotions into language. Here we sort out what can be released and what needs to be carefully nurtured.
Mercury remains in early Leo, a place where he wants to protect our core being, helping us shine–but safely. Mercury will know when it’s time for us to leave this protected place to step onto a wider stage.
Mars in early Libra connects with both Mercury (sextile) and the Moon (square). But this diplomatic Mars is up to the challenge of balancing both: Mars here is good at looking out for others.
The Sun at the end of Leo is holding on, possibly a bit grimly, to it has won. This Sun trines Chiron and Eris, together at the end of Aries. Our public self wonders: Can we afford the costs of living large? What is modern life doing to us, and to the world?
Maybe adjustments are needed.
At the height of summer, under Sirius’ bright beams, let’s move the walled garden of the second decan of Cancer to a cool, shady pool under a waterfall. Here we hang out with a few friends, letting our cares and our fears dissolve in the flowing waters.
Venus is in favor. In the third decan of Cancer, she is herself overflowing, ready to lose herself in extravagant indulgence.
We may not want to go that far. (Or maybe we do??) But in this shadowy time before the New Moon, we’re ready to relax, let the Cancerian waters buoy us up, and let go of everything that’s ready to flow away downstream.
