We enter the Crescent phase with a Moon in late Cancer opposite Pluto. At the moment we begin to act on our goals, we meet a goddess facing into Shadow. This is a darker face of the goddess but not a threatening one.
This Moon knows that sometimes we go into the shadows to gain something of value. Face up to something. Reclaim something. Rescue something and be transformed.
A well-known chant to the goddess begins:
She changes everything she touches.
Everything she touches changes.
This is the deeply maternal Moon in Cancer we meet at this Crescent Moon.
Six hours earlier, Mercury stationed direct. Right now, they are still, paused as they turn.
The Moon separates from a sextile with Mercury. Did Mercury share something from their time with the Sun, the conjunction on May 21? What happened for you during this Mercury retrograde? What do you know now?
A separating trine to Neptune and inconjunct to Saturn show this Moon is in conversation with larger powers, channeling information through the lunar gate.
Notice that Saturn squares Mercury as Mercury trines Pluto. Saturn reminds us to be patient, responsible, and steady. Pluto has the final say.
Ordinary rules and limitations do not apply. We go deeper.
The Moon in Cancer cares. There are wells of emotion here that connect us to others even as they leave us feeling vulnerable.
So often, the sign of Cancer seems to expect us to care for everyone without considering the cost. Pluto points to something underneath that focus on the other, asking, how are you taking care of yourself?
This is not about selfishness or disregard for others. It’s focusing our attention on the basic fact that our capacity to care for others stems from first caring for ourselves. This is where it begins.
Mary Oliver’s poem The Journey ends with these words:
… there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do—
determined to save
the only life you could save.