Today, we enter the First Quarter phase. It’s time to take action on our goals for this lunar cycle.
With the Moon in her own sign of Cancer, we act from the heart of mothering, a way of being we can all access.
The first decan of Cancer, where we find this Moon, is a place of intense and supportive connection. The Moon rules this decan by triplicity and is very strong here, focused on meeting our needs.
The Moon squares the Sun, Saturn, and Neptune in Aries. Aries represents new birth, so here’s some active mothering. Sure, the Moon says, I see all the things you want right now. Let’s step back. Why do you need these? What will they cost? What are you not seeing about this?
She trines the North Node and newly-direct Mercury, both in Pisces. She genuinely wants to make big Piscean dreams come true, but asks, How will this meet the needs of real people, in real time?
She sextiles the South Node in Virgo, and also the asteroid Ceres in Taurus, who trine each other. My key phrase for Ceres is the “fierce maternal.” Ceres, Roman name for the goddess Demeter, brought spring each year––until her daughter was disappeared and no one would help her. Then she went scorched earth, until she got help. Moms can be like that.
These Earth connections carry messages that it’s ok to set aside the small stuff and focus on what’s essential right now. Who’s in danger? How to we protect them?
This Moon is copresent with a very exalted Jupiter at 15º Cancer. Jupiter rules this decan, a place of nourishment and protection. 15º Cancer is also the rising sign and degree of the Thema Mundi.
The Thema Mundi is an idealized chart of the birth of the world. It has 15º Cancer rising, the sign of the mother, as the place of origin. This chart, which first appeared in Hellenistic Greece, drew on ancient Egyptian and Babylonian traditions, linked the origin of the world to the Egyptian new year, the heliacal rising of Sirius, and the Nile floods that fertilized lands for agriculture.
Jupiter moves to trine Mars in Pisces, encouraging carefully calibrated action. The key to success is finding the right place to push.
Can we hope this Jupiter will support the birth of a better, more just, more benevolent, more inclusive world? Yes, we can. These are all Jupiterian values.
Meanwhile, Venus remains at the end of Aries, conjunct both Chiron and Eris, the asteroids of personal healing and the needs of the world. Venus is powerful here, even though it’s Mars’ sign. She’s looking for right action.
Am I saying we’re about to experience a new, better world? No, sadly, that’s not where we are. I can say our actions at this First Quarter draw on the energy of strong mothers, with help from great benevolent powers.
When we align our goals with the needs of people everywhere, the Moon, Jupiter, and Venus will fill our sails.
Title image is Mother and Child by Mikuláš Galanda via Europeana on Unsplash
