New Moon in Cancer & first eclipse of the season!

Eclipse SeasonTonight: Solar Eclipse New Moon @ 20 Cancer at 7:48pm Pacific

First the jargon: It’s a partial eclipse, not viewable from North America, and happens at the same time that the Moon goes Void of Course. Mars is conjunct the South Node. The Moon is exactly opposite Pluto in Capricorn. There is a Water Grand Trine (Jupiter in Scorpio 13º, Sun/Moon in Cancer 20º, Neptune in Pisces 16º) and an Earth Grand Trine (Saturn in Capricorn 4º, Venus in Virgo 3º, Uranus in Taurus 2º).

Let’s unravel that.

In a solar eclipse, the light of the Sun (outward facing self, large scale, global, consciousness, rational self) is blocked for a time by the moon (emotions, inner self, subconscious), and then revealed again. Introspection is stronger than during a typical New Moon, and revelations are strongly indicated. Because the Moon replaces the Sun temporarily, it also increases in power, which means that any New Moon work will be more powerful.

This is only the first (of three) eclipses of this eclipse season, so the following events may dramatically shift the long-term results of this.

New Moons are thresholds. They’re good for refocusing and setting intentions. The New Moon is in Cancer, which is ruled by the Moon. So she’s home. Cancer is the sign of home, mother, nurturing, and family, and is strongly tied to the emotions. The Sun and Jupiter (expansiveness and growth) are in Cancer as well.

According to Dorothy Oja, “The Void-of-course (VOC) Moon is a kind of limbo. As it reaches the end of a sign, the Moon makes no major aspect to another planet before it enters the next sign. VOC is best for less outcome-oriented activity, since VOC often means detours, distractions, drifting, or delays. If you want specific outcomes, or if timeliness is critical, don’t use a VOC Moon time. VOC is best for processing, imagining, creating, and open-ended activities, like parties, research, or cleaning your desk/closet for instance! It is said that when a new action is initiated during VOC, “nothing will come of it,” or energies go in unplanned directions, which may not necessarily be negative.”

When you combine the New Moon with the VoC energy, it becomes important to process before you set your goals. What’s working? What’s not?

The South Node represents what we have brought forward from the past and what we are evolving beyond. Mars is about action. You may find yourself cutting away things from the past that no longer serve you.

Pluto is about our shadow self, and shows us where we are not in control. Saturn is about rules and structure. Both are in Capricorn, the sign of hard work, logic, and the material. It’s time to make friends with your shadow self and to incorporate it into your structure. It will likely not be easy, otherwise everyone would be doing it…

Both of the Grand Trines are in elements with feminine energy; the feminine is about receptivity, but also boundaries. A “grand trine symbolizes earned, special advantages to be enjoyed in this life in the element common to the three planets. Trines indicate a harmonious flow of energy, the potential for creative self-expression, or blessings, gifts and talents related to the planets and houses involved” (from MyAstrologyBook). Neptune, the only planet in the Water trine we haven’t discussed yet, rules spirituality and subtle energies. Venus, in the Earth trine, rules love and money (which tend to be earthy energies anyway). I tend to associate Uranus, also in the Earth trine, with revolution and sweeping changes.

Do some assessment this evening. What in your life is working and what isn’t? Where are you ready for change? Are your affairs in order, or do they need cleaning up? What are you ready to let go of? What should you let go of even if you don’t want to? And how do you want your life to look and feel in 6 months?

Set those goals and intentions. Not a bad idea to start on the planning, either, although you’ll have time for that later this month when Mercury goes retrograde. Look for some interesting revelations and changes in the news, as well, although I don’t know if we’ll be able to tell the difference at this point.

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