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The Cancer new moon draws us back into our shells
Cancer the crab. Yup, that’s me. I’m most content inside my hard shell. My tender, delectable meat needs that armored protection. I once felt too delicate to be around people, like my skin was raw and humanity would easily devour me.
My sun, Venus, and Mars are all in Cancer. As a result, it’s taken me years to venture from the safe home of my exoskeleton. Suffocating from low self-worth and crippling self-doubt, I felt most secure at home, in my bed.
Cocooning makes me happy. I do some of my best work between the sheets.
That’s the thing about our sun signs; they’re meant to be leaned into and grown through. Each sign has both shadow and light aspects. We fumble around in the darkness to uncover our brilliance. The shadow isn’t the destination. It’s the invitation. Grow or perish.
As you’ve seen me come out of my shell, you know I’ve grown out of that crushing lack of self-confidence. I’m no longer drowning in my shame-filled pool. I’ve built stronger boundaries (sans shell), greater self-worth, and the courage to be myself fully. I’m able to live in the world now, knowing the security of my bed awaits.
Tonight’s Cancer new moon is right up my alley. Following last week’s astrological reset, this week’s sky keeps our attention turned inward. Mercury remains retrograde, encouraging reflection and stirring our creativity. Neptune, also retrograde, asks us to dust off our dreams and secret desires. Venus moves through Virgo, the priestess archetype, who reconnects us with the earth and the sacred. This evening, the sun and moon unite in Cancer, drawing us into our shells.
The astrology du jour is slowing down, nurturing, and nourishing ourselves.
Cancer wants to give — over give, in fact — but first, it must learn to replenish its stores. The crab can’t keep serving itself up if the cupboards are bare. Cancer, like all the “serving others” signs: Aries, Libra, and Capricorn, must learn how to take care of themselves, as well as others. If you’re one of those signs, you’re probably gasping in horror right now, but it’s true, and you can probably feel that too. These four signs’ growth coursework includes moving from their shadow (over giving) to their light (sharing from a full cup). We know we’re better when our tanks are filled up.
So, how do you fill your cup? What do you do to replenish your stores? How do you restore your energy? This is the second week in a row to focus on what best serves you. Time to recharge, not discharge.
Cancer is learning about boundaries as a form of radical self-love. At its core, Cancer needs to discover unconditional love for itself. Then, it can share the love around.
Cancer is the mother archetype who births, grows, and nourishes her seeds to maturity. It’s impossible for her to do her job well if she’s not birthing, growing, and nourishing herself. We’ve seen the imperfect mother who projects her issues onto her young. We’re human after all. No one is at their best while running on fumes.
Same for all you “serving others” signs, your over giving just lies in different arenas.
This week, let’s seize the Cancer new moon, aligning to support self-reflection and self-love. What can you do this week to respect yourself a little better? Do you need some extra time in bed? Maybe a walk by yourself in the woods — without your phone? Perhaps taking a moment to watch the sun and moon set tonight, just breathing in and out?
Honoring ourselves is really what this new moon is asking of us.
Once a Cancer, always a Cancer, but I’ve molted my hard shell to reveal a vulnerable soft-shell delicacy beneath.
Sheridan 💫
Moon Sisters Circle, Astrologer, Life Coach, and Creator of the Astrology In Real Life Method