Insights for Cancer

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Mercury Retrograde coming up! Get aligned! ‍ ‍

June 21
Sun enters Cancer: 04:24 AM EDT
Sun sextile Chiron
Somehow Cancer has come down to us as a moody crab who walks sideways to get where it’s going. A far better image for this sign is a beehive. Hives are full of purpose and activity. All the bees know what they are supposed to do and they feel confident and purposeful doing what they do with their queen at the center. So is Cancer the queen bee or the whole hive? I leave you to ponder this. Most importantly is to understand that this is a sign that values productivity and needs a hive to accomplish such a thing. Cancer holds the key to social organization starting with each pod, tribe or hive as the cornerstone of the larger culture. Imagine the distress of this kind of consciousness when the nuclear family appeared on the scene, full of isolating and hierarchical assumptions. It’s worth considering that the hive as a symbol of social organization is not about hierarchy as much as it is about contributing what we have toward the abundance that benefits the whole. Perhaps Cancer became withdrawn and moody because it could not accept the restrictive, cruel and impossible construct of the tiny discreet pods of dominion which families became. I imagine that the Queen bee doesn’t sit around looking lovely. She produces and reproduces more bees which any mother will tell you, takes a lot. I’m sure she doesn’t like being treated as though she and her hive were only a cog in the wheel of industry. ‍ ‍
Eachplanet that changes sign between now and September will encounter Chiron at the gate of the new territory. I find this interesting as Chiron is the gate keeper for all disciplines – the master teacher of the cosmos. In Taurus we might imagine Chiron putting their foot down firmly on Earth and asking, in the way of a master teacher, not about the world to come but about the world that is. What do you notice, or what have you learned so far, about living in the world as it is through these times of Great Changes? Circumstance has much to teach us if we are willing to learn.
As the Sun travels through Cancer this year it sextiles Chiron in its newly entered sign, squares Neptune and Saturn, and conjuncts Mercury retrograde (cazimi). If you’re considering the asteroids: The Sun will square Vesta and Pallas-Athena, which are in Aries along with Saturn and Neptune. ‍ ‍

June 25
Venus trine Saturn
Sun square Neptune
Creativity and imagination and our passion for having fun all benefit from a bit of structure as well as thoughtful consideration of who might (and might not) share your enthusiasm. Wet blankets, not welcome.‍ ‍

June 28
Mars sextile Jupiter
Mars enters Gemini
Tip your hat to any blessings you encountered since last summer. Imagine them in your knapsack, ready to support you around the bend. Who knows what’s out there? We live in a strange sandwich of time – the present at the center – past and future holding it together on the outside. Today you are nourished by a blessing sandwich, nourished by all the twists and turns that have brought you to this moment’s here and now. It’s an adventure. ‍ ‍

June 29
Full Moon: 08* Capricorn: 07:56 PM EDT
Mercury stationary retrograde
Lot’s to consider as we turn the corner and bump, head first into conditions that don’t quite make sense and possibly aren’t even trying. Cancer doesn’t like the A.I. world yet it is tasked with wanting to make the most of whatever is available. We are witness, like it or not, to the stresses and structure of the world which test us to find and respect our limits: what we can, can’t and must do. Who ever said it should it be easy? Or even that it would make sense? Perhaps we are aligned with Alice as she comments in Wonderland…

‍June 30
Jupiter enters Leo
(Mars square Nodes as they leave and enter…)
Something new here. In July the nodes will move from Pisces/Virgo to Aquarius/Leo just in time to underscore this transition.  More change puts us on edge. Leo is a sign of risk-taking. In one direction is sport in another is self-expression, creativity. Both of these require some risk. Some questions to consider: Are art and sport only for the rich? What purpose do they serve in your life? Do you favor one over the other? Why? Are you having fun yet? Is it time to ‘do my own thing’? For many of us Jupiter might signal creative ways to express ourselves, to have some fun that don’t incur debt and do invite joy. Jupiter will be quite busy as it wends its way through Leo and aspects Chiron, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Saturn, promising to show us something about how self-expression is more than useful in these times of powerful, reckless, and inevitable shift. ‍ ‍

July 1
Jupiter square Chiron
This is the culmination of a cycle that started in 2025 when Jupiter in Cancer squared Chiron in Aries. At this last square both Jupiter and Chiron have recently changed signs. We are stepping into something new even as we leave the process which brought us here. It is common to see Chiron as the wounded healer. I tend to subhead the wounding under Chiron’s great reputation for teaching. Chiron is where our propensity as humans to learn from our difficulties is pronounced. Chiron wants us (if it wants anything…) to reflect on what we learned about identity (Aries) and how that can be a resource (Taurus), going forward. Jupiter in Leo offers the challenge to use our resources creatively the way paint is a tool for an artist, languate for a writer or sound for a musician. Jupiter also teaches and guides, at its best. This square is not about two paths. There is one path (the one we are on) and it requires us to be real (Chiron in Taurus) about our actual resources as well as willing to risk (Jupiter in Leo) these resources in aid of creating this New World or New Age we are slouching toward… What they might agree upon is that all this struggle and friction could make us wise. Sooner or later. Their mission might be to put the Sapient back in Homo Sapience… ‍ ‍

July4
Mars conjunct Uranus
Mars sextile Neptune
No surprise to find Mars so active on the day of USA 250th anniversary. It’s a war story. A might-makes-right dream of domination. Toxic and riddled with cracks. But it’s also the story of idealism and a genuine awareness that the times are and will continue to change. That all humans matter equally. If not now, tell me when?.

July 5
Mars trine Pluto      
Power: Over, from within, collective, with. How we think about power has a lot to do with how we use and misuse it. What are your thoughts about power these days? Who has it, how and where they use it. There is plenty to think about regarding the uses and abuses of power. Always has been.‍ ‍

July 6  
Sun square Saturn
Our astrological forbearers considered the Sun and Saturn as enemies. If your mind works that way it’s logical: The brightest, shining-ist vs. the dimmest, farthest visible (to the naked eye) heavenly body. What if we see this square as friction? If we consider the possibility of resistance or road blocks as worthy of consideration rather than aversion? The Sun’s light can blind us. Saturn knows this and suggests we wear a hat and sunglasses. Maybe a bit of sunscreen as well. Doesn’t seem like a fight to me. A good day to remember: If it’s in the way, it is the way.

‍July 7
Neptune stationary retrograde
This energy has been hanging about since the end of May and lingers through mid-August as Neptune hovers at 4 degrees of Aries. Background noise you might say or a haze of feelings about… what? About Aries! Neptune, planet of collective consciousness, driver of the zeitgeist finds itself igniting the fire of breakthrough, break in or break up from its watery perch in the vast sea of feeling and connection (15 years in Pisces) which we share with all beings. Hard to imagine a fire starting in the depths of the watery realms. Perhaps it smolders, or it rages and vanishes. Maybe it rises up and shorts out. Unless and until another planet engages Neptune this remains in the background. On July 15th there is an exact sextile between Uranus and Neptune. Followed by a trine from Jupiter 5 days later. We are already under the influence suggesting many vital and creative ideas swimming to the surface, seeking the light, meaning to express themselves through the humans who carry them. Humans who write songs and tell stories, build culture and destroy as much as they create. Neptune appears as a great cry emanating from the collective soul of all that lives: Your impulse matters! Use it right where you are to make a difference, the kind you can make, the best way you can. There is only that. ‍ ‍

July 9
Venus enters Virgo
The ‘uppity, angry woman’ challenges the dominators. Her power is not allowed and so she is in the habit of bitching, complaining, reminding us that it’s not OK to treat women, children and nature the way we do. As Venus travels through Virgo we are asked (like it or not) to honor and make offerings to the goddess Anoia. She has wisdom for us all.

‍ July 10
Venus trine Chiron  
Anoia (Goddess of Things That Get Stuck in Drawers) offers her wisdom to us as we wrestle with the little things that bug us. It takes a mighty soul to navigate such moments with equanimity or at least awareness of how goddam annoying this world can be. Is. Might you be that kind of person?‍ ‍

July 12
Sun conjunct Mercury (Cazimi!)
Today is the precise midpoint of Mercury retrograde which is cazimi. Planets close to the Sun are said to be burned and blinded by the Sun’s light but a planet exactly conjunct the Sun is protected from the heat and the light and is said to receive special treatment. Given that Mercury is the messenger and always close to the Sun (like the court jester is always close to the king) it seems to me that this placement offers us a message, if we have the ears to hear. Whatever you have been ruminating on, today brings special insight; more subtle than flashy. A whisper rather than a shout. ‍ ‍

July 13
Venus square Uranus
We know the dangers of distraction. We also know the value of a skillful distraction when we are anxious or overwhelmed. The chaos surrounding our day-to-day matters is intense. If distraction is the thing today, be skillful in what you choose. Find something that helps you chill not something that feeds your addictions and dependencies.‍ ‍

July 14
New Moon: 21* Cancer: 05:43 AM EDT
Today’s intention setting rests on the message you received at Mercury cazimi. If there was no such thing, imagine what it would or could have been. At the New Moon we stand between the so-much-that-has happened and the even-more-that-has-yet-to-happen. Let your intention arise like morning mist on a lake, from all that you care for and about. This New Moon intention cuts to the heart of all Mercury retrograde ruminations. And the awareness that past, present and future exist all at once. What do I need? Yes. But also, How can I nourish? ‍ ‍

July 15
Uranus sextile Neptune              
When outer planets interact we are meant to pay attention to the bigger, biggest picture we can imagine. Today’s sextile looks like a combination of political and spiritual. How do YOU feel about the Vatican and A.I.? And have you considered the connection between fascism and spirituality? (Or this one.) And do you think we are at the end of everything or the transition to a new beginning? How are your ideals aligned with your soul’s purpose or/and expression?

(Keep in mind that an aspect between outer planets has a long arc of influence. Not for one day but at least for weeks if not years before and after it is exact. These powerful ones, occuring in July of 2026 remind us how important it is to learn, think and discuss the notions we have of the Big Changes we are navigating.)‍ ‍

July 18
Uranus trine Pluto  
Tectonic* shift continues as outer, slower moving planets are in aspect with each other. Right where we are we could ask ourselves the Big Questions but to some extent aren’t we kind of exhausted by the talking heads who give us Big Answers? We might consider what we think the great gifts of ingenuity and cleverness might accomplish for the Good of All that Lives. We live in a time when we must hack the hackers, scam the scammers, trick the tricksters.
(*Tectonic because outer, slow movers represent cultural shift of a massive nature.  July is chock full: Uranus and Neptune just a few days ago and Pluto and Neptune coming up on July 25th. These are indeed, interesting times. People love to quote Rousseau who said, “Civilization is a hopeless race to discover remedies for the evils it produces.” A line of thinking that didn’t seem all that productive, in the end. We need civilization. We just need to do a better job for more of us.) ‍ ‍

July 19
Mars sextile Saturn 
It’s hard to say if every cloud has a silver lining but we can definitely make hay while the sun shines. Trite truisms to live by! ‍ ‍

July 20
Jupiter trine Neptune
Jupiter opposite Pluto
Jupiter arrives on the scene like a barker at a travelling show as it aspects the outer planets who are aspecting each other. A fire of enthusiasm igniting the changes that can, must and will happen. Be inspired by art, creativity and the joy of self-expression. No need to go to war although there is a tremendously positive energy in social protest.   ‍ ‍

July 21
Jupiter sextile Uranus
It’s never too late to seize the opportunity to express your creative essence. Dance in the street, be a sign of the times, let your flag fly even as you respect and delight in the flags of others. Diversity affirms life.

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THE END

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