Cancer and Leo
July 1, 2009
Cancer
On the year’s longest day we enter the emotional waters of Cancer the Crab, the sign of the mother, the motherland, and our Mother Earth. In the beginning was the Word, but also the Mother, the cosmic womb from which all life springs.
Cancers are the protective nurturers of new life and the family. Their sign, the first water sign, is at the bottom of the zodiac wheel, linking them with ancestors and family roots. This powerful angular sign addresses the importance of home, family, and comfortable surroundings.
The Moon is Cancer’s ruling planet. Forever waxing and waning, the changeable Moon is the appropriate ruler of this emotional, moody, and very feminine sign. Cancer natives are soft on the inside though you may not notice because, like their totem Crab, their exteriors are hard. Those born with Cancer rising often look like crabs with moon faces, long limbs and large hands and feet.
Moon children have strong intuition, almost a sixth sense. Many psychics are strong in Cancer as water is the most receptive of the elements. A highly protective sign, Cancer is loyal to its own. A sign deeply linked to the past, Cancer likes history and antiques. A caring, nurturing energy, Cancer like to cook and feed others. Cancer rules the beginning and end of life as well as the vulnerable, so it is the natural realm of babies and old people.
America, born on the 4th of July, is a Cancer herself. Like other Crabs, she is mothering, territorial, and emotionally immature. We Americans love our homes, our flag, and our apple pie, all ruled by Cancer. The high level of patriotism found in America could be expected since Cancer rules patriotism and the mother land.
In America’s chart, big Jupiter and sweet Venus sit close to our Sun, bestowing great good fortune. However, the shadow side of this celestial cluster is obesity, over-mothering, and the super-sizing of everything. Pluto now opposes our Venus and Jupiter demanding a restructuring of our values.
In the body, Cancer rules the vulnerable and nurturing parts: the stomach and the breasts. Cancers are prone to digestive problems. Their oversensitivity makes them unable to “stomach” situations that don’t bother their tougher brothers. The Crab can become bloated if he doesn’t feel his feelings. Women who over-mother or those resentful of the burden of mothering or of their inability to have children could have breast problems.
Stay sharp and alert the first six days of July as Mars squares Jupiter and Neptune on the 6th influencing the 4th of July week-end. As astrologer Lance Ferguson reminds us, Mars is impatient and fool-hardy and he rules fireworks, guns, and anger. Since Neptune rules water and also drugs and alcohol, be sure to watch the kids at the pool or lake parties. Accidents could happen under these aspects if you’re not alert. The skywatch improves after the 7th .
Good days this month for purchases and beginnings are the 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 26th, and 27th. The 20th is especially good for housecleaning. Be careful of errors and confusion in your financial transactions in late July as Venus squares Saturn and Uranus.
The Full Capricorn Moon on July 7th is a lunar eclipse, a time to end situations and relationships that no longer serve. Beware of shame and blame (Capricorn shadows) and moodiness and over-indulgence (Cancer shadows).
The New Moon on July 21st is a total solar eclipse. Plant seeds and initiate plans now. This is also the second Cancer New Moon this year, emphasizing the importance of the feminine. Focus on creative nurturing and the protection of life.
Leo
In late July, the fiery Lion begins his rule, warming and brightening our hemisphere. The Sun is his lord and Leo shines accordingly, lighting up the zodiac. The Lion’s days are July 23 – August 22. When you compare the power of the Sun to anything else in our Solar System, you see why Leo is considered by most astrologers to be the most powerful sign.
Leo is the second fire sign. The spark of life ignited in Aries has grown to its full loving force in this majestic sign. Since Leo is ruled by the Sun, it is the most creative of all the signs. Love and fun radiate from the Lion who loves to entertain. The child is strong in Leo, the life of the party who brightens the space with his sunshine self.
Love pours forth from the heart of the Lion, making Leo the most loving of the signs. But when Leo’s love is not received or appreciated, the Lion pouts and wilts. And many of us get tired of our Leo friends telling us how great they are. The Leo style is big and loud too, sometimes offending the more gentle and conservative amongst us.
Because of the commanding power of this sign, many leaders, good (Bill Clinton) and bad (Mussolini and Milosevic), are Leos. Because of the Lion’s need for attention and because they glow in the limelight, Leos are often actors, entertainers, and superstars (Mick Jagger, Madonna, Magic Johnson). And because Regulus, the royal star, is in the heart of the Lion, Leos often possess a regal quality, making them the true kings of the human jungle. The bigger-than-life people (Jackie Onassis, Arnold Schwarzenegger) are born here. Our president, Barack Obama—couldn’t you guess—is a Leo, born August 4, 1961.
It’s probably no surprise that Leo rules the heart, center of love and the spinal column, center of courage. Leo reminds us that giving and receiving love are the mainstays of a healthy heart and the healers of a broken heart. The Lion gives us the courage to stand up for our convictions, keeping our backs strong.
This August is a month full of conflict as Mars squares Mercury, Saturn, and Uranus and opposes Pluto at month’s end. Astrologer Lance Ferguson warns that small problems could turn serious fast. Attend to details this month, especially around health issues, cars, and pets before Mercury turns retrograde early in September. The best days for purchases and new beginnings are the 3rd, 6th, 7th, 11th (a. m.), 12th, and 23rd. Use extreme caution the 10th, 18th, 25th, and 26th, some of this year’s most difficult days so far.
The Full Moon this month on August 5th is in Aquarius, the sign of brotherhood. The Moon joins Jupiter and Neptune here, amping up our awareness that we are all one. Creative insights occur. However Mars is approaching a hard aspect to Saturn, so watch for accidents. And be careful of caustic criticism and harsh words coming your way, or worse, coming from you towards others.
The New Leo Moon of August 20th is at the last degree of Leo, the Sabian symbol of the unsealed envelope. This lunation opposes the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction and issues a mandate to share the messages we have received. Mars squaring Mercury and Uranus is part of the picture, so channel your innovative and exciting thinking into positive creativity or violent arguments or worse could be your experience. Holding onto out-dated thinking is not a good thing. Heed Leo’s message to open your heart.
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