Last Quarter Moon in Cancer
Tension between emotional limits and spiritual growth
“Nothing in astrology indicates ‘This is so as a fact’ or ‘This will occur.’ Astrology shows us the best - because natural - way of facing any situation in terms of our own individual nature.”
- Dane Rudhyar, An Astrological Mandala: The Cycle of Transformations and its 360 Symbolic Phases
“Cancer has that crabby thing going on.” A shopkeeper said to me, as I searched for a gift and mentioned that my youngest’s birthday was coming up, and although he is a Libra Sun, he is a Cancer Rising and Cancer Moon.
I thought about the comment later, after considering the upcoming last quarter Moon in Cancer. Cancer energy has extremely high emotional intelligence, which makes people with a lot of Cancer energy realistic in nature. They see your limits when you don’t, because emotional limits often take precedence over any physical or psychological limits.
If Cancers are crabby, maybe it’s because they are biting their tongues not to say “I told you so” as they envelope you in soft blankets and feed you your favorite comfort foods after your latest job, relationship, or difficult conversation blows up in your face.
One of the themes I see in the relevant Sabian Symbols (see below) for this lunation is the theme of personal responsibility for spiritual development. Some of the dominant religions would want us to believe otherwise, as they benefit in power and/or wealth by equating religion with spirituality. And many individuals have walked away from organized religion altogether and attempted to find spirituality with a guru, Facebook group, or in an astrology post (wink wink). And of course, one can find pieces of spirituality anywhere, at any cost, from free to exorbitant.
Those avenues to spirituality may be a start, but we cannot stop there. It is up to us to expand our spiritual curriculum and self-knowledge, and then do the hard work of integrating the pieces of us which are revealed. The last quarter Moon on Monday reminds us that this work is not a discrete project. It is the work of a lifetime. The grand trine aspect formed between Venus in Virgo, Pluto in Aquarius, and Uranus in Gemini reminds us we cannot do this work sloppily, or in a vacuum. Individual spiritual growth will contribute to collective healing and spiritual growth, yet one cannot do this work without a group of supportive people.
Maybe it’s not a Catch-22. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are in the biggest, most inclusive support group ever, as we attempt to recover from learning values which undermine compassion and connection with one another, the planet, and with all beings who have come before and will come after us. Individuals are at various non-linear stages of this recovery: denial, bargaining, victim consciousness, rage, and acceptance. At various stages, individuals need their pain witnessed, need practical tactics to support healing, or need to brainstorm with others regarding how humanity will show up differently moving forward.
Mars in Scorpio makes in a trine aspect to the Moon and to the lunar North Node in Pisces at the Sabian Symbol “Children playing around five mounds of sand”. Even as we build our spiritual sense of self and the universe, we can maintain a diligent type of innocence, without drama or role-playing.
Be realistic, but don’t be crabby.
Relevant Sabian Symbols for the Last Quarter Moon in Cancer 10.13.25 2:55 AM Pacific Time
Moon. Cancer 15°/16°: A man studying a mandala in front of him, with the help of a very ancient book.
Keynote: A deep concern with problems raised by the process of personality integration.
Sun. Libra 15°/16°: After a storm a boat landing stands in need of reconstruction.
Keynote: The need to keep in operation steady links between the vast unconscious and the ego-consciousness.
Mars. Scorpio 14°/15°: Children playing around five mounds of sand.
Keynote: Early steps in the development of a mind seeking to be attuned to the higher level of human evolution.
North Node. Pisces 17°/18°: In a gigantic tent, villagers witness a spectacular performance.
Keynote: The collective appeal of a well-staged and exciting display of skill and/or oratory.
Venus. 29°/30° Virgo: Totally intent upon completing an immediate task, a man is deaf to any allurement.
Keynote: The total concentration required for reaching any spiritual goal.
For your consideration, the tarot cards and haiku which came for each Zodiac sign.
Aries. Page of Cups.
I choose to dream big
Although I may take small steps
To go unnoticed
Taurus. VIII of Pentacles.
Each choice matters now
As my project nears the end
With care, it takes shape
Gemini. Knight of Swords.
Move with certainty
Toward meaningful choices
Engage in the work
Cancer. Page of Swords.
They call me fickle
It’s safer not to attach
Than to choose poorly
Leo. VIII of Wands.
Memories fly past
Best to avoid those old traps
So energy moves
Virgo. VIII of Swords.
Tangled in drama
I can choose to walk away
And finally learn
Libra. XIV Temperance.
Embrace mystery
When the numbers don’t add up
Instead, solve for one
Scorpio. VI of Cups.
I used to thrive here
Now the truth makes me itchy
Salvage what you can
Sagittarius. VII of Wands.
I’m energized now
This work chose me from my birth
I crawl, walk, then run
Capricorn. VII The Chariot.
I crave direction
Even when I don’t choose it
So I don’t get lost
Aquarius. X of Cups.
It’s fragile, this peace
I close my eyes and feel it
Leave the world behind
Pisces. III of Swords.
It slips through my hands
The fairy tale I dreamed of
Now my story starts
As always, I would love to hear whether anything resonates!
I am taking a break from recording the audio to accompany my posts, because I am trying out something different for my podcast. For the last several months, I have been simply taking my Substack audios and loading them into the podcast players, but I realize I want the freedom to be more conversational so that I may explore how the astrological energy is interacting with us for the longer term.
If that interests you, feel free to check out Maria Luz’s Conscious Curiosities wherever you listen to podcasts.
If you are in the Seattle area, book in advance or drop in on a Thursday or Saturday at West Coast Willow Apothecary in West Seattle. You can see pictures and read about this special shop in this blog post, written by the talented photographer Dawndra, who collaborated with us this summer!
With love,
🦋 Maria Luz
You may enjoy this post from the archives
Wow. This is so great!!! I had to share it. And I read it to my husband. ☺️
Maria, I love this. “Nothing in astrology indicates ‘This is so as a fact’ or ‘This will occur.’ Astrology shows us the best - because natural - way of facing any situation in terms of our own individual nature.” Thank you. (For some of us, it takes a while to figure out what that real, "individual" nature actually is.🤔)