Welcome to Sun in Cancer, 2015. Happy solar return to those with Sun in Cancer, including myself! If you have Sun, ascendant, or other features in your natal chart emphasizing the Cancer sign, one of your influential planets is the Moon. The Moon symbolizes the primary emotional need in the chart/personality (very succinctly, if you know your Moon sign, this starts the ball rolling: [Moon in] Aries/initiation; Taurus/material security; Gemini/gather information; Cancer/emotional security; Leo/self-expression; Virgo/analysis; Libra/balancing; Scorpio/transformation; Sagittarius/exploration; Capricorn/achievement; Aquarius/be unique; Pisces/seeking the source). The Moon is the inner unconscious part of ourselves around which the ego/Sun operates. While it’s very powerful (note that Sun and Moon are the same sized disk in the sky from our perspective), we aren’t normally cognizant of it. It bubbles up occasionally into the consciousness, through our daily habits, and when emotions are expressed.
Currently, three of the “Great Eight” (Transneptunians) are in the Cancer sign. That itself is extraordinary! Watch for that powerful Sun crossing over the three this month. Sun, the core of the solar system, in unity with various points/planets, tends to produce the strongest or most observable effect, speaking anecdotally. While I always try to look towards the more productive use of the energies in the heavens, June 24 to 26 might be more of a day for pulling the covers over your head every morning! This is obviously impractical, but rest and reflection is in order on those days. Hades is about grim reality, so that alone has value, albeit disquieting. Also watch for past life contacts surfacing on those days. The idea of past lives has intrigued me, since I began thinking about that concept.
Sun-Kronos (June 29 to July 1) is a rather somber conjunction, but has its opportunities. Showing leadership, responding to formal authority (police officers, military, politicians, the government, executives and high-level managers), and using your specialized knowledge and skills are powerful themes on those days. We are all authorities in some way, based on natural talents and accumulated knowledge. In our hyper-specialized economy, late June this year is an awesome opportunity to become conscious (Sun) of how to develop and use our specialties.
Sun conjuncts Vulcanus right before he (Sun) leaves the Cancer sign, July 20 to July 22. I like to think of Vulcanus in Cancer as a mother bear or the strength of a dam holding back a huge lake. Vulcanus is powerful and meshes well with the vitality of the Sun. Activities requiring sustained strength are favorable on those days. Vulcanus can also have a compelling quality.
The nicest of conjunctions, Venus conjunct Jupiter, lasts throughout the entire month. Venus changes signs on July 18, mixing up the flavor of the conjunction a bit. (For example, Venus is more muted in Virgo than Leo, and Jupiter’s characteristics become more dominant.) If any planetary combination beats ease mixed with abundance, I would love to know about that! Saturn will do his duty of providing structure within Venus and Jupiter’s influence, with a strong square forming to the two. This can be fortunate, as a more moderate manifestation of Venus and Jupiter might prevent excesses (I like to think of Jupiter-Saturn, for example, as “controlled expansion” or “slow growth”). Venus square Saturn is always tough. This is somewhat ameliorated when Venus not longer squares Saturn by sign at the end of the month. Speaking of Saturn, he aspects Apollon, Vulcanus, and Admetos (Transneptunians) throughout the month. Most notable, perhaps, is Saturn opposite the earthy Admetos. Both planets’ glyphs contain the cross of matter. Saturn-Admetos suggests an opportunity to use discipline and authority, and implement persistent and focused efforts towards accomplishing goals. Along with Sun in Cancer, it seems that several influences in the transits are emphasizing the past this month. As we move forward with Sun in the first watery sign of the zodiac, it seems that the heavens are prompting us to look in the rear view mirror at the same time.
Let’s see what else the heavens portend for this month.
Finance
The topic of finance is not an inappropriate way to start the discussion with Sun entering Cancer. As I write this the markets appear optimistic about the Greece situation. (Venus-Jupiter are trining Vesta, widely, but by sign, for those interested in financial astrology. Jupiter is also making a subtle aspect to Chiron. Also of interest, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto are all retrograde. I do not suggest making inferences regarding my observations because I don’t specialize in financial astrology, but these features in the transits appear to be consistent with the favorable reaction in the markets today.) The Fed is hinting at only one rate increase this year. Or something like that! Janet Yellen reminds me of a slightly more talkative Alan Greenspan. I thought it was fascinating when she quickly retorted that the Fed should remain independent when she was asked about it being audited.
More personally, I like Sun in Cancer for collecting items that you enjoy. As a Sun in Cancer (and Mercury in Cancer) I cling to “things” that I like to collect. Nothing is wrong with learning about the market for items you enjoy collecting and perhaps occasionally making a profit from them. This Sun in Cancer transit is generally favorable for buying large ticket items, or at least not generally unfavorable. Mercury will enter the Cancer sign on July 8, and I really like Mercury in Gemini for gathering information and networking in order to be fully informed about large purchases. Before July 8 is favorable for gathering information regarding big-ticket items you might want to buy, and after July 8 looks reasonably good for actually buying them. In particular, buying a home or items that you want or need for your home seems good after July 8. Moon will be in Cancer on July 14 and July 15, along with Sun-Mercury-Mars. That is a powerful stellium in the Moon’s sign…I would definitely suggest fine-tuning the timing, however, Venus and Jupiter will be closely conjunct at the end of Leo on those days, with Venus aspecting Apollon and Jupiter aspecting Cupido. I’m not sure I remember such a propitious time for buying what you want or need, that I’ve mentioned in one of my newsletters. Sun in Cancer, focusing consciously on emotional security needs, is an opportunity to evaluate how to make yourself more secure through finances.
Career
Considering career, work, and the monetary gains and benefits received from an employer (or clients) in exchange for your labor is also a salient topic with Sun in Cancer. The planets in the Cancer sign, starting with Sun, will oppose Pluto in Capricorn at varying times throughout the month. Pluto is heavily involved with Saturn in Scorpio these days (due to their mutual reception, that is, each planet in the other’s home sign). Tension with the powerful Pluto this month can be stressful, but also has potential for extra earnings or building up your power base at work. With both Saturn and Pluto retrograde, and based on the mutual reception, I have the impression that those in the upper echelons of companies are very far behind the scenes. But they’re definitely still pulling levers and pushing buttons! Those who are able to intuit what is going on behind the scenes, or keep an ear to the ground, might benefit.
Conflict based on fuzzy communication emerges as a theme at the beginning of the month, but that problem quickly clears up as Mercury moves out of orb of a square with Neptune. July 1 and after is better for avoiding misunderstandings in communication, but also be aware of creative potential in writing or speaking before July hits. Efforts made before July 1 have potential for generating creative solutions through using logic and step-by-step problem solving. Venus – collaboration – has potential for prompting expansion this month through the conjunction to Jupiter. However, I have thought that Venus in Leo tends to be more independent. Functioning independently under the umbrella of a solid team probably works best this month, until Venus enters Virgo. Venus in Virgo has potential at work – cooperation combined with paying attention to details, dedication to work, etc. Mars is more out of place in the Cancer sign, in his fall, but he is still Mars. While emotions might heat up inside or outside of work, placating coworkers by appealing to security needs is one way to help smooth over tense situations. Uranus in the transits this month offers the opportunity to be spontaneous in group interactions, generate ideas, and experience flashes of insight when energy is applied to solving problems. Particularly nice days for using the mind include July 1 to July 3, especially in a collaborative manner. Mercury starts to square his tutor, Uranus, on July 14 and through the end of the zodiacal month (July 22), useful for combining logic with flashes of insight. Mercury-Uranus tends to start with a series of steps to solve a problem and then at some point skip to the end, which is the solution. That is my direct experience with Mercury-Uranus square natally. (I do not mean to suggest this happens 100% of the time! lol)
Saturn’s aspects to Apollon, Vulcanus, and Admetos might also be useful in career and at work. Responding well to structure this month contains potential for using endurance and stamina in projects, bringing intense, mighty force to actions, and expanding and multiplying efforts. Earthy authority, leadership, and gaining leverage based on your specialty is promising when Mars conjuncts Kronos this month (July 5 to July 8) and when Mercury conjuncts Kronos (July 12 to July 14, but the strongest day is July 13).
Relationships
Relationships have a greater emphasis on the family and home environment with Sun in the Moon’s sign. With Venus in Leo for most of the month, relationships also have an element of independence tending to surface, however, they might also center more around children and romance. Juno changes signs from Leo to Virgo this month. The sign change is significant, and perhaps just as significant, Juno basically escapes a conjunction with Jupiter and Venus. The Jupiter-Juno conjunction has lasted quite a while. Close relationships certainly can always have a sense of abundance, but it will be some time before the heavens are so direct regarding abundance in close relationships. Thus, enjoy a last chance to experience Jupiter-Juno’s blessings before June 30. Close relationships after June 30 will center more around work and service, and using analysis and a focus on details as a basis for interaction between two people in a close relationship. Juno aspects Hades from July 10 to July 15…many possibilities are in the cards with this pair. One card to be aware of, so to speak, is muck from the past surfacing in a close relationship. On the brighter side, a person could have cathartic experiences via a close relationship or find out more about past life influences with a close partner. Hades encourages a brutally honest look at reality. While this might be very uncomfortable, it has its benefits.
The Hades influence is mitigated a bit by Jupiter aspecting Cupido (Transneptunian). Experience abundance, growth, and optimism in marriage, extended family, and through your “clan” for an extended time, from July 9 to the end of the month (July 22). Sun aspecting Cupido from July 15 to July 17 strengthens the Jupiter-Cupido theme for a short time. Socializing, looking sharp, and being together with friends and family is an extended theme in the second half of this month and elevated from July 15 to 17.
Overall, despite a few rough patches this month, relationships tend to be satisfying and productive.
Spirituality
Neptune and Poseidon (Transneptunian) do not form a trine this month and will not for a while. However, they will again, and in the meantime Sun, Mars, and Mercury will all aspect Neptune and Poseidon at the same time, at varying times this month. Sun aspecting the two is favorable for conscious spiritual insight. Mars aspecting Neptune and Poseidon symbolizes “spiritual energy” and Mercury in aspect to Neptune and Poseidon, “spiritual thought”. Sun will aspect Poseidon (and also form a strong trine to Neptune) from July 1 to July 3. Those are days for considering your personal role in the spiritual realm. This is very abstract and depends on your individual perceptions, but I think that’s the idea. The outlet for the approximate watery grand trine is Pluto, suggesting that transformation, change, and developing power can be one prominent result of consciously expressing and practicing spirituality on those days. Any of the earth signs around 10 degrees of the signs is an outlet for the grand trine. Being grounded, stable, and practical, therefore, is an effective way to work with the watery energies on those days. Mars creates a similar theme, forming trines to both Neptune and Poseidon, from July 8 to July 11. Mars symbolizes ambition and will. While this doesn’t have to be inconsistent with spiritual ideas, it might create a paradox on those days to work with. (I have never thougth of spiritual development as a competition, even as a competition with one’s self.) The quick Mercury creates a watery grand trine, basically, with Neptune and Poseidon on July 13. Using the mind to touch spirit is a salient theme on that day.
Neptune and Poseidon have potential in a more mundane sense. For example, creatively finding ways to reach large numbers of people on the various days, to make yourself known (Sun), be convincing (Mars), and expressing ideas (Mercury) works well with Neptune and Poseidon.
Kronos (Transneptunian) is trine with Neptune for most of the month. I expect that prominent religious figures will be in the news more often than usual (Pope Francis is actually early in this regard, this month). If you have a specialty at work or otherwise that involves creativity, this is your month to take your aspirations regarding your creative specialty to a new level. Recall the Poseidon influence this month! Some question about who is “in charge” might crop up this month in various situations, with Neptune aspecting Kronos. This can be very bad news with Saturn and Pluto in mutual reception. Being very sure that actions are consistent with what authority figures want is wise this month, to digress a bit from the spirituality topic.
Cancer is a cardinal/initiating sign. Four of the five personal planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, and as always the speedy Moon) change signs this month. Starting new projects and creating new goals, from a solid home base, while adjusting to various changes, is an overarching theme. Those who work with the energies of the transits have a decent chance of prospering, and enjoying the efforts of what is produced this month.
That is my assessment for this month. You can follow my weekly horoscope if you wish, on Facebook. It appears on two Facebook pages, Cosmic Intelligence Agency and Galactic Free Press (and I highly recommend ‘liking’ both of these outstandingly good pages). I am also looking to publish what I think is an interesting and cogent article about da Vinci’s Last Supper painting and the zodiac. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Happy solar return to friends with Sun in Cancer and see you next month. Mike
Disclaimer: please consult the appropriate professional in regards to any area of your life discussed in this horoscope, as it is not intended to replace them. This is for entertainment purposes only and contains the personal opinions of the writer. Offense to any reader is unintentional. Any problem or protest with the newsletter or the opinions of the author should be relayed to triplewaterastrology@yahoo.com.
