The Waters of Life – Cancer

Resetting ourselves in the depths of Cancer energy is vital for our capacity to ‘tune in.’ yet we can’t ignore the echoes of the Capricorn Full Moon, which are strongly reiterated by Saturn’s two-year transit through Pisces (see my Hunger Moon post). Herein we have a difficult paradox to balance – the pull to immerse in the deep well of Being that Water energy calls us to, vs. the need to uphold “real life” roles and responsibilities, the Doing, that practical Earth energy demands. In other words, we are called to balance the feminine and masculine ways of meeting life, in a form of sacred marriage, which is also part of the Cancer-Capricorn polarity.

At its best, we integrate the two styles of living, infusing our earthly roles with the fruits of inward journeying, of connection to Oneness, and use Saturn’s skillfulness at creating intentions and rhythmic frameworks to access and make good use of our non-linear dives into experiencing. 

Pisces is the last water sign, and Cancer, the first. For further emphasis of our theme, we have Pluto, the modern ruler of the middle (and very deep) water sign, Scorpio, retrograding back through Capricorn until January, asking us to remember and review the Capricorn arena one final time. This Pluto retrograde further pairs the subterranean water impulse with the worldly structures of Capricorn.

While challenging, as all integration work is, ultimately we are called at this time of Pluto Rx (until October 11) to complete a deep inner review, so that we may gain clarity on parts of our life and ways of operating that no longer serve who we are Now, and rededicate our outer life pursuits to the end of living more fully and truthfully.

Further ratcheting up the water element vibe is the fact that archetypal Dreamweaver Neptune is in Pisces, where it will stay until March 2025, when it makes its first foray into Aries. But until then, we have this planet in its naturally ruled sign of Pisces now travelling retrograde for the next five months. This puts even more emphasis on all I’ve said about the introspective work of Water energy, as retrogrades always draw us further inwards with the energy involved.

We have a heightened opportunity to drink deeply through nature immersion, meditation, creativity, and music, while also being more prone to wanting to ‘escape’ the worldly realm through addictive habits. Knowing this helps – we may choose to give in to our indulgences without too much guilt, knowing ‘it’s just a strong Neptune right now’! And,with Saturn in Pisces as well, there is less risk that we would throw all caution to the wind, as Saturn nudges us to apply boundaries or moderation around our guilty pleasures! But we must always beware, with Neptune/Pisces energy, not to fall prey to delusions, dreams, and illusions that have no practical chance of landing, and be careful not to invest too much in the sand castles we may build at this summer’s shoreline!

A practical astrological note: the transits in the sky (especially Sun and Moon signs) influence us to a degree regardless of where they fall in our charts, but Pluto Rx will more significantly affect those of us with planets in the late degrees of Capricorn and the other Cardinal signs, Neptune Rx will more personally touch those with planets around 27 degrees of PIsces or the other Mutable signs, and the transit of Saturn through Pisces will affect the House ruled by Pisces in our charts. An astrology counseling session would help personalize all of these movements so that one can make best use of the energies.