New Moon in Cancer
Today is a New Moon in Cancer, and at the exact minute of its peak it passed over the Sun creating a full Solar Eclipse which brought about the image of a "ring of fire" for those who could see it.
Many in the Astrology world see a Solar Eclipse as the unconscious self (the Moon) overshadowing the conscious self (the Sun). In other words, it is a time when everything that we have pushed out of our minds now comes to the forefront of our awareness as well as the all the emotions that go with those regularly subdued or ignored thoughts. Although possibly painful, the benefit of this has the potential to be immense. Karl Jung famously wrote that "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
Although we tend to think that we knowingly make many choices in our lives, the reality is that our choices in how we behave are deeply rooted in our attachments and aversions. (In Yoga these are two of the obstacles called kleshas.) When we experience pleasure, we do what we can to create a situation in which we can relive that same feeling. Likewise, when we are triggered by something because it could potentially cause us pain, our subsequent reaction is to make choices that we rightly or wrongly believe will save us from our aversion to feeling that pain once again.
In short, we're almost always reacting rather than acting from a place of clarity of choice.
This eclipse offers us the opportunity to face our old wounds and attachments so that we can free ourselves of being under their control.
As all of this is happening in the sign of Cancer, it is also a time to let go of any defenses the Ego has created around your desire to nurture and be nurtured, to hold and be held, to show and receive compassion, and to finding a sense of home and solace in our own heart.
Cancer is the sign of the Mother, and I think we could all use some good mothering right now. Sometimes this will take the form of fierce compassion, which can be a harsh rebuke for allowing ourselves to let selfishness and desire make us blind to our selfish ways. Sometimes the Mother will feel like the warm ocean that gently rocks us towards a more gracious and peaceful way. Regardless of which type of mothering we need, this divine energy is always working to nourish us from her bosom so that we might get our strength and energy through the milk of compassion.
Place the ego aside, and just feel.
Investigate and let go, instead of making attempts to rehash and relive.
Sit in the discomfort of considering that the past has been living your present so that you can recalibrate to be a wiser and more whole self.
And nourish yourself. Nourish yourself from the home of your heart with unconditional compassion and care.
loving you as always
xo Susannah
Interested in taking a deeper dive into how this plays out in your life?