Astral Weeks for July 22-28, 2018

Astral Weeks

July 22-28

Sunday, July 22^nd sees a lot of movement as the Sun at the final degree of Cancer moves into Leo at 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern / 12am (Monday) Israel time. The day starts out with the Moon in Scorpio, but by mid-afternoon and early evening in the US and early morning hours in Israel, the Moon has moved into Sagittarius. We start the day with Water/Water energy and end it with Fire/Fire.

Venus in Virgo sextiles Jupiter in Scorpio, expanding the capacity for deeply analytical introspection which is just about what the doctor ordered as today is the Fast of Tisha b’Av, commemorating the destruction of both the first and second Temples in Jerusalem as well as other devastating historic calamities which befell the Jewish people. 

Morning is the best time to look inward and perform an extremely thorough, if not ruthless, moral inventory. By evening it’s time to forgive yourself and others and re-calibrate your inner compass to your own True North. Those who have not yet discovered the location of either their own inner compass or their own True North are left at the mercy of the direction and opinions of others. 

By Monday, you’ll be so glad Sunday is over you’ll just be grateful to take a deep breath and exhale. The Moon enters Capricorn on Tuesday, shortly after Venus in Virgo opposes Neptune in Pisces. Neptune is sometimes called the “higher octave” of Venus, and this opposition tests Virgo’s practicality against Neptune’s idealism (read: fantasy). It may be beautiful, but is it useful? Moon in Capricorn comes down squarely on the side of material manifestation. 

Wednesday the Sun in Leo squares Uranus in Taurus. Leo/Taurus is a “power square” (the two signs are at a 90-degree angle). Queen Elizabeth II and Barbara Streisand are both Taurus Sun / Leo Moon. and Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton are both Leo Sun / Taurus Moon. Fixed Earth Taurus is indicative of wealth, stability, and status-quo, while Fixed Fire Leo is pride, royalty, and a dramatic/theatrical flavor. Uranus is the planet of instability, unpredictability, originality, and erratic behavior. In Taurus, Uranus brings disruptive change to the status quo. Squared to the Sun in Leo, this may be a challenge to existing leadership. Communicative Mercury stations Retrograde late Wednesday / early Thursday morning at 23 degrees Leo, making an uncomfortable Quincunx (150-degree angle) to power-player Pluto in Capricorn. The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing – in this case, the right side of the mouth doesn’t know what the left side is saying. 

Thursday might be the best day of the year to take a temporary vow of silence, maybe just until Friday, which starts out with Sun in Leo opposite Mars in Aquarius in the wee small hours, followed by the Lunar Eclipse / Full Moon at 4 degrees Aquarius. 

The Lunar Eclipse / Full Moon is the longest (104 minutes total) of the 21^st Century. Retrograde Mars in Aquarius conjunct the eclipsed Moon fuels the moral indignation and public passions of “the people.”  Mercury Retrograde in Leo will surely roar when pride is wounded, or gravitas offended. Fresh on the heels of Wednesday’s Sun/Uranus square, likely manifestations are rebellion, revolution, and revulsion against perceived threats to personal and corporate freedoms. Soundtrack? “Blows Against the Empire” by Paul Kantner and the Jefferson Starship. Play it loud. This will NOT be a quiet day for anyone. 

Friday is also Tu b’Av (the 15^th of the Hebrew month of Av). The Mishna in Ta’anit 4 tells us: “There were no better (i.e. happier) days for the people of Israel than the Fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur, since on these days the daughters of Israel/Jerusalem go out dressed in white and dance in the vineyards. What were they saying: Young man, consider whom you choose (to be your wife)?” The Mishna continues: “On those days, the daughters of Jerusalem would wear borrowed white dresses -- everyone would borrow someone else's dress, to not embarrass someone who didn't have one -- and dance in the vineyards.” The Talmud in Ta’anit 30:b fills in some of the backstory, telling us that “tribes of Israel were permitted to mingle with each other.” Men from every tribe were free to marry women from other tribes after the restoration of Benjamin after Israel’s civil war (Judges 21). 

The democratization of the daughters of Israel (Moon in Aquarius) who borrowed white clothing from one another so that none would be embarrassed by her poverty while dancing in the vineyards under the full moon (Leo), on display for potential husbands from various tribes is a perfect symbolic antidote to Friday’s frenetic energy.

Just in time, Shabbos Nachamu begins Friday night. We’ll read Parshat Va’etchanan on Saturday, hear the repetition of the 10 Commandments, and during the Haftarah, the magnificent verses of Isaiah: Nachamu, Nachamu Ami (Comfort ye, Comfort ye my people) will lift our souls and revive our sagging spirits if the rough-and-tumble celestial energies of this week have left us feeling forlorn or just plain worn-out. 

A Deeper Look into Friday’s Full Lunar Eclipse

Friday’s lunar eclipse occurs at a very sensitive point (4 Aquarius), within a -3-degree orb of the upcoming Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction at zero degrees Aquarius in December 2020. This is important because in classical astrology, the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction above is thought to reflect changes in religion below. The role of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in world history as understood by the great 8^th century Persian astrologer Abu Ma’shar was brought into medieval Jewish thought by 11^th century Spanish commentator Abraham Bar Hiyya, who emphasized the religious implications of this transit in historical astrology.  

 Important: This Friday’s lunar eclipse is the energetic prequel to the Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction of December 20-24, 2020, which itself is preceded on December 14, 2020 by a Solar Eclipse at 23 degrees Sagittarius – the companion Solar Eclipse to the Lunar Eclipse of June 14, 1946: the day Donald J. Trump was born. 

Yes, let that sink in. Trump was born on the Lunar Eclipse of June 14, 1946. The Sun in Gemini at 23 Degrees opposite and eclipsing the Moon in Sagittarius at 23 Degrees. During the Solar Eclipse of December 14, 2020, the Moon at 23 degrees Sagittarius will eclipse the Sun at the same degree. Bookends? Portends of a parenthetical beginning and ending? The Full Lunar Eclipse this Friday, July 27, 2018, is the kick-off which climaxes in December 2020 – six weeks minus one day after the Presidential Election on November 3^rd, 2020. 

The greatest conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter, the conjunction maxima, (Hebrew: ha-dibbuq ha-gadol), was thought by medieval Jewish astrologers to be the indication of new religions ascending to prominence. Bar Hiyya links the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Aquarius and Pisces to the emergence and re-emergence of Israel, just as he associates the conjunction of the two planets in Virgo/Libra to portend the birth of Christianity and the conjunction in Scorpio to signal the birth of Islam. 

Bar Hiyya explicitly associates the dibbuq ha-gadol with messianic expectations in his Megillat ha-Megalleh. Yehudah ben Nissim ibn Malka (13^th century Morocco) and Abraham Zacuto (14^th century Portugal) both wrote about the conjunction maxima as a prophetic messianic portent. Friday’s Full Lunar Eclipse at 4 Aquarius as a kick-off to the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction at zero Aquarius in December 2020 escalates the global and ever-growing sense of urgency underscoring the common understanding that a profound change of some sort must happen and happen soon. 

May we only hear good news, and may the One Who created the heavens and the earth and everything else imbue us with mercy, grace, and love for one another and for ourselves.

Chodesh Menachem Av Tov!

"Aryeh," Leo the Lion, 6th Century Beit Alfa Synagogue, Israel

The Hebrew Month of Av, which runs from July 13 through August 10^th this year, contains both the depths and the heights of the spiritual/emotional energies of the Jewish Year. Our motto this month should be: "When they go low, we go high!"

The Sun is the planetary ruler of Chodesh Av and the Zodiac Sign of Leo, the Fixed Fire Sign, is as fiery as its solar ruler and can roar with both exaltation and indignation like the aryeh, lion (Leo) for which it is named. Proud and passionate, charismatic and dramatic, natural leaders with built-in “star power,” Leo is the king/queen of the jungle. Bask in Leo’s warmth, protection, generosity, and loyalty or suffer the wrath of outraged royalty if you dare!

The month of Av is associated with the Tribe of Shimon, whose flag is decorated with the gates of Shechem, where Shimon and his brother Levi wiped out the entire city in revenge for the kidnap and rape of their sister Dinah. 

Shimon’s murderous rage reflects Leo’s loyalty and protectiveness towards those they feel responsible for. For naturally noble Leo, noblesse oblige IS “tikkun olam.” Who or what would YOU burn to the ground to protect and defend those nearest and dearest to you? That's Leo's energy when aroused.

The constricted “bein hametzarim” (between the narrow straits) energy of the month between Rosh Chodesh Av and Tisha b’Av takes an abrupt upswing after the 10^th of Av, culminating on Tu b’Av, which is the Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse on July 27^th. 

The month of Av is often refered to as "Menachem Av," especially after Tisha b'Av is behind us and Tu b'Av is upon us. "Menachem" means to comfort, and comfort is what the warm, generous, loving heart of Leo does best. 

July 28th is “Shabbat Nachamu,” the Shabbat in which the Haftarah from Isaiah 40 is read, beginning “Nachamu, Nachamu, Ami,” “Be comforted, Be comforted, My People,” is read.This comes right on the heels of Tu b'Av, which our tradition tells us is one of the two most joyous days of the year.   

“Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: There were no days more joyous than the 15th of Av (Tu b'Av) and Yom Kippur, for on those days the daughters of Jerusalem would go out in borrowed white clothing, in order not to embarrass those who did not have...and the daughters of Jerusalem would dance in the vineyards.” (Mishna, Ta’anit 4:8).  

Let us comfort one another with words of encouragement. Allow Leo’s emotional generosity to inspire us to be as generous to others as the wealthy daughters of Jerusalem who loaned white clothing to their less advantaged sisters, so that none would suffer social ostracizing shame, and all could dance joyously in the vineyards as one. 

 

New Moon / Solar Eclipse Opposite Pluto: Power Games and Security Issues

The astronomical clock in Prague, pointing to the Cancer/Capricorn cusps

The New Moon at 20 degrees Cancer is opposite Pluto at 20 degrees Capricorn. Symbolically speaking, Pluto is all about power and control. The Sun will be eclipsed by the Moon in maternal, emotional, nurturing, empathetic Cancer. 

Cancer and Capricorn both have "security" issues. Cancer is concerned with emotional security, which is equated with the key words "Food, Home, Mother, Money." Capricorn is concerned with material security, the acquisition and use of power, wealth, and resources. 

The Tribal Rulers of Cancer and Capricorn give further insight into these issues. Reuven, the Tribal Ruler of Cancer, jealously guarded his family honor from a place of emotional need. Dan, the Tribal Ruler of Capricorn, fiercely guarded the borders of Israel against threats from invading "others." 

On a global level, Pluto in Capricorn opposed by the eclipsed Sun and Moon in Cancer is a power and control-grab of resources by the Haves against the Have-Nots. 

On a personal level, this describes the dynamic tension between your control issues and your emotional needs. In what realm those play out depends on which of your 12 Houses the Pluto-Sun/Moon opposition happens in. 

For a personalized natal chart analysis reading, couples/relationship charts and group dynamic analysis, be in touch with me by email: lorelaikude@yahoo.com

The Gemini Exchange and The (Leo Sun, Taurus Moon) Winklevoss Brothers

"Birth" Chart of the Gemini Exchange

I just spent the morning (for which I was well-paid) answering the question "What do you think about the name “Gemini” for the cryptocurrency exchange founded by identical twin brothers, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss?" for an astrological client of mine.

My initial reaction was: Why would anyone name a cryptocurrency fund after a Mercury-ruled constellation? Isn’t “mercurial” the last adjective anyone would want to associate with investing? My secondary reaction was: Of course, they named it “Gemini” because they’re identical twins and they know nothing about astrology. 

My client asked me to take a closer look into the natal charts of the Gemini Exchange and the charts of the Winklevoss twins themselves. 

What I found was that while "Gemini" may be a vanity moniker for their digital currency exchange platform, undoubtedly the twins themselves know nothing about astrology. However, there is something they do know a lot about: how to source expert information. After looking at their charts and the chart of the company, it would be impossible to believe that the Winklevoss twins did NOT employ the services of an expert astrologer when they launched the Gemini Exchange.

I won't go into the entire minutely-detailed astrological explanation here and now, especially since the research I did was on my client's proverbial dime (although I suspect he will encourage me to publish my findings after he makes whatever business decision he ends up making). All I can say with full assurance here and now are three things:

1 ) The Winklevoss Twins are not Geminis. They're Leos with Moon in Taurus, with the same "wealth signature" in their chart as Mick Jagger, Sergey Brin and Bill Clinton. 

2 ) They're going to make a shitload of actual, real money for themselves with their Gemini Exchange platform. Whether those who invest in Gemini to build wealth get the same deal or not will depend if they keep their profits in digital or analogue form during the early 2020's.

3 ) Digital Currency won't buy bread and milk when the power grid is disrupted or destroyed. Just sayin'.

Thanks to my good-humored (legitimately "rich" in every way) astrology client who made my morning both profitable and fun, and has signed off on this "share" because, as he says, "the little people deserve to know, even if they can't play with the big boys." (He's a Capricorn - no surprise!) :)

Rebel WITH a Cause

The Mars in Aquarius Retrograde (June 26-Aug 27) for Aries/Aries Rising and Scorpio/Scorpio Rising (Scorpio's modern ruler is Pluto, but classical ruler is Mars) impacts Mars-ruled people in weird ways. 

 

You may have a hard time prioritizing, as everything seems important. You may feel too many demands are being thrown at you from too many directions, each with their own sense of urgency. You may begin to feel resentful as the needs of friends, community and your affinity groups feel like they are about to overwhelm your own need for individuality. You might want to join a rebellion against the communal structures you've built in your own life.

 

I'm not saying "don't give in to these urges." I'm saying that by the end of August, you'll want to re-think the reactionary choices you make right now. If you're going to rebel, make sure your "cause" isn't something that will disintegrate by the end of summer.

Mars in Retrograde Aquarius: Say, You Want a Revolution?

Remember May 12-14th? That's the WHIPLASH POINT Mars will take us to, and back again, during the impending Mars in Aquarius Retrograde, which begins Tuesday, June 26. 

Here's the Celestial Schedule for Mars:
Retrograde begins on June 26 at 9 degrees Aquarius. Retrograde ends on August 27th at 28/29 Capricorn (the position Mars was in May 12th-14th).
Mars then stations Direct on August 27th and proceeds to retrace his steps through the shadow of its own Retrograde motion ("whiplash"), until it arrives back at 9 Aquarius on October 7th.

This is a tougher-than-usual time for people with Aquarius Rising. Aquarius Rising has it worst of all because Saturn (your Classical Ruling Planet until Uranus was discovered) is in Capricorn, your 12th House. 12th House transits of Saturn are never fun, but for Aquarius Rising people they are especially challenging (Saturn being the ruler of Capricorn). Why? Because 12th House is the a place of dissolving boundaries and structures, and Saturn / Capricorn is about structures, borders, building, and manifesting. The need to individuate must fight against the urge to dissolve into undifferentiated One-ness.

Aquarius Sun or Aquarius Moon also won't find this Mars Retrograde a picnic. Retrograde Mars on Aquarius Sun brings out the combative, stubborn (remember Aquarius is a FIXED Sign), rebellion for the sake of rebellion, and self-righteous side of Aquarius Sun-Signs. Retrograde Mars on Aquarius Moon is emotional revolution.

The other Fixed Signs (Leo, Taurus, and Scorpio) will be Squared by Mars in Aquarius Retrograde. Enhanced threat perception, defensiveness, passive-aggressive or just plain aggressiveness can appear, disguised as Aquarian-themed manifestations: "Humanitarianism" and "Universality", "friendship" and "community," "future" and "unique individualism." Soylent Green is a cinematic example of a Retrograde Mars in Aquarius solution to the problem of food shortages and overpopulation. Aquarius, Leo, Taurus and Scorpio need to resist internal pressure to seek extreme solutions. 

As for the rest of us: In whichever of the 12 Houses of your personal natal chart the area between 28/29 Capricorn and 9 Aquarius falls, that's where all the action happens between now and when we get "back to" now on October 7th.

Mars in Retrograde Aquarius asks: "Say, you want a revolution?" Don't answer back unless you know what you're revolting against and where you want that revolution to lead. Best place to start a revolution is inside yourself. 

Melania Trump's Conservative Rebellion

Melania Trump, birth time unknown, w/Transits

Warning: Birth time unknown: This chart's Ascendant and therefore the positions of all 12 Houses and the planets therein unknown. What CAN we know about #Melania #Trump just from the planets, asteroids & theoretical mathematical symbols we use in astrology? 

Transiting Uranus, the planet of surprises / the unexpected / erratic behavior / "hiddushim" (Divinely revealed ideas) / instability, has moved into Taurus, making a conjunction to Melania's natal asteroid Admetos, symbol of entrenched stubbornness in the already ultra-stubborn sign of Taurus, as well as her natal Sun in Taurus. Uranus literally "shakes things up," especially the status-quo. 

Melania has a lot of conservative-tending planets, making her surprisingly traditional (notwithstanding her stint in the skin game). Sun, Saturn, Mercury and Venus all in solid, practical, Venus-ruled, pleasure-loving Taurus, and Moon in practical, materialistic Capricorn. So it takes something BIG, really really big, to move her from her comfort zone. 

Today transiting Venus in Leo and Mars in Aquarius form a tight T-Square to her natal Sun/Saturn in Taurus. Transiting Jupiter in Scorpio makes that T-Square into a Grand Cross. There is literally so much internal pressure built up inside of her that she's rigidly suppressed, and unless some of it is released it's going to be Hiroshima, mon amour. At least that's what we're all hoping for - a mushroom cloud of rage directed at her husband. We all desire to partake vicariously - I'll admit it. But do the stars compel? No, they REFLECT - and this is the reflection of Melania's reality right now.

Some little leakage on that front today, as she's wearing an "I Don't Care, Do You?" jacket on her unannounced fact-finding visit to the Texas/Mexico border. "I Don't Care" is clearly a message Donald Trump had better get, loud and clear, unless he wants to find himself in the embarrassing (if indeed he is capable of such an emotion) position of being publicly outed by his wife for any number of potentially horrifying things (the mind boggles). In answer to her jacket's question - hell no, we don't care and we're here for you whenever you jump ship with Barron. An entire nation is ready and waiting to catch you and your child!

Melania wears a message to her husband on her back

Of course, wonderful as that would be, I don't actually expect it to happen. But the great thing about the current planetary transits on her natal chart (and his) is the unexpected does occur, and you never know when!

The other really prominent thing about her chart is the close Ceres/Chiron conjunction in Aries. Ceres is the "Earth Mother" who will go literally to hell and back to save her child, and Chiron is the "Wounded Healer". In Aries this is a trigger for violence (Aries) against children (her own, other children, or herself as a child). When I see that in the chart of a client, I usually ask if there was childhood trauma or violence, and there usually was. Not knowing which of her 12 Houses this conjunction falls in, I can't guess where that "Wounded Healer" around issues of children and the mother/child relationship instinct plays out or originates.

Tekufah Tammuz / The Summer Solstice (Plus Venus-Mars Opposition): It's an Energetic Day!

Modern-Day Druids Celebrating the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

Tekufah Tammuz / The Summer Solstice today - the turn of the seasons again as we welcome summer ( קיץ), my least favorite season because heat - but everyone else seems to love it, so enjoy. 


The Sun enters Cancer today, though we've been in Chodesh Tammuz for the past week already. We're moving from the Mutable Air (Transformative Thought) sign of Gemini into the Cardinal Water (Initiating Emotion) sign of Cancer. Key words for this month: FOOD, HOME, MOTHER, MONEY. Issues of emotional security are played out in these realms. Ancestors (particularly women), heritage, legacies, nostalgia, family heirlooms both material and emotional (that's called "baggage" in psych-speak) come to the forefront. 

More in celestial news: Transiting Venus in Leo and Mars in Aquarius opposite each other today. Venus in Leo says: "Adore me," Mars in Aquarius says: "Unique is the new sexy." Venus replies, "But I'm so fabulous! Sparkling, charismatic, confident, warm, affectionate - what more could you ask for?" Mars replies: "Something interesting."

Yes, it's that simple, folks. Nothing is more boring to Mars in Aquarius than the expected - and nothing more annoying to Venus in Leo than when Mars ignores or doesn't notice her.  Take my advice and give yourself the attention you deserve and don't go looking for it from other people - that will make you a lot more interesting to yourself and others.

Trump Transits: "Suffer the Little Children"

Fellow #Astrologers, join me in this #TrumpTransit analysis! 

The Full Moon in Capricorn on June 27/28 conjuncts Transiting Saturn in Capricorn in Trump's 5th House ("Children"), opposite the Sun in maternal, moon-ruled Cancer ("The Mother") - which conjuncts his Mercury (communicative self) in his 11th House (public: community, claal, collective, affinity groups, friendships).

Tremendous pressure / opposition between Moon/Saturn and Sun/Mercury - theme: "Security" (Capricorn), "Confinement" (Saturn), "Structures/Rules & Regulations" (Saturn), "Borders and Boundaries" (Saturn) "Children" and "Motherhood" (Moon) vs. "Ego" (Sun), "Think/Speak" (Mercury), "Social/Political Base" (11th House) in the naturally maternal sign of Cancer. 
 
If Trump can withstand this transit and NOT back down from his policy of separating children from parents at America's borders next week, he will surely be crowned the Once and Future Teflon President. He'll either double-down because tremendous, inflated ego (note the transit of the North Node over his natal 12th Pluto = control freak on steroids unconsciously projecting his own combativeness on everyone and everything else) or play the benevolent sovereign, setting the children free (transiting asteroid Ceres, the mother who literally went to hell and back to rescue her child, conjunct his natal Mars in Leo at his AC) and taking all the credit for solving the problem he himself created, while blaming others (the Democrats, Obama, etc.) and painting himself a hero.

What are your thoughts? Let me know!

Pictured: Trump's natal chart with transits for June 27th. The day starts off (at midnight) with transiting Moon conjunct Trump's natal Moon in Sagittarius. By the time the full moon occurs at 9:35pm Pacific time, it will be at 6 degrees Capricorn, conjunct transiting Saturn and opposite his natal Mercury & the transiting Sun in Cancer.

Retrograde Neptune in Pisces: Counter-Intuitive Clairty Opportunity!

Neptune Retrograde in Pisces, by Josephine Wall

Dreamy, inspirational/delusional/romantic/idealistic/distortion-prone Neptune in his native sign of dreamy/imaginative/porous-boundaries/vague/flow-y Pisces goes Retrograde today, until the end of November. Somewhat counter-intuitively, Retrograde Neptune is actually helpful in achieving clarity around unclear/murky (Neptune) situations.
 
The time period under review is April - November, 2017. Things that were ambiguous or unclear during that time are up for reconsideration and clarification. This is applicable in a general sense to everybody's natal chart, and in a specific sense wherever Pisces falls in your own natal 12 Houses, and the position of your natal Neptune.

Neptune is the modern astrological ruler of Pisces. The classical planetary ruler of Pisces is Jupiter, currently in Scorpio and making a supportive sextile (60 degree angle) to Neptune. As Pisces and Scorpio are both Water signs (Pisces is Mutable Water / Transforming Emotion, and Scorpio is Fixed Water / Establishing Emotion), the influence tends towards the emotional and, because Pisces rules the unconscious/subconscious mind, psychological as well. The spiritual healing potential of this transit is very high! Take advantage while you can.

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz Tov! Prepare for the Turn of the Tide!

Image from a Torah binder, Germany, 1858, the Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Chodesh Tammuz Tov!
 
Tammuz is the month of Cancer the Crab and the Tribe of Reuven. It's one of the four Cardinal (initiating) Signs, each of which contains a "Tefukah", or turning point in the year. In the case of Cancer, that's the Tekufah of Tammuz, a.k.a. the Summer Solstice. 

Check out my column on Tammuz in the latest edition of J-The Jewish Weekly of Northern California.  

There are four Tekufot during the year: Tekufah Nissan / Spring Equinox, Tefukah Tammuz / Summer Solstice, Tekufah Tishrei / Autumnal Equinox, and Tekufah Tevet / Winter Solstice. 

Each of the four Tekufot occurs in one of the four Cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. Cardinal energy is "initiating" energy: Cardinal signs are "starters". New beginnings! 

The other modalities are the Fixed signs, which is "establishing" energy (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius), and Mutable signs, which is "transformative" energy (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces). 

Tammuz, the month corresponding to Cancer, is Cardinal Water: Initiating Emotion. This quality can clearly be seen in the archetype of Reuven, the Tribal Ruler of Chodesh Tammuz.  

Reuven is concerned with his mother’s fertility (in the incident of the mandrakes) and her honor (in the incident of moving his father’s bed). His sincere but unsuccessful efforts to save his brother Joseph in the pit and to sacrifice his own sons to redeem his brother Benyamin from Egypt reflect Cancerian concerns with family identity, responsibility and status. 

Cancer’s gift to us is sensitivity, loyalty, intuition, pride in our heritage and sacrificial love. The New Moon in Cancer today can help us all initiate heart-centered connection, repair our family ties, and strengthen communal bonds during this Moon-ruled month.