Old “Family Stuff” Awakened By The Cancer New Moon
Has old family “stuff” been surfacing for you lately?
On Sunday, I was struck with a dawning awakening about my path in life and its connection to my family — not just my current family, but my ancestry and the web of connection that exists within time and space among my family and ancestors. For me, this surfaced as an awareness of my role in healing some old ancestral wounding and a new direction focused on deepening my understanding of family dynamics through the lens of astrology.
I realized I was having this epiphany right around the time of the Mercury cazimi. Mercury is currently retrograde in the sign of Cancer (until July 24). The sun is also shining brightly in Cancer. Mercury came within just a few minutes of “contact” (from our perspective here on earth) with the sun.
Cazimi And Retrograde
Whenever a planet is this close to the sun, it is called “cazimi,” which means “in the heart of the sun.” The sun is the “king” and the planet that gets this close to the king has special favor. It basks in the glory of the sun. In this case, it was messenger Mercury who had this honor. Specifically, it was Mercury retrograde.
“Retrograde” means that the planet appears to move backward from our perspective here on earth. It calls us to step back and revisit, recall, and reflect.
With Mercury retrograde, this takes on a deep focus on memory and communication.
The Sign of Cancer And Memory
Cancer is a water sign that symbolizes family and our need for familial connection. It can represent a need for home, perhaps illustrated by the hard shell that the crab wears, as the symbol for Cancer. Cancer is ruled by the moon, which symbolizes mothers and nurturing. Cancer is considered a very creative and intuitive sign as well.
When Mercury retrograde enters into this Cancerian space to have a special “meeting” with the sun, there is an emphasis on the stirring of memory related to family and ancestry. Perhaps old wounds resurface. Maybe a moment of insight occurs. Or maybe you “just” experience a time of inspiration and enjoyment with your family. But more than likely there is an element of the past in this encounter, given the retrograde.
Cancer and the moon herself speak to family history and legacy, deep family memory and the treasure chests — or perhaps locked closet doors — that contain the family memories or skeletons.
Mercury As Messenger and Psychopomp
Mercury is a messenger, but he is also a psychopomp, meaning that he travels between the realms, conveying messages to and from mere mortals to the gods.
With this in mind, Mercury arrives to guide you on a journey to other realms, which may be the past, including your childhood, or another spiritual plane. Wherever it is you need to go, Mercury is your willing, fleet-footed guardian.
Did you feel the ping of an old memory or unresolved childhood trauma surface over the weekend? Were the voices of your ancestors calling for your attention? Whatever may have surfaced from the depths of the Cancerian ocean for you to find in its shimmering waters awaits your inspection.
New Moon In Cancer
The new moon in Cancer that dawned on July 14th asks you to take that message or revelation and explore it further. Mercury brought this to your conscious awareness (the sun) so that you might begin to find healing.
A new moon brings a fresh start.
Allow yourself to sit with this new awareness. Journal. Make art. Take a walk or a bath. Allow yourself to integrate this message.
Then, with this new moon that has just seeded in the sign of Cancer, allow yourself to journey these next six months toward a deeper understanding, a “knowing,” that allows you to shed something old, something that heals not only you, but perhaps your entire family line. Then, by the full moon in Cancer arrives on December 23, 2026, you will find that you have reached a whole new depth of understanding and catharsis.
Something fundamental in you will shift, which may or may not be especially obvious. It could be subtle, it could be a shift in thinking patterns, or perception of certain memories.
Or it could be something much more profound, such as new habits or decisions that affect your life path.
Catharsis Guided By The Moon
The moon represents our body, our deep ancestral memory, and the unconscious mind. Often, the traumas, habits, or “memories” that affect us reach farther back through the generations of our lineage than we even realize.
Looking through old photographs, pulling out dear family heirlooms, or having conversations with family members may prove to be cathartic and even inspiring during this time. Work with a therapist, hypnotist, or other healing providers that allow you to do deep inner work may be especially beneficial.
Given the moon’s connection to the body, consider how you are caring for your body. Notice how you feel in your body. Notice how you nurture and nourish yourself (or don’t). The body has so much intelligence and wisdom.
About a week after that full moon in December, we will have another Mercury cazimi on December 31st in the sign of Capricorn, the sign opposite to Cancer. Mercury will be moving direct at that time.
The week between the full moon in Cancer and this cazimi in Capricorn will likely be a time of truly “wrapping up” whatever it is that has emerged for you during this recent time of the Cancer new moon. You may find that you will be able to truly move forward at that time with new insight, new habits, and a deeper wisdom about yourself and your heritage.
Book Recommendation
I highly recommend an insightful book that speaks to some of the issues that may be arising around family heritage and possibly generational trauma: It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn.
Moon Soul Signature Readings
I offer a Moon Soul Signature reading that takes a look at your natal chart from the perspective of the moon. We will look at the sign and phase of the Moon in your chart, plus any aspects it’s making to other planets, so that we can explore themes of motherhood/mother relationships, family/family trauma, and emotional needs. If this resonates with you, please take a look at my booking page or reach out to me directly to schedule a consultation (juliestarrastrology@gmail.com).
