Wednesday at 6:32am EDT, the New Moon becomes exact in 4 degrees of Cancer

This Cancer New Moon brings us back to something much bigger than the present moment. It echoes a cycle that began 23 years ago, in July 2002, when Jupiter last met the Moon in Cancer. Back then, major secrets were being uncovered. By August, a rebel group announced to the world that nuclear facilities had been operating in the shadows, invisible to the public but fully known behind closed doors.

"In August 2002, an exiled rebel group announced that Iran had been secretly working on nuclear weapons at two installations that had not previously been publicly revealed." [source]

Now, 23 years later, those very same sites have become targets of destruction. The US just conducted "Operation Midnight Hammer" on June 22, 2025, bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities (Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan) with bunker-buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles. This was the first time a US president has directly attacked another country's nuclear program and the first time the US explicitly joined Israel in attacking Iran. [source]

The story that began with hidden infrastructure has erupted into visible consequence. And as missiles fall on bunkers once built for protection, we're being shown, in real time, what happens when safety is rooted in secrecy and control. This is Cancer's shadow, playing out on the world stage: the urge to protect at all costs, the defense that becomes the danger.

This upcoming New Moon is the first one in 23 years with a Jupiter alignment. The last one with a Jupiter conjunction in Cancer was in July 2002. Jupiter magnifies everything it touches, and in Cancer, it amplifies our deepest needs for safety, belonging, and emotional truth. But Jupiter also reveals what's been hidden, expanding not just hope but also the consequences of choices made in the name of protection.

Twenty-three years ago, the world was told about an "Axis of Evil." Secret programs were being built underground. The language of preemptive defense was taking root in public consciousness. Now, as those underground bunkers are bombed and leaders claim it's for everyone's safety, this New Moon asks us to come to terms with a fundamental question: What does real security look like when the pursuit of it becomes the very thing that could endangers us all?

The Cancer themes of safety, protection, and home are playing out on the world stage as nations grapple with whose security matters and at what cost. This New Moon asks us to examine our own hidden foundations and the stories we tell ourselves about what keeps us safe. This New Moon is your chance to examine what needs to change, before your own walls become targets.

This Cancer New Moon is making several powerful aspects:

A Square with the "new" Saturn-Neptune alignment in Aries challenges us to ground our dreams in reality without losing their visionary power. Neptune in Aries is exalted due to its upcoming yearly Retrograde phase beginning July 4th, suggesting that the spiritual warrior energy is being refined and redirected inward. This square asks: How do we build structures that serve our highest ideals without becoming rigid or exclusionary?

A Quincunx to Pluto in Aquarius creates tension between Cancer's need for emotional safety and Aquarius's demand for collective progress. Pluto is also the focal point of a Yod aspect, making this a karmic turning point. The question becomes: What do we need to release from our personal and collective past to step into a more equitable future?

A Sextile to Mars in Virgo offers practical energy for making the changes this New Moon demands. Mars is also part of the Yod formation, suggesting that our actions now have far-reaching consequences. This aspect supports methodical, healing-oriented work rather than reactive aggression.

Mercury in Cancer makes a sextile to an exalted Uranus in Taurus and a square to Chiron in Aries, creating a communication breakthrough around old wounds while simultaneously revolutionizing our relationship to resources and values. This suggests that speaking emotional truth can catalyze both personal healing and systemic change.

Pluto in Aquarius trines an exalted Uranus in the last degree of Taurus and also sextiles both exalted Neptune in Aries and Saturn in Aries, creating what's called a Minor Triangle. The triangle suggests that revolutionary change (Uranus), collective awakening (Neptune), and structural reform (Saturn) are all working together under Pluto's transformational influence. But it's a minor triangle, not a grand trine, which means the energy requires conscious participation rather than flowing automatically. We have to choose to engage with the transformation that's being offered.

Venus in Taurus makes a close Trine to the South Node in Virgo and a Sextile to the North Node in Pisces. This is the essence of the Cancer New Moon message: true security comes not from building higher walls or better defenses, but from recognizing that our safety is intertwined with everyone else's. The bunkers that were built in secret 23 years ago have become targets today because they were based on the illusion that some people's security can be built at the expense of others'.

As we watch the consequences of decisions made in 2002 play out in real time, this New Moon asks us to examine our own relationship to safety and secrecy. What are you hiding in the name of protection? What walls have you built that might be keeping out the very connection and support you need?

The square to Saturn-Neptune challenges us to dream of a different kind of security, one based on community care rather than individual accumulation, on transparency rather than surveillance, on mutual aid rather than mutual destruction. But Neptune's exaltation reminds us that this isn't naive idealism. It's the spiritual realism that recognizes we cannot be safe while others are in danger.

So what does this mean for you?

If you were alive and conscious in July 2002, think back. What were you dreaming about? What felt possible? What version of yourself were you trying to grow into? And if you weren’t born yet or were too young to remember, ask: What has your soul always known about who you’re meant to be, before anyone told you.

Cancer rules the deepest parts of your inner world: your family patterns, your emotional needs, your relationship with nurturing and being nurtured. The square to Saturn and Neptune in Aries is challenging you to stop spiritualizing your way out of taking action in your emotional life. You can meditate on forgiveness all you want, but if you never actually have the conversation that needs to happen, you're just avoiding the work. You can dream of the perfect family dynamic, but if you never set the boundary that protects your peace, you're choosing fantasy over reality.

Cancer is obsessed with security, but this New Moon is asking you to completely redefine what that means. Maybe financial security has meant hoarding resources because you watched your parents struggle. Maybe emotional security has meant avoiding conflict because you grew up with too much of it. Maybe physical security has meant staying small because you learned that being seen was dangerous. Mars in Virgo wants to help you build security systems that actually serve your wellbeing. This might mean having difficult conversations about money with family. It might mean setting boundaries around how much emotional support you provide. It might mean changing living situations.

Your gut knows things your mind is still trying to rationalize. Your body knows when you're safe and when you're not, even when everyone is telling you to be grateful for what you have. Trust what you're sensing, even if it doesn't make sense yet. Your intuition is picking up on changes that haven't fully manifested.

This New Moon isn't asking you to abandon all structure and float away on feelings. The Earth signs (Mars in Virgo, Venus in Taurus, Uranus in Taurus) give you the structure to hold what’s being unearthed emotionally. You are not being asked to spiral into chaos.

As you work with this New Moon, keep coming back to the 23-year cycle. What seeds were planted in July 2002 that are now ready to bloom? What dreams did you have then that you can finally manifest now? What healing did you start then that you can finally complete? And if 2002 feels like another lifetime, ask yourself: 

What would your child self be proud to see you choose now?

Horoscopes for the Cancer New Moon

Aries & Aries Rising

The Cancer New Moon lands in your fourth house as we witness what happens when the pursuit of security becomes an act of destruction. Think back to July 2002: what were you hoping for in terms of family, safety, or belonging? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, ask yourself: what would true security look like in a world where some people's safety requires others to live in fear? That summer, Iran's nuclear program was still secret, hidden in underground facilities. Now those same sites have been bombed, and we're forced to reckon with how the desire for protection can become the very thing that endangers us all. The square to Saturn-Neptune challenges the bootstrap mythology that says safety is something you earn through strength rather than build through community. Mercury in Cancer gives you language for the emotional labor of creating actual security, the kind that doesn't require walls or weapons. This isn't about slowing down. It's about building foundations that can hold everyone, not just the chosen few.

This New Moon may show up as a shift in your home life or relationship with family. You may feel called to make your space more emotionally nourishing, or rethink what "home" means to you now. If you’ve been relying on independence to feel safe, this Moon invites you to create a sense of rootedness that includes others. Start by asking: what would it take to feel supported without having to do everything alone?

Taurus & Taurus Rising

Your third house lights up under this Cancer New Moon, calling attention to how you communicate in a media landscape designed to divide us. Think back to July 2002, what were you learning about having a voice in your immediate community? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, consider how misinformation and algorithmic bubbles now shape the conversations that should be bringing us together. Mercury squares Chiron, asking you to heal from times when speaking up felt dangerous. Whether in your family, your workplace, or your community. The Saturn-Neptune square challenges you to communicate truth without spiritual bypassing the systemic issues that create the problems we're trying to heal. Your voice matters, especially when it speaks for those who've been silenced.

This New Moon might inspire you to set boundaries around your screen time, commit to a journaling practice, or initiate a healing conversation that’s long overdue. The way you speak, and listen, is being reworked. This is a chance to tell a new story.

Gemini & Gemini Rising

This Cancer New Moon touches your second house, where your relationship with resources meets the reality of economic inequality. Think back to July 2002: what were you learning about your worth and what you deserved? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, consider how student debt, housing costs, and wage stagnation have redefined what security means for your generation. The square to Saturn-Neptune asks you to dream of abundance while acknowledging the systems that hoard resources. Pluto's quincunx demands you release the shame around needing support. Mutual aid isn't charity, it's community. Venus trine the South Node reminds you that your worth isn't determined by your productivity or bank account.

This New Moon could bring up questions around budgeting, income, and how you define stability. You might feel the urge to rework how you earn, save, or spend. But the deeper work lies in redefining what makes you feel secure. This Moon says: your worth is not negotiable. Act like it.

Cancer & Cancer Rising

This is your New Moon, and it's arriving as we watch the consequences of secrets kept for decades play out in real time. Think back to July 2002: what version of yourself were you hoping to become? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, consider how the world has been shaped by decisions made in your name before you even had a voice. That summer, while Bush declared an "Axis of Evil," Iran was secretly building the nuclear facilities that would be bombed 23 years later. Now we're witnessing what happens when the promise of protection becomes the justification for preemptive destruction. The square to Saturn-Neptune in Aries challenges the idea that emotional intelligence is weakness in a culture that rewards aggression over vulnerability. Mercury in your sign helps you articulate feelings that have been dismissed as "too sensitive" while the world burns around us. The quincunx to Pluto asks you to release the version of yourself that learned to be small to avoid being targeted. Your sensitivity isn't a liability. It's the early warning system the world desperately needs.

This New Moon is your moment to rewrite the story of who you are becoming. Start fresh. Reaffirm your values. Set new goals around self-care, identity, and self-expression. What needs to shift in your habits or appearance to reflect the inner transformation that’s already begun?

Leo & Leo Rising

The Cancer New Moon moves through your twelfth house, illuminating the shadow work happening as we confront collective trauma. Think back to July 2002: what was brewing in your unconscious that you couldn't yet name? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, consider how generational trauma and climate anxiety now shape the dreams and nightmares of your generation. The square to Saturn-Neptune challenges spiritual communities that center individual healing while ignoring social justice. Mercury's conjunction asks you to give voice to ancestral wisdom and inherited wounds. Your rest isn't selfish. It's resistance against systems that profit from your exhaustion.

This Moon may bring grief, clarity, or a need for solitude. Honor the emotions that surface, even if you don’t yet understand them. This is a powerful time to step back, retreat, and reset. Let rest be your ritual. What wants to be released so you can return lighter?

Virgo & Virgo Rising

Your eleventh house comes alive under this Cancer New Moon, as your vision for community meets the reality of organizing for change. Think back to July 2002: what kind of world were you hoping to help create? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, consider how social media has both connected and fragmented our movements for justice. The square to Saturn-Neptune asks you to build coalitions that are grounded in shared values, not just shared grievances. The sextile to Mars in your sign gives you energy to show up consistently, not just when it's convenient. Your perfectionism can either paralyze progress or help movements build sustainable structures. Choose wisely.

This New Moon may stir shifts in your friendships or long-term goals. You may feel called to find your people, or redefine who they are. What kind of support network do you need? Invest in the connections that can hold the future with you.

Libra & Libra Rising

This Cancer New Moon illuminates your tenth house as we watch leaders justify violence in the name of peace. Think back to July 2002: what kind of leader did you hope to become? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, ask yourself how the post-9/11 world has normalized the idea that security requires surveillance, that peace requires war, that justice requires violence. That summer, as Bush declared an "Axis of Evil," the stage was being set for decades of military interventions presented as humanitarian missions. Now, as we watch nuclear facilities bombed and leaders claim it's for everyone's safety, the Cancer New Moon asks: what does ethical leadership look like when the systems themselves are built on harm? The square to Saturn-Neptune challenges the myth that you can create change from within systems designed to resist it. Mercury's influence helps you communicate boundaries around what you will and won't do for a career, even when the pressure to conform is overwhelming. Venus trine the South Node suggests you're releasing patterns of diplomatic politeness that have kept you complicit in structures that harm others. True leadership starts with admitting when the whole system is broken.

This New Moon might mark a shift in how you define success. It may bring clarity around your purpose or career direction. Ask yourself: does your current path reflect your true values? This is a time to align your public actions with your private ethics.

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising

This Cancer New Moon lands in your ninth house, which rules your beliefs, worldview, and what you stand for. It’s asking you to take a closer look at the stories you’ve been taught about right and wrong, peace and power. If you can remember July 2002, think back to what you were starting to question: about religion, culture, or politics. If you were too young to remember, think about how your generation was shaped by the idea that safety had to come through war, and how certain people were labeled as threats while others were seen as protectors.

Back then, Iran’s nuclear program was still a secret. Today, those same sites have been bombed. The countries that say they want peace are often the ones holding the most weapons. This New Moon invites you to look at the disconnect between what people say they believe and how they act, especially in spiritual or moral communities.

The square to Saturn and Neptune challenges you to question any belief system that avoids taking responsibility for real-world harm. Mercury’s connection to Uranus may spark an insight that helps you break away from outdated ideas or propaganda.

This New Moon may bring clarity around what you believe and how you want to live your life according to those beliefs. It might push you to sign up for a class, start writing about what matters to you, or speak up in a way that reflects your evolving values.

Sagittarius & Sagittarius Rising

The Cancer New Moon touches your eighth house, where transformation meets the reality of intergenerational wealth gaps and systemic inequality. Think back to July 2002: what were you ready to inherit or let go of? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, consider how debt, climate change, and political instability have become the inheritance of your generation. The square to Saturn-Neptune challenges the idea that you can heal trauma without addressing its structural causes. Mercury's square to Chiron asks you to examine how power dynamics in your intimate relationships mirror larger patterns of oppression. Your healing isn't separate from collective liberation.

This Moon may trigger deeper emotional work, bring financial questions to the surface, or highlight patterns you’re ready to release. This could be a time to review your shared resources, renegotiate relationship agreements, or simply let go of guilt you’ve been carrying. Transformation doesn’t have to be dramatic.

Capricorn & Capricorn Rising

This Cancer New Moon lights up your seventh house, bringing focus to your relationships and what they really need to grow. It’s a reminder that love alone isn’t always enough, there also has to be fairness, support, and shared values. Think back to July 2002: what were you learning about commitment, trust, or what it means to truly partner with someone? If you were too young to remember, think about how today’s financial pressures, like rising costs and job insecurity, affect your choices around relationships, marriage, or family. The square to Saturn and Neptune challenges traditional ideas of what a relationship should look like while reminding you that real connection still matters. Venus trine the South Node shows you it's time to let go of old patterns that favored comfort over honesty, or stability over authenticity.

This Moon may bring important relationship conversations to the table. It might mark a turning point, an invitation to begin something new with someone, or to walk away from a dynamic that no longer honors your needs. Whatever you choose, the theme is mutuality: do both people have room to grow here?

Aquarius & Aquarius Rising

This Cancer New Moon flows through your sixth house as we witness how the concept of collective wellness becomes weaponized. Think back to July 2002: what relationship did you have with your body and health? If you were too young to remember, or weren't born yet, consider how the rhetoric of "protecting our way of life" has been used to justify surveillance, detention, and violence against entire populations. That summer, as the world was told that certain countries posed existential threats, the foundation was being laid for a permanent war footing that would drain resources from healthcare, education, and actual human welfare. Now, as we watch military strikes justified as preventing future harm, the Cancer New Moon asks: what does true collective care look like when nations spend trillions on weapons while people die from lack of basic medical care? The square to Saturn-Neptune challenges the USA idea that health is an individual responsibility. The Yod formation suggests your healing practices are connected to collective liberation, that you cannot be well in a sick system. Taking care of yourself means working toward a world where everyone can feel safe and supported.

This is a time to re-evaluate your daily habits, your job, and how your body is holding your current stress load. You might need better boundaries around your time, or more time doing what makes you feel whole. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to care for yourself like it matters.

Pisces & Pisces Rising

Your fifth house lights up under this Cancer New Moon, where creativity meets the brutal reality of who gets to survive as an artist in late-stage capitalism. Think back to July 2002: what were you creating or dreaming of creating? If you were too young to remember, or hadn’t yet arrived, look back. The summer of expansion wasn’t for art, but for arsenal. As military budgets ballooned, social programs withered. The unspoken decree? Beauty is optional. Weapons are not. Somewhere along the way, creativity was conscripted. Art became content. Joy was measured in metrics. And if it didn’t make a profit, it didn’t matter.

Now, as we watch billions spent on bombs while artists struggle to afford rent, this New Moon asks: what would it mean to create from a place of abundance instead of scarcity? The square to Saturn-Neptune challenges the myth that artists must suffer for their work while simultaneously recognizing that making beauty in a world hell-bent on destruction is a radical act. Mercury's influence helps you articulate why your creative vision matters, not just as personal expression but as collective healing. Venus trine the South Node suggests you're releasing the internalized capitalism that measures your worth by your output. Your joy isn't frivolous. It's the frequency of resistance, the reminder of what we're fighting to preserve when everything feels lost.

This New Moon asks you to remember joy. Whether that means committing to your art, making more time for fun, or simply letting yourself feel excited again. Pleasure isn’t a distraction. It’s fuel for staying engaged with what matters most.

This New Moon doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer clarity. It reminds us that emotional honesty is the first form of resistance, and that safety cannot exist where truth is unwelcome. The systems outside are collapsing, but what we rebuild within ourselves now will shape the world we inherit. Choose with care. Choose with courage.