The past few days have been a particularly powerful time, with the Summer Solstice (with the Sun entering the tropical sign of Cancer) on Sunday and the New Moon yesterday occurring only a day apart.  This links the energy of the change of season that the Solstice brings to the sense of new beginnings of the Cancer New Moon. 

Cancer of course is the sign of the family and nurturing those we love, but it also extends to our ancestors, our tribal affiliations, the inheritance of our clan.  Many of us have chosen our own clan and have created new family linkages, and these are extremely important to the development of humanity.  The more aware we become and as our wisdom becomes deeper and broader, the more we need to share it with others rather than stay comfortably protected in a womb of safety.  

Cancer does represent the womb, and our desire to be safe from emotional and physical threats.  The New Moon yesterday afternoon was opposed by Pluto, and Pluto is still in opposition to the Sun.  Pluto threatens our safety and forces us to find what is true and powerful within us that we can depend on for our ultimate security.  

At the same time, though, we have that beautiful conjunction of Mars to Venus which has been in force for a week or so and peaked on the day of the Solstice, combining the strength and force of Mars with the beauty and sensitivity of Venus, both in the sign of Taurus which is focused on security, peace, and comfort.  Strong Saturn was in an exact trine to both planets on the day of the Solstice, helping us to focus on our own inner strength and develop the resources of the body and soul.  

These planetary energies are embedded in the chart of the Solstice and will be with us until the seasons turn again in September for the Equinox.