Musings On... the New Moon in Cancer

Elizabeth Anderson
Jul 12
3 min read

Monday, July 13, 2026. 11:44pm HST

If you’re someone who tunes into what astrologers are talking about, you’ll have heard of the basket configuration ushering us into completely new territory astrologically. So what is it? Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter will all be at 4 degrees of Aquarius, Aries, Gemini, and Leo respectively.

The angles these planets form with one another makes a basket shape. To have the outer planets in this configuration is extremely rare. (As in... never before in recorded history.) Hence, the feeling that we are in completely new astrological territory. If you have planets or angles around 4 degrees of any sign, this is especially relevant.

So what does it mean? Here’s the thing.

Pluto rx in Aquarius requires us to traverse an Underworld journey. To mine the absolute depths of our psyche for truth hitherto unavailable to us. I mean… DREDGE the foundations of what we stand for, what are values are, and what is true for us. Gems await. It will require that we do Neptune rx in Aries. To pioneer new spiritual territory. To be spiritual warriors. To have the courage to move forward holding a higher vision, even when it’s hard. To let go of defining ourselves narrowly, or by who we’ve been. It’s clean slate time.

Through this work we reach Uranus conjunct Mars in Gemini, offering us a breakthrough in our thinking. Our minds have the capacity to expand beyond previous limitations. All of the perceptions and assumptions we’ve held about anything and everything are up for change. How big is that?? Liberation from old patterns of perceiving ourselves, and the world are available now.

All of this, so that we can Jupiter in Leo. So that we can ***SHINE*** AUTHENTICALLY. None of those frivolous Jupiter in Leo shenanigans. This is about so much more than appearances. This is about stepping into who we want to be when we’re unlimited. But only, only when we’re willing to face Pluto… only when we’re willing to be utterly transformed.

Venus conjunct the South Node in Virgo tells us that the way forward means clearing out and letting go of previously held values, and ways of relating to people that are rooted in martyrdom, guilt, over-giving, and shame. No more. Cannot. It’s done. The way forward (North Node in Pisces) is embracing a higher vision, an expanded state of consciousness where worry and guilt and shame and fear and all of those things are held and healed in the vastness of L O V E. The Unconditional, Divine, Infinite kind.

All of this, and I haven’t even mentioned the New Moon.

This New Moon in Cancer is a rebirth. It’s the beginning, but with Mercury retrograde in Cancer, there will be so much more to unfold. Cancer is nurturing, mother, child, healer energy. It’s home, and we are coming home to new versions of ourselves. To echo this… the 4th degree of any sign of the zodiac, according to some theory, resonates with Cancer energy. It’s as if the entire cosmos is pointing to this New Moon as a marker, a sacred moment, a beginning.

That basket configuration? I’ve also heard it referred to as a cradle. The Universe is waiting to catch us, to hold us, to rock us. But it’s up to us to participate consciously. New territory might be scary. It’s unknown. What are we doing? We are coming home to ourselves, and to the Cosmos, the Great Mother.

Sending Love.

Dates:

July 12 Mercury conjunct the Sun

July 13 New Moon in Cancer

July 15 Uranus sextile Neptune

July 17 Uranus trine Pluto

July 19 Jupiter trine Neptune

July 20 Jupiter opposite Pluto

July 21 Jupiter sextile Uranus

July 22 Sun in Leo

July 23 Mercury Direct

July 24 Neptune sextile Pluto