Hi there,
Happy Monday. How are you feeling as this week begins, after that Cancer new moon last week?
First off I wanted to thank you so much to all of you who joined me for the Cancer season breathwork journey last week on the New Moon- it was so lovely to dive into the archetypes of Cancer and embody them through breath together. I hope you join in next month for Leo season~!
Become a paid subscriber here to take part in these monthly sessions, which are part lecture/discussion about the season at hand, and part breathwork journies to integrate the archetypes of the season into our bodies. In these sessions, we look at a sign through a multidimensional, seasonal lens. Cancer season is in the element of fire in the medicine wheel and the wuxing cycle, and the element of cardinal water in the zodiac- initiatory water, like a wellspring breaking through the crust of the earth. We also talk about cancer’s correlations in the body- the breasts, chest, stomach and womb, and life cycle- the phase of adolescence, where we connect deeply with the world inside our shells.
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Some reflections on last week’s New Moon and beyond
Last week’s New Moon in Cancer landed in my 12th house, and despite all the talk about abundance and luck with Jupiter being conjunct the moon, for me it hit like a tidal wave. On the day of the new moon and the Jupiter Cazimi the day before, I was trying to tap into those juicy and benefic vibes, but immediately after I had such extreme subconscious fears and traumas come to light, especially relating to Cancerian themes.
The new moon last week was conjunct the great benefic, Jupiter, but it also formed a Yod (a rare and powerful aspect known as the “finger of god”) between the moon, mars, and Pluto, giving the lunation a lot more intense and transmutative energies to work with.
A yod is kind of like a long triangle that points from a couple of different planets to another planet on the other side of the chart, kind of resembling a long triangle or a finger. And so wherever that finger is pointing is the apex of these other signs and how they're all connected. Like a grand trine aspect, if you're familiar, but it's more pointed, I will say, and a little more intense.
Last week, that finger pointed from the new moon in Cancer (the sun, moon, and Jupiter in Cancer) and Mars in Virgo, the two points of the smaller end of the triangle. They both pointed towards Pluto in Aquarius across the wheel, as a place in your chart where adjustment was necessary in order to reconcile tension and harmonize the other two areas. This very poignant aspect in the chart of the new moon really brought Pluto into the forefront, asking us how our expansive new beginnings in the realm of self care (new moon/ jupiter in cancer) could be harmonized with our organizational drive (Mars in Virgo) through taking a closer look (pointing a finger) at the need for social liberation and revolution (Pluto in Aquarius).
The houses where Cancer, Virgo, and Aquarius live in your chart can give you a sense of how this may have shown up in your life. (Get your free birth chart here) For me, this showed up with that finger pointing from the depths of subconscious (12th house) and my values/sense of security (2nd house) toward my partnerships (7th house). Old traumas surfaced through dreams, body memories, and waves of anxiety—especially around subconscious and embodied fears of safety, focusing two near-death experiences I thought I had already moved through, which both involving a partner.
One of them was a house fire I nearly died in 14 years ago, and another was coming close to the other side when I hemorraged lots of blood after giving birth. I wont go into details here, but I was shocked at how visceral the memories were about these events after years of compartmentalizing them away. I had talked so much about the summer element of fire and also the wombspace in my Cancer season overview, and when the new moon/Jupiter happened in my 12th house in Cancer with aspects to Pluto, so much that had been buried deep came to light. The 12th house is the house of the underground, the soil beneath the surface, the unseen, and having so many activations there has really opened up a lot to process. They say healing doesn’t happen in a straight line, but a spiral, and that proves deeply true again and again.
I hadn’t factored Pluto into my forecast last week, but its presence was undeniable in last week’s astrology (my friend Lily wrote a wonderful piece about this- thanks for bringing my attention there!) Pluto’s underworldly, earth shattering presence felt especially poignant as the Sun moved through the Gate of Stillness (52, mountain over mountain), encouraging me to meet the resurfacing of these deeply traumatic chaos memories and dreams with the rooted energy of an ancient, craggy peak. Sunday’s Mercury–Pluto opposition only intensified it, pulling thoughts from the deepest shadows. I haven’t been blown off my feet by a transit like that in a long time… and I feel like I’m coming up from deep underground.
I feel grateful for the contemplations from the gate of stillness to get me through the depths, with the shadow of stress and gift of restraint. My partner has his natal Mercury in this gate, and as we moved though the transit last week I could deeply see how his communication is shaped by this energy- calm, wise, non-reactive, like a mountain. When I felt triggered, like popping off or crawling under the covers, the energy of stillness- sitting with a feeling instead of trying to fix it- came through.
Let me know in the comments how last week showed up for you! This week, the energy is shifting big time. Pluto is no longer center stage. The focus is moving toward Venus, Uranus, and Neptune, making way for a potentially beautiful, dream-filled revolution. The Sun is moving through the Gate of Provocation- a gate with the gift of Liberation from obstruction. There’s a sense of something breaking open, or finally being freed, after so much stillness and pressure building beneath the surface.
Let’s get into it.
This week in the wheel:
MEDICINE WHEEL Direction: SOUTH
WUXING Element: FIRE
PAGAN Season: LITHA (Midsummer)
ZODIAC Season: CANCER (June 20-July 20)
I’CHING Hexagram/HUMAN DESIGN Gate:
last Thursday the 26th- Monday the 30th: Gate 52 = Mountain over Mountain: “Keeping Still (Mountain)”, aka the Gate of STILLNESS
Tuesday July 1- Sunday July 6: Gate 39 = Water over Mountain “Obstruction”, aka the Gate of PROVOCATION
MOON Phase: Waxing
PLANETARY dances:
Venus conjunct Uranus in last degree of Taurus (Gate 8)
Venus enters Gemini (Friday, July 4)
Neptune stations Retrograde in Aries (Friday, July 4)
Tuesday thru Sunday: The sun in the Gate of Provocation
I'CHING:
Obstruction (Provocation)
Trigrams: Water over Mountain
GENE KEYS:
SHADOW: Provocation
(REPRESSIVE: Withdrawn
REACTIVE: Outburst)
GIFT: Liberation
SIDDHI: Transfiguration
This week, the Sun moves through Gate 39: the Gate of Provocation, a Cancer gate that draws its power from emotional depth and instinctual timing. In the I’Ching, this is Hexagram 39: Obstruction, which teaches that challenge and pressure are not obstacles to avoid, but catalysts that initiate clarity, courage, and ultimately transformation. In Human Design, Gate 39 lives in the Root Center - the source of adrenal pressure- and it brings a pulse of restlessness, a deep drive to break through stagnation and liberate something authentic from within.
After recent transits through the Gate of Extremes (15) and the Gate of Stillness (52), the energy has been building, like a tide swelling beneath the surface. Gate 39 now adds a sharper edge. This is the moment when the crab, after feeling and sensing and waiting, shows its claws. This is not to chase the fear or stay in defense-mode, but to assert its right to move, to live, to be free.
In the Gene Keys, this gate has the Shadow of Provocation, the Gift of Liberation, and the Siddhi of Transfiguration. We learn that provocation can come from others, or from life itself, but its purpose is never punishment- it’s awakening. Whatever is irritating you now, whatever feels like pressure or friction, might actually be trying to awaken your creative spirit, to provoke you into aliveness.
The key is in how we respond. Do we bite back? Or do we let the pressure guide us toward creative movement, new direction, emotional clarity?
This week asks us to listen to the provocation, not with fear, but with presence. What is life trying to move through you? Where are your claws ready to act on behalf of your heart?
Themes: Provocation, tension, challenge, breakthrough, liberation, transformation, growth, empowerment.
Contemplations:
How can I use the energy of provocation to spark positive change in my life or in others?
Am I withdrawing or reacting impulsively when faced with challenges, or am I embracing the tension as an opportunity for transformation?
How can I transmute moments of provocation into liberation and empowerment for myself and others?
Friday, July 4: Venus conjunct Uranus at the last degrees of Taurus
On the 4th of July, Independence Day here in the US, Venus conjunct Uranus at the final degree of Taurus in Gate 8 (Contribution) is a moment of electrifying closure and awakening.
Venus represents love, value, self-worth, relationships, beauty, and money. Uranus brings sudden change, disruption, liberation, and the call to be radically authentic. When they come together at 29 degrees Taurus (the final, anaretic degree of the sign) there is an urgent, fate-tinged energy at play. Taurus is ruled by Venus, so this transit is doubly potent, highlighting themes of embodiment, sensuality, stability, and desire. The conjunction suggests a dramatic turning point, especially around love, finances, and identity. Something is ready to be released or radically redefined.
During this Transit, you might experience sudden realizations about your relationships or self-worth. This could manifest as a desire for freedom in partnerships, the need to express yourself more truthfully, or a shift in your values that feels both inevitable and exhilarating. This is a time when you might break away from roles or relationships that feel stagnant or overly controlled. On a creative level, it’s also a burst of innovation and aesthetic reinvention. Love could strike like lightning, or something once cherished could dissolve quickly. In both cases, what remains will likely reflect a more honest version of you.
In Human Design, Gate 8 is called the Gate of Contribution and lives in the Throat Center. It carries the frequency of individual expression in service to the collective. This is the energy of offering your unique essence and creative voice to inspire others. When Venus and Uranus meet here, there is a strong pull toward expressing your truth out loud, even if it defies expectations or social norms. It’s about shining as yourself, not as a version of you that’s been curated to fit in. You may feel a deep inner pressure to step into your own voice, to show up as the real you, and to let go of personas that were crafted for approval or survival.
This moment asks you to consider whether your values, aesthetic choices, and relationships reflect your current truth or an outdated version of who you once needed to be. The tension between comfort and growth is palpable. There is beauty to be found in rebellion now—not for the sake of chaos, but as an act of reclamation. Beauty becomes something more than appearance; it becomes the mark of authenticity, of lived truth, of creative courage. You may find yourself drawn to change your appearance, redefine what you find attractive, or completely rethink how you relate to love and money.
Gate 8 teaches that your contribution to the world lies not in conformity, but in originality. You don’t have to be loud to be seen. You don’t have to be polished to be beautiful. You don’t have to be accepted to be worthy. Your presence alone, when it flows from a place of truth, becomes magnetic. And this transit may show you where you’ve been dimming that light for too long. As Uranus shakes loose old scripts and Venus brings them into your awareness, there is an invitation to offer your gifts in a new way—one that feels more alive, more real, and more fully yours.
This transit can bring both endings and openings. With the final degree involved, there’s a sense that something is wrapping up. You may feel a deep inner knowing that it’s time to walk away from a chapter that has defined your self-worth or your sense of belonging. But with Uranus involved, there is also the promise of something unexpected and liberating taking its place. Whether it’s a new love, a new creative voice, or a new way of valuing yourself, this moment is about freedom through truth.
You might ask yourself: What values or identities have I outgrown? How can I express love or beauty in a more honest and embodied way? Where have I silenced my voice or held back my contribution? This is not about being rebellious for its own sake. It’s about creating the conditions in your life that allow your authenticity to breathe. When Venus and Uranus meet in Gate 8, the most beautiful offering you can make to the world is the truth of who you are.
Also Friday: Venus enters Gemini and Neptune stations retrograde
Also on Friday, Venus enters Gemini and Neptune stations retrograde, marking a shift in the emotional and energetic landscape that invites both curiosity and surrender.
Venus in Gemini lightens the heart after her time in earthy, sensual Taurus. She becomes more curious, communicative, flirtatious — seeking connection through ideas, words, and playful exchange. This transit invites us to explore new perspectives in our relationships and finances, to engage with beauty intellectually, and to keep things open, fluid, and a little less attached.
Together, these transits encourage a dance between mind and mystery. Venus in Gemini wants to talk it out, while Neptune retrograde invites us to feel our way through. Stay open to both inner revelations and outer conversations — what you discover may provoke (Gate 39!) a whole new level of freedom.
Neptune stations retrograde in Aries, we begin an introspective cycle that challenges us to reflect on our ideals, dreams, and illusions — especially as they relate to our sense of identity, independence, and initiation. Neptune in Aries carries the bold urge to act on a dream, to spiritualize the self, and to merge mysticism with raw instinct. But with the retrograde, we’re asked to slow down. To question: Whose dream am I living? Is my spiritual drive rooted in truth or escapism?
As Neptune retraces its steps and slips back into Pisces later in the year, we revisit the final dissolving stages of a 165-year cycle. Pisces is Neptune’s home, and its retrograde return there feels like a final wash — a spiritual rinse of old karmas, delusions, collective grief, and long-held illusions. It’s a chance to surrender once more before we fully leap into the next era of Neptunian evolution in Aries.
In Human Design, Neptune influences the mystic themes of a lifetime — the veiled, the symbolic, the sacred. Its retrograde invites deeper contemplation of whatever gate it activates in your chart. Right now, with Neptune hovering near Gate 25 (the Spirit of the Self) and moving toward Gate 22 (Grace), this retrograde may ask: Can you meet life with pure-hearted openness? Can you find grace in uncertainty?
Paired with Venus entering Gemini the same day, this moment offers a blend of mental curiosity and spiritual introspection. Venus wants to engage with ideas, stories, and connection — while Neptune calls us to go inward, to feel what cannot be said.
Together, they ask us to hold paradox:
-Let the mind stay curious, light, and willing to play.
-Let the soul sink deeper into the silent places where meaning forms.
This is a beautiful time to journal your dreams, question your motivations, revisit spiritual practices, and release what no longer resonates — so that when Neptune returns to Aries direct next year, you’re ready to embody your vision with clarity and courage.
Stay tuned next week for a major transit : Uranus enters Gemini for a 7 year stretch.
Look out for horoscopes for that coming to you later this week!
Stay in touch!
You can find me at astrosomatics.com, @cyclesoftimepodcast and @astro.somatics on Instagram, or subscribe at cyclesoftime.substack.com to get the pod in your inbox every Monday.
Thanks so much for reading, y’all. See you next week.
xox,
Alison
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