Hello friends! I hope you and your loved ones are taking good care. I’m sending all the good thoughts and love to those in Los Angeles—and highlighting some resources below for those who want to help or those impacted.

Tonight, we are joined by a full moon in Cancer. Meaning feeling is very much at the forefront. Cancer reminds us of all that is tender within us, all that makes us feel supported and safe, and all that nourishes and feeds our soul. The moon is also conjunct Mars retrograde, which has been in an energetic standoff with Pluto for months.

In other words, this full moon knows tension—the pull of a rubber band being stretched to its limits—and this full moon wants us to better understand the ways we work with tension. Release quickly, and the rubber band jettisons across the room. Release mindfully, and the rubber band can adjust accordingly. This full moon also remembers tension. What might have been an everyday annoyance unresolved might now surface as magnified resentment, prickly demeanors, or irritabile outbursts. I hope if a conversation or moment feels tense over the next couple of days, you can take a moment to give yourself space—and let the feeling breathe.

Collectively, we are seeing this as increased frustration or strain around existing systems of care, collective efforts to defend the vulnerable, or strain around or fighting for basic needs. Right now, over 5,000 workers, including doctors and nurses, are leading the largest health care strike in Oregon’s history over “systematic understaffing, which leads them to care for more patients than they feel is safe.” Los Angeles is experiencing widespread devastating loss and strain from wildfires—while also demonstrating the depths of collective care—with the outpouring of mutual aid support for displaced L.A. residents.

Resources for Los Angeles

If you’d like to help, Trans Defense Fund LA has been compiling a directory of GoFundMes for impacted families and businesses in Altadena, CA, a harbour for Black homeowners avoiding discriminatory housing practices. Many of these families have lost homes they have tended to for generations. So please consider giving what you can to one of these families, or sharing with your networks.

If you or a loved one are seeking resources, Mutual Aid Network LA is maintaining a wikimap of aid in the area, including shelter, free meals and items, donation drives, wi-fi, transportation, and more.

Another way I’ve been thinking about this Cancerian Mars retrograde cycle and full moon is through the habits of actual crabs. Every year off the coast of southeastern Australia, thousands of spider crabs gather in shallower water as they shed their shells. Seeking safety in numbers, they climb on top of one another, creating massive underwater mountains of crabs and mutual shelter for each other while their new soft shells and limp legs have time to harden. Together, harder shelled crabs protect and defend against predators like stingrays who prey on the newly vulnerable crabs. Mars in Cancer wants to protect all that is precious and tender.

So between this Mars retrograde and full moon in Cancer, what are you noticing about your relationship to tension, especially tension related to care? What do you feel urgency to protect? What feels especially tender at the moment, and what kind of information does that give you about how you handle tension? What kind of supportive container can you offer to hold that tenderness and tension? Who are the individuals in your life that offer that crab-like shelter when you’re feeling vulnerable? What are the relational dynamics that exasberbate tender points for you? What are the ways you can tend to your stretched rubber band, so that you might return to full elasticity?

For more about Mars retrograde, read my last post.

Horoscopes for your rising sign:

As always, if you can’t remember your rising sign (aka your Ascendant), feel free to create your birth chart on my website.

Aries rising:

The ones you regard as family keep your fiery spirit rooted and nourished. But what happens when tensions amongst the people and places you call home bubble up? Do you fight, flee, freeze, or fawn? What are you coming to understand about the ways you can root yourself while experiencing tension?

Taurus rising:

Watch the way feelings and tension come up at the forefront of your communications, whether it’s the information you’re taking in, or the information you’re sharing with others. Maybe you’re highly sensitive to tensions you never previously noticed, or your own resentments are slipping into your text messages with others. Either way, slow down, and ask yourself if you can feel both feet on the ground.

Gemini rising:

If you’re feeling tension related to your worth, whether it’s money, possessions, or self, practice curiosity about any scarcity mindsets that might be bubbling up. When in doubt about having or being enough, consider tapping into gratitude to support any tenderness around lacking.

Cancer rising:

You are the container for so many people, for so many feelings. Is tension showing up in your body? What is it telling you about the ways you need to nurture your body and energy? Whether it’s muscle aches, fatigue, dehydration, malaise or other strains, the body knows when to tell us we’re in need of rest and care.

Leo rising:

Retreat, meditation, alone time—these forms of care might especially be nourishing to you. Whether it’s a stress dream or an angry thought that comes to you in the shower, what are you learning from the tenderness that shows up in the spaces where you are your biggest (and only) audience?

Virgo rising:

You might sentimental meaning in participating in the causes or interests dear to you with others. Has the vibe of the group, extra curricular, or related network recently turned tense? What can you glean from that tenderness that might reaffirm all that wish to create or aim for together?

Libra rising:

The way you show up in the world is your safe place. But when things in your career or other public roles get tense, it might be especially challenging to embody diplomacy among strained parties. In moments of conflict or anger, what do you feel an immediacy to protect? What information does that offer you about what is nearest and dearest in your career?

Scorpio rising:

You feel nurtured by the journeys that deepen and broaden your understanding—whether that’s through educational pursuits, publishing, travel, or spiritual endeavors. What can you glean from any defensiveness you might feel about these topics? What beliefs are you most likely to stand up and fight for?

Sagittarius rising:

Your bartering or exchanges with others are given with the utmost care at heart. But more recently, maybe your exchanges have been leaving you feeling resentful than warm and fuzzy inside. What tensions have been arising? How might you most skillfully protect that which you have to offer?

Capricorn rising:

You might feel most at home in your committed relationships. If tension has arisen related to your partner(s), whether platonic, romantic, or business, what do you feel an urge to protect? How can that tenderness teach you about the way you show up in these relationships?

Aquarius rising:

Notice what tenderness has been coming up during your daily work and well being. Are you feeling sluggish when it comes to your morning routine, your diet, or movement regimen? What information does tension give you about the way you maintain your health, chores, or other errands on the day-to-day?

Pisces rising:

Creativity is a deep well of safety for you. Pay attention to the leisure activities that now feel straining, the creative projects that frustrate you, or the bursts of anger that come up with children or romantic partners. What can you glean from the tenderness that arises?

That’s all for now—thanks as always for reading. 🦀💫