New moon in Cancer - July 17th 2023 - fixed star Pollux

By Fiona Aedgar 

New moon in Cancer conjunct fixed star Pollux. 

The new moon today, July 17th 2023, falls on 24 degrees of Cancer, the cardinal water sign. A new moon is the first lunar phase when both luminaries are at the same degree of a sign. 

In Astrology, a new moon symbolises a new start connected to the themes of the sign involved. Cancer is the archetype of the nurturing and protective Mother. During the new moon, the night sky is dark and without illumination and we tend to experience the more difficult themes of the sign that the new moon falls upon. 

Cancer rules the emotional realm which runs as deep as the unexplored parts of the ocean. With no light to guide us, this new moon can conjure a maelstrom of emotions and the element of air is absent from the classical planets in the new moon chart which means that rationality and logic are missing. 

The new moon highlights the archetype of the ferocious Mother Goddess. 

Kali-Ma, the Vedic Goddess of death and destruction is the most compassionate of all as she kills the evil and profane. In one story, Kali-Ma kills a group of men who unwisely decide to offer a Brahmin as a sacrifice. The goodliness and purity of the Brahmin causes Kali-ma to kill the criminals and drink their blood as punishment.

The moral of this story is that following the herd is unwise. Even if we feel like we are alone within our beliefs and persecuted by the masses, only the right actions can save us in the age of darkness. 

The fixed star Pollux, which is in the constellation of Gemini, adds a further, Mars like influence to the lunation. Pollux is said to be the “evil twin” of the divine pair that he makes with his brother Castor and his star is fiery, orange and red in colour. 

Skilled in boxing and combat, the ancient astrologers connected Pollux with physical strength and skills within sports and the military.  

Bernadette Brady describes Pollux as “Wisdom through painful insights.” 

The star’s connection with the new moon is about choosing a difficult path of conflict through knowledge which goes against the grain of popular and modern beliefs. 

The new moon on this star can symbolise problems within relationships, friendships and families and the need to gather courage against evil forces and people, even if we feel like we are standing alone. 

It is a good idea to bravely examine our own emotional responses to difficulties and consider how a lack of control can sabotage our efforts to achieve happiness. Other people may seem to have lost basic common sense and morality.

We may find that our opinions and beliefs are vastly different to those within our circle and general society. In the kali-Yuga, evil is venerated and glorified. The people who continue to live with truth are said to be “hunted in the streets like animals.”  

Taking the road less travelled, which contains non-mainstream knowledge and less popular ideas, and pushing towards a path of honour and truth, is the key to navigating both this lunation and life in the modern age.