CANCER HOROSCOPE

You've worked hard at getting things back on track and are satisfied with the results, but is “satisfactory” really the best you can do? Cancers are often depicted as staying safe and sound within their comfort zones, but the Moon, your ruler, travels through all twelve zodiac signs in a month – gathering the light of each along the way. The First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius; a mythological creature that's half human/half horse, shows that there's a wild side of you that's chomping at the bit for something more. Heed the impulse on August 31st to jump the fence and gallop into the sublime.

The New Moon in Virgo on August 23d brings a disclosure, admission, or confirmation of a suspicion that you've harbored for a while. It's great to finally be privy to this kind of information, but that doesn't change the quandary you're in. If anything it opens a new can of worms. Expose what's going on and you betray an intimate's trust; remain silent and you enable a situation that shouldn't be tolerated. What to do? This would probably be a good time to seek the advice of an outside party. Not only will you get good advice, it will also help you generate ideas of your own.

The Venus/Jupiter conjunction in Cancer on August 12th is wonderful for bringing people together under one roof – like a gathering or community – as well as for anything that pertains to real estate, property values, or home improvement. It's also excellent for mergers and acquisitions. If you are looking to combine forces with another company or if you are working for a company that's being acquired, then this conjunction is favorable to you because either you benefit from this personally or you will be protected during this time which means you're one of the people the higher-ups decide to keep after the two companies come together.

Changes in the lives of loved ones can't help but impact you while Mars is in Libra, but this is when you need to curb your protective instincts and let people hash out their own differences. There is a lot of quarrelsome and combative energy coursing through that part of your solar chart that pertains to hearth, home, and family. And try as you may to prevail upon feuding parties to resolve their differences amicably, this just won't be happening any time soon. In fact a current dispute could take until late September to resolve. You can expect to alternate between mediator and referee until then.

Venus brings a restorative energy that allows you to reconnect with family and friends. This is good because you’ve been taken up with work for weeks – fretting about staying competitive and worrying that if you relaxed you would lose your edge. Nothing could be further from the truth right now. If anything, less is more when Venus is traveling through easygoing Cancer. Instead of racing after things, you should let things come to you. You’ll find that getting what you want doesn’t have to be as hard as all that – especially if you ask nicely. Venus will be in Cancer from July 30th to August 25th.

New Moons often create emotional blind spots which means that the New Moon in Leo on July 24th could create a blind spot when it comes to your heart (which Leo rules.) You trust your heart and know that what you feel is right but not everyone's going to feel the same way that you do because they have hearts of their own. Leo Moons tend to get imperious, which is why it's so important to show the same respect for others' feelings that you expect others to show you. This will open your heart and your mind and things can only improve from there.

A Moon in Aries will always incite you to act in the moment rather than consider the consequences. Usually you'd be right to heed these impulses, however the Last Quarter Moon on July 17th is a waning energy. Waning Moons lose light; they come late in the lunar cycle which means it's often best to make your move after the next New Moon takes place so that you avoid the danger of acting too early or leaving when you should have stayed. Find a friend to talk you down off the ledge if you can’t do it yourself. You’ll be glad you listened to reason.

For years you struggled to get to where you are, but now that you're in the Winner's Circle you'll see that it's just another playing field. It's enough to make a Cancer want to pack up and go home. Who wants to spend the rest of their life chasing away others as you defend your place at the head of the line? In truth you've come too far to turn back now plus the Full Moon in Capricorn on July 10th shows you've got what it takes. Life won't always be this demanding, but while it is it's a good idea to be just as demanding back.

It looks like the other party will agree to your terms courtesy of the first quarter Moon in Libra on July 2d. This is a waxing energy when the Moon, your ruler, is growing in light and given the strong influence of Venus it appears as if everyone will be happy with the outcome. Whether they're happy on the inside remains to be seen, but it's best not to press for now. Praise them for their generosity, thank them for their time and patience, and assure them that you are looking forward to future dealings. This will do a lot to assuage any bruised egos.

It isn't easy to resist someone who's trying to intimidate you into doing something you don't want to do. It's human nature to yield the field and to lay low in hopes that they'll move on, but that rarely happens. At some point that bully will circle round again. The wonderful thing about the Sun conjunct Jupiter in your own sign on June 24th is that it gives you the courage to stand your ground along with support from a higher authority to stare down your opponent. Not only will this send the coward running, it also ensures they'll think twice about messing with you again.