Cancer Astro Care Guide
Cancer
Health & healing for Cancer season and placements
As the summer season arrives, Cancer encourages us to create a sense of security in our relationships by fostering meaningful connections. Hosting family dinners, summer adventures with friends and drive-in movie nights with your partner are all opportunities to compassionately hold space for those we love. With the swell of the Sun illuminating this Lunar ruled season, our emotions become amplified. We may experience an overwhelming wave of emotion that catches us by surprise. Causing us to retreat or put up defensive walls to protect our inner most sensitivities-much like a crab. But, if we are able to follow our intuition while being open and honest about our emotional waves, we can deepen relationships while supporting healthy boundaries. Allowing us to feel loved and appreciated for who we truly are.
Cancer Rulership
Chest
Sternum
Rib Cage
Breasts
Stomach
Elbows
Uterus/Womb
Cancer Body
The Stomach
Cancer Posture
Knees to Chest
With the stomach being ruled by Cancer, those with Cancer placements can be susceptible to stomach pains and digestion issues. These can come about seemingly out of no where or can be directly related to emotional stress or triggers.
The fetal like position of Knees to Chest Pose creates a sense of safety while connecting to the womb-ruled energy of Cancer. This position can help to ease emotional waves and calm the mind. Along with relieving indigestion and easing the pain of gas or bloating.
For more stomach relief poses try these:
Child’s Pose
Seated twist
Happy baby
Garland pose
Cancer Ritual
At - home ritual to reconnect to the Cancer energy within you
The deeply compassionate, Mother-like energy of Cancer can be quite healing and nourishing for those surrounding a Cancer native. Though, this deep need to care for their loved ones can sometimes lead to a neglect of self. It is important for Cancers to utilize that protective crab essence for themselves as well as others. Making sure they make time to tend to their own needs.
As the only sign ruled by the Moon, living with the Lunar cycles helps this sign feel more in tune with their true essence. Restorative activities like swimming in a natural body of water can provide Cancers with a spiritual cleanse. It can also be quite beneficial to channel the protective mother bear energy of Cancer by engaging in combat sports such as martial arts or boxing.
Here is a ritual to perform at home to reset your energy and get in touch with the Cancer within you:
Bath
As the first water sign in the Zodiac, Cancer feels refreshed and born anew in the water. Starting your ritual with a therapeutic bath will will clear your mind and reset your system.
Try adding these Cancer supporting essential oils :
Geranium, Rosemary, Chamomile,Frankincense, Patchouli
Chest opener
Standing in a split stance, right leg in the front and left leg in the back, alongside a wall or in a doorway.
Bring the left arm up to shoulder height and position the palm and inside of the arm on the wall surface or doorway. Your elbow should be bent to 90 degrees.
Gently press the chest through the open space to feel the stretch.
Moving the arm higher or lower will allow you to stretch various sections of the chest.
Repeat on the other side.
As you stretch these hard working and protective chest muscles, it may be a good time to reflect on how you may have been too protective or defensive in life. Where could you let your guard down and show a little vulnerability? Remembering that vulnerability fosters deeper connections.
Pec massage
There is a lot of talk out there about how many emotions are stored in our hips, but not as much about how many emotions are stored in our pectorals. The pectorals are the muscles that pull our shoulders forward to protect our heart in a traumatic or scary situation. So they hold quite a bit emotional trauma and can be extremely tender for some. While practicing this technique release any emotions that may have been harbored there.
Standing or sitting up with your shirt on or off, use your finger tips to firmly but slowly glide from your sternum towards your arm pits. Near your armpits you will likely feel tender spots or even knots, use your fingertips or knuckles to knead the muscle in circles.
Nourishing home cooked meal
As ruler of the stomach, creating a sense of comfort with home cooked meals is essential for Cancer self care. Using this time as a working mindfulness meditation can be healing. Paying close attention to the feels, sights, sounds and tastes helps us to live in the moment and savor each step.
Emotional Scan
Claire Gallagher suggests in her book BODY ASTROLOGY, that because Cancers tend to be emotional eaters, digesting emotions before digesting food can be extremely supportive for the Cancerian GI tract. She says you can do this by placing one hand on your heart and one on your belly, while taking note of any emotions you may be carrying into your meal. This amplifies your feelings of security and settles your nervous system.
Cancer Journal/Tarot Prompts
As you attune to the nurturing energy of Cancer through embodied practices such as movement and self-care, consider integrating the wisdom of the season through reflective activities like journaling and tarot. Engaging in these thought-provoking practices can aid in navigating spiritual barriers, both mentally and physically, integrating the lessons of the season and encouraging healing for personal growth.
Consider these prompts as you integrate the healing of the season:
Where in my life am I being too protective, how can I be more vulnerable?
How have I let emotions control my life?
What in my life needs my nurturing care?
