Well, in true Gemini fashion, June flew right by, and now we are into July. And now that we are firmly into Cancer season, the theme for the month is nurturance. How do you nurture yourself? What makes you feel secure? And what does that mean anyway?
Nurturing is the act of caring for someone or something to help it grow and flourish. And it’s the ultimate in Cancer energy. It’s about feeding the body and the soul and providing for security needs. It can be about protecting, cooking, the home, traditions and history. It can also be about self-care through journaling, exercise, creating art, gardening, or anything you do to help boost your moods.
As a person with a moon in Cancer, I am very familiar with the energy of nurturing, though I’m not always the best at self-care. Cancer energy can often be about taking care of others, at the expense of yourself. It’s an unselfish kind of energy, that gives and gives in order to help others grow. It’s why the sign is connected to motherhood. The archetype of the mother is the selfless one who sets aside their own needs for the good of their children or family, whether that be the natural family or the adopted family of friends and acquaintances they have put together.
Traditionally, looking after others means feeding them, taking care of them when they’re sick, and nursing them back to health. It’s also about teaching them to take care of themselves, through lessons in how to forage, cook, and feed themselves so that their basic security needs are met. It also means being there for them in times of emotional crisis and offering a warm hug, a sympathetic ear, and some kind and caring words.
But there is a downside. Sometimes people don’t want or need to be mothered, and the mothering that comes from too much Cancer energy can be taken as downright smothering. It can also be codependent, where you lose perspective on where to draw boundaries between yourself and others. And it can be focused too much on the past and traditions when sometimes you need to let go and make way for the new.
And Cancer is the sign of the Crab. Crabs are noted for their soft insides all mushy and gushy, but to get to the meat you have to crack their protective shell, which is thicker and tougher than human skin. And while Cancers are known for their emotional, and downright moody natures, they can also be protective of their inner worlds. Prefer to stay private and only show the depths of their true feelings to their inner circle of trusted friends and family.
So as we enter July, the question becomes, what do you do to nurture yourself? Is it about a home cooked meal? A walk in the woods? A day planting in the garden? Or is it about taking a nice long hot bath having a hot cup of tea, or staying in bed all day to recharge your battteries? Maybe you find nurturing through connecting with friends, putting money away in a savings account, travelling to new places or reading a book. Self-care looks different to different people, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. It’s just what works for you to feel like your emotional needs are met, and you feel safe and secure.
So now I turn it to you, what is your tradition for nurturing? Comment below.
