The Sun transits Cancer from June 21 (Summer Solstice) – July 22
Click here to learn about the Sun. Click here to learn about Cancer.
Disclaimer: when talking about Sun signs, it’s really more accurate to say “the Earth’s relation to the Sun” since the Earth is the one moving. An appropriate name for this much-celebrated, often oversimplified astrological element would therefore be “Earth Sign.” Remember – you embody a whole soup of planets!
If you are a Cancer, now comes your Solar Return.
Lunar cycle
The Sun in Cancer marks the kickoff for the coming month and the official end of the mercurial Gemini cycle. I feel invigorated and inspired, and I hope all of you do as well. Energy in the twin realm is fast, light and bright. This year’s Gemini season heralded much change and heartbreak, but it was lovely for precisely that reason: change is good. Now we move to Cancer, the goddess-mother of the zodiac. Prepare for life to slow again over the next few weeks. In classic astrology Cancer is associated with home and family. The crab is a remarkably sensitive and intuitive creature who prefers to stick around what is familiar to her. Cancers are attracted to creative and healing fields. When imbalanced, the crab is irrational, clingy, stubborn and emotionally unstable. Cancer is the first of the water signs in the zodiac realm. Generally speaking, signs that come early in the line-up struggle with the fundamentals. Out of all the signs, Cancer is one of the least likely to break out of old habits/patterns/comfort zones.
Cancer is ruled by the Moon, my favorite celestial body. Due to her lunar nature, the crab morphs frequently. Imbalanced Cancers are typically moody and overly susceptible to change. I have exceptional empathy for the crab as I have abundant Cancer energy in my own chart. I see Cancers as romantic beings at their core. I love the way the crab surrenders to the tides of her own heart with total abandon.
We have moved thus far from the lava flow of Aries to the cooling, hardening stage of Taurus, and then to Gemini to break it all apart. Watch the pieces land once more in the ocean of Cancer: a cosmic tale of death and rebirth in the first stage of the zodiac realm.
The axis of stability
Studying the polarities of the zodiac wheel is an effective method to learn more about the signs. You may recall that Capricorn is Cancer’s opposite sign, 180 degrees across on the wheel. Cancer is Capricorn’s powerful divine feminine predecessor; together they create the axis of stability. Although we must appreciate both ends of the spectrum, I believe it is even more imperative that we focus on regaining balance between feminine and masculine energies on our planet. We can all agree that there is indeed a serious imbalance between yin and yang on Earth as we know it today. Patriarchal institutions, ruled by Capricorn, have caused much violence and misery. It is time - and has been for thousands of years - that we destroy that which is destroying. Let us return to Ishtar and Shakti. I am speaking in particular to the divine men among us, for without you, this mission is not possible.
The qualities of the crab are severely undervalued in society. Cancer is clairvoyant, full of premonitions and mysticism. She lives fearlessly in the flow of energy all around us. Balanced Cancers are so in tune that they are often psychic. Cancer rules the breasts, breastbone, stomach, digestive system, womb and pancreas. A nice parallel can be drawn here to one of the five yogic prana vayus known as samana. One way to visualize samana is a spiral moving inward, located at the solar plexus, or manipura chakra. Soon I will have a page dedicated to all of the prana vayus. For now, this tidbit from the Yoga Sanctuary: “[S]amana vayu governs agni, the digestive fire, or fire of purification … It is responsible for the processing and assimilation of all that is taken in—food, emotions, perceptions, and breath. Samana is used to assimilate these energies so that they can be used optimally.”
Guiding waters
We’re still practically at the beginning of the the zodiac wheel with the first rains falling on the springtime seeds of the soul’s forest floor. Air to water…feel that transition viscerally, in your imagination and in your senses. Close your eyes - a strong wind is blowing in from all directions, but it’s slowing now, fading into nothing. Raindrops come, softly at first, and then frantically.
Cancer is a cardinal sign, a go-to for matters of the heart and spirit. She asks us to be empathic above all else. During the Cancer cycle, this objective may easily be taken to the extreme. For those who are already greatly affected by the energy of others, it is even more crucial now to maintain your bubble. Before leaving home or transitioning from one place to another, visualize a large luminous white egg enveloping your body. Fortifying your field allows you to exercise empathy without taking on any anger, sadness, etc that does not belong to you. When our defenses are weak, this is when we unintentionally/unknowingly absorb negative energies. These little seeds slip by without detection and become entrenched in our own psyche. So deft are they that it becomes difficult if not impossible in the end to sort out what’s ours and what’s not.
For this transit I suggest rituals involving water. Allow yourself to find joy in the symbolic qualities of this beloved element. Water washes away everything that no longer serves us. Water is reflective, forgiving, supportive. Water energy does not adhere to the laws of timespace. Spend ample time moongazing and prepare for a potent full moon! We’re moving down the line of chakras from the throat to the heart. Get out of the mind, allow it to rest. Be firm in your sense of Self. Step with confidence. You are propelled now by an unseen force. Let’s continue building for the year ahead. We still have wiggle room and countless new opportunities knocking. Namaste.
If you are a Cancer or would like to know more about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me.
Mantra: I listen to my intuition