Sultry, Sexy, Sacred
The ancients celebrated the summer solstice as a time of renewal, high spirits and joy. The Sun at its peak is a boost to physical health (Vitamin D), and a mood lifter. As the Sun moves into Cancer, we dive into the blissful and cool waters of the Great Mother. Cancer is an archetype for the cocooned safe place, the "womb of space" from which we emerge into this life, and return. It's the knowing that somewhere there's a place where we belong and are cherished, even if its only in the dreamtime or our imagination. We long for a home, where we can be vulnerable and open to soulful intimacy.
At this summer solstice (June 21), the values of the Sacred Feminine are heightened; these are intuition, sensuality, protection, an awareness of the web of life, and a cyclical view of time. The Moonchild knows there's a time to grow more radiant and a time to surrender to the dark. The receptivity of the Cancer season calls for empty open time in the day, to daydream, follow the mood, or integrate what we've taken in. We're reminded that for every intention, there's an emotional ripple that either harms or soothes, scares or reassures.
We can create sacred space for life to flourish, or scared space, where the strength of softness is crowded out. In this time of frenetic anxiety, this weekend's solstice/new Moon is a path into something richer. It's an invitation to let go of trying to fit yourself into the reality of The Man. It's a new beginning of being led by the heart and a deep love/lust for life.
(c) shawnisa at stockxchng
This has to be one of the most beautiful descriptions of Cancer I have read.
I have been reading your blog for the past couple of months and have found much food for thought in your writing.
I was looking through some of your old posts today and learned that you were also born on the 4th of July. I have always struggled with ambivalence concerning my birthday since I have a serious aversion to sudden loud noises! However, there is something to be said for being born on a day called Independence. My Aries Ascendant gets a bit of a thrill from that; )
Anyway, keep writing and I will certainly keep reading.
Oh Mari, I am with you on the ambivalence about being a Yankee Doodle Dandy. I always struggled with having my birthday become a public-family spectacle, being a privacy loving Cancer. My least favorite birthdays have been ones when I went out with a random group to do 4th activities…and as an aside, they sang a drunken, rowdy happy birthday. This violates my sense of needing to be in a heart-felt atmosphere to fully let my hair down. Usually, the 4th is such a loud, patriotic affair that all subtlety is lost!
I had a Cancer Dad (July 8th), though, who told me that “the fireworks are for you, little girl” and that was special. Especially now that he’s passed over, since June of 2007.
In recent years, it’s meant more to me in terms of America and a sense of shared destiny. I still love this country and hope that true independence can be restored someday, as the founders intended. Incidentally, I am related to Lyman Hall, one of the signers of the Decl of Independence.
It’s a mixed bag, but I wouldn’t trade it for any other birth day. Thanks so much for your kind comments…and let’s hope this birth day and solar return is auspicious for you, me and America! love, m