Sun in Cancer ☼ June 21 – July 22

June 21 (Summer Solstice) – July 22, 2019

The Sun sign is a much-celebrated astrological element, usually given more significance than it deserves. Remember – the Sun is just one planet in your star-soup.

As always, Cancer season begins on the summer solstice. This year the first day of Neptune Retrograde also coincides with the solstice. Happy birthday crabbiez!

Cancer is ruled by the moon. Every day the moon rises at a different time and place with a different shape and color. In similar fashion, the crab shifts from day to day. She is tender, nostalgic, forever yearning for the sweetness of childhood. Cancer absorbs everything around her, including other people’s thoughts, moods and vibrations. For those who are already sensitive, make a point to fortify your bubble every morning during this solar cycle. Visualize an impenetrable white light surrounding you.

The qualities of the crab are undervalued by patriarchal society. For example, Cancer nurtures all forms of life. And she surrenders to the tides of her heart with total abandon. These tides are not always calm, and this season is awash with many moods, some lovely, others not. Take care of yourself, listen to both sides of your brain. You may return home to spend time with family, if you’re willing and/or able. Take a walk down memory lane. Revisit your roots. Sleep in your childhood bed, hang out in grandma’s kitchen. Home, roots and family clarify like a compass. These things remind us of who we are and who we are not. Our roots lay everything bare: neuroses, habits, forlorn dreams.

The crab is a slow-moving creature. In Ayurveda, Cancer is best represented by the kapha dosha. Kapha individuals need more sleep than the average person. They are generally soft, gentle, dreamy, romantic, creative, intuitive, empathic and sentimental. Common characteristics of kapha individuals include introversion, tendency to gain weight, round faces and light colored eyes. Kapha types should avoid dairy and gluten and eat more raw fruit, vegetables and spicy foods. There are lots of free, legitimate tests you can take online to determine your dosha. Search for “dosha test” or “prakriti test.” I highly recommend finding out what your dosha is – this can be a HUGE help in deciding which foods are best for you to eat.

Speaking of food, Cancer rules the stomach, digestive system, pancreas, womb, breasts, sternum and lower ribs. Cancer Yoga is meant not only to open the heart and awaken your feminine power, but can also alleviate indigestion.

Another yogic concept I associate with Cancer is samana, which represents physical/mental/emotional forces spiraling inward. This force emanates primarily from the solar plexus and travels through the digestive tract. Samana translates as “middle force” because it lies in the center of the body, and also because it integrates all other forces in the body. Samana governs agni, or “digestive fire.” Other physiological processes ruled by samana include absorption and assimilation of nutrients, intestinal consolidation, metabolism, homeostasis and emotional discernment. To keep samana strong and healthy, try twisting and folding poses to constrict the visceral organs and lower abdomen. Poses performed on the stomach also help spread samana throughout the body.

At the outset of Cancer season, Mercury and Mars will also be in Cancer – soon thereafter, they ditch the sun for Leo (on June 26 and July 1 respectively). On July 2 we have a new moon solar eclipse in Cancer – all things considered, it seems like it will be pretty uneventful, but eclipses are exciting nonetheless! One day later on July 3, Venus joins the sun in Cancer (my Venus return ^__^ ). Mercury Retrograde begins on July 7 in Leo – womp womp.

On July 9, the sun in Cancer comes up against her ultimate nemesis: Saturn Retrograde in Capricorn. Saturn/Capricorn is the antithesis of lunar/Cancerian energy – prickly, steely, cold, rigid, unforgiving. Be compassionate with yourself if you’ve got some strong feels – likewise, take it easy on others, as this influence tends to arouse our inner critic. On the evening of July 10 the sun finds a friend in Neptune Retrograde in Pisces – a water day, ripe for creative and spiritual acts. The sun faces off with yet another retrograde planet on July 14: Pluto in Capricorn. This is, once again, a very heavy influence – alas, there is great opportunity for spiritual/emotional/psychological growth. July 16 is the full moon lunar eclipse in Capricorn – the eclipse will form a loose conjunction to Pluto (as this is coming so shortly after the sun/Pluto opposition) but I don’t think it will be too crazy. Mercury retrogrades all the way back to Cancer starting July 19. This planet will then be conjunct the sun in Cancer on July 21 – this is the day to do anything normally considered taboo during Mercury Retrograde (such as sign documents or travel) – take full advantage! The sun bursts into Leo the very next day on July 22.

Wind fades to rain, steadfast and unyielding, kissing seeds buried in forested souls. Tipple these guiding waters, infuse your blood with love. I recommend ample moongazing. Prepare for a potent solar eclipse + full moon lunar eclipse!!! Calm your mind with heart-centered meditation.

Mantra:  I feel