Astrology has always fascinated me, even at a young age. It seemed so interesting that the exact timing and location of my birth predicted all these cool personality and character traits. I have always been a very sensitive child. I was bullied in school for it and was told countless times to just “get over it.” It was even my extreme sensitivity to seeing others in pain that led me to become a vegetarian at a young age.
As a I grew up I learned more about astrology and the different astrological signs, especially the cancer sign. Cancers are born between June 21–July 22. Although cancer season has just passed, I found that this past month has been a whirlwind of emotions for me. Can any other Cancers out there relate?
The Fourth Sign in the Zodiac
“Cancers” are individuals known for being emotional, nurturing, sensitive, intuitive, loyal, caring, sentimental, moody, creative and protective. They are very much home bodies and would rather have a small, close knit group of friends than a ton of friends. Cancers wear their hearts on their sleeves, and they are the first to help someone. These people also have strong desires toward growing roots, which is why they tend to nurture their homes and close relationships.
Water is their element, which makes sense considering that it’s the season of summer. When a Cancer is flowing with life, they are in harmony with what is. When cancers try to stop and control the flow, or even resist it, they can experience irritability and loss of interest in their passions. Their emotions also flow very naturally, hence why they are often called “moody.” Think of their emotions like a dam. If a cancer were to plug up their outlet for releasing emotions through the medium of tears (the water element), then their dam will eventually overflow and break. This could lead to even more emotional upheaval. Water is meant to flow and nurture life, and it flourishes when it’s unencumbered, just like our ability to express emotions.
Highly Sensitive People and Empaths
For me, this past month has been a whirlwind. One of the downsides of being a cancer, and an empath, is that I can easily absorb others’ emotional baggage, just like a sponge. My summer schedule had me so busy that I completely ignored my own personal needs. And just like that dam, the element of flow in my life backed up. So when my birthday came around on July 19th, guess what also arrived with it…. My period! Sure enough, the dam couldn’t maintain all the energy I was carrying. Cue the floodgates.
Cancers are also ruled by the moon, which has a huge influence on water. When I stopped allowing the flow of water to work naturally in my own being, I became emotionally numb. My period became the catalyst for that flow to happen, both literally and metaphorically. Immediately I turned to all my self-care rituals that soothe me in times of turmoil. I showered with essential oils diffusing, I took Epsom salt baths, I swam in pools, I hydrated my body with refreshing juices, and I journaled with a steady stream of consciousness. I allowed the flow to just… flow.
The Power of Water
Allowing water to be a tool of healing helped free me so much. I love cleansing my temple (aka body) in water every day, even if that’s simply a quick, cold shower. There is something so magical about the path water takes as it moves with gravity. I realized that while I water and nurture my plants everyday, I can easily forget to do the same for myself.
Working with the powerful element of water has been such a positive shift in my life. The saying, “What you resist, persists,” cannot be any more true when it comes to allowing the flow to do what it does best. The more I resisted, the more I stunted my own healing.
So a word of advice for all you Cancer crabs—don’t let your emotions bubble up to the brim! Use water as your ally and find more flow in your life. Plus, what better way to make the most out of summer than by getting into bodies of water more often. Be playful. Stay hydrated. Give yourself a hug. And never forget what a gift being sensitive is.
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Photo by Erik Dungan on Unsplash
