Nourishing and nurturing yourself the season
Welcome to Cancer season 🦀♋
Welcome to Cyclical Creativity! This series tackles the seasonal cycles of our year (astrological and other seasonal periods).
See past cyclical creativity posts.
Welcome to Cancer season, y’all! Cancer season started yesterday, June 21, and officially kicked off the start to summer. Cancer is the first of three astrological signs in the summer season, and signifies the start to something new. That means charting the course for what’s ahead — setting new goals and intentions, and breathing in the excitement of a fresh start.
In this newsletter, we’ll dive into what this season means, providing context as a tool for reflection. My goal with these zodiac season newsletters is to enable goal and intention setting that works in concert with the season, and not against it.
Gemini season wrap up: leaving behind the chaos
Gemini season had a lot going on. Although Cancer season starts the official start to summer, Gemini season is the time when the restlessness of nice weather and long days sets in. A double whammy of an ambitious, big-picture thinking air sign with a season that represents the end of spring, it’s hard to get things done in Gemini season.
If it felt hard to wrap things up in Gemini season, that’s okay. Cancer season will ease you into summer like stepping into a warm bath — easeful and relaxing, and even a little bit cleaning. 🛁
Cancer Fast Facts
Dates: June 21 — July 22
Element: Water. Water signs are calm, feeling, and nurturing. They ask what will help your ideas flow, and what feels the most imaginative.
Modality: Cardinal sign. Cardinal signs mark the beginning of a season (summer, in this case), and initiate action.
As the cardinal water sign, Cancer season asks us to consider what we hope to come next, and to let our creativity and imagination run loose. This season helps us set goals and intentions for what’s ahead in a holistic and resonant way.
Cancer ensures our work for the season ahead is connected to our deep desires, and slows down the hustle and bustle of summer with a nurturing and calm energy. It helps us develop an intuition where we know what feels right, and how to go after that.
Cancer Moon Cycles
Where we’re coming from: New moon in Gemini — Sunday, June 18
Slow and reflective new moon energy + communicative and restless Gemini energy = getting the wiggles out and planning for the adventure ahead.
Where we’re going: Full moon in Capricorn — Monday, July 3
Actionable full moon energy + ambitious and disciplined Capricorn energy = getting clear and taking action on your biggest and realistic goals.
New moon in Cancer — Monday, July 17
Slow and reflective new moon energy + nurturing and kind Cancer energy = cultivating softness and reflection; being gentle with yourself while setting the course for what’s ahead.
What are the Cancer ✨vibes?✨ What should I expect?
I view Cancer as the grandmother of the zodiac (stick with me, here). By nature, Cancer is kind, empathetic, and understanding. After the whiplash and busy-ness of spring, we can expect summer to be unrelenting.
One of the funny energetic things I find about summer is that once we hit the summer solstice, the days start getting shorter as the days continue to get hotter. Summer is an energetic peak, and one that we hit early. From here on out, our days only get shorter, and the energy begins to wane.
Cancer is a breath of fresh air; or more aptly, a splash of water — but a warm, pleasant one. Cancer season is here to hand us a refreshment, to sit down with us and listen to what’s been going on with a kind and understanding ear. Cancer season doesn’t judge us; it lets us unfurl our grievances and gives us a new start. It’s stabilizing and unlike anything we’ve experienced in awhile.
The moodboard I’ve put together for this season takes this into account. It combines water imagery with some retro qualities; navy, seafoam, and coral abound, making a mature and rich palette that is ultimately trustworthy and grounding.
What should I create this season?
In alignment with our creativity theme, I want to offer ideas for creation during this season — what aligns with the overall energy of Cancer, so that creating feels as full of ease as possible.
Cancer season is about starting those big summer dreams, and being kind to yourself in the process. The one word I would use to describe Cancer is nurturing — and that’s what it has the opportunity to lend you, if you allow it. There’s a blank slate here if you want it — a space to let go of what isn’t serving you, and a space to dream big around what will serve you going forward.
Journaling
Cleansing activities (summer clean out, rituals of letting things go, water-based activities to signify a fresh start)
Moodboarding or vision boarding — collage sounds like an awesome way to dream summer dreams
Exploring new forms of movement
Indulging in and/or creating a nourishing meal
Slowing down and creating mindful moments
Brainstorming intentions and goals
Cancer Card Pull
As you’re continuing to get into the Cancer vibe and set your intentions for the season ahead, let these cards gently nudge you in the direction you need to go. As always, take what resonates and leave what doesn’t. These cards are from the Inquire Within deck from Worthwhile Paper Co.
Choose a card — left or right.
Left card: Celebrate little things.
Cancer season gives us the opportunity to slow down — to better understand how far we’ve come. It’s easy to keep striving for more, more, more — but that’s how we exhaust ourselves and get burnt out. Slow down; recognize and celebrate the small things. This is where the magic and fulfillment is.
Right card: Cultivate stillness.
Quiet is something that can be disconcerting. So much of our days is spent in action — running from one place to another, answering messages, and remembering things we need to follow up on. But just like slowing down, there is opportunity in stillness, in the quiet. By quieting our minds, we create room for newness, for inspiration, for new ways of doing things. What will you find there?
I’d love to hear what you’re working on this Cancer season! We’ll be back with your forecast for Leo season in late July :)