Creating Your Sanctuary
Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Nurture and nourish yourself away from the fray of life, and take time out for healing
Cancer, the crab, is a watery sign, ruled by the Moon. It is known as the mother sign, with a strong desire to care for, to nourish, and to protect others. It's a homely sign, associated with anything enclosed that surrounds and protects; including the womb, the cradle, and the grave. The private and the hidden are concerns for this sign. Key words are sensitively and protectively.
The crab imagery of the sign gives us the opportunity to look at where in our life we are exhibiting crab-like tendencies and erecting a hard shell of defensiveness to protect our soft, vulnerable heart. The mother imagery of the sign enables us to develop the courage and compassion to accept ourselves as we are in the here and now. So, although the strong, sharp pinch of the crab's claws might seem a "negative" image, it can be a reminder to let go of our ideals and to embrace life as it is now, with all its imperfection and exquisite beauty. When this happens we will truly come home to ourselves.
The sign encourages us to look at the nurturing, nourishing side of mother love, whilst simultaneously the sharp pinch of the crab's claws reminds us not to fall into the trap of reducing motherhood to a sentimental ideal. In the Cancer-inspired yoga practice, in the Yoga by the Stars book, we use the mantra Ma to induce a sense of well-being and connectedness.
We also integrate into the practice the yogic concept of withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara) to enable us to access a place within that is an island, and a refuge from the storm. Poses such as Tortoise Pose (Kurmasana), allow us to draw our awareness inwards, to take time out, and to just simply be in our own, private, peaceful haven.
The crab imagery of the sign gives us the opportunity to look at where in our life we are exhibiting crab-like tendencies and erecting a hard shell of defensiveness to protect our soft, vulnerable heart. The mother imagery of the sign enables us to develop the courage and compassion to accept ourselves as we are in the here and now. So, although the strong, sharp pinch of the crab's claws might seem a "negative" image, it can be a reminder to let go of our ideals and to embrace life as it is now, with all its imperfection and exquisite beauty. When this happens we will truly come home to ourselves.
The sign encourages us to look at the nurturing, nourishing side of mother love, whilst simultaneously the sharp pinch of the crab's claws reminds us not to fall into the trap of reducing motherhood to a sentimental ideal. In the Cancer-inspired yoga practice, in the Yoga by the Stars book, we use the mantra Ma to induce a sense of well-being and connectedness.
We also integrate into the practice the yogic concept of withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara) to enable us to access a place within that is an island, and a refuge from the storm. Poses such as Tortoise Pose (Kurmasana), allow us to draw our awareness inwards, to take time out, and to just simply be in our own, private, peaceful haven.
Cancer-inspired Meditation Questions
- What is my recipe for a happy home?
- If I were to create a place of sanctuary what would it be like? (Use all your five senses to describe it: sight, smell, touch, taste, and feel).
- Which meditation practices and yoga techniques help me to feel nourished and cared for.
- What other activities help me to feel safe, secure, at ease, happy, and at home?
Cancer: Create your sanctuary, find respite from the fray of life, nurture and nourish yourself, attend to your inner child, take time out for healing. Relax into the support that life can offer.