Cancer Season: Protecting the Flow
This season officially ushers us into the Summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the second half of the year when we are introduced to the mechanics of fire, heat, and Yang dominant energy.
We begin with the Summer Solstice, when the Sun reaches its peak and we experience the longest day of Sunlight of the year, a display of Nature’s full, abundant power.
However, Cancer season, lasting from June 21st to July 22nd, is ruled by the Moon, and her powerful influence on the tides of both the Ocean and our own inner flow. This is the time of the mother, the stomach, and the water, the ones who give us life and help us to protect and nourish it.
Before we leave the Yin dominant part of the year, we are reminded of the importance of protecting the softness and gentleness we have built up, guided by our powerful intuition. The moon and our own shifting moods guide us through this time and nourish what keeps us healthy and wet with life.
The Ocean: The Mother of All Life
Cancer season is characterized by warm, often humid weather, and invites us to connect with water, be it through oceans, lakes, or even summer rains.
Across cultures, Water symbolizes our emotions, intuition, and purification. We find an abundance of water’s wisdom at the source, the place where all water flows, the world’s oceans.
The ocean is often referred to as the "mother of all life," an embodiment of the origin and sustenance of life on Earth.
Her vastness and depth hold the knowledge of all life forms and their secrets, much like the depth and complexity of love itself. The ocean is a common symbol of the unconscious mind, depth, and the collective emotions of humanity. It's vast and mysterious, much like our inner world. During Cancer season, we are called into community with the water around us and in us, and the lessons she holds.
Source of Life and Biodiversity
The ocean is the cradle of biodiversity, supporting a wide array of life forms. This diversity can be seen as a metaphor for the different roles the mother archetype plays—caretaker, protector, teacher, and nurturer. The ocean’s ability to support such diversity teaches us about the expansive nature of this energy in us all, which can adapt and flow to meet our varying needs and circumstances.
Wisdom and Depth
Just as the ocean holds deep, unseen worlds, our own inner wisdom often includes unspoken depth. The ocean’s hidden realms can be likened to the subconscious wisdom passed from mother to child, often through non-verbal cues and emotional exchanges that shape an understanding of the world and themselves.
Protection and Continuity
The ocean's shores and depths protect countless species, much like a mother's embrace. This protective quality is essential for continuity and stability, teaching us the importance of safe havens—spaces where growth and development can occur unthreatened. The ongoing rhythms of the tides and waves also mirror the consistent presence of a mother’s love and the boundaries it establishes, which provide a stable foundation for personal growth.
The Teachings of Water: Boundaries and Reflection
Water can teach us that setting boundaries is an act of self-respect and love.
It involves recognizing our own needs and limits and communicating them clearly to others.
This is not always easy, but it is essential for maintaining balance and harmony in our relationships and within ourselves. Using the water elements properties and behavior we can learn how to apply this wisdom to our own life.
Reflecting Boundaries
Water naturally finds its boundaries. Whether it’s a riverbank or the shores of an ocean, water respects limits set by form and the material world. This serves as a metaphor for personal boundaries—knowing where to flow and where to stop, understanding where one’s emotional landscape meets that of another. During Cancer season, connecting with water can remind us of the importance of respecting our natural limits, not just in physical spaces but in our interactions and emotional exchanges too.
Maintaining Flexibility within Boundaries
Even within its banks, water is adaptable. It can be calm and still or fast and turbulent, responding to the environment without losing its essence. Similarly, our emotional boundaries should be flexible, allowing us to adapt to different situations while still protecting our core emotional needs and values. This flexibility is crucial in relationships, helping us to remain open and responsive to others without compromising our well-being.
Purification and Emotional Release
Water purifies, cleanses, and renews. Think of the way rain washes the landscape or the ocean cleanses the shore. In our lives, connecting with water during Cancer season can symbolize the cleansing of old emotional wounds or negative patterns. It encourages us to release emotions that no longer serve us, creating space for new growth and transformation.
The Symbol of the Crab and Turtle
During this season, many animals are also quite active in the waters, taking advantage of Nature’s abundance.
The crab and turtle are strongly associated with Cancer, because of the shape of the Zodiac sign, but also because both are resilient and sensitive, capable of adapting to their environment while also being fiercely protective of themselves and their offspring. The crab's hard shell symbolizes the protective boundaries we need to maintain our emotional well-being, while their soft underbelly represents our vulnerable, nurturing side.
Turtles, with their slower pace and reliance on both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, symbolize the wisdom of pacing ourselves in our emotional journeys. Their shells, like those of crabs, serve as protection but are also homes they carry on their backs, representing self-sufficiency and the idea that our boundaries and protective measures can travel with us wherever we go. Turtles teach us that our safety and comfort zones are not static but are something we cultivate and carry within ourselves.
Cancer and the Body: The Stomach and Fluids
Cancer season is ruled by the moon, who governs our bodies cycles like digestion and emotional regulation.
The stomach's role in digestion and transformation can be seen as a form of internal nurturing. She represents both the mother and the Earth’s love and nurturing force. By breaking down food and extracting nutrients, the stomach ensures that the body receives the essential energy needed to thrive.
Cancer season encourages us to nurture ourselves and others, especially through the flow of nourishing liquids, providing the necessary care and support for growth and healing. Just as the stomach requires balanced and nourishing food, we need emotional and spiritual nourishment to feel secure and fulfilled.
Digestion and Transformation
The stomach is seen as the organ responsible for the initial digestion and breakdown of food. It works closely with the spleen to transform ingested food into Qi (energy) and Blood, which nourish the body. The stomach prefers warm, cooked foods that are easy to digest. Cold or raw foods can be more challenging for the stomach to process.
Emotional Health and Harmonious Flow
The stomach is closely linked to our emotional state, especially worry and pensiveness. Excessive worry or overthinking can impair the stomach's ability to function properly, leading to issues such as indigestion or nausea. During Cancer season, when emotions are heightened and introspection is encouraged, it's important to maintain a healthy balance in our emotional and digestive health. Just as the stomach transforms food, we must also process and transform our emotions healthily.
The Stomach and Qi
The stomach is considered a crucial part of the Middle Jiao, which is responsible for the production and transportation of Qi. A strong stomach function ensures that Qi flows smoothly throughout the body, promoting overall vitality and stability. This concept aligns with the idea of boundaries and protection in Cancer season—just as the stomach transforms and distributes nutrients efficiently, setting healthy boundaries helps us manage and distribute our emotional energy effectively.
Herbs and Recipes for Cancer Season
Many of the herbs and foods associated with Cancer have qualities that align with water—either through their moistening properties or because they thrive in or near water environments. They also promote comfort, good digestion, and healthy emotional being, and are overall mild and soothing to the body.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Chamomile has been used for centuries in many cultures, like ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. It was dedicated to the gods for curing fevers and was used in the mummification process.
In Asian cultures, chamomile is often associated with tranquility and meditation, used to calm the mind and promote enlightenment.
It is great for soothing the digestive system and promoting emotional balance by alleviating anxiety and inducing relaxation. It is super mild and can even be given to small children.
Recipe: Chamomile Honey Glaze
Gently warm 1 cup of honey without letting it boil. Add 2tbsp of dried or fresh chamomile flowers and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture and let cool. Use this glaze on desserts, baked goods, or over grilled fruits for a soothing treat.
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
Aloe vera's use date back to ancient Egypt, where it was known as the "plant of immortality." It's highly prized by herbalists for its skin healing properties, digestive benefits, and soothing effects on the gastrointestinal tract.
In Ayurveda, aloe vera is used to balance the doshas (body energies), particularly pitta for its cooling properties.
Recipe: Aloe Vera Smoothie
1 cup fresh aloe vera gel, 1 cup cucumber, juice of 1 lemon, 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, a handful of mint leaves. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fennel is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean. It has been used as a digestive aid and for its properties to increase milk supply in breastfeeding mothers. Fennel also helps reduce bloating and settle the stomach.
Fennel is used in traditional Chinese medicine to expel cold and relieve pain, associated with longevity and courage. It is believed to ward off negative spirits and to provide protection.
Recipe: Roasted Fennel and Beetroot
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss 2 large beetroots (peeled and cubed) and 2 fennel bulbs with 2 tbsp of olive oil, 2 tsp of dried thyme, salt, and pepper to taste. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender and caramelized. Top with orange slices and pistachios.
Oysters
Oysters have been a vital food source and cultural icon for coastal communities around the world.
They are highly nutritious, packed with zinc, which is essential for immunity and reproductive health.
They are also known for their distinct flavor, which can vary dramatically based on their environment due to their ability to absorb the characteristics of the water where they grow—a phenomenon known as "merroir."
They are also crucial to their ecosystems, with oyster reefs providing essential habitats and protective spaces for a variety of marine life, including fish and crabs. These reefs can also protect shorelines from erosion by stabilizing the seabed and reducing the impact of wave action.
Recipe - Baked Oysters with Herb Butter
Shuck 12 oysters, keeping them on the half shell. Mix 1/4 cup of softened butter with 1 clove of minced garlic, 1tbsp of parsley, 1tsp of lemon zest, salt, and pepper to taste. Place a dollop of butter mixture on each oyster. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 10 minutes until oysters are plump and edges curl.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Fenugreek is native to Western Asia and the Mediterranean. It is commonly used to enhance milk production in nursing mothers and to improve digestion due to its fiber content.
In some traditions, fenugreek is used in spells for prosperity and to increase physical strength.
Recipe - Fenugreek Maple Glazed Carrots
Toss 1 pound of carrots with olive oil, 1tsp of ground fenugreek seeds, salt, and pepper to taste. Roast at 400°F (200°C) until tender, about 30 minutes. Drizzle with 2tbsp of maple syrup in the last 5 minutes of roasting.
Milky Oats (Avena sativa)
Milky oats are harvested during their “milky” stage when the oat tops exude a white, milky sap. This is typically just before the oat plant fully matures and hardens into the oat grains commonly used in foods like oatmeal.
They are used for their calming effects, especially for soothing the nerves and improving emotional resilience. The milky sap contains bioactive compounds that help soothe and strengthen the nerves.
The soluble fiber found in oats is known for its cholesterol-lowering properties, which can also be attributed to the milky oat stage. Eating them regularly can help improve cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol levels and enhancing arterial health.
Recipe: Creamy Milky Oats Risotto
In a saucepan, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion and 1 clove of minced garlic, cooking until soft. Add 1/4 cup of sliced mushrooms. Add 1 cup of milky oats and toast for 1 minute. Add vegetable broth 1 cup at a time until you’ve added about 3 cups, stirring continuously, until each cup is absorbed before adding the next. Once oats are creamy and tender, stir in parmesan, salt, and pepper.
Milk (Animal and Plant Based)
Milk has been a staple in diets around the world, valued for its nutritional content and versatility. It's also used to soothe ulcers and calm the digestive system.
Milk is seen as a symbol of purity and nurturing in Hinduism, often used in religious ceremonies and offerings to deities. It was revered and used sparingly, no matter which animal it was taken from, often seen as a gift from the spirits.
Recipe: Sweet Milk Pudding
In a pan, mix 2 cups of milk, 1/4 cup of rice flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2tsp of cardamom powder , and a pinch of saffron. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens. Pour into molds or a bowl, cool, and set in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Sub with any plant based milk like oat, soy, or coconut.
Rice
Rice is a fundamental food for over half of the world's population, especially in Asia. It is gentle on the stomach, making it great for those with digestive issues.
Rice is considered sacred in many Asian cultures, symbolizing fertility, wealth, and health. It is used extensively in rituals and offerings.
On Turtle Island, wild rice, or Manoomin, is harvested and used by several tribes seen as a gift from the Creator, and often used in ceremonies.
Recipe: Rice Pancakes
In a bowl, mix 2 cups of cooked rice, 1 cup of chopped mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn), 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of flour, and 1tsp of soy sauce to form a batter. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Spoon batter to form small pancakes, fry until golden on both sides. Serve with dipping sauce.
