CANCER

June 22 – July 23

The symbol for Cancer is the Crab and it depicts very well many of the qualities of those born under its sign. Crabs have a very hard shell to protect their soft interior; this is true of both the animal and Cancerian sun signs.

Sensitive is a key word to bear in mind for these folk. Cancerians will pick up subtleties of mood, body language and tone of voice not always evident to the more boisterous signs. They are intuitive and easily hurt. Hence the need for a protective shell around them.

Another physical characteristic of the crab is their claws. If a crab grabs hold of you it is not an easy task to shake them loose – their grip is both strong and tenacious. Possessiveness, hoarding and living in the past can be a negative expressions of Cancerian energy, but on the positive this same energy is steadiness and wise husbandry of resources. It is all about balance, and letting of the old is a major spiritual lesson for this sign. Hopefully without the need to lose a ‘nipper’ in the process!

Crabs are quite shy, and scurry back into their shell or into their hole when they feel threatened. It is where they feel most comfortable and safe. Some crabs are quite adventurous – hermit crabs enjoy travelling across long distances and exploring new places – but they carry their home right along with them… Home is very important to crabs and Cancerians and a lack of a secure home will be a source of major stress.

Finally, crabs live in water – the element of the emotions – and in Cancer we see an exploration of the emotional life for the first time in the zodiac. Cancerians are in touch with their emotions and the emotions of others and make wonderful confidantes, counsellors and listeners. They will become the emotional touchstone for all their family, which will include treasured friends, neighbours and co-workers. Cancerians are the nurturers of the zodiac – often natural mothers and very comfortable keeping the home fires burning. If they reject a traditional wife / stay at home mother role, they will often choose a career that involves caring for others – nursing, hospitality, personal assistant, interior design, feng shui or counselling; something which enables them to make the living spaces of others ‘feel good’ or which entails the assisting others with their emotional or personal care. Of all the sun signs, this is the one which will find the men most comfortable with being a stay-at-home Dad.

What ‘Out of Balance’ Cancerian energy looks like

Moody, difficulty letting go, hypersensitive, worry, insecure, anxious, abandonment issues, rejection issues, living in the past, continuing negative family patterns, emotional burnout, hoarding, manipulative, pining, taking on others’ emotions, guilt, obsession,

giving too much to others.

What ‘Balanced’ Cancerian energy looks like

Nurturing, understanding, sensitive, considerate, kind, patient, intuitive, in touch with feelings, emotionally strong, secure, husband resources well, ‘earth mother’.

Cancer is ruled by the Moon, considered a feminine energy by most cultures both ancient and modern. The Moon in astrology is regarded as the ruler of our emotions, and the Moon is never the same two days running. For two weeks it is waxing from dark to full, then for two weeks it is waning from full back down to dark. It changes zodiac signs every two and a half days (the sun changes signs every 30 days or so). It is the moon that controls the tides on earth, exerting a force strong enough to pull massive amounts of water around the globe every six hours. Putting all of this together, this emotionally sensitive sign has its ruling planet in a constant state of change. Cancerians are often accused of being ‘moody’. Is it any wonder with such a potent and ever changing ruling planet? The solution – Peach-flowered Tea-tree – perfect for mood swings. It’s Doctrine of Signatures is of a flower constantly changing too, so it is a really case of like curing like.

Cancerians will often be drawn to roles which entail caring for others in some way, it is just part of their nature. It is therefore very important that they take care to nurture themselves (not just others). Alpine Mint Bush is the perfect flower to remind them to do so, and it is also the most appropriate remedy should they forget to and end up suffering from emotional burnout. It is a very nurturing, restorative essence on an emotional level.

Their emotional and psychic sensitivity can be both their greatest strength and their greatest weakness and there are some very good flowers to help ensure this remains a blessings rather than a curse. Regular doses of both Fringed Violet and Angelsword will cleanse unwanted and old psychic energies, and help maintain the integrity of the aura. In practical terms, this means Cancerians can be assured that what they are feeling is their own emotions, not that of others.

Illawarra Flame is very good for any feelings of rejection (which Cancerians will feel very deeply), while Tall Yellow Top is almost a constitutional remedy for any feelings of isolation, abandonment, disconnection from their ‘tribe’ or depression. As for the tendency to pine and brood, especially when separated from loved ones, Boronia is wonderful.

On a physical level, Cancer rules the stomach, breasts, uterus and ovaries. Crowea is a good supporting remedy for both stomach and uterus, She Oak for the ovaries, and Bottlebrush for the breasts.

Bottlebrush is a flower essence Cancerians can almost live on, because it helps one to let go – the spiritual lesson for this sign. Apart from that it is very good for facilitating the mother-child bond – crucial for this sign, to whom family is so important.

An out-of-balance Cancerian is prone to anxiety and worry, with Crowea the remedy of choice. If these emotions are left unaddressed over a period of time they filter down to create stomach problems. The mind –body connection is very evident with this sign, and illustrate really well how flower essences can be used very effectively as preventative medicines.

If you would like to know more, we run a One Day Seminar on Astrology and Australian Bush Flower Essences.

The Schedule is available here.

Flower Essences can be purchased here.

Copyright Linn Wiggins.

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A clinical trial a few years ago concluded that stress plays a role in sickness. This idea is not new to natural therapists, who have always believed in treating “the whole person” – hence the term “wholistic” therapies. Natural therapists work on the premise that you as a person are more than just your body parts and need to be treated on more than just a physical level.

On the first evening of my herbal medicine training with renown Australian herbalist Dorothy Hall, we were drawn a triangle (pyramid) to represent any disease. The top apex represented the physical body. The bottom two apexes were “Emotions and Attitudes” & “Environment and Circumstances” respectively. This, we were told, was how we needed to view every single person who ever sought our help.

As time went by, we were taught that herbs treat the physical body, and that flower essences are the tool for treating emotions and attitudes. Dorothy Hall always maintained that once strengthened and balanced physically and emotionally, most people then feel strong enough to make the necessary decisions about and changes to their environment and circumstances. I have continued with this philosophy in my own clinical practice and find it extremely effective. Flower essences are literally medicine for the emotions.

Flower Essences are not therapeutic drugs but work on the mind, soul and spirit. They are obtained by extracting the healing vibrational quality from the highest evolved part of the plant – the flowers. They work on an emotional level and heal the negative emotions and belief patterns, held in the subconscious mind. Australian Aboriginals have used flowers to heal emotional imbalances and physical injuries for thousands of years. Flower Essences were also used in Ancient Egypt, as well as Asia, Europe and South America. This system of healing was rediscovered and popularised seventy years ago by Dr. Edward Bach with his use of English flowering plants. Naturopath, Ian White has further developed this method using plants from all over Australia for his Australian Bush Flower Essences. His grandmother and great grandmother were herbalists, among the first white people to research the medicinal qualities of Australian plants, and his grandmother taught him from an early age. Ian has taken their knowledge one step further and worked with the plants and their influence on emotions.

Flower Essences are completely natural, perfectly safe, free from side effects and adjust to the needs of the individual taking them. It is not possible to overdose or harm when prescribing. If an inappropriate remedy is chosen, it simply will not work. Adults and children as well as animals can use the Essences. We are all functioning on beliefs and emotions, which may not necessarily be helpful to us. By changing our thoughts and beliefs we can relieve stress, which can then ultimately assist in restoring our health. Flower Essences can improve the quality of our life and bring us clarity, courage, strength and commitment to follow and pursue our life goals and visions. As well as resolving upsets and distress in one’s life they also help us to develop a higher level of intuition, self esteem, spirituality, fun and creativity.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been associating certain emotions with specific body areas for over five thousand year, so this concept is not new. The notion that emotions affect our physical health has been explored in modern times by Louise Hay, and detailed in her classic book “You Can Heal Your Life”.  The beauty of the Australian Bush Flower Essences is that some also work energetically on specific organs and body systems. For example Dagger Hakea addresses the emotions of resentment, irritability and bitterness. These feelings have traditionally been thought by TCM to be held in the liver. Ancient wisdom held that clues to a plant’s healing qualities were clearly visible via a language and process known as the Doctrine of Signatures. When this system is applied to Dagger Hakea, it is found that this plant has a strong energetic resonance with the liver and gall bladder.

If you would like to learn more about the healing qualities of Australian Bush Flower Essences, click here to see when Linn is teaching a workshop near you in the USA or Australia.

Or click here for the full workshop schedule of Australian Bush Flower Essences in Australia, the UK, North and South America, Asia and Europe.

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