Home and Family

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

-Admiral McRaven

The sign of Cancer is ruled by our Mama Moon and explores the themes home and family. And while this might bring up desires to remodel the house or spend time with family, this month’s focus is more about nurturing yourself. As women, we are told we should be able to do it all, and make it look easy. But being able to take care of others comes from first taking care of yourself. You can’t fill from and empty cup right? So this month, rather than trying to make your home life look more “perfect”, think about how you can make it feel more nurturing for YOU.

Cancer is also the first of the water signs, which represent emotions and intuition just like the Moon. This is a time to harness your feminine energy and celebrate your ability to feel. Our culture often views feelings as a weakness and something to be avoided or hidden. But truthfully, it takes an immense amount of courage and strength to experience your feelings fully. And the quickest way to release something is to go ahead and feel it, acknowledge it, and then let it go.

The quote at the top of the page comes from a Commencement Speech by Admiral McRaven that went viral. He speaks on lessons he learned from his time in the Navy, and if you haven’t watched it I highly recommend you do HERE. I love this quote because it resonates with my own healing journey in another way. When things started to really shift for me, I got out of a toxic relationship and moved out of and tiny attic room with no temperature control. As soon as I moved into the new bedroom in the new house, I decided that I was going to make my bed every morning. As I write this, that was two years ago and I have made my bed every morning since. Now this doesn’t seem like much, but for me it was a huge shift energetically. I love coming home to made bed at the end of the day, and I love feeling of calm that comes from a clean room. But more than that, it represents prioritizing my own comfort in my space. My favorite yoga teacher always says “invest in your set up” when we shift into savasana at the end of class. She encourages us to use as many props as we need to make ourselves as comfortable as possible. Now, I never actually use any of the props because I find laying flat on my back on the mat plenty comfortable. Yet, the phrase always stuck with me as a reminder that taking care of myself and prioritizing my own comfort were things to invest in. By putting a small amount of time and effort in now, I would receive even greater benefit later.

Your challenge for Cancer Season is to find ways you can “invest in your set up” by making your living space more comfortable. You don’t have to pull a full Marie Kondo and throw out half your stuff (although if you feel called, have at it!). It can be a simple as keeping fresh flowers every day for the month, or having a quiet cup of coffee in the morning, or taking a bath in the evening. Or you could go big and clean out a closet or organize the garage! Whatever makes you feel good, and as long as it comes from a place of self-nurturing rather than obsessing or feeling like you “should”. Daily rituals help us practice consistency and create new habits. Make whatever you choose into a ritual and commit to spending a little time on it each day. Then you can carry this practice into your life even beyond the month of Cancer Season.

Resources for Cancer Season 

Chakra: Sacral – Emotions and Divine Feminine Energy

Crystals: Moonstone or Citrine

Essential Oils: Ylang-ylang or Sandalwood

Reading: The Witch’s Book of Self Care by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Challenge: Daily Self-Care Ritual

On The New Moon 

Take some time by yourself to set intentions for the new cycle. Remember this is your practice, there are no rules. Allow yourself some freedom to experiment with what works for you. 

  • Set the space for inner work.

  • New Moon meditation

  • Journal Questions

  • Gratitude List

  • Set Intentions

  • Closing ritual:

 Closing phrase: “This or something better manifests for me now, under grace and in perfect ways.” 

Affirmation: “I am nurturing myself first.” 


Meditation

Journal Prompts 

How would you like to feel when you step into your home?

What is your favorite room or area in your home?

 What sets it apart from the rest of the house?

What room or area are you avoiding?

What could you do to make it more comfortable?

What are you committing to do each day to make your home feel more like a dream?

When can you take 15 mins to yourself each day?

Gratitude List 

At least 5 moments you put your needs first.