I was so lost in the fulfillness of Cancer season, that I pretty much forgot to write about it! I sat with a Cancer sun friend, Shawna of
to chat about theses three decans and I think that I just told myself that I must have written about it. Or maybe I dreamt that I had. . .There is a sleepiness in Cancer, a surrendering to undulate under the waters that lull you towards a slumbering place. It’s a really nice place, soft & scented and it would need to be for Cancer is the sign where the moon resides and Jupiter exalts. No scratchy fabrics or ill fitting shoes here. TYVM. There is hunger for solid nourishment and somatic integration of the body during this time. In the Thema Mundi, Cancer sits at the helm after all, the first house representing the body. In auspiciously timed honor, I’ve been tending to my own, answering to it’s needs with nourishment and medicines. I’m glad to slide into Cancer writing before this Jupiterian Moon sign slips away from us all and before we purge gleefully into the sun.Enter Cancer 1,2,3
Let us welcome the Lords of Love, Abundance and Luxury
Exiting out of the tumultuous Gemini story and the feverish climb of the sun to it's peak, we arrive at the TOP. Standing here we are able to see the glory of all that is below in the mundane world. It’s sitting in the top of the roller coaster after hearing the anxiety producing click-click-click of the ride’s tracks rising higher, escalating fear and ultimate surrender for the ride that we volunteered for. We are lead to the topper-most of the popper-most: Summer Solstice. The central Sun allows all of us to loiter,for it unconditionally shines it’s illumination, heat, energy, spirit and radiance for one and for all. It’s inevitability requires us to begin-again. Cardinal signs are the ones that encounter the turning of the wheel, the primary spokes on this tropical (never look back!) circle of time. When you look at the modern animation of the planets orbiting around the sun as it hurtles through space, you get a sense of how powerful the sun has to be to keep all of the rest of the universe in balance. Let us give the sun its glory for it’s going to shine anyway. As the sun reaches the top and the rollercoaster stops tick-tick-ticking at us in it’s incessant Gemini prattle, we get to see the rest of the ride displayed right in front of us. We get to scream with joy as we descend down, held safely in our seats with the world moving too fast past us. There isn’t enough time, there is only now. This is the Cancer experience. Lord, have mercy on our soft, crabby insides.
The major arcana card that represents Cancer is the Chariot card. The decan ruler of Cancer I is Venus, The Empress card. The decan itself is the Two of Cups. Let’s scuba dive down into the slumbering waters to peer deeper into these images:
The Chariot is the 7th card in the Major Arcana and features a male figure at the helm of a stone chariot being pulled by two sphinxes. The Sphinx on the left is all black with white horizontal stripes along it’s mane. The one on the right is an inverse mirror image: all white with black stripes along it’s mane. The front of the chariot has a pair of blue wings on either side of a small yellow sphere. Below that is a crest with a red lingam & yoni. Think: sword & chalice. The wheels of this stone chariot are bright yellow and are crossing a horizontal stream that separates the front of the sphinx drawn vessel and the kingdom it is leaving behind. The male figure at the helm stands up in his armor that is covered in astrological symbols including a bright yellow belt to match his yellow breast plate. Two crescent moons are on his shoulders in a receptive position, ready to catch any water that should fall. Inside of the crescent moons are actual faces of the moon. The shoulder>man’s face>shoulder sequence can be seen as representing three lunar phases: waxing>full>waning. In one hand he holds a long blue spear with a yellow diamond tip. Both arms have ocean edge scalloped arm plates covering from wrist to elbow. Only his face, neck and hands are not covered in some sort of armor. He has a crown of gold with a large single star above his third eye, underneath the crown is a laurel wreath. His face is peaceful. Behind him, acting like a small tent or canopy inside of the chariot are two baby blue curtains tied back and covered in white stars. The same fabric falls at the back of the chariot behind him. It looks like he is standing in his own mobile canopy bed. (Is this an ancient RV?) The cloth suggests the potential for hiding when necessary. He has veils at the ready to encase himself. In case of magical or emotional emergency, close the curtains! The Chariot guide is perpetually riding in his soft bed of myths, fully armored in a stone vessel pulled by mythical creatures. Where is he going? He goes everywhere the moon takes him.
The Empress:
The third card of the major arcana, The Empress, is the first product of creation. The singularity of The Magician card and the duality of The High Priestess card together create the first child in The Empress card. This is Venus, her nature being one of connection and synthesis. The Sextile is her aspect. She herself is proof of the beauty of what can be formed through connection. She sits comfortably in a long flowing white gown with pomegranates printed all over. The pomegranates themselves resemble the sigil of Venus. She holds in her right hand a globe tipped wand held up high by her starry crowned head and sits on many a brightly colored pillow with a heart shaped, Venus stone at her feet. Also at her feet, symbolizing fertility, is a field of golden wheat that matches the color of her hair. Midway behind her are trees at the edge of a forest with a simple blue river winding through it and down the right hand side of the image. Most everything in this card shows luxury, ease, fertility and sensuality as properly fits the goddess of love.
All three decan rulers of Cancer bring us home. The Moon, Mercury and Venus are planets that are close to us on earth, the ones that we can see with our eyes and in return, can feel witnessed by. Everyone loves the moon. Venus has been celebrated and embodied forever. Mercury and his infamous retrogrades are often the only engagement the wider public has with astrology. All three of these have a personal touch for humans and it makes sense that they each have a seat in the throne room of the Lunar temple of Cancer. Let’s start with Venus and her Two of Cups card:
There are two figures facing each other, each holding a cup in their hands at equal measure, suggesting equal power on even playing field. Above them, sitting like the solstice sun, is a red lion head with wings that arch over both figures. Connecting the winged lion and the cups below is a caduceus with two interweaving snakes around a staff. The card shows daytime, with distant rolling fields at the back and clear blue skies dominating the card. This is the Summer Solstice, it better be bright!
The two figures are a female on the left and a male on the right. The female is wearing a blue and white robe with a laurel wreath crowning her head. The male resembles that of The Fool card in the way that he is dressed: cuffed at the calf boots, yellow tights, a loud print robe cut above the knees and wearing a rose garland around his dark hair. If this is The Fool, he is smitten. A Fool in Love. The twos of each suit show invitation and the Two of Cups invites us to the potential of emotional connection with others. Cancer I as The Lord of Love displays peace, union, equality, partnership, passion and potential all in it’s simplicity.
From that union, we find The Lord of Abundance in Cancer II. The thrice great Mercury, the Magician, the God of (Sm)All Things as the ruler here. Hermes bringing us closer to earth in the dance of alchemy and celebration. I imagine the Chariot card riding to the apothecary of the Magician and inviting him over for a spell (or three), and to bring herbal psychotropic libations for fertility and vision voyages. Why not?
“Eat and Drink, for tomorrow we may die.” -Isaiah 22:13
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