The Energies of Cancer and Aromatherapy

Cancer the Crab (June 21 – July 20) shares its Water element with Scorpio and Pisces. Cancer is known for being deeply maternal, intuitive, nurturing, protective, empathetic, and loyal. Represented by the crab, Cancer often retreats into its shell for comfort and security yet possesses an ability to navigate the ebb and flow of emotions and circumstances with resilience.

Ruled by the Moon, Cancers possess a profound emotional depth, sensitivity, and an innate ability to connect with others on a heartfelt level. This makes them excellent caretakers and counsellors, making Cancer perfect for careers in healthcare, teaching, and social work.

Cancer's main birth flowers are White Roses – symbolising purity and peace, Water Lily – representing enlightenment and rebirth, and Lotus – a symbol of spiritual awakening. They’re also associated with Delphinium and Blue Violet, both of which reflect the gentle yet resilient nature of Cancer.

Cancer’s birthstone is Ruby, known for its vitality and passion. Their Bach Flower is Clematis, their NZ First Light Flower essences are No 10, No 11, and No 12. In Medical Astrology, Cancer governs the stomach, breasts, and the chest area, linking it to the Heart Chakra. However, Cancer is also associated with the Root, Sacral and Third Eye Chakras. Its Healing Crystals are often linked to intuitive and emotional balance, and can cover a multitude of colours, such as Green, Blue, Orange and Red.

 Australian Bush Flower Essence – Water White Light Essence 

You may not be aware of this very potent range, however, if you’re a Cancerian light worker or Cancer is in your 6th House, you will want to know more about this essence.

The Water Essence was made from an alchemic blend of two Essences - one from each hemisphere; they were prepared on the isle of Iona, on the west coast of Scotland and Heron Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. This remedy allows you to intensely experience your own emotional disharmony so that it may then be purified and released. The Water Essence illuminates the conscious mind so as to reveal and initiate the release of our deepest, most ancient negative karmic patterns

It also dissolves the boundaries of a person’s perceptions and realities. It is very nurturing and cleansing and encourages us all to be more open to receiving and trusting of ourselves and feel Spirit’s love vibration that surrounds us. This Essence enables us to find the inner stillness in which to experience our feelings fully and achieve emotional harmony. It creates the deep knowing that whatever challenge that one is encountering, you will be all right and helps one from staying emotionally closed off after a negative or traumatic experience.

Excerpt from ausflowers.com.au

Bach Flower Essence – Clematis

When Cancer retreats, they may sometimes struggle with staying grounded and present in the moment. Clematis supports Cancer in staying anchored, enabling more focus so they can be apart of the world, and spend energy on creative outlets.

 NZ First Light Flower Essences 

• No 10 Starry Hibiscus essence (Hibiscus trionum) - TENDERNESS
• No 11 Chatham Island Geranium essence (Geranium traversii) - NURTURING
• No 12 Native Harebell essence (Wahlenbergia gracilis) - TENACITY

Inner release; Selfless love, cares for self, motherliness, inner emotional security; Caring, love of family, emotional independence. Loyalty, emotional resolve, resilience, maturity.

Intrigued to know more about Flower Therapies?  You can book a consultation with me here

 Birth Stone 

Cancer’s birth stone is Moonstone, which is intuitive and soothing, whereas for July it is Ruby. Ruby’s intense red colour symbolises Cancer’s loving nature. This stone encourages passion and motivation, pushing its wearer out of their comfort zone to achieve their dreams.

I have a gorgeous pendant I saved up for and bought for my 20th birthday that I discovered in a 2nd hand shop in Devonport. It’s set in silver and was made in India. It’s a Moonstone surrounded by Rubies. It’s my talisman and my body always knows when I need to wear it.

 Chakras and Crystal Healing 

The Sacral chakra, also known as the Svadhisthana chakra, is the energy centre associated with creativity, pleasure, and sexuality. Its location is below your belly button, with its energy centre on the pubic bone.

When this chakra is balanced, it allows us to express ourselves freely. However, if it’s blocked or unbalanced, creativity can be blocked, sexual difficulties including infertility and menstrual disorders, or being emotionally unavailable may arise. To harmonise and activate the sacral chakra, you can work with specific crystals and stones by wearing them as a necklace, on your wrist (throat chakra of your arm) or even in your pocket. As Gemini is more about the lower half of the throat chakra and heading towards the heart chakra, here are some crystals that are more focused for this area:

• Moonstone (Stone of New Beginnings) 
• Pink Tourmaline (Aphrodisiac) 

But what about the crystals for Cancer?

Wild Reign NZ recommends the following:

1. Amethyst: Soothing irritability, balancing mood swings, and relieving stress and anxiety, Amethyst brings tranquillity to the Cancer's emotional world.
2. Moonstone: Bringing new beginnings and emotional stability, Moonstone supports the Cancer in navigating life's transitions with grace and calm.
3. Labradorite: Helping in times of change, balancing emotions, and increasing mental clarity, Labradorite empowers the Cancer to embrace transformation with confidence.
4. Selenite: Providing deep peace, clarity of mind, and intuition, Selenite enhances the Cancer's connection to their inner wisdom and spiritual insight.
5. Red Jasper: Grounding and energizing, Red Jasper offers stability and strength, allowing the Cancer to navigate challenges with resilience.

And you’ll find their cute little gift set here 

Other crystal affinities with Cancer are Amber, Beryl, Calcite, Chalcedony, Chrysoprase, Emerald, Opal, Pink Tourmaline, Rhodonite.

 Aromatherapy 

When it comes to essential oils and astrology, there are so many variations it can get confusing – every book has a different list. So here’s what’s worked for me in my clinic and personal space, as well as what my intuition has fed me. I tend to work with the ruling planet and elements, the moon phase, the astrological sign (it shows up our weak areas), and intuition along with the science of essential oils.  This month we have:

Elemi (Canarium luzonicum) Elemi is your best friend to help get you through the trials and tribulations of life. It will be your strength to push through on days you can’t find it in yourself. With its lemony peppery frankincense-ish aroma, you can't go wrong when you need a lift or to focus, and it blends well with so many essential oils because of its interesting aroma profile! Ruled by the Moon and the element Water, it can nourish your soul as well as your body and calm your mind, simply by adding 3-4 drops to your bath.

When your life has turned upside down and you're not sure which direction to take, Elemi helps you to get through the day, lets you cry all night, and is there to help you gather your energies to get you through another day until you have the strength to do it on your own again.  I can vouch for this, having discovered Elemi during my aromatherapy training at Wellpark College as I was going through a very messy separation and custodial battle - Elemi helped me to keep sane and focused on my studies, letting me grieve during the times when my little one was away and helping me to pull myself together for when I had him.

It's one of my favourite oils and I love to add it to the woody bases to lift them, and to the citrus oils to balance the top notes.

Antiseptic, balsamic, cicatrisant, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic, tonic.

Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum) Jasmine will help release inhibitions so you can face fears and challenges, meaning you can find strength and stimulate your creativity.  A great one to have around in winter with viruses flowing freely.  Ruled by the Moon and the element Water.

Jasmine is a nervous-system sedative that lowers cortisol, reduces menstrual cramps and in childbirth, stimulates oxytocin. It is sometimes used to treat prostate problems. Jasmine also soothes headaches, insomnia and depression, dissolving apathy, indifference and lack of confidence by increasing the sense of self-worth. Jasmine is an aphrodisiac and also increases receptivity.

Antidepressant, antifungal, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, aphrodisiac, parturient, sedative, uterine.  Not to be used during pregnancy - we use it in our birthing blend to induce labour!

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is also ruled by the Moon and its element is Water. This comforting scent is warm and serene. It helps to relieve stress and insecurities, and assist with meditation by quietening your thoughts, enabling you to focus and heal

Once a gonorrhoea treatment, sandalwood is still used for genito-urinary infections. It counters Bronchitis, inflammation, haemorrhoids, persistent coughs, nausea, throat problems, laryngitis, leucorrhoea, and some nerve pain.

Suitable for all complexion types, sandalwood is useful on rashes, inflammation, scars, sensitive skin, and stretch marks.

Anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, carminative, chemoprotective, demulcent, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, sedative, tonic.

If you don't have any of these oils, you'll find a selection of them here 

Perfect Potion Cancer Blend

Highly sensitive and caring, the Cancer spirit is deeply emotional and perceptive. The soothing aroma of this blend is comforting and protective with its pure essential oils of bergamot (citrus bergamia), Virginian cedarwood (juniperus virginiana), German chamomile (matricaria recutita), clary sage (salvia sclarea), lavender (lavandula angustifolia), neroli (citrus aurantium amara), and petitgrain (citrus aurantium amara).

You can pre-order your bottle of Cancer here

 Flower Meanings and Symbolism 

Let’s start with the Birth Flowers:

• White Rose - peace, imagination, positivity, emotion, and purity.
• Water Lily – Motherhood, virtue, protection, love, humility, and virtue.
• Delphinium – means Dolphin in Greek, which is rather appropriate for a water sign - who doesn't love dolphins? The come in 3 main colours, Blue, Pink and Purple and represent dignity and grace, new life and birth, courage and good fortune.
• Lotus - peace and purity, strength and power, spirituality, rebirth, and serenity.
• Blue Violet – loyalty, devotion, love.

 Moon Energy 

As you receive this, the Full Moon was in Capricorn 4 days ago, so sorry for being late... family came first this week.

However, the New Moon on the 6th July is in Cancer - time to catch up with family!  The New Moon is about setting intentions, the Full Moon is about activating them.

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