In astrology, the sign of cancer represents the archetypal mother. The sun moved into Cancer on June 20th, bringing us into a season of deep emotions, focus on family, home, and the nurturing aspects of the divine feminine. This period can be particularly potent for acknowledging and healing the 'mother wound', a term used to describe the emotional scars left by our relationship, or lack thereof, with archetypal mother figures. Let's explore these energies and how the astrological sign of Cancer, as well as symbols of the divine feminine, can support our healing journey.
Understanding the Mother Wound
The mother wound runs deep for many of us, specific to what we experienced or what we expected (or wanted) and did not receive. It also refers to emotional trauma passed down from generation to generation, often stemming from a mother or a maternal figure who was unable to provide emotional nurturing. For some, it's due to the absence of a mother, or the presence of one that was harming.
In many cultures, the mother is seen as a symbol of life and nurturing. However, when these expectations aren't met, it can lead to psychological and emotional challenges that carry into adulthood. This type of void or experience often festers and hurt becomes anger, disassociation, feelings of unworthiness, self-sabotage, and/or difficulty forming healthy relationships.
In modern times, the role of mother has changed in many societies, although the expectation has remained the same - presence, nurturing, overt displays of love in specific ways. Many of us grew up with images, through television and movies, of mothers portrayed as the keepers of home - cooking, sewing, taking care of everyone's needs. The archetype was selfless, and paired with the archetypal father who took on the role of provider. Between the two, mother and father, there seemed to be a harmony - a perfect balance that created an expectation of what home is supposed to be.
Again, times have changed and many mothers have taken on other roles, including the archetypal father, some abandon the role all together, and some are redefining what mother means and looks like for them. The range of experience of vast, but the commonality is that many are left with a wound that stems from what mother was or wasn't.
The truth is that many mothers suffer in having a role with such high expectations, which often seem unachievable because of life's circumstances. And so we see the the mother wound isn't just a burden of children, but can also become wounding for mother who is trying to fulfill the expression.
The healing process begins with acknowledging these wounds, understanding their origins, and developing a sense of understanding and forgiveness. This is the path towards compassion, the essence of love and the truly elixir of healing. Many people find that recognizing their mother wound also leads them to understand ancestral patterns that have persisted over time, prompting a desire for healing beyond themselves - initiating lineage healing. It's something inherent that drives us to want to stop perpetuating the wounds, protecting those that will come after us and providing soothing for the elders (through the intelligence of DNA) that they were unable to heal for themselves.
The Influence of Cancer: The Sign of Nurturing
The astrological sign of Cancer, symbolized by the crab, is deeply connected to home, family, emotional well-being, and is considered the archetypal mother. As a water sign ruled by the moon, it's also associated with intuition, nurturing, and protection - qualities that are essential in healing familial wounds.
During Cancer season, the energies are ripe for exploring our emotions and addressing long-standing emotional scars. This period encourages a reunion with our truest selves, offering the perfect backdrop to explore and understand the mother wound more deeply. The kindness and nurturing spirit inherent to this zodiac sign can guide us as we give ourselves permission to feel and heal.
Cancer's influence also emphasizes the importance of creating a secure space, both physically and emotionally, where we can explore unresolved emotions. This sense of safety is vital when addressing sensitive topics such as childhood traumas. The challenge is often in knowing how and where to start...
Pause.
First consider what these elements look and feel like from your perspective: home, nurturing, mother, safety, love in expression. Understanding your own story first will help you know where to look next - you can then begin to unravel the story to reveal the why.
I recently interviewed Mike de la Rocha, author of, Sacred Lessons: Teaching My Father How to Love. Our conversation highlights the importance of recognizing our stories, and their origins, to initiate the intelligence of compassion. CLICK HERE TO WATCH
Connecting with the Archetypal Mother
The archetypal mother is often viewed only as an external expression - a person outside of us, but it actually represents the nurturing and life-giving forces that are inherent in us all. By connecting with this powerful archetype, we can begin to heal our relationships with our own mothers or maternal figures, and ultimately, with ourselves.
By exploring mother as an energy, an aspect of consciousness within all, we tap into an eternal source of compassion and protection. This archetype is not bound by gender, allowing all of us to explore maternal aspects of ourselves, such as:
how we nurture (self and others)
relationship to empathy and compassion (for self and others)
creating environments that feel safe and allow room for emotion
Engaging with these forces helps dismantle preconceived notions about motherhood, have more compassion and understanding for the role, and helps to expand our views on caring and emotional balance.
Another practical step in connecting with the archetypal mother is through meditation and visualization exercises that focus on maternal attributes, such as being an empty vessel, allowing life-force to flow without disruption - simply observing and containing life, while nurturing the flow with conscious breath. When you're done, take note to the experience - the feeling, sensations. What is it like to engage with the aspect of you that has room and capacity to allow emotions to flow and be observed, without judgement?
Harnessing the Divine Feminine in Healing
Mother is one of many facets of the archetypal feminine. The divine feminine is receptive, healer, empathic, powerful, creative, life giving...sacred. Tapping into these aspects allows for a deeper understanding of oneself, creating a container for the healing process. During Cancer season, the heightened awareness of these traits can encourage us to acknowledge and free ourselves from old patterns - releasing stories that aren't ours, acknowledging what has been passed down or misunderstood.
Honoring our expression of the divine feminine means exploring both the light and shadows within us. This balance provides a gentle power capable of breaking down emotional barriers and misconceptions about self-worth, paving the way forward to forgiveness and emotional renewal. By acknowledging and embracing this inner wisdom, we can initiate a cycle of healing that nurtures our mental and emotional well-being, bringing more harmony into our lives.
Using Reiki to Heal the Mother Wound
The system of Reiki places a lot of emphasis on presence and compassion. One way of working with these energies, and healing your relationship around presence and compassion, is working with the Reiki symbols. The use of symbols has been potent in many cultures as a way of expressing and addressing complex emotions, beliefs, energies and intentions.
In Reiki, symbols function as a language of the soul, reaching deep into the subconscious to facilitate healing of mind, body, and heart intelligence. They can serve as gateways to understand underlying emotions and thought-forms linked to the mother wound, offering the potential to transform at the root or origin of the wounding.
Through regular Reiki sessions or practice, you can start to untangle the intricate patterns of emotional distress associated with the mother wound. Over time, this practice can promote a holistic sense of well-being, helping you to let go of energy blocks and create a state of balance and alignment, ultimately supporting your journey of healing and self-discovery.
Embrace Healing During Cancer Season
Embracing the emotional depth of Cancer season offers a profound opportunity to face and heal the mother wound at all levels. By engaging with the energies of the archetypal mother and the divine feminine, we can find comfort and strength. I go deeper into this energy in my Alchemical Newsletter, this month focusing on the gifts of Cancer season, to support this leg of the healing cycle. Remember, healing is a lifelong process, and every step you take is a tribute to your growth and resilience.
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