Summer Solstice – the longest day...

Three of Vessels: Wildwood Tarot

A few days late, this post.  The sun may have appeared to ‘stand still’ (the word ‘solstice’ meaning ‘standing of the sun’) on Saturday but my world hasn’t slowed down until today!  I was so busy I couldn’t join in the Litha/Summer Solstice Tarot Blog Hop, but I’ve had the top – ‘Joy’ - in my mind for several weeks. And the reason my world has been so busy? Well, I’ve been involved in a theatre production – something that really does bring me joy!  If I were to choose a card from the Tarot that reflected this, I'd have to go for the Wildwood's Three of Vessels (a card that's associated with the sign of Cancer, as it happens...).

So, for those of us in the northern hemisphere, the sun has reached its zenith in the sky – its furthest boundary of power, if you like – and as such, its greatest potency.  For those of us below, it’s time to stop and look back at what we’ve achieved on our journey, since the Winter Solstice six months ago.  Now we can celebrate what we’ve created, as well as acknowledge what hasn’t worked.  It’s no surprise that this solstice (again, in the northern hemisphere) has been called the ‘Festival of Achievement’.   

There’s a shift associated with this point. Different traditions describe it in different ways – be it the Oak King giving way to the Holly King, the Sun King descending into the underworld and succumbing to the Queen of the Night – the Moon.  And of course, the Summer Solstice marks the ingress of the Sun – astrologically speaking – into Cancer, the sign of the crab, ruled by the Moon. 

Cancer is the first of the Water signs encountered in the zodiac. Ruled by the Moon, it takes us into the realm of feelings and emotions – what we need to feel safe and secure.  To be safe, we seek protection and nurturing.   Through its affinity to the 4^th house, it’s linked to ancestry, to roots, to tradition, to where we come from – and to the idea of sanctuary, what we’re drawn to...again, the idea of needing protection.  In Cancer this can come through family – through the emotional security and nurturing. Think of the phrase ‘blood is thicker than water’, and you might start to see the link to the crab, the image of Cancer.  The shell protects the vulnerable crab, in the same way that family (and it doesn’t have to be blood relatives) protects us in our vulnerability. In Greek mythology, Hera sends a crab to irritate Hercules while he's attempting to slay the Hydra. He crushes the crab underfoot, but Hera rewards the crab's loyalty by placing it in the sky. Loyal, compassionate, caring, wanting to help - all Cancerian qualities.

Cancer is one of the four Cardinal signs.  It will initiate whatever it needs to protect itself, its family, its loved ones.  Willing to take action to help and support others, Cancer doesn’t seek the limelight in the same way that Cardinal Aries might – but it’s imaginative!

‘Cancer’ © Alison Coals

The image to the left is from my AstroArt series, inspired by The Alchemical Journey, www.alchemicaljourney.co.uk and the Cancer figure in the Glastonbury Landscape Zodiac.