This is the second New Moon in Cancer this year – following on from the first that coincided with the Summer Solstice and Solar Eclipse on 21 June.  Providing a further opportunity to revisit those issues that were live and arising last month.  This time with less intensity – without the intense climax of the Summer Solstice and simultaneous Solar Eclipse, this Cancerian New Moon brings an energy of more gentle grounding: nurturing, nourishing, protection.

Like the crab within its shell, this New Moon in Cancer invites you to create a safe space for yourself – both within your home and within your body.  Our protective ribs are like the crab’s shell, creating a safe cage around the body’s most important internal organs, the heart and lungs.  The Moon in Cancer focuses our awareness around this area, energising the heart towards loving compassion, self-love, self-care, boundaries and security.  This New Moon is a time to go within, to nurture your vulnerability and sensitivity, to work with your intuition (inner-tuition, your inner teacher), gather your insights, and come home to yourself.

While the world might be tentatively opening up again, have you created a safe haven within your home, within your self, where you can feel nurtured and nourished if a second wave of lockdown is enforced?

And what did you learn about your own boundaries – or lack of them – during the first wave, that you can now begin to implement into action?  This Cancerian New Moon, while loving and open-hearted, also knows when to withdraw for self-protection; how to put appropriate boundaries in place to protect that open, loving and vulnerable heart from intrusion and violation.  Notice where you may be giving away your power, and take steps towards reclamation.  Take back your power where you have given it away.  This is necessary to bring yourself back into the wholeness and fullness of who you are and who you have the potential to be.

This is a New Moon full of potential.  

You can use water as a blessing, as a ritual, as cleansing, in your home and in your body, as you connect with Cancer’s cardinal water energy at this time for the gentle reassertion of yourself and all you dream to be. 

The Moon in Cancer will also bring awareness to your digestive system, highlighting any areas where stress is prevalent and realignment is required.  Connect with Cancer’s nourishing, nurturing energy as well as the cleansing and healing power of water to gently address these issues where they persist.

How Luna Rhythms Yoga can support you during this Cancerian New Moon:

At Luna Rhythms, our unique system of yoga integrated with the lunar cycles and solar seasons teaches techniques from the ancient yogic practices of asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha and mantra in alignment with the energies of the day, season and cycle.  This New Moon in Cancer is the perfect time to nourish, nurture and protect yourself and those you love.

To tap into the radiant energy of your heart at this time, you can chant the Bija Mantra YAM, feeling its resonance through your lungs, chest and ribcage as you hold the ‘aaaahhhhh’ sound in the note.  

Continuing to focus on your heart and lungs, the Caring Breath is a beautiful and simple breathing practice that is also very relaxing.  Starting with both hands on your thighs, palms down, inhale bringing your left hand up to heart-level with the palm facing out.  Exhale the left hand in to your chest, palm to heart.  Inhale your left hand back out to chest-level, then exhale down to replace your left hand on your left thigh, palm facing down.  Repeat this same sequence with your right hand for one round of the Caring Breath.  Continue for as many rounds as feels good.  

A more vibrant, energising breath, for more experienced practitioners, is Khapalabhati or Shining Skull Breath.  This energises both the solar plexus and the heart centre, bringing fire to the digestive organs, the heart and lungs, and also the third eye or space between the eyebrows. 

For an asana practice at this time, heart-opening postures such as Camel (Ustrasana), which can be quite challenging and powerfully opening, or Fish (Matsyasana) are good for opening both the heart and solar plexus areas.  A supported version of Matsyasana can be practiced with bolsters along the spine and/or across the shoulder-blades, for a really nourishing and restorative experience.  

Cat stretch and Downward Facing Dog are good for bringing movement to the throat, heart and solar plexus; while Plank Pose, Twists, Boat Pose and Head-to-Knee Pose will strengthen, energise and cleanse the digestive system.  Practicing a round – or more – of Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskara) will also increase the energy and connect you with the solar energy of high summer.

This New Moon in Cancer, allow yourself to gently nourish, nurture and protect what is yours.  Go within, draw deep on your intuition.  Love yourself and trust in the flow of life.

The video below supports some of the above practices.

A New Moon Blessing

As we head towards the first harvest festival of Lammas,

May we take time to reflect on our intentions we made at the spring equinox, Ostara.

May we trust in the ebb and flow of life, and the cyclical nature of existence.

May we feel safe and secure.

Protected, nurtured , self sourced.

May we embrace our vulnerabilities, intuition, inner guidance and boundaries.

May we embrace all of this so that we can be instruments of love, peace and vitality, in service to all that is .

Namaste,

Diana 

To deepen your practice with Luna Rhythms Yoga, you are invited to join my online membership group, Luna Rhythms Wisdom, where we meet together and practice with the five phases of the moon each month: New Moon, Waxing Moon, Full Moon, Waning Moon and Dark Moon.  Membership of the group is £29.99 per month for all your Luna Rhythms Yoga practices.