The Cancer Archetype; the Crab and Why Nourishment, Minerals and Hydration Go Hand in Hand

When I think of a representation of the Cancer archetype in the body I think of amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is the water-like substance that surrounds a baby in the womb (yes at one time it surrounded every single human being on this earth). It provides protection from movements and infection, nourishment and supports organ development.

Cancer is the first of the water signs in the zodiac, which is why my mind goes to amniotic fluid. In medical astrology it also is associated with all the mucus membranes in the body, which are the protective, moist tissues that coat each part of our bodies that open to the outside world- the nose, throat, ears, digestive tract, etc, the stomach, the breasts and the womb- all organs of nourishment. The word cancer actually comes from the Greek work “karkinos” which means crab, which is where the main archetype of the sign of Cancer comes into play. The crab is the representation of the home, protection, boundaries and the deeply emotional being that is within, which is able to open when it feels safe and nourished, but on the flip side is fiercely protective and may act out in anger when it does not.

When we are considering the energy of safety, we are looking at the root chakra, or “muladhara chakra”. The root chakra deals with proper nourishment, basic needs being met- food, shelter, safety, finances (modern), establishing structure in our lives, grounding, and in the physical body- widening the base, strengthening the legs, cultivating stillness, solidity and stability. The root chakra is associated with the earth element, and although this blog post is focused on the Cancer archetype and hydration, which is the water element, and more associated with the sacral chakra or the “svadisthana chakra” it is important to explore earth first. > let’s delve in.

One of my teachers gives a wonderful imagery for why we need the earth element to support the water element. Think of the banks of a river or the earth surrounding a lake. In order to have a river or a lake, we need earth to hold it together. If there wasn’t a structure, the water would just be going all over the place. Similarly, in our bodies we need to have minerals and electrolytes in order to stay hydrated on the cellular level and for fluids to flow into and out of the cells.

To maintain hydration, our bodies require seven main minerals and electrolytes:

sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and bicarbonate.

Food sources of major minerals and electrolytes include:

Fresh fruits and vegetables, seaweed, dairy products, bone broth, red meat, organ meats, poultry, fish, sea salt, spring water and coconut water.

If you don’t have access to spring water and you drink filtered water for the most part it could be helpful to consider adding trace mineral drops to your water.

Herbs high in minerals include:

Alfalfa, nettles, dandelion, mullein and comfrey.

Some things that deplete the body of minerals are:

Poor dietary intake, poor gut health, excess alcohol and caffeine consumption, certain medications, stress, strenuous physical activity.

Although drinking water is a key part of staying hydrated, you can see that there is much more to proper hydration than simply drinking water!! Another component of hydration is proper oil and/or fat intake. Getting enough oil and fats is crucial for brain, nerve and skin health.

Hydration and nourishment are intricately tied in together. Its likely you have heard the phrase, “water is life”. Water gives fluidity, movement and animation to what would otherwise be dry earth, or dry tissues, but its a two way street. Minerals and the earth element are crucial for keeping the cells hydrated and nourished, but water and fluids in the body are also what carries minerals and other nutrients to the cells. Overall, if we are eating a diet that is balanced and filled with whole, organic and wild foods and herbs, drinking water from its source in the earth, and replenishing properly after exercise, we are getting plenty of minerals and hydration- but in this modern day this can be easier said than done!

Circling back to the Cancer archetype, if we ever find ourselves feeling extremely vulnerable, unsafe, ungrounded, undernourished, acting out in anger- we can use it as a guidepost to circle back to: am I getting the proper nourishment in the form of food and water? Are my basic needs being met? Are the structures (crab shell) of my life in order and supporting me? Am I practicing proper boundaries? Energetically, the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels of beings are connected, so when we are imbalanced on one level of our being it can show up on another level.

During this Cancer season (which is June 20th- July 22nd), when its getting hot here in the northern hemisphere, I hope you are staying nourished and hydrated on all of the levels of your being. If you are interested in more ways of supporting your health through astrology and natural rhythms please explore my website www.embodiedelements.co or reach out to see if health coaching through astrology is in alignment with you.