Workaholics love the changing of the months. The new energy they get when they can turn to a fresh calendar page and organize their appointments, assignments, and social activities for the coming weeks could power a rocket to Mars. We in the astrological community, however, get that feeling from the changing of the zodiac seasons. Throughout the calendar year, the sun moves “through” the twelve constellations of the zodiac, and spends about a month in each. This is how astrologers have determined that if you’re born between a certain date range you have a certain Sun sign. The month-long period that encompasses all of the birth dates for each sign is known as that sign’s season. In other words, during Cancer season (June 20 through July 22), the sun is moving “through” the zodiac constellation of Cancer, and all of your Cancer friends will celebrate their birthdays! 

CANCER SEASON

Who’s ready to get emo?!? Just kidding (kinda), but Cancer season is truly the first emotional checkpoint we have gotten during this astrological year. In the astro world, we start our year with Aries (mid-March) and end with Pisces, so this is the first water sign season we have had so far! What I’m trying to say is that we have been deprived of our feels, friends. Entering a watery season is like being hit with an emotional bag of bricks. For about a month, we’re going to feel love and emotion in the deepest way possible. And it might hurt. But it will ultimately heal.

Water seasons come at pivotal moments. Think of them as the universe’s way of giving us a checkpoint. They are a barrier that we must break through. Water seasons provide us with a challenge and then ask us to serve or suffer. Cancer season will give you a choice. You can either let go of what does not serve you, or wallow and suffer with the things that are holding you down. You can either burrow in the sand or play in the water. It’s your choice. Cancer season begs us to slow down, reflect, and evolve. It’s a reminder to send yourself love and to really take a look at what it is you want next. 

Watery Cancer is fueled by emotion, love, comfort, and security. There’s a reason why summertime sadness is a thing! As we move through Gemini season, making connections and trying new things, we set ourselves up for an emotional and introspective Cancer season. It’s a time for love, especially self-love, and listening. Enjoy the deepened connections you may feel with those around you. Get deep and go deep. Like the crab, we must connect with the fleshy parts within our shells. It is a season of desire, lust, discovery, and betterment. Ride the waves, explore the uncharted depths, and flourish in your own temples. 

Cancer Season Syllabus

TO DO

See movies, escape into cool and dark places, spend time in a darkroom, look at photographic negatives, read in the library, try out an escape room, take midnight walks and midnight swims. See outdoor music on breezy evenings. Reread an old favorite, binge a show into the early morning hours, reconnect with old friends, talk to your elders and ancestors, listen to the stories of people who have lived more lives than you, talk to spirits and energies, sit in the shade. Read to your friends, read next to your friends, write poems (even if they suck), squish them up into balls, make the ink run with drops of water. Write on your bathroom mirror, collect small objects in dishes, rearrange your shelves. Color on the bottoms of your boots. Find water; lay by it. Write secret messages. Mail one. 

TO LISTEN

Listen to something different. Something new and old at the same time. An album you missed by one of your favorite bands. B-sides. Tracks from old EPs. Cancer season begs you to listen to the songs that may have been forgotten along the way. “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. A nostalgic playlist. An old mixtape. Songs that have people and emotions attached to them. Make yourself a playlist of your favorite sad songs. “Clean” by Taylor Swift. “Pretty Little Birds” by SZA. “Stay” by Post Malone. “Valentine” by 5 Seconds of Summer. Get emotional, but get fun with it too. Do your best karaoke rendition of “Summer Lovin’” from Grease. 

TO READ

Stories about identity, shapeshifting, fluctuating, and changing. Stories about heart and soul and meaning and life. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanthi. The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Anything by Zora Neale Hurston or James Baldwin. 

TO WATCH

Movies and shows about love, flings, summer. Any of Drake Doremus’ films. Moonlight. Anything by Terrence Malick or Richard Linklater. The End of the F**cking World on Netflix. Movies that remind you that we are all living individual lives. Rear Window. New York, I Love You. Shows about playfulness and youth. Silly cartoons. Throwback shows. Things that make you feel comfy. Shows you can recite word for word. Shows you can fall asleep to.