Hey there, Supermom. Are you juggling a thousand things, putting everyone else’s needs before your own, and wondering when you’ll finally get a break? Well, this post is for you.
There’s a lot of talk these days about “self-care”. We all know the drill by now: “You can’t fill from an empty cup” blah, blah, blah. We get it. There’s more than enough proof that taking care of ourselves is the thing that allows us to better take care of others.
In fact, I just got back from a cross-country vacation and on the flight there, the flight attendant looked at my baby, then looked at me and asked, “Whose oxygen mask do you put on first?” It was the first time this metaphor didn’t feel so metaphorical.
But as much as I talk about self-care and coach many others through it, it just hits differently when you’re a mom. No matter how much you know you need to care for yourself, it can feel overwhelming and damn near impossible to know how to begin, even if it’s not your first time at this particular rodeo. Luckily, I discovered how to use astrology to make this process a whole lot easier and you can, too.
Using Astrology for Self-Care
Did you know your birth chart can reveal to you which activities will feel most supportive and nourishing? And we could all use a customized map now and then. Because, no matter how much the influencers guarantee that they’ve got it all figured out and you can, too, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to anything. Including self-care.
And since we are in the midst of Cancer season right now, this is the ideal time to get started with a new self-care routine or to revamp your current one. The sign of Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac and traditionally, it is deeply connected to motherhood, home, and nurturing. It’s a time when a mother’s intuition is heightened, making it a perfect opportunity for moms to tune into their needs.
While Cancer often shows us how we care for others, it also points to how we are best meant to care for ourselves and allow ourselves to be cared for by others. By learning where Cancer shows up in your birth chart, you can make the most of the remaining Cancer season and learn how to put yourself first for a change.
Understanding the Astrological Houses
In addition to the zodiac signs, your birth chart is also broken down into twelve separate houses. Each house in your natal chart governs different areas of life, from your personal identity to your career and relationships. By understanding into which house Cancer falls, you can discover personalized self-care practices that resonate with you.
For example, I have Cancer in the 12th house. For me, this translates to needing a whole lot of deep rest, time to myself, and isolation from people. Things that aren’t exactly easy to come by when you’re a stay-at-home mom with a toddler.
But the reality is, if we don’t find a way to give ourselves what we need, the Universe will do it for us. And that’s exactly what happened to me this month. We were on a 2-week vacation in Colorado when I started feeling a little under the weather. But with a sick baby and an injured husband, I reasoned that I didn’t have time to rest and my needs would have to take a backseat to everyone else’s. Sound familiar?
Long story short, as soon as we got home, I got COVID. Remember that rest and isolation I mentioned the 12th house being about? It was forced on me one way or another. So let’s see if we can avoid that hard-earned lesson for you, shall we?
You’ll need your exact birth time, date, and location to determine where Cancer falls in your natal chart. You can enter your details to find your chart here.
Once you’ve located Cancer in your astrology chart, scroll down to find the house that correlates to it in the list below. Regardless of your astrology experience, you’ll find a super simple practice here to help you feel nourished.
Ready to find out how you can thrive this Cancer season? Let’s break it down house by house.
Self-Care by House Position
First House (1st House)
- Focus: This house is all about you – your self-image and personal identity.
- Self-Care Ideas: Give your skin some love with a new skincare routine. Revamp your wardrobe to reflect your authentic and fully fabulous self. Practice daily affirmations to become your own hype girl.
- Hot Tip: Try some mirror work – Look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re a badass – because you are!
Second House (2nd House)
- Focus: Values, self-worth, and finances rule here.
- Self-Care Ideas: Treat yourself to a relaxing massage. Work on boosting your self-worth — maybe invest in a self-care or mindset coach? Set up a monthly budget or hire a financial advisor.
- Hot Tip: Leave room in your budget for a little indulgence for yourself each month — because you’re worth it!
Third House (3rd House)
- Focus: Communication, learning, and your immediate environment are key.
- Self-Care Ideas: Start journaling or break out that diary that’s been collecting dust. Carve out time to read daily, even if it’s just 10 minutes. Exchange voice memos with a friend or record them just for yourself.
- Hot Tip: Write down those random thoughts in your notes app – they’re worth remembering!
Fourth House (4th House)
- Focus: Home, family, and emotional foundations.
- Self-Care Ideas: Spend some time making your home feel cozy, beautiful, or just like a place you actually want to spend time. Honor your roots by cooking a cultural dish or listening to the music of your ancestors.
- Hot Tip: Small touches make a huge difference – light a candle, buy a plant, or hang some fairy lights!
Fifth House (5th House)
- Focus: Creativity, hobbies, and your inner child.
- Self-Care Ideas: Try out that new hobby you saw on Pinterest. Spark your creativity through art, music, or dance. Try a meditation to show your Inner Child some love.
- Hot Tip: Let loose and have a mini dance party in your living room – no one’s watching!
Sixth House (6th House)
- Focus: Health, routine, and service.
- Self-Care Ideas: Start a new workout program or go for a daily walk. Create a morning or evening ritual. Do some volunteer work with a cause close to your heart. Schedule an appointment with that Functional or Chinese Medicine Doctor you’ve been dying to see.
- Hot Tip: A routine can be just one or two things. Start simple so you actually stick to it!
Seventh House (7th House)
- Focus: Relationships and partnerships.
- Self-Care Ideas: Tap into that Quality Time Love Language and spend some 1-on-1 time with those you love the most. Include yourself in that list. If you’re married, plan a date night or work with an intimacy coach to rekindle the flame.
- Hot Tip: Plan a hot date night – even if it’s just with yourself and your favorite rom-com.
Eighth House (8th House)
- Focus: Transformation, emotional depth, and shared resources.
- Self-Care Ideas: Find a therapist or coach to do some emotional healing. Practice different meditation techniques on an app like Insight Timer. Explore new spiritual practices such as a past life regression or a Tarot reading.
- Hot Tip: Spiritual therapists exist! Check out a website like Grow to get personally matched with one.
Ninth House (9th House)
- Focus: Exploration, education, and philosophy.
- Self-Care Ideas: Book a trip or retreat. Work with that mentor or teacher you’ve been following for months (or years!) Take a course to focus on your spiritual growth or read all the personal growth books.
- Hot Tip: You don’t have to leave your home to learn from travel. Try learning a language on an app like Duolingo!
Tenth House (10th House)
- Focus: Career, public image, and aspirations.
- Self-Care Ideas: Write a personal mission statement. Hire a business coach or career counselor. Take bold steps in your career — put yourself out there, let yourself be seen as an expert.
- Hot Tip: Channel your inner boss and shoot your shot – it’s your time to shine!
Eleventh House (11th House)
- Focus: Community, goals, and social causes.
- Self-Care Ideas: Create a vision board. Plan a girls’ night out — or in… or far, far, away! Write out what you want from your life and post it where you can see it every day.
- Hot Tip: Pinterest is perfect for making a vision board!
Twelfth House (12th House)
- Focus: Spirituality, solitude, and the house of the subconscious mind.
- Self-Care Ideas: Take time away from everyone to simply be and focus on your inner self and your own emotions. Rest as much as possible. Allow yourself to grieve — whether it’s a person, a dream, or the person you used to be.
- Hot Tip: Rest is highly productive. Don’t sleep on sleep.
So there you have it! Your customized plan for a little Cancer season TLC.
Remember mamas, your well-being is just as important as everyone else’s. Self-care is vital, and it’s not selfish to take time for yourself. Prioritize yourself this Cancer season and beyond. You’ve got this!