The summer season in the northern hemisphere can appear highly focused on activity and high energy. Think festivals, concerts, trips, more time outdoors, connecting with friends and family, more wildlife enjoying the heat and food of the season, plants blooming and fruiting, etc. So in retrospect, it was intriguing to notice my introspective shift towards the exploration of safety in alignment with the summer solstice at 0° Cancer. Writing this blog did take me longer than I expected - perhaps because it required a deeper dive. It feels like I've been off the radar for the summer, but this reminded me that just because the inner work is not immediately visible, it doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Unfolding into truth and authenticity takes time.
~Symbols in the astrological birthchart~
Astrology is a language of symbols for me; it helps me understand and make meaning of things intellect alone cannot explain. The water sign of Cancer is not the most extroverted symbol, and it is ruled by the Moon. In the astrology birthchart, the core sense of safety is rooted in the 4th house, traditionally ruled by the sign of Cancer. It is the foundational ground at the bottom of the chart. The 4th house of a birthchart is like the roots of a tree. So in combination with the house placement of the Moon and the sign it's in, the “experience” of safety and what “feels safe” will vary widely from one person to the next, because every expression of a birthchart is unique.
~ Symbols in nature ~
Another language for me is observing nature. I observed how plants and animals respond and interact with the external environment for self-preservation.
To barely scratch the surface in the animal world, finding safety can mean retreating, hiding, camouflaging, or maybe going back to the den or the nest. It can also mean standing its ground and making itself appear larger and territorial, thus providing safety for the den, the nest or even the whole community. Some animals have physical armor or boundaries (e.g., quills on porcupines or thick and tough scales on crocodiles). Others will use venom or sprays as defense (snakes, skunks).
In the plant world, ensuring safety can appear as thorns, spines, thin prickly hairs, or thick bark. It can also mean a deep and large root system to ensure a strong anchor in the midst of storms. Burls on a tree limb or bumps on a leaf ensure the threat gets isolated to keep the central system safe and protected. There are multiple complex chemical signals that are released as warnings to neighbouring plants as well as a deeply rich and complex underground mycorrhizal fungal network that connects ecosystems for communication and survival.
Observing all these forms of safety mechanisms and behaviours, it is clear this is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The sense of safety is subjective and variable. To me, this is clearly represented in astrology, as well as in animal and plant behaviour. So in applying such broad observations to humans, what then represents safety?
~ Symbols from the human body ~
Looking internally on a physiological level, keeping our whole body safe and able to function smoothly is the immune system’s role. Perhaps also the nervous system, in the sense of imprinted responses to life experiences. Peter A. Levine, Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk and Frank Anderson have all written and spoken extensively about the impacts of trauma and stress and the use of somatic (body-based) healing. A few years back, I went through a thyroid crash. Briefly, I had found myself in survival mode and this was affecting my metabolic, endocrine and nervous systems. It was a rough mess but with support, I slowly got through it and recalibrated. Yet, it was only a few weeks ago that I came to recognise how this ‘crash’ had since affected my nervous system. In response to this time when my thyroid was on a rollercoaster, my hormones and hunger signals were also on this rollercoaster. I couldn’t go more than 2 hours without feeling deeply hungry and shaky from sugar instability. This would go on through the night as well and so I was constantly eating and making sure I had extra meals accessible at all times. Eventually, as my body rebalanced itself though, I was still holding on to this over-reactive hunger and had been eating too large portions, especially at breakfast time. This recognition pointed me back to the theme of safety. I have now released this over-reactivity and am eating regular portions without the fear of going hungry.
So what happens when we face external or internal confrontations, conflicts or challenges? Where and how do we garner the strength, wisdom and confidence needed to safely stand our ground, defend or confront when needed? If the feeling of safety is generated from within, where does it come from, and how does it interact with confidence? Or how does one enable the other?
~ Symbols through elements ~
Since I personally gravitate towards astrology, I wanted to dig deeper into the subjective experience of safety through these symbols. The zodiac sign in the 4th house and the Moon placement in the birthchart are the main focus to begin with; but without making this blog into a whole chapter, I’m focusing on the elements of the signs involved: How do the elements nourish this sense of safety for you?
When thinking of the element of Fire, there is a need for inspiration, creative expression, the freedom and independence to explore and pursue interests, and expanding and growing through these experiences. There is a feeling of safety in expressing our vision and who we are.
With the element of Earth, nourishment comes through practicality, material manifestation, structures and routines, boundaries, and self-reliance. Safety is felt through the reality of this physical life in our physical body.
Through Air, thought patterns, style, the frequency and the exploration of communication, the quality of connection with others and being in movement are the nourishing factors. Safety is felt through intellectual understanding, connection and movement.
And finally in Water, we enter the realm of intuition, the emotional body, caring and providing nourishment. Safety is stronger when these realms are supported and encouraged.
~ Symbols through cycles ~
Does the feeling of safety also vary on a day-to-day, weekly, monthly or yearly basis?
As a woman, I think of this as I ground into my menstrual cycle. The four phases of the menstrual cycle (or the lunar cycle) offer different containers of experience throughout the month. This can certainly impact the sense of safety, confidence and sensitivity that is accessible in each phase. Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer dive deeply into the spiritual side of the menstrual cycle in their books, Wild Power and Wise Power. For example, the luteal phase influences more groundedness for clearer access to boundaries. There’s less room for pleasing and more room for firmness. There can be more sensitivity, and a need for more clearly embodied boundaries to feel safe. In comparison, the feeling of safety could come more easily during the ovulation phase. This is only scratching the surface of a woman’s cyclical experience, which is truly individual and variable. Looking at the bigger picture, seasonal shifts and changes in daily rhythms can also play into the sense of safety - for example, in the length of daylight or nighttime. Just as some animals are nocturnal and thrive in the darkness of the night, others live for the light of the sun.
“So, perhaps safety is, above all else, deeply knowing and trusting yourself.”
Because knowing where you stand, knowing your needs, your strengths and your weaknesses allows you to engage from a place of authenticity and truth. It allows you to engage from a place of deep presence. Only when you are truly present, in self-trust, can you experience the safety of your being and your environment. Ultimately, this comes through time, consistency and life experiences.
What is the first thought, image or feeling that comes up when hearing or speaking the word safety? What would such a sanctuary feel like to you? Does that exist for you yet?