View over a field of rose bushes, planted in lines with mountains in the background

Dear Friends,

Two weeks on from my last email and I’m settling into a summer home, tucked into the Asturian mountains in a tiny village of 10 people, many chicken, sheep, cows and an organic farm that boasts 300,000 rose bushes. Wolves, bear and wild boar live here too – although I’m unlikely to make their acquaintance.

Photo: Annie Sempill

This morning offered a brief respite of sunshine – now the mountains have disappeared under an ever-thickening shroud of cloud again. As in so many places, the weather here has been unusual too.

Behind the clouds, the moon of-course continues its endless cycle. Just past the darkest night, the first crescent sliver of the new moon is about to make its appearance in the sky once more.

This new moon falls at 14⁰ of Cancer. Cancer is known as a very gentle, compassionate, nurturing, motherly energy and if we’re sensitive to it, we might find that we are strongly feeling the need for our home to be a haven, a nest, a place that will keep us safe as we hear about and face all the turmoil in the world.

I know I’ve been feeling this energy strongly – as I have thrust myself into a new, shared living arrangement which doesn’t have all the creature comforts to which I am accustomed. I’m noticing my need to nest – to sweep, tidy and clean. My motherly instincts have been activated – both for myself and for my new housemates. It’s a great opportunity to notice, to be aware of my own patterned behaviour and to adjust so that I respect my hosts and housemates, whilst also calming the anxious needs of my inner child part, who is feeling totally unprepared for this new experience.

The moon is also opposite a dwarf planet, called Ceres, with her mythology that connects her to the land and to food production. She also is nurturing and reminds us how the earth and all that it produces nurtures and supports us.

I smile at the timing. Who knew that I would be settling into an organic farm, with an ethos of self-sufficiency just as this challenging conjunction occurs!

At its lower octave, the moon’s energy is said to play out with a somewhat self-centred me-me-me attitude, rather needy and whiny. I can see what that looks like in myself! I don’t like it, and it seems to be the base from which growth can occur.

Having recognised it, I’m practicing a light approach, laughing at my own ridiculousness, acknowledging my genuine self-care needs, noting my desire to take control and seeking a more mature response.

The line from my daily “Welcome” prayer – I let go of my desire for (inappropriate) power and control, catches a little.

OK – make it a mantra, add the important last line of the prayer . . .

I let go of my desire for power and control . . . and I open to the love and presence of the Holy within.

What have you noticed as this moon renews itself? Is a nesting instinct rising in you? Are you feeling the need to retreat from the storms of the world and to find

“a nutritive inner world that has ideas, order and sustenance all of its own . . . where all is as it should be, where all the noises sound right and the light is good and the smells make us feel calm rather than alarmed.”

Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Dr. E)

Perhaps reflect upon the energy of Cancer and any inclination you feel to strengthen the safe haven in your life.

Consider –

In what areas of my life do I need to be gentle with myself or another?

How might I extend compassion to myself or another?

In what ways might I nurture myself?

How might my inner-mother part recognise and comfort the needs of an inner hurting child-part?

And to go more deeply into what it means to create an inner sense of home as a safe haven, why not consider joining me for a 4-part series of workshops, Cultivating Deeper Trust & Safety starting September 12.

Although advertised as a course for Coaches, Cultivating Deeper Trust & Safety is open to all who wish to deepen their skills in cultivating safe and free space for themselves, their families, friends, clients or communities.

And as the moon continues its cycle towards fullness, perhaps set your intention to be more gentle, compassionate and nurturing towards yourself and others.

I’d love to hear about some of the ways you create that safe haven in this time of turmoil in the world. Do reach out and let me know.