The Womb and The Tomb
Cancer is attuned to the source of life, which is both creative and destructive. This is the primordial chaos symbolized by the Uroboros, the serpent that eats its own tail. Cancer may resist that split and remain fused with the Mother in an attempt to stay safe. But life will push you out of the nest sooner or later. It’s often projected into a tendency to look for someone or something that will take care of you and make you feel that you belong. But this search for emotional security and roots can only be found within. The creative side of Cancer is the power to give birth to new ideas, visions, creative works, projects, companies, and families. Creativity and self-knowledge both require a conscious self that can navigate the watery depths and choose what to focus on and what to let go. You need a safe place in the world so you can allow space within yourself for your innate creativity to be born. Part of you needs to hold firm in the face of chaos so you’re not washed away by it and overwhelmed. The chaos has to be contained and held. Cancer is both the chaos and the container.
Films that represent the Cancer archetype include anything about mothers, childhood, and the search for roots and belonging. You could also include films that feature big horrible monsters that have to be conquered
Philomena Lee in Philomena (2013)
Cersei and Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Ellen Ripley and The Alien Queen in Alien (1979)
Guido Orefice in Life Is Beautiful (1999)
Marlin in Finding Nemo (2003)
Maleficent in Maleficent (2014)
(source: jessicadavidson)
