by Jonathan Keyes
As an astrologer, I look at the movements of the planets and
take special notice when they move into a new zodiacal sign.
On June 3rd, 2003, Saturn moved into the sign of Cancer.
Saturn is associated with discipline, perseverance and
creating foundations, but it is also associated with limitations
and restrictions. Cancer is an emotional, watery sign associated
with the home, sensitivity, nurturing and lunar energies.
Physically it is associated with the stomach and breasts.
With Saturn now in Cancer, I have noticed more of my clients
having problems with restrictions or depletion in the area of
their stomach and digestive tracts.
The stomach is a very powerful region of the body and we tend to hold emotional tension there. If there has been an emotional upset, especially in our relationships, friendships and community connections, the stomach will express its displeasure. This can come as indigestion, griping, acidity, cramping and poor elimination in the form of runny stools or constipation.
The Stomach, the Solar Plexus and the Chakras
The chakras are centers in our energy body (aura) associated with various important
organs and issues. The stomach is associated with the second and
third chakras in Indian philosophy. The second chakra is located
just below the navel and is associated with our sense of security,
inner contentment and wellbeing, while the third chakra is located in the area above the navel and is associated with our will and sense of personal power. When we feel emotionally overwhelmed and our stomach is complaining, we can often be experiencing personal power and security issues.
At the core of this area is a bundle of nerves known as the solar plexus. I like to think of this area as the nervous system "brain" of our stomach. Nerves protrude from the solar plexus to help trigger sympathetic and parasympathetic responses in the intestinal tracts. This in turn helps with the smooth flow of assimilation and elimination. The solar plexus can easily be aggravated by excessive amounts of anxiety, worry and emotional turmoil. When this happens, the nerves don't synchronize correctly, and start to fire too rapidly, or get inhibited and misfire or don't fire as often as needed.
Chamomile to the Rescue
Flower essences can be immensely valuable for helping to alleviate congestion and trauma in the system. They go to the root of the problem and help bring out a natural healing response from the body and spirit. There are a number of flower essences that specifically help the solar plexus to function optimally. One of my favorite essences is Chamomile, a gentle friend that often grows in backyard gardens and can be found in the wild as well.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a beautiful white petalled flower with a yellow central disc that comes from the sunflower family of plants. Find a clump of chamomile growing and you will immediately sense its refined, gentle and relaxed energy. This herb bends gently in the wind and loves to come out unpretentiously in the early summer.
Chamomile essence is one of the best allies in helping to relax and rejuvenate the solar plexus, and alleviate the symptoms of digestive and stomach pain and constriction due to emotional turmoil. Because it is so gentle it can be used for anyone, and it is one of my favorites to offer to young children and the elderly. This is not an essence that will help you go through a deep cathartic emotional cleanse. Its energy is much gentler, simply helping to alleviate the tension that is causing the distress. Because of this it is very helpful for people with emotionally-related stomach problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, ulcers and chronic gastritis.
Chamomile for Socially-Oriented Stress
Chamomile is especially useful for people who tend to get overwhelmed by
the currents and energies of the people around them. They may have a
hard time handling too much talking, eye contact and social interaction. This makes
it especially useful for those who suffer from anxiety in social situations.
Chamomile helps the solar plexus region to relax so that nerve signals can fire more appropriately. This makes it helpful both for the "over-excited" type who tends to get insomnia, mania and runny stools, as well as the type who is "constricted" and tends to get balled up in tight knots and who has difficulty in expressing themselves emotionally. Chamomile relaxes the 2nd and 3rd chakras to allow an easier flow of energy. This in turn helps the individual taking it to feel more comfortable and internally secure. From a state of internal security (2nd chakra), the individual can then express their personal will and power (3rd chakra) in a healthy, non-needy, or non-demanding way.
In this time of Saturn in Cancer, it can be helpful to pay attention to the stomach region and see if there is any sense of inner constriction or over-excitability. We can also check in and see how we feel about our personal level of security and inner power. Chamomile essence will help ease any tension in the solar plexus region and loosen the reins to allow for a more relaxed and rejuvenated sense of well-being.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jonathan Keyes graduated from Evergreen State College with a Bachelor's degree in
Science, where he studied herbalism and health sciences. He went on to study with various shamans in Ecuador, Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest, and learned to practice Plant Spirit Medicine, a blend of
shamanism, herbalism, and Chinese Medicine. Jon now lives in Portland, OR, where he works as
an astrologer, herbalist, and healer. He is the author of Guide to
Natural Health, published in 2002 by Llewellyn Worldwide. You may contact him by email. See Jon's other Vibration offerings,
Oak -- A Balm for the Driven,
and Addressing the Issues of Pisces with Remedies and Other Supports.
ART CREDITS: Images from Clipart.com
The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.
