Journey of the Zodiac

I feel very grateful to have been part of this project. We began brainstorming the idea a for long time and planned to work together in Athens for ten days to make it happen. It was fun, inspiring and very fulfilling to create these images and texts. 

The prints from Journey of the Zodiac are a collaboration between artist Eloise Fornieles, curator Alix Janta-Polczynski and myself combining text and imagery to tell the narrative of the Zodiac in an artistic and innovative way.

I wrote the text next to each image which narrates the story of each sign but mainly the reason why one sign follows another. The story of the Zodiac is for me immensely inspiring as it expresses our history as humans. Knowing why Taurus comes after Aries and then transforms into Gemini is key to understanding the essential quality of a sign. Otherwise we can stay in stereotypes and end up limiting or pinning down each sign rather than allowing freedom to the energetic quality to exist in infinite ways. This is why in every image we made reference to the preceding sign and the following one as well as the element, ruling planet, the part of the body, mythology, colour, any instrument or concept and evolutionary process. 

Cancer 

Keyword: I FEEL

Symbol: The Crab

Ruler: The Moon

Element: Water 

Polarity: Yin

Modality: Cardinal

Body: Breast, Stomach and Digestive organs

Colour: White, Silvery and Pearly Colours

In Cancer a door opens to an emotional and inner world. 

With Gemini a network is established, and from the emotional bond a family, a community, a town is formed. Cancer creates a protective boundary and establishes a supportive environment. 

Cancer moves directly from the mental preoccupations of Gemini into the heartfelt world of emotions. There can be a rising and falling of mood and energy in this sign, often following the Moon’s phases, which may seem irrational. The connection to water is key; just as the Moon affects the tides of the Earth, so it acts on us, since we are largely made up of water.

The Crab has a hard shell to protect a soft body and the Cancerian person can be like this: crusty and defensive on the outside but soft and squidgy within. They are receptive, caring, sensitive, imaginative, moody and shy. 

The emphasis in Cancer is on home, family, ancestors and the past, they have a strong need to feel safe and what they search is emotional security. Mothering is what Cancer loves; babies, adults, projects, pets, gardens or indeed almost anything!

Integrating their opposite sign, Capricorn, allows them to grow and gain responsibility. They mature and let go of the idea of being an eternal child. Going out of their homes and facing the world is a challenge that is worth embracing.

Cancer is from the 21st of June till the 20th of July.