Cancer Season Bonus Materials
Scroll through to access all of the Cancer section bonus materials.
Cancer Season Playlist
Dear Stranger - STRFKR // Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey // Sugar - Brockhampton // Lose you to Love Me - Selena Gomez // So Emotional - Whitney Houston // Let Go - Frou Frou // LOVE - Kendrick Lamar Ft. Zacari // Two Weeks - FKA Twigs // Let it Happen - Tame Impala // Skin - Soccer Mommy // First Aid - Gus Dapperton // So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings - Caroline Polachek // Chateau Lobby #4 (In C for Two Virgins) - Father John Misty // Time to Go Home - Chastity Belt
Meet the court
Caring is cool. Let’s meet Cancer icons (IRL) who exude big talent, and even bigger hearts.
Meet the Page of Cups (IRL) - Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling once said, "A remarkable thing about me is that the time that elapses between a sad thought and a flood of tears is three or four seconds." Is there a quote more Cancer than that? She's known as Hollywood's sweetheart and funny girl, and she's our perfect Page of Cups (IRL).
Born June 14, 1979, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to an OB-GYN and an architect, Mindy is a Gemini Rising with a 2nd House Cancer Stellium including her Sun, Moon, and Mercury. Her natal Saturn falls in her 4th House (Cancer's "home" in the flat chart).
She attended Buckingham Browne & Nichols for grade school, stating that she was an "overlooked and average" student. But, this was the time when her interest in comedy began. She was drawn to sketch comedy, in particular. After graduating high school, she went on to study at Dartmouth, where she ultimately earned a degree in playwriting. During her time there, she was hardly the wallflower she described herself to be in her high school years. She wrote plays, acted, sang, and even illustrated cartoons featured in the college's newspaper. But her real passion during her college years was participating in the school's improv group, the Dog Day Players.
At age 19, she took a summer internship at Late Night with Conan O'Brien and started to learn the ins and outs of television. Then, in 2001, she moved to Brooklyn with friends to pursue a career in comedy. She took a job as a nanny for a wealthy Brooklyn Heights family. In 2002, Kaling and a college friend debuted a play they had written and workshopped called "Matt & Ben." The play was incredibly well-received and was quickly moved to an Off-Broadway venue, where its popularity surged. This was how she would eventually come to work on The Office. Greg Daniels, the producer of the US version of The Office, was in the crowd at the play and set up a time to meet with Kaling. He offered her a staff writing role in the show's first season. She also acted as Kelly Kapoor in the series.
Between Seasons 2 and 3 of The Office, Kaling took a role as a guest writer on Saturday Night Live. She described her time at SNL as "humiliating," and she's been incredibly vocal about the racism and sexism she's experienced in writing rooms across the industry. It's a field dominated by men, and having a woman of color with a gentle, heartfelt, and honest take on comedy in the room wasn't always met with open minds.
Mindy created several series, including "The Mindy Project" and "Never Have I Ever." In addition, she's continues to write and produce, has had several acting roles in movies, and done quite a bit of voice acting in recent years. in terms of recognition, Kaling has received five Emmy nominations for her contributions to The Office. In 2012, she was named by Time magazine in its list of 100 Most Influential People in the World. The following year, she earned a place in the 50 Coolest and Most Creative Entertainers list by Entertainment Weekly. In 2014, Kaling was listed as one of the Women of the Year by Glamour magazine, and she received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Dartmouth College on June 10, 2018.
Kaling also has two children and raises them as a single mother. Despite lots of probing from the public, she's kept the identity of the father(s) a secret. She speaks candidly about the joys and struggles of single parenthood, and her remarks carry her signature sense of humor.
Kaling is a perfect example of Cancer energy and the playful and creative qualities that are so characteristic of the Page of cups. She seems to bring a childlike sense of joy to everything she touches.
Meet the King of Cups (IRL) - Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks is one of the most charming icons in Hollywood history. He's one of my personal favorite actors of all time. So, I may fan-girl out a bit here. But he just seems like such a genuine dude.
Born July 9th, 1956, in Concord, California, Tom Hanks is a Virgo rising and has a 10th House Cancer Sun and Mercury. He also has an 11th House Leo Stellium, including his Uranus, Moon, and Pluto. The King of Cups is a water/fire blend, and Tom Hanks' birth chart (and personality) fits the bill.
His parents divorced when he was 5. He and his siblings were split up as a result. He lived with his father, who worked as a chef. He's quoted as saying in an interview, "Maybe there was a degree of loneliness because really no one — I kind of like fell through the cracks and didn't really have adults per se that were taking care of me." This feeling of loneliness and falling through the cracks defined Hanks' early life. As his biographer, David Gardner, wrote, "By the time he was 10, Tom had had three mothers, gone to five different schools, and lived in 10 different homes. At one stage, he had so many siblings and stepbrothers and stepsisters that he was known simply as 'Number Eight.'" The lack of parental presence in his early years meant that Hanks and his siblings had to learn to take care of themselves. He credits these experiences with helping him develop his light-hearted and optimistic approach to life. In another quote from an interview with The Guardian, he said, "I can't help it that I wake up in the morning and think: 'What good thing is going to come around?'" (How King of Cups is that?)
Hanks went to junior college in Hayward, California, in 1974. He transferred to California State University shortly after, where he studied theater. In 1977, Hanks was recruited to take part in the summer session of the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in Lakewood, Ohio. Throughout his time in college, he spent every summer acting in Shakspearean plays and working backstage at a community theater company in Sacramento.
In 1980, Hanks dropped out of college and moved to NYC to pursue acting. His first big role was in "Bosom Buddies," a sitcom about two businessmen dressed up in drag to secure an apartment in a women-only building. But his huge break came when he starred in "Splash" alongside Daryl Hannah. The film became a surprise hit, and Hanks skyrocketed into fame. He has since had one of the most significant careers in Hollywood history. I'm not going to go into every project he's ever worked on, or we'd be here all day. But his most notable works include his roles in "Big," "A League of Their Own," "Sleepless in Seattle," "Philadelphia," "Forrest Gump," "Apollo 13," "Toy Story," "Saving Private Ryan," "You've Got Mail," "The Green Mile," "Cast Away," "The Da Vinci Code," and "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." These titles barely even scratch the surface of his enormous career. He's been nominated for 6 academy awards (winning 2), 13 Emmys (winning 7), 10 Golden Globes (winning 4), and 8 Screen Actors Guild Awards (winning 2). He also has a Tony nomination.
Hanks has earned himself the titles of "The Nicest Guy in Hollywood," and there are countless firsthand accounts. For example, he once stopped the filming on the set of the Da Vinci Code to personally rush a bride through the crowd that had formed around the filming to the altar so that she wouldn't be late for her wedding. He's known to write individual hand-written notes to each and every crew member working on set. He doesn't throw fits on set, and he takes an interest in seemingly everyone he meets. He's been married to his wife, Rita Wilson, since 1988, and the couple are proof that love can survive Hollywood.
He is the epitome of mature Cancer Fire/Water energy, and I'll leave you with this quote from Taffy Brodesser-Akner's New York Times Interview with Hanks...
"It isn't easy being a parent, not for any of us," he said. "Somewhere along the line, I figured out, the only thing really, I think, eventually a parent can do is say I love you, there's nothing you can do wrong, you cannot hurt my feelings, I hope you will forgive me on occasion, and what do you need me to do? You offer that up to them. I will do anything I can possibly do to keep you safe. That's it. Offer that up and just love them." He looked at me for my next question and when he saw my face he said, "O.K., go ahead. I'm right here for you, Taffy. It's good to cry. It's good to talk."
(I'm not crying, you're crying.)
Decorate your crab-shell
Cancer season is a great time to re-decorate! We have to ask ourselves what we’re priming a room for. Is it a place where you need to concentrate? Is it a space for you to relax? Is it an area of the home where you need to access your creativity? That’s the first step. We have to determine what the main function and the desired result for the space is.
one of the big things to consider when re-working a space is lighting. studies have shown that unnatural light (Especially blue light) can affect our circadian rhythm, sleep cycles, and mood. many designers recommend dimmers and utilizing different sources of light (lamps, sconces, etc.) so that you have the option to layer lighting, as needed. THis is a super easy and affordable update that can come with a big payoff.
Research has also shown that live plants reduce stress and improve concentration. they also add texture to a space and help purify the air. Don’t worry if you don’t have a green thumb. There are plants out there which basically thrive on neglect, such as snake plants and aloe. If you have pets, make sure your plants are pet safe or are stored somewhere that your furry friends can’t access them, as some houseplants are not safe to be eaten by pets.
Studies have shown that shapes, color, and texture all affect our mental and emotional state. The science of color is considered regularly in branding work. Our brains make unconscious decisions based on color and texture all the time. Reds convey intensity, oranges convey energy and enthusiasm, Yellow conveys joy, pinks and greens are generally calming and stress-relieving, Blues and Purples are soothing, browns and grays are comforting - you get the idea.
Color also informs our perception of temperature. We associate cooler tones with cooler temperatures and warmer tones with warmer temperatures. In fact, a study showed that participants in a warm-toned room consistently overestimated the temperature of the room. Likewise, participants in a cool-toned room consistently underestimated the temperature of the room. This is all good information to have. Maybe you’re someone who gets cold at night. An Icy blue bedroom wouldn’t be a great choice for you. If you wanted to stay in the cooler tones, maybe a green would be a good fit. green is a relaxing color and doesn’t carry the same temperature associations as an icy blue.
patterns and textures are another thing to consider. A room that’s too busy can overwhelm the senses and detract from our ability to focus. conversely, A room that doesn’t have a lot of visual interest can sap our creativity. We crave some level of mental stimulation in our surroundings. So, a beige on beige minimalist room doesn’t do a lot in the way of getting our creative juices flowing. The big thing in design is balance. Lots of designers advise people to choose a handful of “central” or “statement” pieces, and work the room around those. Everything should feel like it belongs.
Also, Make sure you have some soft textures, especially if you’re someone who is sensitive to sound. Soft surfaces absorb sound and reduce sharpness and echo. this is where curtains, rugs, and pillows become important. If you like a quiet space, add more soft textiles into your decor.
There have also been studies around shapes in home decor and brain activity. The studies found that soft, round geometry throughout the home encouraged more brain activity in participants than boxy furniture. Rounded decor was also perceived as “more friendly” than sharp-edged furniture, which evoked feelings of negativity in participants. That’s not to say that everything in your home should be round. I mean, if you’re into that, then do you. But, the idea here is to incorporate round shapes via throw pillows, coffee tables, bowls, lamps, etc.
Now, Let’s talk about some tips for making a functional room. Spaces that are designed with a specific purpose in mind can eliminate decision fatigue and help our life flow more smoothly. A big part of this is clutter-reduction. When we accumulate regular piles of clutter, it tells us something about a functional need for our space that’s not being met. The first step is doing a good purge. then, track your “catch-alls” in the following weeks. Is your dining room table accumulating a stack of mail? Maybe you could look into a wall-mounted mail storage option to put in that room. you get the idea. It’s about noticing our patterns and building in practical solutions.
We can also consider the “flow” of our spaces to create efficiency in our daily routines. it can be little things like storing our coffee mugs directly above our coffee maker instead of in a cabinet on the other side of the kitchen, for instance.
Take some time this cancer season to examine your living spaces. Are there changes you could make so that your space feels more comfortable and functional? Keep in mind, this doesn’t have to be expensive. Thrifting is really fun, and Cancer loves antiques - win, win! You can find lots of super affordable items to up-cycle and reuse in your home. Also, if you’re a renter, there are non-permanent options to make your space sing. Peel and stick wallpaper is a game changer! Even if your space is small, there are so many space-saver furniture options out there! Look for pieces that pull double duty, such as beds with storage underneath. wall-mounted shelves are also amazing for small spaces. They greatly reduce the furniture footprint in the room. and, like i mentioned earlier, Most home decor projects can absolutely be thrifted and/or DIY’d. So, please don’t feel like you need to break the bank to reward yourself with a functional space that you’ll love to spend time in.