Calling all Conscious Crabs (and Bulls, and Fish, and Twins. . . )

Hi and welcome to the Conscious Crab!

My friend Lauren and I are starting this website/blog to be a resource for anyone working through trauma, grief, and maybe looking for answers outside of the tools they have worked with so far. Or, for anyone interested in astrology and what it can tell you about yourself!

Okay okay, better put . . . this site and these blogs hopefully serve, hm, how did my friend Lauren so eloquently put it? Anyone who is, "on their journey toward self-actualization" haha I know. . . that sounds intense, right? She said that astrology's main belief is the soul seeking to find its destiny. That, I can digest!

You can read more about Lauren and I in the "about" section. But, what I will tell you and what could be cool for you to know. . .

Lauren and I are both "crabs" - cancers in the zodiac. We met in an online doctoral program at the University of Miami. We shared an unspoken (until one of us made it spoken cough...maybeIdohavetroublewithboundaries?...cough) connection and understanding of the other. We made the other feel "seen", I think. In a way that, maybe, we hadn't been seen before. At least I know she made me feel that way.

I have always had trouble "owning" strengths about myself - especially when it came to intellect and curiosity. I often felt "shut down". . . annoying and know-it-all-y when seeking a community to learn with. The trauma I experienced in my adolescence certainly didn't help. After 11+ years of therapy I do feel better equipped to tackle life, whatever that means...but not...entirely healed? I'm not sure what or if that's possible, honestly. I think recognizing when and how my trauma "comes out" or presents itself is helpful, though. Mindful and reflective, if nothing else.

I'd always had an interest in astrology but it may be called casual. A casual conscious crab I was haha. Until Lauren! She had me complete a birth chart found here. . . https://astro.cafeastrology.com/natal.php

I did it for funsies (do people even say that anymore?) and of course had no idea how to even read it or what it meant. Lauren shared a couple of details with me and I was sort of left like . . .

Yep, I couldn't believe some of the stuff this person I'd not met in person and had limited interaction with was telling me about myself....and was right about?!?!? More than that - some of my own hang ups (anxious perfectionism, namely) started making sense. She tells me it's to do with my Virgo south *shrugs*.

Anywho, in my mind we are sort of Felix and Oscar-y (Odd couple for any gen zers - google it). Despite both being cancers I think I am definitely more...uptight? and research-y, more. . . prove it to me! Lauren is intelligent, intellectual and has this awesome ability to float between being academia-minded and in tune with this type of spirituality - aka she's super cool.

My chats with her have helped me begin to reframe who I am, how I interact with people, and how to own my strengths. It's all based off of that simple act of doing my birth chart and chatting with her. So, that's what we hope to do for you, too. Lauren is the guru in astrology, she'll chime in here soon. Her first post will be chatting about birth charts and how to read them.

I'll be chiming in with some peer reviewed research based information, tools, and opportunities to learn and discuss healing trauma with this info (I told you, I'm Felix - okay?). We hope you join us with a cafecito and chat and learn alongside us as we continue our own journeys toward self-actualization.

Talk soon!

Love,

Rachel