Hydrating the Soul

When I was a teenager, my best friend and I dreamed of throwing a dual Sweet 16. Her birthday was mid-October, mine just before Halloween, and we planned to celebrate on the weekend in between—a day that felt perfect, a bridge between us, a shared spotlight for our sisterhood. For years, we talked about how magical it would be: matching dresses, a room full of love, and memories we’d treasure forever.

When the time came, though, she told me her family couldn’t afford to contribute. Without hesitation, I canceled the idea entirely. I was so devoted to our friendship that it felt natural to let go of my dream, thinking we could still celebrate together in some smaller way. I suggested we hang out that weekend—the date we had always planned for our joint party. But when I asked, she told me she was busy.

I didn’t think much of it at the time. It was only that Monday, when I saw the pictures of her in a beautiful dress, that the truth hit me. She’d had her Sweet 16 that weekend, the very day we had agreed to celebrate together. Her boyfriend, who was friends with mine, shared all the details. She’d had the party we planned, but it wasn’t for us—it was for her alone.

At the time, I didn’t feel hurt. I genuinely convinced myself I was happy for her, even though my own birthday passed without celebration. That’s how deeply I believed in our friendship. But now, under the light of this Wolf Moon, I see it clearly. I had given everything to someone who wouldn’t have done the same for me.

Our friendship wasn’t sisterhood. It was built on uneven ground. I gave and gave, while she took without hesitation. And looking back now, I see that I abandoned myself for a relationship that was never truly reciprocal.

This Wolf Moon – the first full moon of 2025 – in Cancer invites us to connect with the wisdom within our chest, breasts, and stomach—parts of us that hold the energy of love, nourishment, and safety. These areas reflect how we give and receive care, how we protect ourselves, and how we process emotional energy.

• The Chest and Breasts: These areas symbolize unconditional love and nurturing. When in balance, they allow us to give and receive care freely. When out of alignment, they may hold resentment, fear of rejection, or over-giving.

• The Stomach: This area reflects trust—trust in life, in ourselves, and in the process of letting go and receiving. When unbalanced, the stomach may store insecurity, a lack of safety, or the inability to process emotional experiences.

As I reflect on my teenage self, I feel the heaviness in my chest from giving so much love without receiving it in return. I feel the knots in my stomach tied to moments when I sacrificed my joy to keep the peace. These sensations are reminders of the emotions I never fully processed, stored within me like echoes of the past.

This moon asks us to tune into these areas of our bodies. Where do you feel tension, unease, or discomfort? What emotions might be stored there, waiting to be acknowledged?

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Cancer, ruled by my favorite element of water, offers us an even deeper connection to our emotions. Water flows, cleanses, and reflects, just as our emotions do. It carries memory, both in the physical and mystical sense, and reminds us that we are meant to move through life with fluidity and ease.

Water’s connection to emotions helps us understand why feelings can sometimes overwhelm us or linger when left unprocessed. Think about stagnant water and how dangerous that can become – our emotions need movement so they can flow to clear. Cancer’s watery energy invites us to dive into our emotional world, to reflect on the past, and to release what no longer serves us.

For me, this Wolf Moon brought clarity to how spiritually dehydrated I had been. My inner waters felt chaotic and unsettled, reflecting my disconnection from what truly nourishes me. But when I began dedicating my writing to my ancestors—an idea sparked by another beautiful writer—I felt calm. As I poured my emotions into my words, the storm inside me stilled, and I felt spiritually hydrated again.

What does spiritual hydration look like for you? It might be journaling, creating, meditating, or simply resting. This moon invites you to replenish your inner waters and nourish the emotional currents within you.

This Wolf Moon didn’t just bring awareness—it brought a call to action. I made a declaration to my teenage self:

I will be the friend you deserve. I will love you the way you were meant to be loved. I will celebrate you in ways no one else ever did.

This year, for my 35th birthday, I’m reclaiming what I gave away. I’m planning the celebration I never had—a beautiful dress, a luxurious setting, and the women in my life now who uplift and cherish me. This isn’t just a party; it’s a promise to honor my inner teenager and show her what true sisterhood looks like.

To connect with Cancer’s wisdom and water energy during this moon cycle, try this reflective ritual:

1. Tune Into Your Body: Sit quietly and place your hands on your chest and stomach. Breathe deeply, and notice any sensations in these areas. Ask yourself what emotions or memories these sensations might hold.

2. Connect with Your Inner Waters: Reflect on your teenage years. What emotions flow to the surface? What did your inner teenager need but not receive? Allow your emotions to flow without judgment, like water running its natural course.

3. Make a Declaration: Write down what your inner teenager needed and didn’t receive. Then, make a promise to them. Speak it aloud, as if you’re speaking directly to that younger version of yourself.

4. Hydrate Your Spirit: Identify one practice that spiritually hydrates you—whether it’s journaling, creating, meditating, or resting—and commit to it throughout this moon cycle.

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I’m blessed now to have women in my life who embody true sisterhood. Women who see me, who celebrate my light without fear or jealousy, and who love me fully and unconditionally. To my sisters now: thank you for loving me into this version of myself. Thank you for showing me what it means to be truly seen and supported. It’s because of you that I can give my teenage self the friendship she always deserved.

The Wolf Moon calls us to reclaim the parts of ourselves we abandoned. It asks us to honor the pain of our past while creating a new narrative for our future.

Reconnect with your inner waters. Be the mother and mentor your younger self needed. Teach yourself to thrive, to love, to lead. Wolves don’t apologize for their howls, and neither should you.

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