Auntie Moon

Food, glorious food! From mother’s breast to our last meal, with or without teeth, the sign of Cancer will tempt us with the freshest of garden delights, the juiciest of fruits, the scent of hot-out-of-the-oven bread, aromatic herbs, exotic spices, a magnificent glass of wine, robust sauces, sumptuous shellfish, and delectable desserts.

We eat to nurture not just our bodies, but also our spirits and our minds. We know that certain foods help fight disease and play a role in our energy level. We eat “brain food” to keep our mental gears greased, fiber to keep our digestive systems moving right along, and foods rich in iron when we’re anemic. But the minute we reach for that Hostess cupcake, those mashed potatoes smothered in gravy, or the chips and dip, Lady Luna is spoon-feeding our emotions with a great big dose of love.

In John Guare’s play, House of Blue Leaves, food is used as an aphrodisiac by Bunny, Artie’s mistress, an exceptional cook. There’s just one thing. She won’t cook for him. She tells him about the food, and then he cuts pictures out of magazines and puts them in a scrapbook, drooling, begging her please “…cook for me.”

Food and emotion. My, oh, my.

Moon food is comfort food on a grand scale. What food makes you absolutely melt just by thinking about it, something you just can’t resist? Is there a handed-down recipe you always make for special occasions or that always shows up at family gatherings? When you eat those foods, you’re feeding your Moon.

Years ago, I hosted a potluck dinner centered around the Moon, Mom, and comfort food. What a spread! Everyone brought something that was their favorite when they were a kid. It’s the most incredible potluck dinner I’ve ever seen. Cupcakes, cookies, crudite with green goddess dressing, cheetos, chips and dips, baloney sandwiches, pimento cheese, ooey-gooey, yummy, yummy things, fried chicken, and a big pot of alphabet soup…with lots of chocolate for dessert, of course.

The Moon and Cancer rule food in general, as well as cooks and cooking. They also rule diners, restaurants, bars, taverns, luncheonettes, and barbeques. Would you be surprised to learn that our demure Lady Luna also rules belching?

If you’re planning on attending a luncheon (which is a lunar event), check the daily moon sign to get a feel for what the prevailing mood is likely to be.

At Luna’s Table ~ Some of the foods ruled by the Moon and Cancer

General: All baked goods, dairy products, soups, and beverages fall under Luna’s rulership. Here are some more specific foods that are associated with the Moon and Cancer:

Meat: Shellfish ~ crab, clams, crayfish (crawdaddies), eel, escargot, lobster, oysters, shrimp; fish, in general; eggs, omelets, poultry.

Herbs and Spices: The Moon rules all herbs, spices and seeds, in general, as well as wintergreen mint, specifically.

Veggies: Cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, palm, potatoes, sauerkraut, sprouts, squash (including pumpkins), turnips.

Fruits: All melons, grapes, coconuts, lemons, and papayas.