Cancer

When any planet is in Cancer, or Cancer is on the cusp of any House, the matters covered by the planet or House will be affected by Cancerian characteristics.

A water sign ruled by Luna, the Cancer influence will be deep, emotional, pervasive. The individual with a strong natal Cancer influence will likely be sensitive, and will very likely learn to cover up the depths of his or her emotions with a hard shell, withdrawing inside in imitation of Cancer's symbol, the crab.

And like the crab, the Cancer individual has dangerous claws which can do damage to the incautious. Like the crab, the children of Luna will whip out the pincers in self-defense, rather than any innate sense of cruelty. Unfortunately, the moody emotional crab is likely to see any little disagreement as an all-out battle for survival at times -- you have been warned!

Because these people's feelings really do go to the bone, minus harsh aspects they'll be compassionate, with a highly-developed sense of empathy, and a set of minimally-acceptable standards higher than many people's most idealized daydream. While there may be moodiness ... time and tides have their own schedules! ... the Crab draws waters from a bottomless well, and there will be a strong core of feelings from which he or she will only rarely deviate. Tenacious in all things, a Cancer who loves will re-define the word commitment, defending hearth, home, and loved ones with the ferocious loyalty of a pit bull defending her pups, or a tiger whose cubs are in danger. Security is encompassing with these folks, and it may take a lot to make them feel secure.

With harsh aspects, there may be a tendency toward passive-aggressiveness, but don't count on it. Have you ever met anyone with natal Mars in Cancer? You might think they'd be too sensitive and caring to make frightening enemies; this would be a grave error. Natural ruler of the Fourth House, Cancer considers Fourth House matters to be important enough to fight for ... even to die for. Cancer may not argue gleefully for argument's sake as would a Gemini, and will probably let any slight considered beneath his dignity slide off unnoticed, but woe unto anyone who threatens the Crab's home, family, or sense of security. Such a person is likely to be single-mindedly destroyed. Wouldn't be pretty -- not at all dreamy or mystical or Lunar-looking! More like a herd of angry Scorpios had just laid waste to the place.

Cancer is the mother that every kid should have had: devoted, committed, a believer that one's actions show one's love. Luna's children will make homes that are refuges from the toils of the world, places of warmth, safety and security, and they will defend the people, places, even things, that represent this safety to them.

The Cancer individual will probably have a respect for age and tradition that goes deep, and may need to learn that respect works best when earned rather than ascribed. Capable of hard work and self-sacrifice, the Crab may be loath to let loose, but all work and no play makes Jack one crabby dude, and Cancer flourishes when offered imaginitive, creative outlets.

Sexually, the watchword for Cancer is emotion, and even casual sex offers opportunity for connection on a deeper level. They may not always desire commitment, but will look for connection, and will likely be creative and sensitive lovers who delight in pleasing their partners for pleasure's sake, rather than for ego gratification. Not to say that pure lust will be missing. When the right wires are touched, the Cancer individual will let loose a rush of passion that might make a goat blush. Tenderness lurks not far behind, but a lifetime of practice at hiding strong feelings may mean that this gets demonstrated in some unconventional ways -- but after all, beer & pizza sometimes make better "comfort foods" than ye olde milk&cookies. Cancer's home may not be a castle, it's what it was intended to be: a home. Kick off your shoes and bust out the Guinness; there's a storm a-comin' and a wolf at the door, but the Crab wisely built his nest of bricks, so let's sit by the fire and drink a toast to loving, perhaps not wisely, but always too well!

For information regarding the physical traits and characteristics of the Cancer native, please see our page on Physical Appearance and Astrology.

Artwork: Selene & Endymion; Crabs, Crabs! by R. Templeton; Diana