CANCER: June 21 - July 22

Warm, personable, and nurturing, Cancers, symbolized by the crab, rely on gut instinct when making key decisions and are often guided by their strong sense of personal style. They can identify with the situations of others because of the keenness of their imaginations. They are often over-imaginative and prone to fantasy, sometimes trying to shape their lives to fit some romantic ideal. Water is flowing. It is the medium of the emotional tide. People with a lot of water in their charts tend to be tuned into a vast undercurrent that allows them to feel their way through life. They can identify with the situations of others because of the keenness of their imaginations.

They are often over-imaginative and prone to fantasy, sometimes trying to shape their lives to fit some romantic ideal. They are appreciative of art and literature, and especially of drama, where the spectacle and ebb and flow of action and feeling particularly excite them. They may themselves possess considerable literary, artistic, or oratorical talent. 

Emotional and loving

Intuitive and imaginative

Shrewd and cautious

Protective and sympathetic

Changeable and moody

Overemotional and touchy

Clinging and unable to let go

The Cancerian character is fundamentally conservative and home-loving, they are the nest-like quality of a secure base where one can retire when they need a respite from the stresses of life, and exercise strong maternal instincts. If they can reconcile the personal conflict of their urge to be outgoing with the reserve that causes them to withdraw into themselves, then at best they can inspire a generation, especially the youthful part of it, with their idealism. A place that belongs to the family rather than existing as a showcase to impress visitors. Outwardly they can appear formidable - thick-skinned, unemotional, uncompromising, obstinately tenacious, purposeful, energetic, shrewd, intuitive, and wise, sometimes with a philosophical profundity of thought verging on inspiration. Their intimates, however, may see a very different character, one with a sympathetic and kindly sensitivity to other people, especially those they love. Their sharp ears and talent for mimicry can sometimes give them success on the stage, though their tendency to be emotional may make them overact. 

Each water sign represents a different form of memory. Cancer is long-term storage. All the important bits, the highs, the lows have been held tightly here. Cancer people tend to be sentimental. That’s not just a slip of ribbon in the drawer, that’s their childhood. What may look like flotsam to you is to them a purposefully kept key that starts a time machine. They are excellent organizers with a good sense of value and economy which they may combine with a flair for inventiveness and originality. With the day force culminating at its maximum point, it begins to wane in Cancer causing a focalization of the energy expended by Gemini. The polarity of movement goes inward to meet the emotional, psychic, spiritual, and biological emergence of the night force.  

Cancer is the realm of feelings, and from here we start the formation of a social fabric that interpenetrates our psyche, culminating in Capricorn. Interestingly - because they give the impression of being down-to-earth - they are often fascinated by the occult and are more open to psychic influence than the average. 

The Cancerian has many potential faults. They can be untidy, sulky, devious, moody, inclined to self-pity because of an inferiority complex, brood on insults (very often imagined), yet are easily flattered. They can be tactless and difficult yet because they are normally ambitious, they will curry favor by floating with the majority opinions, outlooks, and fashions of the day. As a result, they often change their opinions and loyalties and, indeed, their occupations, and lack stability. They are easily corrupted and, because they are convincing romanticizers, can make successful confidence tricksters. Their romanticism in another sense makes them ardent supporters of causes. 

That is not to say that the Cancerian is unsociable, just that for them there is a time to socialize and a time to be solitary, and this is part of the apparent contradiction in their nature. 

If they can reconcile the personal conflict of their urge to be outgoing with the reserve that causes them to withdraw into themselves, then at best they can inspire a generation

Outwardly they can appear formidable - thick-skinned, unemotional, uncompromising, obstinately tenacious, purposeful, energetic, shrewd, intuitive, and wise, sometimes with a philosophical profundity of thought verging on inspiration. Their abilities fit the Cancerian for a wide range of occupations. As they are interested in what people are thinking and able to judge what they can safely be told, they can be good journalists, writers, or politicians, though in this last capacity they are more likely to remain in the background rather than attain prominent positions of power. They may, indeed, change their party affiliations. They can serve in other departments of public affairs, especially those which involve looking after others, for example in any kind of service from welfare and nursing to catering - their love of comfort and good living makes the Cancerian an excellent chef or housekeeper. They sometimes have a penchant for trade or business and are often successful as a captain of industry. This is because they are excellent organizers with a good sense of value and economy which they may combine with a flair for inventiveness and originality.