CANCER the Crab
Who changes like a season?
Who holds fast, then let’s go without reason?? Who cannot stick to any adhesion??? It is the Cancerian !
As the sign of the Crab, the psychological traits of Cancer are characterised by a creature with a tough, hardened shell protecting a soft, vulnerable centre. Cancer is ruled by the Moon and belongs to the element of water, both sign and ruler being ‘cold and moist’ in nature. Understanding the essence of that phrase is key to realising the complex sensitivity that lies beneath Cancer’s thick, crustaceous shell.
In astrological philosophy the principle of ‘moistness’ shows the capacity to release emotions and connect with other beings. Moisture blurs the boundaries that define us as distinct individuals, allowing empathy, sympathy and a communal experience of personal as well as collective events. The act of sharing emotions is an important element in forming bonds and unions, so moisture is also a creative condition which forms the basis of love, fertility and reproduction. When we become too emotional, the natural reaction is to release the ‘excess water’ through the shedding of tears.
Water, therefore, relates to the realm of emotions and feelings. It is a passive element, perceptive and receptive to its environment. Consider how water is fluid, unshaped, lacking consistency in definition and structure, remarkable in its ability to change form and seep into inaccessible places – sometimes warm and vaporous as steam, sometimes cold and solid as ice. The use of the word cold, when applied to this element, does not suggest detachment from emotions but notes that the energy is passive rather than active. Water ‘types’ are not quickly stirred to heated
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debate or dynamic, self-assertive action. Their tendency is to reflect and absorb, responding to circumstances and remaining attentive to life’s changing demands.
With the water signs of Scorpio and Pisces, we see a different expression of this energy. Scorpio symbolises the stillness of the murky depths, areas so deep and dark that no movement occurs without the disturbance of long-accumulated sediment. Pisces, associated with the linear flow of the river, suggests a more immediate response to collective movement, trends and ideals. Lacking the hardened shell of the other water types, Pisces signifies a more sensitive energy, easily impressed upon by its immediate environment. But Cancer, taking its habitation on the shore of the ocean, and governed by the Moon, responds to the cyclic pull of life’s ebb and flow. This sign is susceptible to rhythmic swings, which manifest as moodiness, so Cancerians can seem to be ‘up’ one day and ‘down’ the next as they react to the joys and pains of the world in a pattern that (superficially) bears little relation to immediate events around them.
Because Cancer finds strength in instinctive, emotional responses, Cancerians are renowned for psychic sensitivity, absorption of memories and receptiveness to emotional impressions. This is one of the most extrasensory signs of the zodiac, and there is usually a marked interest in the occult, a vivid recollection of powerful dreams, and strong symbolic appreciation. But acute sensitivity to the physical and unconscious environment is a double-edged sword: awareness of all the complex psychological factors that underlie apparently simple acts make it difficult for Cancerians to foster self-interests unfettered by feelings of guilt and torn sympathies. This vulnerability to emotional pulls gives the sign a reputation for weakness and hesitancy through an impaired ability to apply simple direct action to simple direct problems.
Cancerians also dislike glares of publicity and are rarely comfortable at the centre of attention. Traditional descriptions of the sign depict it as ‘dark’ and nocturnal, lacking in vibrancy. The astronomical foundation for this is that the constellation Cancer is a dark, dimly lit region of the sky. It has few distinguishable stars and is mainly notable for a nebulous, cloud-like cluster which ancient astronomers regarded as an area where energies dissipated. The connection with the element of water and the rulership by the Moon reinforce the ancient foundation of this reputation. The water element relates to the withdrawn phlegmatic humour, which seeks to relax and eject from the body what is no longer needed and inclines towards lethargy, while the association with the Moon shows a proclivity towards inconstancy and emotive rather than rational behaviour – or rather, behaviour that may seem strange when evaluated solely by reason.
The most negative traits associated with this sign, then, are a tendency towards lethargy that might lead to laziness, a moodiness that is hard for others to relate to or fully understand, and a seemingly chaotic and unorganised application of methods (historically said to cause sloppiness or untidiness in the home and dress). All of which determines their general dislike of discipline – aptly symbolised by a creature that lacks an internal skeletal structure – although the Cancerian way of dealing with issues of this nature is to simply to avoid them; there is little inclination towards rebellious acts or direct confrontations.
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The symbolism of the celestial crab also gives an insight into the way that Cancerians move through life, react to situations and respond to problems. Cancer is one of the few constellations that rises backwards in the zodiac. The Sun’s entry into Cancer occurs at the summer solstice – a term derived from the appearance of the Sun seemingly ‘standing still’ as it approaches this point, halts its increase in northern declination and turns to return southwards towards the equator. The creature itself, of course, is known for its sideward gait. So the movement associated with Cancer is a strange one, revealing a sense of hesitancy, an oblique approach to things, and an element of moving forward whilst not looking squarely at what lies ahead. Despite the intuitive gift this sign presents, Cancerians are not known for quick action or immediate response. They tend to vacillate before deciding on a course of action, the logic of which is complex or convoluted. Decisions are based on reasoning that is seldom obvious but usually spawned by lateral thinking, which originates solutions to problems from angles others have not considered. When combined with Cancer’s natural artistic flair and strongly developed imagination, this offers advantages in careers such as marketing, where the creative exploration of unconventional approaches is seen as a real asset
The backwards gaze of the constellation is also symbolic of the Cancerian interest in the past, a trait emphasised by the Moon’s rulership of the sign. This manifests on a personal and social level, with Cancerians finding fascination in past cultures and traditions, as well as personal history, genealogy, and ancestral origins, along with a desire to preserve respect for their own national and family customs. (Ruled by the Moon, Cancer relates to tribal instincts and ethnic origins, so there is often a clan-like attitude to community and family structure). Cancerians make very caring parents but sometimes suffer from over-protective ‘clinginess’ in domestic relationships, becoming too focused on preserving a tight-knit family unit and failing to recognise appropriate times to loosen the bonds. Of course, the function of the Moon is to nurture and protect the young, so maternal and paternal instincts run strong through this sign.
Although changeable in day-to-day views, emotions and opinions, Cancerians find disturbance in their environment and basic life structure difficult to handle and look for security in personal relationships. They hold on tightly to what they value, so make great partners for people who appreciate a caring and committed mate They also enjoy the role of being domestic providers: catering to homely comforts, offering tasty and nourishing food and providing a secure and pleasant family environment. Theirs is a gentle and relaxing energy; they need warmth, intimacy and emotional closeness and are not suited to partners that value emotional independence or incline to sexual, spiritual or even intellectual freedom.
Although too emotional and spiritual to be inherently materialistic, the image of a vice-like grip in great pinching claws refusing to let go of what is seen as theirs does apply to Cancer’s material as well as emotional investments. The word crabby generally means moody but is also taken to mean ‘tight with money’, originating from the repute of this sign in ancient texts. Manilius, in the 1st century AD, says of those born under the crab: “Of a grasping spirit and skill in making profits; His is a shrewd nature, and he is ready to fight for his profits” (Astron. 4.165).
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Not surprisingly, it is within the business arena that Cancerians best apply the protection of the tough upper casing to let the head rule the heart. They are good business managers who make wise long-term investments – what they lack in ‘pizzazz’ is made up for in persistence and tenacity. Easily underestimated because of the softness of their emotional natures, it should be remembered that – as the sign of the solstice – Cancer is a cardinal sign that will not give its ground away easily. The hesitancy to act on first impulse makes them resistant to glib, superficial ideas; instead, they circle around all options, vacillating to and fro, before finally settling on the deal that is just right for them. When they do invest financially, it is with caution and shrewdness. When they feel that their investments (emotional or material) are at stake, they will fight to the bitter end. The irony is the motivation that powers them: they are driven by the need to safeguard their family and loved ones; they have no real interest in acquiring wealth purely for their own use – what they seek is a legacy of security that they can pass on to others that they care about. Cancer is a complex sign, capable of offering very different personas depending on the angle you view them from. They are slow to form intimate relationships, yet unless close emotional contact exists, they are unlikely to expose the soft underbelly that borders their vulnerable centre. Instead, they will tend to maintain a sense of detachment, so what you may see from the outside is a hardened, impenetrable shell which gives no hint of the deep commitment, care, compassion, and softhearted imaginative soul that lies within it.
FAMOUS CANCERIANS
King Henry VIII 28 Jun 1491 JC; London, England; 8:45 am (RR: AA)
John Dee 13 Jul 1527 JC; London, England; 4:02 am (RR: C)
Raold Amundsen 16 Jul 1872; Sarpsborg, Norway; 5:00 am LMT (RR:C)
Helen Keller 27 Jun 1880; Tuscambia, AL, USA, 4pm LMT (RR:A)
Duke of Windsor 23 Jun 1894, Richmond, England; 9:55 pm GMT (RR:AA)
Alan Turing 23 Jun 1912; London, England; 2:15 am GMT (RR:A)
Nelson Mandela 18 Jul 1918; Umtata, South Africa; 2:54 pm EET (RR:DD)
George W. Bush 6 Jul 1946; New Haven, CT, USA; 7:26 am EDT (RR:AA)
O.J. Simpson 9 Jul 1947; San Francisco, CA; 8:08 am PST (RR:AA)
Queen Camilla 17 Jul 1947; London, England; 7:10 am BDST (RR:B)
Robin Williams 21 Jul 1951; Chicago, Illinois, USA; 1:34 pm CST (RR:A)
Carl Lewis 1 Jul 1961; Birmingham, Alabama, USA; 7:49 am CST (RR:A)
Princess Diana 1 Jul 1961; Sandringham, England; 7:45 pm BST (RR:A)
Courtney Love 9 Jul 1964, San Francisco, CA; 2:08 pm PDT (RR:AA)
Nicola Sturgeon 19 Jul 1970, Irvine, Scotland; 3:16pm BST (RR:AA)
Elon Musk 28 Jun 1971, Pretoria, South Africa; 7:30 am SAST (RR:B)
Julian Assange 3 Jul 1971, Townsville, Australia; 3:00 pm AEST (RR:B)
Prince William 21 Jun 1982, London, England; 9:03 pm BST (RR:AA)
Selena Gomez 21 Jul 1992, Grand Prairie, Texas, USA; 7:19 am CST (RR:C)
Prince George 22 Jul 2013, London, England; 4:24 pm BST (RR:AA)
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CANCER: RULERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
Watery, cold & moist, phlegmatic, nocturnal, feminine, moveable (cardinal), solstitial, prolific, mute
DIGNIFIED PLANETS
Dignified in Cancer
Moon as sign ruler.
Jupiter as exaltation ruler
Mars as triplicity ruler
Debilitated in Cancer
Saturn by detriment.
Mars by fall.
TRADITIONAL RULERSHIPS
Direction: All water signs broadly relate to the north; the cardinal sign Cancer specifically signifies the cardinal direction due north.
Anatomy: Cancer principally governs the breast area but also has association with the stomach and digestive tract
Illnesses: Cancer is susceptible to illnesses concerning the breast, stomach and chest. In decumbiture charts this sign can indicate bad coughs, problems with sinuses or catarrh (or ‘phlegmy’ complaints), weak stomachs, digestion problems and piles It is also linked with gout, eczema (or various skin complaints ranging from dandruff, scabbiness to leprosy) and has an historical association with baldness. Overall, Cancer is considered a sign of poor constitution and if heavily afflicted in a decumbiture it can signify any kind of cancer).
Places: As the cardinal water sign, ruled by the Moon, Cancer can signify any location marked by moisture or dampness. But because of the notion of ‘thrust’ (leading to change) attached to the cardinal signs, in regards to bodies of water it particularly relates to those that are moving (rather than places where stagnant water collects): the sea, rivers, streams, brooks, springs, canals, fountains, as well as sea shores, reed beds, marshy land, etc. In houses it represents cellars, cisterns, bathrooms and all places where water collects or is used; in particular areas around wash rooms or laundries In the landscape it represents wide plains or places that are featureless (like the ocean), including deserts and cultivated, arable land. It also rules places near to or defined by nautical or watery matters, such as ships or places where sailors gather, fisheries, ale-houses, breweries and taverns, etc.
Countries & cities: Include Scotland, Holland, Tunisia, Algeria, Bahrein, Eastern Khurasan and Balkh in Afghanistan, Istanbul, Venice, Milan, Amsterdam, York, Wittenburg in Germany, Cadiz in Spain.
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Colours Pale, discreet and subtle or smoky colours; greys, beiges, silver, pastels, sea-green, pale blue, white.
Stones & metals: Stones and metals fall under the rulership of planets, not signs, but through its association with the Moon, Cancer has affinity with pearls, silver, crystals, opals, selenite and all pale coloured gemstones
Animals According to Al-Biruni, Cancer is associated with all forms of reptiles, poisonous lizards, all aquatic animals, and “animals that are numerous in the desert like Beetles”.
TRADITIONAL DEFINITIONS
Fertile: As a water sign, Cancer is defined as ‘fruitful’ and associated with multitudes and multi-faceted things. Unless afflicted, it shows a propensity for easy pregnancy, large families or many children, and the likelihood of having creative projects on the go at once.
Mute or ‘slow of voice’:
Symbolised by a creature that is silent, Cancer is not known for verbal dexterity and is one of the signs traditionally classified as ‘mute’. These signs (which include all the water signs) relate more to feelings than words, so ‘intuit’ easily but may may lack confidence in public speech with less inclination to communicate openly and freely through words
TYPICAL FEATURES
The stature inclines to shortness or medium height with a round face (large fleshy features), pale complexion, small eyes, a little crookedness to the nose and a downcast look; heavy breasts (or top half of body generally larger than the lower). All general descriptions are moderated by the location of the Moon and other dominant chart factors.
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