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 Overview & Personality Traits
As the sign of the Crab, the psychological traits of Cancer are characterised
by the image of a creature with a tough, hardened shell protecting a soft and
vulnerable centre. Cancer is ruled by the Moon and belongs to the element of
water. Unlike most signs, which share their planetary rulers, Cancer claims
exclusive rights to the Moon, both sign and planetary ruler termed 'cold and
moist' in nature. Understanding the essence of that phrase reveals a lot about
the complex sensitivity that lies beneath the Cancerian's thick, crustaceous
shell.
In ancient astrology the condition of 'moistness' was viewed as 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 shared
experience of personal or collective events. The act of sharing emotions
represents an important aspect of 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 of
water' through the shedding of tears.
Hence, water as an element relates to the emotions and the world of feelings. It
is a passive, absorbing element; receptive and keenly perceptive. The energy of
water is fluid, unshaped, lacking consistency in definition and structure, but
remarkable in its ability to seep into inaccessible places and change its form -
sometimes appearing as vaporous as steam, sometimes as cold and solid as ice.
The use of the word 'cold' when applied to this element could never imply that
there is insensitivity to feelings or detachment from emotions, but that the
energy is passive, not active. Water 'types' are not quickly stirred to heated
debate or dynamic, self-assertive action. Their tendency is to wait, reflect and
absorb, responding to circumstances and remaining responsive to the needs of
others and the changing demands of life's events.
In 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 symbolises the instinct for collective movement and
association, usually along the linear flow of tidal pulls, a quick response to
fashions and trends that are gaining pace. But Cancer, taking its habitation on
the shore of the ocean, and governed by the Moon, responds to the cyclic and
rhythmic rise and fall of life's ebb and flow. A sign known for its moodiness,
Cancerians can be up one day, down the next, in a pattern that bears little
relation to the experience of external events around them. Their personal
emotions are never entirely unaffected by the joys and pains of the world.
As a sign that finds its strength in instinctive, emotional responses,
Cancerians are known for their remarkable psychic sensitivity, absorption of
memories and receptiveness to emotional impressions. This is widely accepted as
one of the most psychic 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 such an acute sensitivity to their physical and
unconscious environment is a double-edged sword, and awareness of complex
psychological factors that underlie apparently simple acts make it difficult for
Cancerians to apply their will and foster their own self-interests unfettered by
feelings of guilt and torn sympathies. This hesitancy and vulnerability to
emotional impacts on themselves and others has given the sign a reputation for
weakness, and a lack of ability to apply direct action to direct problems.
In addition, this sign is one that dislikes glares of publicity and is 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 particularly dark and
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 were dissipated. The connection with the element of water
and the rulership by the Moon reinforces the ancient foundation of this
reputation. The water element relates to the phlegmatic humour, which seeks to
retain its energies and inclines towards lethargy, while association with the
Moon adds to the sense of inconstancy and irrational or unreasonable behaviour -
or behaviour that seems strange when evaluated solely by reason or the rational
faculties.
The more negative traits associated with this sign then, are physical weakness,
lethargy bordering on laziness, a chaotic and unorganised application of methods
(often the cause of associated sloppiness and untidiness in the home and dress),
and a moodiness that is hard for others to relate to or fully understand. There
is generally a dislike of discipline, aptly symbolised by a creature that lacks
an internal skeletal structure, but the Cancerian way of dealing with that is
simply to avoid issues; there is little inclination towards rebellious acts or
direct and open confrontations.
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 'standing still' as it approaches this point. The creature
itself, of course, is known for its sidewards gait. So the movement associated
with Cancer is a strange one; there is a sense of hesitancy, a sidewards
approach to things, and an element of moving forwards whilst not looking
squarely at what lies ahead. Despite the intuitive gift that this sign
possesses, Cancer is not known as a sign of quick action or immediate response.
There is a tendency to vacillate before deciding on a course of action, and once
that course is chosen, the logic that lies beneath it is often convoluted.
Decisions are made upon reasoning that is neither obvious nor apparent to other
people, but there is a great skill for lateral thinking, for originating
solutions to problems from angles that others have not discovered. When combined
with Cancer's natural artistic flair and strongly developed imagination, this
can offer advantages in careers such as marketing, where the creative
exploration of unconventional approaches can be seen as a real talent.
The backwards gaze of the constellation is also symbolic of the Cancerian
interest in the past, a trait that is emphasised by the Moon's rulership of the
sign. This manifests on a personal and social level and often there is a keen
interest in history, past cultures and traditions, as well as a high respect for
personal history, genealogy, ancestral origins, nationalism, and a desire to
preserve and protect family customs. Ruled by the Moon, Cancer relates to tribal
instincts and ethnic origins, and there is often a clan-like attitude to one's
own community and family structure. Cancerians make very caring parents, but are
often said to suffer from over-protection and 'clinginess' in domestic
relationships, becoming too dependent on the need to preserve a tight-knit
family unit and failing to recognise appropriate moments for loosening the
bonds. Of course, the function of the Moon is to nurture and protect the young,
so maternal and paternal instincts run very strongly through this sign.
Cardinal signs are noted for being changeable, and Cancerians are certainly
changeable in their day-to-day views, emotions and opinions. But they find
change in their environment and basic life-structure difficult to handle and
have a deep need for security in personal relationships. They like to hold on
tightly to what they value as near and dear to them. They make great partners
for people who appreciate a caring and committed mate, and they enjoy the role
of being domestic provider - catering to homely comforts, offering tasty and
nourishing food and providing a secure and pleasant family environment. Theirs
is a gentle, relaxing and delicate energy; they need warmth, intimacy and
emotional closeness and would not be suited to partners that value emotional
independence or are inclined towards sexual, spiritual or even intellectual
freedom.
Although Cancer is not inherently a materialistic sign, the image of a vice-like
grip in their great pinching claws refusing to let go of what they see as
rightly theirs, does apply to their material interests as well as their
emotional investments. The word crabby, which generally means moody but
is also taken to mean 'tight with money', originates from the reputation of this
sign, in a trait that was recognised in the earliest texts. Manilius, writing in
the 1st century AD, remarks of those born under this sign "Of a grasping
spirit … and skill in making profits; … His is a shrewd nature, and he is
ready to fight for his profits."
It is within the area of business relationships that the Cancerian is best able
to apply the protection of the tough upper casing and let the head rule the
heart. Cancerians make good investors and good business managers - what they
lack in 'pizzazz' they more than make up for in persistence and tenacity. Often
underrated because of the softness of their emotional natures, it has to be
remembered that, as the sign of the solstice, Cancer is a cardinal sign that
does not give its ground away easily. Their hesitancy to act on first impulse
makes them resistant to glib, superficial deals; instead they will circle around
all options, vacillating to and fro, before finally settling on the deal that
feels right for them. When they do invest financially, it is with caution and
shrewdness. When they feel that their real interests - 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 safe-guard their family and
loved ones, they have no real interests in acquiring wealth purely for their own
use, but as 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 that you view them from. They are slow to form intimate
relationships, yet unless a close emotional contact exists they are unlikely to
expose the soft-underbelly that borders their vulnerable centre. Instead they
will maintain a sense of detachment and what you will see from the outside is a
hardened, impenetrable shell that gives no hint of where their true values lie.
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