Ruling Body - The Moon

Changeable and moody
Overemotional and touchy
Clinging and unable to let go

Emotional and loving
Intuitive and imaginative
Shrewd and cautious
Protective and sympathetic

The heavenly Crab, the Constellation of Cancer, was placed in the heavens by the gods, as a symbol of gratitude for the crab’s faithfulness and devotion and this comes down as some of Cancer’s main characteristics, that of devotion, loyalty and faithfulness.

Don’t underestimate this meek and mild mannered sign, for behind the gentle and winning ways of the emotional, Water ruled Cancerean, beats a very strong and determined heart. Even their tenacity, some would say stubbornness, can be explained by the position of two stars above the Crab, known as the ‘Asses’. Stubborn as an Ass may be true for many Cancereans, but they’re not placed there for their stubbornness, but for their devotion and refusal to give up despite the odds.

  It’s these two stars that also give Cancereans their reputation as very sensual and fertile lovers, for the Ass is a very ancient phallic symbol and central to fertility rites.

  Cancereans get a lot of their qualities from their animal symbol, the Crab. Ambitious, both the animal and the astrological crab are equally at home in the water and on dry land and while Cancereans can swim in their emotions and become very emotional, they’re able to climb out of them when they want to, revealing a very ruthless and assertive competitor.

While Cancereans, and crabs, are non confrontational, when forced to defend themselves, their defence system is deadly. They don’t like to fight, preferring instead to retreat into their shells, but when forced to, especially if those they care about or their security is threatened, they’ll attack with deadly force.

 
Ranging from the timid, dull, shy and withdrawn to the most brilliant, Cancerians are fundamentally conservative and home-loving natured, appreciating the nest like quality of a secure base. `Nest like' is an appropriate adjective for the Cancerian home, for its inhabitants tend to favor the dark, mysterious but comfortable type of house which has something of the air of a den about it, a place which belongs to the family rather than existing as a showcase to impress visitors.
 
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. 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. They are able to identify with the situations of others because of the keenness of their imaginations.

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. 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, by their idealism.

In their personal relationships they are mentally a mixture of toughness and softness, often emotional and romantic to the point of sentimentality in their fantasies but in real life and in marriage, their loving is not so sentimental but tenaciously loyal. Both the Cancerian man and woman love unreservedly, giving much and asking little in return - in fact, one of the most important lessons they have to learn is how to receive gracefully. They are too easily influenced by those they love and admire, and swayed by the emotion of the moment. They are also loyal friends, the negative side of their faithfulness being clannishness, the narrow patriotism of "my country, right or wrong".

Cancerians have a retentive memory, particularly for emotionally laden events which they can recall in detail for years afterwards. They live intensely in the past in memory and in the future in imagination, a chance meeting will easily rouse forgotten emotions.

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 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.

Yet Cancereans, for all their determination, can be very hesitant. On the day the Sun itself actually pauses in the heavens and appears to hesitate before moving forward. It’s from that, that Cancereans have developed this as a trait. Though just like the Sun, once they’ve made up their mind, heaven and earth is unlikely to get them to change it.

Never one to confront a situation, Cancereans are content to side step and hide behind their defences. Another unlikely quality that Cancereans have got from their animal counterpart is their intuitive, some might say psychic abilities, both able to sense danger through ways that seem impossible to explain.

The most famous Cancerean trait and the one others will be most familiar with, come from Cancereans ruling body, the Moon. It’s from the Moon that Cancereans get their famous moods, for they are very much influenced by the cycles of the Moon.

Cancer has always been the sign most linked to Motherhood, for the goddess who rules the Moon also rules childbirth and Cancereans have long been known as the nurturers of the zodiac.

Soft, sweet and emotional on the outside, they are made of tougher stuff than most of their zodiac mates appreciate.