Cancers are a difficult sign to interpret because of the emotional nature of the sign and the strong Cardinality. Cancer initiates the Summer season, and although most Cancers self-describe as emotional and sensitive, very few understand the strength underneath. It is an extremely strong sign due to the emotional maturity of most Cancers. They are emotionally centered, but strong. Remember that.
Cardinal signs initiate action. Each Cardinal sign ushers in a new season. Aries begins Spring, Cancer begins Summer, Libra initiates Fall, and Capricorn Winter. Each of these signs has an inner strength that is needed to begin action. It is the job of a Cardinal sign to initiate action.
Let me explain Cardinality a little more. There is of course cause and effect. Most of us live our lives reacting to life events. We may make plans for the day, year, or decade, but life usually presents us with things we must react to or fix. The Cardinal signs are the exception to the rule. Cardinal signs actually “cause” others to react. They initiate. Like the seasons when they change, Cardinal signs initiate change. As a note of interest here, the date and time of a season’s change is calculated by astrological calendars NOT astronomical. Summer begins when the Sun hits 00 degrees, 00 minutes, and 01 seconds in Cancer. It does not begin at midnight on the first day of Summer.
Cancer is located in the astrological element of Water. Of the four astrological elements (Fire, Earth, Air, and Water), Water is the most ancient, primitive, and instinctual. Being the most primal element, Water is also the element furthest away from rational mental energy, consciousness, and thought. Thus, Water energy tends to defy attempts at coming up with rational explanations and descriptions. Astrologically, the element of water is associated with feeling, sensitivity, and emotion. Water signs are the home base of emotional energy when it comes to the Zodiac. When you think water sign, think emotional energy, and you will have the foundation for these signs and the place they originate.
Cancer, ruled by the Moon, and with the added distinction of being Cardinal has a deep well of emotional reserve. The Moon is more simply understood if one remembers that the Moon represents the Past, but more importantly Memories. Memories are the doorway to the Past, and because of this the Moon takes on the emotional color we are so familiar with in life.
Take a moment and try and remember an event in your life. You will immediately recall the emotion you felt regarding that event. This is how memories are stored in our consciousness and sub-consciousness. The details of that event are colored by the emotion associated with it. This is how we remember life events.
It is not however, the way we remember what we might learn in school, at a job, etc. The ability to remember facts is represented in the 3rd house, while memories of life events, child birth, marriage, etc. are stored with an emotion attached to it for easy recall. Sound confusing? Well, just remember that the ability to remember is ruled by the 3rd house, while the actual memory itself is a province of the sign of Cancer and/or the 4th House.
Cancers are nurturing,
protective, and tenacious. They have deep emotional sensitivity, and value
strong traditional roots. {Family} Cancer is the archetypal image of the bond
between mother and son (as well as the archetypal image of the bond between
father and daughter). Cancer reflects the mysterious continual cycles of nature
and the ebb and flow of the tides, and, as such, reflects the ebb and flow of
emotions.
People with the Sun in Cancer generally develop
best through having an emotional relationship with their surroundings. Cancer
evaluates everyone and everything in terms of feelings and values. Hard, cold
logic “need not apply” when it comes to the energies of Cancer. The
varying (ebb and flow) moods of “wild child” Cancer is often a
puzzlement to everyone around, including the Cancer who’s having the mood. They
also tend to show their feelings more readily than do the other water signs
(Scorpio and Pisces), and so may feel more vulnerable because others seem to
have easy access to their emotional life. When feeling too vulnerable emotionally, they
will retreat into their shell in an effort to hide those emotions from the gaze
of onlookers. Cancers will run for cover when they feel overly vulnerable, but
watch out for the exit, I’ve seen some warrior Cancers that would mow you down
as they ran for cover.
Because of this emotional sensitivity, the
“Crab” is seldom comfortable in a wider and more impersonal social
setting, so they tend to create a small, enclosed environment, and only allow a
few select people into their sphere of influence. However, with those powerful
Crab pinchers, once they do allow someone or something into your sphere, they
often experience great difficulty letting go (even when they know they ought
to). This stubborn refusal to emotionally let go, applies to people,
traditions, and possessions.
I’ve always felt that the perfect image to illustrate a Cancer is the “mother lifting a car to save her trapped child’. This is the best way to explain the pure emotional element of water and the sheer strength and will of a Cardinal sign to effect change. Do not cross that nurturing and sensitive Cancer when it comes to anything they love. Just don’t do it!
