“I don’t have anything big in the sign of Cancer, this newsletter isn’t for me.”

Think again!

We all have Cancer in our charts, which means we all have the sign of Cancer expressed somewhere in our lives.

Where we fall in the Cancer spectrum is individual for each of us, of course.

​In this newsletter we are going to:

Each sign of the Zodiac, including Cancer, describes a specific character, style, and set of tools.

If I had to boil Cancer down into one word, it would be feelings.

Cancer is feelings.

Its archetype is the Mother, Healer, the Romantic, and the Dreamer.

Also, the Volatile, the Smotherer, and the Doormat.

Like every sign, it’s complicated.

In Greek mythology, the goddess Hera sent a crab to attack Hercules, which he crushed underfoot.

They named a constellation in its honor, Karkinos - which we refer to as Cancer, Latin for “crab.”

Cancer’s symbol ♋ appears to be claws, ready to protect itself.

Here are the components that make Cancer the sign we all know and love:

–Ruled by the Moon: the planet of the soul and imagination

–Water Element: highly sensitive and runs on emotion

–Cardinal Modality: gets new things started

​–Negative Polarity: looks inward

The key to understanding Zodiac signs is knowing what the sign desires most.

Cancer wants to make others feel loved and to feel loved in return.

Cancer wants a family - family by blood or family by choice.

This sign needs to feel secure enough in its environment that it can let its guard down.

It wants a safe nest and to belong to a group of people who love each other.

But how?

​Ways that Cancer can achieve its goal of providing and receiving love:

So Cancer wants to be loved and accepted and wants to do the same for others.

And like every sign, Cancer comes with a set of tools to help it achieve its goals.

​Cancer’s tools:

One important thing to keep in mind is that Cancer is ruled by the Moon - the planet of the soul and imagination.

This sign comes equipped with a vibrant imagination.

These are the skills in Cancer’s toolbox.

And using these skills helps to shape the Crab’s personality.

​The byproducts of Cancer using those tools shine through as traits - Cancer’s style:

But what does this look like when taken too far?

Every Zodiac sign has a spectrum.

One end is the healthiest possible expression of the sign – the other is the shadow where traits turn into unhealthy behaviors.

​Cancer has some potential pitfalls:

All signs have weaknesses.

​It’s easier to understand them (and give them grace) when you can connect the dots and see why they may emerge.

Cancer needs to figure out how to balance emotional vulnerability with the right amount of self-protection.

That’s not always easy.

And being sensitive takes a lot of bravery - something many with “tough” exteriors would struggle to do.

​Putting your whole heart out there for others to either embrace or smash takes incredible courage.

Disclaimer

You may be wondering why I am referring to Cancer as an “it” instead of a “they.”

This is because I am not describing a person.

No one is this person.

What I am describing is a pure archetype – a character that exists in mythology and astrology.

Even the most Cancer of Cancers is a complex combination of many archetypes.

It’s important to remember this because in astrology we can fall into the trap of categorization – labeling and seeing people as one Zodiac sign.

We can even do this to ourselves.

But, signs aren’t humans, and when we try to fit someone into that small of a box it is doing them a disservice.

Disclaimer Over

So everyone has at least a hint of Crab somewhere in their psyche.

​The question is where and how much?

Investigating Cancer in your chart offers helpful information like:

The first question is, how strong is Cancer in your chart?

Please remember that astrology is complex and this list is a blunt tool for determining “sign strength,” but it’s a good start.

1. Your Sun, Moon, or 1st House (your rising sign) in Cancer: Any of these would make your chart scream “strong Cancer,” but especially the Moon. Find more than one of those in this sign and you’re overflowing.

2. Other planets in Cancer: Where there are planets there is energy working through the style of this sign. Some part of your psyche is shaped by Cancer. Find multiple planets there and this ups the ante for Cancer strength in your chart.

3. No planets are present, but houses 4, 7, or 10 land in Cancer: These angular houses can be very influential. Cancer’s influence can still be evident even though no planets sit in the sign. If your 4th House lands in Cancer, this is “extra-strength” as well.

4. No planets present and any house besides 1, 4, 7, or 10 lands in Cancer: The sign a house cusp (boundary line) lands in helps to shape it. With Cancer on a house cusp, “Cancer energy” may be present or felt in those areas of life. But without a planet there, its influence may be less profound.

5. Cancer lands between two houses and no house cusps land in it at all: This is an “intercepted sign.” “Cancer style” may not be strongly felt, or be expressed much more internally than externally.

Now you have a better sense of where you fall on the “Cancer scale.”

From here, it begins to feel like a “choose your own adventure.”

​There are more details to add to your Cancer story, and each person’s will be different.

This is where things are going to take a different turn for each of us.

What you investigate next will depend on what you have going on in your sign of Cancer.

1. If you have a planet in Cancer: Planets have their own agendas to add to the mix. Investigate how your planet could be shaped by the sign of Cancer. For help on that question, find more information here.

2. For everyone, learn about the house that sits in Cancer: How does this watery sign shape the experiences you may have with that house? Learn more about that here.

​3. If you have a planet in Cancer: How could the motivations of that planet work through that house, AND the style of Cancer? Get creative here! It takes some brainstorming and the use of your imagination.

Once you have gathered information about what in your chart (and life) Cancer is shaping, you are ready to do some introspection!

One great way to think deeper about something is through journal prompts.

​The ones below can help you dissect the Crab in your life and learn more about how you may experience this sign.

You have swam through deep Crab waters at this point and investigated how you experience this energy.

If you want to develop and embrace your Cancer further, how could you begin?

​Ideas to keep your Cancer happy:

Cancer is a fantastic sign that ushers more love into the world.

But if you have strong Cancer placements in your chart, how do you steer clear of some of Cancer’s not-so-fun tendencies?

​Ideas to avoid Cancer’s pitfalls:

Wish you could just print out a Cancer cheat sheet with all of Cancer’s stats and journal prompts?

You can!

Click here to download the Cancer Sign Series companion cheat sheet and journal prompts printout that goes along with this newsletter.

I hope you have enjoyed learning more about Cancer in your chart!

​Much love,

Love You → Love Others