CANCER, THE CRAB June 21 to July 22 The Archetypes and Roles The Mother, the Carer, the Psychic, the Counselor, the Protector Just as the Crab encases itself inside a shell, the Cancer person has an active inner life. Beneath a tranquil facade many conflicting needs and emotions brew. Those born under this sign often mingle home, family, and the influence of mother figures into all of life's experiences. Many will work at home or be drawn to an occupation which is an extension of the home. Successful family-owned businesses frequently have a Cancer at the helm. Spirituality "I Feel" is your cry for spiritual identification with the outer world. Ruled by the Moon, Cancer has always been the champion of goddess archetypes. The Crab came to the aid of the goddess Hera, and she gratefully gave it a place in the heavens forever as a constellation of stars. The enclosing shell of the Crab suggests the seclusion and secrecy of the gestation period preceding birth. The Moon's phases activate your spiritual growth. Learn more of their significance and incorporate it into your ritual work. No one has ever said Cancerians are easy to understand. You may appear gentle, kind, sympathetic, and a patient listener. Then you turn cranky, snappish, and appear to be completely indifferent to anyone's problems but your own. Like the tides, Cancer is the sign of powerful forces moving under the surface. That surface is very difficult to penetrate, for there is an elaborate array of defenses to hide their deep feelings and extreme sensitivity. Complex, fragile, unpredictable, temperamental, the typical Cancerian needs constant support and encouragement. You want desperately to be loved and approved of but resent needing approval so badly. When you get what you need, you give the best you have in return. You  tend to be a worrier and a silent brooder. People may pour their hearts out to you, but the flow never goes in the other direction. You guard your secrets well. If offended, you do not strike back directly. Your method of retaliation is to sulk, and it is often very effective. (Somewhat like being whipped to death by a dozen strands of boiled spaghetti.) Cancer's symbol, the crab, has a hard outer shell that protects soft, vulnerable flesh underneath.  The same is true of Cancerians, who can often be crusty, gruff and grumpy, but possess a proverbial heart of gold. You are a sentimental softie who will make any sacrifice for someone in need. If someone asked for a favor, your first reaction will probably be no, but the final answer is always yes. Anyone who becomes a part of your life will never again be entirely free. If you let anyone go out of your life, it is unwillingly and never completely. You try to stay in touch with everyone. You are almost psychic with your intuitions. You are devoted to home and family and continue to believe in the old fashioned idea that marriage is forever-even if the events of your own life contradict this. Cancerians are crab-like in their approach and never direct. If channeled in the right direction, your enormous sensitivity can be a great source of strength. Once you overcome your shyness and touchiness and master your turbulent emotions, your intellect and imagination enable you to become a success in almost anything you undertake. A Cancerian never gets enough love and approval; you always need more. It is very easy to fall in love with this loyal, devoted, affectionate, and protective Moon-child. DUALITY FEMININE: Self-contained and strong through inner reserves. ELEMENT WATER: Emotional and intuitive. QUALITY CARDINAL: Enterprising, Outgoing, and Initiators. Cancer is receptive, sensitive, and imaginative, sympathetic, kind, and emotional, and possesses an active, shrewd, and intuitive mind. POLARITY CAPRICORN: CANCER is the sign of home and family life. Cancerians seek close personal and are happiest surrounded by the familiar and those whom they love. CAPRICORN is the sign of reputation and public standing. Natives of Capricorn are concerned with the image they project, and they search for power and fulfillment in the outside world. ASSOCIATIONS IN THE OUTER WORLD RULING PLANET THE MOON: Earth's one satellite, which waxes and wanes and exerts a powerful magnetic influence. In astrology, the Moon governs emotions and intuitive behavior. GLYPH The pictograph represents the claws of the Crab. It is also a picture of the human breasts (a part of the human anatomy that Cancer rules). In symbolic terms, the glyph is two circles of the Sun connected to two crescent Moons. The moons represent Cancer's desire to store memories and possessions; the circles tied to the moons represent force and energy expressed through emotions and imagination. SYMBOL THE CRAB: Impenetrable exterior, soft underneath. At the first sign of danger, it withdraws and runs where it feels safe. DOMINANT KEYWORD I FEEL PART OF THE BODY RULED BY CANCER THE BREASTS AND STOMACH: Cancers are subject to digestive ailments caused by tension and emotional stress. LUCKY DAY MONDAY MAGICKAL BIRTHSTONE PEARL: Changes bad fortune into good and discord into harmony. It also brings support from influential people. POWER STONES: MOONSTONE, CHRYSOCOLLA SPECIAL COLORS SEA GREEN AND SILVER: The shimmering colors of the water and the moon. METAL SILVER ANIMALS RULED BY CANCER Those with shell coverings. MOST LIKABLE TRAIT LOYALTY (DANGER) CANCER people are susceptible to accidents in the home. They are also prone toward becoming victims of theft. This page is dedicated to a few of my favorite Cancers- My husband, Danny, Chris Cornell, and Danielle. HOW TO ATTRACT A CANCER SHINING YOUR LOVE LIGHT CANCER'S EROGENOUS ZONES MAIN ASTROLOGY PAGE Aries / Taurus / Gemini / Cancer / Leo / Virgo / Libra / Scorpio / Sagittarius / Capricorn / Aquarius / Pisces INSTANT HOROSCOPE PLANETARY ASPECTS Reference from: The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need (By Joanna Martine Woolfolk) The Witches' Almanac 2000 Llewellyn's Sun Sign Book The Power of Birthdays, Stars, & Numbers (By Saffi Crawford & Geraldine Sullivan) Entry ~ Individual ~ Physical ~ Spiritual ~ Index ~ Webrings [New] [Fine Art]  [Genealogy/The Counts of Helfenstein] [Family/Genealogy]  [Links] [Soundgarden/Music] [Reference] [Trailer Park] [Webrings] [Writings] [Astronomy] [Gypsies]  [Moon] [Phoenix]  [Stones] [Tarot] [Totems] [Astrology]  [BOS]   [Charge]  [ Herbs] [Planetary]   [Principles] [Rede]  [Seasonal] [Witchcraft]   ~   Join my Webring: The Pagans of Geocities Page constructed 11 Sep 1999 Updated 27 August 2000 21042001