Cancer Sun Sign: The Signs of the Zodiac 

Cancerians care incredibly deeply about others but especially their own family members. They are some of the most nurturing, protective, supportive, kind people around. Being so incredibly emotional and sensitive they need plenty of time to rest and process their feelings and away from the energy of others. The symbol for this zodiac sign is the crab. Quiet and shrewd, the crab knows when to withdraw and hide, but also when to strike!

Cancer is a feminine sign, meaning that it tends to be more introverted than extroverted. It’s quality is cardinal, meaning that it is inclined to start things on its own accord. Most importantly, Cancer is a water sign—the others are Scorpio and Pisces. The element of water is widely regarded in astrology as emotional, deep and intuitive. This sign is ruled by the Moon, which is a very important personal planet in astrology. It represents our inner world; our true feelings, needs, desires as well as our gut instinct and subconscious.

Admirable Attributes

Like the tough exoskeleton the crab wears to protect its soft, vulnerable interior, these individuals can seem very resilient and prepared for anything, but deep down, they are tremendously sensitive. They feel very, very deeply and that’s why they are oftentimes so self protective.

Their feelings are often effortlessly channelled into careful artistic work like painting, drawing, writing, music, design and the culinary arts. History really captures their imagination and they just love antiques and period fashion. Many of these people buy and sell antiques, write fascinating books on history or make period clothing. Being naturally skilled savers and homebodies, they might enjoy designing documents and printables for things like budgeting, cleaning rotas and home organization.

Their introversion by no means translates to a withdrawn and apathetic personality, though. On the contrary, many Cancerians make excellent business people. I was in a relationship with a Cancerian man (he actually had a Cancer stellium in his chart) for almost a decade and as quiet and sensitive as he was, he was a phenomenally shrewd and resourceful businessman. So much so that he successfully ran the same business from his early twenties until his death at nearly sixty. 

Whether they run their own business or work for a company, they tend to do very well at work. A brilliant example of a successful Cancerian in business is Richard Branson, a very prominent British entrepreneur. His Sun sign is Cancer and he also has the Moon the ruler of Cancer) in the first house (the ascendant). These people tend to have a unique take on how to do business, so no one can quite replicate what they create. Like the other cardinal signs, Aries, Libra and Capricorn, they also tend to be exceptionally self-sufficient and can work perfectly well, and accomplish a great deal, as lone rangers. They don’t need much, if any , external guidance.

Those who don’t work often enjoy running their household as if it were a business. They enjoy making sure everything is always in order, and that their children, if they have any, are happy, healthy, organized, well fed and making good academic progress. Many enjoy frequently connecting to nature by spending time gardening and even growing their own food. This activity also appeals to their sense of self preservation because it means consuming healthier, more nutrient dense food.

Many Cancerians are homebodies. Even if they run a hugely successful business, they may do so from their home or from an office or other building that feels like a home to them. Many of them like to make the spaces they work in exceptionally comfortable and warm as it helps them to be more productive if they are very comfortable in their surroundings. They even pick staff members who they intuitively feel could eventually feel like family. If they work somewhere which doesn’t feel too homely and safe, they will compensate for this by spending as much time at home as possible.

Creative and imaginative, Cancerians adore their homes and decorate them to make them feel and look just right. They naturally know which colors and textures work well together and excel at creating beautiful, comfortable spaces which feel secure and cozy. They are especially fond of the past as I mentioned before, so they enjoy filling their homes with carefully chosen antique items like paintings, furniture, trinkets and other items.

These people use their strong intuition to guide them in life. They must feel something is right before they can proceed with it. If something feels off, they won’t want to go ahead with it.

Areas for Personal Growth

As steely as these individuals can be, some of them may find that they spend a lot of time second guessing themselves. This often stems from a lack of self confidence, which others may not be aware of because they are so skilled at protecting themselves. Over time, though, they realize the importance of becoming genuinely self-confident and making firm decisions. As such, they tend to develop confidence later in life.

Sometimes, they can take things too personally or misinterpret the things that people say. This can lead them to act in a defensive manner, which is in stark contrast to their usually placid and passive demeanour. Personally, I find the difference quite remarkable and I’ve been shocked by it many times in the past. One of my closest friends in school was a Cancerian and she suffered with a tough home life. On a few occasions, I’d ask how her parents (who I knew and liked) were and she would sometimes go cold or lash out to varying degrees. Once, she me that I shouldn’t be so nosy and to get lost. It seemed odd at the time but I didn’t grasp the full extent of her horrible domestic situation until we were much older and she confided in me.

These individuals can hide their feelings so well that others may never really know what they are. Because they are so sensitive, they view the world as a harsh place and can feel very vulnerable in it. They fear being made fun of, or told off if they share their true feelings, which would make them feel even more hurt. The result is that they often keep their cards very close to their chest. And while this can be a wise move for many sensitive people, bottling up too much can cause frustration. In some instances, it’s better to vent to others and work through things.

Similarly to those born under Taurus and Leo, these people are prone to over indulgence. This doesn’t just mean eating too much. It can mean smoking too much, relaxing too much, spending too much, or whatever else floats their boat. Most are able to stop themselves from going overboard, though, and enjoy all of life’s pleasures in moderation. 

Worrying is another hallmark trait associated with this sign. They worry about things that haven’t happened including things that are unlikely to happen. They also tend to fuss a lot over their physical health, as well as the health of their loved ones. They worry about who will take care of their family if they aren’t well or around anymore, even if their doctor has told them they are okay.

When they are hurt, they tend to go silent or even physically withdraw for prolonged periods of time. When they do this, it can be tricky to resolve their differences with others. Only if they they are willing to talk openly about how they feel can all involved parties bury the hatchet and move on. Some prefer not to do this but it could benefit them greatly.

Their moods can change very quickly and you may never quite know where you stand with them. Although this is true of all water types, it appears to be most common in Cancerians and Scorpios rather than Pisceans, who seem more open to working through things owing to the mutable nature of the sign.

Physical Appearance

Their face may be quite round in appearance, thanks to the Moon, which rules the sign. Their eyes also tend to be quite round or almond shaped, and there may be an emotional quality to them. Their movements tend to be careful and deliberate but also quite gentle, especially if Taurus is on the ascendant.

As a Partner

They normally make for very supportive, caring and nurturing partners, almost like another parent. Their partner appreciates how careful they are with their resources. Being natural budgeters, they can live well on a shoe string budget if and when the situation calls for it. As they are so emotionally sensitive and soft-hearted, they can overreact or go cold and withdraw for a while if they feel hurt.

For many Cancerians, their partner is their world. They are exceptionally family oriented people and for some, their partner is their entire family. If they have children, they see their partner as a vital part of their unit and they enjoy putting the effort in to ensure their relationship will continue to function well. They seem to be one of the least likely signs to find faults in their partner and quit a relationship early on. Generally, they will bend over backwards to make things work with someone if they really like them. 

Dating

As they are very imaginative and creative, they are inclined to choose interesting and unique locations for their dates. For example, a Cancerian friend of mine who is currently dating always picks interesting exhibitions to visit with the guys she meets. She avoids coffee shops and restaurants because she feels they are too conventional. Because the exhibitions are usually pretty interesting, the conversations rarely run dry and all in all, both of them end up have a fun evening out if nothing more!

The main qualities they try to spot in potential partners are kindness, empathy and integrity. Without these, it’s unlikely they will meet their date again because as flexible and tolerant as they are, these are qualities they just can’t do without. Even their close friends need to be good natured, let alone their partner. Once they find someone who they feel is right for them, they slowly and cautiously find out more about them. They never jump into new relationships, and they never rush themselves, especially if they are unsure of someone.

As a Parent

As I mentioned earlier, these people are very protective, supportive and nurturing towards their partner. Towards their own children, they are even more so. They feel compelled to take the best care of their children and sometimes, this involves staying home so they can monitor and support their every step.

Many Cancerians never stop seeing their children as children, even once they reach middle age! My Greek aunt has a Cancer Sun sign and despite my cousin being in his late forties, she still takes care of him similarly to when he was a kid and that includes cooking most of his meals! And, of course, he lives next door to her.

As a Pet Parent

No matter if they have human children, their pets are also their children. They love them with every cell of their being and take exceptionally good care of them. They love being physically close to them as often as possible. Although they might fuss over them and worry unnecessarily about their wellbeing, they make very loving and attentive fur baby parents.