Cancer (June 22-July22)
By: JaniceJ

The sign Cancer is ruled by the reflective and changeable Moon and is
symbolized by the Crab.

Reading any basic Astrology text which describes the positive
attributes of this water sign would tend to make you want to run
right out and get a Cancer all for your very own: Compassionate,
caring, healing, emotional, family oriented, nurturing.

You might wonder, given all of these sterling qualities, why a sign
so obviously filled to overflowing with the Milk of Human Kindness
could possibly by symbolized by something as potentially nasty as a
Crab!

Cancer is probably one of the most complex signs in the Zodiac. They
share this distinction with their two fellow water signs (Scorpio and
Pisces) for when dealing with the element of water in any form we are
dealing with a source of tremendous power and tremendous diversity.

Take a look at water! See how it flows around whatever is in its
path, not pausing, simply adapting its course to accommodate the
obstacle. Pour water into any vessel. There is no attempt on the part
of water to change the shape of the vessel which contains it. Water
effortlessly changes ITS shape until it fits, snugly, into its new
home. Cancer's strength lies in this ability to adapt themselves and
flow comfortably into the needs and feelings of others.

Cancers do care! They care deeply about those things and people in
their life which make them FEEL safe, secure and accepted. Moon
Children will constantly seek that safe haven where they can feel
free to poke their heads out of their crusty shell and look around at
life. Thus, Cancer's traditional preoccupation with "home". The Crab
only gets nasty when its security is threatened or its feelings
ignored.

The Moon, which rules this emotional sign is NOT the most stable of
bodies. It whizzes through the Zodiac in its orbit around the Earth
in a lightning 28 days. Its orbit is not consistent, but a sort of
herky-jerky motion which moves..now fast..now slow.. as it touches
each sign and planet in your chart. Small wonder that Cancers, who
respond instinctively to the Moon's vibrations, can occasionally be
called "moody".

The low and high tides of their emotions follow the staggered path of
their ruler, making it difficult at times for them to be sure WHAT
they feel from one day to the next.

The sign Cancer offers to each of us the opportunity to establish
emotional ties to others. It teaches us about the love and security which
we can experience through caring for others. Cancers only experience
problems when, in their desire to care for those they love, they forget
that the whole point of nurturing others is to allow them to grow into
independence.

These are the "Cosmic Mothers" of the Zodiac, though the point should be
made that EVERYONE responds to the Cancerian vibration through the
Moon in their chart, AND through the house in their natal chart which
has Cancer on the cusp. The reflected light of the moon symbolized the
reflected life some Cancers may lead if they depend too much on the
emotional care they give to others as an indication of their OWN worth.
Children leave home, people move on. Cancers who cannot accept this will
cling to the past, despondent and unhappy.

Cancers are supportive and encouraging partners when their emotional
strength is directed, at least in part, towards themselves. They are able
to ENCOURAGE those around them to follow their own paths of growth.
They draw strength from the experiences and lessons of the past,
rather than clinging to them. They provide a safe and cozy haven to
which their wandering chicks can return for sustenance, while in the
meantime they are busy achieving their OWN goals in life. Moon Children
who can find their "home" and emotional security in their own inner being
will live out the highest qualities of their sign, to the benefit of all
whom they touch.