Cancer Latin for 'Crab', is the domicile of the Moon. In the body, it rules the chest and stomach. The crab is Cancer's symbol and stands for the protective outer crust which hides extreme sensitivity and shyness.
Cancer is associated with the home, family, caring, nursing and nourishing. It is in it's nature to nurture, to provide and to sustain the necessities for life's development and growth.
Born under this sign of emotional vulnerability, you have a built-in need for self-protection. Gossip and superficiality don't sit well with you and you don't like talking much about your intimate details. It takes a long time and a lot of trust for you to open up and to share your inner personal feelings with anyone, sometimes not even your family and close friends will know what is really going on inside you. The reason why you are so private is because of your sensitive nature. Any betrayal of trust will hurt you longer and deeper than anyone can imagine.
To protect yourself from the possibility of emotional hurt you tend to withdraw, finding security in seclusion. On the outside you give the impression of being strong and solid and content with a solitary life, just like the real crab. But just like your marine counterpart is on guard and wary of being singled out, trying to avoid falling prey to those attackers who know it's delicate core - your inner self is soft and afraid of being hurt, preferring to stay in the company of it's own kind.
Experiencing the world around you more often than not as irritating and hurtful you shy away from the public arena, seeking the safety of your own environment where you show your affection in abundance. A nurturing warmth fills every room of your home, reaching into the hearts of the many souls who are welcomed here as guests: fellow humans - as well as stray animals - in need of a meal and a kind word. But the instant you step out of your doorway, you change. Out comes the armour of your protective shell and, switching into survival mode, you prepare yourself once more for the battlefield that seemingly awaits you just outside your boundaries.
As a rule, you are happy-go-lucky. But like the sea is pushed and pulled by the tide at the waxing and waning of the moon, so you too appear to be affected by Luna's forever changing face – at one moment you can be as sweet and charming as a Siren's song- and the next minute, without observable outer reason, you can be lost in thoughtful sadness and melancholy.
When you are really hurting, you tend to withdraw into a sulk and armed with defensiveness and moody silence, you scare away the very people who’s love and appreciation you so long for. Your powerful imagination can plunge you into fears of doom and gloom, making it so important for you to avoid negative thoughts and stay in control of your changeable temperament. And yet, this same imagination can take you on it's wings of hope to the loftiest heights of good will, cheerfulness and triumph.
You are ambitious. With your preference to take two steps sideways before going one ahead, it might take you a while to zero in on a goal, but once you have decided on a project worthy of your effort, you are strongly motivated to succeed. Fuelled by determination and perseverance, you like to finish the things you have started and don't easily abandon any plan. Quietly and persistent you carry on, even under the most difficult circumstances – until you have accomplished what you set out to do.
Generally you are cautious, but if your future success depends on taking a risk, you will take that risk. However, in such a case you are careful and sensible, displaying good judgement and a deep sense of responsibility.
Being appreciated for your confidentiality and sound advice, people seek your wisdom and trust you easily. Your receptivity, intuitive awareness and aptitude is uncanny and you often know what is going on and how someone's comfort level is before a word is spoken. Being a natural counsellor, you possess great compassion and empathy and it is easy for you to identify with and understand another person's predicament in any given situation. Your challenge is to learn detachment, to care without carrying another's burden, to be sympathetic and have positive regard without getting too involved.
It is your special gift and calling to find a silver lining behind clouds on a rainy day - your cheerfulness, warmth, hopefulness and reassuring presence are your greatest assets and you share them abundantly.
