Cancer

In the Northern hemisphere Cancer season starts with the Summer Solstice, signifying the beginning of Summer. As a child I always wished that my birthday was in the Summer month. To me Summer feels much more fun, sociable and lively, a time to mingle and interact. Cancer is big on building bonds with family, both biological and chosen, and what better way to do this than a good old barbie in the garden with some music and the sun shining brightly.

Cancer likes to feel safe and secure, and the perfect place for this is at home, you could say they are homebodies by nature. They have a need for physical and emotional comfort making their home their place of sanctuary, and the perfect place to retreat back to. With safety and security being high on their priority list attachment can sometimes be an issue. They may struggle to let go of the things that make them feel safe, this can include the people in their life, and this need for safety could lend itself to a controlling nature when left unchecked. Cancer can lack self-confidence which can sometimes be further fed by them retreating from the world into their protective shell. This said Cancer is extremely loyal, devoted and kind to those in their lives.

The need for a harmonious home and family life fuels their desire to nurture and protect what makes them feel safe. Their deep seated innate need for safety and security drives the nurturing and protectiveness within them. If what they perceive as being safe is threatened in any way it can tip over into protection and possessiveness and in some situations maternal domination. Because of this need for safety Cancer can have a tendency to build a bubble of protection around themselves and those they care about, this can often be seen in their social circles playing out as the “ingroup" mentality or the "family circle". This isn't meant to deliberately exclude, it is more of a clinging and a keeping close of the people and environments that makes them feel safe, it does however mean that it can be extremely hard for them to let outsiders into their world.

“I feel” is the statement for Cancer energy. As with all water signs Cancer has amazing instincts and good judgement when they have learnt to develop and trust their intuition. Because Cancer is extremely sensitive and empathetic it can sometimes be hard for them to differentiate between their feelings and those of another person. Because they feel so much, their expression tends to come from an emotional place and this emotional expression can sometimes lead to them being moody, negative and pessimistic, when in reality what they may be feeling is exposed and vulnerable. This emotional expression can also be ignited from their passion, loyalty and protectiveness causing them to come out fighting, pinchers at the ready. On the flip side to this, Cancer has a whole load of humour and silliness within them. 

Finding emotional balance is a life lesson for Cancer, if they can find emotional balance and a sense of self-confidence within themselves they will realise that safety actually comes from within. Where are you seeking safety? How are you currently retreating from the world? What are you clinging onto? What are you avoiding feeling? How can you nurture yourself more? 

With soul,

Paula

References:

Tompkins, S. and London School Of Astrology (2006). The contemporary astrologer’s handbook : an in-depth guide to interpreting your horoscope. London: Flare Publications.

Rudhyar, D. (2010). The Zodiac as the Universal Matrix. Khaldea.