Cancer
Dates: June 21 — July 22
Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac, ruled by the Moon. It is a cardinal Water sign linked to emotion, home, family and maternal energy.
Character: Cancers are among the most sensitive and emotionally deep signs. They have powerful intuition and a knack for sensing the mood of those around them. Beneath a tough shell hides a tender, vulnerable heart.
Strengths: empathy, intuition, loyalty, caring, memory, depth of feeling.
Weaknesses: sensitivity to slights, mood swings, possessiveness, withdrawal, occasional manipulation.
In love: Cancer is one of the most devoted, nurturing partners. They strive to build a cozy nest and protect their loved ones. They need emotional safety and reciprocity.
In career: psychology, teaching, medicine, cooking, real estate, social work — anywhere they can take care of others.
What is Cancer by types
Every zodiac sign is defined by four interrelated traits: element, modality, polarity and ruling planet. Below — how they work for this sign.
Water Element
Water element — emotion, intuition, depth. Water signs feel and hold. Other water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.
Cardinal Modality
Cardinal modality — the sign starts a season of the year. Such signs launch processes and take initiative. Cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn.
Yin Polarity
Yin / receptive, inward-directed polarity. The sign expresses itself through sensing, accepting and gestating. Yin signs are earth and water.
Moon Ruler
The ruling planet Moon gives the sign Cancer its characteristic colouring — through the themes and archetypes associated with this planet.
Ascendant in Cancer
A Cancer Ascendant meets the world cautiously, feels the room before speaking, and tends to remember other people's stories long after they have forgotten telling them.
Calculate AscendantMoon in Cancer
A Moon in Cancer feels deeply, remembers everything, and finds emotional safety in home, family, and the people who have known them longest.
Planets in Cancer
Sun in Cancer
A self organized around belonging, memory, and care. Identity is shaped by who it loves and what it remembers.
Moon in Cancer
An inner life rich with memory, attachment, and tidal sensitivity. The Moon is at home here — emotional needs are …
Mercury in Cancer
A mind that thinks through feeling and memory. Communication is intuitive, indirect, and tuned to the emotional subtext of the …
Venus in Cancer
Loves through care, memory, and the building of home. Affection is shown by remembering, feeding, and protecting.
Mars in Cancer
Acts to protect what it loves. Drive is emotional, indirect, and most effective when the cause is felt as personal.
Saturn in Cancer
Builds maturity through emotional self-mastery. The lesson is becoming the safe person one needed earlier — without becoming cold.
Uranus in Cancer
Generation rewriting the structure of family and home. Disruption shows up in domestic life, lineage, and what counts as belonging.
Jupiter in Cancer
Expands through home, family, and care. Growth comes from belonging — to people, places, and the lineages that hold a …
Neptune in Cancer
Generation idealizing home, family, and emotional belonging. Imagination glamorizes lineage, mother, the comforts of the nest.
Pluto in Cancer
Generation transforming family, home, and national belonging. Power shows up in the deep reorganization of lineage and group identity.
Compatibility of Cancer with other signs
Below — a basic read on how Cancer pairs with each of the 12 zodiac signs, including itself. For an in-depth analysis based on two natal charts, use the compatibility calculator.