cancer: a rich conspectus
*the zodiac sign of Cancer, 13th century stained glass, Chartres Cathedral, France
Cancer is hands down the most misunderstood sign in the entire zodiac. Everyone loves to see them as weak. It’s well-known and oft-repeated that they have their faults as a sign. Let’s placate the masses and list these faults. For starters, the unevolved ones live in victimhood, are defensive, moody, live in the past and hide from dealing with their past hurts, and end up carrying it around as baggage, cautious of new people. They can be vindictive; if you fuck them over, they’ll definitely return the favour. They can be manipulative and evil and not even be detected; because of how nice they are in real life, people literally think they’re weak scaredy-cats, but they know how to lay back in the cut and strike back HARD. You can think they’re cute and adorable all you want, but they’re the ones that are probably planning WWIII and will burn your fucking house down. They can wear the ugliest personalities only because the world has been this way to them, not to excuse or condone their toxic behaviour, but the negative traits come from somewhere and usually it’s the consumption of programming from other people’s egos and inadequacies taking certain actions, that make them feel this way.
Unfortunately, watery Cancers are impressionable enough to take on their whole environment; they absorb unprocessed emotions or thought patterns and take them on as their own. Then there are some who project on others because they’ve lost the spark to love and have become cold to adapt to this reality, which leads to their abhorrent personalities. There. This is what everyone loves to hear and wants to hear. Now, here’s what everyone doesn’t love or want to hear but NEEDS to hear: For all the shit they put up with, they are the wisest, as well as the strongest. They, to me, are the ones who have mastered all the other signs. They have the power to create whatever they choose. How is that weak? They can come for you and your entire existence, but they are here for peace. If they so chose, they can chew you up and spit you out. Don’t ever get it confused; they know all the right buttons to press. They’re magical, generous, beautiful, lovers, good advisers, listeners, dreamers, creative, intuitive, crazy, unique, funny, secretive, unreadable, feminine, gracious, proud, non-judgmental, forgiving (but they never forget), emotional, sensitive, kind, strong, unpredictable, contradictory sometimes, seductive, passionate, honest, players, etc…Cancers are everyday people—and yet they’re not like anyone else you’ve ever met.
Underneath their shells, their soft underbelly is often completely exposed to both danger and ecstasy. Cancer teaches us divine vulnerability—how to see others as human beings with feelings and a need for a semblance of comfort. They have an endearing quirkiness, an irrepressible resilience and innocence, and a whimsical sensibility. Like every sign, Cancer walks a razor’s edge between its nobler and its baser sides, which in their case can make itself felt in a certain lack of constancy, even though ironically stability is what they crave. Cancer is compassionate and supportive; but if you lean too hard on them, they’ll crawl away sideways in the blink of an eye. On one hand, this can be seen as cowardly (often by those who wish to use them). On the other, this is an admirable survival skill. Self-aware Cancers know that you can’t absorb the whole world’s pain and misery 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and stay sane. You’ve simply got to get away from time to time, whether physically or mentally. The strongest and wisest of Cancers pay close attention to their need for healthy withdrawal into their shell.
I think they would be better understood if they could articulate their feelings because more than any other sign except for possibly Leo, everything they do is linked to their hearts more than anywhere else. Incidentally, like Leos, they can be vain because they find it better to focus on themselves in fear of people hurting them. Many things that go through their minds and bodies cannot be translated into words, and that’s where the misunderstandings and all the hate comes from. People don’t have the depth to read their souls nor their hearts, so they judge their actions and their actions don’t translate who they are and how they feel. They need to isolate themselves to heal and reconnect to their own worlds, otherwise they die a spiritual death. But people will say that Cancers “disappear”. They don’t. People need to understand they spend most of their time “adapting” to this lame world and contrary to popular belief, they don’t complain (more on this as I continue). But when they have no more energy, and no human being will reciprocate what they give to others, it’s all down to Cancers at the end of the day, and they often bear this cross alone.
Oh and when it comes to potential mates, sorry but it’s the Cancer magic. They’re often physically beautiful and they are mysterious, so they naturally attract others without much effort. Cancer is someone that shows the gateway to the life experience through their own trials and tribulations, that leads the soul through many cycles of enlightenment, trying to grasp that very needed connection to the divine mother. Even, if they don’t want to be actual parents, they have that innate “motherly instinct” that helps them come to a deeper understanding of human nature, absorbing the world’s light and dark, the ultimate empath. Through this understanding, this uncanny relation to others and the self, there is a sort of “grounded transcendence” as well as the artistic inspiration that they often excel in, and they’re able to light a spark in the world with their talent, their messages and their hearts. As clannish and selfish as Cancers are, the fact is that Cancers have a greater concept of the world, the ability to feel compassion and love for everyone and to spend their lives trying to create that same feeling of happiness for themselves. Yet the very sensitivity and compassion that make them so dear can cause problems.
They’re emotional and they love truly; they’re the types that will go back and forth with folks they love. They absolutely desire a dominant partner who takes charge, because they enjoy the feeling of being protected and spoiled. But unfortunately, this desire makes them more susceptible than most in being taken advantage of, and their early relationships are often with negative, irresponsible, even abusive partners. This is because they have a unique juxtaposition of the cold, hard shell that masks their sweet, soft underbelly and this mix often confuses people, causing the low-functioning to react in an adverse (and even sadistic) way to them. This is unfortunate because Cancers want to see the best in those they love and get deeply betrayed and wounded when the reality of their loved ones comes to light. This willingness to wear their hearts on their sleeve is as ballsy as it is foolhardy, and this is why there are so many flippant, patronizing, ignorant, and dismissive blurbs when it comes to this sign and those born under it from everyone, even so-called “real astrologers”. At its best, though, the Cancer experience is one of pure enchantment. I admire Cancer as I admire water, for its quickness and its stillness, its adaptability, hidden depths, and shape-shifting abilities. Cancer is the exotic music we hear faintly, through static, between the stronger frequencies; it is the clear, bright, sunny light of early summer—and it is also a midsummer night’s dream…they are the youngest and most tender of flowers, yet they stand up to sudden storms with surprising strength, refusing to be blown down or washed away. Cancers are eccentric, but they’re also kind and helpful and have the uncanny ability to comfort those who need help and healing.
As much emphasis is placed on their emotional approach to life, not nearly enough is paid to how intelligent they are. They’re as logical as they are intuitive and some of the greatest geniuses that ever lived are Cancerians. Also, intuition is often dismissed as a form of knowledge; sometimes going with your gut is not to be looked down upon, especially in a fight-or-flight situation. Cancer individuals live on the borderline between the reality of the past and the promise of the future. Some of them are almost total misfits, others are almost perfectly attuned. Along with that “mother instinct” comes a “mother wit”. They have some of the sharpest and most nuanced minds out there (if you really take the time and pick their brain, you’ll be surprised by some of ideologies and perspectives that they have). Cancers are some of the most prolific artists and creators of this world. They often live out their past and present pain through their art, and through their realities, others are indelibly connected to them and are profoundly influenced by them, and they feel connected with the collective subconscious… it’s like this open door that they always leave open. They’re heavy thinkers, as well as imaginative, and this can also be their downfall. On the other hand, this can make for some great writers.
When you look past the off-putting outer exoskeleton, their love for the world knows no bounds, especially their world. Which is why being grounded and in the present with a dash of moon-ruled irrationality can be the only way they can function, because they are both human and a lunar soul at the same time. One can never really survive unless one gets a little crazy. Prince said it best. So did Seal. They’re like a puzzle, they only show you the picture halfway, and along your journey with them they’ll keep dropping the pieces to their souls so you can see a little bit more of who they are, behind the identity, the shell-mask they take on. As the leader of emotion, they often get overlooked and are underrated, in the way many pioneers tend to be. But as imitated and emulated as they are, they’re never duplicated or replaceable. They’re quite unique and singular in their self-expression, a quiet revolutionary. If they can acquire the self-control needed in order to calm these torrential waves of emotion, they often emerge triumphant. Their way is to become one with their universal empathy and follow the world’s heartbeat very closely through intuition and illogical instincts. Like their sister sign, Capricorn, they are ambitious, have an inherent sadness, and are driven by insecurities. However, Cancers have the heart and the courage of their emotions that their shadow sign, Capricorns, are too scared to exhibit, let alone even comprehend or claim.
They’re hugely projected upon, because they are not one entity but everyone and more, they have an antennae for people’s feelings that haven’t been released and has been lost in the universe, so they’re added to the Cancerian psyche. They’re conduits of a type of pure spiritual and emotional water, a “holy water” if you will, and channel the liquid of their feelings into other people. As such, their kindness is often taken for weakness. One thing about Cancers in general, is that they tend to drift into their own little world, especially when the outside world gets too tough. One thing they don’t do is burden other people with their problems because of their strong intuition, it’s easy to know who is even going to care. It’s pretty much easy to tell who has their best interests at heart and who doesn’t. So, contrary to popular belief, clingy and needy they are not. So much so, that others often don’t know how to help them because they don’t talk about what bothers them. They are forgiving but they will cut you off without explanation if they feel betrayed. Cancers love to sleep because their energy is usually drained by others. They have expressive and soulful eyes, and like to be alone but hate being lonely. People are simultaneously put off by them yet naturally drawn to them. They’re sexy, sensual, and seductive without trying to be. Captivating. They just have a vibe that lets you know who they are. They literally never work for friendships, they kinda just happen for them if they’re open to others. And herein lies the problem. A lot of people tend to dislike Cancers by default because of the fact that they’re so closed off like Aquarius (blame the shell), but unlike Aquarius, they care primarily for themselves and their immediate clique as opposed to humanity in general. But nonetheless, I can peg a Cancer all the time. They’re the shit without feeling the need to shit on anyone.
The evolved Cancers are amazing to be around, most Cancers are independent, very spiritual, calm, relaxed, fun, free spirited, accepting of others, highly intuitive, and all around beautiful. Whether Cancers like it or not, people are usually “talking about them”. Together with Scorpio and Geminis, they are a sign that is often discussed, dissected and put down by the other signs of the zodiac. Cancers are shape-shifting and celestial. Low-functioning and low vibrational people love to take one or a few bad experiences with people who happen to be of a certain sign and run on here and elsewhere on some “dark energy” bullshit or how “they ain’t shit”. This happens to all the signs, more or less. But no one gets it to the degree that Cancers do. It’s really comical to me. I think it’s because Cancers are penetrating enough to figure you out better than anyone else because they’re sensible and have maternal like instincts. You can’t fool them any more than you can fool your mama. How are you gonna win a war with the person who’s close to you and more than likely learned more about you than you did about them? That’s where they get you. Pisses people off. Big time. So, it’s very convenient to hate, ignore, and dismiss Cancers. Let’s face it. They’re a real mother.
previous tea: capricorn • aquarius • pisces • aries • taurus • gemini
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