Sun Enters Cancer

Symbol: Crab

Ruling Planet: Moon

Element: Water

Basic Trait: I Feel

Closest Metal: Silver

Lucky Gems: Moonstone

On June 22nd the Sun entered the astrological sign of Cancer, a Cardinal Water sign. Cancer, the fourth sign of the Zodiac is ruled by the Moon, the great mother element astrologically. It is considered a feminine or negative sign, meaning it is more introverted, and because it is the fourth sign, it is related to the fourth house, the house of home, of the mother. The astrological symbol for Cancer is said to represent the claws of the crab, or else breasts, to symbolise motherhood and the link with the moon. 

The star constellation of Cancer is a Northern constellation that lies between Gemini and Leo.  Cancer oversees the change into Summer in the Northern hemisphere, and Winter in the Southern hemisphere.  And as the sign of the Summer Solstice, it represents the sun at its highest elevation; hence, it was considered nearest to the highest point of heaven and 'the Gate of Men' or 'the Gate of Birth'; it is the door through which souls descended in human bodies from heaven to the earth.   The choice of the crab to symbolize the constellation goes far back in time to the Chaldean stargazers  who named it thus because the crab is an animal that walks backward or obliquely.  

The ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, and Chinese knew Cancer as a tortoise,  while the later Egyptians  represented this sign as a scarab, the beetle, emblematic of immortality which possessed the power of the perpetual renewal of life.  Egyptian mummies often had the carving of the scarab in place of the heart.  The Roman goddess, Diana, was sometimes represented with the figure of a crab.

In Greek mythology, the crab was placed in the sky by the goddess, Hera, who raised it in the skies as a reward for its bravery.  According to the tale, Hera had sworn to kill Hercules, the most famous Greek hero, and had attempted to kill him in many different ways, but each time his incredible physical strength allowed him to survive.  Eventually, she cast a spell of madness on him, causing him to commit a great crime. In order to be forgiven, he had to perform twelve difficult tasks. One of these tasks was destroying the terrible nine-headed water-serpent, Hydra.  It was during the battle between Hercules and Hydra, that Hera sent a giant crab to aid the serpent, but Hercules with his super human strength,  killed the crab by smashing its shell with his foot. As a reward for its service, Hera placed the crab's image in the night sky.

Cancer represents love of home, love of family, love of the domestic, love of the old or antique and tend to surround themselves with keepsakes of importance and sentimental value, this being why they tend to hang onto things for the span of years.  And, although they appear tough and thick-skinned on the outside, they are actually gentle, passionate, and caring on the inside.  Cancer is one of the most sensitive and emotional signs in the Zodiac and are well-known for their ability to nurture others.