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Constellation Cancer The Crab is one of the 12 ecliptic constellations and lies between Gemini and Leo. It also borders Lynx, Canis Minor and Hydra.

Cancer is one of the 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy in the 2nd century and remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It spans 15 degrees of the zodiac in the Sign of Leo.

Abbreviation: Cnc
Genitive: Cancri

Cancer Constellation Stars

2000	2050	Star	Name	Sp. Class	Mag.	Orb
01♌21	02♌03	ζ Cnc	Tegmine	F7	4.67	1°00′
01♌49	02♌31	λ Cnc	Piautos	B9	5.92	1°00′
04♌16	04♌58	β Cnc	Tarf	K4	3.53	1°40′
06♌21	07♌03	ι Cnc	Zubanah	G8	4.03	1°20′
07♌21	08♌04	M44	Praesepe		3.70	1°30′
07♌33	08♌15	γ Cnc	Asellus Borealis	A1	4.66	1°00′
07♌44	08♌26	ρ1 Cnc	Copernicus	G8	5.96	1°00′
08♌44	09♌26	δ Cnc	Asellus Australis	K0	3.94	1°30′
13♌13	13♌55	ξ Cnc	Nahn	K0	5.16	1°00′
13♌39	14♌21	α Cnc	Acubens	A5	4.26	1°20′

Cancer Astrology

Manilius (@ 35 AD)

But glowing Cancer (where the Summer Sun
With fiery Chariots bounds the Torrid Zone,
Drives fiercely up, then with a bending Rein
Sinks down, and runs in lower Rounds again.)
As close in’s Shell he lies, affords his Aid
To greedy Merchants, and inclines to Trade:
His Births shall sail, through Seas and Dangers tost
To reap the Riches of a Foreign Coast.
What thrifty Nature hath but thinly sown
In Many Countries, they shall bring to One;
Intent on gain ne’re heed the Poors complaint
But thrive on Scarcity, and live on Want:
For Wealth undaunted gather every Wind,
Out-sail good Fame, and leave Repute behind,
And when their greedy Hands have seiz’d the Store
Of this, search other Worlds, and seek for more.
Or else at home prove griping Vsurers,
Complaining at the slowness of the Years,
Wish swifter Suns, and set too vast a rate
On Time it self, to raise a quick Estate:
Their Bodies shall be Strong, inur’d to Pain,
Their Wits Contriving, and intent on gain:

Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, Book 4, X, p.11. (Creech, 1700).

When rouling Cancer riseth vaild in Clouds,
I’th’ Skies as deeply hid as in the Floods,
The Moon resembling when depriv’d of Light;
The Births are Blind, and wish in vain for sight:
By Fates a Verse condemn’d to double Death,
Dead whilst Alive, and Buryed whilst they breath:

Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, Book 4, X, p. 25-26. (Creech, 1700).

Shining at the hinge of the year by the blazing turning point which, when recalled, the Sun rounds in his course on high, the Crab occupies a joint of heaven and bends back the length of day. Of a grasping spirit and unwilling to give itself in service the Crab distributes many kinds of gain, and skill in making profits; he enables a man to carry his investment of foreign merchandise from city to city and, with an eye on steep rises in the price of corn, to risk his money upon sea-winds; to sell the world’s produce to the world, to establish commercial ties between so many unknown lands, to search out under foreign skies fresh sources of gain, and from the high price of his goods to amass sudden wealth. With heaven’s favor, he also sells seasons of idleness at rates of interest to his liking, wishing the swift passage of time to add to the principal. His is a shrewd nature, and he is ready to fight for his profits. ^[2]

Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 4, p.235. (Goold, 1977).

Ptolemy (2nd Century AD)

Of the stars in Cancer, the two in the eyes produce the same effect as Mercury, and, to a less degree, as Mars; those in the claws, the same as Saturn and Mercury; the cloud-like cluster in the breast, called the Manger (Praesepe),⁠ the same as Mars and the moon; and the two on either side of it, which are called Asses (Asellus Borealis and Asellus Australis),⁠ the same as Mars and the sun. Tetrabiblos, Ptolemy, 2nd century AD, Book 1, Chapter 9.

Ascendant in Cancer Constellation

Congenial surroundings are necessary for these natives. Excess emotions should be avoided, restlessness should be overcome. The marriage partner should be such that they are a good home builder and do all in their power to make the Cancer’s home surroundings comfortable. Cancers native impulses should be continued in all matters. Too many restrictions should not be placed on the Cancer native. Cancerians are generally of a retiring nature, may prefer a certain amount of solitude.

Negative Cancerians find life a real problem, full of difficulties. They can be directionless, timid, touchy and develop an inferiority complex, seeking security and something to pin their hopes upon, a great love of times gone by and home to them merely offers a safe haven. They tend to drift along, lacking enterprise.

Positive Keywords: Self-reliant, compassionate, maternal, sympathetic, industrious, sensitive, idealistic, retiring nature.

Negative Keywords: Eccentric, impulsive, selfish, sensational, clinging, overly emotional.

Sun in Cancer Constellation

Positive: Endows its natives with extreme sensitiveness, but the ability to control their emotions. One who is kind hearted, hospitable, has a cheerful personality. Has a strong imagination, one who is imaginative, has a receptive mentality, has domestic’ and maternal instincts, a sense of tradition, is compassionate and tolerant, has a receptive mentality, has domestic and maternal instincts, a sense of tradition is compassionate and tolerant, has a persistent will and of a kindly friendly nature.

Negative: Native is subject to being fickle, somewhat inconstant, overly emotional, a poor loser, very touchy, of a restless nature, moody, has a love of the past, constantly seeking security, prone to self pity, does not take losses very easily, can develop a passive nature. An unforgiving nature, may be very touchy, life appears difficult. Unstable person, one who is susceptible to flattery. Unable to accept disappointments easily.

Moon in Cancer Constellation

Positive: Native endowed with intuition. Can be friendly, sociable, domestically inclined. Has active feelings and emotions. Sensitive to outside influence. Native is kind, of a sympathetic nature. Has great tenacity, can be graceful and of an  adaptable nature. Has a plastic dreamy temperament. Domestic or other security of great importance to the native.

Negative: Native is highly emotional, abuses authority, is of a clinging vine nature, drifts with tide of life, can become indolent. Native is of a grasping nature. May exhibit emotional instability, has a tendency to be withdrawn, develops an excessive imagination.

Mercury in Cancer Constellation

Positive: Endows its natives with a kind, pleasing hospitable social attitude. One who has a clear intellect, a good memory and excellent adaptability. One who is alert to responsibility, very impressionable, responsive, intuitive, somewhat reserved with a fertile and vivid imagination. One who is susceptible to flattery, diplomatic and tactful, with a restless mind. More concerned about the past. Great tenacity of opinion. Musically inclined.

Negative: The native harbors resentment, unable to forget past injuries, may become obnoxious to others, the native is very tenacious, exhibits a lack of tact, prejudiced by preconceived ideas, has a closed mind, a love of flattery and praise. Insensitive to others, a tendency to be garrulous. Grasping and greedy.

Venus in Cancer Constellation

Positive: Endows its natives with tenacity. An attraction for home and security. One who is responsible, hospitable, courteous and has a deep affection for their family. An inclination to be cautious and prudent. A sense of self preservation, an artistic taste. One who is responsive to emotions. A mother type complex.

Negative: The native may be super sensitive, have uncontrolled emotions, worry needlessly. Develop a thin outer shell, ready to take offense. The native may develop a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude with their relationships. Demonstrate a lack of responsibility.

Mars in Cancer Constellation

Positive: Endows its natives with boldness, independence, and a fearless nature. A tendency to rebel against any restraint. Tendency to exercise unrestrained authority over all they come in contact with at home or in business. Native is adapatble to many interests, is of a persevering nature. One who is industrious, constructive, has a fondness for social pleasure, luxuries and of a changeable nature. A tendency to gather and protect necessities for comfort. Native is a good provider – generally.

Negative: There is a lack of straightforwardness with these natives. Native is of a quarrelsome nature, subject to temper problems. Has a tendency to move from place to place, job to job. Native is restless and of a changeable nature. Tends to be sensuous. A tendency to tear down what they build up. The native may be a poor loser. <^[1]

Robson

Legend. This constellation represents the crab that bit the heel of Hercules during his fight with the Lernean Hydra, and was placed amongst the stars in gratitude by Juno, the enemy of Hercules.

Influence. Ptolemy’s observations are as follows: “The two stars in the eyes of Cancer are of the same influence as Mercury, and are also moderately like Mars. Those in the claws are like Saturn and Mercury.” By the Kabalists Cancer is associated with the Hebrew letter Tzaddi and the 18th Tarot Trump “The Moon.” ^[3]

Allen

In astrology, with Scorpio and Pisces, it was the Watery Trigon; and has been the House of the Moon, from the early belief that this luminary was located here at the creation; and the Horoscope of the World, as being, of all the signs, nearest to the zenith. It was one of the unfortunate signs, governing the human breast and stomach; and reigned over Scotland, Holland, Zealand, Burgundy, Africa (especially over Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis), and the cities of Constantinople and New York. In the times of Manilius it ruled India and Aethiopia, but he termed it a fruitful sign. Its colors were green and russet; and early fable attributed its guardianship to the god Mercury, whence its title Mercurii Sidus. When the sun was within its boundaries every thunder-storm would cause commotions, famine, and locusts; and Berossos asserted that the earth was to be submerged when all the planets met in Cancer, and consumed by fire when they met in Capricorn. But this was a reversal of the astrologers’ rule; for, as Pascal wrote: “They only assign good fortune with rare conjunctions of the stars, and this is how their predictions rarely fail.”…Showing but few stars, and its lucida being less than a 4th-magnitude, it was the Dark Sign, quaintly described as black and without eyes…Our figure appears on the round zodiac of Denderah, but in the location of Leo Minor… The symbol of the sign, ♋, probably is “the remains of the representation of some such creature,” but it is also referred to the two Asses (gamma, Asellus Borealis, and delta, Asellus Australis) that took part in the conflict of the gods with the giants on the peninsula of the Macedonian Pallene, the early Phlegra, afterwards rewarded by a resting-place in the sky on either side of the Manger. ^[4]

Bullinger

With regard to the sign of CANCER, one thing is certain, that we have not got the original picture, or anything like it. It does not agree with the names either of its three constellations which have come down to us, or of its stars. In the ancient Denderah Zodiac it is represented as a Scarabaeus, or sacred beetle. * In the Zodiac of Esneh and in a Hindu Zodiac (400 BC) it is the same. * The Scarabaeus, passing its early existence as a worm of the earth, and thence issuing as a winged denizen of heaven, was held sacred by the Egyptians as an emblem of the resurrection of the body.

According to the Greeks, Jupiter placed this Crab among the signs of the Zodiac. In Sir William Jones’s Oriental Zodiac we meet with a crab, and an Egyptian Zodiac found at Rome bears also the crab in this sign. The more ancient Egyptians placed Hermanubis, or Hermes, with the head of an ibis or hawk, as the symbol of the sign now allotted to CANCER. The Denderah name is Klaria, or the cattle-folds, and in this name we have the key to the meaning of the sign, and to the subject of this chapter.

The Arabic name is Al Sartan, which means who holds or binds, and may be from the Hebrew to bind together (Gen 49:11). There is no ancient Hebrew word known for the crab. It was classed with many other unclean creatures, and would be included in the general term “vermin.” The Syriac, Sartano, means the same. The Greek name is Karkinos, which means holding or encircling, as does the Latin, Cancer, and hence is applied to the crab. In the word Khan, we have the traveler’s rest or inn; while Ker or Cer is the Arabic for encircling. The ancient Akkadian name of the month is Su-kul-na, the seizer or possessor of seed.

The sign contains 83 stars, one of which is of the 3rd magnitude, and seven are of the 4th magnitude, and the remainder of inferior magnitudes. In the center of the Sign there is a remarkably bright cluster of stars, so bright that they can be sometimes seen with the naked eye. It looks like a comet, and is made up of a great multitude of stars. Modern astronomers have called it the Beehive. But its ancient name has come down to us as Praesepe, which means a multitude, offspring.

The brightest star, ζ (in the tail), is called Tegmine, holding. The star α (or α¹ and α²), in the lower large claw, is called Acubene, which, in Hebrew and Arabic, means the sheltering or hiding-place. Another is named Ma’alaph (Arabic), assembled thousands; Al Himarein (Arabic), the kids or lambs. North and south of the nebula Praesepe are two stars, which Orientalists speak of by a name evidently of some antiquity. Asellus means an Ass, and one was called Asellus Boreas, the northern Ass; while the other, Asellus Australis, is the southern Ass. The Ass was the emblem of Typhon, the king who smites or is smitten. ^[5]

References

1. Fixed Stars and Judicial Astrology, George Noonan, 1990, p.40.
2. The Power of the Fixed Stars, Joseph E. Rigor, 1979, p.95, 316, 321-322, 326, 331, 335-336.
3. Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 4, p.235. (Goold, 1977).
4. Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson, 1923, p.33.
5. Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning, Richard H. Allen, 1889, p.108.
6. The Witness of the Stars, E. W. Bullinger, 1893, 35. Cancer (the Crab).