The Crab · Water sign
Cancer zodiac sign
Cancer is the cardinal water sign ruled by the Moon. It begins at the June solstice and is associated with home, family, memory and emotional protection.
June 21 to July 22
Water · Cardinal · Crab · ruled by Moon
Cancer dates
Cancer covers birthdays from June 21 to July 22 in the conventional tropical table used on this site. The exact moment the Sun enters Cancer changes slightly each year, which is why people born on June 21 or July 22 sometimes find different answers online.
From 1950 to 2050 the Sun entered Cancer on June 20 in 25 of those years, June 21 in 74 of those years, June 22 in 2 of those years in US Eastern Time. For a birthday on a boundary date, the birth year, time and time zone decide the sign.
| Year | US Eastern Time | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | June 20, 4:50 PM EDT | June 20, 20:50 UTC |
| 2025 | June 20, 10:42 PM EDT | June 21, 02:42 UTC |
| 2026 | June 21, 4:24 AM EDT | June 21, 08:24 UTC |
| 2027 | June 21, 10:10 AM EDT | June 21, 14:10 UTC |
| 2028 | June 20, 4:02 PM EDT | June 20, 20:02 UTC |
Cancer personality traits
The crab carries its home on its back, and astrologers use that image for Cancer’s mix of a tough outer shell and a soft interior. Descriptions emphasize caring, intuitive and protective behavior, along with moods that change like the Moon’s phases.
Traditional strengths
- Caring and protective
- Emotionally perceptive
- Remembers what matters to people
- Creates a sense of home
Traditional challenges
- Moodiness
- Retreating into the shell when hurt
- Holding on to the past
- Indirectness when upset
Keywords: nurture, memory, protection, home, sensitivity.
Cancer in love and compatibility
Cancer is traditionally one of the most devoted partners of the zodiac, looking for emotional safety and long-term commitment. Reassurance, family time and remembering small details are the traditional keys.
Traditionally, Cancer gets on most easily with Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces. Signs described as more challenging are Aries, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius.
| Cancer with | Aspect | Element · modality | Traditional reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Square | Fire · Cardinal | Challenging |
| Taurus | Sextile | Earth · Fixed | Harmonious |
| Gemini | Semi-sextile | Air · Mutable | Mixed |
| Leo | Semi-sextile | Fire · Fixed | Mixed |
| Virgo | Sextile | Earth · Mutable | Harmonious |
| Libra | Square | Air · Cardinal | Challenging |
| Scorpio | Trine | Water · Fixed | Most harmonious |
| Sagittarius | Quincunx | Fire · Mutable | Challenging |
| Capricorn | Opposition | Earth · Cardinal | Complementary |
| Aquarius | Quincunx | Air · Fixed | Challenging |
| Pisces | Trine | Water · Mutable | Most harmonious |
Cancer in friendship and family
In traditional sign symbolism, Cancer brings themes of care and belonging. These examples are prompts for reflection, not descriptions of every person born under the sign.
Friendship
Remembering a meaningful detail or checking in after a difficult day fits the Cancer theme. Ask what kind of help is wanted rather than assuming that more care is always better.
Family and shared life
A familiar meal or shared ritual can offer a sense of continuity. Let relatives choose how much they want to join in; closeness and personal boundaries can coexist.
A person’s actions, circumstances and boundaries matter more than a sign label. Explore the symbolism of sign pairings without using it to decide who deserves trust.
Cancer at work
Care work, hospitality, education, history, real estate, food and any role that protects or nurtures people are associated with Cancer.
Emotional needs and communication
Astrologers say Cancer needs emotional safety, reassurance and a sense of belonging before it can fully open up.
Cancer is described as sensitive to tone. A Cancer apology is traditionally heartfelt and caring, and Cancer values an apology that acknowledges how something felt, not only what happened.
The Cancer symbol and its mythology
The glyph ♋ represents the crab. Cancer is Karkinos, the crab that Hera sent to distract Heracles while he fought the Hydra of Lerna. Heracles crushed it, and Hera placed it among the stars as a reward for its loyalty.
The constellation Cancer gave the sign its name, but the sign and the constellation are no longer aligned. Its brightest star is Tarf (Beta Cancri). See when the Sun actually passes through each constellation.
Cancer traditional associations
| Association | In Western astrology |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 21 to July 22 (conventional) |
| Symbol | Crab |
| Glyph | ♋ |
| Element | Water |
| Modality | Cardinal |
| Polarity | Negative (yin) |
| Ruling planet | Moon |
| Exaltation | Jupiter |
| Opposite sign | Capricorn |
| Natural house | 4th house |
| Body area (melothesia) | Chest, breasts and stomach |
| Tarot card (Golden Dawn) | The Chariot |
| Colors often cited | Silver and white |
| Stones often cited | Moonstone, pearl, ruby |
| Constellation | Cancer |
| Brightest star | Tarf (Beta Cancri) |
Colors and stones vary between modern sources and have no single historical standard. The other associations are long-standing conventions of Western astrology.
A prompt, not a prediction
What helps you feel at home, and have you told the people close to you?
Name one thing that would make a shared space more comfortable. Make a clear request rather than hoping someone will guess.
Cancer questions
What are the dates for Cancer?
Cancer runs from June 21 to July 22 in the conventional tropical table. Between 1950 and 2050 the Sun entered Cancer on June 20 in 25 of those years, June 21 in 74 of those years, June 22 in 2 of those years (US Eastern Time).
What element is Cancer?
Cancer is a water sign, together with Scorpio and Pisces. It is also a cardinal sign.
What is Cancer’s ruling planet?
Cancer is traditionally ruled by Moon.
Which signs are most compatible with Cancer?
In traditional astrology the easiest matches are the other signs of the same element and the signs of the complementary element: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces. These are symbolic tendencies, not predictions.
What is the Cancer symbol?
The Cancer symbol is the crab, written with the glyph ♋. Cancer is Karkinos, the crab that Hera sent to distract Heracles while he fought the Hydra of Lerna.
More about Cancer
Other water signs
Continue around the zodiac
Sources
Updated · How we write and check this guide