Cancer zodiac sign
The Cancer zodiac sign runs from 21 June to 22 July. Explore its personality, love style, career strengths and best matches.
- Dates
- 21 June – 22 July
- Element
- Water
- Modality
- Cardinal
- Ruling planet
- Moon
- Symbol
- The Crab
- Opposite sign
- Capricorn
Personality traits of the Cancer zodiac sign
Cancer is the sign of home, family and emotional connection. Ruled by the Moon, it is deeply intuitive and feels the moods of the people around it. Cancer energy is nurturing and protective. Like the crab, it has a tough outer shell and a soft heart inside.
Where Cancer sits in your chart shows where you need security and where you care most deeply. Strong Cancer placements are loyal, sentimental and gifted at making people feel at home. They remember the little things. Their challenge is protecting themselves without closing off completely, and letting others care for them in return.
The sign shares its name with the Cancer constellation, one of the star patterns the Sun passes in front of during the year.
Strengths
- Deeply caring and kind
- Strong intuition
- Loyal to family and friends
- Remembers what matters to people
- Creates a sense of home anywhere
Challenges
- Moody when overwhelmed
- Can hold on to hurt
- May withdraw instead of speaking up
- Worries about loved ones
The Cancer zodiac sign in love, work and friendship
In love
Cancer loves deeply and wants a relationship that feels like home. Emotional safety, loyalty and small acts of care mean everything. They may take time to come out of their shell, and they need a partner who is gentle with their feelings. Once they trust you, Cancer is devoted, protective and wonderfully affectionate.
At work
Cancer thrives in roles that involve care or creating comfort: healthcare, teaching, social work, hospitality, food, property and family businesses. They are intuitive with people and protective of their teams. Cancer works best in a supportive environment where they feel valued.
As a friend
As a friend, Cancer is the one who checks in, remembers your news and feeds you when you visit. They are loyal for life and treat close friends like family.
Cancer as your Sun, Moon or Rising sign
Cancer feels different depending on where it sits in your chart. Read the placement that matches your Big Three.
Sun in CancerYou feel most like yourself when you are caring for others, creating comfort and feeling emotionally secure..
Explore Sun in Cancer
Moon in CancerYour emotions are strong, intuitive and closely linked to the people around you.
Discover Moon in Cancer
Cancer risingPeople often feel comfortable telling you things.
See Cancer risingCancer zodiac sign compatibility
Compatibility is about the whole chart, not just Sun signs, but elements give a useful starting point. As a water sign, the Cancer zodiac sign tends to feel at home with other water signs and to be energised by earth signs.
The Cancer lesson is emotional honesty. Saying what you feel, instead of waiting to be understood, protects your heart better than any shell.
Cancer zodiac sign: your questions answered
What are the Cancer dates?
The Cancer zodiac sign runs from roughly 21 June – 22 July. Exact dates shift by a day in some years, so use a calculator if you were born on the first or last day.
What element and modality is Cancer?
Cancer is a cardinal water sign, ruled by the Moon. Its symbol is the crab.
Who is Cancer most compatible with?
Cancer usually connects easily with Scorpio, Pisces (same element) and Taurus, Virgo. Its opposite sign, Capricorn, can be a powerful attraction.
Explore the other zodiac signs
Aries21 March – 19 April
Taurus20 April – 20 May
Gemini21 May – 20 JuneCancer21 June – 22 July
Leo23 July – 22 August
Virgo23 August – 22 September
Libra23 September – 22 October
Scorpio23 October – 21 November
Sagittarius22 November – 21 December
Capricorn22 December – 19 January
Aquarius20 January – 18 February
Pisces19 February – 20 March
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