Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

by: Alfred F. Seward

This sign is governed by Luna, the moon; which rules over the breast and reflective faculties. Like the crab, these people are retrospective.

In many directions they are gifted and talented almost to the point of genius and like many geniuses they are alluring, unstable, never quite definable and may be improvident, living from hand to mouth.

They are among the most attractive people one ever meets, in personal appearance. They are usually of medium stature, rather inclined to full chest and bust development, with round, pleasing faces, delicate features, light or grayish eyes and tawny or pale complexions. Their constitutions are not likely to be strong.

The lower or undeveloped types of Cancer people present an almost incomprehensible array of contradictory emotions and desires, and these people are very often the greatest puzzles to their friends and associates clear to the end of the chapter.

Perhaps their most marked characteristic is their changefulness and uncertainty. One never knows what to expect from them. They make apparently firm decisions, decide upon a course of action, or fix upon an object to be accomplished, and then in a very brief time all these are cast aside and new ones, or none at all, are substituted. Or they may reverse themselves completely and set out on a course directly opposite to that originally intended.

The mental attitude of these people is powerfully affected by the alternation of day and night, rain and sunshine. Their whole personality and all their ideas frequently undergo complete change as the day draws to its close and darkness covers the earth.

What was to them the veriest truth in the glare of artificial light may become utter fallacy in the searching scrutiny of the sunshine.

This tendency to change frequently impels them to give up one occupation and embark in another, with scarcely any reason except their overwhelming restlessness. They also take many long trips in search of new and untried scenes and experiences, but seldom reach the desired success.

Cancer people also display this same inexplicable mutability of nature in their relations with friends and associates. They sometimes discard old and pleasant friendships without either warning or reason, at a moment’s notice, and are fully capable of feeling and showing bitter enmity to those who were formerly their closest and best friends.

The friendships thus sacrificed are rarely if ever renewed.

Cancer people are very jealous, and demand from others the constancy they themselves do not possess.

Fickleness and inconsistency are strongly emphasized in both men and women of this sign who are living on the lower plane, and should they marry much unhappiness is unavoidable. The women, however, are less constant than the men, and will go to almost any extreme, and make any sacrifice, to gratify their pronounced fondness for fine wearing apparel, jewels, display and admiration.

They demand homage and flattery on all occasions, and if it is not granted in full measure they make themselves and all about them decidedly uncomfortable.

Unless they are constantly humored and petted, they recall past attentions and devotion with gloomy persistency, comparing those welcome evidences of affection with the present lack of them, and enumerate a long list of petty ailments and imaginary slights calculated to melt the hardest heart.

It must be said that the men of this sign are much more agreeable than their sisters. They display less affection and will listen more patiently to reason. They are of a saving disposition in money matters and have a deep dread of poverty.

Cancer born people are extremely sensitive, but theirs is a sensitiveness of wounded pride rather than that of affection misunderstood or misplaced. They are vain and imperious rather than loving, and would not exchange one iota of their power for all the love in the world.

This sensitiveness extends to all the affairs of their lives, and subjects them to easy and frequent discouragement. They resent the most kindly meant criticism, construing it as a reflection upon themselves, and become irritable, moody and melancholy as a result.

A word or even a look which they imagine is unfavorable is often sufficient to discourage them in whatever project they may be engaged and to lead them to entirely abandon even great undertakings.

People of this sign are particularly sensitive in affairs of the finer feelings of the heart, and are greatly dejected by a fancied slight from one for whom they care.

This sensitiveness is the key to the nature of these people and by skillfully playing upon this delicately attuned chord unworthy and designing persons are often able to capture and vanquish the citadel of their hearts and affections.

They are neither broad minded nor open to conviction. Argument is useless with them. Logic and reasons are of no avail. They can be stubborn to an unbelievable extent.

Turning from these unlovely manifestations of the sway of evil over the Cancer nature, it is a pleasure to record that they are exceedingly kind and gentle to those for whom they care, in seasons of illness and trouble.

Their hearts are quickly and deeply touched by suffering, and for those who are crippled or afflicted they display the utmost tenderness, consideration and sympathy.

This is particularly true of the women of this sign, who are also the home makers of earth. Like the men, they have an inborn craving to travel—visit new scenes; but once this is overcome or satisfied they are very domestic and become almost perfect wives and mothers.

These women also have an inclination to engage in literary pursuits.

Cancer people are greatly devoted to their families and are fearless in guarding the rights and lives of those they love.

They frequently live in constant dread of a visit from burglars, and conceal their valuables in many strange places, although the old-fashioned stocking is a favorite safe deposit vault with them.

They have a natural tendency toward the beautiful and artistic in all things, and as a result some highly talented musicians, artists and professional people come out of this sign.

These people have mechanical ability, also, and the men are likely to be able to suggest and work out many improvements in time and labor-saving machinery.

Occasionally a gifted and powerful public speaker comes from Cancer, and some of the greatest scholars and students, as well as some of the richest people in the world, have been born under it.

The men are well adapted to succeed in manufacturing and active trades, and in ordinary mercantile business.

Educated Cancer people are highly progressive, and their anxiety to better the conditions of mankind prompts them to great and beneficent works of public charity and philanthropy.

These people aspire to be at the head of all undertakings with which they are identified, and cannot achieve any marked degree of usefulness or success in subordinate positions.

They are confirmed globe-trotters and are like to wander over a large part of the earth before they settle down.

When not developed these people are prone to talk of themselves and their wonderful accomplishments and the marvels they have witnessed, and if not checked this tendency becomes a most disagreeable habit, earning for its possessor a reputation for boasting and exaggeration.

So much of this chapter has been given to detailing the unfavorable points of the Cancer nature that it is unnecessary to recapitulate them under the grouping of “faults.”

It must not be understood, however, that their characters are all bad. On the contrary they possess many lovable and commendable traits, and they require only to learn and practice the true method of life to develop into splendid people.

They are naturally endowed with strength of purpose, and when they form and honest intention to overcome their faults, and persist in this intention with all their might, they are most successful.

Education and mental cultivation are of incalculable value to these Cancer people. Planetary and solar influences are very favorable to them in an awkward state, but very unfavorable to those who are unenlightened.

At heart all Cancer people are good and desirous of doing right by themselves and their fellow creatures, and they should strive honestly and persistently to develop and encourage these inner promptings until they dominate their lower natures entirely.

Their happiness, usefulness and progress depend altogether upon their own efforts. The evils in the Cancer nature are among the easiest to overcome, and the reward of the victory is so grand and complete and delightful that no one of this sign should be content with any other plane of life than the highest.

Persons born under this sign should under no circumstances associate with or be under the care of persons that are in the least degree repulsive to them, and this applies to old and young.

Failure to guard against this has frequently caused the death of persons of this sign, from cancerous or tumorous affections.

It is one of the misfortunes of these people that persons whose influence is very disagreeable will often insist upon forcing themselves on the Cancer people, and it is extremely difficult to get rid of them. Such persons absorb and feed upon the vitality of the Cancer-born, depleting it to the danger point.

Cancer-born people will find Pisces people (February 19 to March 21) noble and unselfish, but those from Scorpio (October 23 to November 22), will prove the most constant and best in the end, also harmonize with those of Capricorn.

Marriage to those born in this sign is a most hazardous step, and they should defer it until well along in life. They should never marry until they feel that they have complete control over the fickleness and inconstancy that beset them.

Children born in this sign are so organized that their rearing and training require the highest degree of judgment and discrimination.

They are exceedingly difficult to manage, but when thoroughly understood and treated kindly and lovingly they become very tractable and gentle.

They should be guarded, when young, from contemplation of the more somber aspects of life, and should never be left long in the presence of illness or suffering, or allowed to attend funerals.

They are fond of fancy dresses and it is well to gratify this taste within reasonable bounds. Over-dressing, however, may prove a calamity, especially in the case of Cancer girls.

These children should sleep alone, and must not be kissed or caressed by strangers. Their diet should be simple, plain and nourishing.

The fundamental truths of life should be imparted to them as early as these things can be comprehended, and open frankness in dealing with Cancer children. Abundance of rest and sleep are essential to their well-being.

Cancer men are tactful and very diplomatic; they like to be looked up to and consulted on matters of importance and perhaps succeed best where responsibilities rest directly upon them.

They have a natural tendency toward the beautiful and artistic in all things, and as a result some highly talented musicians, artists and professional people come out of this sign; they have considerable literary ability and often make excellent judges, lawyers, physicians and brilliant magnetic speakers. They also excel as inventors, stenographers, merchants, salesmen and manufacturers. Some of the greatest scholars and students, as well as some of the richest people in the world, have been born under this sign.

Physically this sign rules over the breast, giving liability to diseases seated in the lungs, chest and breasts. This part of the body is also in close sympathy with the sex organs, and while these people have as a rule unusually high chests, yet this is one of the weakest parts of their body and great care should be exercised to guard against taking cold, which invariably settles in the chest. In the case of nursing mothers, the breasts are apt to cake from an over supply of milk. Many of these women suffer from female weaknesses.

Other ailments that Cancer people are most susceptible to are: gastric troubles, scrofula, rheumatism, colic, cramps, spasms, fermentation, biliousness, hemorrhages, scurvy and especially is there a tendency to chronic ailments, many of these afflictions are aggravated and brought on through melancholy and morbid tendencies, frequently resulting in mental weakness.

Worry, anxiety and overtaxing of the mind will disturb their digestive organs; hence it is necessary to keep the mind free.

The occupations to which Cancer people are best suited are art, science and religion and many of them have marked mechanical ability often devoting much of their time to working out new principles and perfecting both old and new ideas. They are also gifted with executive ability and have a natural desire to be at the head of whatever they are connected with. They are sensitive and can never hear criticism, and they desire to be recognized as thoroughly competent to perform whatever duties may be entrusted to them.

Cancer people belong mainly to the manufacturing sphere of life, also many inventors and mechanics are born under this sign. They have a natural tendency toward the beautiful and artistic in all things and as a result some highly talented musicians, artists and professional people are the protégés of Cancer. They also have considerable literary ability and often make excellent judges, lawyers, physicians and brilliant and magnetic speakers. Many successful salesmen, merchants and manufacturers are also found among them.

They are generally successful when occupying positions of a fluctual nature, such as dealing with stocks, bonds, mines, etc. It is well for Cancer people to associate themselves with persons who have more progressive and projective minds than themselves. That is, people who can see the necessity of departing from established custom.

About the Author

Alfred F. Seward

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