Of Shells and Shadows: The Eternal Dance of Cancer

Cancer, a creature of both water and sand, is known for its sideways gait, as if forever sidestepping adversity while snapping its claws at anyone who dares threaten its safety or that of its loved ones.

Its hard, rugged shell serves as a formidable defense against external threats, shielding the deep emotional vulnerability within. Cancer fiercely protects its immediate circle, as though its very survival depends on it.

In Ancient Greece, Juno, wife of Jupiter, sent a giant crab to bite Hercules' foot, hoping to thwart his victory over the Hydra. Though Hercules triumphed, the crab earned Juno's eternal gratitude and a place among the constellations in the heavens.

Cancer’s lineage also stretches back to Egyptian mythology, where it was symbolized by the sacred scarab, and to Babylon, where a strange creature named Allul took the form of a turtle. Throughout history, the motif of a shell-bearing protector has followed Cancer, a testament to its enduring symbolism.

These creatures seem to represent a bridge between the realms of life and death, much like the mother who, in giving life, also renders us mortal.

Cancer ushers in the summer solstice, the "stagnant sun," when the Sun lingers lazily in the sky, stretching the daylight into the night.Under Cancer’s influence and the guidance of the Moon, we confront our vulnerabilities, dependencies, and mortal nature. Like the Moon, ever-changing, we reemerge into the world repeatedly, imposing our rhythms upon life and everything within it.

Do you feel like you possess the soul of a Cancer?