Cancer 2008 - Sensitive Introspective Water Spirits

by Robert Wilkinson

July marks the true entry into Summer, where a maximum Solar force assists us to do our Being with all the power and determination we can gather. We now face a month of fundamental reorientations to be consolidated as a feeling-experience we will release as new creative impulses when the Sun enters Leo.

July expands the externalizing self-gathering that Summer symbolizes. It is a time of decisions and events that will wreck everything that blocks the new way of life we've embraced up to now. It is time to accept new ways of experiencing life, new needs and habits, and willingly turn the corner, renouncing old ways of feeling.

This period indicates decisive changes in our basic life allegiances that show us our basic needs and self-preservation instincts, and therefore our true foundations. Find an inner discipline that will help you organize to exploit your potential, and if there is a sense of ineptitude, get a sense of structure. Beware of defensiveness, or touchiness, or a sense of being lost in life. Do what you can, but don't adopt the habits of people who don't know where they're going or why they're going there.

This month is usually dominated by the water sign energies of Cancer, the phase in the twelve-step evolutionary process where that which was stabilized in Taurus and expanded in Gemini undergoes a fundamental decision to orient and consolidate its personal experience in preparation for a creative projection of that energy when the Sun enters Leo on July 22, 2008 at 3:55 am PDT.

Cancer is symbolically associated with the Crab, a sign representing the self-gathering, security-seeking and preserving energies where we define our "living space." In the year cycle we can now use the new discoveries and exteriorizations of Gemini and directly experience new ways of living and being. We now know what we care about, and are willing to make decisions to make our life work more to our advantage by our instinctive surity in our choices.

In our Cancer experience each year we find stability and emotional identification with our widened vision of ambition or worldly service found in Aquarius, deepened in Pisces, glimpsed and communicated in Aries, concretized and anchored in Taurus and incorporating new ideas and information in Gemini.

Mythologically, Cancer is the sign of the Innocent, the wisdom of the primal instinctual nature that leads us to do the right thing without thought of ulterior reward or advantage. This is not instinct as in "gut" instinct, though it may be experienced that way. This is the primal will-to-good that keeps on keepin' on and looks for as total an experience of family, security, and need-fulfillment as could be imagined. This is an up-close-and-personal sign, very tough and very tender at the same time.

Cancer, when freed of the traps of defensiveness, timidity, laziness, self-indulgence, possessiveness and brooding, demonstrate an imaginative creativity that is sympathetic, appreciative, intuitive, unselfish and patient. They are a domestic sign, very romantic and visionary with a vivid artistry in the basics of daily living. They are always on the alert to threats to security, and usually hold back until they see exactly what is needed, and then come through admirably. There may be grumbling and changeability, but this is one of the most loyal signs, and Cancers will hang in there when all others have shown their weaknesses.

They have a universal touch, and what they offer to their world is accessible to all on the most basic and human of levels. They are the sensitives of the zodiac, here to anchor the energies around them in the here and now in terms of basic human feelings and needs. Many famous people of this sign have a universal appeal, and touched the masses in very basic ways, helping them take care of some need.

A supreme example of a spiritual Cancer is His Holiness the Dalai Lama, global representative of peace, living embodiment of a people's suffering, and one of the most brilliant minds to ever make the case that "War is legalized murder." Cancer also features Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science and teacher of the healing technique that "we are not the body" within the western tradition, and Thurgood Marshall, the pioneering black Supreme who set the standard for humane and enlightened civil and human rights jurisprudence. Another pioneering Cancer was Johannes Gutenberg, inventor of the printing press which introduced the written word to the masses, ending the church's monopoly forever. Each of these touched millions, and made a better life by giving the people what they needed.

One notable pioneering political Cancer, "the father of his country," is Nelson Mandela, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and infinitely quotable human optimist. Another notable icon was Princess Diana, touching the hearts of millions with her tenderness and caring, dedicated life.

Two Cancers, each an absolute power unto himself who made their mark in the political realm, are among the most famous names of the past 2000 years. We have "Big Julie" Caesar, warlord who crossed the Rubicon, changed western history forever, and made "the Ides of March" an iconic moment in history, as well as another Cancer political heavyweight who changed history, Henry VIII. Known killer of wives, absolute monarch, and the first to really challenge the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. That single defiant act gave countless people of those times and those who followed hope that the fate of their Souls was not determined by the inquisition.

Others who attained political significance include Jesse Ventura, Nancy Reagan, Nelson Rockefeller, Vicente Fox, Carlos Saul Menem, Georges Pompidou, Clarence Thomas and Diane Feinstein. Presidents include second stringers John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, Gerald Ford, and America's worst president, George Bush.

Cancer is featured prominently among television and musical entertainers who influenced their fans forever. In TV land we have Bob Keeshan, known to the world's children as "Captain Kangaroo," Bill Cosby, multi-talented funny guy and world class educator, and the pioneer of TV who invited the whole world to tune in, "Uncle Miltie," Mister Television himself, Milton Berle.

Other legendary Cancers we invited into our living rooms who touched us deeply were Red Skelton, Don Knotts, Art Linkletter, Merv Griffin, Bess Myerson, Ed Ames, Dan Rowan, Phyllis Diller, June Lockhart, Pat Morita, William Schallert, Fred Gwynn, Diana Rigg, Diahann Carroll, Polly Bergen, Jean Marsh, and Gilda Radner.

Modern luminaries who came to stardom as television personalities include Cancers Patrick Stewart, Jimmy Smits, Will Ferrell, Lindsay Wagner, Amy Brenneman, Carson Daly, Jamie Farr, Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Duvall, Jennifer Saunders, Corey Feldman, Bert Ward, Julia Duffy, Richard Lewis, Jon Lovitz, Fred Savage, Anthony Edwards, Michele Lee, Chris O'Donnell, Gregory Smith, Fred Grandy, Pamela Anderson, Montel Williams, Kathleen Robertson, Lisa Rinna, David Hasselhoff, Jared Padalecki, and Brian Austin Green.

A special nod goes out to television journalists who made their mark on history, a stellar and very loved trio of Ed Bradley, David Brinkley, and John Chancellor.

Cancer entertainers include some of the most sentimental and talented people in history, all with a universal touch and appeal. This group includes Woody Guthrie, Stephan Foster, George M. Cohan, Louie Armstrong, Willie Dixon, Billy Eckstine, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Lena Horne, Isaac Stern, Mitch Miller, Bill Haley, June Carter Cash, Doc Severinsen, Steve Lawrence, Van Cliburn, and Pete Fountain.

Modern musical stars include my old friend of the 13th Floor Elevators, the legendary Roky Erikson, Ringo Starr, Carlos Santana, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt, Arlo Guthrie, Huey Lewis, Jeff Beck, John Tesh, Damian Marley, Brian May, Tash Hamilton, Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, Martha Reeves, Mick Fleetwood, Christine Perfect McVie, Carly Simon, Phoebe Snow, Todd Rundgren, Chris Isaak, Kim Carnes, Debbie Harry, Courtney Love, Chris Cornell, Cyndi Lauper, Harriet Wheeler, Drake Bell, Marie Serneholt, Jason Mraz, Della Reese, and Suzanne Vega.

Notable Cancer actors and actresses feature some very beloved characters, including such legends as Yul Brynner, Jimmy Cagney, Peter Lorre, Hume Cronym, Chief Dan George, George Sanders, Jane Russell, Charles Laughton, Olivia DeHavilland, Mel Brooks, Leslie Caron, Gina Lollabrigida, Janet Leigh, Barbara Stanwyck, Ginger Rogers, Eva Marie Saint, Slim Pickens, Warren Oates, Marty Feldman, Ned Beatty, Terrance Stamp, Genevieve Bujold, Susan Hayward, Dale Robertson, Eleanor Parker, Gloria Stuart, Tab Hunter, George Murphy, and Natalie Wood.

Others of this distinguished tribe include theater and movie honchos Joseph Papp, Sidney Lumet, Ingmar Bergman, Neil Simon, Bob Fosse, Paul Verhoeven, Robert Evans, Ken Russell, Jean Cocteau, Norman Jewison, and Billy Wilder.

More contemporary luminaries of the film world include Meryl Streep, "Blues Brother" Dan Aykroyd, Robin Williams, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Albert Brooks, Angelica Huston, Tobey Maguire, Willem Dafoe, Donald Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, Sly Stallone, John Cusack, Kathy Bates, Frances McDormand, Harry Dean Stanton, Forest Whitaker, Turkan Soray, Karen Black, Elizabeth McGovern, Geoffrey Rush, Gary Busey, Shelley Duval, James Brolin, Selma Blair, Liv Tyler, James Daughton, Josh Hartnett, Cheech Marin, Alan Ruck, Matthew O'Leary, Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Chris O'Donnell, and Vin Diesel.

Famous Cancer philosophers feature interesting and compelling figures, as do authors of this sign. This group includes Henry David Thoreau, R. Buckminster Fuller, Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Paul Sartre, George Orwell, Julian Huxley, Robert Heinlein, Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Naruda, John Calvin, Ambrose Bierce, Hunter S. Thompson, Lucille Clifton, George Sand, Herman Hesse, Franz Kafka, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Pearl S. Buck, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Clement Moore, Marshall McLuhan, E.B. White, Marianne Williamson, Tom Stoppard, Dan Brown, Michael Connelly, Christopher G. Moore, and Erle Stanley Gardner.

Here a special nod goes out to two women who touched millions through our newspapers, both Cancerians who helped the world resolve millions of personal problems, America's public counselors Ann Landers and her twin, Abigail Van Buren.

Others who have made their mark on history in a big way include artists Andrew Wyeth, Edgar Degas, Frida Kahlo, Marc Chagall, George Ohr, and Rembrandt Van Rijn. Legendary Cancer sports figures feature Abner Doubleday, Arthur Ashe, Jack Dempsey, Jake LaMotta, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Dick Button, Barry Sanders, and George Steinbrenner.

One-of-a-kind Cancers known to history include Renaissance man Sir Richard Branson, George Washington Carver, John D. Rockefeller, Rube Goldberg, Roald Amundsen, Helen Keller, Maulana Karenga, notorious killers John Dillinger and "Machine Gun" Kelly, Harry Blackstone Jr., designers Pierre Cardin and Giorgio Armani, Twyla Tharp, P.T. Barnum, John Glenn, Norman Cousins, Erno Rubik, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Elias Howe (inventor of sewing machine), electric genius and pioneer Nicola Tesla, sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, H. Ross Perot, and astrologer Paul Clancy, founder of American Astrology magazine.

Finally, a big birthday hello to the international cities of Algiers, Amsterdam, Berne, Cadiz, Istanbul, Genoa, Lubeck, Manchester, Milan, Stockholm, Tunis, Venice, and York, and American cities Juneau, Orlando, Pensacola, Peoria, Gary, Baton Rouge, Portland (ME), Concord and Portsmouth (NH), Santa Fe, Niagara Falls, OKC, Norman, Wichita Falls, Richmond, Casper, and Sheridan. Also happy happy to the nations of Algeria, Canada, Holland, New Zealand, and Scotland.

A big birthday celebration goes out to the states of Idaho, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Wyoming, as well as the good old U S of A. Of course, many astrologers take exception to the July 4 birthday, and the statistical tests seem to indicate that there are other charts more "accurate" in terms of predicting national changes and crises than the July 4, 1776 chart. But that's another article for another time.

© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Robyn]

yay for cancers!

7/12/77

ON WITH SUMMER!

[Valerie]

Yes indeed, Cancers rock and I can't help but put in a cheer for us moon children. I'm a double Cancer (Sun, moon) 6/29/54 with Jup, Merc and Uranus all in Cancer! Thank you Robert for the nice tribute.

[Henry]

I liked I lot your depiction, Robert.
Usually Cancers, like me, are not well understood.
They have to fight a strong and deep-within sense of "inertia" that prevents them from getting ahead in life with other's determination and speed until they get their "idea" assured, first by dreams/visions, second by security approximations, third by executing an action...and then they are the most determined and have all the corners secured (perhaps they've already been qualified as "lazy", "dissipated", "lunatic", "slow" people and surprise others when they launch a vision that was totally out-of-sight for others during the reflexion time period).
Gaining self-confidence is critical for them, and learn to be less prone to offence from other less sensitive people.

Thanks!!.

[Cristina]

Dear Robert,
I love your articles. Always so inpiring and full of comunsense and wisdow.
Please, could you tell me a bit about my daughter's aspects. Her sun is in Cancer (17°50'05 - house#6)but I do not feel her 'acting' much as a typical crab. She has her moon (14°22'05)and her Asc (5°45'01)both in aquarius. She is studying oral health. My concern is that she may be too 'light' and expose to life's hardship not being tough enough. As a mother (sun: aries, moon: capr, asc: aquarius)I feel that we have a very different energy, although we are good mates. Please, can you give me your opinion about her main combination (sun+moon+asc)? Much appreciated, Cris

[Popplagid]

Hello all. Sorry if I will be a bit controversial.
I has been studying the zodiacs in different cultures around the world. Vedic, arabic, chinese, tibetan, african, egypt, mayan, azetc, native american, celtic and aboriginal astrology. All these have a zodiac and astrological signs. However they have different systems and divisions. For instance celtic divide in 13 signs, and aztecs in 13 signs of 20 days. Aboriginal, Egyptians and Chinese have the same 12 signs but shifted dates (like Vedic). I wonder: how can we, western astrologers, be so rigid and assume solely our system is correct and not dare to look into other systems? I was astonished to compile over hundreds of birthdates and discover that people born in middle and late april are active and agressive (like a aries), people born in early april are not, and people born in early june are more like geminis, but people born in mid july are surely like Cancer! I have so many people behaving like that, that it seems unlikely to be caused by their risings or other natal chart influences.
So, could we be making a mistake to solely assume a rigid equal-divided 12 sign division? Where is the higher truth in here? I assume the zodiac to be a continuum of influences and with no clear boundaries. If the dates vary over millenia I still dont know, they would be the basis of sideral astrology, but it makes me think much about it, since I dont want to make mistakes when reading to people or to myself.
Feel free share comments to my email segurelha att gmail dott com
Or go to my astrology blog www.astrotransits.blogspot.com Thanks for reading! And sorry for being slighty offtopic!

[Valerie]

Dear Cristina, people have given me lots of free advice so now I'll pay it forward and give you some. I myself am a Cancer with Aquarius rising. Your daughter's 6th house sun would incline her towards any health or service professions. She would make a good dental hygienist. Aquarius is a humanitarian, likes people and usually gets along with everyone. With the moon there she may be a bit detached emotionally, and she will be strong and independent, but a loyal friend. Cancer and Aquarius being a rather odd combination, I found that having Aquarius rising toughened me up as an adult so I'm not so super-sensitive. Besides, Cancers have that protective shell and good instincts. They are much tougher and braver than they let on! I'm sure your daughter is one cool chick.

[Cristina]

Dear Popplagid, thank you so very much for your comments and advise. Tears came to my eyes (of refief)as I was reading yr message to my daughter. She is a cool chick and I am very proud of her. She said that you are quite 'spot on'. Thanks again. Cristina

[Cristina]

Oh sorry Valerie, I got the name wrong. I amnew with this post-things ;)

[Valerie]

You are quite welcome, it's my pleasure. Good luck in all your endeavors. :)

[Popplagi]

Hello all, I think we did not really fully grasp about the magnitude of the upcoming changes. Lately I have been feeling deeply and largely a feeling of anxiety to go away, to remove ourselves from cities into the countryside. Sometimes coincidences conspire to point that some of us really should go into that direction. I still dont know what may happen around 2010 but with financial collapse, tension of a larger war or earth changes, there is no reason why we should not think very well about moving. But to where? I still didnt get a message to where. One thing is know for sure is that first steps involve relocation, growing our food, having a water supply, maybe new forms of energy and also new methods of building houses, in a setting away from bigger cities and the ocean. Sorry if I am touching in a very sensitive subject; I prefer to be direct, I believe the last time to change softly is now and it drives even my aquarian nature mad! Even is there is solely a minor world change, how can a couple built a future family with such an economical crisis, high prices and little jobs available? The choice for rural self-sufficiency is a hard one to swallow although appealing. Looking for advice. May Peace, inner Love and Light be with everyone :) good vibes

[Mary]

Thanks for the read again, Robert. I am a Cancer who is experiencing a fierce time of it and hope that there are some encouraging points and positive positions coming to boost the soul in the next few months. The prayer and meditations are continuing. Thanks again.

[Irth Aingel]

It would seem there are two sun sign Cancers going head-to-head in the news lately...The current US President with the war in Iraq and Mr. Cusack with his War Inc. I wonder which one will 'win'. I'm thinking with the current trend of things, Mr. Cusack may just have the edge :-)

[V K Shridhar]

Inauspicious Time of oath by the next U S President -- Hindu Electional Astrology
INAUSPICIOUS TIME OF OATH BY THE NEXT U S PRESIDENT – a debate

The next US President shall take oath on 20th January, 2009 – which is observed as inauspicious time as per Vedic / Indian system of electional (Muhurt) astrology. Discussion herein is based on Indian system (Nirayana - Sidereal system) of astrology.

The oath is generally taken around mid-day on 20th January when according to Indian system of astrology, Aries 21º shall be rising, with Moon in 8th house (6º 15´ - Scorpio, Anuradha asterism). While Jupiter (9º 33´ – combust), Mercury ( 6º 38 – is combust & retrograde) and Rahu are with the Sun ( 6º 49´) are in the 10th house. Mars lord of ascendant and 8th is in 9th house. There is exchange between 5th lord Sun and 10th lord Saturn, while the latter is in 5th house. Venus is in 11th house. Exact time of oath taking and the astro details of the oath taker are not known, therefore divisional charts and beneficence of the time for the individual are not discussed in this blog.

However it is essential , rather fundamental, that the election time is universally auspicious with co-occurrence of Muhurt Yogas (special electional combinations) and Panchanga Shuddhi (purified ephemeris time); in addition to beneficial time in respect of transits of planets & Dasha ( Hindu progressions), to the individual taking oath. The day is Tuesday – considered malefic for taking oath / coronation; and certainly before mid-day. The 10th Tithi, is beneficial being Poorna, but the Moon is waning (Dark Half - Krishan Paksha), and thus weak. Further Dark Half ( Krishan Paksha) in general not augurs expansions / developements. Anuradha asterism, in general, is held as beneficial for oath ceremony but the Tara Bala (stellar strength) & favourable transit for the individual is to be examined with respect to the person taking oath. Vishti Karan (Bhadra) is universally held as the most inauspicious for such ceremonies; and it gets further ferocious with concurrence of Tuesday- shall certain to have adverse effects. Presence of inauspicious "Shula Yoga" further adds to inauspiciousness. Thus four out the five elements of Hindu Panchanga (ephemeris) four are not favourable.

There is no beneficial Yoga present on 20th January, 2009 for auguring the said time as universally auspicious. Combination of 10th Tithi and Tuesday makes “Karkacha Yoga” – an adverse Yoga. Concurrence of Tuesday and Anuradha asterism makes “Kuyoga” held as malefic. The Moon shall be in 24th asterism from that of the transiting Sun, causing “Upgraha Dosha” – adverse for especially for marriage, travel and house related elections. Thus there is no assistance from any Special Muhurt Yogas, considered essential for a beneficial election.

In the election chart, the Moon is in 8th house – held as highly prohibited for initiating any beneficial activity. It causes adverse instability in the mind of the doer. Thought its debilitation effects in 8th house gets cancelled/ nullified to some extent, but shall have adverse effects on homes / houses, transport system and public in general of the country, with regards to their damage / destruction / losses. Retrograde & combust Mercury may cause severe adverse effects on communication systems, army, Government employees and servants. As per old Western school of thought in astrology, the Mercury being Cazimi, shall have beneficial effects. But Most of the modern followers do not agree with this old thought. Difference in their longitude is 0º 11´ 38˝, but some savior is that their declinations are different. Retrograde planet especially Mercury is held by Western astrologers as certainly unfavourable in important elections. Lord of luck (9th house lord) Jupiter, is combust and in the same Navamsha with the Sun; being functional malefic for Aries ascendant, may cause instability & disrepute to the ruler. Retrograde Saturn may breed some new unusual and unpleasant steps in diplomacy & governance; some of which shall be withdrawn at latter stages. Income, trade, wealth of the country shall certainly expand and flourish. Thus election chart does not augurs towards beneficence.

The detailed analysis can only be made after knowing the exact time of the taking oath; but the above effects can be mitigated to some lessor extent. From 12 hrs 0 min to 12 hrs 38 min ( 18h 0 m to 18 h 39 m GMT) Abhijin Muhurt prevails, which has immense power to reduce / annihilate adverse effects – as per Vedic astrology. Further Mars as lord of the ascendant in 9th house is another beneficial aspect in the election chart, but its sign lord Jupiter being cobust shall take away most of its beneficence. But in general the said time is not observed as auspicious for taking oath by the head of state of the most powerful country.

The purpose of this article is to trigger an academic discussion among the electional astrologers to examine the suitability of the oath time and possibility of recommending another suitable time, after thorough debate, getting benefits from the Vedic / Indian electional astrology which has withstood test of time for the last 5 millenniums. The discussion here is purely on academic basis. Adverse effects of the Moon in 8th house and retrograde Mercury in the electional chart, are also well accepted by electional astrologers following westwern system of astrology.

This blog is written by the author of book titled “ Hindu Electional Astrology”, the best selling compendium on Vedic / Hindu system of Muhurt astrology. Readers may log on to
http://www.besttime-election.com
for details.

[Elischa Isaacs-Young]

hell Valerie,
I was just reading this page for the first time and so surprised to see someone talking about the future in this way, so openly! I'm an aquarian in australia concerned about these issues also, and studying sustainability at uni. i'm in a lucky position already living regionally, small organic garden started, with a friendly neighbourhood, etc. i'm not sure exactly what type of advice you're looking for - it seems to me you have a lot of answers already, maybe just needing a nudge of encouragement to follow your instincts on this? i don't know so much abotu the US to recommend where to go. anyhow, thanks for voicing these questions, i think there ought to be more widespread awareness of these issues and i think your recommendations and concerns are totally spot on. love, light & courage!
elischa

[Robert]

Hi V.K. - I'll try to create occasional political astrological forums from time to time for these things in the near future.

Hi Elischa - Well, because of the way the comments are listed on a page with this software, it makes it seem like the person's name appears above the post rather than at the end. You're responding to Popplagid, who along with many others here are exploring sustainable ways to live and do well in the future. These concerns pop up from time to time, so hang in there across comment streams and you'll figure out who is working toward sustainability, and maybe even be able to contribute some valuable things to the dialog. There are many fans of the site who live in Australia, so you'll find some good allies here. This area will be one of the focuses of the other "center" I'll be creating down the road.

[Valerie]

how embarassing... :)
blessings to you all anyway