Cancer personality traits

Cancer is one of the hardest signs to understand due to having many contradictions. Cancer people tend to be unpredictable, fragile and complex. At times they can be very forceful and dynamic, and at other times they can be very emotionally dependant. This can be seen as the perfect balance of give and take, or it can be seen as very confusing!

One thing which makes this challenging for a partner is Cancers reluctance to share their feelings, which are often highly volatile. Due to this they are often seen as being moody, irritable, temperamental or prickly - often at the times when they most need encouragement and support. It's very common for them to accidentally push loved ones away which can create a vicious circle of emotional neglect.

Best Cancer traits and characteristics

Excellent parents
Very loving
Nurturing
Caring
Compassionate
Very loyal
Romantic
Spiritual
Feelings run deep
Sympathetic
Sensitive
Intuitive
Ambitious
Self motivated
Natural leaders
Forceful
Dynamic
Self sufficient
Introvert
Intense
Sensible
Practical

Worst Cancer traits and characteristics

It's worth noting that most good Cancer traits and characteristics have an equal and opposite bad trait or characteristic. For example, someone who is highly analytical could be described as either intelligent (good) or unemotional (bad). Someone who is spontaneous (good) is also impulsive (bad).

Emotional
Sensitive
Moody / sulky
Easily hurt
Oversensitive
Can be self destructive
Can be self pitying
Can be self absorbed
Unpredictable
Demanding
Inconsiderate
Controlling
Bossy
Moody
Irritable, temperamental or prickly
Possessive, jealous
Pessimistic (tend to dwell on the past)

Cancer people tend to like

Helping others (especially offering emotional support)
Security
Comfort (they enjoy and appreciate the home and homemaking)
Attention from those they care about
Dwelling on the past

Cancer people tend to dislike

Conflict
Change
Share how they are feeling
Trusting people

Where do these Cancer traits come from?

One of the fascinating things about astrology is the patterns which exist. Cancer personality traits certainly aren't random. They come from a combination of the signs ruling planet, element, polarity, house and quality. All of these are also used (consistently) elsewhere within astrology and come together to form the unique package which is the Cancer personality.

Are the traits of every Cancer the same?

No. The above traits exist if someone has a Cancer sun sign. However every individual also has other planet placements (Moon, Mars, Venus etc) which modify this behavior. In some cases one or more of the basic personality traits listed above will be modified or even replaced. Only by examining all the planet placements for an individual can we get a complete picture of their unique personality. A skilled astrologer can often calculate these backwards from the ways that the basic sun sign behavior is being modified.

Cancer traits - nurture versus nature

As children we are subjected to many experiences and influences. These can lead to a determined effort to modify our personality and behavior. The traits still exist, but they can be over ridden by free thought. It's fairly common for negative traits to gradually diminish as a person gets older, wiser and more socially adept.

Related Cancer articles:

• How to seduce a Cancer
• Cancer man gifts and Cancer woman gifts
• Who are Cancer people generally most compatible with? Cancer compatibility
• Read about Cancer in love
• What to expect in a Cancer relationship
• Cancer astrological facts and details Cancer profile
• My complete guides to Cancer men and Cancer women