Crushing on a Cancer? Read This Before You Ask ’Em Out
If you’re crushing on a Cancer, well, we can't blame you! These sweet lil crabs are sensitive, nurturing, and creative—they make incredible friends and loyal lovers. But make sure you don't cross them, or their crab claws will come out! And yeah, it's true what they say: ruled by the Moon, Cancers are moody, and just a little bit sensitive. So you've gotta be extra careful when you're first getting to know one.
There are some things you should know before you take the plunge and ask out a Cancer. Cancer—the first water sign of the zodiac—is symbolized by the hermit crab. Just as the crustacean seamlessly moves between the sea and the shore, Cancers weave between the physical, tangible world and their complex emotional landscape. Basically, they're adaptable, intuitive, and smart AF. It’s easy to fall for one of these majestic, sensitive creatures…but there’s also a lot you may *not* know about this crabby crab. Let’s dive in!
So what’s a Cancer looking for in a relationship?
In order to truly understand what Cancer wants in a relationship, it’s important to consider the anatomy of their celestial archetype. Although the hermit crab has a tough outer shell and snappy pincher claws, these features are just protective armor. At its core, the crab is actually just a mushy-gushy softy that’s super vulnerable to damage and (yikes!) boiling water. Likewise, Cancers are sweet, sensitive creatures…but they don’t feel comfortable opening up unless they can guarantee that their crush is both interested and available.
Because trust and loyalty are so critical for this delicate sign, they may come off as cold or distant at first. With time, however, Cancers will begin to reveal their gentle spirit, genuine compassion, and domestic sensibilities. In fact, if you’re fortunate enough to connect with a Cancer, you’ll quickly discover that they actually love cohabitating.
Just as the hermit crab carries their home on their back, it’s very important for Cancer to cultivate a comfy environment. This space serves as not just a personal sanctuary for Cancer but also a safe space for them to let down their armor, exhibiting their full and complete self. Although Cancer will not try to move in together right away (remember, it takes time to build trust!), you can expect to spend a lot of time cozied up at home.
How do they behave in a relationship?
Cancers are nurturing and supportive. Once you’ve teamed up with Cancer, they’ll always be your number one cheerleader. But don’t be fooled: They’re not a pushover.
Cancer is governed by the Moon. It illuminates the night, but the Moon isn’t static—its appearance is constantly transforming. It begins each 28-day cycle totally invisible during the New Moon, expands through its waxing phases, climaxes at 100 percent radiance during the Full Moon, and then wanes into darkness. And since the Moon symbolizes emotions, this reveals how Cancer is quite often in a state of flux.
Let’s be honest: Cancer is one of the moodiest signs (if not the moodiest sign) of the entire zodiac. But because these celestial crabs don’t like to tackle things head-on (crabs walk sideways, FYI), their emotional volatility is most often communicated through passive aggression or pouty-ness. It’s important to remember that Cancer’s moodiness isn’t totally arbitrary—usually, something triggers this energetic shift. If you can identify the cause (did you not like Cancer’s cooking? Did you take too long to return their text?), don’t be afraid to address the problem directly. Cancer may not want to share their truth (remember, they’re scared of being vulnerable!), but the faster you can successfully identify the root of the issue, the faster your Cancer lover will bounce back.
What are their biggest turn-ons and turn-offs?
So you’re ready to build a lasting bond with this celestial crab? Perfect! It’s important to remember that Cancer is never as cold as their facade. Indeed, the most challenging aspect about dating a Cancer is breaking through their tough armor—this will require patience, fortitude, and confidence. However, if you’re interested enough in Cancer to wait it out, there’s nothing that excites Cancer more than fidelity.
There’s nothing a Cancer despises more than feeling criticized. If your Cancer boo is doing something that bugs you, be very thoughtful about when and how you bring up this grievance. If you mention it at the wrong moment, Cancer will feel betrayed, get totally defensive, and jump into their protective armor. So how will you know how to broach sensitive issues with Cancer? Well, that’s all part of the “getting to know you” process!
Their best and worst matches?
So who works best with these sensitive creatures? Fellow water signs—Scorpio and Pisces—make terrific partners for sweet crabs. Scorpio understands Cancer’s protective nature, and Pisces appreciates Cancer’s sensitivities. And because water signs have such strong intuition, these signs can even communicate telepathically! However, Cancer may struggle with Aries and Libra: Fiery Aries is too impatient, and charming air sign Libra doesn’t make Cancer feel special enough. If partnered, these signs will need to work extra hard to ensure the bond is rooted in trust.
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