Despite their hard outer shell, a Cancer's heart is soft at the core. Cancers love their home. It's where they live, play, love, and feel safe. They have reverence for the family and the past. Cancers absorb and reflect the surrounding emotions; they are moody. Like the moon, they can be big, bright, and shining one day and then gradually slip into darkness. The signs most compatible with a Cancer woman or a Cancer man are the earth and water signs.
Cancer Compatibility With the Earth Signs
Cancer, the cardinal water sign ruled by the changing moon, is most compatible with the Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth holds water, gives it form, and guides its flow. Water nourishes the earth, enabling it to thrive and produce. Water and earth are beneficial to one another.
Cancer and Taurus
Taurus, the fixed earth sign ruled by Venus, is the most grounded earth sign. They are sensual, slow-moving, loyal, calm, and can easily handle a Cancer's moody nature. In relationships, Taurus and Cancer may take things slow, but they are highly compatible because they want the same thing--the security of love, family, and home. Although there are differences, this is the best combination for a happy marriage and family life.
Cancer and Virgo
Virgo is the mutable earth sign ruled by Mercury. Virgo is rational and reasonable, and Cancer is emotional and intuitive. A Cancer and Virgo pairing creates a relationship that can be highly complementary. Cancer's empathetic, comforting, and nurturing nature complements Virgo's attunement to the physical world and sense of integrity. As a couple, Cancer will gain some perspective, and Virgo will become more aware of the emotional nuances in life. Of course, there will be difficulties when Cancer becomes crabby and cranky or when Virgo becomes nitpicky and critical.
Cancer and Capricorn
Capricorn is the cardinal earth sign ruled by Saturn. Because Cancer and Capricorn are opposing signs, their relationship is an attraction of opposites. Cancer is shy, caring, and deeply emotional. Capricorn is practical, serious, and stoic. Cancer can bring out the softer and more emotional side of Capricorn, while Capricorn's practical, ambitious nature brings more stability and direction to Cancer's life. The greatest difficulty a Cancer and Capricorn might have is that Cancer can be clingy, while Capricorn needs alone time to chill out.
Cancer Compatibility With the Water Signs
Although Cancer's emotional nature is best served by the earth signs, Cancer is also compatible with all water signs.
Cancer and Cancer
There's an immediate emotional understanding between two Cancers. Each is wired to take care of everyone around them; both pour their heart into their relationship and prioritize love and family. Together, they can create a supportive, happy, homey, and cozy existence with one another. The only drawback is that both are emotionally reflective and prone to moodiness. When one is having a dark day, it's likely to bring the other down.
Cancer and Scorpio
Cancer and Scorpio in a relationship are sensitive, in tune with their emotions, and empathetic. Both crave the kind of emotional connection that comes from being vulnerable and laying out all of their deeper feelings to their partners. The problem is that Cancer can be a bit too emotionally vulnerable and clingy for Scorpio. Additionally, Scorpio's stinging tongue can sometimes hurt Cancer deeply.
Cancer and Pisces
Cancer and Pisces have an emotional and intuitive rapport that draws them together, and they play off one another perfectly. Cancer initiates and gently takes the lead, while Pisces is easy-going and provides emotional support. They are both exceptionally sensitive to each other's needs. Pisces gives Cancer the needed emotional reassurance, and Cancer provides the direction, nurturing, and caring a Pisces needs. However, since they both tend to soak up the emotions of others, as a couple, they'll tend to isolate themselves from others.
Cancer Compatibility With Air and Fire Signs
A Cancer is least compatible with the fire and air signs.
Cancer With Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius
The air signs, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, are generally not the easiest partner for a Cancer. Cancer is caring, giving, and emotional, while the air signs tend to be objective, mental, talkative, and social. This means they're really not a good fit for a sensitive and quiet homebody like Cancer.
Cancer With Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius
A Cancer paired with one of the fire signs, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, is a difficult pairing. Cancer is too emotional and clingy for the fire signs. The fire signs are too forceful, energetic, and assertive for Cancer. Although the relationship may be steamy for a while, these are relationships that will soon burn out.
Astrology and Compatibility
Any astrologer will tell you there are no perfect matches. Even if two individuals' sun signs are in friendly elements, there's the entire birth chart to consider. Even a fiery Leo or airy Gemini sun, which by sun sign alone would seem incompatible with a Cancer, could have Venus, the planet of love, in Cancer, which can be a sign of admiration and romantic attraction.
