Any planet in Cancer will express the sensitivity and nurturing instincts of this cardinal water sign. Cancer is receptive, maternal, imaginative, intuitive, emotional, and domestic. There will be a clear tendency to protect and shelter.

Sun in Cancer
The Sun in Cancer person is nurturing. Your caring and emotional nature can cause you to be too sensitive to everyone's needs at the expense of your own. You don't mind catering to others as long as your efforts are appreciated. Keen intuition guides your decisions; you can easily sense others' moods. When you're around happy people, you're likely to flourish, whereas the opposite is true when exposed to gloomy types.

Moon in Cancer
The Moon in Cancer person is responsive. You are happiest when you can nurture and care for someone who in turn provides you with a sense of security. Emotional sensitivity is so acute that you can feel overwhelmed at times, but keeping active and busy is a good antidote. Your dedication to family has its rewards in the pride you take in their accomplishments. A keen memory helps you retain every experience, and you never forget emotional hurt.

Mercury in Cancer
The Mercury in Cancer person is intuitive. Your uncanny ability to reflect whatever you observe is a double-edged sword. One the one hand, your sensitivity can cause you to be indecisive; on the other, your ability to mirror social conditions can garner a measure of success or even fame. Emotional impressions are uppermost in your mind when making decisions; you follow your instincts most of the time.

Venus in Cancer
The Venus in Cancer person is sentimental. Affectionate and kind, you love to be cared for and in turn give emotional support to all those around you. You are happiest when you feel secure and will search for that special someone who offers stability. Your nurturing instincts may surface in romantic relationships, though you can attract someone who wants to look after you. There is a softness and vulnerability about you that others find appealing.

Mars in Cancer
The Mars Cancer person is expressive. If someone wants to motivate you, he or she has to appeal to your emotions. You rarely take action without feeling inspired. Likewise, you are good at arousing others and may be an excellent team leader or coach. You can channel your emotional energy through something creative, like cooking, or something more physical, like sports. Quite a few chefs have Mars in Cancer, as do many athletes.

Jupiter in Cancer
The Jupiter in Cancer person is kindhearted. Your gregarious personality may serve you well in the public arena; people are attracted to your openness. You're generous with what you have and are sensitive to the needs of others. You can be lucky with real estate and land development. Your intuition plays an important part in your ability to accumulate funds; follow your instincts. You can have substantial assets at an early age.

Saturn in Cancer
The Saturn in Cancer person is shy. A tendency to guard your feelings hides a soft, sensitive side that others rarely see. You are insightful and even cunning when it comes to assessing what motivates people, and you can use this trait to your advantage. As long as you feel safe and secure, there's no limit to what you can accomplish; thus, a stable home is important. Serious on the outside, you can be quite the comedian once you let down your guard.

Uranus in Cancer
The Uranus in Cancer person is instinctive. Your emotional nature may seem detached, because your main goal is to be free from attachment. You may be unconventional in your approach to raising a family, or have an unusual relationship with your mother. Your ability to understand emotional complexities can help you in counseling others. You may have unique insight into the subconscious mind.

Neptune in Cancer
The Neptune in Cancer person is overly sensitive. Because Neptune remains in a sign for fourteen years, it will influence an entire generation. It was last in Cancer during World War I, a time when many families sacrificed loved ones. Neptune will not move into Cancer again until late in the twenty-first century. We can only speculate that its next foray into Cancer may foster a generation that values family above all else.

Pluto in Cancer
The Pluto in Cancer person is resilient. Those born from 1914 to 1939 have this placement. This is a generation that experienced the Great Depression and endured many hardships. Those born during this cycle are concerned mainly with family values, home, and country. Many went to war to protect their homeland. With this placement, you will fight to protect all that is near and dear to your heart.

Excerpted from Astrology for Beginners, by JoAnn Hampar