Cancer - The Crab

Cancer - The Crab - 21 June - 22 July

A Feminine, Cardinal Water Sign.

The fourth sign of the zodiac, Cancer has the image of the crab. It is the first water sign. This symbolism, is linked to the womb, birth, motherhood and the birth of all things. The zodiac in the baptistry of Parma Cathedral, from the 13th century, Cancer is represented by a crayfish.

In other mediaeval zodiacs the tail is often overlaid with the halo of the archangel Gabriel, linking baptism with the spiritual world. Cancer is often called the 'house of the mother', linking it to the physical and spiritual experience of birth.

Cancer
Alchemy: Dissolution
Animal: Crab, Turtle, Sphinx
Birthstone: Amber, Chalcedony, Ruby
Colour: Orange Yellow
Day: Monday
Egyptian: Khepri (scarab)
Gods/Goddess: Artemis, Dionysius, Khephra
Greek: Artemis
Metal: Silver
Perfume: Onycha, Jasmine, Myrrh
Plant: Lotus
Roman: Diana
Tarot: Chariot
Weapon: The Furnace

The Sanskrit name for this month is Karkataka - the Crab

KAAONA - `A`ama. In Hawaiian mythology, is depicted by the 'A'ama, a Crab akin to that of Greek mythology, the cardinal watery sign of the Prophet or Teacher.