A Change of Heart: Venus into Cancer

Symbolon Card for Cancer

After more than four months in Gemini, Venus has finally changed her tune, shifting into Cancer for a four –and-a-bit week stay. Venus usually spends about a month in each sign, except when she’s retrograde – as she was in Gemini in May and June.

The Gemini area of your life fades from focus*, as the house/life area that holds the sign of Cancer now gets ready for its makeover.

 Venus is about beauty, so there’s a need to make physical improvements, like through redecorating, in whatever area of your life Venus in Cancer touches. If you have Cancer on the MC/10^th House, which is the career sector, then it’s office or work space that needs a spruce up.

Venus is also about bonding. It’s her universal themes of unification and togetherness that help set the love tone. Between August 8 – September 6, with Venus in Cancer, love has a nurturing and domestic quality. Family love is the essence of this pairing.

Venus was last in Cancer in July 2011, so if there are any home, family or love themes that stand out from then, you may find the next few weeks bring second chances or opportunities to take things to the next level.

The Moon
Cancer is the natural home of the Moon, showing that whilst in Cancer, Venus will take her cues from the Moon. This adds an intuitive and emotional quality to love and family. 

The Moon waxes and wanes, grows and shrinks, constantly changing shape. Any planet in Cancer adopts this ‘ebb and flow’ quality, which indicates relationships may go through high and low tide periods in the next few weeks. This is natural so go with it rather than fret about it.

The Moon joins Venus in Cancer between August 13 – 15, and is strongly placed in Taurus between August 8 – 10 and September 4 – 6. These are likely to be the most active days, especially in terms of caring for or indulging with loved ones, of this Venus in Cancer period.

Cardinal vs. Mutable
Cancer is however a cardinal sign, one of four signs known for their initiative qualities. The cardinal signs are connected to the equinoxes and solstices, and it’s the Sun’s entry into them that triggers a change of season. (It’s this seasonal/sign link that helps create the tropical zodiac used widely today.)

Revelations about relationships and feelings that emerge while Venus is in Cancer are more likely to be acted upon, compared to the (relatively) short attention span of Venus in mutable (and thus easily distracted!) Gemini.

With Venus in a cardinal sign, love choices and changes demand instant attention. Cancer is the sign of the crab, so some sideways swinging might precede the action, but love actions of all kinds are now possible.

Venus and the Planets
Of course, whilst in Cancer, Venus will make some exciting links with other planets. 

August 9 – 10, Venus/Neptune
Love comes with a dreamy, fairy-tale like quality. This energy encourages letting go and following your heart. It’s also quite creative so let your imagination lead you into the world of romance.

August 15 – 18, Venus/Uranus/Pluto
This will be the most active, dynamic, unpredictable or intense period of Venus in Cancer. Expect the unexpected or take charge and be spontaneous. A flexible attitude that honours your truth is a must. Major love change and transformation is possible.

September 2- 4, Venus/Saturn
The cosmos offers a love reality check, whether you think you need it or not. Consider this a nudge from the universe to ensure you’re being as practical as possible about relationships. It’s also a helpful energy under which to clarify your boundaries and commitments with the special people in your life.

What are your hopes for Venus in Cancer? Do you know which area of your life it triggers?

*The signs connect to different life areas in a unique pattern based on your time and place of birth, which creates the houses. If you don’t know which signs rule which houses in your chart, you might like this.

I’ve also written a little about how Venus in Cancer might affect home and family life for astrology.com. You can read that post here.