Decan walk continues with Cancer I
1/4 of the walk is completed, 3/4 more to go!*
Out of three water signs, Cancer is the only one I don’t have any natal placements in although I know lots of people, family, friends with especially Cancer Sun. I think that Cancer is a very interesting sign since it’s water element but at the same time a cardinal sign. Is there always a way forward? What does sometimes stop us from walking ahead? Emotional but there is more into that, right? As I am digging into the water element more and more, it makes me think about the ‘water signs’ much deeply…
Before coming to the decan, why don’t we look into an image of the Chariot, Major Arcana card associated with the sign of Cancer?
Le Chariot – The Alchemical Tarot of Marseille by Robert M. Place
On this card, we have these brown and white horses going in different directions while the charioteer seems to be very confident although there is some longing in his eyes. However, he still looks like he is going to pull this off with one hand on the hip, the other holding the reins tight. I use this symbolism as an analogy for the T-square in astrology. The charioteer being the apex planet in square to the two horses apparently going or trying to go in different directions. The role of the charioteer is to bring the horses back to their senses and lead them to the same direction as much as possible so that he can lead the way without a lot of drama and dilemma. Having said that, after we have come to that ‘crossroads’ with Gemini and made possibly a ‘rational’ choice, we need to get control of the path back in our hands so that we may implement those choices in our lives. And this requires the resistance, the power, ‘pouring our hearts into a cause’ quality of water element and Cancer at the same time. We know the crab going sideways but when it comes to things cared about and/or loved that crab will move forward without a blink as if there is no tomorrow which may be informing us about the cardinal quality of Cancer.
I will not go more into the details of this particular Chariot card being aware of the alchemical symbols, Hermetic quote waiting to be explored. Maybe another time!
Coming back to the decans, Venus and Moon are the decan rulers according to Chaldean/Descending order and Triplicity order respectively. Love comes in different forms, but in this form in a very emotional, caring, nurturing way taking into account that it could take a tenacious flavour from time to time with that instinct of protection! In addition to love, we can definitely talk about values; the way we value our past, our family, our home, the places or people in which/whom we find comfort of home or a tribe where we are taken care of and given the privilege to take care of as well. We value every inch of this. And we may need to answer the following question which could very crucial: What can make us feel safe, who can give us that sense of security or what can feed our souls? A motherly approach, the warmth of a house or just knowing that when we need, someone or something will protect us whatever it takes…The words are easy to say or to write but taking action is hard, requires a lot of effort and whether we believe it or not, Cancer has that willpower!
2 of Cups – The Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery by Robert M. Place
https://robertmplacetarot.com/the-tarot-of-the-sevenfold-mystery/
These all make us circle back to the Minor Arcana associated with the first decan of Cancer which is the 2 of Cups. In other versions of this card, there is this hesitation or being not totally convinced look on the female character against the offering by the male party, and she might start talking with her inner voice: “Should I trust? What is it in that cup? Am I safe? Is it worth taking that risk and give a try, any value in this possible interaction? It feels like that we are coming from same source but different at the same time, still our destinies intertwine! What does this mean?” And there is the protection offered by the wings of an angel or what? It could be the wings of Nike as this deity is associated with this decan in the list of Cosmas of Jerusalem. A protection promising some kind of strength and victory as a result of this union. We may first react to the voice of our hearts at this stage but in the next step tapping into our minds and drive might surface and maybe turn this journey into something more compact and meaningful where we will be involved in the process as a whole…The 3 of Cups is quite interesting, worth waiting for!
All the best,
Teri
by Teri Nudelman a.k.a. amethystastrotarot as in Hello from Amethyst! –
*Original published on my Substack account on Jun 20, 2026.