Individuals with Mercury in Cancer attune to emotional tenors and subliminal, subtle, and intangible information. They don't think in a rational, logical way. They relying on their feelings and emotional biases to make judgments and decisions.
The Mercury in Cancer Mind
Cancer, the Cardinal Water sign of the zodiac, is ruled by the ever-changing and emotional Moon. Cancer is emotionally sensitive, subjective, indirect, and the most self-protective sign of the zodiac. Mercury is associated with reason and logic - it's objective and decidedly unemotional. Mercury is not comfortable in Cancer, and it's difficult for individuals with Mercury in Cancer to find a balance between emotions and reason. The Mercury in Cancer mind is imaginative, intuitive, and perceptive but understands the world through its own emotional biases. Only individuals with their Sun in Gemini, Cancer, or Leo can have Mercury in Cancer.
Positive Traits of Mercury in Cancer
Mercury in Cancer at its best is:
- Emotionally intelligent, soft-spoken, and considerate
- Imaginative, poetic, and artistic
- Perceptive with a retentive memory
- Caring and empathetic
- A good listener
- Sensitive and sympathetic
Negative Traits of Mercury in Cancer
While Mercury in Cancer's positive traits usually prevail and the negative characteristics are episodic, how an individual expresses their Cancer Mercury also depends on the sign of their Moon and other placements in their birth chart. However, at its worst, Mercury in Cancer can:
- Be insecure, defensive, biased, and prejudiced
- Take everything personally
- Be suspicious and distrustful
- Be illogical and easily confused
- Provoke arguments and then play the victim
- Emotionally blackmail others
- Be pessimistic and prone to depression
Natal Mercury in Cancer's Style of Communicating
Mercury in Cancer does not listen to what is said; it pays attention to how it feels about what is said and is easily frustrated by too many facts and details. Because individuals with Mercury in Cancer find it challenging to be objective, they are often mentally confused, insecure, and tend to be shy, private, distrustful, and have difficulty verbalizing their thoughts. For these reasons, they surround themselves with family and old friends - people they have a history with, trust, and feel safe opening up to. They tend to clam up and be more self-protective with casual acquaintances and people they don't know.
Talking to a Person With Mercury in Cancer
It can sometimes be challenging to talk with a person who has Mercury in Cancer because they are defensive and take everything that's said to them very personally. They also tend to sidestep directly answering questions, can't handle criticism, and usually defend themselves by throwing an in-your-face tantrum. They subtly provoke arguments but get hurt if someone argues with them. They also have good memories and never forget anything that was done or said to them or those they love.
Mercury in Cancer, Sun in Cancer
If both the Sun and Mercury are in Cancer, the person has extraordinary intuition and can plunge deeply into others' emotions and feel what they feel. If they can balance their intellect and emotions, they can be exceptional councilors who can easily communicate with young people. This can make them outstanding grade school teachers and counselors.
Mercury in Cancer, Sun in Gemini or Leo
Some individuals with Mercury in Cancer, especially those who's a Gemini Sun or a Leo Sun, can be influential speakers who can "feel out" the rhythm, beat, and emotional tenor of their audience and trigger strong emotions. However, they are often prone to ignoring objective facts to sway their audience to their way of thinking.
Natal Mercury Retrograde in Cancer
Whenever Mercury is retrograde (Rx) in a birth chart, an individual has an active mind but often feels they're not smart enough and have difficulty verbalizing what's on their mind. If an individual's Mercury is Rx in Cancer, it amplifies their intuitive abilities, timidness, and penchant for keeping their thoughts and ideas to themselves. Mercury in Cancer Rx individuals are more soft-spoken, sensitive, intuitive, and self-protective than when Cancer Mercury is direct. The more activity that surrounds them, the more they think, and the more facts and details they're bombarded with, the more they retreat into their shell and clam up, which can lead them to spin out of control due to emotional and mental overload.
Natal Mercury in Cancer Speaks
You can hear Mercury in Cancer speak in these words spoken by famous individuals with Mercury in Cancer.
Diana, Princess of Wales
"I don't go by the rule book... I lead from the heart, not the head." ~ Diana, Princess of Wales: Cancer Sun, Moon in Aquarius, Mercury Rx in Cancer
Pamela Anderson
"If I think too much, it kind of freaks me out." ~ Pamela Anderson: Cancer Sun, Moon in Aries, Mercury Rx in Cancer
Donald Trump
"Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper." ~ Donald Trump: Gemini Sun, Moon in Sagittarius, Mercury in Cancer
Mary Kate Olsen
"Everybody's brain works differently, and I just need longer to get things to register." ~ Mary Kate Olsen: Gemini Sun, Moon in Virgo, Mercury in Cancer
Arnold Schwarzenegger
"The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent." ~Arnold Schwarzenegger: Leo Sun, Moon in Capricorn, Mercury in Cancer
Carl Jung
"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." ~ Carl Jung: Leo Sun, Moon in Taurus, Mercury in Cancer
Tom Hanks
"I am who I am, and I think I have a good nature, by and large. But if someone takes advantage of that good nature, well then, you know, I'm not that nice a guy." ~ Tom Hanks: Cancer Sun, Moon in Leo, Mercury in Cancer
Angela Merkel
"For me, it is always important that I go through all the possible options for a decision." ~ Angela Merkel: Cancer Sun, Moon in Aquarius, Mercury in Cancer
Harrison Ford
"I was completely unprepared for the public spectacle my private life became, and didn't like it a bit." Harrison Ford: Cancer Sun, Moon in Cancer, Mercury in Cancer
Kendrick Lamar
"Sometimes you just need to distance yourself from people… if they care, they'll notice. If they don't, you know where you stand." Kendrick Lamar: Gemini Sun, Moon in Pisces, Mercury in Cancer
Do You have Mercury in Cancer?
Everyone experiences times when their mind tells them something that does not match their feelings. However, feelings not matching facts are a constant in a person with Mercury in Cancer. If you're a Gemini, Cancer, or Leo and your mind is continuously telling you one thing while your heart is telling you another, you could have Mercury in Cancer. You can find out by having your birth chart calculated free at AstroSeek.com.
