A Cancer Rising, or the Cancer Ascendant, in your chart means you carry the weight of the world in your heart.

All about Cancer Rising/The Cancer Ascendant

Who needs a hug? Cancer is a nurturing ascendant that makes you a connoisseur of comfort, ready with a compassionate ear, a hot mug of tea and the kind of support most people could only expect from their family.

Are you a Cancer Rising?

Use our cosmic calculator to discover what zodiac sign the ascendant was in when you were born if you’re unsure. To accurately determine your ascendant, you will need to know your birth time. The rising sign or the ascendant is always “in” your first house—in fact it’s the very first degree or the beginning cusp, found at the 9 o’clock point on every chart. Don’t have your birth certificate? If you were born in the United States, you can write to the Office of Vital Records in your birth state for a copy.

Find your Rising Sign

Calculate Yours!

The ascendant changes zodiac signs about every two hours. Since the sun rises and sets at different times depending on the season, a person born at 10:00 a.m. in April would have a vastly different ascendant than someone born at 10:00 a.m. in November. Fun fact: If you were born at sunrise (or within two hours of it), your ascendant will likely be the same sign as your Sun sign (e.g., Taurus with a Taurus rising—or a “double Taurus”).

Traits of Cancer Rising/The Cancer Ascendant

Cancer is a water sign, ruled the shape-shifting moon. You understand the ebb and flow of emotions more than most. In fact, yours are rarely far from the surface.

People may label you sensitive, and in truth, you are. With this empathic ascendant, you carry the weight of the world in your heart. Hide your feelings behind a shell and it invariably cracks, and they all spill out in a rushing current. To avoid this TMI trap, form a rock-solid support circle of loyal friends who are as caring and available as you are! Relatives may play this part. A Cancer ascendant longs to be close to family, whether “chosen” or the ones who share your DNA.

Cancer Rising needs boundaries

Although some Cancer risings can come across as shy, you’re more likely to be guarded. People can take advantage of your kindness, which burns every time. Slowing down and learning to set boundaries early can help you regain trust in relationships. Because you overload on other people’s energies, you need your alone time to recharge and restore. By the same token, you’ll readily step into the “Haus Mother” role of any group. So often, you’ll be the glue for your crew, organizing events that become cherished annual occasions.

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to learn a bit of emotional restraint. Reactivity can damage relationships, so cultivate techniques for pausing in between stimulus and response. For example, wait until the initial feeling passes (and take a few slow, deep breaths) and allow your rational brain to parse the data. Combining heart and logic is the best recipe for presenting your thoughts.

Cancer Rising at home

Cancer rising fashion is quite sensual and imbued with a kind of classic beauty that is au courant. You might also spot you rocking the grandma/grandpa chic look: wool cardigans, crocheted shawls, pocket squares (and watches!) and vintage jewelry. And you’ll make it look timelessly elegant to boot! Your features may sparkle with the light of the moon, and many with this rising sign have signature curves: large saucer eyes, prominent chests and even sweet, moon-shaped faces.

Bonding often happens over food for you, whether home-cooked or at a raved-about restaurant. You could become an excellent chef who loves hosting parties. Food for Cancer risings is really a metaphor for the coziness you want others to feel on a heart and soul level. The act of stopping for a meal also allows you to ease in to social situations without the anxiety that can accompany it. Bon appetit!

Celebrities and famous people with Cancer Rising

Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Ye/Kanye West, Paul Rudd, Cher, Shailene Woodley, Macklemore, Ben Affleck, Adele, Charli XCX, Marvin Gaye, Steve McQueen, Lily Tomlin, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Gates, Cindy Crawford, Salvador Dalí, Lisa Bonet, Jill Scott, John Muir, Vincent Van Gogh, Jennifer Garner, Pope Francis, Steven Spielberg, Michael Phelps, Travis Barker, William Shakespeare, Liv Tyler, Victoria Beckham