It’s a question here of the global energies of Venus in Cancer or in 4th House which it’s imperative to nuance according to your birth chart, see the article Venus in signs; see also the article on the general interpretation of Venus.
The planet Venus is one of the attributes of the Anima in the chart, as such it can indicate a Projection of it.
It informs on the woman side, pole of attraction, lover, but also on our system of valorization (affective and material), on our relational base to the others and to the world, on our artistic dimension, it manifests qualities to the colors of the occupied sign. See Venus in a man’s birth chart for the specific influence of this planet on the Animus.
Venus in Cancer : affection and security
This is a very strong place for Venus to be, similar in some ways to its exaltation in Pisces, with very feminine Water energies present.
These people are sensitive, do not half-do anything, and make a huge investment in their feelings and affectivity; more than anything, they want to be “protected”. Indeed, they are hypersensitive, often lacking self-confidence, and so they really need others to commit to them, reassure them, and give them signs of mutual belonging. They like to feel like they are needed.
Sometimes, in extreme cases, Venus in Cancer people may have such a need for affection and to be able to mother others that they become clingy. In this sign ruled by the Moon, the Venusian Anima, which is usually fairly sensual and representative of the lover archetype, is influenced much more by the mother archetype. In a romantic context, these people may have a tendency to form a maternal relationship with their partner, seeking to help them, coddle them, and even often scold them and give them orders. They choose their partners based on whether they are able to form a connection that involves mutual dependency, but it is also important to be aware that this implicitly creates dominance and subordination in the relationship, with each person alternating between roles.
These people often see romantic relationships as a sanctuary : they require security and comfort from their relationships, and they see their home and their family as a sacrosanct haven of peace. They ask for a lot, but they also give a lot in return !
They can show themselves to be fairly possessive and jealous, and they may require regular, constant commitment in the relationship. They can’t stand being neglected, but may “put up” with it and suffer for a long time if they are submissive.
Venus in Cancer people are overprotective of close friends and family. They take care of them and pamper them, and this is their way of proving that they love them and at the same time a way for them to feel useful.
They may be very easily offended and resentful because of their hypersensitive nature, and for them their feelings take precedence over everything else. Also, be careful with the words that you use because it’s easy to break them. They are very fragile, fairly impressionable, and often temperamental as well.
These people are fairly passive in the art of seduction : they like for the other person to approach them and do pretty much all the work, and they like observing other people, being courted, and also testing how dependable their partner is to make sure that they are serious and sturdy.
Venus in Cancer people are often somewhat nostalgic for the past, and feel melancholy and blue. This leads them to search for meaning in poetry, romanticism, and tenderness. They constantly need a lot of attention, and they have a very hard time dealing with the emotional independence and indifference of certain zodiac signs. Though they are very comfortable with the emotional side of their personality, the idea of confronting rationality scares them.
Incidentally, Venus in Cancer people are anxious, always plan ahead, and tend to always foresee the worst possible catastrophes. They also often have a tendency to withdraw into their shell : frequently pessimistic, they readily close themselves off to the rest of the world, and it may be quite difficult for them to get their feet back on the ground. They need this time alone, though, to further evolve and develop.
In order to seduce Venus in Cancer people, sentimentality is essential, as is giving them a sense of security, especially in terms of having a family and a home. They need to be reassured because of their deep, instinctive fear of abandonment, and they will test you multiple times in this way to have proof that you Love them.
In return, these people will give you all of the affection, attention, devotion, and physical love that they have to give, and they will be reliable and unswervingly faithful.
Artistically speaking, these people take part in anything that allows them to express their sensitivity, whether it be music, painting, or theater; however, they are particularly drawn to anything that is intimist, traditional, or related to fundamentalism.
In terms of money, Venus in Cancer people tend to be very thrifty. They prefer to capitalize on their house : again, their house is the thing that takes on the most importance, and physical objects tend to make them feel more secure.
Venus retrograde in Cancer
Venus’ retrograde motion in this sign tends to make people internalize their affectivity to a huge degree, making them more secretive and also more mysterious. They may be more apprehensive, and thus they may look to their interpersonal relationships even more for security. They are more difficult to approach, generally more vulnerable, and more afraid of abandonment.
These people run the risk of being more clingy, asking constantly for proof that their partner is emotionally invested, and they have an intense need for stability. They may also stifle their partner without even realizing.
Celebrities with Venus in Cancer
Carl Gustav Jung, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Padre Pio, Marquis de Sade, Charles Aznavour, Barack Obama, Cameron Diaz, Josephine Baker, Ernest Hemingway, Benito Mussolini, Fidel Castro, Pablo Neruda…