Since Aquarius is one of the zodiac signs that Cancer does not form a traditional aspect to, there’s going to be some level of tension between the two signs. I actually think that Cancer and Aquarius work really well together. Why?

Well, a lot of Cancers will experience their favorite Aquarius as somewhat needy. Yes, you heard me. Popular stereotypes about Aquarius talk about how aloof and distant these people must be. Popular stereotypes about Cancer is pretty much just the exact opposite. People think that Cancers are forever clinging, that they won’t allow you any space, that they need someone close always.

But no. Usually, and this depends on other placements, Cancer will experience Aquarius as their clingy friend. Not the other way around.

As an air sign, Aquarius isn’t always aware of how much time they spend with specific people. They don’t track their own movements. As a fixed sign, Aquarius loves to stick around. A typical Aquarius keeps a schedule that many would call rigid. They like to stick to certain places, to their routine, and to their favorite people.

Cancer, on the other hand, is always measuring proximity and distance on a physical and an emotional level. When Cancer wants closeness, then no distance is allowed. They yearn. They wail. They demand that you come see them or they chase down your movements. But when Cancer wants to be alone? When they need time to recuperate? You won’t find them. They will be in their own room, playing sad music, high out of their minds, and just flowing.

The difference between a Cancer and an Aquarius is that Cancer knows when they are socially overwhelmed. They will seek out solitude. Cancer is the king of self regulation.

Aquarius often has no idea. Aquarius is absolutely clueless. They will walk around following their favorite person around without meaning to just because they are curious about how they tick, because Aquarius loves to observe people to figure them out. What motivates that person? What kind of human are they? Aquarius follows people around asking these intellectual sort of questions without even realizing that they, themselves, have a physical presence. That their presence is felt.

Aquarius expects people to just kind of gloss them over if they stick around long enough. Cancer never ignores a single soul. They notice that Aquarius has been around, has been following them, and always seems up for hanging out.

The reason why Cancer will get socially overwhelmed before Aquarius does is because Aquarius is actually very casual. They have the ability to be physically there but mentally somewhere else. Cancer does not do this. When they are with you, they are really with you. They are thinking about what you need and trying to make you comfortable.

That’s the other reason why Aquarius loves to follow Cancer around.

Guess what? Our bodies are comfort seeking. If someone makes us comfortable, then we will intuitively try to spend more time with that person. Cancer goes out of their way to make other people comfortable. That’s just something that Cancer does. They observe people closely, trying to figure out what their needs are. They do the small talk thing and they listen first so that people feel comfortable around them.

Oh, the sweet, sweet comfort of being around a strong Cancer placement. Cancer has snacks. They ask you questions to get you talking. They ask you if you are tired. A lot of people find that their physical bodies will intuitively gravitate towards the nearest Cancer around.

I like to think of Aquarius as one of those kids who got left home alone a lot so they had to seek out entertainment by being really weird. Aquarius doesn’t go to sleep on time. They eat the same things everyday but forget whole meals because time just passed them by. They meet their own needs like a latchkey kid munching on Cheerios soaked in soda. As someone who is not actually that skilled at making themselves comfortable, Aquarius doesn’t go out of their way to make other people comfortable either.

Aquarius is a strange ability to keep their own pace even when they are around other people. If Aquarius has something cool that they want to talk about, they’ll never shut up. If they don’t have anything to say, then you won’t get a word out of them. They say what’s on their mind and they don’t make small talk because they don’t really think about the purpose of making other people comfortable. They think that, if you have something to say, then you’ll talk. It’s not their job to get you to open up. But, even when Aquarius is somewhere else in their minds, they don’t physically leave. They always stick around and will frequently be the last person at a party.

When Aquarius is interested in a person, they usually avoid direct contact with that person while still hanging around in the periphery. They don’t ask personal questions because Aquarius themselves don’t like to be asked personal questions. “What is this? An interrogation?” Instead of asking personal questions, Aquarius likes to ask philosophical or open ended questions because they like abstract conversation.

When Cancer is interested in a person, they learn everything about that person by direct confrontation. They learn that person’s entire routine, what they like to eat, who their friends are, and what they read. Cancer will ask a lot of personal questions but, really, they want you to ask them personal questions. They want the object of their desire to be interested in how they are feeling, what they need right now, and who they like.

The reason why Cancer finds Aquarius socially overwhelming is because Aquarius likes a lot of hanging around without asking personal questions. Cancer doesn’t always feel engaged with. Aquarius, on the other hand, is thinking that they’re so interested that they’re willing to share all these big brainiac ideas. They don’t like to talk about mutual friends or personal feelings too much because Aquarius thinks that will make other people uncomfortable so they avoid those topics.

So, the issue with Cancer and Aquarius is that there can be a lot of miscommunication about how interest is expressed. Luckily, Aquarius is the kind of person who looks completely serious but isn’t. They excel at laughing at themselves.

In Cancer Aquarius relationships, Cancer needs to speak up about when they need alone time. If they do this, they will realize that Aquarius does not take it personally. They are not making Aquarius feel rejected. Aquarius understands. When Cancer realizes that they can ask for space, they start to appreciate Aquarius’s love of following their loved ones around much more. Cancers love a lot of time together because they crave emotional security. They just don’t like to feel emotionally overcrowded.

When Cancer doesn’t ask for space when they need it? That’s when the relationship kind of starts to collapse a bit. When Cancer doesn’t ask for space, they tend to end things without meaning to while intending to come back.

Aquarius doesn’t come back. Cancer likes to. When an Aquarius is finished with a relationship, they rarely look back but Cancer loves to return and redefine.

In an air and water sign pairing, it’s usually the water sign who needs to set the tone and, in Cancer Aquarius relationships, it’s Cancer who needs to dictate their need for space, their need for presence, and their need for regularity. I do think that Cancer and Aquarius can work really well but only when the Cancer is willing to set some terms.