Compatibility
Cancer Dragon and Cancer Ox

Two Cancers together share the element of Water. Hence they share a natural affinity from the very beginning of their relationship. Water is the most changeable and existential of the elements, emphasising deep thought and a sensitivity to the fluidity and complexity of life. A pair of Cancers will thus find in each other a deeply reassuring sense of compassionate introspection.

Cancer's Cardinal modality means that the Water element is here at its most pure and impressionable. This can sometimes contribute to a sense of loneliness or feeling overcrowded, as if Cancer is so busy responding to and reflecting the needs of others it is hard to locate their own desires. Hiding in plain sight can be quite a common experience for this sign. With another Cancer, however, they have the space they need to breathe. They can relax into exploring their individual identity, sensing (with Cancer's famous intuition) that their opposite number shares the same priorities for peace, tenderness, and dreaming.

If anything, in fact, the challenge for two Cancers is a lack of direction. This sign is so accustomed to reacting that together they may feel somewhat aimless—not unpleasantly so, in fact often quite delightfully, but even so, somewhat lacking in clear direction or purpose. This can seem quite strange or non-conformist to outsiders. Others may wonder how two Cancers can be so happy just treading water without really trying to go anywhere.

This quality of drifting may mean two Cancers do not form a traditional bond, or perhaps fade in and out of each other's life in unexpected ways. In whatever form this relationship takes, though, two Cancers can exploit the effortless flexibility of their sign to create an uplifting and deeply comforting bond.

Similar to the elements in Western astrology, the four essential Trine Families of the Chinese zodiac separate naturally into pairs that are harmonious with each other. The families of the Dragon (with the Monkey and Rat) and Ox (with Rooster and Snake) combine to form one of these highly congenial inter-family groups. While the Ox and Dragon may not receive quite as much attention as some other combinations between their families, they benefit considerably from the wonderful energy that surrounds them.

Early encounters between the Ox and Dragon will tend to be relaxed affairs, with both parties slipping easily into a comfortable groove. Dragon natives are so brilliantly captivating that they often overwhelm others with the sheer force of their personalities, so the Ox's strength and self-assurance can immediately put them at ease. Ever proud and ambitious, the Ox hates the idea of wasting their time on anyone undeserving, so keeping company with the majestic Dragon fulfils their deep-seated sense of purpose. As these two become closer, the promise of their initial connection can mature become a terrific source of meaning and fun.

These are two of the most powerful signs in the Eastern zodiac, which for the Dragon in particular can be intensely demanding and lead to occasional feelings of isolation from other signs. The Ox's prodigious abilities, by contrast, are balanced by a desire to build secure spaces for themselves and those close to them. Many Dragon/Ox pairings are thus able to leverage the vitality and dazzling appeal of the Dragon alongside the determination and caring instincts of the Ox. There may sometimes be limits to how far this can go. The Dragon's freedom-loving spirit always resists restraint, which may at times make the Ox feel distant, even rejected. The Dragon may sometimes feel the Ox's demands are too controlling or impossible to satisfy. There is so much good fortune and common ground between these two, however, that one way or another positive outcomes are highly favoured.

It will come as no surprise if this combination yields a lasting, pleasurable, and deeply nourishing relationship.