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Compatibility
Cancer Dragon and Libra Monkey

Firstwest and secondwest may share one of the most combative connections in the Western zodiac, but here the corresponding potential for growth and self-knowledge is significantly favored, due to the legendary alliance between the firsteast and secondeast.

Western Zodiac sign, Cancer
Western Zodiac sign, Libra

Western Zodiac

Cancer and Libra

Compatibility overview

The match between firstwest and secondwest summons powerful energy that is frequently hard to control, but also deeply rewarding. These two tend to spar like champions, as their instincts on most subjects could hardly be more different. Yet few combinations are able to produce the transformative positive effects that these two signs can bring out in one another.

Cancer and Libra - Relationship Horoscope

Read more about the CANCER and LIBRA zodiac signs...

Read more about the CANCER DRAGON and LIBRA MONKEY combined zodiac signs...

In Western astrology, an interval of three steps, as there is between Cancer and Libra, is known as a Square aspect. This hard 90° angle brings forth some punishing energy. At times it may feel as if no topic or field of endeavour is safe from disagreement or contestation.

Libra's all-encompassing, deliberative attitude is highly intellectual, and they are keenly interested in social institutions and practices. Cancer's instincts, on the other hand, tend to be much more private and emotional, focusing on empathy, the home, and nurturing a comfortable identity. For Libra, Cancer can therefore seem vague or distracted, whereas Cancer may think Libra is preoccupied with superficial concerns that obscure more foundational elements of life. The intensity of Libra's interest in ideas and society usually produces a highly extroverted and at times harshly critical personality, while Cancer is naturally far more introverted, sensitive, and moody. These tensions can be traced in part to the respective elements. Libra's Air always emphasizes cerebral, social concerns, where Cancer's Water is essentially fluid and abstract. Further, these signs share a Cardinal modality, meaning they both express the pure energy of inception, when any project is at its most inchoate and raw. Without a counterbalancing modality, Cancer and Libra have little choice but to face head-on the differences between them.

In spite of these challenges, however, the true gift of Square energy is that it is highly conducive to growth. For one thing, the sheer power of this connection can be intoxicating or enchanting. Personal or sexual chemistry is strongly indicated. Further, the sparring between Cancer and Libra can provoke extraordinary personal development for both parties. There is a quality of having one's feet held to the fire about interactions between these signs. Few matches in the Western zodiac can so potently crystallize for Cancer and Libra exactly what they most desire in life.

Not all Square matches survive without evolving in form, and strategies for compartmentalization can be helpful in many cases. Yet ultimately this energy can be a blessing for both signs, and if it can be controlled, it may lead to a life-changing and deeply rewarding relationship.

Celebrity Cancer/Libra Pairings*

*Click on the names to see both Western and Chinese zodiac matches for that pairing.

Billy Crudup and Naomi Watts
Billy Crudup and Naomi Watts (click for attribution/s)

Billy Crudup (7/8/1968, Cancer Monkey), Naomi Watts (9/28/1968, Libra Monkey) : The actors became a couple around 2017 and appeared together on the red carpet at the SAG Awards in February 2022. Both have children from previous relationships. In an Instagram post after the Emmy awards, Watts said simply: "What a night... What a dress... What a gent... ❤️✨"

Willem Dafoe (7/22/1955, Cancer Sheep), Giada Colagrande (10/16/1975, Libra Rabbit) : The actor and film-maker have been married since 2005. "I met [Colagrande] on the street in Rome in 2004. I knew of her because I'd seen her films and we had some mutual friends. Getting married was very impulsive and romantic. We were having lunch and I said: 'Do you want to get married tomorrow?' I called up City Hall and they said: 'If you get here in the next couple of hours, you can register and then you can get married tomorrow.' So we ran down there."

Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird
Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird (click for attribution/s)

Megan Rapinoe (7/5/1985, Cancer Ox), Sue Bird (10/16/1980, Libra Monkey) : The basketball and soccer players have been a couple since 2017. Individually and together, they have been credited with "[B]oundary-obliterating levels of achievement on and off the field." Speaking about their lives together after they retire from professional sports, Rapinoe described: "I’m excited. Because there’s like [miming separate boxes with her hands] Megan, and Sue. And then there’s Megan and Sue. And I think that there’s so much to be done in all of those three buckets...I hope [our legacy is that] people see it doesn’t have to be this slog where you’re just a selfless servant. You can have fun, you can be successful. You can do it your own way."

Courtney Love (7/9/1964, Cancer Dragon), Carrie Fisher (10/21/1956, Libra Monkey) : The actor and musician/actor shared a strong friendship after they met at the Oscars ceremony in 1997. In the Foreword to Love's book, Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love, Fisher wrote: "There’s a saying: 'Some of us can’t find heaven without backing away from hell.' Well, it seems to me that that’s been part of Courtney Love’s experience—not that she’s found heaven, but I’m sure she has seen glimpses of the place. How could she not, with all her experience fighting her demons?…After all is said and done—whenever that is—she is a survivor. Unfortunately, the only thing wrong with being a survivor is you have to keep getting in trouble to show off your gift. Getting in trouble and then getting out again, bearing gifts."

Will Smith and Jaden Smith
Will Smith and Jaden Smith (click for attribution/s)

Jaden Smith (7/8/1998, Cancer Tiger), Will Smith (9/25/1968, Libra Monkey) : The father and son actors have appeared together on screen several times. Will Smith's memoir, Will, described: "After Earth was an abysmal box office and critical failure, and what was worse was that Jaden took the hit. Fans and the press were absolutely vicious; they said and printed things about Jaden that I refuse to repeat. Jaden had faithfully done everything that I'd instructed him to do, and I had coached him. We never discussed it, but I know he felt betrayed. He felt misled, and he lost his trust in my leadership. At fifteen years old, when Jaden asked about being an emancipated minor, my heart shattered. He ultimately decided against it, but it sucks to feel like you've hurt your kids."

Paul Schrader (7/22/1946, Cancer Dog), Mary Beth Hurt (9/26/1946, Libra Dog) : The director and actor have been married since 1983 and have two children together. They have rarely spoken in public about their relationship, but in 1989, Mary Beth Hurt said simply, "I have everything I want, everything I need. And more. Paul and the kids are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield
Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield (click for attribution/s)

Mike Tyson (6/30/1966, Cancer Horse), Evander Holyfield (10/19/1962, Libra Tiger) : The two former world champion boxers fought for the WBA heavyweight title in 1996, with Tyson infamously biting Holyfield's ear. Years later they reconciled, with both speaking warmly about the other. Tyson said, "We're both at a stage in our lives where we can work together and make really a good thing happen. He's a beautiful person. I've known Evander since I was 15." Holyfield commented, "He appreciates that I forgave him. He's forgiven himself. That's how you make adjustments in life."

Cheryl Cole (6/30/1983, Cancer Pig), Simon Cowell (10/7/1959, Libra Pig) : The two media personalities were both judges on The X Factor in the UK. They had a public falling out when Cole was dropped from the US version of the show after one episode, then reconciled and appeared together again in the UK edition. Often described as "frenemies", Cole described one exchange as follows: "[Cowell] said the same thing to my face about me manipulating him. I said: 'Simon, seriously – you've become so cynical that you think people manipulate you, but I'm not one of those people. Maybe what confuses you is that I don't play with you; you can't buy me.' And he said to me: 'When I say you manipulate, I mean it in the sincerest form of a compliment. Meaning: you're highly intelligent, and I don't even think you know you're doing it.'"

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Chinese Zodiac sign, the Dragon
Chinese Zodiac sign, the Monkey

Chinese Zodiac

Dragon and Monkey

Compatibility overview

A home run! This is one of the most dependable, enjoyable, and nourishing matches in the Chinese zodiac. The firsteast and secondeast are born allies, likely to feel as if they have been friends for many lifetimes, even if they have only just met.

Dragon and Monkey - Relationship Horoscope

Read more about the DRAGON and MONKEY zodiac signs...

Read more about the CANCER DRAGON and LIBRA MONKEY combined zodiac signs...

The essential concept underlying the entire Chinese zodiac is that of the four Trine Families. The Monkey and Dragon, along with their comrade-in-arms the Rat, form one of these special families, making this one of the most auspicious combinations there is.

Here the unifying energy is all about creativity, eagerness, and expressiveness. The Monkey's fabled ingenuity meets a natural kindred spirit in the glorious showmanship of the Dragon. This match is conducive to all kinds of inventiveness and performance, from the inception of brilliant ideas to dazzling actualizations. Just as important as outward achievements, though, is the calming reassurance this pairing can provide for one another. In their own ways, each of these signs is something of a high-wire act—relentlessly capable and captivating, but with potentially greater intensity than calmer or more down-to-earth temperaments are ready for. This relationship can therefore provide a haven, a liberation from the boredom, isolation, or fretfulness that may destabilize these two signs in other contexts.

For many Dragon/Monkey pairings, the only real danger is that the connection between them might feel too easy to be worthy of their prodigious talents. Hopefully the successes they share together provide sufficient reassurance that they have found a rare partnership, worthy of cherishing and protecting, offering a lifetime of delight and security.

Celebrity Dragon/Monkey Pairings*

*Click on the names to see both Western and Chinese zodiac matches for that pairing.

Lisa Niemi and Patrick Swayze
Lisa Niemi and Patrick Swayze (click for attribution/s)

Patrick Swayze (8/18/1952, Leo Dragon), Lisa Niemi (5/26/1956, Gemini Monkey) : Swayze and Niemi were childhood sweethearts who, in spite of Swayze's publicized issues with despair and alcoholism, were married from 1975 until his death in 2009. Niemi has said that, "The first time Buddy [Swayze] and I danced together was at a school exhibition...I looked in his eyes, it was like everything came alive."

Courteney Cox (6/15/1964, Gemini Dragon), Jennifer Aniston (2/11/1969, Aquarius Monkey) : The Friends co-stars developed a close real-life friendship. Aniston, who is godmother to Cox's daughter, has described: "There's absolutely no judgement in Court. You'll never feel scolded. She's extremely fair, ridiculously loyal and fiercely loving. I've slept in her guest bedroom a lot. Without giving away too much of my private stuff, all I can say is she's been there for me through thick and thin."

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (click for attribution/s)

Emma Stone (11/6/1988, Scorpio Dragon), Ryan Gosling (11/12/1980, Scorpio Monkey) : The two actors share a close friendship, which has produced memorable on-screen chemistry in the films, Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), Gangsta Squad (2013), and La La Land (2016). Stone has described: "I can't even imagine what my life would be without Ryan. He's so special. It makes me emotional. He's so talented but he's such a great person to work with because he's so collaborative and excited about the process. He's taught me a lot about being really generous." Gosling has said similarly, "It's impossible to describe. [Stone's] everything, all the time. There's nobody like her...Show me someone that wouldn't give it all up for Emma Stone, and I'll show you a liar."

Joseph Campbell (3/26/1904, Aries Dragon), George Lucas (5/14/1944, Taurus Monkey) : The Star Wars director memorably described the mythologist and author of The Hero With a Thousand Faces as "my Yoda", because of Campbell's influence on the story's characterization and structure. The two developed a strong friendship, with Lucas instrumental in developing Campbell's TV series The Power of Myth.

Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas
Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas (click for attribution/s)

Kirk Douglas (12/9/1916, Sagittarius Dragon), Michael Douglas (9/25/1944, Libra Monkey) : The two actors share one of the most famous father/son relationships in Hollywood history. They appeared together in the film, It Runs in the Family (2003). They faced challenges in their relationship, as when Michael Douglas, as producer, decided against casting his father in the lead role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). However, Michael's career was strongly influenced by his father.Kirk once said, "I kept telling [Michael] he should play a villain. So finally he did, in Wall Street, and when he did that wonderful, horrible greed speech, I just [beamed]!" When Kirk died at age 103, Michael said: "To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to. But to me and my brothers Joel and Peter he was simply Dad."

Tracy Chapman (3/30/1964, Aries Dragon), Alice Walker (2/9/1944, Aquarius Monkey) : The author and musician had a two-year affair in the 1990s. Asked why they had kept the relationship quiet, Walker said in 2006: "It was quiet to you maybe but that's because you didn't live in our area [laughing]...My life is not to be somebody else's impact - you know what I mean? And it was delicious and lovely and wonderful and I totally enjoyed it and I was completely in love with her but it was not anybody's business but ours."

Dan Aykroyd (7/1/1952, Cancer Dragon), Carrie Fisher (10/21/1956, Libra Monkey) : The two actors had a love affair and lived together in 1980. After Fisher's death in 2016, Aykroyd wrote: "I gave Carrie a sapphire ring and subsequently in the romance she gave me a Donald Roller Wilson oil painting of a monkey in a blue dress next to a tiny floating pencil, which I kept for years until it began to frighten my children...[She] would say things like:...'You have a jawline, hold your chin up otherwise you look like a tuna.' From then on I would identify myself on the phone as Tuna Neck."


Combined Relationship Horoscope

Final Words

The Square energy between firstwest and secondwest has an essentially transformative character—these two signs may sometimes feel as if they agree about nothing at all, yet their connection enables them to know their own minds and see their own paths with rare clarity. Here, the potential for personal growth can be beautifully shepherded by the Trine combination of the firsteast and the secondeast, one of the most revered Chinese zodiac matches for harmony and mutual advancement. It may not always be easy, but these two are capable of forging a life-changing connection, with a wonderfully positive impact over days, years, or decades.

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