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Compatibility
Cancer Horse and Aquarius Ox

The peculiarly appealing energy between firstwest and secondwest has plenty of potential to foster a creative and nourishing connection, which may counterbalance the more unsettling influence of the firsteast and secondeast.

Western Zodiac sign, Cancer
Western Zodiac sign, Aquarius

Western Zodiac

Cancer and Aquarius

Compatibility overview

Aquarius and Cancer are five signs apart, making this match a a Quincunx (or inconjunct) aspect. Astrologers often say that two such signs have little, if anything, in common. On the face of it, that appears to be the case here. But appearances can be deceptive...

Cancer and Aquarius - Relationship Horoscope

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

Read more about the CANCER HORSE and AQUARIUS OX combined zodiac signs...

Never judge a book by its cover! In spite of the Quincunx's reputation for lack of commonality, this match can actually have real potential.

It is true that the element of Aquarius, Air, is potentially troublesome when matched with Cancer's Water. It may be challenging for these two to form a lasting bond or avoid miscommunication. But the initiating, Cardinal modality of Cancer matches superbly with the achievement-oriented Fixed modality of Aquarius. This can manifest in various forms, such as strong sexual attraction or professional admiration. Indeed, the very lack of shared energy between these signs can lead to stunningly effective teamwork. Breathtaking creative and professional results are possible, as each party contributes qualities that their partner lacks. Something to watch for is that the difficulties of this Quincunx can take some time to surface. Aquarius/Cancer pairings are well-advised to watch out for potential problems in advance. Even seemingly superficial tensions should be dealt with as they arise and not allowed to fester. If issues between this pair can confronted and resolved promptly, this energy match offers significant potential for a rewarding bond in any context.

Celebrity Cancer/Aquarius Pairings*

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

Nancy Reagan and Ronald Reagan
Nancy Reagan and Ronald Reagan (click for attribution/s)

Nancy Reagan (7/6/1921, Cancer Rooster), Ronald Reagan (2/6/1911, Aquarius Pig) : The 40th U.S. President and First Lady were married from 1952 until his death in 2004. They had two children, and Nancy Reagan was stepmother to Ronald's two children from a previous marriage. President Reagan's chief political strategist once described: "[They were an] inseparable team politically and personally. He would never have been governor without her. He would never have been president without her."

Elizabeth Warren (6/22/1949, Cancer Ox), Ayanna Pressley (2/3/1974, Aquarius Tiger) : Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Warren are longtime Democratic political allies in the US—Pressley was the sole member of the so-called progressive liberal "squad" to endorse Warren for President ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

Mimi Rogers and Tom Cruise
Mimi Rogers and Tom Cruise (click for attribution/s)

Tom Cruise (7/3/1962, Cancer Tiger), Mimi Rogers (1/27/1956, Aquarius Sheep) : The two actors were married between 1987 and 1990. Cruise told Rolling Stone shortly before their break-up: "Since I’ve been with [Rogers], it’s opened me up a lot. I think it’s helped me be a better actor. We live a lot of life together. We share everything. That’s the best thing about life. Otherwise you go through it pretty sad and lonely and angry."

Billy Wilder (6/22/1906, Cancer Horse), Jack Lemmon (2/8/1925, Aquarius Ox) : The actor and director shared a legendary collaboration that resulted in seven films, including Some Like it Hot and The Apartment. Lemmon described: "Another thing I loved about The Apartment...was the fact that there were so many faults with the characters. Billy was never afraid. As a matter of fact, he would seemingly go out of his way to manifest the faults within characters because we all are faulted."

Selena Gomez and The Weeknd
Selena Gomez and The Weeknd (click for attribution/s)

Selena Gomez (7/22/1992, Cancer Monkey), The Weeknd (2/16/1990, Aquarius Horse) : These two successful singer/songwriter/producers shared a high-profile relationship in 2017. Asked about The Weeknd influencing her music during their relationship, Gomez described: "No, I think for me I like to keep that really separate...I think it's so important and I spent so much time making sure that everything that I do, I do for myself. So as much as that has been inspiring because I love to be inspired by people that I do love and care about, but I'm a big advocate on making sure that I'm doing it for me. Because the moment I start doing something because I'm influenced by someone else, whoever it may be, it just doesn't work out so believe it or not, I keep that very, very separate, which is good."

Royce da 5'9 (7/8/1977, Cancer Snake), Dr. Dre (2/18/1965, Aquarius Snake) : The two rappers have shared a mentoring friendship. In 1999, then newcomer Royce da 5'9 contributed to Dr. Dre's classic album, 2001, writing lyrics for the future classic closing track, "The Message". Royce said later, "Dre was open to trying anything to see how it works...He never said nothing that f'ed with my confidence. I remember being out there for a couple days, by the time it was day two, I wasn’t even nervous about writing no more."

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Chinese Zodiac sign, the Horse
Chinese Zodiac sign, the Ox

Chinese Zodiac

Horse and Ox

Compatibility overview

The Eastern zodiac has a reputation for not mincing words when it comes to combinations seen as unlucky. Unfortunately for the firsteast and secondeast, their shared energy has a troubling reputation for tension, conflict, and unhappiness.

Horse and Ox - Relationship Horoscope

Read more about the HORSE and OX zodiac signs...

Read more about the CANCER HORSE and AQUARIUS OX combined zodiac signs...

Across the whole Eastern zodiac, the most difficult combinations are said to be the six Adversary matches along the fourth degree axis, which include the Horse and Ox. The strain between these two can sometimes surprise others, because superficially they seem to have lots in common. Both the Horse and Ox tend to have a larger-than-life presence and are comfortable being the center of attention. And both can be relied on to get the job done, when tasked with physically or intellectually demanding projects.

However, these two signs have completely different instincts about control. The Horse is not a loner as such—in fact they can be one of the most devoted signs there is—but they are fiercely independent. They are at their happiest performing, competing, and loving, with as few outside limitations as possible. The Ox, by contrast, is a master of constraint. They have a paramount belief in structure and chains of command, and tend to inevitably rise up through the ranks to leadership. A pairing of the Horse and Ox is thus apt to stir destructive forces. The Ox will be forever trying to rein in the Horse. The Horse will be constantly trying to outrun the Ox. As the Ox is overtaken by stubborn bitterness, the Horse tends to poke fun and laugh at them. As the Horse escapes into skittish extravagance and selfishness, the Ox expresses ever more intense disappointment and criticism.

Unfortunately, conflicts here are more indirect than direct. Rather than a blaze of fury, mutual antagonism is likely to cause brooding discontent and unpleasantness. Problems may take forever to resolve, assuming they ever resolve at all.

Problematic energy like this need not be insurmountable, of course, and lots of relationships achieve success and understanding in spite of this potentially challenging connection. Strongly positive influences on the Western side, or clear strategies to facilitate mutual understanding, may be invaluable in achieving positive results.

Celebrity Horse/Ox Pairings*

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

Barack Obama and Joe Biden
Barack Obama and Joe Biden (click for attribution/s)

Barack Obama (8/4/1961, Leo Ox), Joe Biden (11/20/1942, Scorpio Horse) : Despite the much-publicised "bromance" between the 44th and 46th US Presidents, reports of rivalry and tension between Obama and Biden have also surfaced during their respective administrations. New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin described in 2022: "[F]or all the talk Biden and Obama do about being brothers and good friends, they’re actually not that close. They don’t talk super often today. There’s a rivalry there...Biden’s a prideful guy. And he knew he was looked down on in the White House when he was [Obama's] VP, and he loved the idea of being a bigger historic figure than Obama."

Dwight Howard (12/8/1985, Sagittarius Ox), Kobe Bryant (8/23/1978, Virgo Horse) : After the late basketball champion Bryant died tragically in 2020, his one-time Lakers teammate Howard told movingly, "A lot of people thought me and Kobe hated each other and stuff like that...There were times where we just didn’t understand each other and I didn’t get a chance to tell him how appreciative I was for our time together."

Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan
Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan (click for attribution/s)

Meg Ryan (11/19/1961, Scorpio Ox), Dennis Quaid (4/9/1954, Aries Horse) : Once one of the world's most famous celebrity couples, Ryan and Quaid divorced in 2001. In 2008, Ryan accused Quaid of serial infidelity during their marriage, to which he responded, "I find it unbelievable that Meg continues publicly to rehash and rewrite the story of our relationship."

Richard Gere (8/31/1949, Virgo Ox), Cindy Crawford (2/20/1966, Pisces Horse) : The actor and supermodel were married for four years in the early 1990s. Crawford said in 2016, "I don’t know if we were ever friends – like peers, because I was young, and he was Richard Gere. And then, as I started kind of growing up and growing into myself – it’s hard to change the nature of a relationship once you’re already in it."

Photo of Helmut Kohl and Margaret Thatcher
Photo of Helmut Kohl and Margaret Thatcher (click for attribution/s)

Margaret Thatcher (10/13/1925, Libra Ox), Helmut Kohl (4/3/1930, Aries Horse) : The former German Chancellor and British Prime Minister shared a famously hostile relationship. To quote the head of the UK National Archives in 2019, "They didn't get on at all."

Neil Patrick Harris (6/15/1973, Gemini Ox), Perez Hilton (3/23/1978, Aries Horse) : The actor, singer and writer Harris has suggested that celebrity blogger Hilton conducted a sustained campaign to out him as gay: "There was an interview [in 2006] that claimed that I was asked if I was gay and that my publicist had said that I was 'not of that persuasion.' That was the weird catalyst tipping point because that expression set Perez Hilton off. He was offended by that and then started posting about me and asking people to come forward with truths or stories. Then it became apparent that I needed to make some sort of decisive respectable move."

Paul Newman (1/26/1925, Aquarius Ox), Steve McQueen (3/24/1930, Aries Horse) : These two acting legends starred together in The Towering Inferno, and shared an equally famous love of motor racing, but seem to have brought the worst out in one another off-screen. It has been reported that Newman called McQueen "chicken s—" for counting the number of lines they both had in Inferno, and that the two competed over who was given top billing.


Combined Relationship Horoscope

Final Words

The Quincunx connection between firstwest and secondwest means their seemingly dramatic differences hide the potential for great pleasure, excitement, and creative collaboration. The positive aspects of this influence will often be essential if this relationship is to flourish, as the disturbing energy between the firsteast and secondeast may need to be handled with care.

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