Cancer vs. Pisces: What's the difference?
It is almost always harder to articulate what a sign ISN'T, rather than saying how it is.
For example, it is easy to say both Cancer and Pisces are sensitive. But how would you contrast the two? It's a bit tougher than simply saying they're both romantics...
I was particularly struck by this post from an astrologer a few years ago, and thought I would share his words responding to the question:
In what ways are a Pisces and Cancer different?
"...controlling for all other astrological factors, some ways Pisces differ from Cancer is analogous to how the oceans differ from all of the Earth’s water [including the oceans]. The mutability of mutable water Pisces shows characteristically a tendency to quietly blend in whereas the cardinality of Cancer denotes the power of water as the proverbial universal solvent. So, what’s the difference? Mutable water is comfortable just resting in the oceans BUT cardinal water has an attitude; it traverses the complete cycle from liquid to gas to liquid to solid endlessly."
- Charles H. Settles
Mind blown! I love this explanation -- not only because it is enlightening, but it explains differences in terms of physical characteristics. That's why I really wanted my course to go over the elements their literal forms. If we can learn how substances operate, we will have such a richer and more profound understanding than memorizing abstract concepts (well, unless perhaps you are an air sign -- perhaps you prefer to operate in the philosophical...)