(Image: U.S. Air Force Pararescue, found via YouTube)

Like their animal symbol the crab, Cancer Suns often identify with the creatures of the seashore. Like their animal symbol the horse, Sagittarius Moons must roam free in the great outdoors if they are to feel themselves. Combine a security seeking Cancer Sun’s love of the seashore with a Sagittarius Moon’s need for adventure and the result is a Sun/Moon pairing that makes for a fabulous lifeguard. Expansive, explorative, and extremely concerned about the welfare of others, this pairing is one part Den Mother (Cancer), one part Super Crusader (Sagittarius). To illustrate: using the day of its activation as its date of birth, the U.S. Air Force’s Para-Rescue squad is a Cancer Sun, Sagittarius Moon. (Chart) Originally established shortly after World War II to rescue downed U.S. airmen, they’re also the folks you see retrieving astronauts when they splashdown in the ocean after coming back from space:

Cancers are notoriously home-bound but that’s not the case with this one. Of the 144 Sun/Moon pairings this is the one most likely to make its home (Cancer) on the high seas or in far off frontiers (Sagittarius). Most Cancers stay close to home, this one prefers to make its home on the range. To illustrate: Sir Walter Raleigh is a Cancer/Sagittarius who established the first English colony in the New World. (Chart) Of course he also was responsible for the “Lost Colony” on Roanoke Island, an endeavor that definitely could have used the services of a para-rescue squad.

Where-ever they decide to call home, Cancer/Sagittarians will often be found rendering assistance to those in need. Astrologer Bill Tierney says both signs “share a common desire to help the helpless” with Cancer willing to share its food and Sagittarius willing to share its camping gear. (Source) The pairing thus also makes for a great park ranger, outdoor adventure guide, or wilderness paramedic — a point which this promotional poster from an Air Force Para-Rescue unit’s public relations office makes quite clear:

Linda Goodman says the Cancer/Sagittarius pairing is often found having a “jolly good time” while Suzi and Charles Harvey cite its “wry sense of humor” as one of its strengths. (Source) Curiously enough the unofficial morale patch for Para-Rescue jumpers features a Jolly Green Giant who goes by the wry motto “You fuck up, we pick up”:

In addition to its sense of humor, this pairing is often profoundly sensitive (Cancer) to issues of right and wrong (Sagittarius). Many Cancer/Sagittarians will, at some point in their life, come face to face with gross injustices which his or her culture of origin (Cancer) judges to be perfectly moral (Sagittarius). To illustrate: using its premier date as its date of birth the 1992 film Universal Soldier is a Cancer Sun, Sagittarius Moon. (Chart) The film stars Jean Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as soldiers who killed each other in Vietnam only to be reanimated in the 1990s as part of a Pentagon program to develop zombie like super soldiers. Their programming is designed to wipe their memories clear but like all Cancers, this one never forgets. Upon completing his first mission as a reanimated “UniSol”, Van Damme’s character experiences a flashback in which he remembers attempting to stop Lundgren’s character from committing Nazi-like war crimes:

Universal Soldier is a fictional film but there are more than a few Cancer/Sagittarians who can relate to the emotional (Cancer) journey (Sagittarius) of Mr. Van Damme’s character. To illustrate: Jesse Ventura is a Cancer Sun, Sagittarius Moon. (Chart) A Navy Seal during the Vietnam War, Ventura famously went on to become a professional wrestler, movie star, and politician. These days he’s best known for his outspoken views on corporate criminality and government corruption. For instance, in this 2009 interview with Larry King he explains that #1) in his opinion Guantanamo Bay is the U.S. version of the Hanoi Hilton, the infamous Vietnam era prison and #2) if he was president he would prosecute George Bush and Dick Cheney as war-criminals for their roles in making torture a sanctioned component of U.S. foreign policy. The Harveys say this pairing will live its life with “moral integrity” and won’t back down from speaking its mind. You’ll be hard pressed to find better examples of either trait than this interview with Mr. Ventura starting at 1:18:

Cancer is considered the comedian of the zodiac while Sagittarius is known for its outrageous proclamations. The Cancer/Sagittarius pairing thus has a knack for making folks laugh even when speaking defiantly and candidly about important moral issues. When Ventura proclaims to Larry King in the above interview, “Give me Dick Cheney, a water board, and one hour and I’ll have him confessing to the Sharon Tate murders” it’s impossible not to let out a righteous chuckle even though what he’s discussing is anything but a laughing matter. More recently, he appeared on the Alex Jones show to discuss the presidency of Donald Trump. According to Ventura, “If Trump builds that wall of his I’m going over the top and staying in Mexico”. Some of Ventura’s other media appearances have been so pregnant (Cancer) with flaming arrows of truth and forthrightness (Sagittarius Moon) that it’s amazing he’s ever allowed on mainstream television.

Aries is thought to be the warrior of the zodiac but Cancer’s association with the “Great Mother” makes this sign absolutely ferocious when it comes to defense of home, family, clan, and country. Paired with the crusading spirit of a Sagittarius Moon and you get a Sun/Moon pairing that can be a true “universal solider” — one who fiercely defends (Cancer) universal principals of human rights (Sagittarius Moon), something that’s needed now more than ever before.

About the Author: Matthew David Savinar is a California licensed attorney (State Bar #228957), voluntarily inactive as of June 2013. He can be reached for questions, comments, or astrological consults at his contact page.

The premier issue of Hexagon, now shipping: