Zodiac Sign

Cancer

June 22 – July 22 · Water · Moon

Traditional BirthstoneEmerald (in ancient traditions), Ruby

Modern BirthstoneRuby

ElementWater

Ruling PlanetMoon

Associated crystals

MoonstoneOpen in the Dictionary Rose QuartzOpen in the Dictionary CarnelianOpen in the Dictionary PearlOpen in the Dictionary EmeraldOpen in the Dictionary

Associated herbs

ChamomileOpen in the Dictionary Lemon BalmOpen in the Dictionary JasmineOpen in the Dictionary Evening PrimroseOpen in the Dictionary PlantainOpen in the Dictionary

Source Tradition

In Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, Cancer is the house of the Moon and the first sign of the summer solstice, part of the Water-triplicity (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). The ruby connection arises from July's birthstone assignment; in the Hindu Navaratna system, ruby (manikya) is the gem of the Sun, but Cancer's lunar nature draws moonstone and pearl as traditional stones. The 1912 Jewelers of America list assigned ruby to July, which falls predominantly under Cancer.

Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, Book I; Hindu Navaratna tradition; Jewelers of America, 1912Explore sourcing notes in the Appendix