Venus is a planet of sensitivity and affection. Its entry into the sign of Cancer marks a period of potentially greater intimacy and relationship-building for those willing to feel their deepest needs and share them with others. Venus in Cancer reminds us that love is a great nurturing force, one that binds relationships by the care that we give to one another.

We're all likely to be more aware of the level of approval and acceptance we're receiving now. This can enrich our connections with others as subtle patterns of emotional give and take become more apparent. However, it's also possible that objectivity may suffer as vulnerability and uncertainty surface.

Venus in Cancer has a purity of feeling that puts us in touch with primal needs. Patterns of early childhood may become more evident for those able to step back and see themselves clearly. Others, though, may descend into infantile habits of petulance, withdrawal and denial of self-responsibility. The trick is to reach back in time to see the stream of development that has brought you to this point in your relationships without staying in the past. Cancer, at its best, connects the past with the present.

Water signs, like Cancer, work more from instinct than intellect. Verbal communication, then, may not be sufficiently expressive to match feelings. Venus in Cancer is a time when love and relationships move far beyond words. This is a period in which subtle signals count a great deal. Be alert to what is not being said, if you want to deepen your understanding of those close to you.

Cancer can be a highly nationalistic sign, so it's no surprise that leaders like Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat, Menachem Begin and the elder George Bush were all born with Venus here.

Tipper Gore, another person in this category, reflects the protective maternal instincts of Venus in Cancer. Actors need to be able to share their feelings to effectively ply their craft. Ben Affleck, Dustin Hoffman and the incomparable Meryl Streep were all born with Venus in Cancer. Other members of this group include singers Stevie Nicks and Jerry Garcia, comic Steve Martin and Camilla Parker Bowles.