A good opening move is to seek advice about a problem. Cancer is sympathetic and helpful to strangers, and a Cancerian's advice is always to be valued.
Warning: DON'T try the old gambit of "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" Cancer has a remarkable memory and recalls every incident, places every face. This is definetly a no-no.
When you meet someone born under this sign, turn the conversation toward charities for children and child-care organizations. The Cancer female is very interested in children and has even been accused of trying to be mother to the world. If so, the Cancer male is trying to be the father.

Or try your luck at politics, particularly with the male species. If your boss in a large business enterprise is a Cancer man, a good way to get closer is to bring him some personal problem. He has a paternal view of all his employees-and whether you can change paternal into something more interesting is strictly up to you.

On a date, try theater, art, cultural pursuits. Cancer responds to strongly melodic, romantic music. Try a concert featuring Tschaikovsky or Rachmanioff, and Cancer will be silently in tune with celestial harmonies. Or when you go out to dinner, arrange for soft music in the background. Or a restaurant with a gypsy violinist. Music is the food of love, as the bard says.

They are attracted to water sports, so invite them for a day at the beach or to an aquacade. If you pick a private enough beach or one where there are no laws against it, your Cancer companion will gladly join you in skinny dipping. This gives them the satisfaction of letting you-and anyone else in sight-admire their bodies.

Like to give her a gift? Try something that enhances the home: a picture or tapestries for the walls, leather-bound books, even fancy cooking utensils. For him: boxed gifts of cheeses or exotic packaged foods. Or an elegant sterling silver frame engraved with his initials. Cancerians are usually collectors and will prize anything you add to their collection. Small silver objects delight them.

Cultivate a Cancerian's family, especially the mother. Most people born under this sign are sentimental about M-O-T-H-E-R.

Never, never refer to other love affairs. Cancer people are not interested in those who were important in your life before they came on the scene.

General dating advice: Those born under this sign never like to be taken for granted. If he shows up in a new suit, notice it; if she's wearing new earrings, remark on them. And try to be especially careful about their well-known hypersensitivity. You can tell her the earrings look lovely, and she may decide that means you didn't like the earrings she wore last time. You may tell him his suit makes him look much more athletic, and he'll think you're saying he's pretty scrawny. If this sort of thing crops up, try to mend matters before the injury burrows too deep.

If you want to cancel a date because you're not feeling well, don't do it. You'd be a fool not to let Cancer show their strong protective side. They are the towers of strength, the lighthouses in a fog that everyone needs when under the weather. Let him come over with fruit and flowers, with a new book to read to you, with a new record to play, or just to sit by you and hold your hand. Let her give you your medicines, take your temperature (orally), and feed you hot soup. Anyone who hasn't experienced the solicitous affection of the Cancerian for someone he or she cares about doesn't know the chief delight of becoming seriously involved with them. It's just another way of showing possessiveness, but take advantage of it without inquiring too deeply into the reasons.
Call it Moon magic.