History of the star: Cancer itself, is not a brilliant constellation, however, at its heart is a lovely star cluster, a mysterious glow M44 (NGC 2632), a cluster of stars better known by the name the "Beehive Cluster", or the Latin equivalent, Praesepe, which not only means a "hive" but also a "Manger", or "Crib". The name Beehive derives from the appearance of a swarm of stars in a dance of activity. There are at least 40 stars in the cluster that are visible to the naked eye as a cloudy patch, its 1.5 degree size is equivalent to three full moons end-to-end. In ancient times this cluster often served to predict the weather; if not crystal clear inclement weather might be on the way. Pliny said, "If Praesaepe is not visible in a clear sky it is a presage of a violent storm".

Other names cited for it Mallephon, Melleff, Mellef, Meeleph; from the Arabians' Al Ma'laf, "the Stall"; and this, in turn, derived from the Greek astronomy. Praeseppe marked the 6th Arabic manzil.
Epsilon or M44, with gamma (Asellus Borealis), delta (Asellus Australis), eta, and theta in the Persian lunar station Avra-k, "the Cloud, and the Egyptian Coptic Ermelia, "Nurturing".

In China Praesepe was known by the unsavory title Tseih She Ke; "Exhalation of Piled-up Corpses" [drone, a male honeybee, is related to the word "threnody" = A poem or song of mourning or lamentation, a dirge].

The unnamed stars; eta, and theta along with Praesaepe was located in the Hindu 6th nakshatra Pushra "Flower", or Tishiya "Auspicious", with Brihaspati, the priest and teacher of the gods as presiding divinity. It was sometimes figured as a Crescent, the head of an Arrow and also called Sidhaya "Prosperous".

[Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889].

The Aselli, Latin for donkeys (Asellus Borealis), (Asellus Australis) along with Praesaepe form a mini constellation in their own right, which appears on the back of the Crab's shell Cancer.

Astrologically, according to Robson (Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology) Praesaepe, the "Beehive Cluster", makes "founders of large businesses" (the buzzing, 'busy' bee going about its business).

The astrological influences of the constellation: The Crab is associated with the Hebrew letter Tzaddi and the 18th Tarot Trump "The Moon". (Robson*). 

The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:

Shining at the hinge of the year by the blazing turning-point which when recalled the Sun rounds in his course on high, the Crab occupies a joint of heaven and bends back the length of day. Of a grasping spirit and unwilling to give itself in service the Crab distributes many kinds of gain, and skill in making profits; he enables a man to carry his investment of foreign merchandise from city to city and, with an eye on steep rises in the price of corn, to risk his money upon sea-winds; to sell the world's produce to the world, to establish commercial ties between so many unknown lands, to search out under foreign skies fresh sources of gain, and from the high price of his goods to amass sudden wealth. With heaven's favour he also sells seasons of idleness at rates of interest to his liking, wishing the swift passage of time to add to the principal. His is a shrewd nature, and he is ready to fight for his profits. [Astronomica, Manilius, 1st century AD, book 4, p.235.]

One can observe a craving for and abuse of stimulants, luxury foodstuffs, narcotic, drugs and heavy smoking. Susceptibility to infectious diseases. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

If rising: Blindness especially of the left eye, ophthalmia, injuries to the face, sickness, violent fevers, wounds in face and arms, stabs (operations nowadays), violent lust, imprisonment, exile. If at the same time the Sun opposes Mars or the Ascendant, violent death. (Robson*).

If culminating: Disgrace ruin and violent death. (Robson*).

With Sun: Evil disposition, murderer or murdered, blows, stabs, serious accidents, shooting, shipwreck, execution, banishment, imprisonment, sharp diseases, fevers, hemorrhage, lawsuits, danger of death from fire, iron or stones, injuries to the face, wounds, bad eyes, and if in an angle blindness. (Robson*).

With Moon: Wounds, stabs (operations), imprisonment, injuries to the face, sickness, blindness or eye injuries especially if Saturn or Mars be with Regulus. (Robson*).

According to Vehlow, the Chinese gave this group of stars (the manger, Praesaepe along with North and South Asellus) the name "the spirit of the ancestors" and were of the opinion that if conjunct the Moon they would have peculiar experiences with the realms of the dead. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

References

*(Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology , Vivian E. Robson, 1923)