I still experience astrology anxiety whenever a major transit occurs, especially involving the so-called malefic planets Mars and Saturn. As soon as Mars entered Cancer on September 4th 2024, I knew it would be a bumpy road ahead. As Mars is still retrograde in Cancer, and it won’t leave the sign of the crab until the 18th of April 2025, it prompted me to notice the struggles and tune in to the archetype of Mars, especially as it finds itself in its fallen sign, Cancer.
Full disclosure before we delve deeper: I was born with Mars in Cancer close to my ascendant, and if you were born between September 1992 and April 1993, chances are that this is a significant time of reflection for you as well. As it transits through your Cancer house, you may feel the urge to make adjustments or change something, to ponder whether you’re progressing or merely stalling for the sake of comfort. Only to realise that fear, inadequacy, or a tendency towards people-pleasing lurks behind the comfort zone. If you also have Mars in Cancer natally, these are not new emotions but longstanding patterns.
Natal Mars in Cancer and the archetype of the warrior
Mars in Cancer lacks consistency; it doesn’t move from A to B in a straight line; when it passionately desires something, it does so in a zig-zag manner that either frustrates or exhausts you. It feels, then acts. It bottles up emotions, followed by an explosion of rage. It can be profoundly devoted to the point of self-sacrifice. It defends the weak and the underdog, or it may maliciously plot against others precisely due to feeling weak. It protects its loved ones and yearns for absolute safety around its nest. It fights for justice or falls victim to corruption, as it can be easily manipulated or may manipulate others.
Mars is linked to the warrior archetype, and as it moves through Cancer until April, you may find yourself particularly motivated to fight for something you have long desired. It could involve applying for that new job you have been postponing, taking a closer look at your finances or your health; whatever Mars in Cancer triggers in your chart, it is loud and demands your attention. That specific area of your life may feel more stressful, draining or uncertain.
For people with natal Mars in Cancer, this is the perfect opportunity to understand how you take action in your life, how you manage anger, and what truly motivates you to initiate the changes you need. Over the past few months, I have noticed that, more than anything, it is emotional discomfort that ignites that little flame of, ‘Oh, this isn’t working for me anymore; I must do something about it,’ or, ‘This can’t wait any longer; I need to take action now.’ How you find solutions may feel tangled, overcomplicated, or burdensome as you wish to do everything here and now. This is often how Mars in Cancer manifests. However, you can transform a flaw into an advantage by seeking creative ways to reach your goals.
What if I fall and I embarrass myself?
There are too many personal revelations about Mars in Cancer during this retrograde, but one of them stuck with me. After David Lynch’s death (who ironically had natal Mars in Cancer), I came across a video where he was talking about the beauty of cuts and bruises. He called them little flowers. This idea struck me as Mars rules scars, cuts and accidents. It reminded me not of the scar on my eyebrow I got when I was barely 8 years old but of the little me scared to play on the ice in front of other kids. What if I fall and I embarrass myself?
Early in the morning, as I was going to school, I planned to go on the ice when no one was watching. The scar I got then speaks of unexpressed curiosities because of shame and wrong-timed silly bravery. This is Mars in Cancer. You’ll get there, but God knows how many times you’ll go back and forth, bump your head or scar yourself. There is an emotional tenderness to Mars in Cancer, which rather than being dismissed or villainized, should be explored and embraced.
If you are eager to discover what Mars in Cancer is up to in your birth chart, you can book a consultation here.
Pictures from the Mars installation in the Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Intentionally decided to witness the Martian energy right on the day of the retrograde, the 6th of January.
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