Mars, the planet of war and fire, entered the emotional sign of Cancer September 5, 2024. During its journey through Cancer it will travel briefly into Leo and retrograde back into Cancer, so it won’t leave Cancer until next April.
The planet Mars often gets a bad rap. It is associated with reckless action, aggression and warfare, but also courage and bravery in facing adversity. It provides the motivation to achieve our desires, and to assert our will when necessary. It offers the ability to protect ourselves and to set personal boundaries as well as to courageously face difficult challenges.
Because Mars is the planet of aggression and drive it is not very comfortable in the emotional sign of Cancer. When anger and emotional sensitivity combine there can be one of two results: at its best, we are more sensitive and nurturing of others (Cancer) in taking our own needs into consideration (Mars). But Mars is by its very nature a self-centered planet and this rarely occurs, so more often we become angry (Mars) at the need to watch out for the feelings of others (Cancer). While Mars is in Cancer, emotions are heightened and there is much more sensitivity evident in the world around us. Mars is said to be in its fall in Cancer and has difficulty expressing its warlike nature directly. Often anger and irritations tend to be suppressed and burst out inappropriately or with frustration.
Sometimes our own frustration can masquerade as our frustration with the fates of others around us, and as with all water signs it can be somewhat difficult to know whose emotions are whose under this influence. Cancer’s main concern is with emotional security, and Mars in Cancer wants to erect solid boundaries with which to secure the heart. Astrologer Rob Hand says that when Mars is in Cancer “emotions become the battleground.”
Mars in Cancer teaches that underneath rage we will often find grief. Even the most introspective of us are not always aware of what we feel, and Mars in Cancer can sometimes brings sudden and unexpected bursts of emotions which are uncomfortable but also revelatory. The problem over the next few months is that everyone will be affected by this dynamic to one extent or another, and emotions will be close to the surface and easily triggered. This will be especially true during dates of particular tension (see below).
Mars in Cancer also increases our drive to nurture, often through food, and to protect those less fortunate than ourselves, so we are likely to see a big push toward philanthropy over the next few months and perhaps an increased desire to feed the hungry. It’s a good time to get out the cookbooks and plan a dinner party!
Because Mars will be turning retrograde during its trip through Cancer this time it will remain in Cancer longer than is typical. Here are some important dates to keep in mind:
September 5: Mars enters Cancer
October 13: Mars squares Chiron (emotional sensitivity)
October 14: Mars squares Sun
– this whole week is likely to be pretty tense, follow my weekly forecasts for the details
November 2: Mars at 29º Cancer opposite Pluto at 29º Capricorn (more tension and potential for power conflicts – not so great just before the election!)
November 3: Mars enters Leo (whew! – Mars is happier in fiery Leo)
but wait…
December 6: Mars turns retrograde
January 3: Mars in Leo opposes Pluto now in Aquarius (volatility and power issues)
January 6: Mars retrogrades back into Cancer
February 3: Mars squares Chiron again (emotional reactivity)
February 23: Mars turns direct
March 26: Final square of Mars to Chiron
April 18: Mars leaves Cancer for Leo
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