Mars represents our courage and strength; our ability to destroy the things that make us feel weak. This can be anything from a substance to a person or situation. When it is strong, it makes it easier to remove these things. When it is weak, the need for strength is greater, but challenged, as we deal with a lack of motivation to just do it.
When Mars is weak by transit, as it is in the sign Cancer, the wind can be taken out of our sails, but we could just as easily overcompensate by paddling harder. We feel less sure of ourselves and our direction, so taking down the sails and taking it easy may not be such a bad idea! However, we need to be mindful of any frustration building up from the lack of direction and motivation and engage with the Mars impulse more consciously to avoid getting frustrated. The more we engage with it consciously, the more we can work with our deeper, instinctual motivations; why we feel the way we do in the first place. The less we engage with it consciously, the less control we have over our angry reactions or repressed emotions which can lead to accidents.
Oftentimes, when Mars is weak, we may overcompensate. Competition is one way this is expressed, or any kind of achievement, as we push even harder to overcompensate for a sense of lack. Let's face it, if we need to show everyone how powerful we are, are we really that powerful? Real power comes silently, without any bluster or bravado. When Mars is debilitated, its weakness may be mitigated due to other indications, but there is also its weakness, which can sometimes express itself as if the planet were particularly strong. When weak, we may feel the need to dig even deeper.
When Mars is weak by transit, as it is in the sign Cancer, the wind can be taken out of our sails, but we could just as easily overcompensate by paddling harder. We feel less sure of ourselves and our direction, so taking down the sails and taking it easy may not be such a bad idea! However, we need to be mindful of any frustration building up from the lack of direction and motivation and engage with the Mars impulse more consciously to avoid getting frustrated. The more we engage with it consciously, the more we can work with our deeper, instinctual motivations; why we feel the way we do in the first place. The less we engage with it consciously, the less control we have over our angry reactions or repressed emotions which can lead to accidents.
Oftentimes, when Mars is weak, we may overcompensate. Competition is one way this is expressed, or any kind of achievement, as we push even harder to overcompensate for a sense of lack. Let's face it, if we need to show everyone how powerful we are, are we really that powerful? Real power comes silently, without any bluster or bravado. When Mars is debilitated, its weakness may be mitigated due to other indications, but there is also its weakness, which can sometimes express itself as if the planet were particularly strong. When weak, we may feel the need to dig even deeper.
Anger, Rage & Cancer
Most people are uncomfortable with their anger, but more so when it comes to other people's. When Mars is in Cancer, we can get very uncomfortable indeed. Those with Cancer prominent are especially sensitive to this yet must deal with it while Mars visits their sign.
The Moon and Mars have an interesting relationship. On the one hand, they remedy each other. The Moon calms the impulsiveness of Mars, while Mars stirs the meandering Moon into action. On the other, the Moon's sign debilitates Mars, as we feel less decisive and action-orientated, while Mars' sign (Scorpio) debilitates the Moon, making us feel vulnerable when subjecting the mind to worst-case scenarios. Although a tactic to gain emotional strength, worst-case scenarios subject the mind to a bleak forecast all the same.
The complexity between the Moon and Mars is expressed more obviously when someone with Cancer prominent meets someone with Scorpio prominent. This can be seen in the Moon-type impulse to comfort, calm and soothe the Mars-type drive. This drive is mostly based on fears for Scorpio, and a necessary course of action, which can be interrupted by the Cancer impulse to wander, just like a stream of water, here and there.
Mars types wish to make it from A to B as quickly as possible, making them feel selfish and yet unmotivated and unfocused around Cancerians. A Cancerian can feel unsafe around Scorpio, and unable to express their feelings due to the Moon's debilitation in Scorpio.
When Mars is in Cancer, feelings can override actions, leaving us feeling frustrated at the lack of motivation. You might say to yourself, ''I know I must do this thing, but I just don't feel like it''.
While Mars' transit is something a Cancerian can certainty make use of, as Mars rules two very important areas of their life (creativity and work), and they may become more productive as a result, Aries and Scorpio individuals may find this very frustrating, and, well, debilitating.
Aries are less impressed with the lack of direction and motivation as Mars transits their 4th house. This may feel like your two-year old self stuck at home with Mom when you want to be out. Scorpios feel the debilitation in Cancer, but this is also a 9th house placement which they may benefit from in a more expansive way. The issue here would be not to overdo it, especially while travelling, or dealing with Dad!
We can just about deal with our own anger, oftentimes burying it deep, but when someone else expresses theirs, we feel it inappropriate, removing them from society if it is expressed in the most extreme ways, i.e., in acts of violence. Rage and physical violence are at the extreme end of the spectrum of what Mars is capable of expressing. And just because Mars is weaker in Cancer, that does not mean it cannot express rage. Actually, it is more likely the case at some point. You can only hold it back for so long. If you have felt repressed your whole life, there will come a time when it explodes.
Tennis player Serena Williams chucking her racket in anger at a judge’s decision is a Mars in Cancer-type of expression, a more immature expression of Mars, you might say, and she was born when Mars was transiting the sign (Sidereal). Oftentimes, having Mars in Cancer means working harder at proving ourselves. It’s as if we were born with a weak limb and we work harder on it, to the point that it appears stronger than our other limbs. This may appear to be the case from the exterior, as Mars likes to externalize things, but this strength is coming from a sense of weakness.
Anger is obviously a necessary step in keeping ourselves safe. However, if anger is not dealt with initially (and it rarely is) the energy builds into a hot mess. Anger is a messy emotion which is why successful boxers are in control of theirs, and also why Mars is exalted in disciplined Capricorn.
If someone pushed you around and you did not say anything, you may be able to shake off if it happens once. But what if they do it over and over, and you do nothing about it?
Mars reflects our ego's needs. If you feel others are not paying attention to yours, worst still, they seem to be deliberately obstructing you, you may get irritable and angry with them.
At the first stage, the impulse of Mars is to simply state your case: ''I need to have this, and I need it now''. However, because we are taught from a very early age to suppress what we want all the time, most of us have an innate problem with getting what we want - all the time.
A mother says to a child, ''Yes, you can have that, but not that'' or ''You can have that, if you do this''. The natural time cycle of Mars according to Vedic astrology is between the ages of 1 and 3 (the 'terrible twos'), when we are figuring out who we are separate to our care givers (Moon) and seeing how far we can push them to get what we want. This is why Mars and the Moon have such a complicated relationship. We need a caregiver to put healthy boundaries in place, but we also need our freedom to do what we want, when we want to.
Most people are uncomfortable with their anger, but more so when it comes to other people's. When Mars is in Cancer, we can get very uncomfortable indeed. Those with Cancer prominent are especially sensitive to this yet must deal with it while Mars visits their sign.
The Moon and Mars have an interesting relationship. On the one hand, they remedy each other. The Moon calms the impulsiveness of Mars, while Mars stirs the meandering Moon into action. On the other, the Moon's sign debilitates Mars, as we feel less decisive and action-orientated, while Mars' sign (Scorpio) debilitates the Moon, making us feel vulnerable when subjecting the mind to worst-case scenarios. Although a tactic to gain emotional strength, worst-case scenarios subject the mind to a bleak forecast all the same.
The complexity between the Moon and Mars is expressed more obviously when someone with Cancer prominent meets someone with Scorpio prominent. This can be seen in the Moon-type impulse to comfort, calm and soothe the Mars-type drive. This drive is mostly based on fears for Scorpio, and a necessary course of action, which can be interrupted by the Cancer impulse to wander, just like a stream of water, here and there.
Mars types wish to make it from A to B as quickly as possible, making them feel selfish and yet unmotivated and unfocused around Cancerians. A Cancerian can feel unsafe around Scorpio, and unable to express their feelings due to the Moon's debilitation in Scorpio.
When Mars is in Cancer, feelings can override actions, leaving us feeling frustrated at the lack of motivation. You might say to yourself, ''I know I must do this thing, but I just don't feel like it''.
While Mars' transit is something a Cancerian can certainty make use of, as Mars rules two very important areas of their life (creativity and work), and they may become more productive as a result, Aries and Scorpio individuals may find this very frustrating, and, well, debilitating.
Aries are less impressed with the lack of direction and motivation as Mars transits their 4th house. This may feel like your two-year old self stuck at home with Mom when you want to be out. Scorpios feel the debilitation in Cancer, but this is also a 9th house placement which they may benefit from in a more expansive way. The issue here would be not to overdo it, especially while travelling, or dealing with Dad!
We can just about deal with our own anger, oftentimes burying it deep, but when someone else expresses theirs, we feel it inappropriate, removing them from society if it is expressed in the most extreme ways, i.e., in acts of violence. Rage and physical violence are at the extreme end of the spectrum of what Mars is capable of expressing. And just because Mars is weaker in Cancer, that does not mean it cannot express rage. Actually, it is more likely the case at some point. You can only hold it back for so long. If you have felt repressed your whole life, there will come a time when it explodes.
Tennis player Serena Williams chucking her racket in anger at a judge’s decision is a Mars in Cancer-type of expression, a more immature expression of Mars, you might say, and she was born when Mars was transiting the sign (Sidereal). Oftentimes, having Mars in Cancer means working harder at proving ourselves. It’s as if we were born with a weak limb and we work harder on it, to the point that it appears stronger than our other limbs. This may appear to be the case from the exterior, as Mars likes to externalize things, but this strength is coming from a sense of weakness.
Anger is obviously a necessary step in keeping ourselves safe. However, if anger is not dealt with initially (and it rarely is) the energy builds into a hot mess. Anger is a messy emotion which is why successful boxers are in control of theirs, and also why Mars is exalted in disciplined Capricorn.
If someone pushed you around and you did not say anything, you may be able to shake off if it happens once. But what if they do it over and over, and you do nothing about it?
Mars reflects our ego's needs. If you feel others are not paying attention to yours, worst still, they seem to be deliberately obstructing you, you may get irritable and angry with them.
At the first stage, the impulse of Mars is to simply state your case: ''I need to have this, and I need it now''. However, because we are taught from a very early age to suppress what we want all the time, most of us have an innate problem with getting what we want - all the time.
A mother says to a child, ''Yes, you can have that, but not that'' or ''You can have that, if you do this''. The natural time cycle of Mars according to Vedic astrology is between the ages of 1 and 3 (the 'terrible twos'), when we are figuring out who we are separate to our care givers (Moon) and seeing how far we can push them to get what we want. This is why Mars and the Moon have such a complicated relationship. We need a caregiver to put healthy boundaries in place, but we also need our freedom to do what we want, when we want to.
Remedy
If Mars is all about becoming stronger, then why does it work against us so much? Well, the simple answer is we do not know when to quit!
Mars is seen as a 'malefic' planet for good reason. The word used to describe its impulse in Vedic thought is tamas, a Sanskrit word which could be translated as 'dark', 'inert', or 'dull'. Although you may think of Mars as anything but 'dull', an important distinction to be made is that the process of destruction itself is what is referred to - even if we are destroying something which needs to be destroyed.
It would be just fine if we were to perform an action which made us feel strong and let that be that. However, we may cause as many problems when we rub others up in the wrong way or overdo it to the point of exhaustion - another expression of tamas and its dullness.
When two ducks meet and have an altercation, they simply go on their way with a shake and a shrug. If only us humans could do the same!
It helps to become acquainted with our anger, to find healthier and more productive ways of expressing it, but if that is all we focus on, we can create as many problems. Many go to the gym for this very reason. Others end up having arguments. Either approach will get us in touch with our anger, I guess.
Personally, I prefer to use my anger to fuel my physical disciplines which are ultimately more productive and improve my health.
Spending time by the sea or body of water is also helpful, and why a seaside holiday can do wonders for the tension Mars can oftentimes create. The salty sea air, a signification of the Moon, cools down a Mars type like nothing else.
Swimming is one of the best ways to express Mars in Cancer, as we negotiate the ebb and flow of life when navigating the tides.
Laughing is also sometimes a great tactic to disperse the tension of an angry Mars but must be used carefully when trying to diffuse a heated situation with someone else - it may backfire!
Breathing exercises, such as the alternate nostril breathing technique, brings calm, balancing left-brain logic with right-brain instincts. Breathing through the left nostril corresponds to the right hemisphere of the brain and is seen as the cooling, 'lunar channel'. This plays an important role in subtler aspects of negotiation, taking others' feelings into account, despite our own needs. This type of sensitivity is needed during Mars' meandering through the soft-centered Cancer.
Breathing through the mouth will cool you down, although this should only be done up to a point, so as not to over breathe. You may notice this need when feeling hot and bothered, perhaps during more intense exercise, or when angry.
Right nostril breathing is seen as heating, improving digestion and assimilation, which is one of the best uses of fire, allowing us to digest, not just foods, but life itself. It is the undigested, toxic waste materials, the unexpressed angry leftovers, that cause most of our problems with Mars.
The best expression of Mars in Cancer is to use anger as a fuel, but to remain calm in our approach, to master our reactions, without suppressing our emotions. It may be challenging to remain as logical as Mars would like it while transiting Cancer, but logic itself can be seen as a type of violence, forcing opinions on others who may not see our logic. If we do not find a healthy expression for this transit, the energy builds and yet is not given free expression, often being expressed in being passive aggressiveness, emotionally manipulations, or accidents.
Mars types are usually masters of managing their energy, although the pitfalls of trying to control others, and life circumstances, is obvious. A Mars type may not see this, just when we are angry, and we are unable to think straight. There is nothing straight about Cancer! It meanders here and there, just as a river flows. Everyone else can see we need to surrender to the waves.
Mars in Cancer may lack the sensitivity needed to gauge this, as it attempts to wade through water at the same pace it would on dry land. The water eventually slows us down, of course, which is my last piece of advice for Mars' transit in Cancer; that is, slow down!
Om Tat Sat
If Mars is all about becoming stronger, then why does it work against us so much? Well, the simple answer is we do not know when to quit!
Mars is seen as a 'malefic' planet for good reason. The word used to describe its impulse in Vedic thought is tamas, a Sanskrit word which could be translated as 'dark', 'inert', or 'dull'. Although you may think of Mars as anything but 'dull', an important distinction to be made is that the process of destruction itself is what is referred to - even if we are destroying something which needs to be destroyed.
It would be just fine if we were to perform an action which made us feel strong and let that be that. However, we may cause as many problems when we rub others up in the wrong way or overdo it to the point of exhaustion - another expression of tamas and its dullness.
When two ducks meet and have an altercation, they simply go on their way with a shake and a shrug. If only us humans could do the same!
It helps to become acquainted with our anger, to find healthier and more productive ways of expressing it, but if that is all we focus on, we can create as many problems. Many go to the gym for this very reason. Others end up having arguments. Either approach will get us in touch with our anger, I guess.
Personally, I prefer to use my anger to fuel my physical disciplines which are ultimately more productive and improve my health.
Spending time by the sea or body of water is also helpful, and why a seaside holiday can do wonders for the tension Mars can oftentimes create. The salty sea air, a signification of the Moon, cools down a Mars type like nothing else.
Swimming is one of the best ways to express Mars in Cancer, as we negotiate the ebb and flow of life when navigating the tides.
Laughing is also sometimes a great tactic to disperse the tension of an angry Mars but must be used carefully when trying to diffuse a heated situation with someone else - it may backfire!
Breathing exercises, such as the alternate nostril breathing technique, brings calm, balancing left-brain logic with right-brain instincts. Breathing through the left nostril corresponds to the right hemisphere of the brain and is seen as the cooling, 'lunar channel'. This plays an important role in subtler aspects of negotiation, taking others' feelings into account, despite our own needs. This type of sensitivity is needed during Mars' meandering through the soft-centered Cancer.
Breathing through the mouth will cool you down, although this should only be done up to a point, so as not to over breathe. You may notice this need when feeling hot and bothered, perhaps during more intense exercise, or when angry.
Right nostril breathing is seen as heating, improving digestion and assimilation, which is one of the best uses of fire, allowing us to digest, not just foods, but life itself. It is the undigested, toxic waste materials, the unexpressed angry leftovers, that cause most of our problems with Mars.
The best expression of Mars in Cancer is to use anger as a fuel, but to remain calm in our approach, to master our reactions, without suppressing our emotions. It may be challenging to remain as logical as Mars would like it while transiting Cancer, but logic itself can be seen as a type of violence, forcing opinions on others who may not see our logic. If we do not find a healthy expression for this transit, the energy builds and yet is not given free expression, often being expressed in being passive aggressiveness, emotionally manipulations, or accidents.
Mars types are usually masters of managing their energy, although the pitfalls of trying to control others, and life circumstances, is obvious. A Mars type may not see this, just when we are angry, and we are unable to think straight. There is nothing straight about Cancer! It meanders here and there, just as a river flows. Everyone else can see we need to surrender to the waves.
Mars in Cancer may lack the sensitivity needed to gauge this, as it attempts to wade through water at the same pace it would on dry land. The water eventually slows us down, of course, which is my last piece of advice for Mars' transit in Cancer; that is, slow down!
Om Tat Sat