Mars, planet of action and energy, has been rushing around upbeat, scatterbrained Gemini for the last six weeks. Socializing has been at the top of your priorities and you’ve been motivated by adding variety to your life, but your attention span has been completely MIA too! Thankfully, on May 15, Mars stop skittering around the flighty air sign and dives into the waters of Cancer, cooling its jets and preferring to follow emotions over anything else. The water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces feel the most invigorated while Aries, Libra, and Capricorn are likely to feel the pinch of Mars in Cancer.
Cosmopolitan
Mars is named after the God of War for good reason—it’s the most assertive, unapologetically pushy planet, and the sign it’s in describes what motivates you to act. It makes sense, then, that Mars is at its strongest when in Capricorn, one of the most driven signs—but that means that Mars has a difficult time in Cancer, Capricorn’s opposite sign. While Mars represents quick judgment and extroversion, Cancer is all about being nurturing, cautious, and a total homebody. The planet of vitality feels like its swimming upstream in Cancer, but that’s doesn’t mean you’re doomed to six weeks of feeling worn out and exhausted—you’re just slower to act (due to honoring everyone’s complicated feelings more) and want to avoid conflict if at all possible.
Cancer has plenty of traits in common with its namesake constellation, the Crab. It has a shell that it prefers to stay locked up tight in so it can avoid stress and conflict, but it also has a pair of claws to lash out if need be. Mars encourages you to rush into a situation guns a-blazing, but in Cancer, you learn that sometimes the best offense is a good defense. In the face of conflict, you’re more likely to recede into your shell and shrug it off, unless someone close to you is the victim of some drama–then you’re the first one on the scene to back them up. Cancer is the sign of family, emotional depth, and sensitivity, so Mars’ job now is to help you stick up for your loved ones, prevent feelings from getting hurt, and maintain a safe, comfortable home.
Unfortunately, the planet of aggression feeling weak in such a passive sign can lead to—you guessed it—being super passive aggressive! The more pent up your feelings, the snarkier you get, and before you know it, something super insignificant—like a coworker accidentally knocking over your Starbucks—sends you into a rage and Mars in Cancer goes OFF! You’re way more sensitive now, and so is everyone else, so being honest and open with your feelings in a non-judgy way can save you from a lot of dumb fights!
Mars is like a soft shell crab in Cancer. It’s tender and gentle, and would rather peace out instead of stirring up shit. Instead of its usual “me, first!” attitude, Mars is more about everyone being considerate of each others’ needs now, bringing out more selflessness in general. You can use this time to learn more about your feelings and be more sympathetic to others’. You’re staying in your own lane and thinking more before you speak, so there’s no reason for you to feel (one last crab pun, I promise) crabby while Mars is in Cancer!