#cardinal squares

Cardinal Squares & Oppositions

Here are some general themes of cardinal squares and oppositions. These energies can vary greatly depending on which planets are involved, as well as whether they are transiting or natal aspects.

I have written before about the signs that square each other in astrology and their conflicting energies. In this post I’m honing in on the Aries-Capricorn square. This conflict can play itself out within your own natal chart if you have planets in both Aries and Capricorn or between you and someone else. For example, if you have an Aries Sun and a Capricorn Moon you’ll experience this archetypal friction within yourself. Or, say that you are an Aries Sun in a relationship with a Capricorn Sun - then you’ll experience friction between yourself and the other person. I’m going go over hypothetical scenarios inspired by everyday life and my own personal experiences with this square. Needless to say, no one is only Aries and only Capricorn and people are more complex than these scenarios reflect. But it’s sometimes useful to simplify and generalize.

Scenario 1 (Aries Sun – Capricorn Sun interaction)

Capricorn: I don’t think my sister is doing as well as she could be. She’s not trying hard enough. She just has to get on with her life. She knows what she has to do she’s just too lazy to actually do it. I’ve been telling her that she needs to pull herself together for her own sake. It doesn’t look good that she has taken a year off. Look, I know that she’s been confused about her path but time waits for no one. Sometimes the kindest thing someone can do is to be tough and tell it as it is.

Aries: Who are you to decide what is best for her? She knows herself better than you ever will. Honestly, are you kidding me that you actually judge her for this!? Why should she listen to you? You’re not more of an authority than she is. I think she would do best to ignore your crappy advice. She’s her own person. Mind your own business if you don’t have anything helpful to say.

Capricorn: All paths are going to involve struggle, so why not just get to it? She could’ve gotten somewhere if she didn’t waste her time stalling. She could’ve accomplished something by now.

Aries: Sure, but if she’s going to accomplish something it should be on her own terms. She shouldn’t just obey orders. I don’t approve of laziness either, but I don’t think she should be pressured into conformity. She’s confident enough to do her own thing. I respect that.

Capricorn: She needs to be realistic. It’s not about obeying orders, it’s to realize that actions have consequences and the less responsibility and control she takes the less likely she is to get to where she could be. Hard work pays off even if it isn’t pleasant.

Aries: If she doesn’t know what she wants, what’s the point in working mindlessly uphill? You should motivate her not discourage her and threaten her with some kind of doomsday speech. Yeah, life is hard but we are not here to live in constant struggle. We’re all going to die one day anyway so why not let life carry us forward in the direction that is right for us while we’re still here? F*ck you and your preachy a*s!

Capricorn: (thinking) You have no idea how stupid you are.

This is the classic conflict of Aries and Capricorn. Aries is the free spirit, the “outlaw” of the zodiac with a lot of energy and reckless tendencies. Aries always believes in the power of the self – it’s really a romantic sign at the core. It glorifies the individual will is willing to bet on it over anything, even if it’s impractical or risky. Capricorn is the wise authority with an awareness of limitation. Without discipline, there’s only lack and misery. Aries doesn’t see it that way – life is inherently meaningful and should be honored through fearless living. Capricorn can only appreciate that which is gained through effort and hard work. It looks at Aries as if it’s a child that needs to be managed and humbled. Naturally, Aries doesn’t buy this and questions authority.

Scenario 2 (Aries Sun – Capricorn Moon combo)

Aries-Capricorn: I don’t want to complain but my life sucks. I’m so capable but life just hits me with shit I don’t deserve. But I don’t care. Come at me with it I guess.

Therapist: It is ok to feel overwhelmed. You don’t have to handle everything yourself, you know. Do you have anyone that you can vent to?

Aries-Capricorn: Actually, I do have to handle everything myself because all I get from people is “I’m here for you if you need me, don’t be so hard on yourself” but that’s just something people say. People don’t really want to take on another person’s trouble unless it benefits them. That’s why there are therapists. I pay you so I can vent.

Therapist: You strike me as a very cynical person.

Aries-Capricorn: I have more lust for life than many people but I’m also a realist. It’s impossible to just talk and then expect all problems to go away. Life doesn’t get any easier and I’m tired of trying. But as I said, why should I care? I will take everyday as it comes, that’s how I roll. I’m not a quitter. I like a bit of a challenge. People like you piss me off though – you think I’m cynical? You’re in the business of making people feel like there’s something wrong with them. Grow up. I’m doing you a favor coming here every week. You should be grateful for my cynicism, if that’s what you like to call it.

On the one hand the Aries Sun has an attitude of “come what may”, of living for the day and for the moment with strength and vigor. The Aries Sun is upfront and honest – it doesn’t hold back. The Capricorn Moon is burdened by the challenges and knows that it’s not getting any easier, that everything has a price and a consequence. Even “venting” to a therapist costs money – and money has to be earned and worked for. The Capricorn Moon doesn’t want to process deeper feelings because it is threatening. The Aries Sun still makes sure to show up every week and talk it out (/lash out).

Scenario 3 (Capricorn Sun – Aries Moon combo)

Teacher: I can’t give you an A, but you’re really ambitious and smart and I’m very impressed by your achievements.

Capricorn-Aries: Can I ask why? I thought I would get an A and I checked all the boxes.

Teacher: As I said, you are doing well. Keep it up and you’ll get there. You check many boxes but I would still like to see more from you.

Capricorn-Aries: I know that there’s always room for improvement and I would really like your feedback… I’m sorry but how am I supposed to know how to get high grades if you won’t tell it to me straight? I don’t want to get angry but how can I not be? If you’re going to withhold things from me, at least do it for a good reason. I don’t need you to manage me and push me. I can do that myself. I respect you and I’m willing to do what it takes to reach my goals. I just don’t like to play stupid games with people who think they know better.

In this scenario the Capricorn Sun is serious and humble in front of authority and aims to say the right things in order to be polite (Capricorns are in it for the long haul and they can’t afford to lose their cool and calm façade). The Aries Moon is not in it for the long haul and just wants to get to the price. It inevitably gets a bit fired up when a condescending authority “pretends” to be the ultimate judge of what is good enough. If the game doesn’t make Aries the best, there’s something wrong with the game.

Scenario 3 (Aries Mars - Capricorn Venus combo)

Aries-Capricorn: I would like someone that has solid plans for the future and won’t leave anything to chance. I want to know that I can trust my person to be ambitious and hard working. I want to build something reliable and permanent with my partner…

Friend: I mean, you had it all in your last relationship. He was responsible and reliable as far as I could see but you were never satisfied. Are you sure that’s what you want in a partner?

Aries-Capricorn: I know what I want! I’ve always known what I want and I go for it every time. You know me, I get what I set my sight on because I’m a go-getter, I never half-ass anything. He just wasn’t good enough and I know I could do better.

Capricorn Venus wants something that will last a long time and that provides stability but Aries Mars is impatient and wants to feel some excitement and movement. The person then concludes that the relationship must’ve been a mistake and moves on because of the dissatisfaction. Aries Mars is impulsive and independent – it doesn’t have the patience to let the Capricorn Venus preferences and pleasures settle in.

Scenario 4 (Aries Venus – Capricorn Venus interaction)

Aries: I just finished this book. It’s so good you won’t believe it! You have to read it!

Capricorn: (bothered and a little bit jealous of Aries ability for enthusiasm) I’m sure. I wish I had the time to.

Aries: Well, this is worth the time. It’ll change you life.

Capricorn: I don’t think a book can change my life. If it can take my mind of some stuff it’s good enough. I think I should start with the classics – and work my way through.

Aries: Sure! I can begin reading to you now if you’d like some help getting started! You seem to need a little inspiration. Better now than never, right?

Capricorn: I have a other things to do right now, I don’t even know when I’ll have time, but I’ll have to squeeze a bit of reading in.

To Aries Venus, happiness and inspiration are one and the same. It is possible to get high on life as long as one is always moving forward with excitement and speed. To Capricorn Venus, happiness is to accumulate and build something of substance; it is not to live on momentum through chasing the next kick and spark. Aries tends to go on instinct and intuition when deciding whether a book is good or not. Capricorn is not sure and has to learn what is good through experience.

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Other posts about the conflicts between the signs

Libra-Capricorn

Libra-Cancer

Aquarius-Scorpio

Aquarius-Taurus

Aries-Cancer

Leo-Scorpio

Leo-Taurus (available on Patreon)

I have written before about the signs that square each other in astrology and their conflicting energies. In this post I’m honing in on the Libra-Capricorn square. This conflict can play itself out within your own natal chart if you have planets in both Libra and Capricorn or between you and someone else. For example, if you have a Libra Sun and a Capricorn Moon you’ll experience this archetypal friction within yourself. Or, say that you are a Libra Sun in a relationship with a Capricorn Sun - then you’ll experience friction between yourself and the other person. I’m going go over hypothetical scenarios inspired by everyday life and my own personal experiences with this square. Needless to say, no one is only Libra and only Capricorn and people are more complex than these scenarios reflect. But it’s sometimes useful to simplify and generalize.

Scenario 1 (Libra Sun – Capricorn Sun)

Libra: I’ve decided that I’m going to study abroad. A lot of my friends are going and I love the idea. Of course, I’m not going to have to collect some references and write a letter. What are you planning on doing? Maybe we could go somewhere together, wouldn’t that be nice?

Capricorn: All of your friends are mindless bimbos. Do you think that they know what’s best for your future? Don’t just latch on to the social trend. These people are not going anywhere in life. Sure, they’re going to have a “great time” chatting and partying and “planning” things to do. It’s all trivial stuff. You’ll have to be more serious if your want to accomplish something.

Libra: I don’t see why you have to be so judgmental. They are good friends to me. People aren’t perfect but it’s not fair to place yourself above them. I want us both to have a good time, you don’t have to like my friends but can you at least try to be respectful? They wouldn’t talk badly about you.

Capricorn: I’m not going to respect people only because they’re “nice” and “wouldn’t hurt a fly”. Too much niceness makes you lazy and unambitious. How are you going to get anywhere by cruising along and being likable? You have to commit and grind. It doesn’t have to be pleasant. If I’m going with you abroad it’s because it’s something I have to do. Not because it’s “nice”. It doesn’t matter if it’s nice or not.

Libra: I’m just trying to be a good friend. I want you with me but maybe I’ll just have to find someone else. Or I’ll go by myself and meet people there.

Capricorn: Never without company am I right? I am not going with you, but you know that you can ask me for advice if you want it. I don’t just abandon people.

Libra: I don’t know if I should be thankful or not, it sounds a bit condescending. Please don’t treat me like a child; I’m doing just fine. I have a lot of people that would want to tag along with me on this journey. I won’t be on my own.

This is the typical Libra-Capricorn conflict. Libra is a social creature that establishes connections and relationships through being pleasant, accommodating for other personalities and striving for harmony. Capricorn is a pressured creature with an awareness of the harshness of the world and the limitations and pressures that stand in the way of everything desirable. Libra wants to live in ease and grace with others, Capricorn wants to climb, to achieve something of substance that the world can recognize as a timeless contribution. Libras are charmers and usually get what they want through making other people like them (and meet them half way). Libras want to look good and be valued by others through their actions. They can work hard, but not in the sense that Capricorns do.  Capricorns are suspicious and cautious because they don’t trust easily and seeks control to the furthest extent. The world is pitted against these people in order to perfect their judgment and strength. Both signs have compassion for people but in different ways. Libra wants to be respectful and tactful with others because it wants cooperation, it wants what’s best for everyone. Capricorn wants to be someone to rely on in tough times because it knows how ruthless the world can be.

Scenario 2 (Libra Mars – Capricorn Venus combo)

Partner: You’ve really gotten a lot done today, I’m proud of you.

Libra-Capricorn: Thank you, it wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t have to put in a lot of effort.

Partner: That’s great, well, why make it more difficult than it has to be, right? You really have the ability of making things happen without breaking a sweat. It looks so easy.

Libra-Capricorn: Actually, I work really hard. This took a whole day to complete. Have you ever seen me quit on a project? Perhaps you can’t see how much time and energy goes into things because I make it “look so easy”. I don’t just move through life without a second thought. I have a lot of things going on. I got that promotion I told you about because I showed that I was seriously committed. I wouldn’t have gotten it if I just skipped along effortlessly. I don’t like laziness.

Partner: I believe you. I didn’t mean it as critique.

Libra-Capricorn: Sure you did – why would you have that condescending tone if you didn’t? I’m not trying to prove that I’m right - I just don’t want you to only see me in that way, like I’m some kind of pretty fairy that magically casts her spell and everything is wonderful. I’m trying to attain some kind of value, but I never do – you know why? Because I can’t. People only see me as a nice and pleasant achiever when I have so much more substance and grit to me that people give me credit for.

In this scenario, Libra Mars is sabotaging for Capricorn Venus by going about things the “easiest way” with calm intellectuality designed to not cause any friction. Venus in Capricorn wants to be appreciated and recognized for completely different qualities and gets offended by the partner’s compliment on the Mars in Libra qualities. Libra Mars strives for overall pleasantness and fairness – it doesn’t want to power through no matter what. It moves around external resistance with charm and social skills – it pacifies and soothes the opposition by reasoning with it, not only serve itself but to create a pleasant situation for everyone. Capricorn Venus seeks value through serious and laborious achievement and endurance – it wants to be noticed for its ambition, strategy and stamina.

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If you want to read the whole post it's available on my Patreon - you'll have access to my post about The Gemini-Virgo Conflict and other articles as well.

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Other posts about the conflicts between the signs:

Libra-Cancer

Aquarius-Scorpio

Aquarius-Taurus

Aries-Capricorn

Aries-Cancer

Leo-Scorpio

Leo-Taurus (available on Patreon)

In astrology there are signs that are more or less compatible. Signs are in essence representative of archetypes of the unconscious and they live out their expressions through our lives. It’s common knowledge that certain people are more or less compatible, which depends on the personal planetary placements and how they interact with another person’s placements.

People are complex and can’t be reduced to a single sign (their Sun sign for example). However, if a person has a lot of planets in a particular sign, they might find that other people with a lot of planets in the squaring sign (90° apart on the zodiac wheel) presents conflicting and disturbing energy. The signs that naturally square each other have a tense relationship because they have the same mode of expression (cardinal/fixed/mutable) but are placed in different elements (fire/earth/water/air). The difference in element poses a significant dilemma between masculine (fire/air) and feminine (earth/water), mythical and intellectual vs. mortal and emotional.

Let’s start with the cardinal signs. They’re all trying to make something happen – they have a forward movement, a pressing need to accomplish something important. The crux is, that they don’t have the same idea of what is important, which sets them up for conflict. Aries, the cardinal fire sign, is pure energy assertion and is looking to put forward that which is true, genuine, strong, potent and consistent. Aries is concerned with the self, its greatness and potential. People with strong Arien influence are often direct, confronting and honest bordering on the absurd because they are not ashamed of afraid of letting life flow through them in full force. This makes them impulsive, competitive and passionate, sometimes bordering on aggressive. Cancer, one of the signs squaring Aries is defensive rather than assertive, preventative rather than impulsive. Cancer’s agenda is to protect the emotional climate by being highly attuned to the environment, that way it’s possible to move around obstacles and unpleasant confrontation. A lot of work can be put into avoiding discomfort and unsafety, paradoxically, because the work itself can be tedious and straining. But, as long as that preventative work allows for a safe space where there’s room for softness and nurturing it’s all worth it. Needless to say, Aries thinks that being afraid of being afraid makes no sense and that it’s better to live fully in the now and not taint the spirit with something as dense and temporary as emotional needs. There’s nothing honorable in being “weak” and avoidant in one’s actions according to cardinal fire. Cancer is not really “weak” anymore than Aries is, but the sign is more aware of the necessity to sustain life throughout time and in order to do that one has to be concerned about safety, alert to potential threats and damage. Cancers generally doesn’t seek out a fight or confront things unless their safety depends on it – which is in striking contrast to Aries who sometimes, quite childishly, test their will against the first best opponent that they would have a chance with. Even though Aries is usually “blamed” for being the obvious aggressor of the two, Cancer can be very manipulative and undermining in a way that Aries can’t. Generally, the cardinal fire sign takes pride in being open and playing fair, while the cardinal water sign could care less about nobility and character if they feel the need to defend themselves. This point is highlights where the two signs ultimately clash because Aries is anchored in the mythical realm of principal and meaning while Cancer is anchored in the emotional-physical realm of mortality and vulnerability.

The other sign squaring Aries is Capricorn. This sign is concerned with following and reinforcing structure, achieving concrete aims and laying solid foundations for the sake of prosperity in years to come. This sign is set on accomplishment at any cost and the cultivation of character over time. It’s has a philosophy that says “put in the effort now to reap the benefits later”. Temporary pleasure is put off in favor of long-term gain. There’s maturity to this sign, because it’s all too aware of the strategy and planning that is required to actually accomplish something that will serve a purpose in time. Capricorn is the sign of societal structure and order. It relates to the designed path that an individual must take in order to climb the ladder of society. It’s no wonder that this earthy sign conflicts so strongly with the sign of Aries, which is primarily concerned with the now and what arises spontaneously. Aries is easily agitated and feels it to be an insult to put long-term success in terms of achievement and career above individual will. If the will and the societal path happen to coincide that’s great, but usually it doesn’t, because the spirit works in its own mystical ways. Aries prefers to let life spring from inspiration not from concentration. Both signs value excellence - but in different ways and for different reasons. Aries values excellence because that is what it feels itself to be – the pure creative spark. If it’s denied significance by others doesn’t really matter, the rush of energy usually speaks for itself and if nothing else one can at least be recognized for one’s force and noble attempts. Capricorn values excellence because there’s insecurity relative to life and if one can achieve something that is undeniably great, then one has proven to have some kind of worth. In contrast to Aries, Capricorn needs to prove its worth because it’s not a given. The cardinal earth sign is perfectionistic because if one wants to feel perfect one has to perform perfect. There’s heaviness and a sense of burden to Capricorn that doesn’t show up in Aries. There’s fierceness, sharpness and strength of will to cardinal fire, which makes for great speed and fighting spirit, but it has nothing to do with restriction and deliberate effort. Aries has so much energy that it doesn’t need to think in terms of “deliberate effort”, it acts on impulse and gets things done as quickly as possible in bursts of energy rather than through outdrawn labor. The discipline that Capricorn favors clashes with Aries’s need for freshness and independence – time has no purpose for Aries, the divine child who never gets old. Capricorn usually judges Aries to be immature and irresponsible and Aries usually judges Capricorn to be a buzz kill and an insecure authoritarian.

The cardinal air sign is Libra, in many ways the perfect counterpart to Aries as it’s about social identity rather than the force of the self. Libra is all about balance and achieving perfection by weighing opposites. There’s a need to be noticed and appreciated, to be fair and nice. As with Aries, there’s a need to show up at one’s best but it’s done out of concern for social appearance and intellectual satisfaction rather than in honor of the immortal spirit. People with a strong Libra influence are often drawn to a certain kind of beauty that is surface-polished, carefully and thoughtfully designed, moderate but exquisite. In contrast with Aries who values uninhibited living, Libra likes to approach things through assessing and evaluating –  never reaching a conclusive stance and becoming mildly frustrated as a result. “What if this is wrong, what if this is right?” there’s often no way of reaching a reliable conclusion, which is why Libra is in a constant state of uncertainty. Pros and con lists sometimes work and sometimes not, ultimately it’s impossible to figure out if something is fundamentally right or wrong, good or bad through consulting the intellect. Nevertheless this is what Libra attempts to do, ambitiously over-analyzing in order to achieve some harmony. It’s a paradox that effort should lead to harmony, but all cardinal signs fight for something – whether it’s through the mental faculties, the emotional-physical or the spiritual. The Libra-Cancer tension is based on sophistication and refinement vs. safety and nurturing. Cancer finds Libra to be too involved with superficial things that doesn’t matter much in the long run. Libra finds Cancer to be moody and instinctual, only caring about securing that basic needs are met and neglecting the finer things in life. Libras are not necessarily very practical, but they like things to feel and look pleasant. Cancer is more prone to care and cultivate emotional bonds while Libra doesn’t really form attachments – romance however, is another question. The cardinal air sign is first and foremost looking for light-hearted love and appreciation, pleasure and finesse. Cancer on the other hand can’t stand such trivialities, because living is a serious thing and one can’t cope unless more fundamental needs are satisfied such as a reliable support system in the form of a family. Cancer is not much for Venusian love, because that kind of love involves tastes and preferences, which isn’t really any of Cancer’s concern. The cardinal water sign aligns more with the archetypal mother than the lover, which illustrates perfectly why Libra and Cancer don’t get along. Libra can’t stand the emotional realm particularly well because it’s too human and too far from the intellectual ideal. Libra would constantly try to adjust and modify the very organic and cyclical phases of Cancer, deeming them unsophisticated and unattractive. As a result, Cancer would clam up, become defensive and try to put Libra down through subtle degrading comments and looks. Libra would feel hurt, unloved and probably resort to giving a minor lecture about right and wrong in terms of social behavior, which would make Cancer even more defensive and secretly vengeful. Cancer doesn’t really consider right and wrong in terms of intellectual judgment, nor is this sign concerned with justice as a concept. It’s much more instinctual, which in Libra’s eyes would seem irrational and unpredictable, in other words, not something to bring into the sphere of social relations.