by Erik M Roth

With Venus in the sign of Cancer this month and into early September, Mars and Eris in Aries and three other planets in Capricorn, it is important to share how these signs can play a role in the events of our time and in our own personal lives.

“In the Light” can have a variety of meanings, but in this case, it is about how these 4 signs are prominently featured this summer and fall (winter and spring for the southern hemisphere).  For those unfamiliar with the modalities and what the four signs of Aries, Libra, Capricorn and Cancer have in common, I will introduce them here and why they are considered culture-bearer signs.  I will also share about some upcoming important dates with the planets involved in these signs.

The Cardinal (Culture-Bearer) Signs

In traditional astrology, Cancer, Capricorn, Aries and Libra are seen as Cardinal signs.  Not to be confused with the red bird bearing the same name, the “cardinal” refers to the Cardinal Points in the sky and Earth.  Each of these signs represents a solstice or equinox point, where the movement of the Earth’s tilt goes through its annual motions, creating the four seasons we experience.  They are vital events not just in keeping track of time, but in the life cycles of the vast majority of life on the planet.

These seasonal points relate to the essence of the astrological signs and humanity’s experience with them as archetypes.  Nearly 90% of humanity lives north of the equator, so the seasons and archetypes are fairly consistent within our psyche.  There hasn’t been much formal research into how this translates to those born in the Southern Hemisphere, but in my experience of providing readings for “south of the equator” people, the archetypes seem to resonate.

The word “cardinal” generally does not conjure up what exactly the four signs are all about in our consciousness except to speak to the seasonal points.  In my own astrological education, these signs can be called Householder or Culture-Bearer.  While all three names can be used interchangeably, Culture-Bearer elucidates more of the way these signs operate.  What does it mean to be a “culture-bearer”?

First, what astrologers mean by “cardinal” is a modality or grouping of four signs in the zodiac wheel.  They have a common, underlying commitment to the culture in which they subscribe to, helping immensely to hold the culture together and carry it forward.  The other traditional modalities are “fixed” and “mutable”.  The fixed signs can be seen as signs of “self-exploration” or “self-interest” and primarily focused on Self as a contribution to humanity.  For the mutable signs, this can be re-defined as signs that are “in service to spirit” in that their mode of operating involves being of service in a wide variety of ways.

The culture-bearer archetypes (signs) are here to see the humanity’s dedication to furthering its constructive, practical, responsible, community-building and defending the life of the culture, nation and tribe.  When these signs or archetypes enter into a crisis, like in 2020, the fabric of our societies unravel.  The intent is for something new to be woven but long-lasting and sustainable over multiple generations.

Cancer is culture-bearer sign of family, household and responsible nurturing.  Cancer employs large doses of empathy, compassion and creating safe spaces for family and friends.  An extension of this follows Cancer into the workplace and community. 

A potent activity of Cancer is the act of raising young to full maturation or potential.  Cancer speaks through the heart and its duty to be a provider/giver to family and the household.  The planet Venus is in this sign from August 7^th to September 6^th, directly in active concert with the planets in Capricorn at the end of August and squaring the planets in Aries in late August and early September.

On the opposite side of the zodiac from Cancer is the archetype of Capricorn.  When two signs are opposite each other, they tend to have a lot in common (they can see each other directly in a circle).  For Capricorn, it is all about responsible giving through its work, management, directing and teaching. 

Capricorn will show up to get the job done because it needs to be done and not from a place of self-interest, but because it contributes to the foundation of the culture and its long-term health in the middle world (reality).  Both Cancer and Capricorn, in various ways, in their healthy states, think from a place of multiple generations to come in their actions and words while still being in the present moment. 

Squaring Cancer and Capricorn is Libra and Aries in the zodiac wheel.  Libra marks the September equinox with the time of autumn in the north and spring in the south.  No planets are currently transiting this portion of the seasonal energy, but due to the other three culture-bearer signs, it is a sign that plays a role due to the squares and oppositions that are currently being experienced. 

The archetype of Libra is all about “non-hierarchical conscious, equal partnership”.  Libra sees itself primarily through the ‘Other’, meaning in their relationships, especially those close to them.  Libra’s purpose to the culture is relationship and community-building through the gathering together of people in dialogue, sharing and making some contributions to the community at large.

Relationship building is a critical expression to any given culture and Libra’s primary role is to the continuity of relationships over the long-term.  It is one of the most ‘personal’ signs, along with Taurus, in the zodiac.  But Libra’s personalness comes from a place of the mind’s desires and its identity by having those relationships, which strongly motivate Libra to go along and get along with others.

Aries, opposite the archetype of Libra, is supported by its opposite number.  Aries is dedicated to being the defender of a given culture, to those more vulnerable to threats and being all-in to a given mission, cause or purpose.  As the ‘rugged-individualist’, it has been traditionally seen as the ‘warrior’ archetype and has been swooned over in that role for thousands of years – being the a-typical ‘hero’ in countless stories of humanity.  Aries is the protector of the culture-bearer signs.

Action-oriented, Aries is instinctual and intuitive in how it operates.  This can help it overcome obstacles quickly as it typically doesn’t stop to smell the flowers or mentally consider all of the positives and negatives of its impulses.  Aries is ambitious in its singular direction of what it throws itself into and thrives in competition, not simply to just win, but the experience of the sport itself.

Venus in the Zone with Mars, Eris, Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn

Now that we’ve covered the culture-bearer signs and how vital they are, let’s dive into the current planetary alignments here at the end of August and into the first week of September.  Between August 25^th and September 4^th of 2020 a total of five planetary bodies are in dynamic (hard) aspect to Venus.

Venus Opposite Jupiter

August 25, 2020  – 17°55’ Cancer/Capricorn

 

Venus Opposite Pluto

August 30, 2020 – 22°46’ Cancer/Capricorn

Venus Squares Eris

August 31, 2020 – 24°24’ Cancer/Capricorn

 

Venus Opposite Saturn

September 4, 2020 – 26°52’ Cancer/Capricorn

 

Venus Square Mars

September 4, 2020 – 27°55’ Cancer/Aries

While the dates listed above are the exact aspects, we can use a five-degree orb to show us the larger window of activity of influence here.  The broader view is August 21^st through September 8^th of the concentration of archetypal relationships and alchemy being activated.

The Cancerian archetypal energy could give us chances for greater empathy of the human family and caring for our planetary home that goes way beyond any tribe, nation and community.  Perhaps Venus comes in to remind us of that vital connection to care for our family and home in that way, helping it reach its potential.

Another wave of planetary aspects will come when Venus is in the sign of Libra between October 27^th and November 21^st.  The dynamic aspects between Venus and all the other planets mentioned above with a five-degree orb is between November 5^th and 23^rd, right the center piece of most concentrated gathering of Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter in Capricorn (within 4 degrees of each other).  Here are the exact dates of the aspects in November, 2020:

Venus Opposite Mars

November 9, 2020 – 15° 21’ Libra/Aries

 

Jupiter conjunct Pluto

November 12, 2020 – 22° 51’ Capricorn

 

Venus square Pluto

November 15, 2020 – 22° 55’ Libra/Capricorn

 

Venus square Jupiter

November 15, 2020 – 22° 25’ Libra/Capricorn

 

Venus opposite Eris

November 16, 2020 – 23° 42’ Libra/Aries

Jupiter square Eris

November 17, 2020 – 23° 41’ Capricorn/Aries

 

Venus square Saturn

November 19, 2020 – 27° 25’ Libra/Capricorn

 

This set of aspects as shown above take place just after the US general election on November 3^rd.  This is an especially sensitive time that really begins in the second half of October after Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn are within 5-6 degrees of each other as a group.

Venus’ role in the sign of Libra could assist us in balancing out the intensity of the time period to promote cooperation and dialogue between communities, nations and organizations.  But it can also have the opposite effect depending upon the resistance of some unwilling to let go of egoic and/or romantic expectations of a world build from the past that can no longer function in the way it did decades ago.

We can also come to another moment of opportunity in early November in the continuing relationship between the masculine and feminine.  There is an evolution taking place over the last few centuries for the feminine to bring in balance with the masculine and the multi-millennial patriarchy.  This is an opportunity for greater cooperation, support and beginning a new mission of truly coming to terms with what has been buried for centuries and is now seeing the light of day. 

This is about the hard reality of our lives from the impact of the health, economic and political crisis that is a global human crisis in our relationship with Earth.  Will Aries stand up to be the defender of Gaia (Earth)?  Will Libra show up in strengthening and bringing greater awareness to prioritize that relationship to support Aries, Cancer and Capricorn?  Will Capricorn have the chance to fully surrender to the need for a new operating manual for humanity? 

The culture-bearer signs provide the necessary building blocks to put together a greater promise to ourselves and humanity.  Some of us can still get completely immersed in the underworld and react only from that perspective, inventing stories as a distraction to themselves to avoid the truth within.

In this time with the aspects of these signs/archetypes, we are reminded of our essentials to not only survive but to glimpse a world in which we can thrive. 

Cancer, Capricorn, Aries and Libra are going through an overhaul, which requires letting go of some systems, beliefs and structures and relationships that have either completed or are toxic.  But it also requires trust in ourselves to have the courage and stamina to put one foot in front of the other and see accept the reality, while also realizing we can create a new, sustainable and healthy reality in the years to come.

At the Turning of the Ages (the turn of a 26,000-year circle), we live in critical times and have the power to choose our future.  It is not written for us.  We all have the capacity to manifest what we want, but it does also require listening to our soul and how we are in the flow of the Universe.  This is not a time to resist our own vision quest path/journey, but to embrace our truth and see ourselves who we really are.