Mars in Cancer: meaning, drive and desire and Mars in Cancer dates
The Mars sign is the sign Mars was in when you were born and describes drive, desire, competitiveness, anger and attraction. Cancer is a cardinal water sign. Mars in Cancer is traditionally read as fights to protect its own.
Mars next enters Cancer on Jul 20, 2028 20:09 UTC.
How Mars in Cancer is read
Mars in Cancer is traditionally read as strongest when protecting family and close friends. It tends to act indirectly and can store anger before it shows. Cancer is Mars's fall, so action follows feeling.
Dignity
Traditional astrology rates how comfortably each planet works in each sign (essential dignity). For Mars, Cancer is fall: opposite its exaltation, traditionally needing more effort to express.
In Vedic astrology (Jyotish)
Jyotish calls Cancer Karka. Because it divides the zodiac by the stars (sidereal), a Western Mars at Cancer 0° to about 24° is in Gemini (Mithuna) in Jyotish. Reading both systems side by side shows different sides of the same person.
Mars in Cancer dates, 1940-2030
When Mars entered and left Cancer (UTC, computed astronomically). If your birth date falls inside a period, your Mars sign is Cancer. If you were born on a changeover day, compare with your birth time or use the calculator.
1940s (7)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| May 17, 1940 14:46 | Jul 3, 1940 10:32 |
| Apr 26, 1942 06:18 | Jun 14, 1942 03:55 |
| Mar 28, 1944 09:54 | May 22, 1944 14:16 |
| Sep 7, 1945 20:56 | Nov 11, 1945 21:03 |
| Dec 26, 1945 15:03 | Apr 22, 1946 19:33 |
| Aug 13, 1947 21:26 | Oct 1, 1947 02:29 |
| Jul 23, 1949 05:54 | Sep 7, 1949 04:51 |
1950s (5)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Jul 3, 1951 23:42 | Aug 18, 1951 10:56 |
| Jun 14, 1953 03:48 | Jul 29, 1953 19:25 |
| May 26, 1955 00:49 | Jul 11, 1955 09:21 |
| May 4, 1957 15:20 | Jun 21, 1957 12:18 |
| Apr 10, 1959 09:46 | Jun 1, 1959 02:25 |
1960s (6)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Sep 21, 1960 04:09 | Feb 5, 1961 00:49 |
| Feb 7, 1961 05:04 | May 6, 1961 01:12 |
| Aug 22, 1962 11:36 | Oct 11, 1962 23:54 |
| Jul 30, 1964 18:22 | Sep 15, 1964 05:21 |
| Jul 11, 1966 03:14 | Aug 25, 1966 15:51 |
| Jun 21, 1968 05:02 | Aug 5, 1968 17:06 |
1970s (8)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Jun 2, 1970 06:50 | Jul 18, 1970 06:42 |
| May 12, 1972 13:14 | Jun 28, 1972 16:08 |
| Apr 20, 1974 08:18 | Jun 9, 1974 00:54 |
| Oct 17, 1975 08:46 | Nov 25, 1975 18:30 |
| Mar 18, 1976 13:12 | May 16, 1976 11:09 |
| Sep 1, 1977 00:19 | Oct 26, 1977 18:54 |
| Jan 26, 1978 01:57 | Apr 10, 1978 18:52 |
| Aug 8, 1979 13:28 | Sep 24, 1979 21:21 |
1980s (5)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Jul 18, 1981 08:53 | Sep 2, 1981 01:51 |
| Jun 29, 1983 06:53 | Aug 13, 1983 16:54 |
| Jun 9, 1985 10:40 | Jul 25, 1985 04:03 |
| May 21, 1987 03:01 | Jul 6, 1987 16:46 |
| Apr 29, 1989 04:37 | Jun 16, 1989 14:10 |
1990s (5)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1991 00:49 | May 26, 1991 12:19 |
| Sep 12, 1992 06:06 | Apr 27, 1993 23:41 |
| Aug 16, 1994 19:15 | Oct 4, 1994 15:46 |
| Jul 25, 1996 18:33 | Sep 9, 1996 20:02 |
| Jul 6, 1998 09:00 | Aug 20, 1998 19:16 |
2000s (7)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2000 12:29 | Aug 1, 2000 01:20 |
| May 28, 2002 11:42 | Jul 13, 2002 15:22 |
| May 7, 2004 08:45 | Jun 23, 2004 20:50 |
| Apr 14, 2006 01:00 | Jun 3, 2006 18:43 |
| Sep 28, 2007 23:59 | Dec 31, 2007 16:01 |
| Mar 4, 2008 10:01 | May 9, 2008 20:20 |
| Aug 25, 2009 17:15 | Oct 16, 2009 15:33 |
2010s (5)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Aug 3, 2011 09:22 | Sep 19, 2011 01:50 |
| Jul 13, 2013 13:22 | Aug 28, 2013 02:05 |
| Jun 24, 2015 13:32 | Aug 8, 2015 23:32 |
| Jun 4, 2017 16:15 | Jul 20, 2017 12:19 |
| May 16, 2019 03:09 | Jul 1, 2019 23:19 |
2020s (6)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2021 11:48 | Jun 11, 2021 13:33 |
| Mar 25, 2023 11:44 | May 20, 2023 15:30 |
| Sep 4, 2024 19:47 | Nov 4, 2024 04:13 |
| Jan 6, 2025 10:42 | Apr 18, 2025 04:21 |
| Aug 11, 2026 08:31 | Sep 28, 2026 02:49 |
| Jul 20, 2028 20:09 | Sep 4, 2028 14:36 |
2030s (1)
| Entered | Left |
|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2030 15:19 | Aug 15, 2030 23:56 |
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FAQ
- What does Mars in Cancer mean?
- In Western astrology Mars in Cancer is traditionally read as fights to protect its own. The Mars sign describes drive, desire, competitiveness, anger and attraction, a separate layer from the Sun and Moon signs.
- When was Mars in Cancer?
- The table on this page lists all 55 periods Mars spent in Cancer between 1940 and 2030, with ingress times in UTC.
- Is Cancer a strong sign for Mars?
- By traditional dignity it is fall: opposite its exaltation, traditionally needing more effort to express.
- Is my Vedic Mars also in Cancer?
- Not necessarily. Jyotish uses the sidereal zodiac, now about 24° behind the tropical one. Mars at Cancer 0° to about 24° (Western) is in Gemini (Mithuna) in Jyotish.
Other Mars signs
- Mars in Ariesacts first and meets challenges head-on
- Mars in Taurusslow to start, impossible to stop
- Mars in Geminifights with words and wit
- Mars in Cancerfights to protect its own
- Mars in Leobold, proud and takes center stage
- Mars in Virgomethodical, precise and hard-working
- Mars in Libraacts through partnership and balance
- Mars in Scorpioquiet intensity and total commitment
- Mars in Sagittariuscharges toward ideals and freedom
- Mars in Capricornclimbs steadily toward long-term goals
- Mars in Aquariusunconventional action for a cause
- Mars in Piscesintuitive, adaptable and quietly strong
Cancer in other placements
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