Pushed From the Nest: Sun in Cancer square Uranus in Aries

Prematurely pushed from the nest? Sometimes playing it safe is a bigger risk than declaring your place in the world.

The Sun in Cancer is squaring Uranus in Aries today. This energy has been building over a while, but it reaches its perfection (exact peak) now. Whenever we see Sun and Uranus in an alignment we can expect a surprise, shock, or perhaps liberation or enlightenment. These are key characteristics associated with freedom fighter Uranus. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Still, the nature of this planetary alignment is challenging, because the square aspect (that’s a 90 degree angle) forces change or choice upon us – even when you have no desire to make such a choice.

Cancer (where the Sun currently resides) represents home and hearth, the mother archetype, caring and nurturing, as well as intuition and emotions. There is also a highly protective and insular energy associated with the Cancer vibe. Take note of its totem, that of the crab with its protective shell. Aries, on the other hand, is not interested in self-protection. This is heroic and brash energy that has little concern with long-term consequence. That’s why it feels so safe to take risks when you’re immersed in the Aries vibe. The presence of Uranus only ups the ante.

The elements of Aries and Cancer are also significant: whereas Aries operates through the fire element, Cancer operates through water. And we all know that water puts fire out. This is not an easy combination! The timidity of Cancer may throw cold water on Aries’ desire to set the world on fire. And yet there is a way to work this energy creatively for a beneficial outcome. Apply a little heat to water and voila, you get steam. This is the middle ground between fire and water. In practical terms, adopt a different approach to the same old same old, and see what comes of it.

While at first glance there appears to be little compatibility between Aries and Cancer, these two signs do have a common edge: they are each cardinal in nature, meaning that they take the initiative without waiting to be told what to do. This kind of self-activation resonates with the energy of a square aspect. When we’re experiencing the vibe of a square we feel compelled from within. (This is quite different from the energy of a planetary opposition, in which we experience the friction as coming from another person.)

So today, as if directed from within, some type of choice or change is initiated, even if it’s not particularly comfortable. In a sense you must choose between sticking close to home (Cancer) versus sticking your neck out, which is far more in keeping with the Aries vibe. The Crab is forced to abandon the protection of her shell and bare all, in order to move closer to an authentic way of Being (Uranus in Aries). This may not be welcomed, but it’s a necessary part of the journey towards liberating yourself from the tyranny of masking your true identity underneath all of those protective layers.

In a nutshell then, you’re being pushed out of your comfort zone, ready or not. It’s like your very own internal domestic revolt. Are you going to get steamed up about it, or can you embrace it as a new opportunity to get closer to the real you?