Mars in Cancer, Mars in the 8th House

Mars in Cancer ♋︎ in the Natal Chart

Archetypes: Advocate, Caregiver, Matriarch 

What Drives You: If you have Mars in Cancer in your natal chart than you are driven to fiercely protect the people you love. There is almost an aggressive quality to how far you will go to make sure those you care about are safe. Mars in Cancer is deeply affectionate towards others. You give freely of your energy knowing that you deeply want to receive affection in return. 

Mars in Cancer drives you to want to take care of people. Your often make an excellent cook as this is a tangible way you can express this intense need to nurture others. 

This Mars placement also comes with a great deal of loyalty. You find yourself joining up with causes you care deeply about and you are willing to put up a fight in order to see the results actualized. Mars in Cancer individual’s have the power to manifest their desires. These people will put passion behind what they want and go for it without restraint. At times you may loose your temper getting swept up in the moment. 

Sexuality: This Mars placement tends to be very generous in bed. You have a deep well of passion often being drawn to sexually intense relationships.

8th House

Keywords: The keywords associated with the 8th house include death, transformation, secrets, mystery, macabre, shared finances or resources, legacies, taxes, owed money, uncovered trauma, healing, and psychology.  

Succedent House Type: A Succedent house type is ruled by a fixed sign. Scorpio is the fixed water sign ruling the 8th house. 

The meaning of the 8th house has evolved significantly over time. Traditionally this house was associated with taxes, legacies, and shared resources. It is believed that due to its associations with legacies and inheritance this has contributed to the modern 8th house associations with death. Beyond the literal definition of death, it can also represent transformation, cycles of life, and major life endings/beginnings. 

The perspective of the 8th house is broad and psychologically based in most modern astrological interpretations. It symbolizes how you relate to others on a deeply emotional level. This house is associated with secrets but also shared resources and taxes. 

Trying to relate all of these themes together is what gives the 8th house is intense mystery. When you are working in the 8th house you are often working through some kind of emotional trauma. How you relate to the life, death, and sharing your experiences and resources with another are all 8th house endeavors.