Change- Across the Divide- Cardinal Signs

We each deal with change and uncertainty differently. Some of us will intentionally navigate the uncertainty using the best and most positive aspects in out chart. However, during times of change and crisis we may unconsciously turn towards the shadow side of our Sun sign. Another approach might be to instead look at the sign opposite yours in the zodiac for clues to help you deal with the change.

Cardinal Pairings

The strength of cardinal signs is their ability to initiate change at the time that change is required. During times of uncertainty, this can be a little counter-productive.

An ex-colleague (lets call him Fred), a Capricorn sun, would deal with change and periods of upheaval by immersing himself in more work, convinced that the many years experience he had and the number of hours he regularly put in would be rewarded by a continuation of the status quo and respect from upper Management. The way he operated was the way it had always worked, so why change? As his hours increased, his time with his family decreased and the stress at home mirrored that at work. It actually took more hours and more work effort to continue doing things the way they had always been done.

A new and younger manager was brought in to implement the new lean and efficient model. Fred wondered aloud why he hadn't been considered for the role. He assumed that he would be asked to apply for the role because of his years of service and when that didn't occur, bitterness and resentment of the new manager and the changes he brought with him resulted. Rather than his hours and effort bringing him the respect he craved, it instead gave him the reputation of being negative, inefficient and lacking in leadership. Adoption of the new more efficient work practices would have brought Fred and his team some work/life balance and shown his management ability in a better light.

Naturally not all Capricorn Suns will react to change in the way that Fred did. For every venture into the shadow side, there are also examples of intentional navigation of change. Another Capricorn Sun during the same period of change actively changed her work hours to ensure that she could fit in the core hours required as well as deal with the commitments of home and fit in a walk each morning for personal stress management. She used the Capricorn values of work and commitment and tempered them with Cancer principles of nourishment and work/life balance and emerged at the other end with her self respect intact and recognition as a subject matter expert on her resume.

Aries strength is in his warrior spirit. During times of change, his instinct will be to charge off, sometimes into a million half thought through directions at once. Using the opposite Libra brings some balance and moderation into these efforts and may result in strategies which don't fit on the back of a drinks coaster!

Libra's sense of harmony helps make his environment a peaceful and beautiful place to be, but it can sometimes delay decisions which need to be made. Why not listen to Aries and just move- take a chance- your ability to influence and smooth the waters will make the outcome more successful.

Capricorn is solid and secure in times of stress, relying on experience and hard-work to see him through. But what of work/life balance at this time? Listen to your Cancer opposite and remember family values- an achievement in itself.

Cancer urge to protect and nurture may have her ducking for cover within that hard shell during periods of change. What you have learned through hard work and the history of your experience is worth venturing out for- it is these Capricorn values which will ultimately provide your protection.