Mars is energy. You need energy to react, to act, and to respond. The Moon represents your mind. You will act when you are courageous. Courage is not directly connected with Mars; it’s indirectly connected. When Mars falls in the Moon sign Cancer, the mind becomes fearful. As a result, you may not have the courage to step up and express your love. You might even be scared to say those three magical words: “I love you.” In my life, I have never been afraid to say those three words. What is there to fear? When you love, you simply love. But when Mars is in Cancer, a person, though in love, may hesitate to say, “I love you.” Whether it’s love or anger, the native lacks the power of expression. When Mars falls or transits through Cancer, there is an old Hindi song, “Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, Pyar Kiya Toh Chori Nahi Ki,” meaning, “If you are in love, why should you fear?” But with Mars in Cancer, the native becomes a coward, unable to show the courage to express love. Even if they are angry, they may not express it openly. Frequent changes of residence or emotional outbursts are natural. With Mars in Cancer, the fourth house is directly connected to emotions, deep emotions. And when Mars is in Cancer, you experience many emotional moments in life.
Mars excels in Dhanishta Nakshatra (Capricorn sign), and Mars debilitates in Ashlesha Nakshatra (Cancer sign). Essentially, Mars dislikes Mercury. Mercury tends to analyze and overthink, while Mars prefers action, direct action. Samartha Ramdas Swami, the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, used to say, “Keliane hot ahe re, adhi kele che pahi,” meaning, “It is only through action that things manifest. But first, you must take action.” Action is what Mars loves. But in Cancer, Mars struggles to operate at its full capacity, especially when transiting through Ashlesha Nakshatra, which occupies the last part of the Cancer zodiac. People born with Mars in Cancer find it difficult to take action, making it harder for them to materialize their dreams and aspirations. In a woman’s chart, Mars in Cancer is not favorable for marriage or for a happy marriage, I would say. However, astrology is multidimensional, so if there is a supportive aspect, such as a positive 7th house or a well-blessed 7th house lord, then marriage can happen, and the marriage may not fall apart. Still, Mars in Cancer often brings relationship issues. A woman with this placement may feel dominated by her partner, wanting to rebel but unable because Mars’ power is diminished in Cancer zodiac. That is why it is said that Mars is debilitated in Cancer zodiac. When Mars transits Cancer, expect less action and more noise. There is a higher possibility of falling prey to temptations, becoming emotionally vulnerable, and hesitating or delaying actions. These are common traits during the transit. Mars in Capricorn, on the other hand, is balanced and won’t act impulsively. But Mars in Cancer is a different story. Impulsiveness takes over, and this can be dangerous. Sometimes, impulsive decisions, like jumping into bed with someone based on looks alone, can lead to misery later in life. Mars in Cancer signifies impulsiveness, while Mars in Capricorn is much more cautious, controlling temptations and evaluating the pros and cons before committing to anything, including relationships. Mars in Cancer thus leads to a person who is an emotional fool, impulsive, impatient, and loves to procrastinate.
And so now I will quickly share the impact of transiting Mars in Cancer on all twelve zodiac signs.
**Aries**: During Mars’ transit through Cancer, your home life, relationship with your mother, and overall happiness may face challenges. Avoid impulsive decisions regarding family matters. Patience is the key. Wait for this phase to pass before making any major moves. To invite peace and positivity, chant the Ganesha mantra: Om Gam Ganapataye Namah.
**Taurus**: This transit may bring tension with siblings, short trips, and mental strain. Be cautious and avoid hasty decisions. Issues with travel or sibling relationships may surface, leaving you emotionally exhausted. Stay grounded and patient. For mental clarity and strength, recite the powerful mantra: Om Namah Shivaya.
**Gemini**: Fluctuations in savings, family conflicts, and minor health issues, especially to your teeth, eyes, or throat, could arise during this time. Take care of your diet and avoid unhealthy food. Stay disciplined to avoid these challenges. To balance your energy, chant the Vishnu mantra: Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
**Cancer**: For Cancer, emotions run high during this sensitive period. Avoid making decisions based solely on feelings. Remain practical and focus on the present moment. Relationship issues might arise, so stay calm and avoid rash actions. For emotional stability, recite the mantra: Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi.
**Leo**: This transit brings an opportunity for spiritual growth. Whether in meditation or relationships, you will find this a fulfilling time. If you are in love, you will experience deeper bonds. Ensure that you stay grounded to attract abundance by keeping your feet clean. To enhance your spiritual journey, chant this mantra: Om Rhim Namah.
**Virgo**: Financial fluctuations, especially for those in business, may occur. Tensions with in-laws could also arise. Use caution when engaging on social media. Overall, this can be a time when your desires are fulfilled if you remain patient. To boost financial success, chant this mantra: Om Shreem Mahalakshmiye Namah.
**Libra**: Challenges in marriage and career may surface. Workplace conflicts, especially with your boss, are possible. If you are married, you may have fights with your mother-in-law or father-in-law. Avoid impulsive reactions and be patient. This phase will pass. To attract harmony in your relationships and career, chant this mantra: Om Klim Namah.
**Scorpio**: Mars brings a focus on higher learning and spirituality. You will be inspired and could even become a source of motivation for others. However, stay balanced and avoid getting carried away by ideologies. To maintain this balance, chant this mantra: Om Namah.
**Sagittarius**: Be cautious during this sensitive period as hidden enemies may try to harm you. Practice self-care, meditate daily, and protect yourself from negative energies. During this phase, you may become a victim of black magic attacks. So be careful, drive carefully, and stay alert. To ward off negative influences and energies, recite this mantra: Om Dum Durgaye Namah.
**Capricorn**: Your focus will be on your marriage or relationship, and your partner may need more of your time. Stay mindful when interacting with the public and avoid people who drain your energy. To strengthen your relationships and attract positivity, chant this powerful mantra: Om Namo Narayanaya.
**Aquarius**: Workplace conflicts may arise, but you will feel energized and motivated. Avoid petty arguments and maintain a sattvic diet to prevent digestion issues. For overall well-being and success, recite this beautiful mantra: Om Ram Ramaya Namah.
**Pisces**: Love and relationships will take center stage, and this is a great time for entrepreneurs or those invested in the stock market. It’s a generally positive period, but take care of your health, especially your stomach. To attract prosperity and love, chant this beautiful mantra: Om Klim Krishnaya Namah.
And so, from October 20th 2024 to June 7th 2025, Mars will mostly stay in the sign of Cancer. Normally, Mars remains in one zodiac sign for about six to seven weeks, which is around 42 to 49 days. But this time, things are a bit unusual. Mars will stay in Cancer from October 20 to January 21. Mars then goes retrograde on December 6 and moves into Gemini on January 21. After that, when Mars turns direct, it will return to Cancer on April 3, 2025. Finally, Mars will leave Cancer for Leo on June 7, 2025. So, Mars will be shifting between Cancer and Gemini for about nine months. Overall, this is unusual. Mars going retrograde in Cancer signals a strong chance of a global recession. If you are employed right now, stay vigilantâlayoffs could increase as we approach the end of 2024, with many companies cutting jobs. Conflicts and wars may escalate, bringing intense turmoil. The movements of Mars are likely to stir up a lot of emotional drama, and thatâs why I urge all my close followers to gain control over their emotions. This can only be achieved by working on your mind and becoming more mindful of yourself. Instead of bottling up anger, learn to understand how pointless it is. Otherwise, you may end up like Shanti Das.
Have you heard the story of Shanti Das? It so happened that one day, Shanti Das killed his wife by throwing her into a well. At that moment, a Jain monk was passing by. A crowd had gathered, and the Jain monk said, “This mind full of anger and violence will lead you to hell.” The situation was such that the man said, “I also want to be as silent as you are, but what can I do? I donât know anything. When anger grips me, I am almost unconscious. And now I have killed my own beloved wife.” The Jain monk said, “The only way to still this mind, full of anger, violence, and rage, is to renounce the world.” Jainism is a religion of renunciation, and the ultimate renunciation is even of clothes. The Jain monk lives naked because he is not allowed to possess even clothes.
The man was of a very arrogant type, and this became a challenge to him. Before the crowd, he threw his clothes into the well with his wife. The whole village could not believe it. Even the Jain monk became a little afraidâ”Is he mad or something?” The man fell at his feet and said, “You may have taken many decades to reach the stage of renunciation. I renounce the world. I renounce everything. I am your disciple now. Initiate me.” His name was Shanti Das, and “Shanti” means peace. It often happens that if you see an ugly woman, most probably her name will be Sundarabai, which means “beautiful woman.” In India, people have a strange way of namingâblind men are sometimes called “Nayan Sukh,” which means “one whose eyes give him great pleasure.”
The Jain monk said, “You have a beautiful name. I will not change it. I will keep it. But from this moment, you must remember that peace has to become your very vibration.” The man disciplined himself, stilled his mind, fasted for long periods, and tortured himself. Soon, he became more famous than his master. Angry people, arrogant people, and egoistic people can do things quickly, while peaceful people take more time. He became very famous, and thousands of people came to touch his feet.
After 20 years, he was in the capital. A man from his village came for some purpose and thought, “It will be good to go and see what transformation has happened to Shanti Das.” Many stories were heard that he had become a totally new manâthat his old self was gone and a new, fresh being had arisen in him. He had truly become peace, silence, and tranquility.
The man went with great respect, but when he saw Muni Shanti Das, he noticed that there was no change. There was none of the grace which necessarily radiates from a mind that has become silent. His eyes were still as egoistic as everâin fact, they had become more pointedly egoistic. His presence was even more unpleasant than it used to be. Still, the man went close. Shanti Das recognized him as his neighbor, but it was now beneath his dignity to acknowledge him. The man also saw that Shanti Das had recognized him, but he was pretending otherwise. The man thought, “That shows much.”
He went close to Shanti Das and asked, “Can I ask you a question? What is your name?” Naturally, great anger arose in Shanti Das because he knew that this man knew perfectly well what his name was. Still, he kept himself in control and said, “My name is Muni Shanti Das.” The man said, “It is a beautiful name, but my memory is very short. Can you repeat it again? I have forgotten. What name did you say?”
This was too much. Muni Shanti Das used to carry a staff. He took the staff in his hand, forgot everythingâ20 years of controlling the mindâand said, “Ask again, and I will show you who I am. Have you forgotten? I killed my wife. I am the same man.”
Only then did he recognize what had happened. In a single moment of unconsciousness, he realized that 20 years had gone down the drain. He had not changed at all. But millions of people felt great silence in him. Yes, he had become very controlled. He kept himself repressed, and it had paid offâso much respect, and he had no qualification for that respectâso much honor that even kings came to touch his feet.
Your so-called saints are nothing but controlled animals. The mind is nothing but a long heritage of all your animal past. You can control it, but the controlled mind is not the awakened mind. Remember this, and I say this only to my close followers: the controlled mind is not the awakened mind. The process of controlling, repressing, and disciplining is taught by all religions. And because of their fallacious teaching, humanity has not moved a single inchâit remains barbarous. At any moment, people start killing each other. It does not take a moment to lose themselves. They forget completely that they are human beings and that something much better is expected of them. Very few people have been able to avoid the deception of controlling the mind and believing that they have attained mindlessness. To attain mindlessness, a totally different process is involved. I call it the ultimate magic, the ultimate miracle. It consists of only one single element: watchfulness. Be watchful of your anger. Be watchful of your wild imaginations. Be watchful of your sexual fantasies. Be watchful of your thoughts. Just watch and donât entertain them. Donât act on those thoughts, and you will be alright.
Mohan asked, “But how do you come to the state of being a witness? How do you reach the state where you can just watch and not act on those wild thoughts?” The answer is simple: focus on chanting. Guru Nanak says, “Nam japu,” meaning chant the name of the holy Lord. Sant Kabir says, “Nama japu.” When your mantra takes over your mind, you can face all situations with a smile on your face. And that is what I would love to see: when you smile, when you keep smiling, and when you keep walking with faith in your heartâthat is when you look beautiful. That is when you are truly evolving. That is when you are getting closer to God consciousness.
And so, as we embark on this challenging nine-month journey together, I want all my dear followers to know that I am here by your side, holding your hand. Remember, you are a cherished child of the divine, and everything will be alright. Just keep moving forward and continue to listen to my guidance. Together, we will navigate through any obstacles that may arise during this time with faith and love lighting our way.
Jai Sri Ganesha. Jai Gurudev.
