The Sun in Capricorn Opposite Mars Retrograde Is All About Ambition, and These 4 Signs Are About to Have Their Work-Life Balance Rocked

Get ready for fireworks! On Jan. 15, the sun will oppose Mars retrograde, triggering a cosmic standoff between your ego and your emotions.

This is the kind of transit that could make you feel like you’re caught in a tug-of-war between your head and your heart. On one side, the sun in Capricorn is urging you to stay focused, disciplined and determined to climb the ladder of success.

After all, this celestial season is all about ambition, career goals and achieving long-term stability — it teaches and encourages us to put in the hard work and responsibility needed for a successful future.

Mars retrograde in Cancer, on the other hand, brings you inward despite being the planet of action, assertion and passion. While retrograde in Cancer, Mars can stir up old feelings, unresolved issues with family and a deep longing for emotional security.

That said, this tricky opposition can feel like a battle of wills, with your ambitions clashing against your instinct to protect yourself emotionally.

You could feel torn between the need to take charge of situations or achieve something big in your professional life and the powerful urge to retreat, reflect and nurture yourself and those close to you.

Emotions run high, possibly interfering with your external goals or leaving you frustrated and uncertain about which direction to take. If anything, it’s the perfect opportunity to take a step back to reflect and reconsider your priorities.

Are you sacrificing too much of your inner peace for the sake of success, or vice versa? This opposition will challenge you to find harmony between your drive to succeed and your deepest desires, encouraging a better understanding of how these two forces interact in your life.

Read on for what this could mean for your zodiac sign.

Related: Here's What Your Biggest Challenge in January Will Be, According to Your Zodiac Sign

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Take time for your personal and professional life, even if it means setting boundaries, Aries. The sun is putting a spotlight on your career and public image, but with your celestial ruler, Mars, opposing it, you're feeling torn between your professional ambitions and the desire to go within to tend to your personal life. This would be like trying to juggle a big project at work while managing personal matters that demand your attention at home. You could feel frustrated or pulled in different directions. The key is balance — don’t sacrifice your family or your well-being for your reputation.

Taurus (April 19-May 20)

How do your day-to-day interactions influence your long-term goals, Taurus? With the sun illuminating and energizing your ninth house of adventure, spontaneity and wisdom — as Mars retrogrades through your third house of immediate surroundings — you could feel simultaneously inspired to venture into the unknown while still feeling pulled back to what is familiar. Whether it’s a travel or educational opportunity that gets stalled or a sudden second-guessing of your belief systems, what you know firsthand and what you long to explore could be at odds with each other. Consider this an opportunity to slow down and reassess what you’re truly passionate about.

Gemini (May 20-June 20)

Having a second look at your financial investments and commitments could lead to some valuable insights, Gemini. For instance, the sun is highlighting your eighth house of intimate affairs and shared resources, while Mars retrogrades through your stability-seeking second house of values, finances and comfort. This is your cue to reassess your financial priorities and how you manage your money and exchange energy with others. Don’t make impulsive financial decisions during this transit — take a moment to reflect on your long-term goals and whether your resources support them.

Cancer (June 20-July 22)

Communication is everything right now — be clear about what you want while still being gentle with your delivery, Cancer. Look at it this way: with Mars retrograde in your sign sitting in opposition with the sun in your relationship sector, you’re likely feeling more sensitive than usual about your one-on-one relationships. Your levels of assertion could be met with resistance, or you might find yourself second-guessing your approach to specific partnerships. Reflect on how you present yourself to the world and what you need from others in return. There could be a tendency to act on impulse or frustration, especially in close relationships. Slow down and reconsider other ways to assert your needs.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22)

Have you been neglecting your privacy and life behind the scenes, Leo? The sun in Capricorn is energizing your sixth house of day-to-day routines, health habits and work dynamics, while Mars retrograde shakes up your secretive 12th house of rest, healing and unconscious patterns. This is challenging you to reflect on your inner world and repressed emotions — you could feel like you’re personal life is in conflict with your professional life. Others of you may need to reassess your health habits. Don’t wait until burnout to take action.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sept. 22)

It’s a great moment to let go of connections that drain you so that you can create space for more inspiring and fulfilling relationships, Virgo. With the sun in Capricorn emphasizing your fifth house of self-expression, creative projects and romantic affairs — while Mars retrograde shakes up your 11th house of friendship groups and future visions — you might find that your desires for fun and romance are being met with resistance and delays from others. This could also manifest as feeling misunderstood by friends or significant others. In any event, take time to reflect on whether your network actually supports your personal growth and creative ambitions.

Libra (Sept. 22-Oct. 22)

Reassess your work-life balance and make sure you're creating a nurturing environment for yourself and your loved ones, Libra. This is especially true with the sun in Capricorn energizing your fourth house of home, family and innermost feelings. However, while in opposition with Mars retrograde in your 10th house of authority, career and notoriety, you are likely feeling conflicted between your ambitions and your desire for a peaceful, stable living space. You could also experience tension between your need to push forward in your professional life and your desire for stability on the home front.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21)

A past mentor or long-distance connection could resurface to offer some valuable insight, Scorpio. For instance, with the sun in Capricorn energizing your third house of communication and immediate surroundings — all while at odds with Mars retrograde in your expansive ninth house of adventure, growth and spontaneity — you could feel frustrated by a lack of progress in your educational or travel plans. In any event, it’s a good time to reevaluate your approach to communication and your local community. If you’ve been stuck in repetitive thought patterns, this is a great time to challenge yourself to broaden your perspective and embrace new ideas.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)

You’re being called to take a pragmatic approach to your shared resources and emotional investments, Sagittarius. With the sun in Capricorn illuminating your stability-seeking second house of money, comfort and values — all while in opposition with Mars retrograde in your intimate eighth house of joint ventures — there could be a push-pull dynamic around your shared assets and energetic exchanges. Perhaps you're reevaluating the way you approach intimacy or how you manage joint finances. Either way, it’s a great time to address financial imbalances and renegotiate terms if needed.

Capricorn (Dec. 21-Jan. 19)

How can you honor your personal needs while still being fair to your loved ones, Capricorn? With the sun energizing and revitalizing you — not to mention at odds with Mars retrograde in your seventh house of relationships, commitments and contractual agreements — you could feel as if your needs and desires are being overlooked. Others of you could feel like your levels of assertion or anger are misunderstood by those around you. In any event, it’s important to reflect on how you’re presenting yourself to the world and showing up for others.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18)

Address hidden stressors affecting your health or work-life balance, Aquarius. For instance, with the sun in Capricorn shaking up your 12th house of healing and unconscious patterns — all while at odds with Mars retrograde in your dutiful sixth house of daily rituals, work routines and health habits — you could feel like something is off but you can’t quite put your finger on it. In any event, it’s an excellent time for healing and self-reflection, especially if old habits (or subconscious fears) have been holding you back from your fullest potential. Reassess your daily routines and wellness habits — are they nurturing you, or draining you? Meditation or journaling could help you unlock buried emotions.

Pisces (Feb. 18-March 20)

Don’t be afraid to let go of relationships that aren’t supporting and inspiring you, Pisces. With the sun in Capricorn getting down to business in your 11th house of associations, community and future visions — not to mention at odds with Mars retrograde in your fifth house of love, passion and romance — you’re being challenged to take a step back and reassess the foundation of your creative endeavors or the status of a romantic connection. Are your friends and peers supporting your goals or do they feel more like a distraction? You could feel torn between pursuing your dreams vs. indulging in fun-filled activities and your heart’s desires. Harness this energy to reconnect with your creative passions and your ambitions for the future simultaneously. Remember, who you associate with can either support or hinder your growth.

Read the original article on People