(See first how to calculate your balance of qualities.)
Compensations
Before reading on, note these compensations for a lack of cardinal quality in the chart. Compensations do not necessarily make up for an extreme deficiency, unless they are very strong or very numerous compensations. Compensations for weak (or lack of) cardinal signs include:
- Mars in cardinal sign (particularly Aries)
- focal Mars (conjunct an angle, at the end of a t-square or at the handle of a "bucket" configuration)
- Mars in or ruling a cardinal (angular) house
- Mars conjunct Sun
- Mars conjunct Moon
- Mars conjunct Saturn
- Sun in Aries
- Moon in Aries
- Saturn in Capricorn
- Predominance of fire signs
- bucket pattern
Lack of (or Weak) Cardinal Quality
These people can easily enjoy observing and simply "being" without necessarily "doing." But if they have 0 or only 1 cardinal sign, they may feel driven to prove themselves through activity or may substitute an emotionally intense inner life for active involvement in external challenges.