Elsa once mentioned in her blog that Cardinal signs are some of the strongest control freaks in the zodiac. I am VERY cardinal (Aries sun/asc, Cancer moon in 4th, Capricorn MC, Pluto in Libra in 7th) but I never identified myself as a control freak because I was too "freedom loving."

It wasn't until I made a decision during Saturn Return to live the freelance life when I realized - I was INDEED a control freak - but in a different way.

As an Aries, I love my freedom. I don't like being tied down. This is not true in relationships, however, because my Taurus Venus loves to commit, but with work - Do NOT tell me what to do, where to go, when and where to be. I just want to do MY thing MY way! I realized then that I was indeed a control freak - but in a different way where I'd rather control how I plan my day and that I refused to have someone dictate my work for me. I would rather choose my clients - and when they choose me to be their designer/makeup artist, I would rather have the right to say YES or NO. In a team situation, I tend to appear "laid back" because I assume that others do not want to be micromanaged like I do.  I don't mind taking the driver's seat, but am usually annoyed of people who CONSTANTLY wants me to guide them through a step by step process. I guess you can say that I prefer to work independently. I prefer to be trusted in my abilities and not nitpicked by other people. 

I am assuming this is more a Cardinal sign thing, but what other aspects could contribute to control-freakishness? Are you a control freak?

I am also Cardinal and I run my life not the government.

Hmm, I have Mars in Aries and Saturn in Capricorn. Other than that, I don't have any other cardinal.

I have no cardinal - and I'm not a control freak. Uranus features, though - I love my freedom. But more than anything, I'm mutable. I can handle control freaks (to a point anywho) and can handle people who like to hand it off to me as well.

I am Cardinal and I identify a lot with what you say. I dislike intensely being micromanaged, and also don't enjoy micromanaging others.

I also feel that I control my life's journey. Any other human on this planet is in a body just like me, so there are very few authority figures that I respect. I have no problem respecting people, but it must be earned, no matter who you are. "Shortcuts" to respect that are common in our society, such as PhDs, titles, etc, mean absolutely nothing to me, in and of themselves. On the flip side, I also believe other people deserve respect from me, and I cannot stand kowtowing, etc.

In general, I want to be left alone to discover my journey my way, myself. It's between me and the Universe. That's why I've never been able to gel with any organized religion.

I am largely mutable planets in cardinal houses.  I will bend quite a bit but don't push me!  Highly adaptable but I prefer to drive.  :)

Would fixed types be considered control-freaks as well?

I'm pretty balanced as far as aspect quality -- I can be uber controlling about my own emotions (cancer moon) but also, much more carefree (pisces) about other parts of my life.

"Would fixed types be considered control-freaks as well"

Alicia, I don't think so but legions of people disagree of me.

I don't think fixed types are control freaks either.  They just don't want anyone else to push them.  I suspect that reputation comes from control freaks in denial projecting their attempts at control on someone they can't easily manipulate. 

Lunalie I read the title and thought, "no, I'M in control..." heh heh just kidding

I do NOT want to control other people, did this when I was younger...With Capricorn Moon there is also control and responsibility...If I controlled anyone that would also make me responsible/accountable in some way I actually don't feel like being!

I have Uranus conjunct my MC opposed my Sun which I think is my saving grace...because with Cardinal T-square in the Cardinal Houses no less, I'm sure I could be a complete asshole control freak...that is if I had zero interest in having relationships based on mutuality.

 That't the thing for me...control=loss of compromise, hearing others' opinions, not fun at all.

My Aries mum said to me once "Creative people need to be their own boss" and I think that she is right.

Is stubbornness the same thing as being controlling? I've always thought of fixed energy as stubborn. I'm not sure if that's the same as controlling or not.

I have self control.  Sun/Saturn 1st house, after all.

I go to great lengths not to control other people, even to the point where some folks look at me like I've grown a second head.  

I'm actually pretty nicely mixed between fixed/mutable/cardinal but a little more mutable.  Lots of my mutable stuff is late degrees, and I have zip idea if that makes a difference except I looked it up for the transit info

I have a Libra stellium.  I am not a control freak but I do often fall into positions of leadership where no one else will play part.  It drives me insane when I'm in a group and I can feel the collective desire for forward momentum and no one else will step up and drive. "Dammit, I guess I'm in charge again."

I am mostly Cardinal and Fixed. Four planets + MC in Cardinal and five planets + AC in fixed.

MC in Aries

12th H Jupiter in Cancer

6th H Saturn, Uranus, Neptune in Capricorn

I like to control my environment, life, and schedule. I don't particularly like to micromanage people, but I can be the boss if needed. For the longest time, I couldn't accept interdependence.

May also have to do with Pluto sq. Sun

I'm pretty Cardinal and yeah, I definitely have those tendencies!  It took me a while to figure it out though.

user: I think that's the common thing a lot of cardinals have - being in control of their life journey. It's all about what they want to achieve and not what others tell them to do. I think we cardinals tend to be very self-directed. Like you, I could care less about "status" as form of authority and respect. I do believe one truly has to earn respect.

alicia: I would think fixed signs tend towards stubbornness yet not necessarily having to be "in control." I believe it's all about "maintaining" for them than pushing forward, correct? Lupa? Elsa?

Kashmiri: lol! COntrol freak! :D Kidding. With regards to what your Aries mum said... I totally agree with her! I found it difficult as a creative to work in an agency or 9-5. Or when things aren't run my way. We tend not to want to be forced as to what projects to take on!

notatirem: I've been wedged into situations like that as well. I'm not one to take charge, normally but then there are occasions where I just *have to*. Annoying 

No one teaches the "tactician" how to insert the thread through the needle.

I like that, persian cat! :)

some cardinal in fixed houses.  including my sun.

i set aim and i go and i can pretty much do what i've actually committed to.  the questions is how much it costs me.  and i've learned i have to look real close at those costs when i've got the train wheels rolling.  applying the brakes can be hard, let aloe figuring out another track to move on.

i've had too many people try to control me.  i avoid pushing people that ways.  could be my aquarius and uranus stuff, too.  i really don't try to concern myself with trying to run other people's business.  (except when necessary for my son's safety and wellbeing... but some say i'm too soft on that, too.)  i really have no interest in trying to make a weasel be a lion.  (one of my exes comes to mind.)  i mean, really.  i have only so much energy, why waste it, when the only person i can control is myself?

but i'm good at detaching.  and amputating.  when i decide to.

I'm almost evenly split: 5 cardinal, 5 fixed (counting Chiron), 4 mutable (counting N. Node).
I can be controlling, but more often I choose not to be.  If I am being controlling without seeing it and someone else points it out to me, then I almost always quit it tout-fuckin'-suite.  I'm too in charge of my own lil' world (cardinal) and stubborn (fixed) to want someone else to come along and stick their fingers in my pie, so I try very hard to keep my fingers to myself as well.  *nodnodnod*

I agree that fixed=stubborn.  That's the first word I think of when it comes to fixed energy. 

Fixed folk may not be in charge but they'll be damned if anyone else is, either.   (Sorry, I say this with love and in good fun, my siblings both fixed Suns, my parents chock full o' fixed, and my only son with a fixed grand cross!!!)

can feel the collective desire for forward momentum and no one else will step up and drive. "Dammit, I guess I'm in charge again."

OMG notatirem, that's so me, hahaha.  I'm cardinal Sun, rising, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter Chiron, and Pluto.

I'm the person who, when I realize no one is driving, I stand up and say "I'm walking wanna come?"

 ha ha

Cardinal energy isn't controlling really, it's more like a refusal to BE controlled (by anything other than self). And what's wrong with that?  I've always thought that to be normal! heh...but then I'm cardinal :)

I like/need to be in charge of myself. Not especially interested in managing other people, but they will not manage me - unless I respect them and want to be under their guidance (and that's my choice!). I love doing my own thing and being an individual.  

I'm a cardinal dating a super cardinal. He's a Cancer sun with Aries rising - Pisces moon. (My dashing, caring, intuitive hero.) Knowing I had tons of work to do, the man took it upon himself to drive an hour to bring me a plate of food - then told me ('strongly advised') I should only eat half! That would NEVER fly with anyone else, but with him his cardinal trumps my cardinal. He's controlling, but so nurturing. It's refreshing to let someone else be in control, someone I can trust. (Loosing control in a very controlled way - how very cardinal.) Libra stellium is my only claim to true cardinal dominance - but consider the leo rising to be a strong contributing factor to personal power.

I also grew up in a house full of Aries. Mother was an Aries sun (and Jupiter and Mercury), Cancer moon (and uranus). Papa was a rolling stone....Aries on the Aries/Pisces cusp. 

 I am interested in the way cardinals face off.  The subtle differences in cardinal controlling tricks is pretty fascinating.

Yep, I am a cardinalcontrol freak, but only regarding myself and how I handle my life. I need to feel in control more than actually controlling all that much... A virgo venus mars conj. in the tenth doesn't smooth this control freak attitude out much does it ! I see it as a great source of aggressive power than CAN be used positively. That's what I try to do.

I'm confused - I thought us fixed-sign people were the control freaks - I know I am (six planets in fixed).  

I think stubborn would be the keyword for fixed signs, Dorothy. it might not be so much a question of control rather than maintaining equilibrium, steadiness, steadfastness, solidity... inflexibilty too maybe, which can be a good and bad thing, as with anything else.

cheers

I'm in agreement with the collective here....fixed signs say 'stubborn' to me, not controlling.  I have quite a bit Libra and Aries in my chart as well as a Capricorn ASC and Cancer DESC.  Like most of you, I am controlling of my own life.  My finances, my household, my reputation, education, etc are all very closely controlled.  It works surprisingly well with my fixed-sign partner, but then he is ok with me 'organizing' him b/c he is pretty disorganized by nature.  Neither of his parents were very organized people and they were both hoarders.  Whew, has THAT been a challenge!  We clash over it sometimes, but he sees the need for the control, especially where our finances are concerned.

I am a great leader but will never be the one to volunteer myself.  I HATE to be micromanaged and do not like having to micromanage anyone else either.  I am not controlling towards my friends and family.  So my control is always self-directed.

Cardinal signs are assertive and they take action. Anyone who perceives that as controlling or a threat is not recognizing their own free will to choose to do something other than whatever the Cardinal person is doing.

I have four cardinal planets (three of them in cardinal houses), and my midheaven and ascendant are cardinal.  I have four mutable planets (not counting the north node).

My personal motto is: "I don't want to lead. I don't want to follow. I just want to do my own thing and I want you to get out of my way."

I have a lot of planets in the 6th house.  I don't like to lead, I don't like to manage, I prefer to deal with my own work issues. 

My friend has a Libra stellium and for some reason she prefers partners that are self confident and dominant in a way that they control her a little bit or up to the point where she thinks it is appropriate.  She is willing to compromise for a relationship if she thinks it's comfortable.  Do any of you Libras like that or think it's still Cardinal to do that?  

How do you control yourself?

Libras partner.. I like someone who will motivate me (i have 5 planets in libra) so I can move and balance life. But obviously not too much as that's too much about them. Controlling oneself to me is recognizing what's going on and appreciating the dynamic instead of insisting on your own way all the time. If you are a mother for example you can nurture without smothering.. or you can smother. One is cancer energy at it's finest, the other is controlling others.

I used to think certain problems were because of who I was partnered with. But take away the partner and I do a lot of floating. No one to motivate, compromise for and bounce off of. So then the real issues is finding a partner I love, can commit to and who will motivate me for the better. Then I can control myself best while in a partnership.

Great post Liz.  As a Libra, that makes me think a lot....

I am Cardinal and I DON'T LIKE TO BE PUSHED ANYWHERE. No.  Pushing around will not make me do anything.  My Aries cousin: You should go on the rollercoaster!  Come on, play foosball with us!  No, I don't want to.  I especially butt heads with Capricorns.  Them: DO IT!  Me: No! I think the only ones that can make me do something are Taureans and people who embarrass me into things.  

Cardinal ladies: my cousin was telling me that a lot of women like to be picked up, physically, by men, it makes them feel taken care of or something.  I would freak.  Cardinal ladies, do you like to be picked up?

What about the dominant/submissive dynamic (not necessarily S&M) in the bedroom, do you like to "abandon yourself to pleasure?"  Do you like that dichotomy to be there? 

I am very Cardinal and can relate to a lot of what all of you have said.

I hate to be told what to do...things have to be my idea and chances are I've already thought of it anyway, lol.

 The not picking me up thing is a good one too....don't like that at all!

 :) Lori

I think Fixed types like to control their world/themselves and Cardinal types like to control everything else.

Thank god I have 2 Fixed T-squares and 2 Cardinal T-squares so I'm nice and controlled all over 

Yeah, I think that is a boundaries thing I can actually understand.  When I just said no, why would you take away my agency?  A lot of people force the things they think are good for you, anyway.  Honey, you need to relaaax, come out of your shell, try something new, you should do this and that (play a Boxing videogame because you need to try something new, even though I don't really like video games).  My Sagittarian hedge fund manager asked me, "Why haven't you ever smoked?  Are you scared or something?  Try something new once in your life!"  My mouth fell open.  Or, like, you know when people offer you food and you say you don't want any and they pile it on your plate anyway?  A lot of Russian people do that.  Because it's considered unfeminine for a woman to serve herself, particularly pour wine for herself. 

Cardinal people: when you were a kid, when did you learn the word No, were you into saying it?

Bumpin' for the retrograde game.  I love this one.

"If you are a mother for example you can nurture without smothering."

That one's difficult for me.  I remember playing with the neighborhood kids at their houses and in the street, but I know my mother was watching in the window.  

I don't really know what "controlling" means.  I think I said this before.   Have you ever controlled people without knowing that you were doing that?

"I think Fixed types like to control their world/themselves and Cardinal types like to control everything else."  Yup I'm sure that's right. Sadly.

I'm very Cardinal - Cap stellium as well as Cap sun - and I've had to fight my tendency to control and micromanage all my life. I have an absolute need to control my own environment, life activities etc, and always had even as a small child - which led to big problems with my very controlling mother. It's affected friendships and love affairs: I can usually see a better way of doing anything than other people, and all too often make the mistake of communicating this... if I'm right in thinking I have Virgo Asc this will only make it worse, with the Virgo tendeny to nit-pick, criticise and micromanage added on...! And I probably married my husband because he seemed quite happy for me to control the marriage - this was the deal, and I wasn't 'in love' with him so would never have been prepared for him to take control of the relationship. His Aquarius sun rebelled in the end

I wasn't quite like that as a boss though. I was a picture editor for a while, in a very pressured environment, and had a few staff under me - junior researchers and various clerks. I was quite happy to delegate once I was sure they knew their job - but if they screwed up, they found themselves micro-managed to kingdom come! And assistants who didn't follow my brief or missed deadlines got to hear how I felt about that. Some of my staff just loved me - others couldn't stand me, but they were the ones who fell down on the job, esp the sloppy careless clerks.

Fixed is stubborn though, without wanting to control others. They do have to be in control of what concerns them however, and this is what creates such problems in relationships between cardinals and fixies - eg Cap and Leo suns ;^)  If we have boundaries or lines which are not mutually agreed, then there is big trouble as neither will negotiate, and power struggles are legion