Laurel,
Here is the rough sketch I promised. If you want more details about any part of it or on something not mentioned, just ask.
Firstly the element balance – You have a roughly three way balance of Earth, Air and Water but are weak in Fire, as I indicated in a previous post. A lack of Fire may well reduce your self confidence and shying away from challenges. In your case this is partly offset by planets in the Trinity of Life, Houses one, four and nine. You also have a strong Cardinal balance in the modalities which would also help to offset the lack of Fire, Cardinal signs are initiators and squares and oppositions in Cardinal signs, whilst producing tensions and conflicts relating to home, work, relationships and the self also tend to produce a concerted effort to confront and deal with these.
You are a Capricorn Ascendant and Sun sign. Your creativity, vitality and will are in harmony with the way that you project yourself to the world. My wife, who is a Capricorn Sun sign, describes Capricorns as the plodding goats that eventually make it to the top of the mountain. They are not exciting or flashy but serious, and stubbornly refuse to give up. In your case your Sun is in opposition to your Moon in Cancer (the sign of its rulership). This brings tensions between what you consciously want, and in the first House those wants are related to your self and your subconscious needs, which in the sixth House (where the Moon is) relate to employment, service, health and possibly pets and other small animals.
Your Sun is also square to Saturn in Aries in the third House (I have used Placidus cusps). The Sun/Saturn contact produces tension between your expression of creativity and vitality and your need for structure and control. Self-denial, self-discipline, self-control are all facets of this contact, as is the importance of authority (either for or against) or fear. If you have a clear idea of your own identity this tension can be overcome and harnessed to provide the drive you need. If it is allowed to get in the way of your self expression then it will weaken you.
Your Cancer Moon shows a desire to protect your family and others close to you. In the sixth it might well show up as a desire to serve others in order to protect them. Your feelings, receptivity are such that you react sensitively to others and are sensitive to their moods and feelings. You may also be subject to mood swings yourself. Protecting and nurturing others makes you feel good about yourself.
Your Moon is also square Jupiter in the eighth House. This gives you tension between your need to grow and expand yourself and your inner needs. It can give a tendency to be restless and a tendency to self indulgence. These tensions may show up as stresses between your health, and need to serve others and your need for emotional and soul security. As your Seventh House begins in Cancer, the Moon also rules your relationships with significant others, both business and marriage partners. You will bring sensitivity to such relationships but also a need for stability in the relationship. Indeed as your Moon is in opposition to your Ascendant this need is emphasised. Without it you will again feel restricted and less confident.
You have Mercury in Capricorn in the first. A structured approach to communications and mental processes give you a rather serious manner. Everything you experience is put into images or words for yourself rather than others. However this placement may also give you the skills to become a fairly good counsellor. The Mercury Mars square may introduce some rashness in thought but Mercury is in harmonious aspect to the three outer planets. This suggests and unconventional thinker, who is inspired by words and who sees knowledge as power. As Uranus and Pluto are in the eighth this suggests that you may see the occult as a source that will bring you the soul and emotional security that you seek. Jupiter also occupies the eighth and this suggest that you may use the occult as a means of personal growth. It is conjunct Uranus which also suggests unconventional and highly individualistic philosophy and religious behaviour.
You also have Venus in the first House, your conscious need to relate to others is a way of expressing your own self. You will express these relationships and affections freely and unconventionally and in harmony with your drive to assert yourself (Mars). There may be something of the romantic adventurer in you.
Mars is in the Ninth House in the sign of its own rulership, Scorpio. Here assertiveness is both passionate and powerful and in the direction of long distance travel. The latter does not have to be physical travel, it can be educational, philosophical or religious (the ancients treated this as a ninth house matter as Jupiter the natural ruler also rules religious behaviour). You may feel better at relating to and expressing affection for others in the context of such a quest.
Finally there is Saturn, your chart ruler with Capricorn rising (though with your Sun conjunct the Ascendant there are those who would transfer rulership to the Sun). Saturn is not strong in Aries, but it also rules the Sun as well as the Ascendant. It is therefore a dominant planet, if not the dominant planet in your horoscope. In the third it will influence your methods of communication and strengthen a tendency already identified to be a deep and serious thinker. You have the ability to go beyond words and symbols but may find it difficult to express what you find there. The paradoxes that you see in existence will give you a sense of humour and wit – Saturn may be serious but that doesn’t mean he has no sense of humour at all.
Sorry its a bit long
Minderwiz