Mars

Key Concepts:

The “Red Planet” reveals your assertiveness — or its lack, and your ability or inability to create the psychic/energetic space around yourself that you need as a “protective shield” so you may go forth, spear in hand, into “the battles of life.” The position of Mars also tells us much about the quality and expression of your sexual drive. Mars’ sign describes the manner in which these characteristics emerge, while his house position shows the astrologer where the individual most often encounters a great deal of personal tension.

Mars generates … and his usual motivation for generation on the personality level is for self-satisfaction. Thus the house in which Mars is found in the natal chart, indicates where we tend to function best when the objective of our activities is the satisfaction of personal desires. Thus a person with a first House Mars regularly puts himself first and tends to be very dynamic when it comes to the protection of his own “individual space.” He will be quick to act when the need arises, (and it often does), to take immediate control of the environment. Mars’ natal house may also be considered as the “field of honor” ~ or dishonor ~ upon which sexual conquests are made or lost, and where the victories or defeats of the personal ego over other egos may be found.

Mars frequently indicates who or what opposes you. Thus Mars in Libra conjunct a Libra ascendant might say to partners: “Let’s polarize! Let’s discuss ~ act on, argue about ~ our differences rather than what we have in common and thus see how well we get along together—or not. Besides, a clash of personalities is far more exciting and with Mars conjunct my Ascendant, my self-satisfaction is the most important thing in my relationships!”

In this respect, such a person will easily encounter relationships that are dissatisfactory even though they may be sexually quite appealing. Often the sexual element will be the cause for disagreements … the “battleground” … even if it is what attracts in the first place.

Mars in the Eighth House of the natal chart will place a lot of emphasis on sexuality. This would be especially true if Scorpio or Aries were rising in the natal map and/or if the ruler of the Eighth were in aspect to Mars in this position. Let us say that Mars here is also square the Moon. A man with such a set of aspects would tend to meet women who have very difficult sexual challenges, challenges that create the inability to find emotional security within the context of sexual union.

This same set of aspects in a woman’s chart would often put her in contact with men who have very troubled relationships with their mothers and consequently adversely affects their ability to integrate sexual and emotional intimacy.

What about a “good” Mars … one that is well aspected, strong, and vibrant? What kind of person does this indicate? Mars in Sagittarius in the Ninth House trine to Jupiter in Aries—is a splendid placement for the Warrior Planet. Here you are likely to find a man or woman who is an adventurer, bold and unafraid of the challenges of the road. This is a “brave shield” and a “bold lance”–someone who is there to defend their beliefs and honor ~ someone just like you.

Mars functions as a separating and divisive force. While in Aries, Mars projects and asserts one in the external world. It is through the transcendental waters of Mars’ second Sign, Scorpio, that Mars experiences death and destruction in order to transform the native. Mars is then seen to destroy old forms so more evolved forms may then emerge. When properly directed, Mars can be the mystic and the servant of Man.

In the birth chart, Mars functions as the right hand man of the Sun. The Sun formulates our goals; Mars pursues them. Through Mars, we learn to act as independent and self-sufficient beings and to project ourselves into the world. Mars offers courage to stand up for ourselves, to assert ourselves and to express anger when appropriate. Mars also represents our capacity for physical passion and desire for sexual gratification.

It is Mars who drags us away from the bosom of the family and drives us to affirm our independence. He also represents what we want from life; physically he reveals our energy levels and strength; psychologically, he corresponds to what motivates us, our basic drive. Mars’ position in the birth chart shows how and where we try to subjugate the world to our will. Mars is a highly volatile, primitive, energy that works best when it is consciously focused.

Symbology:

The traditional astrological Glyph for Mars, as opposed to the stylized version used today, is the cross of matter sitting on the circle of spirit, suggesting that Mars has the power to create matter from abstract Spirit or to debase pure energy, reducing it to its grossest state.