Mars

Mars in astrology: the planet of desire, strength, and conflict

General characteristics

Mars is a hot, dry, and traditionally nocturnal planet. In astrology, it represents activity, desire, aggression, willpower, struggle, and destruction. It is one of two "malefic" planets, along with Saturn, but its influence is not always negative. Mars provides the energy for action, the motivation to win, the ability to defend oneself, and the drive to reach goals.

Mars is the driving force in a birth chart. It shows where and how you express energy, will, and struggle. If Mars is strong, you are brave, decisive, and energetic. If it is weak or afflicted, you may have problems with aggression, impulsivity, or self-destruction. Its influence is always felt intensely, as Mars does not recognize half-measures.

Astronomical facts

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun. It has a reddish color, which is why it is called the Red Planet. It is home to the tallest mountain in the solar system, Olympus Mons, and the largest canyon, Valles Marineris. In Roman mythology, Mars is the god of war, the equivalent of the Greek Ares.

Symbolism and meaning in the birth chart

In a birth chart, Mars shows how a person:

• Expresses their physical and sexual energy
• Reacts to threats or conflict
• Defends their boundaries
• Demonstrates initiative, courage, and aggression
• Acts, fights, achieves, and conquers

The keyword for Mars is "Desire."

• In signs: shows the style of action and methods of struggle.
• In houses: indicates the area of life where a person shows the most activity.
• In aspects: reveals the quality of energy and interaction with other forces of the personality.

Positive and negative manifestations of Mars

Light:

• Courage, determination
• Initiative, enterprise
• Strength of spirit, endurance
• Protection, devotion

Shadow:

• Aggression, anger, impulsivity
• Explosiveness, selfishness
• Violence, cruelty
• Destruction, open hostility

Governance and position

• Signs of governance: Aries and Scorpio
• Sign of exaltation: Capricorn
• Signs of detriment: Libra (exile), Taurus (fall)
• Orbis: 8° before and after an aspect
• Firdaria: 7 years
• Cardinal direction: West
• Day of the week: Tuesday
• Night: Saturday
• Hours: the first and eighth hours of the mentioned days
• Symbol: ♂ (a glyph, a circle with an arrow, symbolizing weapons and action)

Mars in appearance

Physical signs depending on its position:

• Before the Sun: tall body, white skin with a reddish tint, very hairy
• After the Sun: short stature, dry build, round face, light brown hair, small eyes
• General features: cat-like eyes, marks on the body, freckled face, sometimes a wild or crazy appearance

Human qualities and behavior

Mars symbolizes:

• Arguments, fights, destruction
• Lawsuits, accusations
• Military personnel, thieves, surgeons, butchers
• Those who break the law or act without conscience
• Haste, shamelessness, violence, debauchery
• Humiliation, revealing secrets, sieges, crimes

When Mars is the ruler of the horoscope and has a strong position, it grants strength, stability, and courage. In a weak or afflicted state, it shows all its destructive sides.

Correspondences in nature

• Animals: dogs, leopards
• Birds: hawks
• Reptiles: basilisks, scorpions
• Plants: thorny shrubs, pear, pepper, basil, mustard, radish, garlic, rue, leek, saffron, scammony
• Minerals: sulfur, copper, red stones, glass products, weapons
• Colors: red, purple
• Clothing: made of rabbit fur, purple in color

Anatomy and physiology

In the human body, Mars rules:

• Veins
• Kidneys
• Sexual organs
• Heat of the blood, boils
• Fear of diseases and fires

Mars is also responsible for youthful age.

Esoteric correspondences

• Letters: Tzadi, Kaph, Yod
• Climatic zone: third (Cairo, Alexandria)
• Peoples: Magog, English, fire-worshippers
• Activities: those who work with animals, military, those who "draw blood"

Cycles of Mars

• Small years: 15
• Medium: 40.5
• Large: 66
• Great cycle: 284

Mars in transits

Transits of Mars activate the areas it touches:

• They can bring energy, strength, drive
• Or conflicts, breakups, aggression
• Often associated with operations, surgery, injuries, anger, wars

Periods of its transit through personal points of the horoscope require caution or decisive action.

Mars is feminine, hot, and dry. This scorching, harmful, and dangerous planet means destruction, hunger, fire due to carelessness, battles, lawsuits, arguments, and departures. In general, everything unjust and wrong, and even fits of anger.

In astrology, Mars is the planet of external activity and animal passion, including our sexual desire, aggression, and anger. Mars rules Aries and is in exaltation in Capricorn. This fiery planet is masculine in action, unlike the softer, more receptive, and romantic Venus. When it is strong in a chart, it can indicate a volatile character, as well as great courage. Its position indicates how your personality will manifest and what types of activities will stimulate your physical energy or your anger. By house, Mars represents where you will assert yourself and where you will act in the most positive sense.

Of the seven climatic zones, the third is subject to Mars: Cairo and Alexandria. It rules the peoples of the so-called Magog, the English, the servants of fire, the military, thieves, those who draw blood from others, and those who work with animals.

Of the metals, copper and sulfur correspond to it, as well as any glass products, any weapons, and red stones.

Among animals, it rules dogs and leopards. Among birds, hawks. Among reptiles, especially those that cause harm, basilisks and scorpions.

Of plants and trees, thorny shrubs, pear, pepper, basil, mustard, radish, leek, garlic, rue, the medicinal plant "convolvulus scammonia," and saffron correspond to it.

Regarding clothing, Mars rules rabbit fur and any garments of purple color.

It rules surgery and operations, weapons, war, misfortunes, fires, wounds and cuts, burns, violence, tools, iron, and steel.

In human manifestations, Mars means haste, strength, battles, arguments, theft, insults, destruction, humiliation, lies, accusations, debauchery, shamelessness, false oaths, and those people who do not follow rules or laws. It also means ruthless actions, tiring journeys, dangers, suffering of the people, thievery, captivity, siege of buildings, digging for theft, breaking down doors, and revealing any secrets.

When Mars is the ruler of the native and is not mixed with another planet, it conveys its positive qualities, but only if it is in a strong position. Otherwise, it bestows all the bad ones. If Mars is connected with other planets, the beneficial ones will add positive qualities, and the malefic ones will add harm.

If Mars is located before the Sun, the native will have an elongated body, be very hairy, and have white, slightly red skin. If Mars is located after the Sun, the native will be short in stature, lean, light-haired, and round-faced, with small eyes and straight, light hair.

It rules your animal instincts, desire, and sexual energy. It indicates ambition, strength, power, constructiveness, work, striving, competitive spirit, and death.

Of a person's age, it corresponds to the time when a person is called a youth.

Mars rules the western part of the world. Of the days of the week, Tuesday belongs to it. Of the nights, Saturday. The first and eighth hours of these days and nights respectively.

In ancient times, Mars was considered feminine because it is nocturnal. Furthermore, it was believed that there are night and day luminaries, night and day fortune, and two types of unfavorable influence. Mars and Saturn had to follow in that exact order.

Its great cycle is 284, large is 66, medium is 40 and a half, and small is 15.

Its firdaria lasts 7 years.

Its orbis is 8 degrees before and 8 after.