Mars in Astrology represents fire on all levels. It represents aggression, fighting, anger and war. Internally, it represents our inner fire. Showing our passions, our strong desires and attachments, as well as our disposition to achieve and defend those dear things.
Mars Keywords: power, masculine, energy, blood, sex, anger, violence, war, general, engineer, surgeon, logic, strategy.
To the Romans, from where the name Mars comes from, Mars was a defender and protector of the people. As well as the god of agriculture and an inspiration for the Roman Empire. To the Greeks, the equivalent Ares was seen as an uncontrollable and dangerous deity, with a poor reputation and many negative depictions. In Indian mythology, the deity Karttikeya is associated with Mars, this deity is related to Krittika nakshatra. He, similarly to the Roman mythology, has a great reputation and is seen as a defender.
This dichotomy of Mars, between good and bad, persists to this day. And it is fairly easy to notice when an astrologer has a bad view of Mars, as their interpretations reek of criticism towards the planet. This negative view of Mars is derived from a fear of the masculine principle, a fear of the primordial fire.
Astrological Information
- Ruled Signs: Aries and Scorpio
- Nakshatras: Migrashira, Chitra and Dhanishtha
- Exaltation sign: Capricorn
- Debilitation sign: Cancer
- Day of the week: Tuesday
- Aspects: 4th, 7th and 8th from itself
Symbolism
The symbol of Mars ♂ is that of a circle with an arrow pointed upwards. The circle represents unity, or a potential enclosed, representing the wholeness of an energy. The arrow represents a goal, an objective, a focus, something to be reached.
Putting it together, the symbol of Mars shows potential being applied, energy being freed or broken out of a shell. It can be related to an egg breaking, or the human birth, as we break out of the womb and immediately cry. From that we can infer that Mars processes are not easy, and that they can deal with pain.
Circles are ever present in astrological symbolism, while the arrow is fairly rare, Mars is the only classical planet to have an arrow. From that, we can infer independence and self-reliance.
The basic impulse of Mars is to pierce, break-out and liberate energy/potential. This broken out energy deals with everything related to the native. Strengths, weaknesses, powers, talents, skills, passions and obsessions. It is the raw energy, raw power, coming out and being externalized. Mars primary focus is externalizing energy.
Mars differs from the Sun, astrologically, as it represents an earthly rather than a godly energy. The Sun melts away any challenger, as we know from the story of Icarus, flying too close to the Sun. The Sun tends to be invincible and effortless. Mars has to fight his battles. He tends to win, but he has to fight them, rather than just having things melting away.
The Sun represents the soul, the inner vitality. Mars represents blood, the hot life force that runs through our body. The color red, related to Mars, reminds of blood. Red-blooded is a term used to describe a normal person, similarly, Mars deals a lot with the energy of the average person on earth. It shows what drives a person, what they feel flowing through them.
Meanings
- Energy, Force, Strength, Vitality
- Passion, Pride, Arrogance
- War, Weapon, Aggression, Defense
- Hunting, Breaking, Piercing, Tools
- Independence, Risk, Self-reliance
- Going far and wide, exploring the unknown, roaming away
- Sex, Desire, Lust
- Not easily satisfied desires
Pride, Passion and Arrogance
Mars in a chart shows an area of life where we are pride, passionate and a tad arrogant about things. It shows things that are worth fighting for in your view of the world. For instance, Mars in Cancer will be very protective of family and emotions; while Mars in Leo will be very protective of his creativity and ego.
Independence and Risk
Mars similarly represents areas where we are willing to break the shell, pierce away and break free. It shows areas where we take risks, again because it is something worth fighting for, and act in an independent manner.
Independence, revolution and innovation are all words that people love tossing around as something great. All while hating the idea of risk and vulnerability. Every quest for something new, undiscovered, is a big risk. The two things go hand in hand. Innovator is the word for the successful revolutionary, crazy is the word for the failed one.
Mars represents an area where we strive for independence, finding the unknown, making something our own, breaking away far and wide. But it also represents the risk inherent to such attempts.
For example, whenever Mars influences the 3rd house, the native tends to deal with art, music or competitive sports. Similarly, Mars related to the 6th house tends to show success in the business world, as the native will pierce through his competition.
Tools and Weapons
Mars represents the tools, or weapons, that we carry throughout life. The things that we use to make, break and achieve in the world. Mars represents the way we get things done, the way we solve problems and go through life. It relates a lot to the sign and nakshatra placement of Mars.
- Fire Signs (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) tend to deal with sheer force, enthusiasm and shows of raw strength.
- Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) tend to deal with raw resources, money, assets and what is available.
- Air Signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) tend to deal with mental weapons, information, new ideas and associations.
- Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) tend to deal with emotions, love (as a weapon or tool), intuitive and somewhat diffused action.
For instance, Mars in Virgo tends to deal a lot with surgeons or dentists, as they deal with piercing problems and issues in people. Mars in Aquarius favors those working with ideas and innovations, as they will strive to defend something new. Mars in Sagittarius is classically the lawyer or judge, fighting through ideology, fighting with philosophy and ideas.
The earth signs tend to “accept what is around them” rather than innovate and venture excessively out. It deals with dealing with what is around you, rather than going after something completely new and far. The exalted position in Capricorn deals a lot with this, as there is the comfort and stability of the earth element, but combined with the troubles and karmic twists of Saturn. The position is stable, but with something to solve, unlike a placement like Taurus where not much (except lust) needs solving. The other earth placements, a lot of times, deal with a person getting involved with family business or easy circumstances around them; instead of something entirely adventurous.
On the other hand, both Fire and Air tend to venture out, expand and innovate. A lot of times breaking away from conventions or what was expected of them. The water element is a tough egg to crack. As each of the three signs tends to have a different Mars expression, however, the common thread of emotion remains.
Mars in Cancer tends to act through a strong desire for protection, both for himself as well as his family. Mars in Scorpio acts on obsessions or strong impulses, a lot of times, it deals with not being satisfied until you’ve achieved what you wanted, even if achieving it destroys you. Mars in Pisces deals a lot with the past and intuition.
In regards to getting things done, it is easy to see Mars and the differences manifesting. A Mars in Taurus person is likely to be slow, steady, and very slow to approach things. Mars in Leo will be dramatic, somewhat loud and enticing. Mars in Gemini will deal with communicating, seeking help or mixing multiple ideas.
Anger and Aggression
The Mars placement in a chart tends to indicate things that make us angry, specially through denials or blockages. Mars also tends to represent how we handle loss and defeat.
Sex and Men
Mars rules men, much like Venus rules women. So in the chart of a man, Mars becomes an important planet, as it will help describe the general expression and behavior that he has. For instance, Steve Jobs, with not much in his chart promoting a fiery or angry temperament, was a very active and explosive personality, he had Mars in Aries.
Men with Mars in Cancer will tend to appear emotional and melancholic, either in the extreme of a sweet man or a deeply troubled bad boy. Men with Mars in Leo are kings of whatever they do, it is not that they think they are kings, they are sure of it. Gordon Ramsay, with a Moon in Virgo and a Gemini Ascendant doesn’t have much explaining his fiery demeanor, until we see Mars in Leo; he is the king of the kitchen.
Generally, Mars also describes our lust and sexual desires. Sexual tastes and fantasies can be seen through the Mars placement, of both men and women.
Mars also represents the kind of men we tend to find attractive or striking. For instance, Mars in Aries would incline someone towards liking sporty, ruddy and outspoken types of men. While Mars in Leo would incline someone towards more elegant, polite and educated types. Mars in Sagittarius, a lot of times, inclines one towards dating lawyers, philosophers or those in similar pursuits.
Checking Mars becomes important to understand the dating life of anyone attracted to men. That includes straight women, gay men, as well as bisexuals.