Mars

From Astrology In Depth

Mars


Qualities
Super-Personal, Proto-Whole
Rulership
Rules over Aries

Natural houses
The first house

Alternative spelling
none

Mars, planet of aggression, action and sex. Mars is considered the ruler of Aries, and the traditional ruler of Scorpio. Its natural houses are the 1st house and the 8th house, respectively.

In the astrological chart, Mars is considered a personal planet, reflecting basic psychological functions in the personality.

1 General
- 1.1 Notable astronomical characteristics
- 1.2 Astrological qualities
2 Psychological function
- 2.1 Dynamics with the sun and moon
- 2.2 By house location
3 Other functions
4 Marsian occupations
5 In the chart

edit this General

edit this Notable astronomical characteristics

The red planet gets its color from iron oxides covering its surface. Mars bears the deepest known canyon and the highest known mountain in the solar system. Mars knows the largest sand storms as well, sometimes covering the entire planet! Mars has a very thin atmosphere and no clouds, which makes its underlying surface very clear to the observer's eye.

Reference: Wikipedia.

edit this Astrological qualities

Mars is super-personal in that it is fundamentally concerned with itself, its own preservation and perpetuation (procreation). It is proto-whole in that it is the function that enables the self to exist as a separate whole. Mars is the son of the moon as it is instinct beyond conscious will and thus more closely related to the moon than to the sun (contrasted with Venus).

edit this Psychological function

Fundamentally, Mars is the competitive drives in the personality, the desire to advance oneself in a competitive world. Mars brings in the intense feelings and the subconscious desire to advance one's genes, however lacks the will to stay. It complements Venus, which brings in the attachment principle. Without Mars, Venus will stay on a superficial level. It is lust as the desire to mate with another, and envy as when its competitive drives seem thwarted.

Certainly, it is the libido in its broader sense - it is the motivational force and the more intensive drives of the personality, as well as the root of all passions. Similar to Venus, it is actually superfluous to the basic personality, and can push the person to excessive expressions of self-worth through sexual value. It is the place where we seek to prove ourselves, how we prove our worth through doing and succeeding, which subconsciously really serves to prove our sexual prowess.

Mars' function further divides in two ways - the irritable / reactive side which acts as an extended protective mechanism, and the general pool of energy and drive which allows for intensive, sustained effort in areas that are not necessarily associated with pleasure, eg. hard work for whatever purpose. Accordingly, a listless Mars can do much to take the edge off of the personality.

In a sense, it is part of the irritable side of the personality, the part that deals with anger and the immediate self-protective response, although it is mostly superfluous to the function of the Moon in this domain, as an extra self-assertive mechanism to better one's strength, as it will reflect in the eyes of potential mates.

In general, Mars is more in-tune with the lower, most basic self-preserving drives in the personality, the parts that deals with the most burning needs. It mostly concerns itself with sex, sexual image and self-protection. It reflects the hard, sexual appetite. Mars is also associated with the inner warrior in every person.

Mars does things in a more riské, sexually insinuated, forceful and rough way. It does not seek to beautify itself or "make nice", instead seeking to bask in a more sexual light, exhibiting personal strength (domination) and skill as a seductive mechanism, however it may often get the opposite result in modern times. Mars is associated with low energies - sexual drives, anger and resentment. Whatever planet touches it may suffer from these rough energies. It adds a lot of restlessness and impulsivity, a quickness to jump to conclusions. It makes it more competitive.

It is associated with the androgenic hormones, testosterone being one of these. Further distinguishing it from Venus, Mars is actually more minutely associated with gratification than the venusian pleasure, the difference being that gratification here is more immediate, "burning" and "orgasmic", crude and more closely associated with ego, where pleasure is much more refined, steady, retaining and continuous.

edit this Dynamics with the sun and moon

When "ignited" (irritated), a strong Mars can cause serious strain on the Sun if she is positively principled, and on the Moon if it reflects compassionate emotions. If these are more negatively inclined, the person will more readily act on these aggressive drives.

Mars' influence on the Sun is making it more assertive as a proof of sexual potency through expression of personal power. It also drives it to be more able.

edit this By house location

The house where Mars is located is where the personality's excess energies naturally seek their expression. It also reflects how and in what direction one goes about reaching his desires. It shows the direction one pushes through, in the subconscious bid to better his sexual worth through these libido drives.

edit this Other functions

In non-natal charts (horary, return charts, progressions etc) a prominent Mars can show the onset of conflicts, especially when afflicted. In a good set up, it may represent undertaking projects or putting out constructive effort. Oppositions to Mars can reflect a more subdued conflict causing strain, but with not much in damages.

In political charts, Mars can represent The Army.

edit this Marsian occupations

People strongly influenced by Mars tend to find themselves in such fields:

Sports and competitions - especially with a strong, buoyant focus on the 5th house
Entrepreneurship - especially with Aries
Administration - especially with Capricorn and Saturn influences, although Marsian people often try to distinguish themselves or dominate in any social setting.
Police, army - especially with mixes of Saturn and Scorpio
Technical work - especially with Virgo