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Mars: Warrior or Destroyer? His Nature & the 12 placements



Today is Mars Day and on the occasion of the celebration of the day, let's look at the astrological characteristics of the planet and how those characteristics manifest in each zodiac sign.


Mars is the fourth planet in our solar system and it is known as the red planet. In astrology, Mars is the ruler of Aries and Scorpio (traditionally it rules both signs, although, after the discovery of Pluto, Scorpio's rulership was given to Pluto. Still debatable by astrologers.)

Mars is really strong in the signs of its rulership as well as in Capricorn, the sign of its exaltation.

With Mars' placement in a natal chart, we can get information about a person's physical strength, sexual drive, the way somebody uses or wastes his/her energy as well as somebody's assertiveness. Furthermore, we can define the way somebody's competitiveness, quarrelsomeness and some afflictions of the body and even the way somebody walks.


It is usually considered as an indicator of somebody's profession and the way somebody is expressing oneself in a competitive environment.


From the Persian astrologer, Abu Ma'shar (10 August 787 – 9 March 886) we see that ''the nature of Mars is fiery, hot, dry, choleric, of a bitter taste. And he signifies youth and strength and the sharpness of the mind, also heats and fires and burning up, and everything which happens abruptly. And a king of power and cleverness, and the commands of leaders, and the army, and the companions of the king, and over injustice and subjugation, and war, and killing and fighting, and courage, and endurance, and the lust for glory and having his name be remembered, and being raised up high, and the instruments of war, and compatriots mobilized for wars, and an eagerness for wrongs and sowing discord, and drinking parties, and things breaking up, and fighting wars, and robberies and digging up of walls on account of stealing, and the cutting of roads and courage and a tendency to anger, and treating the unlawful as being lawful. And he signifies martyrdoms and being fettered, also whipping and prisons and restrictions, fugitives and defection, captivity and prisoners, fear, lawsuits, injustice, a tendency to anger, and violence, and recklessness, and harshness, and coarseness of emotion, and capacity and persistence, and a scarcity of foresight and quickness in matters and having preconceptions, bad eloquence and a ferocity of speech, foulness of words and the lack of self-control in the tongue. And the showing of esteem and friendship, and taking joy in beauty, economy of speech, strategem, regret in the promptness of [his] responses. And a scarcity of piety, and a scarcity of loyalty, and an abundance of lying and whispering, and immorality and wickedness, and the swearing of false oaths, and deception and double-dealing, and the committing of offenses and the scarcity of good, and the destruction of the good, and a multitude of worries in matters, and the instability or changing of counsel from condition to condition, and the quickness of [its] turning back. And a scarcity of modesty, also a multitude of labor and vexation. And foreign journeys and the condition of solitary people, and bad companionship. And fornication and the foulness of sexual intercourse, joking around, being energetic. And he signifies the menstruation of women, also divorce and loss in a conception, and the cutting of the child in the womb and premature births. And he signifies middle brothers and the managers of beasts and veterinary medicine, and the shepherds of sheep and the curing of wounds, and masteries of iron and its work. And the circumcisions of boys and the digging up of tombs and the plundering of the dead.

- *** -

[From Gr. Intr. VII.9.1456-88]

From Abu Ma'shar's Great Introduction



Admittedly, in ancient astrology Mars was considered a Malefic planet, the bringer of hostilities, and people were dreading its contacts. Ares in Greek mythology was a fearsome god and people were asking for his blessing only when war or battle was coming. Later in Roman mythology, Mars became an agricultural guardian and he was second in importance only to Jupiter and he was the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army.


In Vetius Valens' Anthologies we read:

''Mars indicates force, wars, plunderings, screams, violence, whoring, the loss of property, banishment, exile, alienation from parents, capture, the deaths of wives, abortions, love affairs, marriages, the loss of goods, lies, vain hopes, strong-armed robbery, banditry, looting, quarrels among friends, anger, fighting, verbal abuse, hatreds, lawsuits. Mars brings violent murders, slashings, and bloodshed, attacks of fever, ulceration, boils, burns, chains, torture, masculinity, false oaths, wandering, embassies under difficult circumstances, actions involving fire or iron, craftwork, masonry. In addition, Mars causes commands, campaigns, and leadership, infantrymen, governorships, hunting, wild game, falls from heights or from animals, weak vision, strokes. Of the body parts, Mars rules the head, the seat, the genitals; of the internal parts, it rules the blood, the sperm ducts, the bile, the elimination of excrement, the parts in the rear, the back, and the underside. It controls the hard and the abrupt. Of materials, it rules iron, decoration of clothing (because of Aries), as well as wine and beans. It is of the night sect, red in color and acid in taste.


We see how many horrible situations are under Mars' dominion. The good qualities of Mars are mostly connected to the planet's good placements, like Aries, Scorpio, Capricorn, while all the vile qualities are afflicting the weak placements of Mars, like in Libra or Cancer. Today we tend to agree with this notion but the psychoanalytical theory that put a solid basis in modern astrology changed our view about the benefics and malefics.

Nowadays, every placement has an expression, a lesson, and potential. it all depends on the person's free will and desire to channel their Mars into something suitable to their tendencies.

For example, the Evolutionary astrologer Stephen Forrest pinpoints the importance to use Mars or Aries energy in a "high expression" way with spiritual integrity, indicating that every sign has strengths and weaknesses regardless.


Mars symbolizes our energy and the heat of the body, the muscles, and the blood. In other words, Mars is life. Where would we be with our survival instinct or the heat of our body or our sexual energy?



From William Lilly (a very famous seventeenth-century English astrologer) in his work 'Christian Astrology', we see that Mars' nature is Masculine, Nocturnal, in nature hot and dry, choleric and fiery. It is indeed the extreme nature of Mars that makes the planet associated with all the misfortunes (same as Saturn, the Greater Malefic). This extremely hot and dry condition cannot provide life, same as extreme cold.

When Mars is afflicting the body we see all sorts of fevers, infections, headaches and head injuries, blisters and cuts, and all the diseases that increase the fire and choleric temperament in the body.


In a woman's chart, we can see the type of man she is seeking, the ideal lover. In a man's chart, Mars' qualities may be more obvious than in a woman's but nowadays that women are working and functioning in dynamic environments, it is possible to see Mars' expression equally accentuated in both sexes' charts.


Stephen Arroyo explains in ''Chart Interpretation Handbook'' that ''for a man, Mars, shows how he projects himself forcefully, and sexually''; how he gives power in a sexual relationship, how he expresses his masculinity in every area that requires initiative or leadership.

On the other hand, is a woman's chart, Mars is ''a strong male image in her psyche; it is closely associated with a romantically exciting image that turns on her own energy and helps her to express herself''.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that Mars is the desire, while Venus is the need to be desired. It is no coincidence that this couple in mythology were lovers and not foes. One supplements the other and they are both the healthy expression of yin and yang, the masculine and feminine qualities inside all of us, qualities that make us not only healthy but complete.

Of course, Mars and Venus are two planets we examine in order to understand more about the person's love and sexual qualities. It is truly important to have these two energies in balance in order to enjoy a harmonious relating. Any disharmony or imbalance between Venus and Mars or between those two with other difficult planets such as Saturn, Uranus, Pluto, and sometimes Neptune can show sexual blockages, violence, aggression, inability to love, and be loved, and so on.


A healthy outlet for Mars is sports and professions based on Mars placements. William Lilly provides us with a list of professions with Marsian signature:

''Generals of Armies, Colonels, Captaines, or any Souldiers having command in Armies, all manner of Souldiers, Physitians, Apothecaries, Chirurgions, Alchemists, Gunners, Butchers, Marshals, Sergeants, Bailiffs, Hang-men, Thieves, Smiths, Bakers, Armourers, Watch-makers, Botchers, Tailors, Cutlers of Swords and Knives, Barbers, Dyers, Cooks, Carpenters, Gamesters, Bear-wards, Tanners, Carriers.''



Mars in Aries: in this placement Mars is in his rulership and is characterized by enormous energy, which must find a way out under any circumstances. People with this position are characterized by an impulse for action and their self-expression leads them to evolution. They have courage, determination, and the ability to start new projects. Mars in this position favors new beginnings which have initiative and enthusiasm. They have a great need to be first or pioneers. But they get easily bored and often do not finish what they started. Mars in this position is independent and does not accept opposition from anyone. They tend to not think before they speak or before they act, which sometimes makes them misunderstood or 'unpopular'. The fact that they are extremely competitive can be a disadvantage but it definitely makes them good in sports and any activity needs strength and courage against the opponent. In this position, we will see the athletes, the fighters of all kinds, the racers, and those who operate machines. They are prone to head injuries and they often suffer from fever, sweating in the head, and headaches. If Mars is afflicted in this sign, it can show extreme violence, anger, egocentrism, and selfishness.


Mars in Taurus: in this placement Mars is in detriment as it is opposite the sign of Scorpio which is the position of his rulership. This position shows a strong desire for money and material goods. The energy of the individual is wasted in obtaining them as well as in any practical activity that will bring tangible results. The energy of Mars in this position is slowed down by constraints or by material obstacles. He is in an earth sign and becomes slower than he is in the fire signs for example, but he has more determination and endurance to follow a course of action when he decides to do so. They are not irritable and competitive, however, if they get angry they act like bulls in a china shop. In this position, we will find craftsmen capable of tasks that require precision and patience. Mars in this sign of Venus gives the creators of beautiful objects that can also have endurance over time. We will also see those who work with metals or stones. If Mars is afflicted in this position, we see an obsession with sex, money, and material pleasures. In addition to hedonism, we will see jealousy and possessiveness.


Mars in Gemini: in this placement we see mental activity, engineering, and mechanical ability. It is a position that gives great nervousness to speech and those who have this position, often like mental battles or debates. In this position, we will find reporters, journalists, critics, and those who work with their hands. We can see many changes in the profession as people are characterized by intense anxiety. They are also the people who can multitask. If Mars is afflicted in this sign, we will see the sarcastic, rude speech, gossip or nervousness, and aggression that leads to quarrels. Also in this position, we will see problems with siblings or hands, respiratory problems (smoking should be avoided), as well as travel accidents. Otherwise, it is a position that gives minds capable of devising solutions to any problem.


Mars in Cancer: in this placement Mars is in the sign of his fall since Cancer is opposite Capricorn, where Mars is on his exaltation. In this position, we find intense emotional activity. Emotional shifts lead to anger, which is openly expressed to relatives and especially to the family. Problems with parents or in general a disharmony with them can cause psychological problems in their lives. They tend to suppress their anger which can cause stomach upsets and ulcers. In the family or familiar environment, they can become extremely competitive which creates tensions as the family is not the right arena to express one's competitiveness. In this position, we can find people who are good at building houses, carpentry, and any DIY jobs. Energy can be used to acquire and manage real estate.


Mars in Leo: in this placement Mars has energy, creativity, and will. Many of his abilities are expressed through the arts and in this position, we will often find actors. Being in a fiery sign, we see the positive taking of initiatives, which however has more stability and determination as Leo is a fixed sign. There is an innate ability in leadership as they have a lot of confidence. They are competitive in activities and often have dogmatic tendencies. In this position, we also see the passionate desires, and it is no coincidence that Mars in this position is an ardent lover, but he is capable of possessiveness and jealousy. In a male horoscope, we will see strength, generosity, pride, and masculinity. They like flirting and can channel their energy into charming and conquering the object of their desire. If Mars is afflicted in this position, we will find selfish behaviour, a tendency to dominate other, rudeness and bad manners, and the tendency to think that one is infallible.


Mars in Virgo: in this placement Mars uses his energy in anything that requires hard and detailed work. In this position, as in the other Earth signs, we will see the skilled craftsmen, especially those who operate machines with precision or need to do fine work. It is a placement where surgeons can be found, as they are very precise in the use of sharp instruments. In addition to surgeons, we can find other people who specialize in medicine or nursing. Their action is mobilized for practical reasons. They are interested in being authorities or in holding jobs that require great attention to detail. Their tendency to perfection can sometimes cause them problems as they become overly critical and insist on working in a very well-organized environment. If Mars is afflicted in this position, we will see conflicts with co-workers, employees, and employers, as well as accidents at work. They need to be careful with nervousness and mental fatigue.


Mars in Libra: in this placement Mars is again in detriment as he is in the sign that is opposite his rulership, Aries. The management of energy and its use concerns public relations, collaborations, and social promotion. They want to be praised and cared for and they like to work with others. They have a desire for marriage and emotional fulfillment. But they often find competitive partners, something that can create problems as they confuse their own desires and ambitions with those of their partners. They have the ability in diplomacy, but sometimes they go to the extreme as they can do something just to achieve their goal or to be liked. Mars in this position does not express easily his fighting spirit since he is in the sign of Venus which makes them a little soft. However, we will often see them expressing and channelling their anger to their partner. They are particularly angry with injustice and immorality. They can use their energy to protest against the unfairness of society but in artistic and peaceful ways. If Mars is afflicted in this position, we will see the difficulty in collaborations and marriage as well as the false appearances.


Mars in Scorpio: Mars in this position, as well as in that of Aries, is in rulership and consequently is very strong. In this position, we see an emotional strength and depth that makes people who have this position have bottomless courage and stubbornness in acquiring or fulfilling any of their desires. Scorpio is a sign that can function at very low levels of morality but can also function with incredible spiritual ability, wisdom, and morality. The way the person will manifest this energy depends on which direction of the two one will choose. In any case, he has the courage, energy, and ability to face any difficult situation. They are the people who stay calm even in the face of the worst and are not afraid to face everything to achieve their goals, no matter how unthinkable they may seem. They have strong sexual energy, which if channeled in the wrong way we can see possessiveness, jealousy, and - in extreme situations if Mars is afflicted - sexual violence, anger, and obsession until destruction. They have secretiveness and all their relationships are possessed by intense feelings, either positive or negative. Many times they lose their objectivity as they cannot distance themselves and see a situation impartially. They can be cruel and hurt others with their inclemency. If Mars is afflicted we will also see the tendency to dominate others emotionally and force them into submission. An ideal placement for surgeons, therapists, and psychoanalysts.



Mars in Sagittarius: in this position, we will see people with strong philosophical and religious ideologies. People with this Mars become crusaders for the purpose they serve. They tend to become dogmatic in their beliefs and often in this placement we will see nationalists or fascists, people who want to defend God and the homeland even in extreme ways if Mars is affected. They are strong idealists, especially with their motives for action, and they want to improve the social order in which they live. They love sports, adventure, and outdoor activities. They often like anything related to travel, philosophy, law, religion, or higher knowledge. They usually follow paved paths although they want to lead in these areas. They are good at seeing the bigger picture, but they often overlook the details, especially in the immediate vicinity. If Mars is afflicted, we will also see the sharp judgment, the lack of diplomacy, the tendency for quarrels, the desire for freedom at all costs, and Pharisaism. As we have said, in extreme cases it can lead to religious-political or philosophical fanaticism that essentially destroys justice instead of promoting it. Otherwise, they are open people, fair, and fight with dignity and courage.


Mars in Capricorn: in this placement Mars has enormous energy that is channeled into his professional ambitions. He has excellent endurance, realism and works with practical design, patience, and perseverance until he achieves his goals. Not coincidentally, Mars is on exaltation in this position as the action benefits from the organization and discipline of Saturn, the planet that rules the sign of Capricorn. In this placement, the energy of Mars is channeled practically and competently. He has leadership skills, determination, and self-control. It is considered the Mars of the generals as it does not fall into battle unless it has premeditated or planned any move. But they can also take orders from those in power and work behind the scenes. As a sign of the earth, Capricorn gives Mars intense sexual energy that he can tame. It also gives him a strong body and good health. On the negative side, it can give bone problems, fractures, excessive ambition, problems with superiors in power, excessive ambition and a tendency to use people for personal gain, cold calculation, materialism, and selfishness. We will often see them in organizational positions as well as in military professions.


Mars in Aquarius: gives a strong desire for independence and the need not to follow the orthodox course of action. Energy can be spent on alternative purposes and social reformation and causes. They have good organizational skills and intelligence that make them good in electronics, engineering, and other technological fields. They can channel their energy to humanistic purposes and scientific achievements. They are good at working in groups and prefer group activities. The body does not have very high physical endurance but it has nervousness. Often, especially if Mars is afflicted, we may have problems with the authorities, that is, they may not accept authorities because they are generally particular in their beliefs and actions, which can make them anti-conformists. They want to do their own thing, in their own way even if their way is not the best. On the negative side, we will see nervous tensions, sensitivity in the nervous system, problems with blood circulation, fanaticism in ideology, reactivity, revolution, and even perversion. In this position, we can see rebels with or without a cause.


Mars in Pisces: in this placement, the will and fighting spirit become relatively weak as the person is possessed by confusion. It is considered a weak position and often shows a lack of strength, lack of confidence, and purpose. Often these people may have noble motives but a failure to do the right thing. They often do nothing, that is, we see the action dissolve. They have a great need for isolation and sleep to regain their energy. They operate in secret and avoid confrontations with their opponent. They should work behind the scenes and in activities that require sensitivity. They are good at music and art and could also work in environments such as hospitals and prisons. On the negative side, we will see psychological problems, psychosomatic, the tendency for drugs and alcohol, relationship problems, instability, frustrations, and laziness. In this placement, we can see cowardice, hidden animosities, hypersensitivity to energies and influences as well as sexual instability. The body has flexibility, grace, and gentle movement and in difficult aspects can give problems with the feet. In this position, we can see from dancers and poets to people who are active in volunteering with self-denial.


From Imaginarium Magazine, Issue 10, November 2021

Astrology Lesson Column


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