Mars in Astrology
About Mars
Mars is the planet of action, aggression, and desire, and the lower octave of Pluto. Mars takes about 6-7 weeks to pass through each sign of the zodiac, but can stay in one sign for up to 8 months when it retrogrades (which it does once every two years).
Mars rule Aries, and is the traditional ruler of Scorpio. These signs form two polarities with Venus: Aries-Libra and Scorpio-Taurus.
Mars in our natal chart represents:
- how we assert ourselves and pursue our desires
- our drive, ambition, and motivation
- how we experience and express anger
- our physical energy and vitality
- our competitive nature and how we face challenges
- our sexual energy and expression (along with Venus)
- how we initiate action and projects
- our courage and willingness to take risks
- what energizes us and what we fight for
- our potential for impulsiveness, violence, and destruction
The flavor of all of the above will be determined by your Mars sign, house, and aspecting planets (see below).
Martial people. People with Mars strongly placed in their chart (for example, conjunct their Sun or Moon, or on their Ascendant or Midheaven), or who have a lot of Aries, tend to be energetic, assertive, and direct. They often have a strong physical presence, enjoy competition, and may be natural leaders or athletes. They can come across as bold or even aggressive, and tend to dislike passivity or indecisiveness.
Mythology. Mars is the Roman name for the Greek Ares, the god of war and bloodlust. He was the son of Zeus and Hera, but he was often in conflict with his parents and other gods. He was famously caught in an affair with Aphrodite (Venus), who was married to Hephaestus. His most notable conflict was with Athena, who represented wisdom and strategy in war, whereas Ares represented brute force and violence. His myths explore passion, aggression, and the consequences of unchecked anger.
Mars and Pluto
In Evolutionary Astrology (Jeffrey Wolf Green), Pluto represents the desire nature of the Soul to evolve toward awakening, and Mars instinctively acts on these desires. Soul evolution is accomplished through the playing out and exhausting of all desires until the only one that remains is the desire to return to Source.
We learn through the response of reality to our Mars-initiated actions, much like a child learns by touching a hot stove. We are all learning in this trial-and-error way as we go through life after life, driven by our Mars to act out the desires of our Soul.
Mars Challenges
The negative expression of Mars can include violence, recklessness, and disregarding other people's needs, rights, and boundaries. Aries is also known for being more accident-prone than other signs due to its tendency to rush.
Mars retrograde in the Natal chart. Mars being retrograde when you were born means your assertiveness and anger are directed inward. You might struggle with directly expressing anger or pursuing your desires, leading to passive behavior. Your Mars energy can feel like a slow burn instead of a blazing fire. This placement can lead to having more endurance, and developing independence regarding your will, desires, and how you meet them.
Saturn and Mars aspects. Saturn in hard aspect to your Mars can create a lack of confidence and feelings of weakness or powerlessness. There can be a sense of frustration, like you are being blocked in your attempts to assert yourself or achieve your goals. For more on the Saturn journey, see our Saturn Lessons report.
