The transits of the planets

Mars - Introduction

It is traditional to regard Mars as the “Lesser Malefic.” While the transits of Mars are frequently difficult, this designation is inappropriate; it is far more indicative of the level of ego at which many people operate than of the intrinsic nature of Mars’s energy itself. It is called the “Lesser Malefic” because Saturn has the dubious distinction of being the “Greater Malefic.” The same comments that I have just made about Mars apply to Saturn as well.

However, making the energies of Mars work positively requires an increase in wisdom and consciousness. It also requires redefining Mars on a philosophical level, because the traditional astrological significations of Mars, at least the negative ones, are due to a radical misunderstanding of the position of Mars in the planetary order. However, here I would like to say that the problem is that Mars, properly understood, is a planet best associated with the Interpersonal or Collective Level. Its energy should not be used for the aggrandizement of the individual ego, but rather for protecting and defending whatever needs to be protected and defended. Even on the personal level, Mars’s energy signifies the transmission and use of basic physical vitality in the body. As such, it was traditionally said to rule the blood. Blood is the means by which oxygen is carried throughout the body and carbon dioxide and other wastes are removed from it, so that the body has an adequate supply of energy. Here again, the energy of Mars is not used for self-aggrandizement but for the maintenance of physical vitality.

A second source of misunderstanding concerning Mars has to do with the God-form after which the planet has been named. The name “Mars” is, of course, the Latin designation of the god of war. The equivalent Greek name is Ares. But both are translations of the Babylonian Nergal (spellings vary). However, where Ares and Mars in their respective mythologies are purely war-gods, the Babylonian equivalent was a god of war and death, the latter term being a function more commonly associated with the energy of Pluto in modern astrology. This is probably why Mars is traditionally associated with the sign Scorpio. In the oldest astrological literature that survives, material written in cuneiform, the writing system used by the most ancient Near Eastern civilizations, Mars is not considered malefic at all, even if its significations are not particularly pleasant. They recognized that whatever Mars signifies is part of the natural order and has a positive function.

Qualities of Mars

In traditional astrology, Mars is described as Hot and Dry. The first quality, the Hot, signifies that Mars raises the energy level of anything it affects. The second quality, the Dry, signifies that Mars makes things harder (as opposed to softer), increases rigidity, and promotes distinction and separateness as opposed to affinity and connection.

Mars is usually paired with Venus in that the two sets of energies together signify sexuality. Mars signifies the masculine form of sexuality (as traditionally defined) and Venus the more feminine form (again, as traditionally defined). It is tempting to say that the two planets are opposites, but this is only true if one holds Venus to be of the nature of the Cold and the Wet. In the discussion of Venus above, I have indicated that Venus can be either of the nature of the Hot or the Cold, depending on the context. Mars, however, is always of the nature of the Hot and the Dry.

Ptolemy says that the reason why Mars is considered malefic is because its qualities are out of balance. Mars’s nature is moderately Hot, but it is excessively strong according to the nature of the Dry. This is, of course, the basis of its connection with war and conflict, because these are extreme forms of separative energy, which is, of course, of the nature of the Dry.

Sect

Mars is a nocturnal planet. It is the only masculine, nocturnal planet. All other nocturnal planets are clearly feminine in gender. Ptolemy’s explanation for this is that the cool and moist nature of the night tempers the heat and dryness of Mars, making its qualities temperate and, therefore, more easily rendered benefic. However, studies of the origins of the assignments of the planets to their sects in Hellenistic astrology indicate something else is going on.1 Even if Ptolemy’s reasoning may be suspect, the conclusion he draws from it is correct: Mars is more easily tamed and rendered positive in the charts of those who are born at night.

Ease or Difficulty of Dealing with Mars

The fact that Mars is often called the “Lesser Malefic” is a clear indication that astrologers have traditionally had a bad feeling about Mars. However, the energy of Mars is necessary for success in sports, particularly competitive sports where one team or player is pitted against another. The energy of Mars is also necessary for such activities as dance and gymnastics, and in these fields it is hard to see Mars as a malefic energy. Mars also has rulership over the military, the police, and crime prevention in general. Of course, the military may be misused by its government for malefic purposes, such as the invasion of foreign countries without cause (other than a desire for conquest), police may be corrupt, and so forth. But both represent the perversion of the energy of Mars, not its fulfillment. Two higher forms of Mars’s energy can be found in masters of martial arts and in the codes of higher military organizations, exemplified in literature by the medieval knight. All of this should make it clear that the higher forms of Mars’s energy are not at all malefic. It is only the abuse of these that makes it so.

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Function in the Natal Chart

Inward Manifestations

One way in which Mars and Venus are genuinely opposite is that the function of Venus is to give one a feeling of belonging and connectedness, whereas the function of Mars is to enable one to be a separate individual, able to stand up to protect and defend oneself. This is the reason why, in the popular mind, masculine sexuality is often bound up with notions of conquest, whereas the feminine form is more connected with acceptance. (Please note that I am referring to popular notions of sexuality. What I have said here does not necessarily represent my own beliefs on the subject.) Also, contrary to popular belief, the energy of Mars is just as capable of manifesting in the form of self-sacrifice as it is in conquest. All you need to do is look at any member of the military who, by accepting that position, has indicated a willingness, if necessary, to die for the sake of the people they defend.

One inner form that the energy of Mars takes is anger. Related to that on the physical level are irritation and inflammation of tissues. These should be regarded as pathological manifestations of Mars, resulting from a blockage of the smooth flow of Mars’s energy; nevertheless, they are genuine manifestations of Mars energy.

Finally, inwardly, Mars is the felt sense of vital energy in the body. It would probably be an oversimplification to say that the energy of Mars is the same as the Chinese word for a kind of biological energy, Chi. However, they are closely related, and in fact, if one studies Tai Chi, one of the first things one learns is to feel directly the physical vitality of Mars energy long before one learns how to apply it in combat.

Outward Manifestations

The external manifestations of Mars are numerous. Among the metals, it signifies iron and steel, probably because of their use in war, although it is also true that iron oxide is most commonly red in color. The energy of Mars also has to do with all organizations and groups whose functions relate not only to warfare but to protection and defense. It was a masterful job of public relations when, in the late 1940s, the Departments of War and the Navy were merged into a single department, the Department of Defense. Whether anyone realized it or not, that was an invocation of the higher side of the energy of Mars. How well the Department of Defense lives up to its name might be debated by some.2

Other occupations signified by Mars include iron and steel workers, blacksmiths, carpenters, and all other occupations that involve heavy physical labor, including athletes, as well as law enforcement and investigative occupations.

As with Venus, the astrological symbol or glyph for Mars signifies one of the sexes, namely the masculine. And here again, the use of this symbol for the masculine sex is inappropriate, in that persons of both sexes contain elements of both the masculine and the feminine. In the animal kingdom, creatures are more of the nature of Mars than of Venus, and among animals, carnivores are more of the nature of Mars than herbivores.